OHIO PIONEER
CAPTAIN OF THE FIRST MILITARY COMPANY IN JACKSON TOWNSHIP, OHIO
A BIOGRAPHY OF CAPT. JESSE MATHEWS (1786-1869) OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO, by Laurence Overmire (4th great grandson), genealogist and family historian, updated July 2023:
Capt. Jesse Mathews (spelled with one "t" on his gravestone), a farmer, was born in Pennsylvania on May 31, 1786 (calculating from the age on his gravestone). For generations, his parents have been unknown. After years of diligent research, I speculated, based on the evidence, that Jesse was the son of Deacon William Mathews (1751-1834) and Rachel Gordon (1755-1827) of Trumbull Co., OH. Just recently, I discovered I matched DNA with 38 descendants of Deacon William and Rachel through 7 of their children, strongly indicating that Jesse Mathews is indeed their son, or at the very least a close relative.
On Feb. 25, 1808, in Liberty Township, Trumbull County, Jesse married Elizabeth "Betsy" Calhoun, the daughter of Revolutionary War veteran Samuel Calhoun and his wife Agnes Thomson. It is believed Jesse and Elizabeth had about nine children including five that have been positively identified: twins Jefferson and Emma Jane, Chester C., Matilda, and Jesse H.
According to family tradition, Jesse moved to Austintown Township in Trumbull (later Mahoning) County, Ohio, about 1809. Indeed, tax records of 1816 show Jesse with property in Austintown. Also appearing in the record are Samuel and Andrew Calhoun, presumably the father and older brother of Jesse's wife Elizabeth. The 1817 tax records of Austintown show several Matthews: George, William, Michael, Alexander, a second Alexander and John. It appears these are Jesse's relatives. Deacon William Mathews had sons named George, William, Alexander and John. George had the most acreage at the time, which makes sense as he was the Deacon's eldest son.
In March of 1818, according to The History of Ashland County, Jesse and his wife and children moved to Jackson Township, Wayne (later Ashland) County, Ohio. He made his homestead on land he had purchased from Joseph Alexander (the west part of the southwest quarter of section 21). Joseph Alexander was probably the same Joseph Alexander who married Deacon William Mathews' daughter Elizabeth "Betsey" Mathews. In other words, Joseph was probably Jesse's brother-in-law.
Jesse is recorded as one of the founding members of the Old Hopewell Presbyterian Church in 1818/19. Isaac Mathews was also a founding member and Rev. William Mathews, the son of Deacon Mathews, would often preach there. It could well be that these three Mathews men were brothers, all sons of Deacon Mathews.
Jesse must have been held in some measure of esteem as he was chosen as the captain of the first military company that was organized in the township. It may well be that he had prior military experience (perhaps in the War of 1812?), which made him qualified for the position.
The 1820 census shows that Jesse's close neighbors included Thomas Cole and Martin Fast. Jesse's son Chester would later marry Thomas Cole's daughter Elizabeth. Jesse's great granddaughter Mary Frances Mitchelson would later marry Elvin Francis Fast, Martin Fast's grandson. Curiously, on the census page preceding Jesse's in Jackson, Wayne County, we find the name of Isaac Matthews (age 26-45). Again, we might wonder if this Isaac is the same Isaac (b. 1781), who was the son of Deacon Mathews. Was Isaac, in fact, Jesse's brother? Jesse was 34 at the time.
Jesse's wife Elizabeth (Calhoun) died rather young in 1833 at the age of 47. The 1860 census shows the elderly Jesse living with his daughter Matilda, who must have been his caretaker in his later years. Jesse died June 12,1869, and was buried in Nankin Cemetery (aka Orange Cemetery), in Ashland County, Ohio. His gravestone indicates he was aged 83 years and 12 days. Calculating accordingly, that puts his birth date at May 31, 1786.
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HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE DEACON WILLIAM MATHEWS FAMILY, by Laurence Overmire, genealogist and family historian, May 2022:
According to History of Trumbull and Mahoning Counties, Ohio (published 1882), in 1803, Isaac and John Matthews and their sister Betsy settled in Kinsman, Trumbull County. A man named George Matthews (relationship, if any, unknown) also settled there that year. A year later, in 1804, Deacon William Mathews (1751-1834, also spelled with one "t" on his gravestone) arrived to make his home in the new community. His wife was Rachel Gordon (c. 1754-1827). Deacon Mathews, a Revolutionary War veteran, was instrumental in promoting the Presbyterian faith in the village. He also served as Justice of the Peace.
