Mussenden Ebenezer Matthews
Mussenden Ebenezer Matthews (1735–1830) was an early settler in Iredell County, North Carolina, military officer in the American Revolution, speaker pro tem of the North Carolina House of Commons, plantation owner, and elder in the Fourth Creek Congregation Presbyterian Church.
Lieutenant Mussenden Ebenezer Matthews | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1735 Belfast, County Antrim (Ireland) |
| Died | March 17, 1830 Iredell County, North Carolina |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | North Carolina State Troops |
| Years of service | 1780 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | NC State Cavalry-Western District |
| Spouse(s) |
|
Early life
Musenden's first names is also spelled Mussendin, Mussendine and Mussentine. He is reported to have been born in Belfast, County Antrim, Ireland in about 1735. His parents may have been James Matthews and Mary McGill. He immigrated from Ireland to the American colonies and appeared in Rowan County, North Carolina in 1778, the same year that Iredell County, North Carolina was created from Rowan county. In 1780, "Mussentine Matthews" was one of seven Elders at the Fourth Creek Presbyterian on the records of the Orange Presbytery to which the Church belonged.[1][2][3][4]
Military service
Matthews was a known Lieutenant in the NC State Cavalry-Western District in 1780 under Capt. John Reid. He was also referred to as "Major" Matthews.[5][6][7]
The following accounts of his Revolutionary War exploits have been found:
- "A company of Calvalry, composed of choice men, was immediately organized. By general consent he was demanded for their leader; all his objections were overruled and to encourage his countrymen to act rather than to talk, he accepted the command. In the year 1779 he led them on an expedition into South Carolina, of several months continuance, performing a double office of Commander and Chaplain, and marched over a large part of the western section of the State."[7]
- "During this expedition two of his men were taken prisoners. As he could not recover them by force of arms, he made their case a subject of prayer, both in private and in public, with his men. In a few days they rejoined the company, having made their escape..."[7]
- "Going one day on a reconnoitering expedition, accompanied by an Officer of the company, his friend Mathews, as they emerged from a dense forest into an open field, near to and in full view of a house, they observed some fifteen or twenty British dragoons around the house, some walking about,and some ready mounted. In a moment they observed the peril of their situation from the number of the enemy, and the position of the house and open fields; that it was as impossible to escape by flight, as reckless to make an attack on ten times their number, fully aware of their approach. They halted; Mathews drew his sword, and turning in his saddle towards the wood, waves it as if summoning a company to advance. The dragoons take the alarm, and dashing off at full speed, were soon out of sight, leaving our two officers to make good their retreat."[7]
- "He was an expert rider and had his horse well trained to do his bidding.... Somewhere in South Carolina, probably about Seventy Six, while he was out reconnoitering he ran into the enemy and found himself in a position where his only means of escape was to cross a large creek which was not fordable except at the regular ford. Instead of making for the ford where the enemy expected to head him off, he directed his course to a foot crossing, approaching which he rode his horse across on the foot log and having safely crossed, waving his sword in defiance at the pursuing enemy who though that they had hemmed, as he rode away."[8]
After the war
In 1786, Mussenden was given a Land Grant consisting of 274 Acres on Station Camp Creek just northeast of Nashville. This land was in Davidson County (now Sumner County), Tennessee and was given to him by the State of North Carolina for his service during the Revolutionary War.[1]
In 1789, Mussenden was one of the first two representatives from Iredell County to the North Carolina House of Commons, soon after the county was created. He was elected to serve 13 times between 1789 and 1803. In 1796, he served as speaker of the house,[3]
His residence was a plantation on Third Creek near Statesville. He had married Ann Sloan (1751-1805) before 1780 in Rowan County. Ann was the daughter of Fergus Sloan who donated the land for the Fourth Creek Congregation church. After Ann died, he married Jane Knox (1768-1833) in Iredell County.[1][3]
Mussenden died on March 17, 1830 and was buried in the Old Fourth Creek Cemetery in Statesville.[4]
References
- "Mussenden Ebenezer Matthews (abt. 1751 - 1830)". Retrieved March 7, 2019.
- 1778 Tax List for Rowan County, NC
- Keever, Homer M.; Iredell Piedmont County, with illustrations by Louise Gilbert and maps by Mildred Jenkins Miller, published for the Iredell County Bicentennial Commission by Brady Printing Company from type set by the Statesville Record and Landmark, November 1976, by Homer M. Keever
- "Tombstone, Find A Grave: Memorial #54187998, Old Fourth Creek Cemetery". Retrieved March 7, 2019.
- Lewis, J.D. "The American Revolution in North Carolina, Lieutenants Mussendine Matthews". Retrieved March 7, 2019.
- "NCDAR, ROSTER OF SOLS FROM NC IN THE AM REV, P 410". Retrieved March 7, 2019.
- Foote, Rev. William Henry (1794-1869) (1846). "Sketches of North Carolina, Historical and Biographical, Illustrative of the Principles of a Portion of Her Early Settlers".
- Statesville Sentinel, Statesville, North Carolina, February, 1915