Henry Matson of Wingham born 1823 or 1814?

[doverrog]

Just to say Happy Christmas and thank you for all the work you've done in this thread.
I'm still 'digging' but as yet no further information.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS
Roger

[HogHedge]

Hi,

Hope am not too late to enter my tuppence but I am descended from the MATSONs who lived in Faversham/Selling/Chilham. I got back to a John MATSON b. abt. 1650 but had three alternatives to choose from so got stuck. However, in trying to resolve this I did research the MATSON family as a whole and thought you may be interested in the following:-

The earliest MATSON reference I found in Kent was to a Robert MATSON who was a mariner in Sandwich who died in 1501. Sandwich was one of the cinque (pronounced sink) ports so mariners would have had to act as merchants, fishermen, as well as acting as the local navy. Robert himself wore light armour and had a set of bow and arrows.

Some of Roberts descendants moved to Shepherdswell in 1580 where they thrived. They then spread out into Dover, Wingham and I believe over to Chilham. The Dover MATSONs were very succesful merchants and rich. They also had links to the London salting trade. One of them was elected as Mayor of Dover. He was elected for a second time but got disqualified for vote rigging! Unfortunately the Dover MATSONs spent so much time getting rich that they forgot to breed and died out. They left their money to cousins and I think most of their money went to the Wingham MATSONs (Charles MATSON the Farmer, etc).

Another branch of the family seems to have moved up from Sandwich to the Isle of Thanet. As neither this nor the Wingham branch seem to be mine I haven't really studied them, but it looks like you are related to one of them.

If you manage to get a bit further back I may be able to help you but at the moment you are too far away from the info I have.

Incidentally I do believe all of the Kent MATSONs are descended from the original Robert MATSON, Mariner of Sandwich. In terms of where the name comes from it could be related to the MATSON family of Matson, Gloucestershire who were landowners but supposedly died out, but my number one theory is that it is a scandinavian import. The name MATTESON, MATTISON, etc. is very common in Denmark, etc. I have found references to a Scandinavian merchant called MATTESON who traded salt in London and had a son called Robert in the late 1300s. This could be the start of the family but it is too far back to know for sure.

Any way, hope this is of interest and let me know if you get a bit further back,
HogHedge

[doverrog]

Hello HogHedge,
This is really good news - I hope for both of us!
I am a direct descendant and from the Dover line - indeed my grandmother was a recipient of money from the Matson Charity set up by the Matsons of Dover.
I have been researching the Matson family for some years and have a considerable amount of data about them. I have got back to John the Mariner of Sandwich and have been working extensively to complete my records for the various branches as well as my own.
Was your John Matson, who was born about 1650, possibly one of the children of John Matson and Mary Boreham for example?
Have you discovered any of the work of Major Colin Matson?
My line is descended from William Finch Matson who was born in 1800 and farmed in Buckland Bottom, Alkham and whose family were farmers in the Hougham Parish. His ancestry in particular has been very difficult to confirm, but I now have links back to the merchants in Dover, Shepherdswell etc.
As its seems we may both have a lot of info. to exchange, I wonder if it might be easier to do so via email? I am sending you a private message and hope to hear from you soon.
By the way, which branch are you descended from?

[HogHedge]

Hi doverrog, will do as you suggest and reply via email.

[casalguidi]

Doverrog, you might just be interested to know that the tithe award for Rochester St Margaret is now online and one of the Robert MATSONs in listed  http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Maps/ROCM/02.htm

Casalguidi

[doverrog]

Thanks  casalguidi. As ever all info. is welcome.

[petalpye]

Hello Valda and everyone else involved in this,

I have a great, great grand father by the name of Francis Edward Matson born circa 1866-67 and who died in 5-1-1945 in Victoria, Australia.
On his gravestone in Frankston it says his parent were Hy (Henry?) and Lucy E born Wingham, Kent.
Could it be from Henry 1823-1881?
My g,g g-father apparently was a merchant seaman and a very sombre man who threatened his grandsons with the horse whip when he discovered them carving boats out of bark.  Apparently he had a terrifying experience near the Cape Horn in Africa when the ship nearly capsized.
He married a Margaret Murphy born in Maldon, Victoria (Aus) circa 1875.
Her parents were Edward and Margaret Murphy.

Another jot of information, perhaps totally unrelated is a Thomas John Matson
who was christened at Saint Mary Magdalene, Canterbury, Kent on 28th Dec 1761.  His parents were William and Mary (nee Mylan) Matson, married 21 Jan, 1765 at Chilham, Kent.   Also listed is a John Matson christened 3 Mar 1765, same place. There is a daughter Mary (c.31 Dec 1758 St Andrew Canterbury).
Thomas John was tried at Maidstone, Kent for stealing a lead pump valued at 40 shillings. He was sentenced to transportation for 7 years and left England on the Alexander aged about 27 at the time (May 1787). He was listed as a labourer.  We have been unable to establish a link.  As a matter of interest, he was sentenced to 200 lashes in Aus for stealing clothing. We believe he had a ticket of leave.

No matter how hard I try, I cannot find any reference to them and every potential website wants money (which is probably justified, but frustrating nonetheless!).

Other leads; the eldest son in our family appently was alway named Kent.
Secondly, we have a tie with Beals. We have a signet ring from an Eliza Beale which has an inscription of c 1750 on it and has been given to the youngest son. My father currently has this ring. We think our family must have done them a great favour at some time. I can get more details re the ring.

Does this help, confuse anyone?

regards,

Kerry Matson, South Australia

[casalguidi]

1871 - Wingham Street, Wingham, Kent

Henry MATSON head mar 46 farmer b.Wingham
Lucy E wife 46 b.Rainham Kent
Frederick H son 9 b.Wingham
Francis E son 7 b.Wingham
Agnes L dau 18 b.Rainham
Eliza HAGUE visitor mar45 b.Wingham
Mary A RYE servant unm 20 general servant domestic b.Adisham Kent

RG10/1001 folio 57 page 17
....................

1861 - Wingham Street, Wingham, Kent

Henry MATSON head mar 36 farmer's son b.Wingham
Lucy E wife 36 b.Rainham
Caroline dau 4 b.Wingham
Batha? J dau 3 b.Wingham
Elizabeth dau 1 b.Wingham
+ a couple of servants

RG9/541 folio 51 page 17
.........................

Casalguidi

[casalguidi]

Henry MATSON of Wingham (son of Robert, farmer) married Lucy Elizabeth DODD (daughter of Thomas, farmer) at Rainham, Kent 1852 http://www.rootschat.com/links/065l/

1851 - Wingham, Kent

Robert MATSON head wid 62 farmer of 90 acres employing 7 labourers b.Wingham
Eliza dau 30 b.Barfrestone
Henry son 28 b.Wingham
Eliza PETTMAN servant unm 23 house servant b.Eastry Kent

HO107/1631 folio 369 page 22

You will find a number of baptisms and marriages for Kent on the IGI at http://www.familysearch but it is far from complete.  Furthermore the parish registers for many of the parishes in the Medway area (including Rainham) are online http://cityark.medway.gov.uk/ and you should be able to find some events for Lucy's family (including her baptism).

Casalguidi