According to May Donaldson McKitrick's A Genealogical Record of One Branch of the Donaldson Family in America (published 1915), a book which relates the family tradition handed down to Deacon Mathews's descendants, Isaac and John Mathews were the Deacon's brothers, "they being left in charge of the property of Mr. Kinsman, the first settler of the town, while he returned east for his family, about 1802." Ms. McKitrick's book tells us that Deacon William Mathews had 11 children, two of whom were also named Isaac and John. It seems quite likely that the George Matthews mentioned in the History of Trumbull and Mahoning Counties above was George E. Mathews (1773-1852), a son of Deacon Mathews. So, apparently, the Deacon moved his entire family to Ohio, along with his two brothers and his sister.
If the family tradition as related in Ms. McKitrick's book is true, then Deacon Mathews (and presumably Isaac, John and Betsy) was born in County Down, Ulster, Ireland. Their parents emigrated when their children were young. The father was afflicted by some kind of leg injury and either died on the journey to America or soon thereafter, leaving the widow and her children to make their way in the New World. Deacon William, and perhaps the rest of his family, settled in Georgetown, Beaver Co., PA, before moving to Kinsman, Ohio.
-----
WARNING: Some on the Internet show Jesse as the son of Isaac Edward Matthews (1745-1801) and Anna Quarles Calhoun (1755-1830), but where is the evidence? We have found none. Others say Jesse was the son of James Mathews (1750-1845 of Columbiana Co., OH) and his wife Prudence Gordon (1744-1840), but again we have seen no credible evidence whatsoever to support it.
WARNING: Some show Capt. Jesse Matthews b. 1 Jun 1769, an obvious error. The date is refuted by his gravestone. Cemetery records show he died June 12, 1869, at the age of 83 years and 12 days, putting his birth at May 31, 1786.
Sources:
1) "Genealogy of Fast, Shriver, Burns, Scott, McKibben, Including Descendants of Revolutionary War Hero Christian Fast," by Laurence Overmire, RootsWeb World Connect Project, 2000-2018.
2) History of Trumbull & Mahoning Counties, Ohio (Cleveland, OH, H. Z. Williams & Bros., 1882), Vol. I, p. 288
3) A Genealogical Record of One Branch of the Donaldson Family in America, Descendants of Moses Donaldson, By May Donaldson McKitrick (F.J. Beer, Columbus, OH, 1916)
4) Family Group Sheet of Jesse Mathews and Elizabeth Calhoun, Research files of A. Douglas Mathews (aka Grandpa Doug), 3 Aug 2006. Grandpa Doug's family tradition contends that Jesse was in Austin Twp., Trumbull Co., OH, in 1809. He moved to Jackson Twp., Ashland Co., OH in 1818.
5) George William Hill, History of Ashland County, Ohio, (Williams Bros., 1880), p. 495-496
6) Trumbull Co., Ohio Marriage Record Index, ed. by Roberta Graves Hyde, Sally Bloomfield Mazer, Barbara Houser Layfield, Vol. 1, A-M
7) Ohio, County Marriage Records, 1774-1993
8) 1820 federal census, Jackson, Wayne, Ohio; Page: 131; NARA Roll: M33_93; Image: 144
9) 1860 federal census, Jackson, Ashland, Ohio; Roll: M653_930; Page: 208; Family History Library Film: 803930
10) Ohio, Tax Records, 1800-1850
11) Find A Grave memorials for Deacon William Mathews (# 33909015), his wife Rachel Gordon Mathews (#33909086), and children, George E. Mathews (#33909200), Levi Mathews (#33968407) and Rachel Mathews Laughlin (# 33969259).
