The Mathews family is an American

political family A political family (also referred to as political dynasty) is a family in which multiple members are involved in politics — particularly electoral politics. Members may be related by blood or marriage; often several generations or multiple sibli ...

descended from John Mathews (d. 1757) and Ann Archer, originating in colonial Virginia and active in Virginia and the American South in the 18th–20th centuries. The family origins are unclear, though most researchers believe that the family founders arrived in America around 1730 with the Scotch-Irish immigration, settling in Augusta County (present-day

Rockbridge County Rockbridge County is a county in the Shenandoah Valley on the western edge of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,650. Its county seat is the city of Lexington. Rockbridge County completely surrounds the ...

), Virginia. Several members played a role in the American Revolution, and numerous members were elected to the Virginia General Assembly over successive generations, while additionally members have been involved in the politics of West Virginia, Georgia, and other U.S. states in roles including state governor and state legislator, among others. Members have served in the U.S. military as generals, colonels, and other officers. Notable members include George Mathews, Sampson Mathews,

Henry M. Mathews Henry Mason Mathews (March 29, 1834April 28, 1884) was an American military officer, lawyer, and politician in the U.S. State of West Virginia. Mathews served as 7th Attorney General of West Virginia (1873–1877) and 5th Governor of West Virgin ...

, and

Mason Mathews Patrick Mason Mathews Patrick (December 13, 1863 – January 29, 1942) was a general officer in the United States Army who led the United States Army Air Service during and after World War I and became the first Chief of the Army Air Corps when it was c ...

British origin

The Mathews family is believed to be of Scotch-Irish and/or possibly

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peopl ...

ethnicity. Atkinson1, p.229 Numerous, sometimes conflicting family traditions exist regarding the Old World origins of John Mathews (d. 1757). Several of these traditions hold that Mathews was a descendant of a Welsh

Mathew Mathew is a masculine given name and a variant of Matthew. It is also used as a surname. As a given name Notable people with the given name include: * Mat Erpelding (born 1975), American politician * Mat Kearney (born 1978), American singer-s ...

family, of which there existed branches throughout Britain in the 17th and 18th centuries. Callahan, p. 8 However, these traditions lack corroborating records and/or remain speculative. Mathews likely immigrated to America during early years of the Scotch-Irish immigration of 1717–1775. Waddell, p. 309 The female progenitor of the family, Ann Archer, immigrated to America during this period, and was of Scotch-Irish ethnicity.

Overview

John Mathews settled in

Augusta County, Virginia Augusta County is a county in the Shenandoah Valley on the western edge of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The second-largest county of Virginia by total area, it completely surrounds the independent cities of Staunton and Waynesboro. Its county ...

around 1737 and held several local offices in the community. Several of his sons took part in patriot efforts during the American Revolutionary War; Sampson Mathews (c. 1737–1807) and George Mathews (1739–1812) were members of the

Augusta County Committee of Safety The Augusta County Committee of Safety was the shadow government of patriots from Augusta County, Virginia prior to and throughout the American Revolution. One of many such revolutionary committees of safety, the Augusta County committee is notab ...

, which drafted the Augusta Resolves and the

Augusta Declaration The Augusta Declaration, or the Memorial of Augusta County Committee, May 10, 1776, was a statement presented to the Fifth Virginia Convention in Williamsburg, Virginia on May 10, 1776. The Declaration announced the necessity of the Thirteen Col ...

. In total, three of Mathews’ sons served as wartime Virginia legislators: Sampson Mathews and George Mathews from Augusta County and Archer Mathews (1744–) from Greenbrier County. Additionally, Sampson Mathews was a lieutenant colonel of Virginia militia, and George Mathews was a brevet brigadier general in the

Continental Army The Continental Army was the army of the United Colonies (the Thirteen Colonies) in the Revolutionary-era United States. It was formed by the Second Continental Congress after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, and was establis ...

. George Mathews was later a

U.S. House Representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

to the First Congress and a

governor of Georgia The governor of Georgia is the head of government of Georgia and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor also has a duty to enforce state laws, the power to either veto or approve bills passed by the Georgia Legisl ...

. George Mathews' son George Mathews Jr. (1774–1836) was a judge of the Superior Courts of the territories of Mississippi and Orleans and as the presiding judge of the

Louisiana Supreme Court The Supreme Court of Louisiana (french: Cour suprême de Louisiane) is the highest court and court of last resort in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The modern Supreme Court, composed of seven justices, meets in the French Quarter of New Orlea ...

