Notes:

Dr. William Clarke was born in 1810, and died 30 January 1858, at Staunton, Virginia. He married 1st in Macon City, Missouri, Miss MEDLEY, who died a short time after the birth of their child c1838. He married 2nd, Cornelia MEDLEY, of Missouri, sister of his first wife, and had five children by her. Dr. William Clarke attended the Staunton Academy and then entered the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated M.D. in 1832. About 1835 Dr. Clarke emigrated to Macon City, Missouri, where he practiced his profession, it was said he was the first graduate of medicine to reside in that section of Missouri. In 1857, due to failing health he returned with his family to his home at Staunton, where he died the following year at the age of 48.

William married Cornelia Medley WFT est 1827-1853. Cornelia was born WFT est 1807-1830 in Of Missouri; died WFT est 1853-1917. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Samuel married Jane Mathews on 30 Oct 1790 in Augusta County, Virginia. Jane (daughter of Sampson Mathews and Mary Lockhart) was born WFT est 1759-1779 in Virginia; died on 22 Jun 1835. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Jane Mathews was born in Virginia, and died 22 June 1835. She married 30 October 1790 (or 2 November 1790), in Augusta County, Virginia, Samuel C. CLARKE, son of James Clarke of Augusta County and Jane KING of York County, Pennsylvania. Samuel C. Clarke was born c1768 in York County, Pennsylvania, and died 1 September 1856. James Clarke was a teacher and surveyor and came to Staunton from York County, Pennsylvania about the year 1785 with his wife and family of five children. Samuel Clarke was among the most popular and widely known citizens of Staunton, an earnest friend of liberal learning and a zealous Christian gentleman. Throughout the greater part of his life, Samuel Clarke, practiced law, and at the same time was Commissioner in Chancery. He also represented Augusta County, for the sessions of 1817-18, 1826-27-28 and 29, in the State Legislature, and a number of times held the office of Mayor of Staunton. In addition he was one of the four original ruling elders of the First Presbyterian Church of Staunton when it was established in 1804, and a director of the Western Lunatic Asylum, from the time of its foundation, and was President of the board at his death. The Staunton residence of Samuel and Jane Mathews Clarke was the house bounded on the East by Lewis Street and on the North by Frederick Street, and is still standing. They had eight children.

James married Jane King WFT est 1743-1786. Jane was born WFT est 1726-1749 in Of York County, Pennsylvania; died WFT est 1771-1837. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Colonel Sampson Mathews was born in Augusta County, Virginia, in 1737, and died 20 January 1807 in Staunton (Augusta County), Virginia. He married 1st, in September 1759, Mary LOCKHART, daughter of Captain James LOCKHART. She was the mother of his four children. He married 2nd, in June 1783, Mrs. Catherine North Park, whose first husband was Roger North and whose second husband was Edward Park who died in 1780. Waddell has this to say about Col. Sampson Mathews:

[Waddell, Joseph A., Annals of Augusta County, Virginia, second edition, 1902. Reprinted Bridgewater, Virginia: C. J. Carrier & Co., 1958]

"Sampson Mathews, son of John, was a very prominent citizen of the county for many years..... He was the father of Mrs. Samuel Clarke and Mrs. Alexander Nelson. He had two sons, John and Sampson, the latter of whom was the father of Andrew Mathews of Pulaski County and of Jacob and Sampson Mathews of Pocahontas County. The Staunton residence of Col. Sampson Mathews was the log house on the lot bounded on the South by Beverley Street and on the East by Water Street, which is still standing (in 1892). He died in Staunton in 1807. His wife was a Miss Lockhart."

Sampson and his brother George Mathews were, for a time in Staunton, Merchants and partners. Colonel Mathews was a man of strong character and sound integrity. He must have been highly respected for he was kept in public office continually for over fifty years.

He served in the Colonial Indian Wars and was in the battle of Fort Duquesne (now Pittsburgh). The operations against the French and Indians on the Ohio River were under the command of General Edward Braddock, who arrived from England in February, 1755. He brought two Royal Regiments, the 18th commanded by Lieut. Col. Dunbar, and the 44th commanded by Sir Peter Halkett. General Braddock appointed George Washington his aide-de-camp. There were 800 troops from Virginia (the Virginia Blues). They marched from Alexandria, Virginia, leaving 20 April and reached the Monongahela and crossed it 9 July 1755. They were ambushed that day by the French troops and a large force of Indians. General Braddock and approximately 1000 of his troops were killed. Col. George Washington conducted the retreat of his own militia as well as the British troops. This is the event that is referred to as "Braddock's defeat." Other members of the Mathews family were present on this occasion as well. George Mathews was present, and how many others is uncertain.