12) List of members of Old Hopewell Presbyterian Church in 1818/19, from the "Records of the Hopewell Church," by Rev. Merle Ramage, May 1969, published in The Pastfinder, Quarterly Newsletter of The Ashland County Chapter Ohio Genealogical Society, Vol. 22, Issue 4, Nov. 2003. (The original site for the church was on the north side of SR96 a mile west of the courthouse.)∼Aged 83y 12d
CAPTAIN OF THE FIRST MILITARY COMPANY IN JACKSON TOWNSHIP, OHIO
A BIOGRAPHY OF CAPT. JESSE MATHEWS (1786-1869) OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO, by Laurence Overmire (4th great grandson), genealogist and family historian, updated July 2023:
Capt. Jesse Mathews (spelled with one "t" on his gravestone), a farmer, was born in Pennsylvania on May 31, 1786 (calculating from the age on his gravestone). For generations, his parents have been unknown. After years of diligent research, I speculated, based on the evidence, that Jesse was the son of Deacon William Mathews (1751-1834) and Rachel Gordon (1755-1827) of Trumbull Co., OH. Just recently, I discovered I matched DNA with 38 descendants of Deacon William and Rachel through 7 of their children, strongly indicating that Jesse Mathews is indeed their son, or at the very least a close relative.
On Feb. 25, 1808, in Liberty Township, Trumbull County, Jesse married Elizabeth "Betsy" Calhoun, the daughter of Revolutionary War veteran Samuel Calhoun and his wife Agnes Thomson. It is believed Jesse and Elizabeth had about nine children including five that have been positively identified: twins Jefferson and Emma Jane, Chester C., Matilda, and Jesse H.
According to family tradition, Jesse moved to Austintown Township in Trumbull (later Mahoning) County, Ohio, about 1809. Indeed, tax records of 1816 show Jesse with property in Austintown. Also appearing in the record are Samuel and Andrew Calhoun, presumably the father and older brother of Jesse's wife Elizabeth. The 1817 tax records of Austintown show several Matthews: George, William, Michael, Alexander, a second Alexander and John. It appears these are Jesse's relatives. Deacon William Mathews had sons named George, William, Alexander and John. George had the most acreage at the time, which makes sense as he was the Deacon's eldest son.
In March of 1818, according to The History of Ashland County, Jesse and his wife and children moved to Jackson Township, Wayne (later Ashland) County, Ohio. He made his homestead on land he had purchased from Joseph Alexander (the west part of the southwest quarter of section 21). Joseph Alexander was probably the same Joseph Alexander who married Deacon William Mathews' daughter Elizabeth "Betsey" Mathews. In other words, Joseph was probably Jesse's brother-in-law.
Jesse is recorded as one of the founding members of the Old Hopewell Presbyterian Church in 1818/19. Isaac Mathews was also a founding member and Rev. William Mathews, the son of Deacon Mathews, would often preach there. It could well be that these three Mathews men were brothers, all sons of Deacon Mathews.
Jesse must have been held in some measure of esteem as he was chosen as the captain of the first military company that was organized in the township. It may well be that he had prior military experience (perhaps in the War of 1812?), which made him qualified for the position.
The 1820 census shows that Jesse's close neighbors included Thomas Cole and Martin Fast. Jesse's son Chester would later marry Thomas Cole's daughter Elizabeth. Jesse's great granddaughter Mary Frances Mitchelson would later marry Elvin Francis Fast, Martin Fast's grandson. Curiously, on the census page preceding Jesse's in Jackson, Wayne County, we find the name of Isaac Matthews (age 26-45). Again, we might wonder if this Isaac is the same Isaac (b. 1781), who was the son of Deacon Mathews. Was Isaac, in fact, Jesse's brother? Jesse was 34 at the time.
Jesse's wife Elizabeth (Calhoun) died rather young in 1833 at the age of 47. The 1860 census shows the elderly Jesse living with his daughter Matilda, who must have been his caretaker in his later years. Jesse died June 12,1869, and was buried in Nankin Cemetery (aka Orange Cemetery), in Ashland County, Ohio. His gravestone indicates he was aged 83 years and 12 days. Calculating accordingly, that puts his birth date at May 31, 1786.
-----
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE DEACON WILLIAM MATHEWS FAMILY, by Laurence Overmire, genealogist and family historian, May 2022:
According to History of Trumbull and Mahoning Counties, Ohio (published 1882), in 1803, Isaac and John Matthews and their sister Betsy settled in Kinsman, Trumbull County. A man named George Matthews (relationship, if any, unknown) also settled there that year. A year later, in 1804, Deacon William Mathews (1751-1834, also spelled with one "t" on his gravestone) arrived to make his home in the new community. His wife was Rachel Gordon (c. 1754-1827). Deacon Mathews, a Revolutionary War veteran, was instrumental in promoting the Presbyterian faith in the village. He also served as Justice of the Peace.
