| Notes |
- NOTE 1./ Margaret CUNNINGHAM
EVENT: BETWEEN 1793 AND 1797, Augusta, VA
"In September 1793, Mrs. Mathews, her two step-daughters, and a step-son, came to Staunton on a visit. One of the daughters was Mrs. Ann Blackburn. While passing through Botetourt County, one of Mrs.
Mathews' ribs was broken by a jolt. For many weeks she was laid up at the house of her sister, Mrs. Smith, in Augusta. When able to travel she went to the house of her niece, Mrs. Waterman, in Harrisonburg, mainly to receive the attention from Dr. Waterman as a physician, and there she was confined to her bed for several months. During all this time no letter passed between her and her husband, although he had written to various friends in Augusta. He had assumed control of all her property, collecting rents through his agent, Major Grattan, a merchant in Staunton. He, however, instructed Major Grattan to supply his wife with whatever necessities she might need.
"The long silence between the husband and wife was broken by a notice served on her that he intended to apply to the legislature of Georgia for an Act of divorce. Then the letters between Staunton. Whether
any charge other than desertion was preferred, is not stated in any of the letters or papers on file. The General required her to return, acknowledge her error, and perform her duties as his wife; and
thereupon, he would not Press his application for divorce. She charged him with cruelty, and was not willing to trust her life in his hands. He subscribed himself, "Your persecuted husband," and she
styled herself "Your afflicted wife." He reminded her of her marriage vow and the love she professed for him the night he escorted her "from the ball at the courthouse;" and over and over protested his innocence of any wrong. He charged that she, while living in Georgia, had poisoned the minds of his servants, so that he was afraid to take food from their hands. She intimated that he wished to get rid of her in order to marry another woman.
"Mrs. Mathews employed John Coalter, afterwards the Judge, as her Counsel. By his advice, she applied to Major Grattan for money to defend herself, but he was not authorized to furnish her money "to
prosecute a suit against her husband," and refused her request. By the benevolence of friends, she procured the means to send Mr. Coalter to Georgia to protect her interests. He had interviews with General Mathews, who refused to appoint any time for bringing the matter before the Legislature. Thereupon, Mr. Coalter petitioned the Legislature, as a Court having jurisdiction, to require the General to furnish alimony to his wife, An Act divorcing the couple was passed by the Georgia Legislature February 13, 1797. At one time, Mrs. Blackburn called on her stepmother, in Staunton, and by her father's direction demanded and received a pair of silver spoons and a breastpin Mrs. Mathews had brought from Georgia. She complained that his children had not treated her with respect, and he, that she had neglected the children...., General Blackburn was sent in a carriage to escort Mrs. Mathews to Georgia, but she refused to go..... In one of his letters, General Mathews wrote that she knew why he could not come to Virginia, implying a physical disability.
"Finally, Mrs. Mathews brought suit in the County Court of Augusta to obtain possession of her estate, and from papers filed in the case, (Mathews vs. Mathews) we have obtained most of the foregoing facts.
The depositions of many witnesses were taken, chiefly to show that Mrs. Mathews could not have
returned to Georgia, on account of the condition of her health. Among the witnesses was Mrs. Ann Nelson, a daughter of Sampson Mathews, and niece of General Mathews, who testified that she had heard her cousin, Ann Blackburn, declare that her stepmother was "capable of any wickedness." On the other hand, a paper was filed, signed by thirty persons, including all the Presbyterian ministers in the county, testifying that Mrs. Mathews was, and always had been, eminently respectable..... It would seem
that General Mathews did not defend the suit."
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