Son of James Crist and Catherine Hess. 63 years, 2 months, 25 days. Dates of birth are conflicting on various records. Dutch Reform Church records indicate date of birth as 19 February 1812.

Matthew Crist was descended from one of the early Crist settlers who came to New York from Germany in the mid-1700s. Most researchers identify two brothers, Henry and Stephanus Crist, who began developing large and prosperous farms near Montgomery, NY. These were industrious and determined men, and they had large families. By the time Matthew was born, the Crist name was well-represented in Orange County. The Crist families regularly used the same first names for their children, making it difficult to sort out the lineages. There is a James Crist living in the household of Matthew in 1850, and this is Matthew's father.

James Crist and Catherine Hess had at least seven children we can identify:

Elizabeth, born 28 Sept 1808, married Peter Millspaugh, and died 16 July 1868. F/A/G memorial # 184053325

Matthew, born 1812, the subject of this story.

Mary, born 1814 and married a Coleman. Died 03 April 1865, according to Crist family Bible. Information courtesy of John Crist.

William, born 1818.

Jane, born 1823, never married and died in 1903 in Boston, F/A/G memorial #128429967.

Lawrence James, born 1825, a carriage maker who married Mary Ludlum and died in 1886. F/A/G memorial # 183600722.

Lydia, born 1830, married Thomas G. Chapman, and died in 1906 in Boston. F/A/G memorial # 183863470.

Matthew Crist was active in his community. He was routinely a commissioner of highways and served as a jurist on various panels. He applied for licenses pertaining to a hotel he operated from his home, and he was fined occasionally for serving alcohol on Sunday, on election day, and for serving alcohol without a license. When three of the Crist cows were found wandering in the countryside, the news made the local papers. Once, a man working on Matthew's farm, Ephraim Johnson, died while working. Matthew asked that an inquest be held to determine the cause of Mr. Johnson's death. The conclusion was that the man died of natural causes.

Matthew Crist was a well-regarded citizen. When Matthew died suddenly in 1875, he left a farm of 141 acres, which his widow sold for $8000.00 in 1876. He also left a legacy of hard work and determination.

Matthew and a number of his children were buried at Berea Cemetery, which was the cemetery for the Reformed Dutch Church until 1901. Matthew was a member of this church. Mary Alexander Crist was buried at St. George's Episcopal Cemetery with two of the couple's children. Mary was a member of St. George's Episcopal Church, and Mary's parents were buried in St. George's cemetery. When Mary's children buried her, they relocated some of Matthew's remains to St. Georges, and Matthew's name appears on the gravestone at St Georges. However, Matthew's original gravestone is still at Berea Cemetery along with some of his remains and those of a number of the couple's children. Because of this, we have left Matthew's memorial at Berea in place.