According to May Donaldson McKitrick's A Genealogical Record of One Branch of the Donaldson Family in America (published 1915), a book which relates the family tradition handed down to Deacon Mathews's descendants, Isaac and John Mathews were the Deacon's brothers, "they being left in charge of the property of Mr. Kinsman, the first settler of the town, while he returned east for his family, about 1802." Ms. McKitrick's book tells us that Deacon William Mathews had 11 children, two of whom were also named Isaac and John. It seems quite likely that the George Matthews mentioned in the History of Trumbull and Mahoning Counties above was George E. Mathews (1773-1852), a son of Deacon Mathews. So, apparently, the Deacon moved his entire family to Ohio, along with his two brothers and his sister.
If the family tradition as related in Ms. McKitrick's book is true, then Deacon Mathews (and presumably Isaac, John and Betsy) was born in County Down, Ulster, Ireland. Their parents emigrated when their children were young. The father was afflicted by some kind of leg injury and either died on the journey to America or soon thereafter, leaving the widow and her children to make their way in the New World. Deacon William, and perhaps the rest of his family, settled in Georgetown, Beaver Co., PA, before moving to Kinsman, Ohio.
-----
WARNING: Some on the Internet show Jesse as the son of Isaac Edward Matthews (1745-1801) and Anna Quarles Calhoun (1755-1830), but where is the evidence? We have found none. Others say Jesse was the son of James Mathews (1750-1845 of Columbiana Co., OH) and his wife Prudence Gordon (1744-1840), but again we have seen no credible evidence whatsoever to support it.
WARNING: Some show Capt. Jesse Matthews b. 1 Jun 1769, an obvious error. The date is refuted by his gravestone. Cemetery records show he died June 12, 1869, at the age of 83 years and 12 days, putting his birth at May 31, 1786.
Sources:
1) "Genealogy of Fast, Shriver, Burns, Scott, McKibben, Including Descendants of Revolutionary War Hero Christian Fast," by Laurence Overmire, RootsWeb World Connect Project, 2000-2018.
2) History of Trumbull & Mahoning Counties, Ohio (Cleveland, OH, H. Z. Williams & Bros., 1882), Vol. I, p. 288
3) A Genealogical Record of One Branch of the Donaldson Family in America, Descendants of Moses Donaldson, By May Donaldson McKitrick (F.J. Beer, Columbus, OH, 1916)
4) Family Group Sheet of Jesse Mathews and Elizabeth Calhoun, Research files of A. Douglas Mathews (aka Grandpa Doug), 3 Aug 2006. Grandpa Doug's family tradition contends that Jesse was in Austin Twp., Trumbull Co., OH, in 1809. He moved to Jackson Twp., Ashland Co., OH in 1818.
5) George William Hill, History of Ashland County, Ohio, (Williams Bros., 1880), p. 495-496
6) Trumbull Co., Ohio Marriage Record Index, ed. by Roberta Graves Hyde, Sally Bloomfield Mazer, Barbara Houser Layfield, Vol. 1, A-M
7) Ohio, County Marriage Records, 1774-1993
8) 1820 federal census, Jackson, Wayne, Ohio; Page: 131; NARA Roll: M33_93; Image: 144
9) 1860 federal census, Jackson, Ashland, Ohio; Roll: M653_930; Page: 208; Family History Library Film: 803930
10) Ohio, Tax Records, 1800-1850
11) Find A Grave memorials for Deacon William Mathews (# 33909015), his wife Rachel Gordon Mathews (#33909086), and children, George E. Mathews (#33909200), Levi Mathews (#33968407) and Rachel Mathews Laughlin (# 33969259).
