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Mathews-Williams Family Genealogy
Notes
William Ball, of Lancaster Co., VA, served as Justice, High Sheriff, Inspector, and Captain of Militia, 1727 to 1737.
Benjamin Ball apparently never married, although he was engaged to Mary Young of Essex Co., VA.
"Councillor" Robert Carter was the Honorable Robert Carter of "Nomini Hall", Westmoreland Co., VA.
"So far as we have been able to judge by observation and learn by report, we may be permitted to say that there has been much of the amiable and the pious in the family (Robert "King" Carter), sometimes mixed with a portion of eccentricity in individuals of it. I "Councillor" Carter, of Nomini, the grandson of "King" Carter, this peculiarity is found in a large measure. Early in life his disposition was marked by a tendency to wit and humor. Afterward he was the grave Councillor, and always the generous philanthropist. At a later day he became scrupulous as to the holding of slaves, and manumitted great numbers. The subject of religion then engrossed his thoughts. Abandoning the religion of his fathers, he adopted the creed of the Baptists, and patronized the young preachers, having a chapel in his own house at Nomini. After a time he embraced the theory of Swedenborg, and at length died an unhappy death-dreading Papist". - Meade (Vol. 2, pp. 111-112).
Rebecca Carter died in infancy.
Sophia Carter was of "Berea". She never married.
Joseph Chinn was a Justice in 1792 and Delegate to the Virginia Assembly 1793.
WILL OF JOSEPH CHINN - 1799: Ref.: Lancaster Co., Va. Records, Will Book 28, p. 73.
I, JOSEPH CHINN of the Parish of Christ Church in the County of Lancaster, being in perfect sense and memory, thanks be to Almighty God for it do make this my Last Will and Testament in manner following viz:
To my loving wife ELIZABETH my whole estate both real and personal during her natural life or widowhood but should she intermarry then her dower be alloted to her.
Item I give to my son JOHN LEROY the plantation commonly called and known by the name of "Zionhouse" on the Rappahannock River in the County of richmond containing 930 acres more or less, to him and his heirs forever but should he die before he arrives to the age of 21 years or has no issue of his body lawfully begotten then it is my desire that it descend to my son JOSEPH WILLIAM and his heirs forever.
Item To my son JOSEPH WILLIAM the plantation on which I know live containing 1026 acres more or less. If no lawful heirs survive him then the said plantation shall descend to my son JOHN LEROY.
Item My claim of that part of the land in Kentucky to be equally divided between my two sons, LEROY and JOSEPH WILLIAM at 21 years of age. If no heirs survive all property both real and personal to be divided between my brother JOHN YATES CHINN and sisters PRISCILLA DOWNMAN - SARAH Y. CHINN and ELIZABETH NUTT. Slaves to be sold for all debts.
JOS. CHINN
Dated May 7th, 1799
Signed in the presence of: John M. Smith - Robert Chinn
Col. William Bronaugh, of London, England. He lived in Loudoun Co., VA, signed the Westmoreland County protest against the Stamp Act, in 1765, and died in Loudoun Co, where his will is recorded.
The following information is taken from, "Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-1989, Bicentennial Edition", United States Government Printing Office, 1989: (See page 772)
CHINN, Joseph William: a representative from Virginia; born at EPPING FOREST near Nuttsville, Lancaster County, VA, on November 16, 1798; was graduated from Union College, Schenectady, NY, in 1819; studied law at Needham, VA; was admitted to the bar in 1821 and practiced in lancaster County, VA, member of the State house of delegates 1826-1828; served in the State senate 1829-1831; elected as a Jacksonian to the Twenty-second and Twenty-third Congresses (March 4, 1831-March 3, 1835); chairman, Committee on District of Columbia (Twenty-third Congress); moved to Richmond, VA, where he resumed the practice of his profession; died on his estate, WILNA, near Richmond, VA, on December 5, 1840; interment in the family burying ground at WILNA. (Note: "Wilna" is located near Downings on the Rappahannock River, Richmond Co., VA.)INDENTURE OF JOSEPH W. CHINN - 1836 Ref.: Deed Book 38, page 25, Lancaster Co., VA
Indenture between JOSEPH W. CHINN and MARIANNA CHINN his wife of the County of Richmond of the one part and Joseph Peirce of Lancaster County of the 2nd part --- Sell unto Joseph Peirce for 4, 200 pounds (Oakley) all that tract and parcel of land called "Oakley": laying and in the County of Lancaster bounded by the lands of JOHN L. CHINN, Robert Dunaway, Joseph A. Carter and others estimated to contain 600 acres.
