William MATHESON was born in Iredell County, North Carolina about 1800.[1] His parents are as yet undetermined and nothing is known about his childhood. William’s wife Jane BOGLE, oldest daughter of William and Mary BOGLE was born around 1808/1809 also in Iredell County.[2] William and Jane continued to live in Iredell County after their marriage.

William and Jane probably married before 1827 because they had two children on the 1830 census.[3] The couple had eleven children; Joseph Pickney (1830), Robert P. (1833), Mary C (1835), Barbara A (1836), William Bogle (1838), Daniel Mc. (possibly Donald Mc.) (1840), Atlas L. (1842), Alexander (1844), and twins, Susan Jane (1849) and Junius P. (1849).[4] They also had a little girl who died before 1840 and who would have been a year or so older than her brother Joseph Pinckney.[5]

On June 11, 1847, William Matheson sold for the sum of one dollar approximately 13 acres of land to James Thompson Esq. Chairman of the County Courts of Alexander County “for the use and benefit of the County of Alexander forever for the purpose of building thereon a seat of Justice for said county”.[6] Alexander County was formed in 1847 from Iredell, Caldwell and Wilkes counties. Taylorsville, the county seat, was settled in 1847 and was incorporated in 1851.[7]

In 1850 William and Jane were living in the recently established town of Taylorsville, in the newly formed Alexander County. William was a farmer with real estate valued at $1500.00 and Jane was keeping house. All of the children except Joseph were still in the home and Robert was working as a clerk in a store.[8] In 1860, William was still listed on the census as a farmer but his real estate value had increased to $2500 and his personal estate was valued at $1040. Robert had moved out of the house by this time and son Wm. B. was now working as a clerk in a store.[9]

By the 1870 census, William’s real estate value had risen to $4000. He and Jane were still living in Taylorsville and their unmarried daughters Mary and Barbara were still at home and had no occupation. Their son Daniel (or maybe Donald) was living at home also and was working as a schoolteacher. The three eldest sons had left home and were working as clerks. Also living in the house was Jane’s 85 year-old widower father William Bogle. His land holdings were valued at $1000. Three-year-old Mary A. Sharpe, a white child, was living with family as well. Her relationship to the family has not been established. Five other persons whose relationships have not been established were also living in the household: Addison Crawford, a 20 year old black male farm laborer; James Rose (?), a 19 year old male mulatto with occupation listed as “at home”; Sarah Watts, a 21 year old black female domestic servant; Rosanah Watts, a four year old black girl; and Martha Watts, a seven month old female mulatto baby.[10]

Both William and Jane died most likely in Alexander County sometime after the 1870 census was taken and before the 1880 census.[11]

Footnotes for William and Jane

Ancestors of Arthur Dwight "Buck" Lackey--Matheson Family Branch