12) List of members of Old Hopewell Presbyterian Church in 1818/19, from the "Records of the Hopewell Church," by Rev. Merle Ramage, May 1969, published in The Pastfinder, Quarterly Newsletter of The Ashland County Chapter Ohio Genealogical Society, Vol. 22, Issue 4, Nov. 2003. (The original site for the church was on the north side of SR96 a mile west of the courthouse.)∼Aged 83y 12d
OHIO PIONEER
CAPTAIN OF THE FIRST MILITARY COMPANY IN JACKSON TOWNSHIP, OHIO
A BIOGRAPHY OF CAPT. JESSE MATHEWS (1786-1869) OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO, by Laurence Overmire (4th great grandson), genealogist and family historian, updated July 2023:
Capt. Jesse Mathews (spelled with one "t" on his gravestone), a farmer, was born in Pennsylvania on May 31, 1786 (calculating from the age on his gravestone). For generations, his parents have been unknown. After years of diligent research, I speculated, based on the evidence, that Jesse was the son of Deacon William Mathews (1751-1834) and Rachel Gordon (1755-1827) of Trumbull Co., OH. Just recently, I discovered I matched DNA with 38 descendants of Deacon William and Rachel through 7 of their children, strongly indicating that Jesse Mathews is indeed their son, or at the very least a close relative.
On Feb. 25, 1808, in Liberty Township, Trumbull County, Jesse married Elizabeth "Betsy" Calhoun, the daughter of Revolutionary War veteran Samuel Calhoun and his wife Agnes Thomson. It is believed Jesse and Elizabeth had about nine children including five that have been positively identified: twins Jefferson and Emma Jane, Chester C., Matilda, and Jesse H.
According to family tradition, Jesse moved to Austintown Township in Trumbull (later Mahoning) County, Ohio, about 1809. Indeed, tax records of 1816 show Jesse with property in Austintown. Also appearing in the record are Samuel and Andrew Calhoun, presumably the father and older brother of Jesse's wife Elizabeth. The 1817 tax records of Austintown show several Matthews: George, William, Michael, Alexander, a second Alexander and John. It appears these are Jesse's relatives. Deacon William Mathews had sons named George, William, Alexander and John. George had the most acreage at the time, which makes sense as he was the Deacon's eldest son.
In March of 1818, according to The History of Ashland County, Jesse and his wife and children moved to Jackson Township, Wayne (later Ashland) County, Ohio. He made his homestead on land he had purchased from Joseph Alexander (the west part of the southwest quarter of section 21). Joseph Alexander was probably the same Joseph Alexander who married Deacon William Mathews' daughter Elizabeth "Betsey" Mathews. In other words, Joseph was probably Jesse's brother-in-law.
Jesse is recorded as one of the founding members of the Old Hopewell Presbyterian Church in 1818/19. Isaac Mathews was also a founding member and Rev. William Mathews, the son of Deacon Mathews, would often preach there. It could well be that these three Mathews men were brothers, all sons of Deacon Mathews.
Jesse must have been held in some measure of esteem as he was chosen as the captain of the first military company that was organized in the township. It may well be that he had prior military experience (perhaps in the War of 1812?), which made him qualified for the position.
The 1820 census shows that Jesse's close neighbors included Thomas Cole and Martin Fast. Jesse's son Chester would later marry Thomas Cole's daughter Elizabeth. Jesse's great granddaughter Mary Frances Mitchelson would later marry Elvin Francis Fast, Martin Fast's grandson. Curiously, on the census page preceding Jesse's in Jackson, Wayne County, we find the name of Isaac Matthews (age 26-45). Again, we might wonder if this Isaac is the same Isaac (b. 1781), who was the son of Deacon Mathews. Was Isaac, in fact, Jesse's brother? Jesse was 34 at the time.
Jesse's wife Elizabeth (Calhoun) died rather young in 1833 at the age of 47. The 1860 census shows the elderly Jesse living with his daughter Matilda, who must have been his caretaker in his later years. Jesse died June 12,1869, and was buried in Nankin Cemetery (aka Orange Cemetery), in Ashland County, Ohio. His gravestone indicates he was aged 83 years and 12 days. Calculating accordingly, that puts his birth date at May 31, 1786.
-----
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE DEACON WILLIAM MATHEWS FAMILY, by Laurence Overmire, genealogist and family historian, May 2022:
According to History of Trumbull and Mahoning Counties, Ohio (published 1882), in 1803, Isaac and John Matthews and their sister Betsy settled in Kinsman, Trumbull County. A man named George Matthews (relationship, if any, unknown) also settled there that year. A year later, in 1804, Deacon William Mathews (1751-1834, also spelled with one "t" on his gravestone) arrived to make his home in the new community. His wife was Rachel Gordon (c. 1754-1827). Deacon Mathews, a Revolutionary War veteran, was instrumental in promoting the Presbyterian faith in the village. He also served as Justice of the Peace.