The Records of Augusta County, Virginia, show among other things, that in 1756 then Deputy Sheriff Sampson Mathews assumed the functions of a chancellor. Having an execution in his hands in the case of Ramsey vs Burton, he made return substantially that the judgment ought not to have been rendered, as the debt had been paid. Another execution, however, was put into his hands, and on that he made the following return: "Not executed by stress of water, and deft. Swore if I did get across to him he would shoot me if I touched any of his estate, also he is gone out of the country."

The November term, 1764, of the County Court of Augusta was a very busy one. William Fleming, Sampson Mathews, George Skillern, Alexander McClanahan and Benjamin Estill were recommended for appointment as Justices of the Peace.

On July 24, 1774, Lord Dunmore ordered Colonel Andrew Lewis to recruit a force of men and march them to the Ohio River. There Colonel Lewis and his force would join Lord Dunmore and his troops and march against the Indians at Point Pleasant. Point Pleasant is situated on the East side of the Ohio River and at the mouth of the Great Kanawha River. The men were recruited from Augusta, Botetourt, and Fincastle Counties, Virginia. A partial concentration of troops was made at Camp Union (the present site of Lewisburg, West Virginia). George Mathews commanded a regiment of men from Augusta County. It is told that the height of the men of one Company was marked on the bar-room walls in Sampson Mathews' ordinary. This ordinary was a long frame building on Augusta Street. None of the men measured less than six feet. George Mathews company of 60 men were all six feet or over in height.

There were no prescribed uniforms for the Virginia troops. Their shirts were different colors, such as white, yellow, red, and brown, and were made of Lindsey-Woolsey (a coarse cloth made of linen and wool or cotton and wool). They wore long leggings, usually made of deerskins. For headgear they wore coonskin caps. Each officer and soldier carried a rifle.

Colonel Andrew Lewis arrived at Camp Union in September 1774. On the 11th of September they began the march. There were no roads or pathways from Camp Union to the Ohio. The country was a vast wilderness. Colonel Lewis selected Mathew Arbuckle, a Captain in the Botetourt County Regiment under command of Colonel William Fleming, to guide the force of 2000 men to the Ohio River and Point Pleasant.

Sampson Mathews was commissary for the regiment of Colonel Lewis. Mathews and his men drove a herd of cattle and took along a load of rum. Because the subsistence of the men consisted mainly of beef, which were driven afoot, he was titled "Master driver of cattle."

It took 19 days to reach the mouth of the Kanawha River. They arrived 1 October 1774. Colonel Lewis waited 9 days for Lord Dunmore and troops to arrive. A courier then arrived with a message from Dunmore which said that he would not join forces with Lewis. Dunmore ordered Lewis to march directly against the Indians on the Scioto River. The Battle of Point Pleasant was fought the next day, 10 October 1774.

In 1775, the counties of Augusta, Buckingham, Amherst, and Albemarle, Virginia, appointed Sampson Mathews, a member of a Committee of Safety. On 8 September 1775, the Commissioners met at the residence of James Woods in Amherst County. As a member of the first Patriotic Convention he participated in the election of delegates to attend the first colony convention at Richmond, Virginia 20 March 1775. The Patriotic Convention convened in Staunton, Augusta County, Virginia.

On 16 July 1776, the first court to be held in Augusta County, Virginia, authorized by the Commonwealth of Virginia, met in Staunton, Virginia. Sampson Mathews was present as a member.

He was commissioned Justice of the Court of Augusta County on 19 November 1776. He also served as Justice in 1777. One case brought before Sampson Mathews was that of William Hinton, a Tory, a miller by trade, and very troublesome. He was tried and sentenced by Mathews. The sentence was four years in prison and a fine of 400 pounds.

Sampson Mathews was recommended as Lieutenant Colonel of the County of Augusta, Virginia, and he qualified as such 19 May 1778. He served as Lieut. Col. until 1783.

He was a member of the Virginia Legislature. In 1781, the Legislature retired form Richmond, Virginia, to Charlottesville, Virginia. These moves were necessitated because Cornwallis and his army had advanced into Virginia. Cornwallis had ordered Colonel Tarleton to pursue the members of the Assembly and capture them, but this he was unable to do.