. George Mathews Jr.'s brother, John Mathews (c.1762–1806), was a federal

Supervisor of Revenue The Whiskey Rebellion (also known as the Whiskey Insurrection) was a violent tax protest in the United States beginning in 1791 and ending in 1794 during the presidency of George Washington. The so-called "whiskey tax" was the first tax impo ...

from Georgia. Gilmer, p. 82 In Virginia, three more members of the family from the third generation served in the state legislature: Sampson Mathews' son Sampson Mathews Jr. from Bath County, and John Mathews (1768–1849) and James W. Mathews (d. 1825), grandsons of John Mathews through his son William Mathews (1741–1772), from Greenbrier County. From the fourth generation, Mason Mathews (1803–1878), a grandson of William Mathews, served in the Virginia legislature from Greenbrier County. During the American Civil War, three of his sons served as Confederate States Army officers.Rice, Otis K. 1986. A History of Greenbrier County. Greenbrier Historical Society, p. 264 His son

(1834–1884) later served as an

attorney general In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have exec ...

and governor of West Virginia. Henry M. Mathews' son, William G. Mathews (1877–1923), was a

federal judge Federal judges are judges appointed by a federal level of government as opposed to the state/provincial/local level. United States A US federal judge is appointed by the US President and confirmed by the US Senate in accordance with Article 3 of ...

in Kanawha, West Virginia and a candidate for the West Virginia Supreme Court.

Mason M. Patrick Mason Mathews Patrick (December 13, 1863 – January 29, 1942) was a general officer in the United States Army who led the United States Army Air Service during and after World War I and became the first Chief of the Army Air Corps when it was ...

(1863–1942), grandson of Mason Mathews, served as Chief of the

U.S. Army Air Service The United States Army Air Service (USAAS)Craven and Cate Vol. 1, p. 9 (also known as the ''"Air Service"'', ''"U.S. Air Service"'' and before its legislative establishment in 1920, the ''"Air Service, United States Army"'') was the aerial warf ...

American Expeditionary Force The American Expeditionary Forces (A. E. F.) was a formation of the United States Army on the Western Front of World War I. The A. E. F. was established on July 5, 1917, in France under the command of General John J. Pershing. It fought alon ...

during World War I and the

Interwar Period In the history of the 20th century, the interwar period lasted from 11 November 1918 to 1 September 1939 (20 years, 9 months, 21 days), the end of the World War I, First World War to the beginning of the World War II, Second World War. The in ...

.DupreDuPre"> He authored the 1926 congressional bill that created the U.S. Army Air Corps from the Air Service, and served as its first chief.Maurer (1987)''Aviation in the U.S. Army, 1919–1939'' (Appendix 5) p. 74 Other relations include Thomas Posey (1750–1818), U.S. Senator from Louisiana;Posey, John Thornton. ''General Thomas Posey: Son of the American Revolution.'' East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University Press, 1992. Pages 17-18 Peter J. Otey (1840–1902), U.S. House Representative from Virginia; and George Mathews Edgar (1837–1913), President of University of Arkansas.Grose, S.E. (1997). "Greenbrier County, West Virginia Heritage." Greenbrier County, West Virginia. Pg 59. https://books.google.com/books?id=GPsJ1b3sJ6MC&q=edgar#v=onepage&q=george%20mathews%20edgar&f=false Retrieved December 2, 2018

Offices held

A list of offices held by members of the Mathews family. * John Mathews (d.1757), Justice of

, 1747–1757; Virginia Colonial Militia

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

. Father of Joshua, Sampson, George, Archer, and William Mathews. **Joshua Mathews (d.1763), son of John Mathews. ***Martha Mathews (1754–1778), ∞ Thomas Posey (1750–1818), U.S. Senator from Louisiana, 1812–1813; 2nd Governor of Indiana Territory, 1813–1816;

Lt. Governor A lieutenant governor, lieutenant-governor, or vice governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction. Often a lieutenant governor is the deputy, or lieutenant, to or ranked under a governor — a " second-in-com ...

of Kentucky, 1806–1808;

Kentucky State Senator The Kentucky Senate is the upper house of the Kentucky General Assembly. The Kentucky Senate is composed of 38 members elected from single-member districts throughout Kentucky, the Commonwealth. There are no term limits for Kentucky Senators. ...

