Colonel Matthew Talbot (1699-1758)

Written by Laura A. Jones

Updated 3 Jan 2018 

Part I:  England

Matthew Talbot was born in England on September 26, 1699.  His parents, Barnaby Talbott and Martha Moyle, were married at St. Mary Magdalen Church in Surrey County, England on October 7, 1693.

The parish register from St. Mary Magdalen Church showing the marriage of Barnaby Talbott and Martha Moyle.  They are the fourth couple from the bottom of the page on the right.  Click on image to see an enlargement.

Unfortunately, Matthew’s early years were very sad because several members of his family passed away before he was even six years old, including his mother (when he was just two), his brother Edmund, and his sister Martha.  Several years later, when Matthew was a teenager, he was under a 7-year contract to work as an apprentice for a blacksmith named John Higginson.  In a document that recorded the apprenticeship tax paid by Mr. Higginson in 1714, Matthew’s father Barnaby was listed as a “Coffee Man.”

The register of duties paid for apprentice’s indentures, indicating that Matthew worked as an apprentice for John Higginson.  Their information is on line number 24. 

Part II:  Maryland

Sometime before he reached the age of 19, Matthew and his cousin Edmund boarded a ship and sailed across the Atlantic to America.  Matthew’s reason for leaving his homeland is not known, but it’s possible that his father had died, and working as a blacksmith didn’t appeal to him.  Upon arriving in America, Matthew was living in Maryland.

This is the first page of a will for an Edmund Talbott who died in Baltimore County, Maryland in 1731. It is not known if he may have been the cousin who came to America with Matthew, or if they were not related at all. 

On October 7, 1718, Matthew served as a witness to the will of Thomas Aldridge, who died sometime within the next few weeks.

The will of Thomas Aldridge with Matthew Talbot listed as one of the witnesses.  Will was probated in Anne Arundel County, Maryland on November 22, 1718.

At the age of 22, Matthew married Mary Williston, the daughter of James Williston and Ann Belgrave.  Born in 1697, Mary was about 24 when they got married.  Her father had died when she was  just 11.  He has been described as a “large land owner,” but his will does not indicate a large estate.  Matthew and Mary were married on June 5, 1722 by Reverend William Tibbs at St. Paul’s Parish in Baltimore.  There has been quite a bit of confusion as to their marriage date, so here is a copy of the original record.

The marriage record of Matthew Talbot and Mary Williston.  They are the fourth couple on the list.  Please note that Mary’s maiden name was misspelled as Williamson.  Click photo to see an enlargement.

The following year, on November 6, 1723,  Mary gave birth to their son, Charles Moile Talbot.  Although Moile is spelled with an i instead of a y, it appears that Matthew named his first son after his uncle, Charles Moyle, the brother of his mother, Martha Moyle.  In times past, the spelling of names was not at all precise like it is today.  I have seen Matthew’s last name spelled in a variety of ways including Talbot, Talbott, Tolbot, Talbert, and Tolbert.

Part III:  Prince George County, Virginia

Matthew was interested in the shipping business, and he became a merchant trader with his business partner, Nicholas Haile.  After the partnership suffered some heavy losses at sea, the Talbot and Haile families both moved to Virginia, although not at the same time.  The Talbots moved first, and according to Virgil Talbot in his book The Talbots, Centuries of Service, their move to Virginia took place in 1724.  However, I think it might have been a few years later than that as it wasn’t until September 1728 that Matthew purchased property in Virginia.  He bought 251 acres of land on the upper fork of Buckskin Creek in Prince George County, and that patent is the earliest record I have found of Matthew in Virginia.  The next year Mary gave birth to their second son, Matthew, and in 1732, their son James was born.  Both of these boys were born in Prince George County and were included in the Bristol Parish Register as follows:

Matthew Son of Matthew and Mary Tolbert Born 27th Novmr 1729

James Son of Matthew and Mary Tolbot Born 7th Novr 1732 Bapt 7th Apr 1733

It wasn’t long before Matthew became a respected leader in his new community.  He gave his oath of allegiance to His Majesty King George II and was a loyal subject throughout his life.  He was also a devout member of the Church of England and in 1730, Matthew’s name appears as a vestryman at Ferry Chapel, which was located on the south side of the Appomattox River in Prince George County.  Being a member of the vestry meant that he was assigned important church and civic duties.  There was no such thing as separation of church and state in those days.  All Virginians were required to attend church service at least once a month, and the leaders of the parish churches were frequently the same people who were running the local government.  Even the pews in the front of the church were typically reserved for members of the community who had wealth and status.

George II was the King of England from 1727 to 1760.  Matthew was a loyal subject throughout his life.

Matthew’s name is mentioned several times in the Bristol Parish Vestry Book, usually in the accounting records when he was paid for services he performed for the church.  The following list shows each of the times I found Matthew’s name in the records. Unfortunately, the form of currency for the payments was not indicated.  The payments with two numbers could be pounds and shillings, or shillings and pence, or something else.  I am fairly certain that the payments with just one number indicate pounds of tobacco, which was so valuable, it was often used in place of money.

So it appears that Matthew was a reader for several years and then he became a clerk when the new chapel was built at Flatt Creek.  The website for The Church of England gives the following description of responsibilities for their present-day readers: “Readers are lay people who have been selected, trained and licensed by the Bishop of a diocese to preach, teach and lead worship in a pastoral context.”  Matthew’s responsibility as a reader was probably similar.  The minister at that time was a Mr. George Robertson, and he was getting paid much more (20,000 per year), so Matthew was probably assisting him in leading the worship services.

Part IV:  Amelia County, Virginia

In early 1734, the portion of Prince George County where Matthew and his family were living became part of the newly-formed Amelia County, and at that point Matthew is found in the records of Amelia County even though he probably didn’t move.  On March 15, 1735, he purchased 1258 acres of land in Amelia County, and a few months later on July 11, he was the first person to register his livestock identification mark (usually called a stock mark or an ear mark) in the new Amelia County Court Order Book.  In those days, fences were not common and so cattle and hogs had to be marked to identify the owner.  Matthew’s ear mark was recorded as “2 smooth crops.”  Stock marks registered by others in the community included “Crop left ear and slit in right” as well as “Swallow fork right ear, and staple fork left ear.”

On July 13, 1735, Matthew’s wife Mary gave birth to their last child, John Williston Talbot, and then tragically, fourteen months later she passed away, leaving Matthew with four young sons to raise on his own.  About six weeks later, when the Amelia County Court was held in November 1736, it was “Ordered that the Church Wardens bind Mary Chandler to Mathew Talbert.”  The church wardens were given the responsibility of “binding out” or finding a new home for orphans—or sometimes minors whose parents were deemed incapable of supporting them—until they reached the age of maturity.  Mary Chandler’s age was not given, but perhaps she was old enough to be a caretaker for Matthew’s young sons in exchange for her room and board.

The following year Matthew married his second wife, Jane Clayton, who was about fifteen years younger than him.  I have been unable to locate a marriage record for Matthew and Jane.  Some researchers say that they were married on May 23, 1737 in Bedford County, but Bedford County wasn’t created until 1754 and they hadn’t even moved to that area yet.  The date could be right as it was after Mary’s death in 1736 and before the birth of Matthew and Jane’s first child in 1738.  In all probability, they were most likely married in Amelia County sometime in 1737.

Very little reliable information is known about Jane.  It has been said that she was born in 1714, that her first name was Minnie, that she was a cousin of Matthew’s first wife Mary, that her mother’s maiden name Isham, that she was a niece of William Randolph, and that she was raised by the Randolphs in Tuckahoe Mansion.  Unfortunately, I have not been able to find proof to confirm any of those things, so they may be true, or they may not be.  But we do know that Jane was a good mother to Matthew’s four sons, and on November 3, 1738, she gave him another son, Isham, whom she may have named after her mother’s side of the family.

Matthew is included in the Amelia County tax lists for the years 1736, 1738, and 1739, all of which indicated that he was living in the precinct “above Flatt Creek,” which is a tributary of the Appomattox River.  It is not clear why he is not showing up in the 1737 tax list, but it’s certainly possible that part of the records are missing or incomplete.

Matthew made five land transactions in Amelia County as shown in the following table.

The deed wherein Matthew purchased 1020 acres on the north side of Flatt Creek from the Colony of Virginia on June 10, 1737.  (Virginia Land Office Patents No. 17, 1735-1738, page 362)

Most of the county business was taken care of during sessions of Court which were typically held once a month for several days.  Matthew is included in the records of the Amelia County Court on several occasions, including the following.  [Note:  Throughout this biography, I have indicated events that occurred in Court by highlighting the date in green as shown below.  Also, some of the dates are written with two years, such as 1739/40.  This is because before 1752, the old-style calendar was in use and March 25 was the first day of the year.  So in other words, the day after December 31, 1739 was actually January 1, 1739, and the year 1740 didn’t start until March 25.  In order to alleviate some of the confusion with regards to chronology, dates within the months of January, February and the first part of March are often written in this format.  It just means that the event was recorded as taking place in the year 1739, when it actually took place in the year 1740.]

Mar 1735/6 Court:  Matthew was sworn in as an under sheriff.

Mar 1738/9 Court:  Matthew and Hezekiah Ford were both sworn in as under sheriffs.

Apr 1739 Court:  William Eckhols filed a petition that Matthew and several other men be taken off of William Clement’s road and be ordered on to Eckhols’ road.  (As part of their community responsibilities, the men were assigned to help clear and maintain certain roads).

Jul 1739 Court:  Matthew’s wife Jane relinquished her dower right in the land conveyed to Richard Anderson.  (Wives had a 1/3 dower right in their husband’s land, and if any of the land was sold, the wife had to be questioned privately to determine whether or not she was willing to relinquish her right of dower.)

Sep 1739 Court:  Matthew was appointed surveyor in place of William Eckhols.  It was ordered that he continue the road from Flatt Creek to the Church, that the road be cleared, and that causeways be made where needed.