When Benedict Arnold and Lord Cornwallis invaded Virginia in 1781 the troops from Augusta County were in action against the British. Arnold at the head of 1500 men, principally Tories, sailed up the James River, entered Richmond on 5 January 1781. They destroyed all public stores, plundered the plantations, and burned much private property. Governor Thomas Jefferson called out the militia and Arnold fell back to Portsmouth, Virginia. At that time Colonel Sampson Mathews commanded the Second Division from Augusta. Both Colonel Mathews and Colonel Hughart served until the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown in 1783.

Colonel Mathews marched from Staunton on 14 January 1718. The company spent four days in Fredericksburg, Virginia, then marched to Bowling Green arriving on the 21st. The Company was joined here by Colonel John Bowyer with 220 men from Rockbridge County. On the 30th of January, General Muhlenberg ordered Colonel Mathews to proceed to Smithfield, Isle of Wight County, Virginia. They were delayed three days by wet weather and boats that needed repair. Colonel Mathews had expected to be supplied with tents and ammunition but he was to be disappointed. An aide, Captain Robert Gamble, was dispatched to request these necessary supplies and he carried a letter asking that a qualified surgeon be sent to join the rifle corps. Many of the troops were ill from exposure.

When the State of Virginia undertook the task of providing a Navy there was no money obtainable to purchase linen cloth for sails. During the first session of the Legislature an act was passed concerning the Virginia fleet. Sampson Mathews and Alexander St. Clair, of Staunton, were appointed trustees to take care of this emergency. They were instructed to build a manufactory at public expense not exceeding a cost of one thousand pounds, and then superintend the making of sail duck. Much flax was grown by the farmers of Augusta County and the Irish who settled the Northern part of the county were skilled weavers.

Colonel Mathews was elected to the Senate of Virginia by the Augusta District in 1778. He served until 1781 and then resigned to accept an office at home.

In 1783, after the battle and surrender at Yorktown, Colonel Mathews removed to Richmond, Virginia. He practiced law there for a time and then returned to Augusta County to settle on his estate . This estate was called the "Wilderness." It was formerly owned by General Blackburn and located in the western part of the county. When Bath County was formed in 1791 this part of Augusta County became part of Bath County. Colonel Mathews was one of the first justices of Bath County and he was elected the first high Sheriff of Bath County. Sampson and his brother George, operated an ordinary at the "Wilderness" estate. They sold rum, beeswax, etc.

For the foregoing account and sketch of Colonel Sampson Mathews, we are indebted to Bess C. Aubel, a descendant of his, who, in her manuscript cites the following references: WADDELL, Annals of Augusta County; William & Mary Review; Historical Papers, Washington & Lee University, Augusta County Court Records; Chalkley's Abstracts of Augusta County, Virginia; History of Monroe County; Calendar of Virginia State Papers.
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Mr. Russell Clarke has provided us with the following account of Colonel Sampson Mathews:

Col. Sampson Mathews was one of the first trustees of Augusta Academy. This school was later moved to near Lexington and called Liberty Hall and later Washington College, and is now Washington and Lee University. Col. Mathews was for many years a very prominent citizen of Staunton and Bath County. In 1756 he was deputy Sheriff for Augusta County. When only twenty one years of age, Sampson was made reader in the Chapel of Ease near his father's home. His services were discontinued in 1759, owing to the partial depopulation of the neighborhood as the result of the Indian Wars. In 1762 with his brother George as a partner he went into the mercantile business at Staunton. Their store which was at the northeast corner of Beverly and Augusta Street, seems to have been on the lot which they purchased for $100.00 in the year 1760. Their business prospered and they opened a store at Lexington. Sampson and George also operated the Mathews Trading Post in the county of Greenbrier, now in West Virginia. One of their original day books has survived, and was published in the Journal of the Greenbrier Historical Society, Volume One, Number One. It is filled with the names of their earliest customers. They also acquired considerable lands. In 1765 they bought a large tract near Staunton between the famous hills known as Betsy Bell and Mary Gray. In the same year they purchased 1200 acres on Elk Run, this being the starting point of their Cloverdale estate. The price was 61 cents per acre. Five years later they patented 2080 acres adjacent thereto. They also owned several small tracts on the Cow Pasture.

Like most Virginians of this period, Sampson and George preferred the county to the town. They at length made their homes on the Cloverdale purchase. Sampson styling his residence as Cloverdale, George his as Market Hill. George Mathews lived here until 1785. Sampson removed to Staunton in 1791. A little before the outbreak of the Revolution in 1775 the brothers built a store at Cloverdale.

