Governor Samuel MATHEWS

Male 1624 - 1660  (36 years)


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  • Name Governor Samuel MATHEWS  [1
    Born 1624  James City, Bruton Parish, Warwick County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died Jan 1660  Warwich County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I13067  Bob-Millie Family Tree
    Last Modified 12 Oct 2022 

    Father Colonel Immigrant Samuel MATHEWS
              b. Abt 1592, Burnham, Buckinghamshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 13 Mar 1660, Williamsburg, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 68 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Mother Mary Frances HINTON
              b. 10 Oct 1601, Chilton, Foliat, Wiltshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 1675  (Age 73 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Married 20 Jun 1622  Lancaster, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Family ID F5642  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Frances GREVILLE
              b. Abt 1628, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married Abt 1651  Warwich County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Captain John MATHEWS
              b. 1658, Denbergh, Near Blunt Point, Warwich County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 1702, Warwich County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 44 years)  [natural]
     2. Francis MATHEWS  [natural]
     3. John MATHEWS  [natural]
     4. Mary MATHEWS  [natural]
    Last Modified 12 Oct 2022 
    Family ID F5641  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    # 3 History of Virginia: SamuelJr Mathews
    # 3 History of Virginia: SamuelJr Mathews

  • Notes 
    • NOTE 1./ A Smith Family Line at << http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Bluffs/4579/smith.html>>

      Major Smith was Speaker of the House of Burgesses in 1657 (from Warwick County). He voiced the refusal of the House to accept the order of dissolution by Governor Mathews. He married Anne Bernard around 1652.
      Anne Bernard [see Descendents of Francis Bernard] was the daughter of Richard Bernard (1618) of Petsworth, Buckinghamshire [son of John Bernard, once Governor of Bermudas] and Anne Corderay (1622-1670). She was the heir to "Purton," first house built for a white family in Gloucester Co. on York River, on Purtan Bay located not far from Werawocomoco, probable former residence of Indian Chief Powhatan (where Captain John Smith was held captive by Powhatan and Opechancanough and "saved" by Pocahontas). Mrs. Bernard, her mother, built the first church in the county, Petsworth Episcopal. John Wise says this family is the same as that of Tottne, Devonshire, the arms of which are: "Azure a chevron between three acorns slipped and leave or." The W&M Quarterly says the Bernard arms were a bear rampant. Mrs. Bernard was guardian of the orphans of Col. Samuel Mathews of Warwick County

      NOTE 2./ Denbigh was a small unincorporated town in Warwick County, Virginia. It was named for Denbigh Plantation, which was patented by Colonel Samuel Mathews, who came to Virginia before 1618, filled several important posts, and became the father of Samuel Mathews, governor of the Virginia colony from 1657-1660.
      The town of Denbigh was the county seat of Warwick County from 1810 until 1952, except for a short period from 1888 to 1896 when the courthouse has located in what is now downtown Newport News. It was moved back to Denbigh when Newport News became an independent city in 1896.
      Warwick County became an independent city itself in 1952. Six years later, in 1958, the City of Warwick consolidated with the independent city of Newport News, assuming the latter's better-known name.
      The present-day City of Newport News essentially includes all the territory of Warwick River Shire, formed in 1634 in colonial Virginia, which became Warwick County in 1643. Denbigh is now considered a neighborhood area of Newport News. The preserved 1810 Warwick County Courthouse at Denbigh is now a museum.

      NOTE 3./ Thirteenth Generation, Samuel Matthews
      Born: Denbigh, England Died: January 1660 Occupation: Councilor Governor of Virginia Married: aft March 24, 1626 to Frances Greville West Piersey 5817. Frances Greville West Piersey :Children: Samuel Matthews, John Mathews, Francis Matthews, and Mary Mathews

      NOTE 4./ Chronology of the Jamestowne Period
      at <<http://www.jamestowne.org/chronology.htm>>
      Year Events* Governor

      1655 The Assembly elected Edward Diggs as governor Edwd Diggs
      1656 Diggs left for England late in the year and Samuel Mathews elected to replace him Edwd Diggs
      1656 Rappahammock County created out of Lancaster County Edwd Diggs
      1657 The Assembly tried to subsidize an alternative crop to tobacco Sam Mathews
      1658 Governor and Council tried unsuccessfully to dissolve the House of Burgesses Sam Mathews
      1659 Governor Mathews announced the death of Cromwell March 7th Sam Mathews
      1660 Mathews died in January.Charles II restored to the throne on his birthday, May 29th Sam Mathews
      1660 March 13th theHouse of Burgesses reaffirmed Berkeley to be Governor Wm Berkeley

      NOTE 5./ Short Virginia History of the Colonial Government <<http://www.ls.net/~newriver/va/vareg1.htm>>

      GOVERNOR--The Colony of Virginia was from 1607 to 1624, under the control of the Virginia Company, of London. At the first settlement, in 1607, the governing body consisted of a council of seven, with a president whom they were to select out of their own number. This system lasted until 1609, when the Company chose a Governor and Lieutenant Governor (Lord Delaware and Sir Thomas Gates) who were the first to bear those titles, and whose successors were, like themselves, appointed by the Company, until the revocation of its charter.