Table of Surveying from the 1728 Cyclopaedia. Matthew probably used some of these tools to survey the road.  Click on photo to see an enlargement.

Feb 1739/40 Court:  Thomas Forster was appointed surveyor of the road in place of Matthew.  Matthew served on the jury in the case of Samuel Jordan vs. William Batt, Jr.

Aug 1740 Court:  The case of Francis Wyate vs. Matthew Talbot was dismissed.  Matthew was awarded non-suit.  It was also ordered that Matthew’s witnesses were to be paid for their attendance in court as follows:  Richard Jones was to be paid 25 pounds of tobacco for 1 day’s attendance, Peter Jones was to be paid for 3 days’ attendance and coming and going 40 miles, John Bentley and Hugh Boston were each to be paid for 3 days’ attendance, and Matthew’s son, Charles, was to be paid for 3 days’ attendance and twice coming and going 50 miles.  It is assumed that all of these payments were to be made by Francis Wyate since Matthew was awarded non-suit.

Nov 1740 Court:  The deed wherein Matthew sold 620 acres to Richard Anderson was ordered to be recorded.  This was the remainder of the 1020-acre parcel that Matthew purchased in 1737.  The actual deed stated that Matthew and Jane Talbot were “of Brunswick County, Virginia,” indicating that they had moved from Amelia County to Brunswick County before November 1740.  The two counties were adjacent to each other at that time, and Matthew’s name appears on the records of both counties for several years.

Jul 1742 Court:  Judgment was made in the case of Matthew Talbot vs. Duncomb Hammond.  Matthew was to receive £1/8/8 (pounds/shillings/pence) plus his costs for filing the lawsuit.  Two weeks later, the sheriff stated that he had taken Duncomb Hammond into custody to satisfy the debt owed to Matthew.  It is assumed that Hammond was required to perform some kind of work for Matthew in order to pay his debt.

May 1744 Court:  Matthew and Clement Read produced an order from Brunswick County Court empowering them to work with Amelia County to build a bridge over Nottoway River.  It was ordered that Charles Irby and Abraham Cock, in conjunction with Clement Read and Matthew, hire someone to build the bridge.

Part V:  Brunswick County, Virginia

As mentioned above, Matthew and Jane were residents of Brunswick County when they sold the 620 acres in Amelia County to Richard Anderson in November 1740, but Matthew shows up in the records of both counties for several years, making it a little difficult to determine exactly when they moved.   My hunch is that the move occurred sometime in early 1740 for a couple of reasons, the first being that the last year Matthew appeared on the Amelia County tax lists was 1739.  Then in the month of February 1739/40, Amelia County removed Matthew as the surveyor of a road, replacing him with someone else (indicating that he was leaving), while in that same month, the Brunswick County Court ordered that a road from Matthew’s plantation be cleared (indicating that the plantation was new).

Matthew and Jane’s youngest child and only daughter, Martha, was born on August 25, 1740, so she was most likely born in Brunswick County.  Matthew undoubtedly named her after his mother, Martha Moyle Talbot.

Some researchers have stated that the Talbot home in Brunswick County was somewhere in the vicinity of the present-day town of Forest, Virginia.  I’m not sure where this information came from, but I located Forest on the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries and was able to determine that as the county boundaries changed over the years, Matthew was always found in the written records of the same county that Forest was located in.  So I do believe this to be the correct location.

Matthew and Jane settled into their new home with their six children:  Charles (age 17), Matthew Jr (11), James (8), John (5), Isham (2), and Martha (the baby).  Their house was most likely small and made of logs cut from the surrounding woods.  Neighbors were generally some distance away.  The principal occupation in this area was farming, and of course tobacco was a primary crop, especially since it was so often used as a medium of exchange.

Tobacco leaves hung for drying

The earliest record where I found Matthew in Brunswick County was in June 1738 when he appeared in Court to make an oath that he had witnessed the execution of a deed between two other people.  In that same session of Court, the case of Matthew Talbot vs. William Gunn was heard, which was the result of Gunn trespassing onto Matthew’s property and physically attacking him.  The Court ruled that Matthew had sustained damages and should recover twenty shillings plus his costs for filing the suit, which included paying his witnesses for their attendance in Court for four days.  I am including here a full transcript of that case.  It should be noted that I have added some punctuation for clarity, but the spelling has been left intact.  The blank lines indicate words that are illegible.

Matthew Talbott, Plaintiff, against William Gunn, Defendant }  In Tresspass and Assault and Batterey.

This Day came the parties by their Attorneys and thereupon ____ a jury to witt [12 jurors listed by name], who being Elected, tryed, & Sworn upon their Oaths do Say that the Defendant Gunn is Guilty of the Tresspass and assault aforesaid, and that the Plaintiff Talbott hath Sustained Damages by ____ thereof to twenty Shillings Current Money.  The Defendants Attorney thereupon ____ to the Court that the Battery was not proved.  Therefore upon hearing the Arguments on both Sides, it is Considered by the Court that the Battery was Sufficiently proved. And it is further Considered that the Plaintiff recovered against the said Defendant his Damages aforesaid in form afored assessed and also his Costs by him about his Suit in this behalf Expended ___  ___.

A copy of the minutes from the trespass, assault, and battery lawsuit that Matthew filed against William Gunn.  (Brunswick County Court Order Book #1, Jun 1738, page 199)

Feb 1739/40 Court:  John Twitty was appointed the surveyor of a road from Matthew’s plantation on Little Roanoak to the road between Embry’s and Thomas Jones’ plantations on the nap of Read’s Creek.  Matthew and several others were appointed to assist in clearing the road.

A copy of the court record wherein a road from Matthew’s plantation was ordered to be cleared.  (Brunswick County Court Order Book #1, Feb 1739/40, page 286)

June 1740 Court:  Matthew’s ear mark was recorded.

Transcription:  On the motion of Matthew Talbot, Order’d that his mark being a smooth Crop in each ear be admitted to Record.  (Brunswick County Court Order Book #1, Jun 1740, page 304)

Nov 1740 Court:  Matthew was granted a license to trade as a peddler.

Transcription:  On the petition of Matthew Talbot licence is granted him to Trade as a pedlar he giving Security in the Clerk’s Office And it is Order’d That the Clerk after the said Matthew has given such Security, prepare him a Licence accordingly.  (Brunswick County Court Order Book #1, Nov 1740, page 399)

May 1741 Court:  Matthew was represented in Court by his attorney, Clement Read, in two cases he filed, both of which involved debts that the defendants, William Bostick and Thomas Winford, refused to pay.  Both cases had the exact same outcome:  the defendant didn’t show up, and the Court awarded Matthew judgment in the amount of the debt, plus his costs in bringing the suit to trial.  Two other cases that were filed by Matthew were “discontinued for want of prosecution,” which probably meant there was a lack of evidence.

Transcription: Upon the petition of Matthew Talbot setting forth That William Bostick stands indebted to him the sum of One Pound eleven shillings and a farthing Current Money upon an Account and refuseth paiment And praying Judgment against him for the same with Costs.  This day came the petitioner by Clement Read his Attorney and it appearing by the Oath of John Madding that the said William hath been duly served with a copy of the said Petition according to Law and he not appearing to allegations thereof Therefore It is Considered by the Court that the petitioner recover against the said William his Debt aforesaid in the said Petition mentioned and his Costs by him in this behalf expended.  (Brunswick County Court Order Book #1, May 1741, page 260)

Transcription: Matthew Talbot, Petitioner, against William Varnal, Defendant }  In Debt. Discontinued for want of Prosecution.  (Brunswick County Court Order Book #1, May 1741, page 458)

Oct 1741 Court:  A case was brought to Court by John Ornsby who stated that Matthew owed him some money on a promissory note, and that Matthew was refusing to pay him.  Matthew had been served with a copy of the petition, but he didn’t show up in Court to respond to the allegations and lost the case.

Transcription: Upon the Petition of John Ornsby, Clerk, Setting forth That Matthew Talbot Stands indebted to him three Pounds five Shillings and three Pence Current Money by Promissory Note and refuseth Paiment and praying Judgment against the said Matthew for the same with Costs. This day came the Petitioner by Clement Read his Attorney and the said Matthew having been duly Served with a Copy of the said Petition according to Law and he not appearing to gainsay the allegations thereof, Therefore It is Consider’d by the Court that the Petitioner recover against the said Matthew two Pounds four Shillings and four pence half Penny Current Money, parcel of the said three Pounds Six Shillings and three pence, and his Costs by him in this behalf expended including an Attorney’s Fees.  (Brunswick County Court Order Book #2, Oct 1741, pages 41 and 42)

The table below shows land that was purchased by Matthew in Brunswick County.  Unfortunately, I have not been able to locate a land record for the property that he and his family were actually living on.  It can’t be any of the land in this table because the Talbots were already living in Brunswick County in 1740, and all of this property was purchased after that.

The parish created for Brunswick County was St. Andrew’s Parish, and on October 10, 1741, Matthew was appointed to be a reader for “Little Roan Oak” and a place was to be selected for him to read.  He continued to serve as a reader there for several years.  Every fourth year, each landowner in the parish had to have their land “processioned” which meant that the landmarks had to be renewed and the boundaries confirmed.  The vestry would appoint processioners to perform this duty and return a written report.  In October 1743, Matthew was appointed to be one of the five men to procession the lands “from the Fork of Ronoak River to the Blue Ridge Mountains.”

Aug 1746 Court:  Matthew is mentioned in the minutes as being “a Member of This Court,” which is the earliest record I have found with him referred to as a court justice in Brunswick County.

The section of Virginia where Matthew and his family were living had a problem with wolves, which must have been going after their livestock, and in order to alleviate the situation, they put a bounty on their heads.  The county offered to pay 140 pounds of tobacco to each person who turned in the head of an old wolf and 70 pounds of tobacco to each person who turned in the head of a young wolf.  The following table is an accounting for the wolves’ heads in Brunswick County in 1746.