According to May Donaldson McKitrick's A Genealogical Record of One Branch of the Donaldson Family in America (published 1915), a book which relates the family tradition handed down to Deacon Mathews's descendants, Isaac and John Mathews were the Deacon's brothers, "they being left in charge of the property of Mr. Kinsman, the first settler of the town, while he returned east for his family, about 1802." Ms. McKitrick's book tells us that Deacon William Mathews had 11 children, two of whom were also named Isaac and John. It seems quite likely that the George Matthews mentioned in the History of Trumbull and Mahoning Counties above was George E. Mathews (1773-1852), a son of Deacon Mathews. So, apparently, the Deacon moved his entire family to Ohio, along with his two brothers and his sister.
If the family tradition as related in Ms. McKitrick's book is true, then Deacon Mathews (and presumably Isaac, John and Betsy) was born in County Down, Ulster, Ireland. Their parents emigrated when their children were young. The father was afflicted by some kind of leg injury and either died on the journey to America or soon thereafter, leaving the widow and her children to make their way in the New World. Deacon William, and perhaps the rest of his family, settled in Georgetown, Beaver Co., PA, before moving to Kinsman, Ohio.
-----
WARNING: Some on the Internet show Jesse as the son of Isaac Edward Matthews (1745-1801) and Anna Quarles Calhoun (1755-1830), but where is the evidence? We have found none. Others say Jesse was the son of James Mathews (1750-1845 of Columbiana Co., OH) and his wife Prudence Gordon (1744-1840), but again we have seen no credible evidence whatsoever to support it.
WARNING: Some show Capt. Jesse Matthews b. 1 Jun 1769, an obvious error. The date is refuted by his gravestone. Cemetery records show he died June 12, 1869, at the age of 83 years and 12 days, putting his birth at May 31, 1786.
Sources:
1) "Genealogy of Fast, Shriver, Burns, Scott, McKibben, Including Descendants of Revolutionary War Hero Christian Fast," by Laurence Overmire, RootsWeb World Connect Project, 2000-2018.
2) History of Trumbull & Mahoning Counties, Ohio (Cleveland, OH, H. Z. Williams & Bros., 1882), Vol. I, p. 288
3) A Genealogical Record of One Branch of the Donaldson Family in America, Descendants of Moses Donaldson, By May Donaldson McKitrick (F.J. Beer, Columbus, OH, 1916)
4) Family Group Sheet of Jesse Mathews and Elizabeth Calhoun, Research files of A. Douglas Mathews (aka Grandpa Doug), 3 Aug 2006. Grandpa Doug's family tradition contends that Jesse was in Austin Twp., Trumbull Co., OH, in 1809. He moved to Jackson Twp., Ashland Co., OH in 1818.
5) George William Hill, History of Ashland County, Ohio, (Williams Bros., 1880), p. 495-496
6) Trumbull Co., Ohio Marriage Record Index, ed. by Roberta Graves Hyde, Sally Bloomfield Mazer, Barbara Houser Layfield, Vol. 1, A-M
7) Ohio, County Marriage Records, 1774-1993
8) 1820 federal census, Jackson, Wayne, Ohio; Page: 131; NARA Roll: M33_93; Image: 144
9) 1860 federal census, Jackson, Ashland, Ohio; Roll: M653_930; Page: 208; Family History Library Film: 803930
10) Ohio, Tax Records, 1800-1850
11) Find A Grave memorials for Deacon William Mathews (# 33909015), his wife Rachel Gordon Mathews (#33909086), and children, George E. Mathews (#33909200), Levi Mathews (#33968407) and Rachel Mathews Laughlin (# 33969259).
