Individual Details
Matthew Raiford
(June 18, 1710 - December 29, 1789)
"Matthew Raiford, son of Matthew and Mourning, was probably born in Isle of Wight County, Virginia, about 1710, when his father, Matthew, was about twenty three years of age. This younger Matthew first appeared in North Carolina in 1746, when, at a council held in New Bern on June 27th of that year, he petitioned a warrant for a grant of six hundred forty acres in Craven County. In 1754, he was appointed vestryman of St. David's Parish in Cumberland County (THE COLONIAL RECORDS OF NORTH CAROLINA, 10 Vols. William L. Saunders, editor. Raleigh, North Carolina: 1886 - 1890, vol. 25, page 267). At a Council held at New Bern, March 19, 1756, ordered that a New Commission and Dedimus be issued for Cumberland County and that he be added to the present acting Justices (IBID., Vol 5, page 654). At a Council held at New Bern, December 14, 1757, ordered that a new Commission of the Peace for the County of Cumberland ... revoke his appointment (IBID., Vol. 5, page 828). In 1758, Matthew, "now of Anson County, late of Cumberland County," sold to Thomas Gibson for one hundred pounds, one hundred fifty acres on each side of the northwest branch of the Cape Fear River. This deed was signed on November 5th by Matthew Raiford, "eldest son of Matthew Raiford, deceased," and his wife, Judith. In 1765, Matthew sold some land in Cumberland County to his brother, William. In this deed, Matthew gave his residence as Anson County (All references to Anson County are taken from ANSON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, ABSTRACTS OF EARLY RECORDS, the May Wilson McBee Collection, Volume One).
"On October 9, 1769, Matthew signed "The Petition of the Inhabitants of Anson County, being part of the Remonstrance of the Province of North Carolina (THE COLONIAL RECORDS OF NORTH CAROLINA, 10 Volumes. William L. Saunders, editor. Raleigh, North Carolina: 1886-1890, Vol. 8, page 80). At an Assembly began at New Bern, December 5, 1769, appeared as a Member from Anson County (IBID., Vol. 8, page 107). Allowances due and payable to members of the Assembly at New Bern for session beginning October 1769 (IBID., Vol. 8, page 145). At an Assembly begun at New Bern, October 23, 1769, elected a Representative for Anson County (IBID., Vol. 8, page 303). Appointed Commissioner of Roads for the Counties of Mecklenburg, Anson, Cumberland, and Rowan. (Laws of N. C. - 1773) (IBID., Vol. 23, page 920).
"In 1773, Matthew and his wife, Judith, sold some land adjacent to Matthew's other land, to his son Matthew, Jr., this deed being witnessed by James Pickett and James Raiford, another son. (By this time, this Matthew was known as Matthew, Sr.) Also in 1773, Matthew, Sr., was appointed a Commissioner of Roads for the Counties of Anson, Cumberland, Rowan, and Mecklenburg (IBID., Vol. 23, page 920. He was appointed Justice of the Peace in Anson County, December 23, 1776 (IBID., Vol. 23, page 992).
In 1779, Montgomery County was formed from Anson County. On the tax lists for 1782, Matthew (Sr.) appears in Montgomery County. In the U. S. Census of 1790, for Montgomery County, North Carolina, under the name of Matthew Raiford, there are noted the following persons: "one male over 16, three males under 16, four females, and one slave." Since no additional documents have been located bearing dates after 1782, containing the name Matthew Raiford, it has been assumed that Matthew, Sr., had died before the 1790 Census. (The death date of Matthew, Sr., has been accepted by the Daughters of the American Revolution as December 29, 1789 - DAR National No. 380443 for Mrs. Marie Owen-Myers). Notwithstanding, the death date of Matthew, Sr. has not been proven due to the fact that the Montgaomery County Court House and all records therein were destroyed by fire in 1835, and no will for any Matthew (except that dated 1752) has been located. I have also concluded that the Matthew mentioned as the 1790 head of household ws in fact Matthew, Jr., and that the "three males under 16" and the four females" were children and possibly grandchildren of either Matthew, Sr., or Matthew, Jr., or both. This conclusion is substantiated by the cited documentation that follows.
"In a search of the Bladen County Court House records, it has been established that Robert, Margaret, Maurice, and John were brothers and sisters, and that Robert remained unmarried. In addition, a notorized affidavit dated March 5, 1926, in my possession, states in part that Maurice was born about 1757, the son of Matthew. This affidavit is signed by my great-aunt, Asenath Anne Elizabeth Raiford Horn, who was born September 7, 1852, and died in 1948. From the foregoing, I have concluded that Matthew and his wife, Judith, had at least two sons, Matthew and James, and may also have had daughters. The known and proven children of the younger Matthew were Robert, Margaret, Maurice, and John. The only additional record mentioning James is that he "was confined in gaol (sic) on a suspicion of Treason, ordered to be discharged." This is a part of the "Proceedings of the Board of War," dated January 18, 1781 (IBID., Vol. 14, page 492). (RAIFORD FAMILY by W. R. Raiford, 1989, pages 74-78, 137-38)
"Matthew Raiford Jr., my ancestor, was born June 18 1710, Isle of Wight County, Virginia. Married ca 1732 Ann Wall. Some say this is wrong, that his wife was Judith. Matthew Raiford Jr. died December 29, 1789 and she died later He was a Revolutionary Patriot. I have copy of his Vouchers from the North Carolina Archives. Nancy Raiford, daughter of Matthew Raiford Jr. married Anthony Fulghum of Isle of Wight County, Virginia. He died 1768 North Carolina and she died 1798 North Carolina. (Further lineage is given.)" (Louise P. Niedermaier (Mrs. E. J.), 4800 Samuell Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75228, 1984.)