The first column is the court justice who issued the certificate. Matthew is listed in that column twice. The second column is the person who got credit for turning in the wolf head. The third column is the “assignee” (if any), meaning who would get paid in place of the person who turned in the wolf head. The fourth column indicated the number and “quality” (age) of the wolf. The last column showed the amount of tobacco (in pounds) to be paid. Reading across the third row, we can see that Matthew’s son, Charles, turned in 1 old wolf head, that Matthew issued the certificate, and that Charles was paid 140 pounds of tobacco. (Brunswick County Court Order Book #3, Nov 1746, page 120)

Part VI:  Lunenburg County, Virginia

In May of 1746, the portion of Brunswick County where Matthew and his family were living became part of the newly-formed Lunenburg County, and at that point Matthew is found in the records of Lunenburg even though he probably didn’t move.  This would mean that he was still living in the vicinity of present-day Forest, Virginia.

The first session of Court for Lunenburg County was held on May 5, 1746.  Matthew and ten other gentlemen were sworn in as court justices.  The next order of business was to divide the county into precincts and assign a justice to each one who would then make a list of “tithables” for the purpose of tax collection.  Matthew’s precinct was the area between the mouth of the Falling River and the mouth of the Otter River.  [Note:  In general terms, tithables were all people 16 years and older, except for white women.  In other words—the people whom the government assumed would be working to generate income for the head of the household, including slaves.]

This 1746 map of Lunenburg County shows the seven precincts in 1748 and the court justice who took the list of tithables for each precinct.  The area shaded in green was Matthew’s precinct in 1746 which became part of John Phelps’ precinct in 1748.  The area shaded in yellow was Matthew’s precinct in 1748.  Click on map to enlarge.

Transcription: Mathew Talbot Gent is appointed to take the List of Tithables in this County from the Mouth of Falling River to the Mouth of Otter River. (Lunenburg County Court Order Book #1, May 1746, page 3)

At the second session of Court, held in June 1746, Matthew once again became the first person in the county to have his ear mark recorded.  That must have been important to him.

Transcription: On the Motion of Mathew Talbot his Ear mark, to wit, a Crop in each Ear is Ordered to be Recorded. (Lunenburg County Court Order Book #1, Jun 1746, page 22)

The court records from July 1746 indicate that Matthew’s 11-year old son, John, had gotten into some kind of trouble with a man by the name of Israel Pickens, who filed a suit and had an attachment against John’s “estate.”  There is no mention as to what led to the lawsuit, but the records do state that the attachment was in the hands of Matthew Talbot and that he was to appear at the next Court to declare the effects of John’s estate.  One wonders how much of an estate an 11-year old boy would have, but at the next session of Court, it became apparent that it wasn’t enough to cover the damages.  The records state that John “absconded” (disappeared) and that the plaintiff would “recover against Matthew Talbot, garnishee, and against John Talbot for the residue debt.”

The following month, judgment was made for the plaintiff in the case of Edward Booker vs. John Talbot.  This case may have been related to the suit filed by Israel Pickens, and it’s possible that these two cases were the result of John damaging some kind of property.  At any rate, it wasn’t a good summer for John.

In 1746, Matthew received credit from Lunenburg County for 16 wolves heads (15 old and 1 young) for a total of 2,170 pounds of tobacco, which was far more than anyone else in the county.  However, the records indicate that for each of these wolf head transactions, Matthew was an “assignee” of someone else which means that Matthew didn’t actually kill the wolves himself.  A certificate was issued by a court justice when a wolf head was turned in, and those certificates were sometimes used as money.  Then at the end of the year, the county would make payments to everyone holding the certificates.  A person who held a certificate for a wolf head they didn’t turn in was known as the “assignee.”  At the end of 1746, an accounting was made to determine how much tobacco was needed to pay for all of the wolves heads (35,560 pounds), and that was divided by the total number of tithable persons in the county (1,270), which meant that each one had to contribute 28 pounds of tobacco to offset the cost of eliminating the wolf problem.

Dec 1746 Court:  Matthew was sworn in as the coroner of Lunenburg County which meant that he would be investigating any deaths that weren’t clearly a result of natural causes.

Transcription: Mathew Talbot Gent producing a Commission from The Honorable The Governor Constituting and Appointing him a Coroner in this County took the usual Oaths to his Majestys Person and Government and Repeated and Subscribed The Test and then took the Oath of Coroner. (Lunenburg County Court Order Book #1, Dec 1746, page 100)

Cumberland Parish was created for Lunenburg County, and the boundaries of both the parish and the county were identical.  The first two pages of the vestry book for the parish are missing, but page three begins with:  “Matthew Talbot Gent is made choice of a vestryman to serve in the parish in the room of John Cauldwell Gent who has refused to take the oaths of a vestryman and resigned.”  Cauldwell had understandably turned down the position because he was a Presbyterian, not a member of the Church of England.  Matthew served as a vestryman in the Cumberland Parish from its inception in 1746 until 1750.

One of the first orders of business of the new vestry was to determine where they should erect chapels within the county.  One of them was to be built near Little Roanoke, a river near Matthew’s home.  Another one was to be built on Otter River, and the vestry appointed Matthew, Thomas Boulden, and John Phelps “to fix on some convenient place near Ottar river to build a house 20 feet square for the reader to read in and make report to the next Vestry.”  However, it wasn’t until February 1749 that an order was made “that Matthew Talbot, John Phelps, Thos. Boulden and Clement Read or any two of them agree with workmen to build a church on Otter River pursuant to a former order of Vestry.”

On August 3, 1747, Matthew’s oldest son, Charles, married Drusilla Gwin, daughter of David Gwin.  I have not been able to find their marriage record, but they were most likely married in Lunenburg County.

Matthew purchased and sold several more tracts of land in Lunenburg County between 1746 and 1753 as shown in the table below:

The deed wherein Matthew sold 113 acres on the north side of Ward’s Creek to David Gwin on June 2, 1752.  (Lunenburg County Deed Book #3, Jun 1752, page 19)

The court justices were required by law to take the list of tithables on June 10th of each year.  In fact, there was a provision in the law stating that any justice who failed or refused to take the list would be fined two thousand pounds of tobacco.  In 1748, Matthew wrote his name at the top of his list and recorded himself as having 8 tithables—himself, his son Matthew Jr, William Cook and John Meguire (probably indentured servants), three slaves named Chester, Bristol, and Jacob, and a mulatto woman named Patt, who was probably a fourth slave.

The list of tithables taken by Matthew for Lunenburg County in 1748. The highlighted section shows his own personal list of 8 tithables.

In July of 1748, Matthew’s son John, who was now almost 13 years old, was in trouble again, only this time it was much worse.  He was accused of manslaughter in the death of Peter Johnson.  Bail was set and Matthew, as well as a man named Joseph Eckhols, were named as “security” to ensure that John showed up for the trial.  I am including here a transcript and copies of the entire record of this case.

At a Court held for Lunenburg County on the fourth day of July in the XXII Year of the Reign of our sovereign Lord King, George the second, and in the Year of our Lord God, one thousand seven hundred & forty Eight, for the Examination of John Talbot who is suspected of the Murder of Peter Johnson.

Present:  Mathew Talbot, John Caldwell, James Mitchell, Hugh Lawson, and William Caldwell (gentlemen).

Talbots Case

The said John Talbot was led to the Barr in Custody of Thomas Bouldin Gent, sherif of this County, to whose Custody for the causes aforesaid he had been committed.  And being Examined, touching the Fact whereof he stands Charged, says he is in no wise thereof Guilty.  Whereupon divers Witnesses were produced, Sworn, and Examined, on behalf of our Lord the King against the said Prisoner, and he was fully heard in his own Defences.  And the Court on hearing the Witnesses and Circumstances relating to the said Fact, and Mature Deliberation being thereupon had, are of opinion that the said John Talbot is Guilty of Manslaughter, and that he ought to be tried for the same before the Honourable, the General Court.  Therefore it is forwarded and accordingly ordered that the sherif keep the said John Talbot in his Custody until he enter into Recognizance with Sufficient Security, That is to say, the said John Talbot in the sum of one hundred Pounds Sterling, and his Security in the sum of Fifty Pounds Sterling each, Conditioned for the said John Talbots appearance before the Honourable, the General Court, in October Next on the Sixth day of the said Court, then and there to stand to and abide by the Order of the said Court, of and upon the Premisses aforesaid, And that he do not thence Depart without Leave of the said Court.

Talbots Recognizance

Be it Remembered that on the fourth Day of July in the XXII’d Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King, George the second, at the Court house of the County of Lunenburgh, before the Justices of our said Lord the King, came John Talbot, Mathew Talbot Gent, and Joseph Eckhols, and Severally Acknowledge themselves to stand Indebted to our said Lord the King, That is to say the said John Talbot in the sum of one hundred Pounds Sterling, and the said Mathew Talbot and Joseph Eckhols in the sum of Fifty Pounds Sterling each, of their Respective Goods and Chattels, Lands and Tenements, to be Levy’d and given said Lord the King, his Heirs and Successors, rendered, upon their Condition.  Nevertheless that if he the said John Talbot do and shall make his Personal appearance before the Honourable, the next General Court in the City of Williamsburgh on the sixth day thereof, then and there to answer our sovereign Lord the king, of and concerning the Murder of Peter Johnson, and that he do not thence Depart without leave of the said Court, then the above Recognizance to be void, otherwise to remain in full force and Virtue.

Signed
Hugh Lawson

The first page of the manslaughter case against John Talbot in the death of Peter Johnson.  Click on image to see an enlargement.  (Lunenburg County Court Order Book #2, Jul 1748, page 32)

The second page of the manslaughter case against John Talbot.  (Lunenburg County Court Order Book #2, Jul 1748, page 33)

The third page of the manslaughter case against John Talbot.  (Lunenburg County Court Order Book #2, Jul 1748, page 34)

For those of you who are descendants of John, I challenge you to find the rest of this story, which may or may not be found in the Williamsburg court records.  My presumption is that John was found not guilty.  We know that later in his life he became a respected leader.  His nephew, Edmund Talbot (son of Matthew Jr) wrote the following about John:  “John was a member of the Legislature of Virginia for twenty-five years, and after he moved to Wilkes County, Ga., was elected several years to the Legislature.  He was a great Whig during the Revolutionary War.  He was the pleasantest man I ever knew.”

