NAME: Matthews. Thomas W

DATA: Licensing & subsequent ordination (1867. 1870. 1881)

SOURCE: Moon's Chapel Baptist Church Records. Volume 1 (CR 78)

US CENSUS 1850 for CHATHAM COUNTY

Age

THOMAS W. MATTHEWS 37POLLY D. MATTHEWS 35WILLIAM K. MATTHEWS 14FRANKLIN A. MATTHEWS 11ORAN J. MATTHEWS 9

JESSE O. MATTHEWS 6

ALFRED H. MATTHEWS 4JAMES M. MATTHEWS 2

SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF

THOMAS W. MATTHEWS.

Edler Thomas W. Matthews was born June 21, 1812. His parentswere not members of the church, perhaps were not professors ofreligion, but were strictly moral. The subject of our sketch wasnaturally of a very lively disposition, though thoughful, and wasin his youthful days made to feel that he was standing at a guiltydistance from God, and that his refuge was in Christ Jesus, the rockof our salvation. The writer did at different times hear him re-late the dealings of the Lord with his soul. He professed to finda hope in Christ about twenty years of age. He did not join thechurch until the year 1849, at which time he joined the MissionaryBaptist Church, at Moon's Chapel, Chatham county, and became azealous worker in the cause of God, trying somewhat to redeem thetime that he had lost by not appropriating the means which are atour disposal for a growth in grace to ourselves, and to let ourlights so shine that others may be constrained to follow Christ;for which neglect he often through all that period received thelashes of a guilty conscience. He had great concern and affectionfor all those surrounding him---trying to build up and edify thechristian and to induce sinners to corne to repentance. He felt theburden of the word of the Lord from his conversion---that it was hisduty to warn sinners to flee the wrath to corne and to get the churchto organize for her Lord.

Brother Matthews married Polly D. Dorsett July 31, 1834. Shedied March 2nd, 1857. In less than two months from that time he lostthree children (sons) nearly grown. His bereavement was great andhis afflictions were sore, but he was able to say, "the Lord gaveand the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord." Hefelt sometimes that his neglect of duty to go and proclaim the gospelwas set before him in his afflictions. From the time he joined thechurch he would make public prayer, exhort his friends, &c., andin 1867 he so far took up the cross as to receive a license fromhis church to preach the Word, and in September, 1871, he was fullyset apart to the work of the gospel ministry. He always laboredmuch in his own church and the surrounding churches---having goneout as a missionary in parts of the bounds of thl·S A ..SSOclatlon. He

THOMAS W. MATTHEWS ------2

certainly did excel in obeying one divine injunction, to "visit thesick". He could not stay at home if his neighbors were sick--hewould wait upon them day and night. He sacrificed a great deal ofhis time and perhaps part of his health in this way. He marriedhis second wife, Sallie A. Patterson, March 24, 1863. By hisfirst wife he leaves five children---three dead. By his secondwife one. His last affliction in the form of bodily disease waslingering---continued two or three years. Throughout that time,however, he maintained that christian fortitude for which he wascelebrated, and exhibited that religion which proved his comfortand support, with that zeal for which he was over characterized.He suffered a great deal, but he was always patient. He fre-quently gave vent to his feelings on his sick bed in admonitionsto his family, for whom he had a tender concern, especiallyreligiously, and those who visited him. He would sing also andpraise God. Even after he became very weak he would try to singand the strain would linger upon his lips. Death finally summonedhim away, December 29th, 1875, aged 63 years, 6 months and 8 days.He is gone. Peace to his ashes. We feel his loss in the family,in the church and in our Association.

GEORGE C. UNDERWOOD.

SANDY CREEK BAPTIST ASSOCIATION MINUTES, 1877, p. 7-8.

206.9756/M66sa

DIED

BROTHER JAMES:-- I desire to inform my friends through the Recorder,that my dear wife, Polly D. Matthews, is no more. She took the Measles,which seated on her lungs; and after an illness of about three weeks, shedied at her residence in Chatham county, N. C., March 2nd, 1857.

She was born, February 6, 1815; we were married July 31st, 1834. We joinedthe Baptist church, at Moon's Chapel, Chatham county, N. C., in the fall of1849, and was baptized by Elder, William C. Patterson, of which church shelived an orderly and consistent member until her death.

She often spoke of the evils of intemperance, and popular vices generally,that are abroad in the land; but her grestest concern was the salvation ofher children.

A few days before she died, she had her children called around her bed andspoke to them, one by one in the most affectionate manner, of her prospects,and desired them to meet her in heaven, and gave them a great deal of goodadvice, which it is reasonable to think, will sink deep into their hearts,for who can forget the words of a dying mother?