, 1804–1806. Daughter of Joshua Mathews. ** Sampson Mathews (c. 1737–1807),

Virginia State Senator The Senate of Virginia is the upper house of the Virginia General Assembly. The Senate is composed of 40 senators representing an equal number of single-member constituent districts. The Senate is presided over by the lieutenant governor of Virg ...

from Augusta County and surrounding counties, 1776–1781, 1791–1792;

Virginia State Militia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

Lieutenant Colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...

; Virginia Colonial Militia Captain. Son of John Mathews. ***Sampson Mathews Jr., Virginia House Delegate from Bath County, 1809–1810. Son of Sampson Mathews ****Sampson L. Mathews.

Surveyor Surveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, art, and science of determining the terrestrial two-dimensional or three-dimensional positions of points and the distances and angles between them. A land surveying professional is ca ...

of Pocahontas County, West Virginia. Son of Sampson Mathews Jr. *****Mary A. Mathews, ∞ William H. McClintic (1825–1892). Daughter of Sampson L. Mathews. ****** George W. McClintic (1866–1942), Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia 1921–1942; West Virginia House Delegate 1919–1921. Son of Mary A. Mathews. ******Lockart Mathews McClintic (1860–1928) West Virginia House Delegate, dates unknown ** George Mathews (1739–1812), 20th & 24st Governor of Georgia, 1787–1788 & 1793–1796;

from Georgia's 3rd congressional district, 1789–1791; Georgia Assemblyman from Wilkes County, 1786; Virginia Burgess from Augusta County, 1775;

Brigadier General. Son of John Mathews. ***John Mathews (c.1762–1806),

for Georgia, 1794–1796. Son of George Mathews. ***Ann Mathews (±1767–1840), ∞ Samuel Blackburn (1759–1835), Virginia House Delegate from Bath County, 1799–1801, 1809–1813; Georgia Assemblyman, 1795. Daughter of George Mathews. *** George Mathews Jr. (1774–1836), Presiding Judge of the Louisiana Supreme Court, 1813–1836; Judge of the Superior courts of the Territory of Orleans, 1806–1813; Judge of the Superior Courts of the

Territory of Mississippi The Territory of Mississippi was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from April 7, 1798, until December 10, 1817, when the western half of the territory was admitted to the United States, Union as the History o ...

1805–1806. Son of George Mathews. ***Charles L. Mathews (1776–1842), ∞ Lucy Early, sister of Peter Early (1773–1818), 28th Governor of Georgia. **William Mathews (1741–1772), Justice of Botetourt County, 1770–1772. Son of John Mathews ***Elizabeth Mathews (±1766–1853), ∞ Isaac Otey (1766–1850), Virginia House Delegate from Bedford County, 1798–1813. Daughter of William Mathews Cole, p. 70Virginia State Library, p. 413. Retrieved December 9, 2018 from https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=Pa0YAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&pg=GBS.RA2-PA413 ****Isaac Otey Jr., Virginia State Senator from Bedford and surrounding counties, 1821–1825; Virginia House Delegate, 1820–1821. Son of Elizabeth Mathews. ****John M. Otey (1792–1859), President of

Lynchburg, Virginia Lynchburg is an independent city (United States), independent city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. First settled in 1757 by ferry owner John Lynch (1740–1820), John Lynch, the city's populati ...

City Council, 1841–1859. Son of Elizabeth Mathews.Public Administration Service (1939). City Manager Government in Lynchburg, Va. Lynchburg, Va. Retrieved December 9, 2018 from https://books.google.com/books?id=FmtDAAAAIAAJ&q=%22john+m.+otey%22+%22city+council%22&dq=%22john+m.+otey%22+%22city+council%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi96a6uo5TfAhWprFkKHQyaC_oQ6AEIWjAJBruce, P.A., et al. (1924) History of Virginia, volume 5. American Historical Society, p119. Retrieved December 9, 2018 from https://books.google.com/books?id=higSAAAAYAAJ&q=james+hervey+otey+%22elizabeth+mathews%22&dq=james+hervey+otey+%22elizabeth+mathews%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj-lsesgpTfAhURvlkKHUkPBXwQ6AEINjAD ***** Peter J. Otey (1840–1902), U.S. House Representative from Virginia's 6th congressional district, 1895–1902; delegate to the

1896 Democratic National Convention The 1896 Democratic National Convention, held at the Chicago Coliseum from July 7 to July 11, was the scene of William Jennings Bryan's nomination as the Democratic presidential candidate for the 1896 U.S. presidential election. At age 36, B ...

