[Birth info from Susan Taylor Bronston Hutson.)

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Matthias was born on the farm owned by his father in what is now Berks County, Pennsylvania. Two months after his birth his father died. His older brother Adam began to help his mother care for the family and later apparently took over the operation of the farm.
Matthias was confirmed at the New Hanover Lutheran Church on 29 Mar 1752. He is also listed as a communicant in the St. Joseph's Church record (18 May 1755 and 30 May 1756). He was a sponsor for the baptism of the oldest child (John Jacob) of his sister Mary Magdalena and her husband, John Miller at St. Joseph's on 6 Feb 1757. By 1759, the decision to leave Pennsylvania had most likely been made. His mother had died and his older brother, Adam, had sold the farm and divided the proceeds amongst the sisters, Matthias, and himself. New land was bought in Frederick County, Maryland; one hundred acres was purchased from John Martin, 17 May 1759. Matthias purchased his first piece of land in 1766. The deed was written 13 July 1766, and recorded 25 July 1766 in Frederick County. "Andrew Hoyle, of Frederick County and Province of Maryland, Farmer, of the one part, and Matthias Link, of the county and province aforesaid, Blacksmith, of the other part" ... for "Fifty pounds, current money, to him in hand paid by the said Matthias Link ... " (Maryland Land Records: Liber K, Folio 1396). Matthias later purchased additional land; on 22 Nov 1770, William Goodman deeded Matthias "25 acres of land, part of the Resurvey on Cooper's Alley ... for 12 pounds current money." The deed was recorded 26 Mar 1771 (MLR: Liber O, Folio 158). [Note: the tract adjoined the 92 acres bought from Hoyle, thus completing a farm of 117 acres.]Matthias prospered and when he sold his Frederick County farm (26 June 1779) to move to Virginia, he was able to purchase nearly triple the number of acres in the Shenandoah Valley, eight miles north of Staunton, at Fort Defiance in Augusta County. The farm contained 330 acres and was located next to and directly west of the Old Stone Church yard.Matthias' name is found only twice in the Salem Lutheran church record. However, the earliest entry is 1807, and by that time, Matthias was 70 years old. He is listed as a communicant 5 Sep 1812 and 4 Sep 1813.Matthias wrote his will in his seventy-sixth year; it was signed 3 October 1812. "Mathias Link, Sr.'s, will (signed in German), of advanced age--To wife, Mary, to be paid by son, John; to sons, Peter, Mathias, Christian; son, David; son, Adam; to daughters, Catherine Hanger, Elizabeth Wayland, Mary Grisham; to granddaughter, Sarah Link, daughter to John Link; to son, John. Executors, sons John and Peter. Teste: Wm. Wilson, Daniel Stover, Jr.; James Crawford. Proved 27th February, 1815. John qualifies." (From Chalkley's Chronicles, Vol. 3, p. 243)After Matthias' death, his will was proved 27 Feb 1815. This document evidently created great dissatisfaction among the heirs. His widow renounced her inheritance, and instead took her dower, which under the laws of Virginia at that time was one-third of all property, real and personal, for her lifetime. Her son, John, brought suit against her to prevent her from clearing any of the 77 acres she had received. The suit of injunction was later dissolved by the court. (Anna Mary died in 1817.) Meanwhile, John sold the farm (24 May 1818) in two tracts and moved to Washington County, Tennessee. The children resolved their differences and all purchased items from the sale of their parents' household effects. (See The Link Family, pp. 74-76)Matthias Link is listed a patriot in the Daughters of the American Revolution Patriot Index for providing supplies to the Virginia troops during the Revolutionary War. According to the records of Augusta County, Matthias submitted a claim for 193 pounds of flour and the cost of transportation, "2 days wagonage."From: "The Link Family: Antecedents and Descendants of John Jacob Link 1417-1951" by Paxson Link.