Alexander married Elizabeth Paul on 24 Dec 1822 in Blount County, Tennessee. Elizabeth (daughter of James Paul and Mary McKnight) was born about 1801 in Botetourt County, Virginia; died WFT est 1840-1896. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

James Paul was born in 1762, and died in Meigs County, Tennessee, in 1852. He married 23 February 1790, in Botetourt County, Virginia, Mary McKNIGHT. She was born c1769, probably in Botetourt County, Virginia, and died in Tennessee. She was the daughter of George McKNIGHT and Anne ALFORD. James Paul served in the Revolution. James Paul and his wife had ten children.

James married Mary McKnight WFT est 1782-1812. Mary (daughter of George McKnight and Anne Alford) was born about 1769 in Botetourt County, Virginia; died WFT est 1816-1864 in Tennessee, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Audley Paul was the brother of Anne Paul, who became the wife of Brig. General George Mathews, brother of Jane Mathews above.

THE PAUL FAMILY

The origin of the two members of the Paul family that married into the Mathews family, to-wit: Audley and Anne is the source of some conflict among historians. One account recites in part - Rev. Hugh Paul, a Presbyterian minister in Chester County, Pennsylvania, had three children: John, who became a Catholic Priest; Audley; Anne. After the Rev Paul's death, his widow married Col. David Stuart (Stewart) of Greenbrier County, West Virginia; Presbyterian records do not reveal a Rev. Hugh Paul, but do reveal a Rev. John Paul, born in 1703 and died in 1739. This Rev. John Paul attended the Synod of Philadelphia - 17 September 1736 and was listed as "lately from Ireland." His widow whose name was not given, received one pound out of the relief fund in 1740. Col. David Stuart lost his life by drowning in the Shenandoah River and his Will was proved March 19, 1767 - Augusta County Virginia Will Book 3, page 509, and he mentions his wife Margaret and oldest daughter Mary Paul. George Mathews was one of the Executors. He was the husband of Anne Paul. The sister, Mary, never married.

The other report or account of the PAUL family origins originally appeared in Gilmer's "Georgians" and has been quoted and re-quoted by many later historians. For the time being we shall reserve judgement on the authenticity of either report. Perhaps later research will shed some light on the subject.

Following is the text of the account in Gilmer:-

[Gilmer, George R., Sketches of Some of the First Settlers of Upper Georgia, of the Cherokees and the Author, revised and corrected by the author. Originally published in 1855. Reprint, Americus Book Company, Americus, Georgia, 1926.]

"When, in 1752, Robert Dinwiddie came over as Governor of Virginia he was accompanied by John Stuart, his intimate friend. John Paul, son of Hugh Paul, Bishop of Nottingham, a partisan of the house of Stuart, was killed at the siege of Dalrymple Castle, in 1745. He left a widow and three children:

"John Paul, who became a Roman Catholic Priest, and died on the Eastern shore of Maryland.

"Audley Paul, who was for ten years an officer of the British Colonial forces in Virginia, and who married Jane Mathews.

"Anne Paul, who married George Mathews, afterwards Governor of Georgia.

"Mrs. Paul, (the widow), formerly Margaret Lynn (Linn?), of the Lynns of Loch Lynn, Scotland, a niece of Mrs. John Lewis, married John Stuart. They had two children:

"John Stuart, who married Mrs. Frog, and was afterwards known as Colonel Stuart of Greenbrier, and

"Betsey Stuart, who became wife of Colonel Richard Woods, of Albemarle County, Virginia."

It is only speculation, to be sure, but undoubtedly the George Mathews Woods who married Jane Clark Mathews, a granddaughter of Col. Sampson Mathews, was a descendant of this marriage.

It can thus be seen that the PAUL family history is indelibly intertwined with that of the MATHEWS family inasmuch as both of the Paul children who had children, married into the Mathews family.

Captain Audley Paul of Rockbridge County, Virginia, was a Lieutenant at Braddock's defeat, Commander of Fort Dinwiddie and served through the Revolution. He commanded a Company at the Battle of Point Pleasant, along with Captain George Mathews, and it is believed that he was with General Mathews in command of a Company at Germantown.

The sharp-eyed traveler, driving along Interstate 81 through the Shenandoah Valley will spot an Historical Marker commemorating "Audley Paul's Fort."

Audley Paul qualified as Lieutenant of Foot in the Augusta County Militia - March 24, 1755. He lost his horse at Braddock's defeat, for which he later made a claim and proved service in County Court, 21 August 1755. He was wounded and was three days getting back to Col. Dunbar's Division, with one Alexander Blaine.

He served with Col. George Washington. Washington was commissioned as Commander-in-chief of all Virginia forces by Governor Dinwiddie in 1755. At the time, Washington was 23 years old and had a 350 mile frontier to defend with 1000 men. Audley Paul became a Lieutenant in Washington's forces and was present when Washington ventured to suggest to the British General that to conquer the Indian forces combined against them, the Colonial Soldiers should be allowed the protection of the trees of the wood and to fight the Indians in their own fashion.