Signed JOSEPH W. CHINN
MARIANNA CHINN
January 1st 1836Witness: B.C. CHINN, Elias E. Buckner, Chas. W. Smith
DEED - William B. Mitchell and JOSEPH W. CHINN to JOHN L. CHINN Lancaster Co, VA Deed Book 34, page 369:Indenture between William B. Mitchell of the first part and JOSEPH W. CHINN of the County of Richmond of the second part and JOHN L. CHINN of the third part.
The said Mitchell and Chinn fo the County of Lancaster, State of Virginia witnesseth that the said William B. Mitchell for $1.00 to him in hand paid by the said CHINN, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged - - - Hath bargained and sold unto the said JOSEPH W. CHINN a certain piece or parcel fo land situated and lying in the county and state aforesaid called "Epping Forest" it being the same land this day conveyed to the said Mitchell by JOHN L. CHINN and his wife and bounded and described in the said deed to have and to hold the same with all and singular and promises etc. unto the said CHINN and his heirs free from the claim of the said Mitchell and his heirs and of all persons claiming of, by, thru or under him etc. upon special terms and conditions - whereas the said William B. Mitchell hath this day executed to the said JOSEPH L. CHINN three bonds, one for 2,000 pounds payable the 25th day of December 1836 for purchase of aforesaid land, etc.
This was a deed of trust from William B. Mitchell to JOSEPH W. CHINN for benefit of JOHN L. CHINN.
Signed the 15th day of January 1836
Wm. B. Mitchell
JOSEPH W. CHINN
WILL OF JOSEPH WILLIAM CHINN - JULY 1838:
I, JOSEPH W. CHINN of Richmond County, VA. do make and publish this as my last will - Viz: I wish my executor and executrix hereafter named, as soon as practicable, after my death to pay all my just debts; they will be found few in number and small in amount, and I desire that they may be paid, by collecting the money due me, and by a sale if necessary, of such articles as can be most conveniently spared; made privately.
I desire that my estate be kept together, for the mutual and comfortable support of my wife - MARIANNA, during he life or widowhood, and of my children and for the proper and liberal education of my children. If my wife marry, she may upon her marriage, or in six months thereafter, elect either to take her dower and thirds separately, or to take one third the profits of my estate.
When my daughter GERTRUDE arrives to the age of eighteen years, I desire that my negroes be equally divided between herself and her brother J.W. CHINN, and that she my said daughter take her half, for herself and her heirs forever. The other half of my real estate to be kept together as before directed and the support of my son J. W. CHINN and his education and to the support of my wife, if living, until my son arrives to the age of eighteen years; then I give to my daughter GERTRUDE one third of the half the negroes left on the real estate and to my son J. W. CHINN my real estate and the other two thirds of the negroes. I wish my chaute property equally divided between them when GERTRUDE arrives at the age of eighteen.
If either of my children die before marriage or without issue, I give the whole estate to the survivor; if both die before marriage without issue and my wife be living unmarried; I give my whole estate to her for life, with the right to dispose of absolutely, the following negores by will or otherwise viz: Lucy and her children Elijah and Mary, Kitty, and her increase, Charlotte and her present and future increase, Peter and Judy and her increase, and Shadrick and all the balance of my estate real and personal, at the death of my wife and in the above last recited event I give to the children of my brother J. S. CHINN, then living.
