Samuel Mathews (colonial Virginia governor) facts for kids

Lt. Col. Samuel Mathews (born around 1630, died in 1660) was an important leader in the early English Colony of Virginia. He served as the Governor of Virginia from 1656 until his death in January 1660. During this time, England was not ruled by a king but by a Parliament, a period known as the "Protectorate." Even though the colony had strong feelings for the King, Governor Mathews answered to the English Parliament.

Who Was Samuel Mathews?

Samuel Mathews Jr. was the older son of Samuel Matthews Sr. (1572-1657) and Frances Grevill West Peirsey Mathews (1590-1635). He was born at his father's large farm, called Mathews Manor. This place was later known as Denbigh and was located on the north side of the James River in an area that became Warwick County, Virginia. Today, this land is part of Newport News, Virginia.

His Family's Start in Virginia

Samuel's father, Samuel Matthews Sr., was one of the first people in the Mathews family to move from England to Virginia. He arrived in Jamestown by 1619. Samuel Sr. became a very important person in the colony. He was a member of the Governor's Council, which was a group of advisors to the governor. He also took part in conflicts with the Native Americans. In 1635, Samuel Sr. was one of the leaders who helped remove Royal Governor Sir John Harvey from office. After this, Samuel Sr. went back to England but was later cleared of any charges. He returned to Virginia and continued to serve on the Governor's Council.

Samuel Jr.'s mother, Frances Grevill, came to Jamestown from Bristol, England in 1620. She was married twice before marrying Samuel Mathews Sr. She inherited a lot of money from her previous marriages.

A Leader in Virginia

As an adult, Samuel Mathews Jr. was known as Lt. Colonel Samuel Mathews. This title showed his rank in the local military group, called the militia. In 1652, he was chosen to be a member of the House of Burgesses. This was the lower house of the Virginia legislature, where people from different areas represented their communities. He represented Warwick County.

Becoming Governor

In 1656, Samuel Mathews Jr. was appointed to the Governor's Council, which was the upper house of the legislature. Later that same year, he became the Commonwealth Governor of Virginia. He held this important position until he died in January 1660.

In April 1658, the House of Burgesses showed their dislike for Oliver Cromwell, who was leading England at the time. They officially removed Governor Mathews from his job, but then immediately re-elected him in the same action. This was a way for them to make a statement. Because Governor Mathews was loyal to Cromwell, some people thought he was a Puritan. However, before Cromwell's time, Samuel Mathews was actually known for being strict with Puritans in Virginia.

In January 1660, Governor Mathews died while still in office. Soon after, England brought back its king. The Burgesses in Virginia then voted to bring back the former Royalist Governor, William Berkeley. This meant that Virginia was the last of the King's lands to accept Cromwell's rule, and then the first to reject it.

Samuel Mathews had a brother named Francis (1632-1673) who lived longer than him. Governor Mathews got married around 1655, but not much is known about his wife. They had one son, John (born 1659, died 1706). John also lived at the Denbigh Plantation in Warwick County.

His Legacy

The place where Mathews Manor once stood, now in Newport News, Virginia, was studied by archaeologists in the 1960s. This important historical site was then added to the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places.