The origins of our ancestor Chidley Matthews Sr. has been mentioned in assorted books and journals. Mostly I find them incorrect in the generations and the dates, it is common for this to happen. As family tradition is passed down through generations one or two generations might be forgotten and dropped, ending up with the title of "immigrant ancestor" mistakenly given to the son or even the grandson of the actual immigrant. Briefly from going over the work that has been written I have concluded our Matthews family came from Ireland.
The Matthews family tradition says "Two brothers from Ireland named Matthews were among the early immigrants to Virginia. Sometime after their arrival they were crossing a river of that country, the water was running high and the horses which they were riding struggled to reach the opposite shore One of the brothers lost his life in the surging current. The other brother reached the shore in safety The survivor married and settled in Virginia and became the progenitor of the Matthews family on American soil".
It has also been recorded the family came from a Sir John Matthews of England." And that the family spells the name with two T’s, but I have seen in different earlier documents the name spelled with one T. The date of their arrival is unsure but they were no doubt among the early settlers of the Virginia colony.
George Washington was presented with an old fashioned writing desk and on the underside of the lid was attached a card " Presented to George Washington by his friend George Matthews"
The following is from the book "Pioneers of Old Monocacy: The Early Settlement of Frederick Co. Maryland" and is an account of Chidley Sr. "In the 1733 list of the taxable in Monocosie Hundred contained the names of Chidley, William and George Matthews. Chidley Matthews had one year earlier in 1732, witnessed the will of Joseph Hedges.
In November 1736 he was appointed Constable by the Prince George’s County Court. He lived in the present Braddock area in the forks of U.S. Highways 40 and 40-Alternate, but seemingly owned no land no land until on August 25,1739 he had "Chidley’s Range" surveyed". It’s point of beginning was on "the westernmost draft of Carroll’s Creek near the foot of Catocktin Mountain."
In October 1742 Chidley signed the petition for division of Prince George’s Parish, which led to the formation of All Saints’ Parish.
Chidley had to have been at least 21 years of age to witness a probate in1732 and more than likely in his 30’s at least. That would put his birth about 1700 to 1710. He married Mary before 1730, as his son Samuel was born about 1731. His next son John married Rachel Hedges and died in 1769. His brother Samuel is named in his probate with sister Mary Logan nee Mathews as next akin.
Chidley Matthews died before Jan 27, 1761 and was survived by his wife Mary and children Mary, Samuel and John Matthews. Chidley’s two sons Samuel and John Mathews administrated his probate. Mary Mathews, widow and Mary Mathews was named nearest akin and his probate was final in May 1762
An inventory of his goods and chattels was listed on the 27th of January 1761 and is as the following, Wheat and Rye growing, wheat, rye and oats in stacks, Indian corn, five head of horse kind, ten head of cow kind, eleven head of swine, three head of sheep,three iron pots, racks, shovel and tongs, a saddle, sundry sorts of old lumber, bed bedding and other clothes, a plow tackling and iron tools,three spinning wheels, a loom tackling and thread
Samuel Matthews the son of Chidley and Mary was born about 1731. He married Sarah about 1752 and they had five children, Elizabeth, Chidley, John and two other girls, names unknown. They lived 83 acres of land called "Chidley’s Chance" in Frederick County Maryland. Judging from his list of inventories he might have been a cobbler, and a farmer. His wife Sarah spun yarn from flax and wool.
Samuel Matthews left a will on the 20th day of April in 1770 in which he names his wife Sarah and Richard Lilly executors of his estate. He also gives Sarah and Richard Lilly his whole estate to enjoy until his oldest son Chidley Mathews reaches his full age of twenty one years. Then at that time all his lands, tenements, etc. shall be divided among his two sons. The two sons were instructed to contribute the sum of one hundred pounds from their share, in Pennsylvania currency, to be divided among the three girls.
Samuel left his rifle to his oldest son Chidley to belong to him solely. By May 11,1770 Samuel had died. His estate was inventoried on 23 May 1770 and included the following, a wagon, gears, log chain, a parcel of old iron, box of iron, bryer scythe, a parcel of winter grain in the ground, 8 sheep, 2 algrey horse, a roan horse, 3 calves and 1 bull, 6 shoats, 18 geese, 5 hogs loose but later found and sold, a swingletree, lantern, 2 saddles and bridles, a pair of shears and card, spinning wheel and reals, parcel of flaxen, hetchel, 3 augers, one chisel and gouge, shoemaker bench and tools, leather, 3 bags and some oats,dresser and furniture, table, riddle chairs, cupboard and back, wearing appeal, 13 yards of fine linen and 17 yards of coarse linen, a bag and feathers, a piece of fulled linsey, a feather bed, bedding, 2 bed quilts, blanket, 2 iron pots, pot rack, frying pan, 2 jugs, a sundries of copper ware,lease of 83 acres of land called Chidleys Chance for 13 years.
Chidley was born about 1752 in Frederick County Maryland. He is the son and heir of Samuel and Sarah Matthews. In 1773 when Chidley was about age 21, about 205 acres of his deceased father land called "Frenchman’s Purchase " located in Frederick county was deeded over to him and his brother John. Chidley sold off his half of land in bits and pieces. By 1796 Chidley bought about eight acres of land called "The Resurvey on Kitchen Garden" which was adjoining his Frenchmn’s Purchase located in Frederick County, Maryland.
Chidley married Margaret Parks most likely in Ednito, Frederick county. They married sometime before their first child, Sarah, was born about 1790. They lived in Ednito until after 1800 when they moved to Fort Cumberland in Allegany county, Maryland. Chidley and Margaret had six children born to them.
Chidley in about 1804 at age 47, died. His wife remarried three
years later to Adam Sheetz and had three more children by this marriage. Chidley was in his 50’s
when he died and Margaret when she was 83. Margaret is buried in the Blooming Rose Cemetery
in Garrett County Maryland.
©Copyright 1997 Marcia J Rothman. All rights reserved. Duplication of this document in any means to sell or make money, with or without intention is prohibited without the expressed written permission of Marcia J Rothman PO 43, Langley, WA. 98260.
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