If both my children die, without issue and under the age of twenty-one years and my wife be dead also, I give the whole of my estate real and personal to the children of my brother J. S. CHINN, except the following negroes viz: Lucy and her children Elijah and Mary, Kitty and her increase, Charlotte and her present and future increase and Peter to be divided in two equal parts, one of which I give to the children of Mrs. M. H. Buckner and the other to the children of Mrs. E. T. Neale now living; and Judy and Shadrick to C. W. Smith's children.
If it should be necessary for the support of my wife and the support and education of my children to raise funds beyond the profits of my estate, I wish such servants sold as can best be spared, where no ties shall be broken and for this reason would designate Jacob and his wife, DArkey and her increase, Caty and her increase and Rawleigh and Judy.
I advise my wife if I die before building at Sion House, to board with her children in some town, where she can be relieved from the care and labour of housekeeping and be with her children while they are educating. I wish all my law and other books kept for my son J. W. CHINN except the books received by me while a member of the House of Representatives by the vote of that body; these last I wish to be delivered to the Trustees of the Northumberland Academy to be place in the library of that institution.
I also wish my gun kept for my son and my secretary. I appoint my wife Executrix, my brother J. S. CHINN my friends B. C. CHINN and C. W. SMITH executors of this will. To the three last I commend my helpless wife and children.
If HAMILTON NEALE study law, I wish him to have the use of my law books and hope he will take care of them not for their value, but that the may go to JOSEPH if he lives; and when HAMILTON commences the practice I wish my exor. out of my estate to furnish a good horse saddle and bridle to be absolutely his.
Written wholly by myself and assigned and sealed by me this 8th day of July 1838.JOSEPH W. CHINN (SEAL)
VirginiaAt a Court of monthly session held for Richmond County on Monday the 1st day of February 1841.
This writing porporting to be the last Will and Testament of JOSEPH W. CHINN deceased, was produced in Court by JOHN S. CHINN, BARTHOLMEW C. CHINN and CHARLE W. SMITH the three executors therein named, and ther being no subxcribing witness thereto, William Y. Sturman and Willoughby Newton Esqrs., there sworn and severally deposed that they are well acquainted with the Testator's handwriting and verily believe the writing and the name thereto subscribed to be wholly written by the Testator's own hand, where upon the said writing is ordered to be recorded as the true last Will and Testament of the said JOSEPH W. CHINN dec'd. and the said JOHN S. CHINN, BARTHOLMEW C. CHINN and CHARLES W. SMITH having refused to take upon themselves the burden of the execution thereof, - And MARIANNA CHINN widow and relict of the Testator having refused in writing to take upon herself the burden of the execution of the said Will - On the motion of JOHN S. CHINN who made oath and together with B. C. CHINN, S. A. M. LELAND, CHARLES W. SMITH, WM. JONES, WM. D. McCARTY and D. FOX his securities entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of thirty thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs, Certificate is granted the said JOHN S. CHINN for obtaining letters of administration on the said decedents estate with his will aforesaid annexed in due form.
Teste
Jos. F. B. Seffield
John LeRoy Chinn served as Sheriff of Stafford County, VA, 1845-46. He was a Delegate, 1819-1820.
Joseph William Chinn, (like his son), was a lawyer. He studied law under Judge Brockenbrough and served in the Civil War in the Confederate Co. B, 40th Virginia Volunteer Infantry, as regimental Sgt.-Major. He was honorably discharged for ill health August 1862. He entered the 9th Virginia Cavalry, Co. F, and served until 1865.
Hayden shows his death Feb 2, 1874.After the war he served as superintendent of Richmond County Public Schools.
The following is taken from "An Autobiography of Walter Neal Chinn, Jr.":
"I do not remember my grandfather, Joseph William Chinn, the fourth in line, save slightly. I have a pretty good memory, of the long ago, and when I was about three or four years of age, grandfather was sitting in the sun in the yard at "Lee Hall", and a horse ran out in the yard. As Virginia and I were playing nearby, grandfather got up and waved his cane at the horse, deflecting his course from us. I also remembered that he used Bromo Seltzer, as he suffered from headaches. He usually carried a little blue Bromo Seltzer bottle around in his pocket.