Aug 1748 Court:  Matthew gave an oath that Charles was his first son.  No mention is made as to why this needed to be done.

Transcription: Mathew Talbot Gent came into Court and made oath that Charles Talbot was his first son born of the Body of Mary Williston his first Wife. (Lunenburg County Court Order Book #2, Aug 1748, page 58)

Oct 1748 Court:  Matthew and three other gentlemen were appointed to appraise the slaves (if any) and the personal estate of Thomas James, who had recently died.

Jun 1749 Court:  Matthew and 24 other gentlemen were all sworn in as court justices.  That is more than double the number of justices who were sworn in when the county was first created three years earlier.  The reason that there were so many justices was probably due to the fact that it was very difficult for some people to travel to the courthouse, especially when they lived more than fifty miles away.  It was possible for a single justice to handle some county business within his residential area, and by having a relatively even distribution of justices throughout the county, it prevented people from having to travel all the way to the courthouse for every county transaction.  Several gentlemen were appointed to take the lists of tithables, giving public notices of the time and place.  Matthew was assigned to list the tithables for the area between Goose Creek and Falling River.

Transcription: Mathew Talbot Gent is appointed to take the Lists of Tithables in this County for this Year from Falling River to Goose Creek, and it’s ordered that he give Public Notice of the time and Place for taking such Lists according to Law.  (Lunenburg County Court Order Book #2, Jun 1749, page 153)

The list of tithables taken by Matthew for Lunenburg County in 1749.  The highlighted section shows his own personal list of 5 tithables which included himself, Chester, Bristol, Jacob, and Patt.  The number 27 indicates that Matthew’s tithables turned in 27 squirrel scalps.  Squirrels and crows were also considered pests (in addition to wolves) and each tithable was required to turn in a certain number of them or pay a fee.

At the meeting of the vestry in November 1749, it was ordered that Matthew should provide for Isaac Watkins and bring his account to the next vestry.  No information was given as to Isaac’s age or his situation.  In October 1750, it was ordered that the collector pay Matthew £35 current money as partial payment for a church, plus an additional 3 £ 13 shillings for his account.

Jan 1749/50 Court:  Matthew and two other men were recommended as persons who would be able to serve in the position of Lunenburg County sheriff.

Transcription: Pursuent to the Law the Court do Nominate and Recommend to the Honourable the President as fit Persons to execute the office of Sherif of this County for the ensuing Year. Mathew Talbot, James Mitchell and David Stokes, Gentlemen.  (Lunenburg County Court Order Book #2, Jan 1749/50, page 255)

Jul 1750 Court:  Matthew, who was chosen to serve as the sheriff, was sworn in while his son Charles was sworn in as deputy sheriff at the same time.  Three other men, including Matthew Talbot Jr, were sworn in as under sheriffs to Matthew.  The record also shows that Matthew came to Court a few days later and protested against the prison for insufficiency.  In other words, Matthew didn’t think the prison was secure enough to keep the inhabitants from escaping, and as the new sheriff in town, he was going to see to it that the problem was solved.

Transcription: Matthew Talbot Gentleman and sherif of this County Comes into Court & Protest against the Prison of this County for Insufficiency. (Lunenburg County Court Order Book #2, Jul 1750 page 342)

In that same session of Court, church wardens of Cumberland Parish bound out “Griffen, son of a Melatto Woman Named Patt, to Matthew Talbot Gentleman” and also “Abraham Chandler, son of William Chandler to Mathew Talbot Gentleman.”  We know that Patt was listed as one of Matthew’s tithables, but it’s not clear why her son would need to be bound out to Matthew, especially if she was a slave, which she may or may not have been.  Matthew must have grown very fond of Abraham Chandler.  In his will, written several years later, Matthew referred to Abraham as his godson and bequeathed 400 acres of land and several animals to him, which undoubtedly helped him to get a good start in life.

Transcription:  Ordered that the Churchwardens of Cumberland Parish in this County bind out Griffen son of a Melatto Woman Named Patt to Matthew Talbot Gentl, according to Law.  (Lunenburg County Court Order Book #2, Jul 1750, page 298).

This information comes from the surviving tithable lists of Lunenburg County.  Some of the lists are missing.

Apr 1751 Court:  Matthew, as the sheriff, was ordered to give notice to the court justices of the county that there would be a new recommendation of justices at the next Court.  He also filed petitions against seven different people for small amounts (less than £5 each) and won all seven cases.  There was no mention as to what they were about.  A power of attorney between Matthew, his two oldest sons, and Robert Moll (in London) was acknowledged and recorded.  Although I am not certain what this power of attorney was for, my best guess is that Robert’s last name was actually Moile or Moyle (rather than Moll), and that he was handling some kind of an inheritance that Matthew was receiving from his mother’s side of the family in England.

Transcription: A Power of Attorney Between Matthew Talbot, Charles Talbot & Matthew Talbot Junr Gentl. of the one Part & Robert Moll (in London) of the other part is acknowledged by the Parties thereto & the same is Ordered to be Recorded. (Lunenburg County Court Order Book #2, Apr 1751, page 386)

Oct 1751 Court:  Matthew was once again sworn in as a court justice for Lunenburg County.  He also served on the jury in the case of John Stewart vs. Matos Mayes, and so did his son John, who was now 16 years old.  John had apparently redeemed himself in the eyes of the law.

At about this time, Matthew Talbot Jr, who was now in his twenties, began appearing in the Lunenburg County court order books, and this, unfortunately, is where it starts to become difficult to distinguish which situations involved him and which situations involved his father—unless the clerk specifically noted “Jr” or “Sr” or made some other notation to make it clear as to which Matthew Talbot was involved.  I have done my best to only include details of which I am fairly certain pertain to Matthew Sr.

Sep 1752 Court:  Matthew and six other men were recommended as court justices.

May 1753 Court:  Peter Fontaine was granted judgment against “Matthew Talbot, late sheriff, for surveyor’s fees not accounted for.”

June 1753 Court:  Matthew’s wife, Jane, relinquished her dower right to land conveyed to William Randolph.

Matthew Talbot Jr married Mary Haile Day, the daughter of his father’s former business partner, Nicholas Haile.  Mary was a young widow whose first husband was Thomas Day.  It is said that Matthew Jr and Mary were married in June of 1753 in Bedford County, but Bedford County wasn’t created until the following year.  I haven’t been able to locate a marriage record, but they were most likely married in Lunenburg County, and June of 1753 could be right as their first child was born in 1754.  By this time, Charles and Drusilla already had three children, and since they didn’t live too far from Matthew Sr, he and Jane were undoubtedly enjoying their grandchildren.

Sep 1753 Court:  Matthew, his son Charles, and two others were ordered to settle their accounts for tobacco/money due to the county.

Nov 1753 Court:  Matthew Talbot Sr was granted admons for the estate of Nicholas Haile, deceased.  This meant that Matthew would be the administrator of the estate in the absence of a will.  Matthew Jr was appointed to appraise his father-in-law’s slaves and personal estate.

Part VII:  Bedford County, Virginia

In November 1753, an Act was passed in the House of Burgesses to divide Lunenburg County.  The division was to take place on May 10, 1754, and the new county would be given the name of Bedford.  The Act further stated that Cumberland Parish would be divided and the portion within Bedford County would be called Russell Parish.  In addition, “Matthew Talbot, the elder,” and three other gentlemen were authorized to demand and collect all moneys due to Lunenburg County, pay its debts, and then distribute the balance to the justices of Lunenburg and Bedford counties on a pro-rated basis.  When the new county was formed, there were approximately 150 to 200 plantations that had already been set up within its borders.

The following is a list of the occasions when Matthew’s name appears in the minutes of the Bedford County court order books.  I have not included in this list the many times that Matthew is mentioned as being present as one of the court justices, or most of the times when the minutes were signed by him.

May 1754 Court:  The first session of the Bedford County Court was held in Matthew’s home, and seven gentlemen were sworn in as court justices.  Matthew, however, was not one of the seven.  Instead, he and four other gentlemen were mentioned as refusing to qualify, and it was ordered that their refusal be represented to the governor, and that their names once again be recommended to him as proper persons to serve as justices.  It’s not clear what was required to “qualify” oneself to be a justice, but it’s possible that since Matthew was already serving as a justice before the county was divided, he didn’t feel it was necessary to prove himself again.  Matthew and two other men were also recommended to the governor as proper persons to serve as the sheriff of the county.  [Note:  Two months later, Joseph Ray was commissioned to be the sheriff.]  Matthew and several others were appointed to take the lists of tithes for that year.

Transcription: Matthew Talbot John Anthony John Phelps & John Sutton & Richard Callaway Gentlemen being Person Mentioned in the Commission of the Peace for this County, & Having Refused to Qualifie.  Ordered that it be so Represented to His Honour the Governor & that they again together with Robert Ewings & Joseph Ray Gent Be Recommended to his his Honour the Governor as Proper Persons to be added to the Commission of Peace for this County.  (Bedford County Court Order Book 1-A, May 1754, page 2)

Jul 1754 Court:  A license was granted to Matthew to keep an ordinary at his house for one year.  [An ordinary was a tavern or inn that served a complete meal at a fixed price.]  Matthew’s storehouse was designated to serve as a prison for the county until a permanent one could be built.  Joseph Ray, the new sheriff, protested against the insufficiency of Matthew’s storehouse as a prison because the captives might be able to escape.  It was ordered that a sufficient number of persons be summoned to guard the prisoners.  It was also ordered that application be made to the governor for a writ of adjournment to move the location of the Court from Matthew’s home to the house of William Callaway on the main road.  Matthew had offered to donate some of his land for the courthouse, but his property was not considered centrally located within the county.  Assuming that present-day Forest, Virginia is the correct location of Matthew’s home, it was very close to the border of Albemarle County at that time, and would therefore not have been centrally located to the residents of Bedford County.  The Court laid out and allotted the land described as the “prison bounds,” and strangely enough, it included “all the dwelling houses of Matthew Talbot.”  One wonders how Jane felt about her home being part of the prison.