12) List of members of Old Hopewell Presbyterian Church in 1818/19, from the "Records of the Hopewell Church," by Rev. Merle Ramage, May 1969, published in The Pastfinder, Quarterly Newsletter of The Ashland County Chapter Ohio Genealogical Society, Vol. 22, Issue 4, Nov. 2003. (The original site for the church was on the north side of SR96 a mile west of the courthouse.)∼Aged 83y 12d
CAPTAIN OF THE FIRST MILITARY COMPANY IN JACKSON TOWNSHIP, OHIO
A BIOGRAPHY OF CAPT. JESSE MATHEWS (1786-1869) OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO, by Laurence Overmire (4th great grandson), genealogist and family historian, updated July 2023:
Capt. Jesse Mathews (spelled with one "t" on his gravestone), a farmer, was born in Pennsylvania on May 31, 1786 (calculating from the age on his gravestone). For generations, his parents have been unknown. After years of diligent research, I speculated, based on the evidence, that Jesse was the son of Deacon William Mathews (1751-1834) and Rachel Gordon (1755-1827) of Trumbull Co., OH. Just recently, I discovered I matched DNA with 38 descendants of Deacon William and Rachel through 7 of their children, strongly indicating that Jesse Mathews is indeed their son, or at the very least a close relative.
On Feb. 25, 1808, in Liberty Township, Trumbull County, Jesse married Elizabeth "Betsy" Calhoun, the daughter of Revolutionary War veteran Samuel Calhoun and his wife Agnes Thomson. It is believed Jesse and Elizabeth had about nine children including five that have been positively identified: twins Jefferson and Emma Jane, Chester C., Matilda, and Jesse H.
According to family tradition, Jesse moved to Austintown Township in Trumbull (later Mahoning) County, Ohio, about 1809. Indeed, tax records of 1816 show Jesse with property in Austintown. Also appearing in the record are Samuel and Andrew Calhoun, presumably the father and older brother of Jesse's wife Elizabeth. The 1817 tax records of Austintown show several Matthews: George, William, Michael, Alexander, a second Alexander and John. It appears these are Jesse's relatives. Deacon William Mathews had sons named George, William, Alexander and John. George had the most acreage at the time, which makes sense as he was the Deacon's eldest son.
In March of 1818, according to The History of Ashland County, Jesse and his wife and children moved to Jackson Township, Wayne (later Ashland) County, Ohio. He made his homestead on land he had purchased from Joseph Alexander (the west part of the southwest quarter of section 21). Joseph Alexander was probably the same Joseph Alexander who married Deacon William Mathews' daughter Elizabeth "Betsey" Mathews. In other words, Joseph was probably Jesse's brother-in-law.
Jesse is recorded as one of the founding members of the Old Hopewell Presbyterian Church in 1818/19. Isaac Mathews was also a founding member and Rev. William Mathews, the son of Deacon Mathews, would often preach there. It could well be that these three Mathews men were brothers, all sons of Deacon Mathews.
Jesse must have been held in some measure of esteem as he was chosen as the captain of the first military company that was organized in the township. It may well be that he had prior military experience (perhaps in the War of 1812?), which made him qualified for the position.
The 1820 census shows that Jesse's close neighbors included Thomas Cole and Martin Fast. Jesse's son Chester would later marry Thomas Cole's daughter Elizabeth. Jesse's great granddaughter Mary Frances Mitchelson would later marry Elvin Francis Fast, Martin Fast's grandson. Curiously, on the census page preceding Jesse's in Jackson, Wayne County, we find the name of Isaac Matthews (age 26-45). Again, we might wonder if this Isaac is the same Isaac (b. 1781), who was the son of Deacon Mathews. Was Isaac, in fact, Jesse's brother? Jesse was 34 at the time.
Jesse's wife Elizabeth (Calhoun) died rather young in 1833 at the age of 47. The 1860 census shows the elderly Jesse living with his daughter Matilda, who must have been his caretaker in his later years. Jesse died June 12,1869, and was buried in Nankin Cemetery (aka Orange Cemetery), in Ashland County, Ohio. His gravestone indicates he was aged 83 years and 12 days. Calculating accordingly, that puts his birth date at May 31, 1786.
-----
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE DEACON WILLIAM MATHEWS FAMILY, by Laurence Overmire, genealogist and family historian, May 2022:
According to History of Trumbull and Mahoning Counties, Ohio (published 1882), in 1803, Isaac and John Matthews and their sister Betsy settled in Kinsman, Trumbull County. A man named George Matthews (relationship, if any, unknown) also settled there that year. A year later, in 1804, Deacon William Mathews (1751-1834, also spelled with one "t" on his gravestone) arrived to make his home in the new community. His wife was Rachel Gordon (c. 1754-1827). Deacon Mathews, a Revolutionary War veteran, was instrumental in promoting the Presbyterian faith in the village. He also served as Justice of the Peace.
