A HISTORY OF THE MATTHEWS FAMILY.
[THIS CHAPTER WILL BE UPDATED]
WORCESTER CATHEDRAL VIEWED FROM ACROSS THE RIVER SEVERN. IT WAS BUILT BETWEEN THE YEARS 1084 AND 1375.
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INTRODUCTION
The story of the Matthews Family can be traced back to about the year 1750, to a time when King George II was on the throne, and England still held her American colonies. In London, the Royal Society was only dreaming about a voyage which would take James Cook around the world, while across the Channel in France, Louis XV and his mistress Madame de Pompadour held court in the most advanced country in Europe.
While the family's story from this early time was modestly being played out in the Midlands of England, changes had already begun which during the next hundred years were to make Britain the most powerful nation on earth. Although losing her North American colonies, and almost being bled dry by twenty years of struggle against Bonaparte, by the 1850's (through wealth and political influence generated by industry and trade) Britain had gained a dominant role in world affairs. British hold on Canada had become stronger, and Queen Victoria was claimed supreme ruler of all of Australia and New Zealand and most of India.
Englishmen proudly believed themselves to be leaders of the world. Britain's middle classes were prosperous. Manufacturers and merchants enjoyed a style of living which would not have been guessed at by earlier generations. In sad contrast, poverty and starvation were often the lot of the working classes.
Believed to have been of Yeoman stock, the Matthews held no high office nor were they wealthy. Succeeding generations were small landholders. Some were stonemasons. Prosperity and strength lay in their industry, their support of the Established Church and above all in a strong family network. Their story is made interesting because photographs from the 1850's, old letters, a journal, and recollections have enabled the present generation to gain some insight into the lives of their forebears.
Papers and photographs preserved at the Paengaroa Homestead "Matapara" are the basis of this history. John Coales of Cambridge England has supplied much genealogical information, as well as copies of notes taken from the diary of Thomas Matthews (1824-1892). Miss Nancy Matthews (the last of her generation) wrote down what she knew of the past. Her recollections of her childhood and youth have given us an insight into the lives of ordinary New Zealanders, before the first world war. From these letters, documents and photographs, lovingly preserved, comes a sense of identification and insight into our own particular heritage.
In order to present as broad a view as possible, this chapter of the family history will follow each succeeding generation of the forebears of Newton Matthews (1863 - 1946), beginning with John Matthews who was born in about 1750 at Eccleshall, Staffordshire.
Because of recurrence of family names in succeeding generations, it is sometimes necessary to give the full name, or assign "First", "Second" or "Third", and sometimes "Senior" and "Junior" to some individuals where relationships are not made clear by the text. Punctuation and occasionally spelling have been amended for easier understanding. Text in square brackets is an editorial insertion while text in round brackets is original.
Aunt Nancy Matthews proposed that her family's story be part of her memorial to the "pioneer" generations of her family.
Omissions and mistakes that emerge will hopefully be pointed out by those with better knowledge and understanding.
THE ENGLISH BEGINNING OF OUR MATTHEWS HISTORY.
JOHN MATTHEWS "THE FIRST".
John Matthews of Greatwood near Eccleshall was born about 1750. Tradition says that he was a farmer, of Yeoman stock. While it is possible to create an "ancestor tree" for the forebears of this John Matthews (using old Wills and church records) there is however no oral or written evidence to support it. It is likely that some of his forebears were stonemasons. Of his wife Betty nee King nothing is known except her name.
JOHN MATTHEWS "THE SECOND".
Their son, also John Matthews was born March 26 1776, near Eccleshall in Staffordshire. His parents were able to provide him with a good education and to instil in him a love of good books. Some of these books have survived at "Matapara", and deal with interesting contemporaneous accounts and issues, such as Bruce's "Travels In Abbyssinia" and a 1792 edition of Buffon's "Natural History" which John in his turn dedicated in his own hand in 1832 to his daughter Hannah.
