Mussendine Ebenezer Matthews

• Sex: M
• Title: Capt.

  Mussendine Matthews

  ---

  • Source¹
  • Born: ABT 1752 in Belfast, Co. Antrim, Ireland, UK
  • Died: 17 MAR 1830 in Statesville, Iredell Co., NC
  • 1790 Census: 1790 in ____, Iredell Co., NC, p. 157, 1-4-3-0-3, as MusentineMathews
  • Notes:

    Mussendine Ebeneezer Matthews was born in Ireland, 1752. We think the family were originally Scots, as Mussendine is a town in Scotland. Mussendine's parents were Catholic and wanted their son to become a priest. The young, red-haired Mussendine objected to this and became a member of the Presbyterian Church. Opposed by his family, he left home and sailed for America. He traveled to Iredell County, North Carolina, and became one of the first settlers in the area.
    
    Mussendine became a prominent figure in his county. He was well-to-do, and owned property on Third Creek four miles southwest of Statesville. Evidently, he acquired lands in Tennessee, also, since he left those to his sons by his first wife. He was an officer in the Revolutionary War, after which he was always referred to as Major Matthews. He served as elder in the Presbyterian Church for many years.
    
    Matthews was skillful at planning and managing his territory, and he was an expert horseman. These traits served him (and his country) well in the Revolutionary War. At one point Matthews and his friend Rev. James Hall put to flight a considerable number of British soldiers when they found themselves all alone and greatly outnumbered. Another time, in the area of Ninety-Six, in South Carolina, Matthews, on a reconnoitering mission, found himself surrounded by the enemy. His only means of escape was to cross a large creek which was not fordable except at the place where the enemy awaited him. Matthews turned his horse to a foot-crossing and rode his mount safely across on the single log. Then he turned, and waving his sword in defiance at the British, he galloped away.
    
    Matthews married Ann Sloan, daughter of Fergus Sloan. They had three sons: John, Thomas, and Alexander Sloan, and two daughers: Mary and Elizabeth. Ann Sloan Matthews died in 1805 and is buried in the old Fourth Creek Grave Yard in Statesville.
    
    Major Matthews later married Jane Knox Brandon, widow of John Brandon. Jane was the daughter of Absolem Knox and his wife Mary Morrison Knox. Two sons were born to them: Milas Brandon, August 12, 1809, and Mussendine Ebeneezer II, February 2, 1812.
    
    In 1789, Major Matthews had the honor of being chosen as the first representative from Iredell County to the North Carolina House of Commons. He voted for North Carolina to ratify the Constitution of the newly formed United States of America.
    
    Matthews represented Iredell County in the Legislature for ten years. He served as Speaker of the House in 1776 (pro term) and 1797 to 1799.He was Justice of the Peace for Iredell County for several years and was a member of the County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions from 1807 until 1815.
    
    Major Matthews lived to 78 years of age. He died March 16, 1830. He is buried in the Old Fourth Creek Graveyard in Statesville, North Carolina.
    
    [see http://www.epi.soph.uab.edu/matthews/htm/docndx.html]
    WILL: Last Will and Testament of Mussendine Matthews
    Iredale County Court House, Statesville, N.C.
    In the name of God, Amen:
    I, Mussendine Matthews of Iredale County and State of North Carolina,
    being of perfect mind and memory, and calling to mind my mortality,
    knowing it is appointed for all men once to die, do devise and bequeath
    my estate, real and personal, wherewith it has pleased a gracious
    Providence to bless me, in the following manner, namely:
    
    In the first place, I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Jane
    Matthews, one negro of her own choosing; and after she has gotten her
    choice, to have the third of all the negroes I own, except such as shall
    thereafter be willed and also to have the use of my plantation entirely
    until Milas B. Matthews becomes of age, and when that period arrives, I
    will that Milas B. Matthews shall have half of the land which I possess
    on Third Creek. When Mussendine Matthews arrives at age, I will that my
    lands be equally divided between M

  
  Father: John Matthews
  Mother: Miss [--?--]
  
  Family 1: Ann Sloan, b. 5 APR 1751 in ____, ____, NC
  • Married: BEF 1790
  1. Thomas Matthews, b. ABT 1778 in ____, Rowan Co., NC
  2. John Matthews, b. 18 APR 1780 in ____, Rowan Co., NC
  3. Mary Matthews, b. ABT 1784 in ____, Iredell Co., NC
  4. Alexander Sloan Matthews, b. 17 MAY 1786 in ____, Iredell Co., NC
  5. Elizabeth Matthews, b. ABT 1795 in ____, Iredell Co., NC
  
  Family 2: Jane Knox, b. ABT 1769
  • Married: ABT 1808
  1. Milas Brandon Matthews, b. ABT 1809
  2. Mussendine Ebenezer Matthews, Jr.Muscadine Ebenezer Matthews, Jr., b. 2 FEB 1812 in ____, Iredell Co., NC
  
  Sources:
  
  1. Title: World Family Tree Vol. 2, Ed. 1
     Author: Brøderbund Software, Inc.
     Publication: Release date: November 29, 1995
     Note: Customer pedigree.
     REPO
     CALN
     Media: Family Archive CD
     Page: Tree #6002
     Text: Date of Import: 6 Apr 1998