The descent of the Matthews family of Glenville, Schenectady county, New York, is from an English ancestry. The family was an old established one of Warwickshire, prior to the year 1775, the date at which this record begins.
(I) John Matthews was born in the village of Brails, Warwickshire, England, in 1775, died in Bambury, England, in 1855. He lived most of his life in Bambury, where he married and carried on business all his life. He was a member of the Methodist church. Children:
- Rev. William, who lived and died in his native shire; he was a minister of the Methodist church.
- Keziah, died unmarried, aged eighty years.
- Charlotte, died at the age of eighty years, unmarried.
- Richard, born in Bambury, came to the United States, located first in Glenville, later removed to Centreville, Michigan, where he practiced medicine until his death; he married, in Glenville, Mary Coffin, and left a son William.
- John, see forward.
(II) John (2), youngest son of John (1) Matthews, was born in Bambury, England, died in Glenville, New York, in 1885. He was educated in the English schools. He married in England, where he remained until after the birth of his daughter Rosa, following his trade of baker. He never was satisfied with his trade under conditions as they then existed in his native town, and being ambitious determined to cast his fortune in with those who were emigrating to the United States. He came to the United States in 1828, sailing from Liverpool, and after a passage of six weeks arrived in New York. He finally settled in Schenectady, worked for a time at railroad construction and soon was able to purchase a farm in Glenville, to which he removed. He improved his farm and lived to become a well-to-do farmer. He was an active member of Center Methodist Church, Glenville, which he served long and well. He was one of the original members of that congregation, helped to erect the first church, was class leader, Sunday school superintendent and trustee. In 1840 he made a visit to England taking his wife, son John W. and daughter, Rosa, with him. They remained abroad a year, then returned to their home in Glenville, where both died.
John Matthews married Elizabeth Watts, who was born in England. She was eleven years her husband's senior; she died at the age of eighty-three years. Children:
- Rosa, born in England in 1823, died in Glenville, New York, June, 1876; married Charles Sanders. Children: Keziah Elizabeth and Charles John.
- Died in infancy.
- Died in infancy.
- Died in infancy.
- John Wesley, see forward.
- William, born during his parents visit to England in 1840; became the owner of the homestead farm, his present residence (1910); at the beginning of the civil war he enlisted in the Ninety-first New York Volunteer Infantry, served through the entire war, was wounded but not incapacitated from further service; he saw much hard service with the Army of the Potomac, was in the battle of Gettysburg during the entire three days' fighting and was honorably discharged at the close of the war with a record of which any soldier might well be proud; he married (first) Letitia Avery. who died without issue; married (second) Lucy Shaw, and has a son Louis, who married Margaret Van Etten, of Glenville.
- Richard, born in Glenville, died at Fort Edward, New York, where he was preparing for the ministry at Fort Edward Collegiate Institute; he was a young man of great promise and had made an enviable record at the Institute for proficiency.
(III) John Wesley, fifth child of John (2) and Elizabeth (Watts) Matthews, was born in the town of Glenville, Schenectady county, New York, October 14, 1835. He was educated in the public schools and at the age of seventeen began learning the blacksmith's trade. He was connected with the smithing department of the Barhydt & Greenalgh [Greenhalgh?] Company at Schenectady for eighteen years. He then purchased a farm of one hundred and eight acres in Glenville, on which he has since resided. He has brought his farm to a high state of cultivation and by his careful methodical methods obtains the best results from his labor. He is one of the leading men of his town. He is a Prohibitionist in political faith and supports his principles with his vote. He is an active member of the Center Methodist Episcopal Church, which he serves as steward and trustee. He is warmhearted and liberal in his support of the church. He married (first) in Schenectady, Charlotte Spencer, who died eighteen months later, without issue. He married (second) Sophia Ford, who died in 1878. He married (third) Mary Peek, born in Glenville, February 10, 1838, daughter of James and Phoebe A. (Britten) Peek, both natives of Montgomery county, and descendants of old Mohawk Valley families. James and Phoebe A. Peek were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He died in 1864 at the age of seventy-five years. His wife survived him to a very old age. Mary (Peek) Matthews is a grandfather [granddaughter?] of Harmanus and Olive Francis Peek, of the Mohawk Valley. Children of John Wesley Matthews, all by his second wife, were:
- Charlotte, married (first) Edward Erp, left a son Stanley, and two daughters, Nina and Florence; she married (second) Joseph White, of Glenville, no issue.
- James Wise, died in childhood.
- Elizabeth, married William King; child: Harold.
- Richard Lewis, a carpenter of Scotia; married (first) Bessie Erp; (second) Minnie Love; four children: Minnie, Ethel, Mary and Lula.
- Nora, married Jacob Weller, of Scotia, connected with the General Electric Works; four children: Iva, Leland, Schuyler and Dayton.
- Rosella, adopted daughter of Charles and Ella (Swan) Sanders; she married Richard Cornell, a farmer of Glenville.
- Stillman, employed at the power station at the General Electric Works at Schenectady, New York; married Drusilla Percy; two children: John W. and Helen.
- Charles, farmer of Glenville; married Catherine Van Patten; six children: Leroy, Richard, Myrtle, Nora, Gertrude and Ella May.
- Dennis, employed in the Glenville Electric Works; married Alice Van Patten; five children: Earl, Everett, Carl, Burton and Hazel.