Person Page - 416

     William Wentworth Matheny was born in 1666 in Charles County, Maryland.^1,2,3 William appears in numerous court records in Stafford County, Virginia between 1691 and 1701. He was a Constable in the Aguia District for one year up to April 1693. On 11 March 1701/02 William purchased 100 acres adjacent to the Hope property in Stafford County from Thomas Norman for 1700 pounds of tobacco.

On June 10, 1691, Sarah and her son, William, were sued by her daughter Susannah, formerly wife of Solomon Day and now wife of John Davis, to obtain her dower rights to the Hope property jointly purchased by Sarah's husband, Daniel Matheny, and by Susannah's first husband, Solomon Day.

On October 9, 1691, the Court ruled in favor of John Davis, husband of Susanna, confirming his right to the land purchased by Solomon Day during the rest of Sisanna's life.

In February 1691/92, Sarah sued her son William to obtain her dower right to land purchased by her husband, Daniel. The court so ordered.

In another court case held on 25 February and 10 March, 1691/2, Sarah and son William were said to have locked a room in an apparently abandoned manor house on land in the possession of George Brent who obtained it from Susannah Davis, the late widow of Solomon Day. Sarah and William refused to allow Joseph Eyres, a tenant of George Brent, to enter the room. The court ordered Sarah to let Joseph in the room and to pay court costs.

In susequent court cases, William Matheny petitioned that he was the real owner of the land. His petition was denied; he appealed, and the appeal was refused. The case then went to the colony's Governor & Council who ruled that Brent was entitled to possession of the land.⁴

William married Francis Norgraves Mason in 1691 in Overwarton Parish, Stafford County, Virginia.^5,6,7

William made a will on 12 November 1705 in Stafford County, Virginia.^8,9

William died on 12 November 1705 in Hope Plantation, Stafford Co., Virginia. He apparently died on the same day his will was written because the will was proved and probate granted to his wife in court on that date..^10,7,11 He was buried at Hope Plantation, Stafford Co., Virginia. His gravestone is currently in the parish house of Aquia Episcopal Church, Overwharton Parish..¹²

     Francis Norgraves Mason was born in 1669 in Stafford County, Virginia.^1,2

Francis married William Wentworth Matheny in 1691 in Overwarton Parish, Stafford County, Virginia. Francis was the widow of Col. George Mason when she married William Wentworth. She and Col. Mason had a son, William Mason, who is named in William Wentworth Matheny's will..^3,4,5

Francis was named to handle the estate of her husband, William Wentworth Matheny on 12 November 1705 in Stafford County, Virginia. If she remarried, his 3 sons should receive their legacies at age 18; If she did not remarry, she should act in all matters relating to them until they reached age 21.^6,7

     Richard Routt was born circa 1667.¹

Richard married Frances Adams on 6 October 1687.²

Richard died on 17 June 1713 in Northumberland County, Virginia.³