When William Preston began to recruit men for his Company of Rangers, Audley Paul was his First Lieut. In 1757, when the neighborhood was threatened by an Indian invasion, the Fort was erected at the fork of the road west of Paul's home and was called "Paul's Fort."

In 1778, the line between Botetourt and Rockbridge Counties ran by Audley Paul's home place. He conveyed 522 acres to Audley Paul, Jr. The land was on Roaring Run adjoining Samuel Steel, George McKnight, John Starling, and others. he gained some distinction in the community from his record as a soldier. Several grants of land are on record as having been granted to Audley Paul.

High Bridge Church (Presbyterian) was the Church of the Taylor and Paul families. It was built on land with a spring - given by David Clyod. The first Elders were: Hugh Barclay, James Gilmore, John Logan - Clerk, and John Wilson. Later Church officers were Samuel Walker, John Cartmill, Caufould Taylor, Samuel Barclay, James Lowry, John Cox, and Mathew Houston. The first three pastors were James McConnell, Samuel Houston and John M. Fulton.

It was in this period (1770) that Thomas Jefferson secured a Patent for the tract of land along Cedar Creek, including Natural Bridge. Presumably the neighbors did not see the advantage to owning it. The farming land in the neighborhood was pretty well taken and thus a neighborhood mill and church were established nearby. Audley Paul became a Surveyor at this time, also (1770).

Botetourt County Court Order Book I, May 7, 1782, shows that Audley Paul, Sr. was allowed one hundred and ten pounds for his service in collecting beef and cloathing (sic) for the 15th District which required eleven days. Although Yorktown had taken place (19 October 1781), the war was not over until the Treaty of Paris, 3 September 1783. Food and clothing were needed by the Army.

The Will of Audley Paul is on Record in Will Book "B", at page 231, of the public records of Botetourt County, Virginia:

"In the name of God Amen. This Sixth day of September one thousand eight hundred and two, I Audley Paul Senr. of the County of Botetourt and State of Virginia being weak in body but in perfect mind and memory thanks be to God for all his mercies doth make this my last well and testament Imprimir I do allow my body to be buried after a decent Christian manner at the discretion of my Executors, Item I do give and bequeath to my oldest daughter Ann Taylor, Thirty Three Dollars and on third of a Dollar to be paid by Audley Paul, Junr. and one Still which is now in her custody. Item I do leave my daughter Margaret Walker Twenty Five Dollars to be paid by my son John Paul. Item I do give and bequeath unto Rebeccah Taylor my daughter Twenty Five Dollars to be paid by my son James Paul. Item I do give and bequeath unto my son John Paul one hundred and sixty two acres of land lying in the Raccoon Valley part of the land which I purchased from John ________. Item I do give and bequeath unto James Paul my son one hundred and eighty acres of land I purchased from John Crawford in the Raccoon Valley. Item I do leave my daughter Jane Harris Twenty Five Dollars to be paid by my sons John and James Paul each an equal part. Item I do leave and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Defreese the One hundred acres of land and Hirem Abeth Paul her son fifty acres of land I have in the Raccoon Valley Sd. land is to be divided according to quantity and quality and each to have an equal advantage of water and timber addiquate to their quantities above mentioned. I also leave Elizabeth Defreese the waggon and gears and all the movables that I left in her possession. I also leave my riding mare to my son John Paul. I also leave her young foal and all my body cloaths to my son James Paul. I also leave my money that remains in Crawford's hand to John Walker, Cawfeld Taylor and James Harris to be devided equally amongst them my two years old colt I do leave to my son Audley. Given from under my hand and seal this sixth day of September One thousand eight hundred and Two.

Audley Paul Sen (Seal)

"William Cross; William Campbell; James Lecky

"NB I nominate and appoint Col Sawyers of Tenecee and At Botetourt, December Court, 1802.

"An instrument of writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Audley Paul dec'd was exhibited in court & proven by the oath of James Lecky, a witness thereto and ordered to lie for further proofs. And at Botetourt April Court 1810 was proven by the oath of William Cross and William Campbell, two other witnesses thereto ___ to be recorded."
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Audley married Jane Mathews WFT est 1736-1782. Jane (daughter of John Mathews and Anne Archer) was born WFT est 1718-1744 in Augusta County, Virginia; died WFT est 1774-1833. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Jane Mathews was born in Augusta County, Virginia. She married, in 1755, Audley PAUL son of John PAUL and Jane (or Margaret?) LYNN [see section on PAUL family]. Audley PAUL was born c1728/31 in Nottingham, England, and died in Botetourt County, Virginia, between the date of his Will, 6 September 1802, and the date of Probate. As will be seen, his Will was first brought into court in December 1802 and was ordered to lie for further proofs and was actually not probated until April, 1810. It is recorded in Will Book "B", page 231, records of Botetourt County, Virginia. Jane Mathews and her husband Audley Paul had thirteen children.

[Research of Mildred G. Hanna, who cites, among other sources, the following: Genealogical Magazine, Vol.12, 1925-6, page 65; Kegley, Virginia Frontier, 1740-1783, Waddell.]
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George married Anne Alford WFT est 1744-1787. Anne was born WFT est 1727-1750; died WFT est 1772-1838. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]