According to May Donaldson McKitrick's A Genealogical Record of One Branch of the Donaldson Family in America (published 1915), a book which relates the family tradition handed down to Deacon Mathews's descendants, Isaac and John Mathews were the Deacon's brothers, "they being left in charge of the property of Mr. Kinsman, the first settler of the town, while he returned east for his family, about 1802." Ms. McKitrick's book tells us that Deacon William Mathews had 11 children, two of whom were also named Isaac and John. It seems quite likely that the George Matthews mentioned in the History of Trumbull and Mahoning Counties above was George E. Mathews (1773-1852), a son of Deacon Mathews. So, apparently, the Deacon moved his entire family to Ohio, along with his two brothers and his sister.
If the family tradition as related in Ms. McKitrick's book is true, then Deacon Mathews (and presumably Isaac, John and Betsy) was born in County Down, Ulster, Ireland. Their parents emigrated when their children were young. The father was afflicted by some kind of leg injury and either died on the journey to America or soon thereafter, leaving the widow and her children to make their way in the New World. Deacon William, and perhaps the rest of his family, settled in Georgetown, Beaver Co., PA, before moving to Kinsman, Ohio.
-----
WARNING: Some on the Internet show Jesse as the son of Isaac Edward Matthews (1745-1801) and Anna Quarles Calhoun (1755-1830), but where is the evidence? We have found none. Others say Jesse was the son of James Mathews (1750-1845 of Columbiana Co., OH) and his wife Prudence Gordon (1744-1840), but again we have seen no credible evidence whatsoever to support it.
WARNING: Some show Capt. Jesse Matthews b. 1 Jun 1769, an obvious error. The date is refuted by his gravestone. Cemetery records show he died June 12, 1869, at the age of 83 years and 12 days, putting his birth at May 31, 1786.
Sources:
1) "Genealogy of Fast, Shriver, Burns, Scott, McKibben, Including Descendants of Revolutionary War Hero Christian Fast," by Laurence Overmire, RootsWeb World Connect Project, 2000-2018.
2) History of Trumbull & Mahoning Counties, Ohio (Cleveland, OH, H. Z. Williams & Bros., 1882), Vol. I, p. 288
3) A Genealogical Record of One Branch of the Donaldson Family in America, Descendants of Moses Donaldson, By May Donaldson McKitrick (F.J. Beer, Columbus, OH, 1916)
4) Family Group Sheet of Jesse Mathews and Elizabeth Calhoun, Research files of A. Douglas Mathews (aka Grandpa Doug), 3 Aug 2006. Grandpa Doug's family tradition contends that Jesse was in Austin Twp., Trumbull Co., OH, in 1809. He moved to Jackson Twp., Ashland Co., OH in 1818.
5) George William Hill, History of Ashland County, Ohio, (Williams Bros., 1880), p. 495-496
6) Trumbull Co., Ohio Marriage Record Index, ed. by Roberta Graves Hyde, Sally Bloomfield Mazer, Barbara Houser Layfield, Vol. 1, A-M
7) Ohio, County Marriage Records, 1774-1993
8) 1820 federal census, Jackson, Wayne, Ohio; Page: 131; NARA Roll: M33_93; Image: 144
9) 1860 federal census, Jackson, Ashland, Ohio; Roll: M653_930; Page: 208; Family History Library Film: 803930
10) Ohio, Tax Records, 1800-1850
11) Find A Grave memorials for Deacon William Mathews (# 33909015), his wife Rachel Gordon Mathews (#33909086), and children, George E. Mathews (#33909200), Levi Mathews (#33968407) and Rachel Mathews Laughlin (# 33969259).
12) List of members of Old Hopewell Presbyterian Church in 1818/19, from the "Records of the Hopewell Church," by Rev. Merle Ramage, May 1969, published in The Pastfinder, Quarterly Newsletter of The Ashland County Chapter Ohio Genealogical Society, Vol. 22, Issue 4, Nov. 2003. (The original site for the church was on the north side of SR96 a mile west of the courthouse.)∼Aged 83y 12d
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