DUPLIN COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA

MATHIS FAMILY

Mathis Summary


Note: The early record keepers used Mathis, Matthis, Mathews, Matthews & other variant spellings to refer to this family. There is no indication at this time that these references are to two different families.

MATHIS FAMILY- DUPLIN COUNTY, NC


This is a preliminary report of research of the Mathis Family of Duplin, New Hanover, and Sampson County of NC. The primary source of the information contained herein is from deed abstracts. The 1779 petition for the formation of Sampson County, the 1790 census for Duplin and New Hanover, estate records and marriage records have also been searched. State land grant records and complete census records have not been searched as of the date hereof.


There are two distinct Mathis families in the area. Edmond Mathis appears to be the head of one and Jacob Mathis appears to be the head of the other.

EDMOND MATHIS FAMILY


Attached is a summary on Edmond Mathis from "Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia". It will be used as a basis for further research. The source of the marriages of each of his children in Wiregrass is not known. They will be presumed to be correct. There are two major errors in Wiregrass. First, John living in Wayne County in 1797 was the son of Ezekial who had died by 1797. Second, in other volumes of Wiregrass, the conclusion is made that Edmond, Jr. had sons John, Edmond and James. Edmond, Jr. died without lineal descendants. Rice Mathis was the father of the three younger Mathis.


In 1794 James Mathis acquired the interest of John, Rice, Lazarus and Zacheus in lands of Edmond Mathis (Sampson County Deed Book 10, p. 366). This leaves the interest of Thomas, Edmond, Jr., Harmon and Ezekial outstanding (Hiram is probably one and the same as Harmon). In 1797 James acquired the interest of Thomas (Sampson County, D.B. 10, p. 396). This deed erroneously refers to a slave willed by Edmond Mathis, Jr. In fact the slave mentioned was willed to Thomas by his father Edmond Mathis, Sr. Finally, later in 1797, James acquired the remaining interest in the estate (Sampson County, D.B. 10, p. 523). John Mathis of Wayne County, son of Ezekial Mathis sold his interest in the estates of Edmond Mathis, Sr., Edmond Mathis, Jr. and Harmon Mathis to James Mathis. The only way that this John Mathis could have an interest in the three estates is for the following to have happened:


(1)Ezekial died before 1797.

(2)Edmond Mathis, Jr. and Harmon Mathis died without lineal descendants (or perhaps male lineal descendants)


Wiregrass mentions that Rice Mathis married Civility Goff. In 1818, John Mathis, Edmond Mathis, James Mathis and (Civility) James, all heirs of Rice Mathis sold 100 acres to John Mathis (Duplin County, D.B. U, p. 463). One question is whether or not the John Mathis Grantor and the John Mathis Grantee are one and the same. John Goff named wife Elizabeth, sons John, Thomas and William, and daughters Sivil (sic) James and Arribelah Williams in his will. (Duplin County W.B. A, p.168 - Jan., 1810). In 1819 John Goff, Thomas Goff and Nevel James sold land in John Goff's estate to John Mathis (Duplin County, D.B. U, p.462). Therefore, Rice Mathis married Civility Goff. He died leaving sons John, Edmond and James. Civility, his widow remarried Nevel James.

Some Appearances in Deed Books

JAMES (son of Edmond, Sr.)

1784

Duplin N.520

Purchaser

1785

Duplin 3A.442

Purchaser

1786

Duplin F.104

Purchaser

1802

Duplin O.238

Seller (wife = Elizabeth)

1806

Duplin Q.201

Seller

1817

Duplin U.442

Seller

1822

James estate is probated in Duplin County.

MOSES (relationship unknown)

1763

Sampson (Duplin) 02.072

Purchaser

1776

Sampson (Duplin) 05.278

Seller, witnessed by Edmond

EZEKIAL (son of Edmond, Sr.)

1771

Sampson (Duplin) 03.285

Purchaser, witnessed by Edmond

EZEKIAL (relationship unknown)

1794

Duplin G.058

Purchaser

1800

Duplin P.257

Seller

JACOB MATHIS FAMILY


Also appearing in the early records are a second group of Mathis headed by Jacob Mathis.