      Throughout the remainder of the Colonial period the executives of Virginia were appointed by the King. Their titles varied, some being styled "Governor and Captain-General," others Lieutenant Governor," or " Deputy Governor." From 1704 to 1768 the higher title was borne by sinecures in England, while the actual power was in the hands of "Lieutenant Governors," resident in Virginia.

      Vacancies were occasionally supplied, until an appointment could be made in England, by the election of a governor, by the Council, but this was only the case during the earlier years of the Royal Government. Later, the office was filled by the succession of the member of the Council senior in point in service, under the title President of the Council, or sometimes, President of Virginia.

      From 1652 to 1660 the Governors were elected by the House of Burgesses, though there is some reason to believe that their choice may have been influenced by the wishes of the Parliamentary authorities, or of Cromwell.

      NOTE 6./

      Capt. Samuel Mathews, came from England in the ship " Southampton " in 1622, in the same ship came Robert Mathews, who was probably his younger brother. Their plant was at James City. Campbell's Hist. of Va., p. 209, says, " Capt. Samuel Mathews was one of the Council In 1643, he had a fine house, sowed much hemp and flax and had it spun. He kept weavers, and had a tannery, where leather was dressed, and had eight shoemakers at work, had forty negro servants whom he brought up to mechanical trades. He sowed large crops of wheat and barley. He also supplied vessels trading with Va. with beef. He had plenty of cows, a fine dairy, a large number of hogs and poultry. In 1656 he was governor of the Colony." He married a dau. of Sir Thomas Hinton. Capt. Mathews went to England on business for the Colony in 1657 and died there. Lord Amherst was Governor in 16;8.—[See Blake's Biog. Dict. N. Y., 1835.] The following from Mr. Alex. Brown, Norwood, Va., author of " Genesis of U. S.": Col. Samuel Mathews was sent to England as agent for Va in 1652. He returned to Virginia in 1657. On March 13, 1657-8 he was chosen by the Assembly to act as Governor until the next Assembly, or until " the further pleasure of the supreme power of England shall be knowne." On March 7, 1658-9 the Assembly elected him Governor for two years. He died during his term of office in Jan'y. 1659 60, and at the next meeting of the Assembly, in March, 1659-60, Berkeley was chosen to succeed him. His second wife, the widow of Abraham Percy was when Percy married her the widow of Capt. Francis West. Mathews left two sons (Thomas and Samuel) by his first wife and very probably other sons and daughters. " Founders of Maryland," by Rev. E. D .Neill, p, 49 says Sam'l Mathews came to Va.. 1622, in ship "Southampton," lived at Blunts Point, a little distance above Newport News. The following from Mr. Paul Caine, Louisville, Ky.: Capt. Sam'l Mathews came to Va., 1622; was commissioner to examine into the condition of the Colony, 1623; Commissioner of Warwick Co. 1631, Member of the Council 1624-44, elected to the Council April, 1652, elected Governor Dec., 16;6, and held the place until his death, 1658. He m. I, a dau. of Sir Thomas Hinton of Chilton Foliot Eng. [who at one time lived in Va. and was member of the Council], m. 2, before 1633-9, the widow of Abraham Percy of Va. Two sons were certainly the issue of the first marriage, namely Thomas Mathews of Stafford Co., Member of House of Burgesses, 1676, supposed to be author of T. M's account of Bacon's rebellion, and Lieut. Col. Samuel Mathews of Warwick Co., Member of House of Burgesses, April, 1652-1653-1654. Member of Council, 1655, d. 1670, leaving a son John then under age. Hen. Va. Stat., Vol. I, p. 528, says " Col. Samuel Mathews died Jan y, 1659 60." The quotation seems to infer that he d. in Va.

  • Sources 
    1. [S1740] LDS Internet Site.
      Samuel Mathews Colonel : Compact Disc #35 ; Pin #727933 ; Sex: M ; Event(s):
      Birth: abt 1624 Place: of Warwick County, Virginia ; Death: abt 1660 Place: of Virginia ; Parents: Father: Samuel Mathews Governor Disc #35 Pin #727934 ; Mother: Mary Frances Hinton Disc #35 Pin #727935


    2. [S1740] LDS Internet Site.
      Spouse: Mary Frances Hinton ; Disc #35 ; Pin #727935 ; Marriage: 20 Jun 1622 Place: Virginia