Samuel Matthews was a Revolutionary War soldier when he was 19-20 years old, serving in Capt. John Bart's militia regiment, in 1779, and in Capt. Hawkins Minute Men of Woodstock, Vermont, in 1780, responding to the alarm of Royalton. His father, Major Joel Matthews, also fought in that war.
When he was 24, Samuel married Abigail Sumner on January 20, 1784. His first two children, John Matthews, born 1785 and Joel Matthews born 1787, were born in Woodstock, Vt, where his father had been one of the organizers of that town. He moved his family to Hartland, Vermont, in 1789, where his remaining children were born: Susannah, born November 10, 1789; Abigail, born January 11, 1792; Patty, born November 10, 1793; Samuel, January 15, 1796; Sophronia, May 11, 1798; and William Augustin, born March 10, 1800.
In 1793 he bought a home on the left side of Clay Hill Road, near the schoolhouse, where he raised sheep. Our country's first ski tow was put up on the large hill behind his home. Sadly Samuel died young, age 42, leaving an insolvent estate. Guardians were appointed for his minor children, his father moved in and helped to raise the fatherless youngsters. His widow, Abigail, took care of his father in his senior years, as well as raising her family.
At the time of his death, an inventory showed that Samuel owned 38 sheep, 7 hogs, 11 cows, 2 bulls, 6 horses, 15 tons of hay, one broad axe and iron wedge, 4 old axes, plus a linen spinning wheel, a woolen spinning wheel and a loom. He also owned 4 beds with bedding, one blue coat, vest and overalls, 2 flannel shirts, one hat, one outer coat, one large table, two chests of drawers, five old chairs, one hogshead and five barrels, one iron pot and kettle, one pair of iron flats, and old pewter and machinery. Also, one side saddle and two other saddles, one leather halter, two sythes and tackling, three old pitchforks, six harrow teeth, two sets of plough irons, two pails, five shovels and tongs, 38 pounds of chains, and one yoke of bulls.
Samuel had a lot of creditors, which caused his estate to be insolvent.
Samuel's father actually owned half of his home, and his widow was awarded the other half by the Probate Court, so his family continued to live there.
Sadly, two of Samuel's sons died a few years after he did. Son, Joel Matthews, died five years later, August 20, 1807, age 20, after being struck by lightning, and son, Samuel, died March 1, 1812, age 15.
But his youngest child, son William Augustin Matthews, who was only two years old when his father died, grew up and went to Gonzales County, Texas, where he fought in the war for Texas independence, and became a large land owner and cattleman in that state.
Samuel would have been proud of his family. Samuel was my fourth great grandfather.
Sources:
Probate Records of Windsor County, Vermont,
Volume 3
The History of Woodstock, Vermont, by Henry Swan Dana
In Sight of Ye Great River, Hartland Historical Society,
July 4, 1991
Hartland in the Revolutionary War, compiled by Dennis Flower.
When he was 24, Samuel married Abigail Sumner on January 20, 1784. His first two children, John Matthews, born 1785 and Joel Matthews born 1787, were born in Woodstock, Vt, where his father had been one of the organizers of that town. He moved his family to Hartland, Vermont, in 1789, where his remaining children were born: Susannah, born November 10, 1789; Abigail, born January 11, 1792; Patty, born November 10, 1793; Samuel, January 15, 1796; Sophronia, May 11, 1798; and William Augustin, born March 10, 1800.
In 1793 he bought a home on the left side of Clay Hill Road, near the schoolhouse, where he raised sheep. Our country's first ski tow was put up on the large hill behind his home. Sadly Samuel died young, age 42, leaving an insolvent estate. Guardians were appointed for his minor children, his father moved in and helped to raise the fatherless youngsters. His widow, Abigail, took care of his father in his senior years, as well as raising her family.
At the time of his death, an inventory showed that Samuel owned 38 sheep, 7 hogs, 11 cows, 2 bulls, 6 horses, 15 tons of hay, one broad axe and iron wedge, 4 old axes, plus a linen spinning wheel, a woolen spinning wheel and a loom. He also owned 4 beds with bedding, one blue coat, vest and overalls, 2 flannel shirts, one hat, one outer coat, one large table, two chests of drawers, five old chairs, one hogshead and five barrels, one iron pot and kettle, one pair of iron flats, and old pewter and machinery. Also, one side saddle and two other saddles, one leather halter, two sythes and tackling, three old pitchforks, six harrow teeth, two sets of plough irons, two pails, five shovels and tongs, 38 pounds of chains, and one yoke of bulls.
Samuel had a lot of creditors, which caused his estate to be insolvent.
Samuel's father actually owned half of his home, and his widow was awarded the other half by the Probate Court, so his family continued to live there.
Sadly, two of Samuel's sons died a few years after he did. Son, Joel Matthews, died five years later, August 20, 1807, age 20, after being struck by lightning, and son, Samuel, died March 1, 1812, age 15.
But his youngest child, son William Augustin Matthews, who was only two years old when his father died, grew up and went to Gonzales County, Texas, where he fought in the war for Texas independence, and became a large land owner and cattleman in that state.
Samuel would have been proud of his family. Samuel was my fourth great grandfather.
Sources:
Probate Records of Windsor County, Vermont,
Volume 3
The History of Woodstock, Vermont, by Henry Swan Dana
In Sight of Ye Great River, Hartland Historical Society,
July 4, 1991
Hartland in the Revolutionary War, compiled by Dennis Flower.