JACOB

1770

Sampson (Duplin) 04.359

Purchaser

1796

Duplin K.385

Seller to Jacob, Jr. and witnessed by William

1787

Duplin 01A.440

Seller to John (his son?) This tract later passes to William (1801) and then to Jacob, Jr. in 1803 and 1807. The 1807 deed was witnessed by John.

ARTHUR

1784

Duplin B.064

Grantee from state of NC as an heir of William Mathis, Deceased

1796

Duplin O.060

Seller, witnessed by Jacob, Jr.

1803

Duplin P.016

Witness of deed by Jacob

JOSEPH

1810

Duplin 04A.156

Witness of deed by Jacob, Jr.

Therefore it appears by association that Jacob Mathis, Sr. is closely related to William, deceased, Arthur, William, John, Jacob, Jr. and Joseph Mathis.

CROSSOVER BETWEEN BRANCHES

EDMOND

1801

Duplin L.343

Purchaser from Joshua Blake of land originally granted to Jacob Mathis

1809

Duplin 04A.136

Witness of deed by Jacob, Jr.

The two deeds referenced above are the only clues that the families of Jacob Mathis and Edmond Mathis are related.

FREDERICK MATHIS


In 1794 Frederick Mathis sold 50 acres of land to Joel Mathis (Sampson County, D.B. 9, p. 188). Joel died ca 1821 in Sampson County leaving all his property to his wife Katherine. In 1799 Frederick Mathis sold 100 acres to Elias Daniel (Sampson County, D.B. 11, p. 88). This deed was witnessed by Joel Mathis). There are a number of estates in Sampson County referenced below which the researchers of Frederick should check.

TOO MANY JOHN MATHIS


There are at least four John Mathis in the Duplin area. The first is the son of Edmond Mathis, Sr. The second is the son of Ezekial Mathis. The third is the son of Rice Mathis. The fourth is probably the son on Jacob Mathis.

Son of Edmond

 

 

Married Ruth Bell?

1779

 

Petition for formation of Sampson County

1787

 

Witnessed deed to Rice Mathis

1794

 

Deeded his portion of his father's estate to his brother James

Son? of Jacob

1787

 

Bought 190 acres from his father Jacob

1801

 

Sold the same 190 acres to his brother? William

1803

 

Bought and sold land next to Arthur Mathis. One of the deeds was witnessed by Thomas Goff, Uncle of John, son of Rice.

1807

 

Witnessed deed of 170 acres (out of the same 190 acres) from William Mathis to Jacob mathis, Jr. (his brothers?)

Son of Ezekial

1797

 

Sold his interest in Edmond Mathis' estate to his uncle James Mathis

Son of Rice

1819

 

Bought property from his Grandfather John Goff's estate.

1818

 

Sold (and bought?) property from Rice Mathis' estate

1800

 

Sold land together with his brother Edmond.

____

 

Wiregrass, in a correction to the initial printed summary states that he married Phoebe Alderman

Records to match up with the above four known Mathis:

1787 John Mathis m. Mary Wilson

1789 Bought land from Joseph Wilson

1799 Bought land from Joseph Wilson

1794 Sampson - sold land to Isom Sellers. The deed was witnessed by a second John Mathis.

1803 Sampson - sold land to Micajah Newsome

1794 New Hanover - Bought land from James Towning

1795 New Hanover - Sold land along with his wife Hester to William Nichols

1796 Bought Goff's Old Mill

1813 Sold Mathis Mill (Goff's Old Mill)

1800 Bought land from John Devane

1822 Gave a life estate to his mother Elizabeth. Charity Mathis witnessed the deed.

SAMPSON COUNTY ESTATE RECORDS

Rice

undated

son of Edmond

Thomas

1827

son of Edmond

Harmon

1836

grandson of Edmond?

Zaccheus

1838, 1843

son of Edmond

John C.

1849

 

Compiled By: David H. Robertson, 159 Hickory St., Roswell, GA 30075 davidhr@hushmail.com