Transcription: Ordered that Licence be granted unto Matthew Talbot to keep Ordinary at his House in this County for the space of one year he having Complyed with what the Law Requires in this Case.  (Bedford County Court Order Book 1-A, Jul 1754, page 7)

Transcription: Matthew Talbot’s Storehouse is appointed for a Prison for this County ’till a house for that Purpose can be Built for that Purpose.  Whereupon Joseph Ray Gent Sheriff of this County Protests against the Unsufficiency of the said House for all escapes that may be made by Reason thereof and it is Ordered that he summon a sufficient Number of Persons to guard such Persons as shall be Committed to the said Prison.  (Bedford County Court Order Book 1-A, Jul 1754, page 8)

Transcription: Ordered that the sherif of this County make application to his Honour the Governor for a Writ of Adjournment to adjourn this Court from the House of Matthew Talbot Gent to the house of William Callaway Gent on the Main Road on Buffalow Run near his Mill.  (Bedford County Court Order Book 1-A, Jul 1754, page 8)

Aug 1754 Court:  It was agreed that William Callaway would be paid to build a prison on his land, and at some later time, he would donate 100 acres of his property to the county.  The plan was for Callaway to also build a courthouse next to the prison, but in the meantime, he agreed to find a “rough Courthouse” to hold court in until the new courthouse could be built.

Sep 1754 Court:  Court was held at the house of William Callaway.  Matthew was listed as the plaintiff in four lawsuits, and he was represented in Court by his attorney.  The first two suits were debt cases with judgment being made in Matthew’s favor in both cases.  The third case was filed by Matthew as the administrator of Nicholas Haile’s estate, and since the defendant didn’t show up, he won that case as well.  The fourth suit was dismissed by the Court.  Joseph Ray, the sheriff who was previously concerned about the storehouse prison on Matthew’s property, was now protesting the insufficiency of the prison being built by William Callaway.

Oct 1754 Court:  Court was held “at the courthouse,” which probably means that William Callaway had finished building the permanent courthouse next to the prison.  Matthew, as well as his son Charles, and another gentleman named Mark Cole were sworn in as court justices.  Then Matthew protested that Court should not be held at that place, alleging that they hadn’t yet obtained a writ of adjournment according to law.  This was overruled by the Court, and then Matthew, Charles, and Cole requested to have their dissent recorded.  And then the three of them left and were recorded as absent.

Transcription: Matthew Talbot Charles Talbot & Mark Cole Gent named in the Commission of the Peace for the County took the usual Oaths to his Majesties Person and Government and took and Subscribed the abjuration Oath & Subscribed the Teste and also took the oath of a Justice of Peace and of the County Court in Chancery.  (Bedford County Court Order Book 1-A, Oct 1754, page 24)

Transcription: On the Motion of Matthew Talbot Gent that this Court has no Right to hold Court at this Place. Aledging that they had not Obtained a Writ of Adjournment according to Law which was Overruled by the Court, to which the said Matthew Talbot Charles Talbot & Mark Court [Cole] Desired to  have their Decent [dissent] thereto Recorded.   Absent Matthew Talbot Charles Talbot & Mark Cole Gent.  (Bedford County Court Order Book 1-A, Oct 1754, page 25)

Nov 1754 Court:  Court was once again held at Matthew’s house, and the long-awaited writ regarding moving the Court to the newly-erected courthouse on William Callaway’s property had finally arrived.  The delay appears to have been due to the fact that approval needed to come from His Majesty, the King of England.  The wordy writ was read, and with lots of pomp and circumstance, it authorized the move to take place.  This could shed some light on why Matthew had expressed concern over holding Court at William Callaway’s before permission was granted, and why the justices quickly agreed to move Court back to Matthew’s house for the official reading of the writ.  Matthew was taking the minutes, and his last line of the day read:  “Ordered that the Court be adjourned to the Courthouse at William Calloway’s till tomorrow morning 10:00.”  And then he signed his name with a giant swirl.  Later in the week, Matthew and Richard Callaway were appointed to employ someone to build a double chimney on the prison.  The minutes concluded with a list of the county’s expenses wherein Matthew was to be paid 1200 pounds of tobacco for feeding “sundry prisoners,” and as an assignee of Jacob Hendrickson, he was to be paid another 100 pounds for one old wolf’s head.

Matthew’s signature in the court order book on November 25, 1754.  (Bedford County Court Order Book 1-A, Nov 1754, page 36)

Transcription: Matthew Talbot & Richard Callaway Gent are appointed and Desired to imploy some Person to Build a Double Chimney to the Prison for which the undertaker is to be Alowed at Laying of Next Levy.  (Bedford County Court Order Book 1-A, Nov 1754, page 44)

Dec 1754 Court:  Another lawsuit was filed by Matthew as the administrator of Nicholas Haile’s estate.  The defendant, William Hayse, owed money to the estate, and the Court ruled that the plaintiff should recover 7£ 10 shillings, and his costs.  It was ordered that the sheriff sell a gun barrel belonging to Hayse and apply that money towards satisfying the judgment.

Jan 1755 Court:  Another lawsuit was filed by Matthew as the administrator of Nicholas Haile’s estate.  Matthew was represented by his attorney, and a jury heard the case, ruling that Matthew should recover 14£ and his costs.  It was ordered that the sheriff sell a prayer book belonging to the defendant and apply that money towards satisfying the judgment.

Feb 1755 Court:  Matthew and his son Charles were appointed commissioners to work with the surveyor and the commissioners of Lunenburg and Albemarle counties to determine the new dividing lines between the three counties.  [Bedford County ended up gaining land from both of the other counties].  On the motion of Matthew, his earmark was recorded.

Transcription: Matthew Talbot & Charles Talbot are appointed Commissioners to attend the Surveyor of this County & the County of Lunenburgh on the twenty fourth day of March Next in Running the dividing Line Between this County Lunenburgh & Albemare agreeable to an Act of Assembly in that case made and Provided and that the Court of Albemarle have Notice of the time Appointed in Order for their appointing Commissioners to attend on running the Lines on their Part.  (Bedford County Court Order Book 1-A, Feb 1755, page 56)

Transcription: On the Motion of Matthew Talbot Gent his Ear mark (to wit) Two Smooth Crops is Ordered to be Recorded. (Bedford County Court Order Book 1-A, Feb 1755, page 66)

Matthew’s signature after keeping the minutes in the court order book.  (Bedford County Court Order Book 1-A, Feb 1755, page 66)

May 1755 Court:  Matthew, his son Charles, and five other gentlemen were appointed to take the list of tithables in the county for the current year.  Matthew was appointed to purchase a “Standard & Weights” for the use of the county.

Transcription: Matthew Talbot, William Callaway, Robert Ewings, Mark Cole, Charles Talbot, William Mead, Samuel Hairstone Gent are appointed to take the List of Tithables in this County this Year.  Matthew Talbot Gentleman is appointed & Desired to Purchase a Standard & Weights for the use of this County.  (Bedford County Court Order Book 1-A, May 1755, page 80)

The two land purchases in the following table appear to be the only real estate transactions involving Matthew in Bedford County:

The first page of the deed wherein Matthew purchased 135 acres on the north side of Otter River from Samuel Glover.  Click on image to see an enlargement.  (Bedford County Deed Book A-1, May 1755, page 29)

The second page of the deed wherein Matthew purchased 135 acres on the north side of Otter River from Samuel Glover.  (Bedford County Deed Book A-1, May 1755, page 30)

The following survey was done for Matthew in April 1755 by Richard Stith.  The property surveyed was 400 acres on the north fork of Enock’s Creek, but I have not seen any deed or land record indicating that Matthew purchased this property, or at least not one that referenced Enock’s Creek.  Consequently, I don’t know if he ever purchased the property or not.

(Bedford County Surveyor’s Records, Vol. 2, Apr 1755, page 15)

Although Matthew never lived in Halifax County, he was involved in some land transactions there as shown in the table below.  At least one of the 250-acre parcels he sold was purchased by him when the land was still in Lunenburg County.

On or about May 26, 1755, Matthew’s daughter, Martha, married Barnabas Arther when she was only 14 years old.  The document below is a copy of their marriage bond from Bedford County.  In it, Martha is referred to as a “spinster” which didn’t have the negative connotation that it does today.  It just meant that she had never been married before.  It appears from the signature in the bottom left corner that Martha’s brother, Isham, was a witness to the bond.

The marriage bond of Barnabas Arther and Martha Talbot.

Jun 1755 Court:  The case of Matthew Talbot vs. William Mead was heard, and the Court ruled in favor of Matthew, stating that he should recover against the defendant in the amount of 3 £ 6 shillings and 6 pence, plus his costs.  Matthew was required to pay his son John, one of his witnesses, 190 pounds of tobacco for attending Court for one day and traveling 55 miles once.  Matthew, his son Charles, and Zachariah Isbel were recommended to Governor Robert Dinwiddie as proper persons to serve as the sheriff of the county for the ensuing year.  [Note:  Three months later, Charles was appointed by the governor to be the sheriff of Bedford County and served in that capacity for two years.]

Transcription: Matthew Talbot Gent, Plaintiff, against William Mead Gent, Defendant on a Petition.  This day came the Parties by their Attornies & the Arguments heard on both side in Consideration Whereof it is the Opinion of the Court that the Petitioner recover against the said Defendant three Pounds six Shillings and six pence Current Money and his Costs by him about his suit in that behalf Expended.  (Bedford County Court Order Book 1-A, Jun 1755, page 87)

Transcription: Charles Talbot, Zachariah Isbel & Matthew Talbot Gentlemen are by the Court Recommended to the Honorable Robert Dinwiddie Esqr as Proper Persons to Execute the Office of Sheriff of this County for the ensuing year.  Ordered that the Court be adjourned until Court in Course.  Sign’d Matthew Talbot.  (Bedford County Court Order Book 1-A, Jun 1755, page 89)

Aug 1755 Court:  Matthew and three other men were asked to appraise the slaves (if any) and personal estate of Thomas Banks, who had recently died.

