Alexander Mathes, Jr.

Notes:

Maybe born 1749, Shenandoah, VA. Took oath as Captain in Shenandoah Co. Militia August 26, 1777.


Alexander Mathes and Samuel Doak,Jr....starting out from their Virginia homes .... walked through Virginia and Maryland using the same packhorse, the 'flea-bitten-grey' referred to by ROOSEVELT in "The Winning of the West" Alexander was a surveyor and civil engineer and brought with him his surveyors instruments. They located land on the Hominy Branch of the Little Limestone, in what was then the state of N.C., now Washington Co., TN.

Salem, a Presbyterian church was founded there by Doak in 1780; also Martin Academy, now known as Washington College, near Jonesboro, TN. Alexander had a part in these enterprises, was one of the original elders in Salem Church, and served as ruling elder until his death in 1806. A Salem Church building was erected in 1897 and in this building was placed a memorial window to the first 3 MATHES' who served as elders, giving the dates of service of each in succession, from father to son, the service extending for one hundred and two years, and the name of each being Alexander Mathes.

Alexander Mathes is one of the most honored names in the community. He gave 50 acres of land for establishment of Washington College, see "Tennessee Cousins".
Alexander Mathes II has the following record of Revolutionary War Service: Order Book 1, pg. 39, Records of Shenandoah, Co., VA.:
"At a Court held for the County of Dunmore Aug. 26, 1777, Alexander Mathews came into and took the oath of Captain of Militia." His name is included in "A list of ancestors whose records of service during the Revolution have recently been established, showing state from which soldier served." DAR Magazine May 1937, pg. 475. His name is also mentioned in "Revolutionary War Records" by G.M. Brumbaugh, Washington, D.C., 1936.

"At the second session of the Territorial Assembly held at Knoxville, TN, June 29, 1795, Governor Sevier presented a bill to establish Washington College in Washington Co. at Salem.... The incorporators were Samual Doak, President, Rev. Charles Cummins, Edward Crawford, John Coson, James Balch, Robert Henderson, Gidion Blackburn, Judge Joseph Anderson, Gen. John Savier, Cols. Landon Carter, Danl. Kennedy, Majors Leroy Taylor, John Tipton, Wm. Cocke, Arch. Roane, Jos. Hamilton, John Rhea, Samual Mitchell, Jesse Payne, Jas. Aiken, Wm. Chas. Cole Claiborne, Esquires,Drs. Wm. Chester; Messrs. David Deaderick, John Waddle, Jr., Alexander Mathes, John Nelson and John McAllister."

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=mathews-mathes&id=I0438

Alexander married Ann Leith on 21 Mar 1769 in Virginia. Ann was born on 8 Mar 1749; died after 1770. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Was listed as Dr. Allen Mathes, his will May 29, 1848, Will Book 14, pg. 229, Davidson Co., TN. Records.
Was educated at Washington College and studied medicine and became a physician, he moved to Sumner Co., TN, near Dallatin, later moved to Goodletsville, TN, where his descendants now live (1925). Researched by Enid Mathes Emerson from "Tennessee Bible Records and Marriage Bonds," Acklen, Gen. Publ. Co., pg. 170; Jacob Cartwright Bible record, Davidson Co., TN, in possession of Charles Smiley, Goodletsville, TN. Researched by Leslie R. Waltman, Jr. and Andrew L. Leath, 3408 Broodside Drive, Tyler, TX 75701 (1984)
He is listed in the 1805 and 1811 tax lists of Davidson Co., and the 18?0 census of Davidson Co., TN.

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=mathews-mathes&id=I0459

Notes:

"Alexander Mathes III went to Washington County, TN, (then NC) with his father, in October 1782. They were on the road when Cornwallis surrendered his army at Yorktown, VA. [Cornwallis surrendered October 19, 1781.] He settled near Washington College, where he spent a long and useful life, occupying a position of prominence.

"He succeeded his father as ruling elder in Salem church, serving in that capacity for a period of sixty years, from 1806 to 1865, at the time of his death."

"In 1819 he built, near Washington College, a large three-story residence of hewn logs, with stone basement. The rooms were very large with plenty of windows, and there was a center chimney with fireplace in each room. This was quite a pretentious home in those pioneer days. Many years later, weatherboarding was nailed on over the logs, and in 1919, after having stood one hundred years, it was remodeled into a modern home. It passed out of the ownership of the family. It was sometimes called the 'Ark'."

"Alexander Mathes III was a farmer and brick mason. He was a strict Presbyterian and considered with regret the fact that bread was baked in his home on the Sabbath. He was a very large man, weighing nearly three hundred pounds; about 5 feet 11 inches in height; had clear blue eyes, dark hair and florid complexion."

Fain Anderson wrote: "Alexander Mathes Jr. was a considerable man, in ability and weight (weighing more than 300 pounds). I knew him from 1852 until his death, a pure noble Christian gentleman."

The will of Alexander Mathes III dated December 7, 1863, probated March term 1865, is of record in Will Book 2, page 120 Washington County Courthouse, TN.

Buried in Old Salem Church Cemetery.

Researched by: Leslie R. Waltman, Jr., and Andrew L. Leath, 3408 Brookside Drive, Tyler, TX 75701 (1984).