. Son of John M. Otey.White, J.T. (1967). National Cyclopedia of American Biography p. 246 Retrieved December 9, 2018 from https://books.google.com/books?id=gCHYAAAAMAAJ&q=peter+j.+otey+%22elizabeth+mathews%22&dq=peter+j.+otey+%22elizabeth+mathews%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjIsrScgJTfAhUxuVkKHZpmBoEQ6AEISjAG **** James H. Otey (1800–1863), first Episcopal Bishop of Tennessee. Son of Elizabeth Mathews. *** John Mathews (1768–1849), Virginia House Delegate from Greenbrier County, 1798–1801, 1803–1804, 1813–1814, 1816, 1829;

Federalist The term ''federalist'' describes several political beliefs around the world. It may also refer to the concept of parties, whose members or supporters called themselves ''Federalists''. History Europe federation In Europe, proponents of de ...

candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, 1815; Clerk of Greenbrier County, Virginia 1831–1849. Son of William Mathews.Virginia Elections and State Elected Officials Database Project, 1776-2007. Retrieved December 11, 2018 from http://vavh.electionstats.com/php/bio.php?pid=4803 ****Frances Crow Mathews (b. 1814) ∞ Robert C. J. Cary. Daughter of John Mathews. *****Roberta Elizabeth Cary (b. 1836) ∞ Ovid A. Kinsolving (1822–1894). Daughter of Frances Crow Mathews. ****** Wythe Leigh Kinsolving (1878–1964),

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

political advocate; speaker at the

1924 Democratic National Convention The 1924 Democratic National Convention, held at the Madison Square Garden in New York City from June 24 to July 9, 1924, was the longest continuously running convention in United States political history. It took a record 103 ballots to nominate ...

. ****Ophelia Mathews ∞ William Cary. Daughter of John Mathews. Kinsolving, p. 38 *****Henrietta H. Cary ∞

Adam Clarke Snydor Adam Clarke Snyder (March 26, 1834 – July 24, 1896) was a justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court. Biography Snyder was educated at Washington College (now Washington and Lee University) in Lexington, Virginia. He received a degree in ...

(1834–1896) Justice of the Supreme Court of West Virginia 1882–1890. Daughter of Ophelia Mathews. ***James W. Mathews (d. 1825), Virginia House Delegate from Greenbrier County, 1802–1803; United States Army

Major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...

. Son of William Mathews. ***Joseph Mathews (1770–1834), Son of William Mathews. **** Mason Mathews (1803–1878), Virginia House Delegate from Greenbrier County, 1859–1865; ∞ Eliza Shore Reynolds (1808–1872), sister of

Alexander W. Reynolds Alexander Welch Reynolds (April 1816 or August 1817 – May 26, 1876) was a career United States Army officer who served in the Mexican-American War and a Confederate Army brigadier general during the American Civil War, primarily fighting ...

(1817–1876), Confederate States Army Brigadier General. Son of Joseph Mathews. *****

(1834–1884), 5th Governor of West Virginia, 1877–1881; 7th Attorney General of West Virginia; West Virginia State Senator 1865; Confederate States Army Major. Son of Mason Mathews. ****** William G. Mathews (1877–1923), Referee in Bankruptcy for Kanawha, West Virginia, 1898–1908, Clerk of Kanawha, West Virginia, 1903–1904. Democratic Candidate for the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, 1908; alternate delegate to the

1904 Democratic National Convention The 1904 Democratic National Convention was an American presidential nominating convention that ran from July 6 through 10 in the Coliseum of the St. Louis Exposition and Music Hall in St. Louis, Missouri. Breaking with eight years of control by ...

from West Virginia. Son of Henry M. Mathews. *****

Alexander F. Mathews Alexander Ferdinand Mathews (November 13, 1838 – December 17, 1906) was an American lawyer, banker, and university board director in the U.S. State of West Virginia. He served as a Confederate officer and aide-de-camp to Brigadier General Hen ...