JOHN MATTHEWS (1776 - 1856)
John Matthews' photograph suggests a kindly, strong man, intelligent, resourceful and upright.
With a good start in life, he ran a thriving business at 11 Broad Street Worcester, manufacturing and selling ironmongery from his shop in the heart of Worcester town. From family letters is is certain he and his family enjoyed a prosperous merchant's existence in the boom years of the Industrial Revolution. They had the time and the means to pursue leisure activities. It would also appear that his children were trained in all aspects of the business. They worked very long hours, when their craft or business so demanded.
Worcester (and particularly Broad Street) appears to have been over the years the home of several closely related families. The Matthews lived at 11 Broad Street Worcester, the Newtons at 22 Broad Street Worcester; the Gardners at "The Cross" Worcester; the Farmers at Bridge Street Worcester; "Corner House" at Worcester was the home of the Miss Newtons, while the Underwoods at New Street and the Flavells at Yardley lived in the neighbouring town of Birmingham.
A PAGE FROM AN EARLY DIRECTORY ADVERTISING THE MATTHEWS PREMISES AND IRONMONGERY WARES IN BROAD STREET WORCESTER.
An 1820 Directory advertises John Matthews' business at 11 Broad Street Worcester. He was "Ironmonger, Locksmith, Bell-hanger, Cutler, Tin-man and Brazier, Wholesale and Retail". This delightful advertisement is accompanied by an engraving of a shirt-sleeved craftsman on his stool, hammering a piece of metal into shape on a small anvil. About him are samples of his trade. Behind the craftsman is a large shaped metal urn, with rivets in a neat row and finished off with a narrow rim. Above him is suspended a kettle, in front is perhaps a meat safe with hook, pulley and counterweight, while at his feet is a cooking pot, and beyond this a storm lantern.
Underneath are the words,
J.M. begs leave to inform his Friends they may be supplied with any article in the above branches on the most reasonable terms.
Tinning with pure grain tin and other repairs. Best prices given for Old Metal. Knives, Razors and Scissors bladed, ground and repaired.
Some years later John's business appears to have employed men (and probably at some stage his sons) in hand crafting various metal products for domestic and agricultural use. He then called himself "Wire-Worker" "Furnishing Ironmonger" "Locksmith" "Bell Hanger" et cetera.
The Directory also contains a drawing of John Matthews' shop at No 11, Broad Street, together with an outline of the contiguous Crown Hotel. The quaint, narrow, three and a half storied building is still to be found in Broad Street, with lead-light bay windows on either side of a central door, presenting to the passers-by a frontage of not more than twenty-four feet. The name "MATTHEWS" is displayed in large letters at the base of the second storey. Above the shop is accommodation, two sets of two sash windows in the wall, above which a single dormer window peeps out of the tiled roof. Curtains symmetrically drape the living room windows. In front of the building women and girls in long skirts, shawls and poke bonnets pause by a window, while men in top hats (and possibly a soldier) perambulate the street. The effect is of order and prosperity. This part old Broad Street has recently been designated a National? Monument? and as such should be preserved for posterity. When visited by a fifth generation descendent in 1984 Broad Street had been re-developed into a trendy shopping area but the old Matthews shop-front had been retained, the old nineteenth century ironmongery now housing an upmarket fabric shop.
As listed "Bentley's Directory" of 1840 the shop at 11 Broad Street was also used by a son Edward Matthews, engraver. By 1873 the "Worcester Commercial Prospectus" however gives a new owner.
THE MATTHEWS OLD PREMISES ON BROAD STREET CAN BE RECOGNISED AT THE LEFT OF THE ROW OF SHOPS. THE "CROWN HOTEL" HAS BECOME "THE CROWN PASSAGE" THE ENTRANCE TO AN UPMARKET SHOPPING MALL.