Oct 1755 Court:  Matthew was commissioned as a colonel, and his son James as a lieutenant, in the county militia.  They both took oaths to the King.

A copy of the entry in the court order book from October 27, 1755 wherein Matthew was commissioned as a colonel, and his son James as a lieutenant, in the county militia.  (Bedford County Court Order Book 1-A, Oct 1755, page 124)

Nov 1755 Court:  Matthew and two other gentlemen were appointed to determine the best path for the new road that was petitioned for by John Anthony, and to make a report at the next Court as to the convenience or inconvenience of clearing the road.  Included in the minutes is a list of the county’s expenses wherein Matthew was to be paid 2180 pounds of tobacco for “chair carriers & his attendance on running the County line,” and an additional 100 pounds for one old wolf’s head.

Transcription: Matthew Talbot, Robert Baber & Jno. Quarles are appointed to View a Way Petitioned for a Road by Jno. Anthony & Make report to the Next Court the Convenience or inconvenience thereof. (Bedford County Court Order Book 1-A, Nov 1755, page 126)

May 1756 Court:  In a memorandum, the courthouse is identified as being in the “town of New London.” [Note:  Although the justices were still meeting in the same courthouse that William Callaway built on his property in 1754, this appears to be the first time that the up-and-coming town of New London is mentioned in the court order book.]

The courthouse built by William Callaway in 1754 on property that he donated to Bedford County.

William Callaway

On August 16, 1756, Matthew and four other gentlemen—Stephen Dewey, Clement Read, Nicholas Edmunds, and Robert Jones—purchased 8,000 acres of land in Lunenburg County from the Colony of Virginia for a mere £40.  The land was situated on both sides of Turkey Cock Creek.  Unfortunately, I have no idea why they bought it, what they did with it, or what happened to it, but it sounds like they got a really good deal, and I’m sure those who lived longer than Matthew did probably made some money on it.

The deed wherein Matthew and four other gentlemen purchased 8,000 acres of land in Lunenburg County from the Colony of Virginia on August 16, 1756.  (Virginia Land Office Patents No. 33, 1756-1761, page 49)

Mar 1757 Court:  The Court ordered that a road be cleared “the nearest and best way” from Goose Creek to the courthouse in New London and that Matthew Talbot, who was appointed surveyor, “together with all the hands convenient” clear the road and maintain it.  William Callaway donated 100 acres of land adjacent to the courthouse to be settled into the town of New London.  The Court ordered that the land be divided into lots of half an acre each and to be sold for 1 £ 1 shilling and 8 pence each.  The purchaser of each lot would be required to build a house, 20 by 16 feet, within one year of purchasing the property, and add a brick or stone chimney within four years.  [Note:  At some point, the diagram below entitled “Plan of New London Town” was drawn up showing streets and numbered lots, but the county didn’t start selling the lots until two or three years after Matthew had passed away.  In 1761, two of those lots were purchased by his son, Matthew Jr.]

The plan of New London, as it appeared in the Bedford County Deed Book in 1761—after Matthew had passed away.  The town was built on the 100 acres of land that was donated to the county by William Callaway. Lot #10 is where the courthouse was located, and the prison was probably on that same lot.  Matthew Jr purchased lot #’s 21 and 29. (Bedford County Deed Book A-1, May 1761, page 434.)

Sep 1757 Court:  A commission from the governor indicating that Matthew was to serve as the sheriff of Bedford County “during pleasure” was produced in Court by Matthew.  The fact that the governor didn’t specify a length of service, which was typically one or two years, and instead stated the service would be during Matthew’s pleasure, indicates that the governor must have been aware that Matthew’s health was starting to fail.  As it turns out, this would be Matthew’s last year of life, and yet he was still willing and able to take on the responsibility of serving as the county sheriff.  Matthew brought to Court his four oldest sons, as well as Zachariah Burnley, to serve as his securities for his performance as sheriff.  Matthew took the customary oath to the King, and then took the oath of the sheriff of the county.  On the motion of Matthew, his son John was sworn in as under sheriff.  Matthew then protested against the prison as being insufficient, which seems to have been an ongoing problem.  From this point on, Matthew is no longer listed as a court justice, and his son Charles has taken his place.  Since Charles had been the sheriff, it appears that the two of them traded places.

Transcription: A Commission from the Honourable the lieutenant Governor to Matthew Talbot Gentleman to be Sheriff of this County During Pleasure was produced in Court by the said Matthew Talbot & thereupon he together with Charles Talbot, Matthew Talbot Junr, James Talbot, John Talbot & Zachariah Burnly his Securities, Entered into and acknowledged their Bonds for the said Matthew Talbots due performance of his Office which was Ordered to be Recorded.  Then the said Matthew Talbot took and Subscribed the Usual Oaths to his Majesties person & Government and Subscribed the Test and also took the Oath of a Sheriff of this County.  John Talbot having Taken the Usual Oath to his Majesties person and Government and Subscribed the Abjuration Oath and the Teste was on the Motion of Matthew Talbot Gentleman Sheriff of this County, Sworn and Admitted his Under Sheriff.  Matthew Talbot Gentleman Sheriff of this County protest against the prison of this County as being insufficient.  (Bedford County Court Order Book 1-A, Sep 1757, page 216)

The first bond that Matthew and his securities entered into read as follows:

We, Matthew Talbot, Charles Talbot, James Talbot, Mathew Talbot Jr, John Talbot, & Zachariah Burnley, Gentlemen, bind ourselves to King George II in the sum of 500 £ this September 26, 1757, to insure that said Matthew Talbot, Bedford Sheriff (via Commission from the Governor of Virginia dated last Aug 15), shall truly collect all quitrents, fines, forfeitures, and amercements accruing or coming due to the King in Bedford, and shall duly account for and pay the same to the Officers of his Majesty’s Revenue by June 2 annually, and shall in all other things truly and faithfully execute the said office of Sheriff.

The other bond that they entered into read:

We, Matthew Talbot, Charles Talbot, James Talbot, Mathew Talbot Jr, John Talbot, & Zachariah Burnley, Gentlemen, bind ourselves to King George II in the sum of 1000 £ this September 26, 1757, to insure that said Matthew Talbot, Bedford Sheriff, shall truly collect & pay the taxes already laid and to be laid, assessed by virtue of an Act of Assembly entitled “an act for Raising the sum of 25,000 £ for the better protection of the Inhabitants on the frontiers of this Colony” or any other acts of Assembly of this Colony.

Mar 1758 Court:  Matthew came into Court with three gentlemen who were his securities for his faithful collecting of the poll taxes, and they entered into bond.  On the motion of Matthew, his son-in-law, Barnabas Arther, was sworn in as his under sheriff.

Hostile Indians were sometimes a problem in this area, which is why it was necessary for the white settlers to form a militia to protect their families.  The situation grew even more intense when the French became allies with many Indian tribes in an effort to drive out the English.  This resulted in the French and Indian War which began in 1754, and every man over the age of eighteen was enrolled in military service.  As mentioned earlier, Matthew was commissioned to be the colonel of the Bedford County militia in 1755.  Charles and Matthew Jr served as captains, and James was a lieutenant.  John was a private, and when Matthew’s youngest son, Isham, came of age, he also enrolled in the militia.

Indians became a greater threat at the end of Matthew’s life during the French and Indian War

In the spring of 1758, conflicts with the Indians became quite frightening for Matthew and the other citizens of Bedford County.  As the colonel of the militia, Matthew wrote and received several letters regarding the encounters with the Indians, and those letters were forwarded to George Washington, who was a colonel in the British Army during the French and Indian War.  The letters are now among the “Papers of George Washington” at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.  They present a graphic picture of the terrifying ordeals that the residents of Bedford County experienced.  Excerpts from those letters are included here.  I added some punctuation for clarity, but the original spelling has been left intact.

Matthew Talbot to Clement Read, May 3, 1758:
. . . I do everything I can to keep a few men out on the frontiers of this County, but alass I fear it will not be long they will Continue.  Indeed it is very hard for men to be from there plantations at this time of the year when they Should be planting Corn to make bread for their families. . . I am very uneasy about the Cherokees.  There was about fifteen Came through the Settlement where I Live and Spread themselves at least ten miles in breadth and went to Every plantation in their way.  I Cant Say they did much mischief or behaved very ill but their presence frithen the women very much. . . There Came about nine or ten to my house.  They reley Seemed to me as if they Came to See what white men and negroes we have, and so see what our Strength we are of.  The people in general Seem to fear the return of them with more force. . . I just now heard after they Got over Stanton, they went to a house where there was not any body but a man and his wife and ransacked the house of every thing they thought Proper to take, and I expect to hear of Some murder Committed by them when they Get to the outward Inhabitants. . . We are really in a miserable Situation. . . My Son Matt is endeavoring to raise men to goe out after the Indians, and to lie in wait for them, and tell me he is determined, if it be possible, to goe till he get Some of there Scalps or Leave his. He immagines to get about five and twenty men—I told him he had better Join Capt. Anthony.  He says no, if he goes he will have none but what is Select Gunners. . . I know he refuses Several who offer to goe because they are not Such.  He Seems to be very ambitious that way, and I Cannot forbear incouraging him in it. . . He tell me he will goe as far as he Can without running so Great a hasard to no Effect.  He Says he wants but eight days provision and Some ammunition.  He tell me he doth not design to be in again under two months.  He will Leave his wife and Children with me or at Charles. . .

The first page of Matthew Talbot’s letter to Clement Read on May 3, 1758. Clement Read was the colonel of the militia for Lunenburg County.  This letter and others that Matthew wrote were forwarded to George Washington and are now among the “Papers of George Washington” at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C.

