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- Col. Charles Lewis Mathews died between the date of his Will, 8 May 1842, and the date of probate, 12 August 1843, in Cahaba (Dallas County), Alabama. He married 31 January 1807, in Greene County, Georgia, Lucy EARLY, sister of Governor Peter EARLY and daughter of Joel EARLY. She was born 3 July 1789, and died 20 April 1816 in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, after which time Col. Mathews removed to Alabama. He owned, and lived at the Goosepond until his wife's death. She is buried in the small family plot at the Goosepond, next to Anne P. Mathews, wife of General George Mathews. Her tombstone reads "Mathews, Lucy, 3 July 1789 - 20 Apr 1816, wife of Charles L. Mathews." At the time of his death, he was reputed to have been one of the wealthiest planters in the United States, which fact is substantiated by the 1850 Census of Dallas County, Alabama, in which we find his sons listed and owning property valued in medium five-figure sums, which was no mean fortune for those days and times. He had five children.
The Will of Colonel Charles Lewis Mathews is recorded in Dallas County, Alabama, in Will Book "A", Page 221:
"The State of Alabama, Dallas County. Be it known to all whom it may concern, that I Charles L. Mathews of said County being of sound mind but advanced in years and desiring to distribute and dispose of my Estate with as little of the interference of Courts as possible, do hereby make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament as follows:
"First having divided out and given a large portion of my estate both real and personal to and among my four sons and heirs George M., Joel E., Thomas M., and Peter E. Mathews, such as lands, negroes, horses, mules, stock, furniture, farming utensils &c. I do hereby confirm such divisions and gifts to them and each of them respectively and give them full and complete title to the same, so that each one shall have a perfect right to all such property &c as have been given to them, and my will and desire is that none of such property or of any that I may hereafter give to any or either of my sons shall be brought into (illegible) or in any (illegible) or charged against either of them in the division of the residue of my Estate.
"Secondly I have also hired to each of my said sons some negro men and I hereby give to each the negroes hired to him respectively (excepts specified ones) who are hired to Joel E. Mathews and the boy Peter who is hired to Thomas M. Mathews. I will also that unless I should have it done myself before my death that my son Peter E. Mathews be allowed one other negro man or the value thereof in money in lieu of the one hired to him which is dead.
"Thirdly my negro man Daniel and his wife I give to my son Thomas M. Mathews.
"Fourthly all my real estate in the city of Mobile I leave to be divided between my sons equally share and share alike but should they not be able to agree upon a division then I direct it to be divided into lots by themselves or some disinterested persons and the lots drawn for all my other real estate in the states of Alabama, Ohio, Kentucky, Georgia, and elsewhere, I give to my said four sons to be equally divided between them share and share alike by partition or should three of them prefer it to be sold by my Executors and the proceeds thereof equally divided between my said four sons share and share alike.
"Fifthly as I own lands in the State of Virginia as Executor of my fathers Will in which case friend Col. William Woods became my security the suit being brought after I as Executor had dstributed all the assets of the estate among the legatees except about five thousand dollars which amount together with the sum of twenty thousand dollars I desire executors to retain in their hands in money or such assets of my estate as they deem will be most easily and readily convertible into money until the termination of said suit as a fund to indemnify my said friend when such suit is terminated. Such portions of it as shall not be needed to be applied to said suit or to be paid for said indemnity shall be divided according to the residuary clause in this Will. Except the five thousand dollars which belongs to my fathers estate and if not needed to be disposed of accordingly.
"Sixthly it is my will and desire that all money on hand at the time of my death all my bank stocks and other stocks and funds all my choses in action, notes, and bonds also all the remaining and residue of my estate whether real or personal not heretofore disposed of or not otherwise devised or bequeathed in this will shall be equally divided between my said four sons share and share alike.
"Seventhly it is my will and desired that my executors do not have any valuation or appraisement of my estate or be liable to make any returns to any orphans or other court.
"Eighthly I appoint my two sons Joel Early Mathews and Thomas M. Mathews executors of this my last will and testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this eighth day of May in the year or our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty two.
Charles L. Mathews (LS)
"The foregoing instrument signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Charles L. Mathews as his last will and testament in our presence and in the presence or each other signed the same as witnesses thereto this 8th May AD 1842.
A. Martin Thomas H. Wiley C.
"The State of Alabama, Dallas County Special of Court 27th July, AD 1843, Personally appeared before me Will Judge of the Orphans Court of said County, Thomas H. Wiley one of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing will who being first duly sworn deposeth and sayeth that he saw Charles L. Mathews the testator sign seal and execute said will as and for his last will and testament. That said testator was of sound mind and disposing memory at the time of executing the same, that this deponent, A. Martin, G. R. and Charles G. Edwards signed the same as witnesses in the presence of and at the request of the said testator and in the presence of each other on the day and year therein named.
Thomas H. Wiley
"Sworn to and subscribed before me July 27, 1843, Recorded 12th August 1843, Judge, Sanford , Clerk."
ATTACHED is Certificate dated 25 April 1968, with Official Seal affixed, signed by B. A. Reynolds, Judge of Probate, State of Alabama, County of Dallas, that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the last will and testament of Charles L. Mathews, deceased.....as recorded in Will Book A on page 221, et seq of the Probate Records of Dallas County, Alabama.
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