In 1804 when he was 28 years of age, John married Hannah Gardner, daughter of John and Mary Gardner by Banns, at St Nicholas' Church, Worcester. Hannah had been born on August 5 1786, at "The Cross" Broad Street, Worcester. She was eighteen years of age at the time of her marriage. Hannah and John had at least eleven children, three however did not live more than a few years, and one was stillborn, while the youngest daughter Hannah, died possibly unmarried at the age of twenty-five. However six children survived, to make their way in the world. John "the third" was born on December 8 1807, Anne on August 22 1810, Caroline on February 22 1813, Edward on January 9 1819, Thomas on June 3 1824 and George born on May 26 1826. More about them later.
HANNAH GARDNER (1786 - 1858) MARRIED JOHN MATTHEWS IN 1804
A likeness of Hannah exists, showing a strong featured woman with deep-set contemplative dark eyes. She is wearing a mob cap made with layers of lace and tied under her chin with a large bow. In the fashion of the day, dark curls cluster about her eyes and forehead. On her dress lines of embroidery, perhaps representing leaves and tendrils of a creeping plant, are just visible on the otherwise plain fabric. One can believe that Hannah was a fine looking woman with an alert mind and a forceful personality.
It may be noted that John and Hannah's son George was already taking daguerreotype photographs in 1852. We have been better placed than most families with having photographic portraits of our forebears.
Notes form the diary of John and Hannah's son Thomas "Tom" cover a period from 1849 to 1866. Much visiting and many excursions to musical and other events for members of the family were noted. Brief entries record "Birmingham Musical Festival", "Worcester Festival", "Creation", "Messiah", "Elijah, " "Last Judgement", also "Jenny Lind Concert" and "Danced quadrilles and lancers", "danced polka and mazurka". The notes also record important events, such as baptisms, and the marriage of John and Hannah's son Edward to Anne Newton in 1850. September 18th 1854 notes of Hannah and John Matthews' Golden Wedding anniversary, while a letter mentions the festivities associated with this occasion.
One important outing for Hannah and her family was to the Great Exhibition of 1851 at the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London. The great glass-enclosed barn covered 21 acres of exhibits from all branches of human endeavour but particularly the Exhibition served as a trade fair for British goods. Hannah's son-in-law Thomas Underwood was somehow involved with a display, for he travelled to London at the end of April to be present at the Exhibition for its opening by Queen Victoria on May 1st in order "to answer questions when the Queen comes".
By July a large party of the extended Matthews family had already made the train journey to London in order to visit the Exhibition, but it would seem that Hannah had not wished to accompany them. However by September the desire to see the Exhibition must have overcome her doubts. Hannah and her son Tom Matthews and her daughter Caroline Underwood and son-in law Thomas Underwood of Birmingham made the expedition. This probably involved a journey with horse and gig from Worcester to Birmingham in order to catch the train. One can sense the authority in Hannah's wish, and the trouble which the family must have taken to make the journey happen. [It should be remembered that these events are related by reference to John Coales notes, not from Tom's diary, which has not been located.]
29th September 1851, Thomas Matthews to Birmingham because Mother suddenly decided to go to Great Exhibitition. Caroline alarmed about her health, arranged to go on Oct 13th.
13th Oct. Thomas Matthews with Tom and Carry Underwood went with Mother by express train, (three hours). Lunch with Stricklands at 8 New Bond Street, then to Great Exhibition.
14th October. With Thomas Underwood to Strictlands and with them to Exhibition. Strickland had tickets given to him.
15th October. Again at Exhibition hoping to see Prince Albert.
John and Hannah were living in comfortable circumstances. The business of manufacturing domestic metal appliances had prospered, with new products being developed to meet changing demands of their customers. Their children were by middle class standards well educated, they were industrious and their future seemed secure. Some indication of the the extent of the family business may be gained from an 1861 document which shows that a division of assets took place between sons Thomas, Edward, and John, the business at the time being worth £5604, with book debts of over two thousand pounds being carried.
To go back a little to Hannah and John's children, six of whom reached maturity. It is evident that they were a literate, musical, inventive and artistically talented family. Letters and the diary also show their close family ties, often describing visits to see their extended family or friends, or tell of excursions to musical events and of course the journey to see the Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace in London, or just plain having fun.