(1838–1906), Delegate to

1888 Democratic National Convention The 1888 Democratic National Convention was a nominating convention held June 5 to 7, 1888, in the St. Louis Exposition and Music Hall in St. Louis, Missouri. It nominated President Grover Cleveland for reelection and former Senator Allen G. Thurm ...

from West Virginia; Presidential Elector for West Virginia, 1904; West Virginia University Regent, 1871–1881; Confederate States Army Captain. Son of Mason Mathews.Greenbrier Historical Society (1938) Greenbrier Historical Society Historical Booklet, Greenbrier Co., 1938. http://www.lewisburg.org/history/mathewsbio.htm Retrieved 2012-10-19West Virginia University. Undergraduate catalog, Volume 1867–1869. Morgantown, WV : The University. https://archive.org/stream/undergrad6769west/undergrad6769west_djvu.txt Retrieved April 28, 2013. ******Mason Mathews (1867–1928), Alternate delegate to

1912 Democratic National Convention The 1912 Democratic National Convention was held at the Fifth Regiment Armory off North Howard Street in Baltimore from June 25 to July 2, 1912. The Convention The convention was held at the Fifth Regiment Armory in Baltimore from June 25 t ...

from West Virginia. Son of Alexander F. Mathews. *****Virginia A. Mathews (d. 1923), ∞ Alfred S. Patrick (1831–1906), son of Spicer Patrick (1791–1884), Speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates 1863–1864; West Virginia Senator 1870–1871. Daughter of Mason Mathews. ******

(1863–1942), Chief of U.S. Army Air Service,

, 1917–1918; Chief of U.S. Army Air Service, 1921–1926; Chief of U.S. Army Air Corps, 1926–1927; U.S. Army Major General; Public Utilities Commissioner for the District of Columbia, 1929–1933. Son of Virginia A. Mathews.DupreDuPre"/> Combs, p. 43 ** Archer Mathews (1744–), Virginia House Delegate from Greenbrier County, 1780–1782. Son of John Mathews. ***Ann Mathews (1765–1852), ∞ Thomas Edgar (1754–1822), Justice of Greenbrier County and Rockbridge County, Virginia; son of Thomas Edgar, Virginia House Delegate from Greenbrier County. Daughter of Archer Mathews. **** George M. Edgar (1837–1913), President of University of Arkansas, 1884–1887; President of

Florida State University Florida State University (FSU) is a public research university in Tallahassee, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida. Founded in 1851, it is located on the oldest continuous site of higher education in the st ...

, 1887–1892.

Other Mathews of Virginia

Other Mathews have played an important role in the public life of Virginia. Captain Samuel Matthews immigrated from England to

Jamestown, Virginia The Jamestown settlement in the Colony of Virginia was the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. It was located on the northeast bank of the James (Powhatan) River about southwest of the center of modern Williamsburg. It was ...

around 1622, and his son Samuel Mathews (1630–1660) served as a commonwealth governor of Virginia.Meyers, Virginia M. and Dorman, John F. (1987). ''Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia''. Order of First Families of Virginia Thomas Mathews (1742–1812), a speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, immigrated from Saint Kitts, West Indies, to the

Piedmont region it, Piemontese , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = , demographics1_footnotes = , demographics1_title1 = , demographics1_info1 = , demographics1_title2 ...

of Virginia in the years before the American Revolution. Both Samuel and Thomas Mathews have been connected to the Mathews of Virginia by some writers and historians,Boots, John R. (1970). The Mat(t)hews family: an anthology of Mathews lineages. The University of Wisconsin - Madison''Lexington Gazette'' (1938). "Capt. John Mathews and his Descendants." 1738–1938. Bi-centennial Issue: Commemorating the Settlement of the Rockbridge Section of Virginia by the White Men. A Tribute to the Scotch-Irish Pioneers. Lexington Gazette (Virginia)Harris, J.D. (1901) "General Thomas Mathews". ''The Virginia Law Register'', Vol. 7, No. 3 (July 1901), pp. 153–158 https://www.jstor.org/stable/1100495 Retrieved October 25, 2013 though the connection has not been noted by others.

References

Bibliography

* * * * * * * * * * {{cite book, last1=Otis , first1=Rice, year=1986, title=A History of Greenbrier County , publisher= Greenbrier Historical Society , location = Lewisburg, West Virginia , ref=Rice American families American families of Scotch-Irish ancestry Augusta County, Virginia Bath County, Virginia Botetourt County, Virginia Families from Virginia Families from West Virginia Greenbrier County, West Virginia Mathews family of Virginia and West Virginia Political families of Virginia Political families of the United States West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana Wilkes County, Georgia Wood County, West Virginia