Their success in business demonstrated their executive ability. Being also of great energy and influence, they were drawn inevitably into public and military life. Sampson was nominated for a seat on the County Court in 1756, when he could not have been more than 28 years old. [Note: he was born in 1737.] He was by this time the proprietor of the most fashionable of hostelries at Staunton.

In the Point Pleasant campaign, Sampson Mathews had charge of the commissary department of the army under Lewis. As Colonel of Augusta militia he saw active service in the war for American Independence.

In January 1781, a British force under Benedict Arnold invaded Virginia. They sailed up James River, entered Richmond without resistance, on the 5th of January, destroying all the public stores there and some private property, and departed down the river. In the meanwhile the militia had been called out by Gov. Jefferson, Baron Stuben was at the head of the State troops. From the Calendar of Virginia State Papers, Volume 1, we learn that several hundred men from Augusta County served in lower Virginia at that time, and from the declarations of several old soldiers, made in 1832, we learn something about three companies, - Sampson Mathews was Colonel, William Bowyer Lt. Colonel, and Alexander Robertson, Major.

On the 13th of January, Col. Sampson Mathews wrote from Staunton to the Governor that in accordance with orders, he would start to Fredericksburg early the next morning with about 250 men. The men of the second battalion were then on their way, and also the militia from Rockbridge and Rockingham Counties. Major Posey, of the first regiment of the line, a recruiting officer at Staunton, was to go with Col. Mathews. His men would take some beef cattle from Augusta, as ordered.

On January 21st, Col. Mathews wrote to the Governor from Bowling Green, in Caroline County, where he was with his command, having been at Fredericksburg four days. (He made a rapid march, starting from Staunton on the 14th, spending four days at Fredericksburg, and arriving at Bowling Green on the 21st.) Col. John Bowyer, with about 220 men from Rockbridge joined him that morning. Smiths, vises, files, etc., were needed for the repair of firearms.

Col. Mathews wrote again, on the 29th from Cabin Point, in Surry County, south of James River, where he had been ordered, and was to proceed to Smithfield, in Isle of Wight County. He had been detained three days by "wett and the badness of the Boats." He had hoped to be supplied with tents and ammunition, but was disappointed, and had sent Capt. Robert Gamble (lately a prisoner at Charleston, S.C. and now probably a volunteer aide to Col. Mathews) to solicit these articles. Many of the men were sick from exposure, and the Col. feared mutiny if they were not supplied. The marching was so severe, the season so great, that soldiers were to be expected to grumble at their hardships. A surgeon was needed, and the letter requested that Dr. Foushee, or some other good surgeon, be ordered to join the rifle corps. The smiths, vises, etc. had not arrived, and many of the rifles were out of order.

Brig. Gen. Robert Lawson wrote to Gov. Jefferson, on February 15th having left the command in lower Virginia on the 13th. He says "Our advance post is at Hall's, consisting of nearly 350 Riflemen under Col. Sampson Mathews, with about 150 pick'd musqueteers, under Major Dick, with some light horses." Hall's was in the vicinity of Portsmouth, then occupied by the British. Of this expedition of Col. Mathews and his men, we have no further account. The Augusta militia returned home about the 17th of April.

The following is one of Col. Mathews' letters written from Cloverdale during the Revolution:

" Cloverdale 26th Sep 1781

"Sir

"I Recd your Excellencys favor of the 14th Instant on the 24th I have ordered 200 beef Cattle & 30 Waggons Loaded with stores & Spirits to be at Colo Esoms ordinary on Saturday the 6th nex month & So proceed with all Expedition To the army & Expect at Least 150 or 160 head of Cattle & 20 or 25 Waggons will at that time make their appearance.

"I also will forward in about 5 days after 80 or 100 cattle & 5 or 6 waggons, which will be the whole that posibly can be furnished from ye County. I have the honor to be with Much Esteem & Respect

" Your Excellencys
obt humbl Servt

" Samp Mathews"

Col. Mathews was a member of the Virginia Legislature as follows, 1776, 1777 for Augusta and Dunmore; 1778-81, for Augusta, Rockingham, Rockbridge, Shenandoah, and Pendleton. During his term of 1781, the Legislature assembled at Richmond and in danger of capture by the advancing Tory army, adjourned to meet in Charlottesville. Pursued thither by Tarleton whom Lord Cornwallis had ordered to make a raid in Virginia, the Assembly fled from Charlottesville across the Blue Ridge, to Staunton where, in old Trinity Episcopal Church, the Legislative Sessions were expected to go on undisturbed. But three days later a report was brought that Tarleton was pursuing them across the Blue Ridge. Danger seemed imminent; once more the members fled - so precipitately that tradition says Patrick Henry left Staunton wearing only one boot. Tarleton never crossed the Blue Ridge, and a few days later, on the 12th of June the Legislature reassembled at Staunton and elected Gen. Thomas Nelson Governor of the Commonwealth, on the 19th the new Governor qualified by taking the prescribed oaths before Col. Sampson Mathews, and on the same day Samuel McDowel qualified as member of the Governors council.

