Mathews County (Va.) Circuit Court

Mathews County was named for Thomas Mathews, of Norfolk, the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1790 when the county was formed from Gloucester County. Its area is 86 square miles, and the county seat is Mathews.

The separate office of coroner appeared in Virginia about 1660. The judicial duty of the office is to hold inquisitions in cases when persons meet sudden, violent, unnatural or suspicious death, or death without medical attendance. The coroner would summon a jury to assist him in determining cause of death. Prior to November 1877, the jurors numbered twelve. Between November 1877 and March 1926, the jurors numbered six. The jury viewed the body of the deceased and heard the testimony of witnesses. The coroner was required to write down witness testimony. After seeing and hearing the evidence, the jury delivered in writing to the coroner their conclusion concerning cause of death referred to as the inquisition. After March 1926, only the coroner determined cause of death. He could require physicians to assist him with determining cause of death. If a criminal act was determined to be the cause of death, the coroner was to deliver the guilty person to the sheriff and the coroners' inquests would be used as evidence in the criminal trial.

From the guide to the Mathews County (Va.) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1867-1902, (The Library of Virginia)

Mathews County was named for Thomas Mathews, of Norfolk, the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1790 when the county was formed from Gloucester County.

Most records were burned in Richmond on 3 April 1865, where they had been moved for safekeeping during the Civil War.

From the guide to the Mathews County (Va.) Election Records, 1902-1965, (Library of Virginia)

Mathews County was named for Thomas Mathews, of Norfolk, the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1790 when the county was formed from Gloucester County.

Most records were burned in Richmond on 3 April 1865, where they had been moved for safekeeping during the Civil War.

From the guide to the Mathews County (Va.) Court Records, 1861-1902, (Library of Virginia)

Mathews County was named for Thomas Mathews, of Norfolk, the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1790 when the county was formed from Gloucester County.

Most records were burned in Richmond on 3 April 1865, where they had been moved for safekeeping during the Civil War.

From the guide to the Mathews County (Va.) Land Records, 1817-1921, (Library of Virginia)

Mathews County was named for Thomas Mathews, of Norfolk, the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates when it was formed from Gloucester County by a statute passed on 16 December 1790 to take effect on 1 May 1791. The county seat is Mathews.

Most records were burned in Richmond on 3 April 1865, where they had been moved for safekeeping during the Civil War.

From the guide to the Mathews County (Va.) Oyster Records, 1867-1891 circa, (The Library of Virginia)

Mathews County was named for Thomas Mathews, of Norfolk, the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1790 when the county was formed from Gloucester County.

Most records were burned in Richmond on 3 April 1865, where they had been moved for safekeeping during the Civil War.

From the guide to the Mathews County (Va.) Judgments, 1861-1902, (The Library of Virginia)

Mathews County was formed from Gloucester County by a statute passed on 16 December 1790 to take effect on 1 May 1791. The county was named for Thomas Mathews, of Norfolk, the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates.

Prior to 1853, when the Commonwealth began recording vital statistics, Virginia marriages were recorded at the county or city level. Beginning in 1661, in order to be married by license, the groom was required to go before the county clerk and give bond with security that there was no lawful reason to prevent the marriage. The license, issued then by the clerk, was given to the minister who performed the service. Written consent from a parent or guardian was needed for individuals younger than twenty-one years.

Most records were burned in Richmond on 3 April 1865, where they had been moved for safekeeping during the Civil War.

From the guide to the Mathews County (Va.) Marriage Licenses, 1827-1850, (The Library of Virginia)

Mathews County was named for Thomas Mathews, of Norfolk, the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1790 when the county was formed from Gloucester County.

Swiss businessman, Henri Dunant, founded the Red Cross after witnessing a battle in Northern Italy in 1859. Dunant wished to begin an organization which would care for the sick and wounded in battle. In 1864, the Geneva Convention established the International Committee of the Red Cross and in 1901 Dunant received the first Nobel Peace Prize. In 1881, Clara Barton established the American Red Cross to aid in domestic relief efforts due to disaster. The Mathews County (Va.) Red Cross Chapter was organized May 12, 1917 with Mrs. Robert Hoskins as chairman; Miss Alice Healy, Secretary; and W. B. Smith, Treasurer.

The Chesapeake-Potomac Hurricane hit Mathews County, Virginia on August 23rd, 1933, causing catastrophic damage. The storm was first noticed when it was east of the Windward Islands. By August 18th, the tropical storm was 900 miles east of Puerto Rico and within 150 miles of Bermuda, on August 21st it became a hurricane. On August 23rd at 9:20AM, the storm changed track and passed over Norfolk, Virginia and moved north. A second hurricane hit the mid-Atlantic just over a week later. The 1933 hurricane season left a destructive path all the way into Pennsylvania and remained the worst series of storms on record until Hurricane Isabel in 2003.