The second page of Matthew Talbot’s letter to Clement Read on May 3, 1758.

William Mead to Matthew Talbot, May 8, 1758:
With Sorrow I inform you that this Instant I was Pursueing the Indians we take to be our friend, and meet Jno. Echoles who was a Comeing from Thos. Morgans, who inform me that the Indians has taken all Thos. Morgans family and all are Carried away or killd.  And all the Goods Carried away and destroyed. . . for God Sake, Send help immediately.

Pinkney Hawkins to Clement Read, May 10, 1758:
. . . The Wood is full of Indians and few White; we faught 35 Men to at Least Byall Accts. vs 70 or 80 Indians.  I offered them a parley which Occasion’d me to fall in their hands.  They beat me and Strip’d me and then sent meaway. . . Healp is now so muchwanting that these Parts don’t Gett Immediate help, Coll. Talbott will be the frontear house in one Weak.  Pray be as expeditious as Possible.

Matthew Talbot to Clement Read, May 10, 1758:
In what Manner Shall I Represent to you the Horror and anxieties that at this time reigns among our Inhabitants (indeed as I have not words I must be Silent and Leave it to your imagination) Occasioned by these bandits of Cherokees who daily are traveling through our County. . . They Rob our houses of all things they Like So that oftentime they Leave us not one rag of Cloaths to Shift our Selves withall nor never a horse to goe mill or plough withall, yet these people are Called our friends.  Our people will bear it no Longer.  Indeed I think they have bore it to Long allready. . . Last Sunday there passed by 33 Indians in another parcel which Robed and pillaged as they went.  Capt. Mead with Seventen men went in pursuit of them and wrote to me to beg I would Send him Some assistance. . . I Sent an Express to Pinkey Hawkin (who went from my house the evening before) to Join Mead—and if they Come up with the Indians as I expect they will, and the Indians will not deliver the Horses and other things they have Stole, a Battle will insue, for our people is determined to bear Such usage no Longer—Our County County is intirely broke by them.  I really bleive if the people Continue to move as they have done, I shall be Left the frontier plantation toward Blackwater fort before the Last of this week. . . I have been uneasey ever Since Since Sunday that I have not heard from you for it is from you, and only you, that I expect relief from.  I beg if this Come to yr. Hand before you Send to me that youl be so good as to Send Isham [Matthew’s son] up to me to be Some assistance to me in these troublesome times, for I am very much afraid I must move my wife and what Small effects to Some place of Safety, and I wish you would be pleased to Look out for a west house—a Small one would do—for my wife and I, though I will be hear as Long as I Can.

Ps.  SIR I beg youl Hasten up what men you design for our relief.  Dr Sir I beg youl Let Isham Come up to me directly and be So good as to Send me a 100 flints, and if you have not a horse to Spare, Let him Come afoot. . . If I had the Eloquence of Cicero, I Could not tell you the anxiety of my Soul at this time for my Self, family, and Inhabitants here—Keith Daughter is dead.  Likewise I am informed to day that Bruff wife is Likewise dead.

The first page of Matthew Talbot’s letter to Clement Read on May 10, 1758. 

The second page Matthew Talbot’s letter to Clement Read on May 10, 1758.

Matthew Talbot to Clement Read, May 12, 1758:
. . . I at present live in danger of my life, every moment being alone, none but my wife.  The neighbours all round me is moved and moveing.  I intend to Station Some of our or your Militia at my house, I being now allmost the frontier and Shall be quite So by Sunday Night.  I expect to hear of another ingagement in a day or two.  Our people is Reinforceing themselves to overtake them.  Our people Seems to be in high Spirits, I hear, but I hope it is not true that Wm. Irvine was killd in the Last ingagement—Dr. Sir, be pleased to order Some arms and ammunition with Some flints for our defence.  Pray if Isham is not Come away, I beg youl Send him to assist his mother to Some place of Safety.  If you Cannot Spare him a Horse, Let him Come afoot. . . I am very Scant of paper haveing used what you gave me and one Quire more and have but one Sheet Left. . . If any thing material happens, you Shall hear from me, if Life be Spared me.

The first page of Matthew Talbot’s letter to Clement Read on May 12, 1758.

The second page of Matthew Talbot’s letter to Clement Read on May 12, 1758.

Charles Talbot to Clement Read, May 12, 1758:
This moment I Recd. a Letter from John wood & Paul Chiles, and he says that Yesterday the Indians and the white folks had a very hard Battle, and the we are much betten and many Killed on both Sids.  The Last Battle was fought at the Mouth of pigg River.  That we are all Like to be Killed & taken. Thearefore, for God Sake, Send Your Men as fast as possabel or thear will not be a man Left in pore Bedford.  Paul Chiles and all his fammilly is now at my Hows. . . thearefore Dear: Sr: Do what you Can for our Relif.

John Blair to George Washington, Williamsburg, May 24, 1758:
Jenkins has. . . Last Saturday brot. me an Accot. of a large party of Indians who is passing thro’ Bedford, spread themselves in smaller Companys many Miles wide and Robb’d every Plantation they came at.  This provoked the Inhabitants to a great degree; Col: Talbot sent out Militia to protect them, who came up with a Party of them and seeing some of their Horses demanded restitution; but the Indians answered they must fight for them, and fired upon them, and killed one Man; whereupon they fired upon the Indians and killed some of them.  But to save my writing, I send you the accounts I received, having ordered a strict enquiry to be made above, by Col: Read, Colo. Talbott and Col. Maury, which when transmitted to me, I purpose to send by express to Govr. Lyttleton to beg his Assistance, to prevent the disaffection of the Nation and the ill consequences that might ensue on a misrepresentation.

The first page of John Blair’s letter to George Washington on May 24, 1758 wherein he forwarded the letters that Matthew and the others had written about the trouble they were having with the Indians.

The second page John Blair’s letter to George Washington on May 24, 1758.

On June 1, 1758, Matthew and Clement Read held a hearing at Mays’ Ferry on the Staunton River in Halifax County.  The hearing was ordered by John Blair, who was the president of the Virginia Governor’s Council.  He wanted them to take depositions from residents who had been involved in skirmishes with the Indians.  Matthew and Colonel Read recorded the testimonies which are quite interesting and paint a vivid picture of the frightening encounters that took place.  I have included them on a separate page, Depositions Concerning Indian Disturbances in Virginia, for anyone interested in reading them.

On January 4, 1758, just five months before Matthew recorded those depositions, he was prompted to write his will in which he described himself as being “sick and weak of Body, but of Perfect Mind and Memory, thanks be given to Almighty God.”  Unfortunately, we don’t know the circumstances surrounding his death, but we do know that his will was proven in Court on November 27th of that same year, meaning that he died sometime between June (when he was at Mays’ Ferry taking the depositions) and November (when the will was proved).  It was probably closer to November, which would mean he was 59 years old at the time of his death.  Some researchers have speculated that he may have met his fate at the hands of the Indians, but two reasons lead me to believe that he probably died of natural causes.  The first is that one of Matthew’s grandsons wrote a brief biography about him in 1849, and there was no mention of him being killed by Indians.  He certainly would have heard that story from his father had it occurred.  The other reason is that Matthew clearly stated in his will that he was “sick and weak.”

Nov 1758 Court:  The will of Matthew Talbot, deceased, was presented in Court by the Executors.  It was proved by two witnesses and ordered to be recorded.  Several gentlemen were appointed to appraise Matthew’s estate and return an inventory.

The following is a transcription of Matthew’s will as it was recorded in the Bedford County Deed Book on November 27, 1758.  I added some punctuation for clarity, but the original spelling has been left intact.  The blank line indicates a small section of the will that I was unable to read.

In the Name of God Amen, the fourth day of January 1758. I Matthew Talbot, of the County of Bedford, being sick and weak in Body, but of Perfect mind and Memory, thanks be given to Almighty God therefore.  And Calling to mind the Mortallity of my Body, and Knowing it is appointed for all men to die, do make and Ordain this my Last will & Testament.  That is to say, Principally & first of all, I give & recommend my soul into the Hands of Almighty God who gave it, and my Body I Commend to the Earth to be Buried in a Decent Christian Burial at the at the Discretion of my Executors.  Nothing Doubting, but at the General Resurrection I shall Receive the same again by the Mighty Power of God.  And as Touching such Worldly Estate wherewith it has Pleased God to Bless me with in this Life, I give, Demise, and dispose of the same in the following Manner and form.  That is to say, first I desire that all my Just Debts may be Honestly Paid as Soon as can be, and as to my Estate that shall be Remaining after my Debts paid, I give and Bequeath as followeth.  Imprimis, I give and Bequeath to my loving wife, Jane Talbot, the sum of Fifty Pounds Current Money. Likewise I give to my said Wife one Bay mare Known by the Name of Fenix, one side saddle and Bridle.  Item, I give & Bequeath to my Loving son John Talbot the sum of Fifty Pounds Current Money.  Item, I give & Bequeath to my Loving son Isham Talbot the sum of fifty Pounds Current Money.  Item, I give & Bequeath to my Godson Abraham Chandler one Cow and Calf, one Sow and Piggs & one Ewe.  Likewise I give & Bequeath to my said Godson one Certain tract or Parcel of Land Containing by Estimation four Hundred Acres, be the same More or Less, Lying & being on the Lower side of Flat Creek & Joining the Land of Mr. Wm Arther, which said Land & the before Mentioned Stock and their Increase I give & Bequeath to him and his Heirs forever.  Item, I give & Bequeath unto Daniel Rains the sum of Five Pounds Current Money.  Item, my will & Desire is that in Order to Discharge my Debts and Legacies before Mentioned, that my Executors Hereafter Named do sell & Dispose of all my Estate, both Real & Personal, and that after the said Debts & Legacy’s are Paid, Then the Remainder of the Money Raised by the sale of the said Estate be Equally Divided Between my loving wife Jane Talbot, my sons Charles Talbot, Matthew Talbot, James Talbot, John Talbot, Isham Talbot, and my Daughter Martha Arther.  I give and Bequeath to my son Charles Talbot my Great Bible.  Likewise I _____ and appoint my sons Charles Talbot & John Talbot whole and Sole Executors of this my last will & Testament, and do Revoke all former Wills by Me made.  In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand and Affixed my seal the day & year above Written.
Mem. this will is Interlined in Several Places before sign’d.
Matthew Talbot
Signed, Sealed, & acknowledged in Presence of Robert Baber, Jane Baber, Elizabeth Dalton

At a Court held for Bedford County Novr. 27^th 1758.
This will was Proved by the oaths of Elizabeth Dalton & Robert Baber, witnesses thereto, & sworn to by Charles Talbot & John Talbot, Executors therein Named, and Ordered to be Recorded, and on the Motion of the said Executors who entered into and acknowledged a Bond with John Quarles and William Irvine in the Penalty of one Thousand Pounds according to Law.  Certificate was granted to them for Obtaining a Probate thereof in due form Teste Benjamin Howard.
Truly Recorded
Teste B Howard CBC [Clerk of Bedford County]

The first page of Matthew’s will which was proved in Bedford County, Virginia on November 27, 1758. (Bedford County Deed Book A-1, Nov 1758, page 188).