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The Will of Sampson Mathews is of record in Augusta County, Virginia, Will Book 10, Page 121 -

"IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN. I Sampson Mathews senior of the County of Bath & State of Virginia do hereby make this my last will & testament in the manner following to wit. It is my will that all my just debts shall paid as soon after my decease as it can be affected - and whereas I have heretofore executed a deed to John Coalter esquire as trustee for my wife Catherine Mathews and another deed to Samuel Clarke and Jacob Kinney as trustees for my self which deeds are now of record in the General Court of the State aforesaid in which said deeds I have made in the first place a provision for my wife & in the next place for my creditors as will more fully appear having reference thereto & whereas there is a suit now pending in the Federal Court in Chancery no order to set aside said deeds my will is that should said deeds or either of them be set aside that my estate shall be disposed of according to the true interst & meaning of said deeds after making provision for my wife as stated in the deed aforesaid to John Coalter & after discharging all my just debts what ever property then remains either real or personal I order & will that it shall be equally devided amongst my four children (or their heirs) to wit John Mathews, Sampson Mathews, Ann Nelson & Jane Clarke, whereas the firm of Sampson and George Mathews were indebted to John Moffett a considerable sum of money which they borrowed of said Moffett in hard money and paid it in paper money after it had depreciated and there arose a difference between said Moffett and myself on the subject my brother George Mathews has since paid Mr. Moffett one hundred for his proportion of the costs, notwithstanding the law would not compel me to pay anything and other circumstances had induced me to think heretofore that I was not bound in consequence to pay him any further sum upon a reflection I conceive that it is just that he should receive a further sum & therefore order that he shall be paid out of my estate the sum of one hundred pounds with interest thereon from the first day of January one thousand seven hundred & ninety all paid to paid out of my estate in the same manner my other just debts are paid & I do hereby give unto my Executors full power & authority to make legal conveyances of all lands & to do everything in case the deeds aforesd are set aside that I had given my said trustees power to do in said deeds and I do hereby constitute & appoint my friends Samuel Clarke and Jacob Kinney executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking and disannulling all other wills by me heretofore made. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 7th day of April 1800.

"W. Chambers
"Andrew Barry
"W. Herron

"A codicil to the last will and testament of Sampson Mathews dated April the 7th 1800. I Sampson Mathews of Augusta County having on the 7th day of April 1800 made my last will and testament which is hereby annexed do now make this codicil to said will to wit In addition to the provisions in said will for my wife I leave unto her my Negroe boy named Andrew and my Negroe girl Phillis (called little Phillus). I have hereuntobefore given said Negroes to my said wife and executed writings accordingly but lest they should be lost or mislaid I think proper to put this clause in my will and whereas I ordered in my will that after my death my just debts should be paid and the provisions for my wife deducted from my estate and the balance divided amongst my four children since that time I have taken into consideration the situation of my daughter Jane Clarke wife of Samuel Clarke and also the particular care and attention which the said Samuel Clarke has lately shown towards me I therefore order that instead of leaving my estate as aforesaid I leave the balance aforesaid to my daughter Jane Clarke & her heirs forever instead of leaving the same to be divided amongst my four children.

"Signed Sealed & published Samp Mathews Seal
"in presence of

"Andrew Barry; W. Chambers; W. Herron

"At a court cont. & held for Augusta County March the 24th 1807 this Last Will and Testament of Sampson Mathews decd with the codicil thereto annexed was presented in Court by Samuel Clarke and Jacob Kinney the executors therein named, and was proved by the oaths of William Chambers and Andrew Barry two of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded.

" Teste Chester Kinney C C

"Recorded in August County
Clerk's Office, Staunton, Va.,
in Will Book 10, P. 121."

Sampson married Mary Lockhart WFT est 1751-1784. Mary (daughter of Captain James Lockhart) was born WFT est 1723-1746; died WFT est 1766-1834. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]