"On October 9, 1769, Matthew signed "The Petition of the Inhabitants of Anson County, being part of the Remonstrance of the Province of North Carolina (THE COLONIAL RECORDS OF NORTH CAROLINA, 10 Volumes. William L. Saunders, editor. Raleigh, North Carolina: 1886-1890, Vol. 8, page 80). At an Assembly began at New Bern, December 5, 1769, appeared as a Member from Anson County (IBID., Vol. 8, page 107). Allowances due and payable to members of the Assembly at New Bern for session beginning October 1769 (IBID., Vol. 8, page 145). At an Assembly begun at New Bern, October 23, 1769, elected a Representative for Anson County (IBID., Vol. 8, page 303). Appointed Commissioner of Roads for the Counties of Mecklenburg, Anson, Cumberland, and Rowan. (Laws of N. C. - 1773) (IBID., Vol. 23, page 920).
"In 1773, Matthew and his wife, Judith, sold some land adjacent to Matthew's other land, to his son Matthew, Jr., this deed being witnessed by James Pickett and James Raiford, another son. (By this time, this Matthew was known as Matthew, Sr.) Also in 1773, Matthew, Sr., was appointed a Commissioner of Roads for the Counties of Anson, Cumberland, Rowan, and Mecklenburg (IBID., Vol. 23, page 920. He was appointed Justice of the Peace in Anson County, December 23, 1776 (IBID., Vol. 23, page 992).
In 1779, Montgomery County was formed from Anson County. On the tax lists for 1782, Matthew (Sr.) appears in Montgomery County. In the U. S. Census of 1790, for Montgomery County, North Carolina, under the name of Matthew Raiford, there are noted the following persons: "one male over 16, three males under 16, four females, and one slave." Since no additional documents have been located bearing dates after 1782, containing the name Matthew Raiford, it has been assumed that Matthew, Sr., had died before the 1790 Census. (The death date of Matthew, Sr., has been accepted by the Daughters of the American Revolution as December 29, 1789 - DAR National No. 380443 for Mrs. Marie Owen-Myers). Notwithstanding, the death date of Matthew, Sr. has not been proven due to the fact that the Montgaomery County Court House and all records therein were destroyed by fire in 1835, and no will for any Matthew (except that dated 1752) has been located. I have also concluded that the Matthew mentioned as the 1790 head of household ws in fact Matthew, Jr., and that the "three males under 16" and the four females" were children and possibly grandchildren of either Matthew, Sr., or Matthew, Jr., or both. This conclusion is substantiated by the cited documentation that follows.
"In a search of the Bladen County Court House records, it has been established that Robert, Margaret, Maurice, and John were brothers and sisters, and that Robert remained unmarried. In addition, a notorized affidavit dated March 5, 1926, in my possession, states in part that Maurice was born about 1757, the son of Matthew. This affidavit is signed by my great-aunt, Asenath Anne Elizabeth Raiford Horn, who was born September 7, 1852, and died in 1948. From the foregoing, I have concluded that Matthew and his wife, Judith, had at least two sons, Matthew and James, and may also have had daughters. The known and proven children of the younger Matthew were Robert, Margaret, Maurice, and John. The only additional record mentioning James is that he "was confined in gaol (sic) on a suspicion of Treason, ordered to be discharged." This is a part of the "Proceedings of the Board of War," dated January 18, 1781 (IBID., Vol. 14, page 492). (RAIFORD FAMILY by W. R. Raiford, 1989, pages 74-78, 137-38)
"Matthew Raiford Jr., my ancestor, was born June 18 1710, Isle of Wight County, Virginia. Married ca 1732 Ann Wall. Some say this is wrong, that his wife was Judith. Matthew Raiford Jr. died December 29, 1789 and she died later He was a Revolutionary Patriot. I have copy of his Vouchers from the North Carolina Archives. Nancy Raiford, daughter of Matthew Raiford Jr. married Anthony Fulghum of Isle of Wight County, Virginia. He died 1768 North Carolina and she died 1798 North Carolina. (Further lineage is given.)" (Louise P. Niedermaier (Mrs. E. J.), 4800 Samuell Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75228, 1984.)
Events
| Birth | June 18, 1710 | Isle of Wight County, Virginia | |||
| Death | December 29, 1789 | Montgomery County, Virginia | |||
| Marriage | Judith |
Families
| Spouse | Judith (1713 - ) |
| Child | Matthew Raiford (1735 - 1789) |
| Child | Nancy Raiford ( - 1798) |
| Child | James Raiford (1755 - 1830) |
| Father | Matthew Raiford (1687 - 1758) |
| Mother | Mourning Martin or Pierce (1690 - ) |
| Sibling | Robert Raiford (1720 - 1801) |
| Sibling | Grace Raiford (1724 - 1765) |
| Sibling | Mary Raiford (1725 - 1783) |
| Sibling | Mourning Raiford (1733 - 1803) |
| Sibling | William Raiford (1735 - 1798) |
| Sibling | Philip Peter Raiford (1737 - 1818) |
| Sibling | Rebecca Raiford ( - 1778) |
| Sibling | Drusilla Raiford ( - 1781) |
| Sibling | Anne "Nancy" Raiford (1742 - 1805) |