Grandfather was educated at the Episcopal High School and the University of Virginia. His father left him his law books, and a saddle horse, according to his will that will follow in the appropriate space. He also left him a good deal of property, slaves, etc. His father was a wealthy, well educated man, having graduated from Union College, in Schenectady, New York, known as the Mother of Fraternities. My college fraternity, Theta Delta Chi was born at Union. Grandfather lived at Tappahannock after graduation, and was in business there with his brother-in-law, Robert S. Hipkins, of "Bleak Hall", in Westmoreland County. The firm of Chinn and Hipkins had a big shipping business, sending many ships out of Tappahannock laden with farm supplies, timber and other commodities. I understand they went out of business after a big storm hit their ships and cargoes, causing much damage and loss. After that time the War Between the States was upon them, and grandfather signed up with his state, and was Serg't. Major of the 40th Virginia Infantry, honorably discharged in ill health in August 1862. He entered the 9th Virginia Cavalry serving until 1865, the end of the war. He then returned to his farm in Richmond Clounty, "Wilna", and my father and uncle Austin were born there.
My father (born 30 Dec 1871) scarcely knew his mother, for she died on February 18, 1874. Grandfather sold "Wilna" after that, and lived at "Sunnyside Farm", ust northeast of Warsaw, where he lived with his second wife, Josephine Lane, whom he married on September 15, 1885.
I did not have any acquaintance with his first wife (Gabriella Brockenbrough), but I did know and enjoyed his second one (Josephine Lane), "Cousin Josie", as the elderly members of the family called her. I remember my last session with her. She was ninety-five years of age, and her mind was as sharp as mine, half her age. I went to see her at her home in Richmond, and we talked about the family, and as I started to go, I asked her if there was anything that I could do for her, or send her. She thought for a while, and then asked me if I could make an oyster stew. I told her I could, and I described my process. She seemed satisfied, and requested that I proceed to make it, and get it to her. I then asked if there was anything else that I could do to make her happy. She then asked if I had any real good Virginia ham. I said that fortunately I did, and that I would send her some slices with the stew. Is there anything else your heart desires? "Yes", she replied, "Will you get a next year's calendar and send it to me?" Well, that beats any request that I had ever heard. There was this woman nearly one hundred years old, and she was interested in next year's calendar! Lucy was going to Richmond the next day, and she carried the oyster stew, ham and calendar, but I never saw her again. She died on January 10th of the next year, only ten three hundred sixty fifths of the calendar. She knew alot about our family, and I can only kick myself for not pumping her more about the past. She was laid to rest beside grandfather at St. John's Episcopal Church at Warsaw. Miriam and Norman, and Norman's wife Daisy, lie nearby. She was a remarkable woman, and made a good second wife for grandfather, and was only three years older thatn Uncle Joe, his first born child to live"
Austin Brockenbrough Chinn Rev.
Austin B. Chinn was pastor of Carmel, CA Episcopal Church. He was also a clergyman in San Francisco, CA.
Joseph William Chinn, (like his son), was a lawyer. He studied law under Judge Brockenbrough and served in the Civil War in the Confederate Co. B, 40th Virginia Volunteer Infantry, as regimental Sgt.-Major. He was honorably discharged for ill health August 1862. He entered the 9th Virginia Cavalry, Co. F, and served until 1865.
Hayden shows his death Feb 2, 1874.After the war he served as superintendent of Richmond County Public Schools.
The following is taken from "An Autobiography of Walter Neal Chinn, Jr.":
"I do not remember my grandfather, Joseph William Chinn, the fourth in line, save slightly. I have a pretty good memory, of the long ago, and when I was about three or four years of age, grandfather was sitting in the sun in the yard at "Lee Hall", and a horse ran out in the yard. As Virginia and I were playing nearby, grandfather got up and waved his cane at the horse, deflecting his course from us. I also remembered that he used Bromo Seltzer, as he suffered from headaches. He usually carried a little blue Bromo Seltzer bottle around in his pocket.