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=mathews-mathes&id=I0460

Alexander married Isabella Ord on 6 Mar 1840 in Greene Co, Tennessee. Isabella was born on 6 Apr 1776 in Augusta Co, Virginia; died on 23 Nov 1839 in Washington Co, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

According to a sketch of the Mathes family given in 1909 by Dr. A. S. N. Dobson, George L. Mathes was a member of the Session of Salem Presbyterian Church in 1828. His son Ebenezer E. Mathes was elected elder May 7, 1870 of the Jonesboro Church. His elder son, Calvin Mathes was an elder, but moved to Washington D. C., and died there without issue.
He was listed in 1814 and 1819 tax lists and the 1830 census of Washington Co., TN.
Researched by Leslie R. Waltman, Jr., and Andrew L. Leath, Tyler, TX.

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=mathews-mathes&id=I0461

George married Phoebe Wear about 1800 in Washington Co, Tennessee. Phoebe (daughter of John Wear and Nancy Ann Blackburn) was born in 1783 in Washington Co, Tennessee; died about 1854 in Washington Co, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Grace Mathes emigrated with her father during October 1781, from the Shenandoah Valley, VA, to Washington Co., TN (then NC) lived on the farm where Elijah Shannon later lived. She is listed in 1814 and 1819 tax lists of Wasington Co., TN.
Researched by Leslie R. Waltman, Jr. and Andrew L. Leath, Tyler, TX.
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=mathews-mathes&id=I0462

Grace married William Patton about 1800 in near Washington College, Tennessee. William was born in 1777 in Virginia; died in 1830 in Washington Co, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Was first child of Alexander II born in Washington Co.,Tennessee, moved to KY, where he married and died.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1850, Cass Co, Missouri

Notes:

John Mathes moved to Jefferson Co., TN and later to Cass Co., Missouri, according to Dr. Dobson's Sketch of the Mathes family. He was a member of the Session of the Salem Church in 1828, he was listed in 1814 and 1819 tax lists and 1830 census of Washington Co., TN. Researched by: Waltman and Leath.
Was listed in 1850 census with son Allen in Cass County, MO, age 64.
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=mathews-mathes&id=I0464

Census:
Allen B Mathes 36 Tennessee
Elvira L Mathes 32 Tennessee
Mary E Mathes 13 Tennessee
Martha A Mathes 10 Tennessee
Julia E Mathes 8 Tennessee
John A Mathes 6 Missouri
Imogine Mathes 2 Missouri
Sarah J Mathes 0 Missouri
John Mathes 64 Tennessee

John married Rosanna Blackburn on 27 Feb 1811 in Washington Co, Tennessee. Rosanna (daughter of Archibald Blackburn and Rosanna Steele) was born about 1780; died after 1781. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Rachel married Benjamin Blackburn about 1812. Benjamin (son of Archibald Blackburn and Rosanna Steele) was born about 1776; died about 1840. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Ebenezer Leith Mathes occupied a position of prominence in his community. According to Dr. Dobson's Sketch he was an elder in Salem Church for 40 years, a Trustee of Washington College for 46 years and secretary most of that time, served as a civil magistrate of Washington Co. for 36 years. Before the Civil War he freed his slaves as they reached 21, sent them to Liberia and maintained them for the first year, and during the war he was an uncompromising "Union Man". He had no children and at his death he left one-half his estate to the church and college, and interest to be used as he directed. A memorial was placed in Salem Church to his memory, with the inscription, "The Lord Loveth A Cheerful Giver". Another quotation states: "During the Civil War most of the descendants of the Mathes family were on the Union side. There was an Ebenezer Mathes, a very wealthy man for that country, who 'set his Negroes free' before the war by sending some of them to Liberia and some to the free soil states to the North'. At his death since the war he left all his property to charitable causes, excepting some small legacies to relatives. It is believed his contributions to colonization purposes was for colonization of Negroes to Liberia, Africa.
He was listed in tax list of 1814 and 1819 and 1850 census of Washington Co., TN. Researched by: Waltman and Leath.

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=mathews-mathes&id=I0465

Ebenezer married Nancy Ann Nelson about 1805 in Washington Co, Tennessee. Nancy (daughter of John Nelson and Nancy Mathes) was born on 25 Feb 1786 in Washington Co, Tennessee; died on 27 Feb 1867 in Washington Co, Tennesse. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Allen married Judith Lloyd McConnell on 28 Oct 1822 in Izard Co, Arkansas. Judith was born on 10 Jan 1806 in Huntingdon, Carroll Co Tennessee; died on 13 Feb 1868 in Izard Co, Arkansas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Ann married David W. Patton on 22 Jan 1830 in Washington Co, Tennessee. David (son of William Patton and Grace Mathes) was born about 1808; died after 22 Jan 1830 in Washington Co, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Was a teacher at Washington College and became a victim of the custom of hazing, he was thrown into a pond of icy water by students which resulted in Pneumonia from which he died a few days after their marriage.
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=mathews-mathes&id=I0759

David married Ann Leith Mathes on 22 Jan 1830 in Washington Co, Tennessee. Ann (daughter of George Leith Mathes and Phoebe Wear) was born on 23 Nov 1805; died after 1844 in of, Washington Co, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married Mary Caroline McCarver on 31 Aug 1862 in Parker Co, Texas. Mary was born in 1847 in Tennessee; died after 1881. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Jack married Laura A. Thames about 1910 in Texas. Laura was born on 24 Nov 1869 in Texas; died in 1937 in Falls Co, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: (living) Beaver. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]