Samuel Matthews was a Revolutionary War soldier when he was 19-20 years old, serving in Capt. John Bart's militia regiment, in 1779, and in Capt. Hawkins Minute Men of Woodstock, Vermont, in 1780, responding to the alarm of Royalton. His father, Major Joel Matthews, also fought in that war.
When he was 24, Samuel married Abigail Sumner on January 20, 1784. His first two children, John Matthews, born 1785 and Joel Matthews born 1787, were born in Woodstock, Vt, where his father had been one of the organizers of that town. He moved his family to Hartland, Vermont, in 1789, where his remaining children were born: Susannah, born November 10, 1789; Abigail, born January 11, 1792; Patty, born November 10, 1793; Samuel, January 15, 1796; Sophronia, May 11, 1798; and William Augustin, born March 10, 1800.
In 1793 he bought a home on the left side of Clay Hill Road, near the schoolhouse, where he raised sheep. Our country's first ski tow was put up on the large hill behind his home. Sadly Samuel died young, age 42, leaving an insolvent estate. Guardians were appointed for his minor children, his father moved in and helped to raise the fatherless youngsters. His widow, Abigail, took care of his father in his senior years, as well as raising her family.
At the time of his death, an inventory showed that Samuel owned 38 sheep, 7 hogs, 11 cows, 2 bulls, 6 horses, 15 tons of hay, one broad axe and iron wedge, 4 old axes, plus a linen spinning wheel, a woolen spinning wheel and a loom. He also owned 4 beds with bedding, one blue coat, vest and overalls, 2 flannel shirts, one hat, one outer coat, one large table, two chests of drawers, five old chairs, one hogshead and five barrels, one iron pot and kettle, one pair of iron flats, and old pewter and machinery. Also, one side saddle and two other saddles, one leather halter, two sythes and tackling, three old pitchforks, six harrow teeth, two sets of plough irons, two pails, five shovels and tongs, 38 pounds of chains, and one yoke of bulls.
Samuel had a lot of creditors, which caused his estate to be insolvent.
Samuel's father actually owned half of his home, and his widow was awarded the other half by the Probate Court, so his family continued to live there.
Sadly, two of Samuel's sons died a few years after he did. Son, Joel Matthews, died five years later, August 20, 1807, age 20, after being struck by lightning, and son, Samuel, died March 1, 1812, age 15.
But his youngest child, son William Augustin Matthews, who was only two years old when his father died, grew up and went to Gonzales County, Texas, where he fought in the war for Texas independence, and became a large land owner and cattleman in that state.
Samuel would have been proud of his family. Samuel was my fourth great grandfather.
Sources:
Probate Records of Windsor County, Vermont,
Volume 3
The History of Woodstock, Vermont, by Henry Swan Dana
In Sight of Ye Great River, Hartland Historical Society,
July 4, 1991
Hartland in the Revolutionary War, compiled by Dennis Flower.
When he was 24, Samuel married Abigail Sumner on January 20, 1784. His first two children, John Matthews, born 1785 and Joel Matthews born 1787, were born in Woodstock, Vt, where his father had been one of the organizers of that town. He moved his family to Hartland, Vermont, in 1789, where his remaining children were born: Susannah, born November 10, 1789; Abigail, born January 11, 1792; Patty, born November 10, 1793; Samuel, January 15, 1796; Sophronia, May 11, 1798; and William Augustin, born March 10, 1800.
In 1793 he bought a home on the left side of Clay Hill Road, near the schoolhouse, where he raised sheep. Our country's first ski tow was put up on the large hill behind his home. Sadly Samuel died young, age 42, leaving an insolvent estate. Guardians were appointed for his minor children, his father moved in and helped to raise the fatherless youngsters. His widow, Abigail, took care of his father in his senior years, as well as raising her family.
At the time of his death, an inventory showed that Samuel owned 38 sheep, 7 hogs, 11 cows, 2 bulls, 6 horses, 15 tons of hay, one broad axe and iron wedge, 4 old axes, plus a linen spinning wheel, a woolen spinning wheel and a loom. He also owned 4 beds with bedding, one blue coat, vest and overalls, 2 flannel shirts, one hat, one outer coat, one large table, two chests of drawers, five old chairs, one hogshead and five barrels, one iron pot and kettle, one pair of iron flats, and old pewter and machinery. Also, one side saddle and two other saddles, one leather halter, two sythes and tackling, three old pitchforks, six harrow teeth, two sets of plough irons, two pails, five shovels and tongs, 38 pounds of chains, and one yoke of bulls.
Samuel had a lot of creditors, which caused his estate to be insolvent.
Samuel's father actually owned half of his home, and his widow was awarded the other half by the Probate Court, so his family continued to live there.
Sadly, two of Samuel's sons died a few years after he did. Son, Joel Matthews, died five years later, August 20, 1807, age 20, after being struck by lightning, and son, Samuel, died March 1, 1812, age 15.
But his youngest child, son William Augustin Matthews, who was only two years old when his father died, grew up and went to Gonzales County, Texas, where he fought in the war for Texas independence, and became a large land owner and cattleman in that state.
Samuel would have been proud of his family. Samuel was my fourth great grandfather.
Sources:
Probate Records of Windsor County, Vermont,
Volume 3
The History of Woodstock, Vermont, by Henry Swan Dana
In Sight of Ye Great River, Hartland Historical Society,
July 4, 1991
Hartland in the Revolutionary War, compiled by Dennis Flower.
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