Grandfather was educated at the Episcopal High School and the University of Virginia. His father left him his law books, and a saddle horse, according to his will that will follow in the appropriate space. He also left him a good deal of property, slaves, etc. His father was a wealthy, well educated man, having graduated from Union College, in Schenectady, New York, known as the Mother of Fraternities. My college fraternity, Theta Delta Chi was born at Union. Grandfather lived at Tappahannock after graduation, and was in business there with his brother-in-law, Robert S. Hipkins, of "Bleak Hall", in Westmoreland County. The firm of Chinn and Hipkins had a big shipping business, sending many ships out of Tappahannock laden with farm supplies, timber and other commodities. I understand they went out of business after a big storm hit their ships and cargoes, causing much damage and loss. After that time the War Between the States was upon them, and grandfather signed up with his state, and was Serg't. Major of the 40th Virginia Infantry, honorably discharged in ill health in August 1862. He entered the 9th Virginia Cavalry serving until 1865, the end of the war. He then returned to his farm in Richmond Clounty, "Wilna", and my father and uncle Austin were born there.
My father (born 30 Dec 1871) scarcely knew his mother, for she died on February 18, 1874. Grandfather sold "Wilna" after that, and lived at "Sunnyside Farm", ust northeast of Warsaw, where he lived with his second wife, Josephine Lane, whom he married on September 15, 1885.
I did not have any acquaintance with his first wife (Gabriella Brockenbrough), but I did know and enjoyed his second one (Josephine Lane), "Cousin Josie", as the elderly members of the family called her. I remember my last session with her. She was ninety-five years of age, and her mind was as sharp as mine, half her age. I went to see her at her home in Richmond, and we talked about the family, and as I started to go, I asked her if there was anything that I could do for her, or send her. She thought for a while, and then asked me if I could make an oyster stew. I told her I could, and I described my process. She seemed satisfied, and requested that I proceed to make it, and get it to her. I then asked if there was anything else that I could do to make her happy. She then asked if I had any real good Virginia ham. I said that fortunately I did, and that I would send her some slices with the stew. Is there anything else your heart desires? "Yes", she replied, "Will you get a next year's calendar and send it to me?" Well, that beats any request that I had ever heard. There was this woman nearly one hundred years old, and she was interested in next year's calendar! Lucy was going to Richmond the next day, and she carried the oyster stew, ham and calendar, but I never saw her again. She died on January 10th of the next year, only ten three hundred sixty fifths of the calendar. She knew alot about our family, and I can only kick myself for not pumping her more about the past. She was laid to rest beside grandfather at St. John's Episcopal Church at Warsaw. Miriam and Norman, and Norman's wife Daisy, lie nearby. She was a remarkable woman, and made a good second wife for grandfather, and was only three years older thatn Uncle Joe, his first born child to live"
Norman Chinn was a in the stock and bond brokerage business in New York, both in Rochester and New York City.
Dr. Austin Brockenbrough was a well-known physician of Tappahannock County, Virginia. He was a member of the House of Delegates from Essex County, Virginia, from 1820 to 1824.
There are sources that identify Louisa Brockenbrough as Louisa Clemens Brockenbrough.
Austin Brockenbrough, Jr., Captain in Co. D, 55th Virginia Infantry, was killed on the second day's battle (July 2, 1863) at the Battle of Gettysburg. In his will written at Camp Fredericksburg, March 20, 1863, and recorded Oct 19, 1863, in Essex County, VA, Will Book 28, page 400, he left to his brother, Benjamin Blake Brockenbrough, "Greenfield", which he had inherited under the will of his father, with the provision that if his brother left no heir it was to descend to his nephew Austin Brockenbrough, son of Col. John M. Brockenbrough and Austina Brockenbrough, and to be kept in the family as long as possible. Sisters, Betty, Louisa, and Austina Brockenbrough, and Gabriella Chinn; to his mother, Frances Brockenbrough, his books, watches, pistols, sword and Bible; "To my comrade-in-arms, Lawrence Roane, five hundred dollars to be paid to him on his wedding day";