The parents of this James Matthews were Welsh immigrants.

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James was born before 1746 in the Virginia British Colonies, most likely Albemarle Co VA. That portion of the county became Amherst Co VA in 1761. He was in the Surry and Stokes county areas as early as Dec. 1778 receiving NC Land Grants and was noted on the 1790 census to be in Stokes Co NC. Stokes Co NC was formed from Surry Co NC in 1789. He is on the 1800 census in Stokes Co NC.

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On 22 Oct. 1802 James made his LW&T in Stokes Co NC. As stated in this LW&T when leaving a certain property to his son Tandy . . . "my Home tracts of land where I now live, on the Town Fork (Creek) . . ."

(Will Book 2, page 70 published and proven at the June Term of Court 1806). The entire LW&T may be seen in it's original version on Ancestry.com and in it's version as entered into the court record in June 1806 at familysearch.org. There is on Ancestry.com a 2nd probate packet that has MANY documents of indentures and such that were part of the record of the probate proceedings.

His son Tandy was to receive the home tract of 248 acres on the Town Fork along with 600 acres and a 100 acre tract on Belew's Creek.

His son-in-law Joseph Hollingsworth received a 600 acre tract along with the mansion house called "Stone Chimneys."

A 900 acre tract known by the name of "Walnut Cove" located in the lower end of Powell's Valley was to be sold and the money was to be held in trust for James' grand children, the children of his daughter Elizabeth Matthews James.

His children, grandchildren listed in his LW&T (or his sons-in-law) are as follows:

1. my son Tandy Matthews
2. Joseph Hollingsworth (son-in-law) husband of daughter Mary Matthews in trust for their children - James, Aquilla (female), and Tandy Hollingsworth. And a daughter Mary to have a slave whose increase will go to son Tandy.
3. daughter Betsey James and her oldest daughter (unnamed)
4. in trust for the children of my son William Matthews
5. in trust for the children of my son John Matthews and his wife Polly Martin (the children were named to be James and Nancy).
6. to my son John Matthews a separate bequest of 400 acres of land lying in the waters of the Little Yadkin . . .
7. a bequest to Obadiah Brannum (relationship unknown
8. a bequest to Ervin Brannum (relationship unknown)
9. a bequest to #7 & #8 that is in the possession Surina Branham (relationship unknown)
10. bequest to grandson, James Matthews, sons of Tandy Matthews
11. Executors to be son Tandy Matthews and son-in-law Joseph Hollingsworth.

James Matthews was quite a wealthy man in land and personal property. His land holdings at the time of his death as described in his LW&T were as follows:

1. Home tract on Townfork (Creek) containing 248 acres (Stokes Co NC)
2. 1800 acres total acquired from Charles Beasley (Stokes Co NC) including the mansion Stone Chimneys. Was divided in three 600 acres bequests.
3. 100 acres on Belew's Creek (now Forsyth Co NC) late property of John Thompson
4. 900 acres of land previously owned by John Griffith (in Virginia)
5. 900 acres of land called Walnut Cove in the lower Powell Valley (in Virginia)
6. 200 acres on Panther Creek (Stokes Co VA)
7. 200 acres of land at the East End of The Great Pee Vine (most likely an offshoot of the Yadkin River in North Carolina)
8. 400 acres on the waters of the Little Yadkin (North Carolina)
9. 235 1/2 acres known as Blackburns
10. 300 acres land formerly the property of James Coffey
11. 136 acres of land adjoining the tract of Zigler
12. 150 acres of land on Peter's Creek previously owned by John Fields
13. 75 acres of land previously owned by Humphreys

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He WAS NOT Baptized in England.

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No marriage record has been found to prove the maiden name of his wife, Mary, but many researchers believe it to be KEY/KEYS/KEYES. His DAR and SAR Patriot records states that he performed "Patriotic Service" in Amherst Co VA in the furtherment of the American Revolution in the form of "Furnishing Supplies" to the Continental Army effort.