Then she called on her friends to prepare for death, with an earnest de-sire to meet them in glory. She bore her sickness with patience and christianfortitude, rejoicing in her last days, that she had never turned away emptythe poor who came to her for something to sustain life. In her meditations,she brought death near. She said it did not seem like dying; only, passingfrom this earth to heaven, viewing that place of rest as Noah's ark, withwindows on either side for the saints to enter in and to be forever at rest.The dark valley she had so often heard spoken of, was no terror to her,there was no gloom there. She even desired to go, considering this as a placeof confinement; for the last words she uttered were to me saying let me go, letme go, as much as to say, sorrow not for me, but be willing to give me up;knowing that our spirits were knit together.

Thus one has died, beloved, I think, by all who knew her. A loving andkind companion, affectionate mother and indulgent mistress, in the triumphsof faith. She leaves a husband and nine children to mourn their loss. Myheart seems like waters poured out; but we sorrow not as those who have nohope, for we believe that our loss is her eternal gain. Farewell, dear wifeand mother, yet my spirit clings to thine; love, thy soul remains with me.

MRS. THOMAS W. MATTHEWS---------- 2

Weep not for me, I'm now at rest,In that sweet land, home of the blest;I shed no tears, I feel no pain,And never shall I mourn again.

THOMAS W. MATTHEWS.

BIBLICAL RECORDER, April 2, 1857, p. 3:3

CHILDREN OF THOMAS W. MATTHEWSDIED

In Chatham county, N. C., on the 15th of April last, at the residence of hisfather, Thomas W. Matthews, Jesse O. Matthews, aged 13 years, 4 months, and 15days. Though so young, yet he had sought and obtained the Pearl of great price,evidence of which he gave on his dying bed. He talked remarkably for one of hisage, about the goodness of God, in making provision for lost and ruined man;that he may be saved through the mediation of Jesus Christ. He expressed greatconcern for those that were in their sins, and called on them to repent andbelieve in the promise. He said he felt like his soul would flyaway and meetJesus.

G.C.U.

In Chatham county, N. C., on the 17th of April last, at the residence ofhis father, Thomas W. Matthews, William H. Matthews, aged 21 years, 8 monthsand 21 days. The writer of this had the pleasure of being intimately acquaintedwith the subject of this sketch, being his frequent associate and early companion;and he can say that he always admired him for his fine feeling, and his loveand practice of religion and moral sentiments. Particularly was he belovedfor the affection that he manifested for his father, mother, brothers andsisters. He was a dutiful son, affectionate brother and firm friend. He wasstrictly moral throughout his life, and possessed those qualities which so muchadorn a youth; indeed his habits were such as others would gladly imitate. Hewas a professor of religion, though never attached himself to any church, whichwas a source of grief to him when he came to die, and the only purpose forwhich he wished to live, as he expressed himself, that he might be baptized andfulfil his duty on earth. He was perfectly resigned to death, and said that hewas in the hands of Jesus.

We sigh for thee, we mourn our loss,That thou art gone away,

But we will count our mourning dross,In thinking of thy pleasant state.

I love to linger round the spotsWhere we have often roamed,

And listen, but catch thy voice not,For thou art now at home.

G.C.U.

THOMAS W. MATTHEWS --------------2

In Chatham County, N. Carolina, on the 24th of April last, at the re-sidence of his father Thomas W. Matthews, Oroon J. Matthews, aged 16 years,7 months and 15 days. He suffered a great deal of bodily pain and distressof mind during his sickness. But he had long time before he was taken sick,and during his sickness, been applying to that Fountain, from which noneare ever turned away empty, and before his death gave satisfaction that hissins were washed away, and that he had a reasonable hope for an inheritanceincorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away. He expressed himselfemphatically that he did love Jesus, and exprected to depart to be with him.

G.C.U.

BIBLICAL RECORDER, July 9, 1957, p. 3:3

On the 29th of December, 1875, after a protracted illness, ElderT. W. Matthews. The coffin was placed in Moon's Chapel Church, wherehe had often stood and besought the people with earnest words to seektheir Saviour; and the intense grief awakened seemed to say to us,"though he is dead yet he speaketh". Elder Lineberry preached (Job 19:25),showing Job's unshaken confidence in a living Redeemer. He was kind,active, and sympathizing, an efficient disciplinarian, ever zealous forChrist's cause.

O. T. EDWARDS

BIBLICAL RECORDER, March 8, 1876, p. 3:3.