The second page of Matthew’s will. (Bedford County Deed Book A-1, Nov 1758, page 189)

The third page of Matthew’s will. (Bedford County Deed Book A-1, Nov 1758, page 190)

One of Matthew’s descendants, by the name of William L. Peterson, was interested in genealogy and included the following paragraph about Matthew’s “Great Bible” in a book he published:

In the summer of 1977, while I was researching the Talbots at the Filson Club in Louisville, another researcher volunteered that she knew well the owner of the “Great Talbot Bible” and gave me the name and address. Driving through Roanoke, Va., in 1979, we had a most pleasant visit with Mrs. Bettie Talbot. The “Matthew Talbot Bible” was most impressive: A large illustrated volume about three or four inches thick, dated 1739 and printed by John Baskett, “Printer to Oxford University.” We took many pictures of the Bible and its genealogical contents. It is truly a priceless possession–a depository of information that traces four generations of Talbot ancestors.

The following is a transcription of the inventory and appraisal of Matthew’s estate which reveals an interesting glimpse into what home life was like for him and his family.  The inventory was ordered by the Court in November 1758 but wasn’t returned and recorded until July 24, 1759.  The value given to each item is recorded in pounds, shillings, and pence.  The blank lines indicate words that are illegible.

The first page of the inventory and appraisal of Matthew’s estate which was recorded in Bedford County, Virginia on July 24, 1759.  Click on image to see an enlargement.  (Bedford County Deed Book A-1, Jul 1759, page 227).

The second page of the inventory and appraisal of Matthew’s estate. (Bedford County Deed Book A-1, Jul 1759, page 228).

The third page of the inventory and appraisal of Matthew’s estate. (Bedford County Deed Book A-1, Jul 1759, page 229).

The following is a transcription of the sale of Matthew’s estate.  There were four separate sale dates with the first one being held the day after the first appraisal.  All four of the sales were held in 1758 and 1759, but for some reason this account wasn’t returned to Court until 1761.  The prices listed are in pounds, shillings, and pence.  The blank line indicates a word that is illegible.

The first page of the account from the sale of Matthew’s estate in 1758 and 1759.  Click on image once or twice to see an enlargement.  (Bedford County Deed Book A-1, Mar 1761, page 394)

The second page of the account from the sale of Matthew’s estate. (Bedford County Deed Book A-1, Mar 1761, page 395)

For some reason, it wasn’t until five years after Matthew’s death that the account of his estate was completely settled.  In February 1763, three gentlemen were appointed to settle the account, and seven months later, in September 1763, they finally turned in the account to be recorded.

Transcription: Jeremiah Early Robert Baber & William Callaway appointed to Settle Account of Talbots Estate & Make Report.  (Bedford County Court Order Book #3, Feb 1763, page 10)

Transcription: Account Current of the Estate of Matthew Talbot Deceased returned & Recorded. (Bedford County Court Order Book #3, Sep 1763, page 70)

In the year 1849, Matthew’s grandson, Edmund Talbot (son of Matthew Jr) wrote a memorandum about the Talbot family, including a paragraph about Matthew.  I am including that portion of the memorandum here even though there are several errors in it.  My corrections are in brackets:

My grandfather’s name was Matthew. When a young man he came from England, and settled in Maryland, where he married a Miss Annie Williston [Mary Williston], by whom he had a son named Charles. He then moved to Amelia county, Va. [It was still Prince George County when they first moved there.], where he had three other sons born, viz., Matthew, James and John. [Matthew and James were born in Prince George County, and John was born there after it became Amelia County.] His wife died; he then moved to Bedford county, now Culpeper, [It was still Brunswick County when they moved there, then Lunenburg, and then Bedford], and where he married a Miss Clayton [He married Jane Clayton while still living in Amelia County], by whom he had a son and daughter, Isham and Martha. He then died, age unknown [age 59]. I have often passed by his grave in my boyhood in the neighborhood where I was born. There was a cousin, came from England with him, whose name was Edmund. Grandfather was by profession a High Churchman [as well as a court justice, sheriff, coroner, surveyor, prison warden, tavern-keeper, and colonel of the militia].

The fact that Edmund mentioned passing his grandfather’s grave in the neighborhood where he was born is the only reliable information I have found with regards to the location of Matthew’s grave.  Since Matthew Jr purchased two of the lots in New London, and he was still living in Bedford County when Edmund was born, it is assumed that they were living in New London and that Matthew must have been buried near there.  However, there is no existing gravestone or marker that I am aware of, and so the exact location of the grave is lost to history.

As for Matthew’s wife, Jane—her life after Matthew’s death is as much a mystery as it was before she married him.  She was alive in November of 1758 when Matthew’s will was proved, but there seems to be no surviving record of her death or a subsequent marriage.  Since all of Matthew’s property was sold, she would have had to move, and it seems likely that she would have lived with one of her two children, Isham or Martha, but since there were no census records taken at that time, it is impossible to say for sure.  As is the case with most women who lived during the colonial era, very little information about her life was ever recorded.

Thomas Jefferson and his wife Martha inherited this Bedford County plantation in 1773 when her father died.  Jefferson didn’t build the house on it until 1816, but the picture gives an indication as to what the land near Matthew’s home looked like.

Researching Matthew’s life has given me the opportunity to learn so much about him.  He was an outstanding member of his community who stepped up to the plate and served his fellow citizens every way that he could until the very end of his life.  He was knowledgeable, intelligent, and organized.  He was obviously good at a lot of different things because he played so many roles in the places he lived.  His support of his son John in rough times indicated that he was a good father.  His generosity to Abraham Chandler showed that he was kind.  The title “Gentleman” seems like an appropriate description of him.  I almost feel like I know Matthew Talbot, and I definitely feel privileged to be one of his descendants.

Bedford County hasn’t forgotten about Matthew Talbot. There is a road named after him in the town of Forest. It’s in a residential neighborhood with beautiful homes on large lots.

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The children of Matthew Talbot and Mary Williston:

1.  Charles Moile Talbot, born 6 Nov 1723 in Baltimore County, Maryland.  Died 12 Jul 1779 in Bedford County, Virginia.  Married Drusilla Gwin on 3 Aug 1747 in Lunenburg County, Virginia.

2.  Matthew Talbot Jr., born 27 Nov 1729 in Prince George County, Virginia.  Died 12 Oct 1812 in Morgan County, Georgia.  Married Mary Haile Day in June 1753 in Lunenburg County, Virginia.

3.  James Talbot, born 7 Nov 1732 in Prince George County, Virginia.  Baptized 7 Apr 1733 at Bristol Parish, Prince George County, Virginia.  Died in 1777 in Bedford County, Virginia.  Married Elizabeth Smith in 1759 in Bedford County, Virginia.

4.  John Williston Talbot, born 13 Jul 1735 in Amelia County, Virginia.  Died 25 Aug 1798 in Wilkes County, Georgia.  Married 1) Sarah Anthony on 2 Feb 1760 in Bedford County, Virginia.  Married 2) Mary Phebe Moseley about 1766 in Bedford County, Virginia.


The children of Matthew Talbot and Jane Clayton:

1.  Isham Talbot, born 3 Nov 1738 in Amelia County, Virginia.  Married Elizabeth Davis on 29 Apr 1765 in Bedford County, Virginia.  Died in Kentucky after 1810.

2.  Martha Talbot, born 25 Aug 1740 in Brunswick County, Virginia.  Married Barnabas Arther on 26 May 1755 in Bedford County, Virginia.  Died in Georgia after 1806 when she was mentioned in the will of Phebe Mosely Talbot (the wife of her half-brother, John Williston Talbot).  She did not, however, die on 3 Jan 1811.  That happens to be the date that a different Barnabas Arthur married a Nancy Williamson in Bedford County, Virginia, and it has led to much confusion about Martha’s death date.

---

Sources

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———.  Lunenburg County, Virginia Order Book 2½-B, 1753-1754.  New Orleans, LA:  Bryn Ffyliaid Publications, 1998.

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Pawlett, Nathaniel Mason.  Amelia County Road Orders 1735-1753.  Charlottesville, VA:  Virginia Transportation Research Council, 2002.

———.  Brunswick County Road Orders, 1732-1746.  Charlottesville, VA:  Virginia Transportation Research Council, 1988.

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———.  Bedford County, Virginia Deeds, 1761-1766.  Miami Beach, FL:  T. L. C. Genealogy, 1991.

———.  Bedford County, Virginia Order Book 1, 1754-1761.  Miami Beach, FL:  T. L. C. Genealogy, 2000.

———.  Brunswick County, Virginia Court Order Books, 1737-1749: An Every-Name Index.  Miami Beach, FL:  T. L. C. Genealogy, 1992.

———.  Lunenburg County, Virginia Court Orders, 1752-1762: An Every-Name Index.  Miami Beach, FL:  T. L. C. Genealogy, 1995.

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