Thom's diary 25th December 1859,
John Williams and Maria Thompson to tea. Thomas Underwood read a play aloud. After supper danced quadrilles and lancers.
The first train had run in Britain in 1825 and by the 1840's Birmingham was connected to most of the major cities in England. When reading their letters it is easy to imagine the freedom and joy of this "frontier" generation at being able to travel rapidly by train, beyond the confines of Industrial Midlands, thus to experience the delights of travelling (undreamed of by an earlier generation) through the English countryside to look perhaps for the first time upon the wonders of the open sea.
Thom's diary from 15th August 1849, notes a train journey and a walking tour which would greatly delight modern travellers,
Thomas Matthews went with ___ to Bangor by rail and walked to Menai Bridge and Llanberis. Lodged in cottage (one bed). Supped at Victoria Hotel and on to [?] Beddgelost to The Goat, climbed Snowdon, down to Llanberis and reached Capel Curig at 10p.m.
Thom's diary,
July 27th 1853. To Alfreston.
August 1st. Walked 23 miles round Malvern.
August 8th to 14th. [Thomas Matthews, Thomas Underwood, George Matthews] to Llangollen, Bala, Festinig, Aberglaslyn, the Goat, Beddgelert, Snowdon, Bangor.
Indeed John and Hannah's children were fortunate to have had such a happy childhood with every prospect of continuing happiness and prosperity. This comfortable existence was unfortunately all too brief. Political events were afoot which would change their lives, and bring hard times for the families.
Within a few years they or their descendants were to scatter across the globe, to Chile, Canada, North America, Australia, New Zealand. A brief account of the destinies of this generation shall be given later, but for now this story will concentrate upon the life of John and Hannah's second surviving son, Edward Matthews, who in 1782 made the decision to emigrate with his wife Anne and their six youngest children, to New Zealand.
Hannah and John Matthews had had a long and happy life together, reaching their Golden Wedding anniversary in 1854, and enjoying the accompanying family festivity which celebrated that occasion. John died in August 1856, the year of peace after the terrible war in the Crimea. His body was placed in the family vault at All Saints Church Worcester. His dear wife Hannah following him in October 1858. They had been married fifty-two years. Hannah's body was "embedded" in charcoal and placed in a coffin built in the Matthews' vault, where she lies near her husband.
A later illustration gives an indication of wider variety of his wares, such as bells, locks, a charcoal brazier, fire fender, birdcage, mousetrap, sieve, fireguard, food safe, awls, brace-and-bit sets, and a gadget which may represent a wash and sluice device for separating gold specs from sludge.
A handsome silver medal had been won by the "Matthews Brothers" at the 1860 Worcestershire Agricultural Society's show. On the front is shown in relief a typical farm scene, a pair of horses pulling a plough at front, behind this a sheep, then a cow and a pig. In the middle distance some geese, and above all this handsome manor house, large trees, and what brings a smile to the face of the beholder, a traction engine belching smoke and standing unattended in a field. Inscribed on the back are the words "Awarded to Messers Matthews Brothers for their Washing Machine." The washing machine, which is possibly the one shown in the Directory does not appear to have any connection with laundry but seems to be a cradle and sluice for alluvial gold. Who knows, there may be Matthews machinery to be discovered in New Zealand and Australia amongst the displays from the gold rush times.
Look at other parts of the story by following the link to the Index page.
[Updated 10.12.2004. And September 5 2005.]
FURTHER INFORMATION WILL BE ADDED TO THIS PAGE. MEANWHILE, I'M OFF TO CHINA.
A plaque may be found in St John the Baptist Church at Northcote, in honour of Edward John Matthews and his wife Anne Loadman, nee Newton. Their granddaughter Miss Nancy Matthews had made a donation for the new altar, in memory of the family's past association with the church.
With "Woodside" sold in January 1882, the family moved to the southern side of the harbour.