Most records were burned in Richmond on 3 April 1865, where they had been moved for safekeeping during the Civil War.

From the guide to the Mathews County (Va.) Red Cross Records, 1933-1934, 1950-1970 (bulk 1933-1934), (The Library of Virginia)

Mathews County was named for Thomas Mathews, of Norfolk, the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1790 when the county was formed from Gloucester County.

Most records were burned in Richmond on 3 April 1865, where they had been moved for safekeeping during the Civil War.

From the guide to the Mathews County (Va.) Commonwealth Causes, 1866-1904, (The Library of Virginia)

Mathews County was named for Thomas Mathews, of Norfolk, the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1790 when the county was formed from Gloucester County.

Most records were burned in Richmond on 3 April 1865, where they had been moved for safekeeping during the Civil War.

From the guide to the Mathews County (Va.) Records, 1803-1945, (The Library of Virginia)

Mathews County was named for Thomas Mathews, of Norfolk, the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1790 when the county was formed from Gloucester County.

Most records were burned in Richmond on 3 April 1865, where they had been moved for safekeeping during the Civil War.

From the guide to the Mathews County (Va.) Miscellaneous Records, 1896, 1944, undated, (Library of Virginia)

Mathews County was named for Thomas Mathews, of Norfolk, the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1790 when the county was formed from Gloucester County.

Most records were burned in Richmond on 3 April 1865, where they had been moved for safekeeping during the Civil War.

From the guide to the Mathews County (Va.) Marriage and Vital Statistics Records, 1865-1899 (bulk 1865-1896), (Library of Virginia)

Mathews County was named for Thomas Mathews, of Norfolk, the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1790 when the county was formed from Gloucester County.

A fiduciary is an individual who enters into a confidential and legal relationship which binds them to act on behalf of another. Guardians are legally invested to take care of another person, and of the property and rights of that person.

Most records were burned in Richmond on 3 April 1865, where they had been moved for safekeeping during the Civil War.

From the guide to the Mathews County (Va.) Fiduciary Records, 1810-1903, (Library of Virginia)

Mathews County was named for Thomas Mathews, of Norfolk, the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1790 when the county was formed from Gloucester County.

Sally Tompkins was born in Poplar Grove, Mathews County, Va., 9 Nov. 1833. Tompkins moved to Richmond following the death of her father and used her inheritance to open a private hospital in the home of Judge John Robertson at 3rd Street and Main Street in Richmond soon after the first battle of Manassas on 21 July 1861. The popular story is that when orders were given to the effect that all military hospitals must be run only by military personnel, Jefferson Davis appointed Tompkins a captain of cavalry to ensure that she continued to run the hospital. She received her commission in 9 September 1861, before the Confederate government began an innovative hospital reorganization program and closed most private hospitals in Richmond to relieve overcrowding in the city. Tompkins was the only commissioned woman in the Confederate Army. Sally Tompkins died on 25 July 1916 in Richmond, Virginia. She was buried with full military honors.

Robertson Hospital treated 1,333 Confederate soldiers from its opening until the last patients were discharged 13 June 1865. Only 73 deaths were recorded at Robertson Hospital during its existence.

During the Grand Confederate Reunion held in Richmond from 30 June to 2 July 1896, Sally Tompkins rented a house and provided food and drink for former patients of Robertson Hospital and their families.

Most records were burned in Richmond on 3 April 1865, where they had been moved for safekeeping during the Civil War.

From the guide to the Robertson Hospital Reunion Register, 1896, (The Library of Virginia)

Mathews County was named for Thomas Mathews, of Norfolk, the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1790 when the county was formed from Gloucester County.

The National Association of the Daughters of the Confederacy was organized on September 10, 1894, in Nashville, Tenn. The name was changed in 1895 to the United Daughters of the Confederacy. The United Daughters of the Confederacy was incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia on July 18, 1919.

Sally Tompkins was born in Poplar Grove,Mathews City., Va., 9 Nov. 1833. Tompkins moved to Richmond following the death of her father and used her inheritance to open a private hospital at the outbreak of the civil war. The quality of care at Robertson Hospital was such that Jefferson Davis allowed the hospital to operate while he closed all other private hospitals in Richmond. In 1861, Tompkins was appointed a captain of calvary, unassigned, to comply with regulations that all military hospitals be run only by military personnel. Tompkins was the only commissioned woman in the Confederate Army. Sally Tompkins died on 26 July 1916 in Richmond, Virginia. She was buried with full military honors.

From the guide to the Sally Tompkins Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy Records, 1908-1951, (The Library of Virginia)

Mathews County was named for Thomas Mathews, of Norfolk, the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1790 when the county was formed from Gloucester County.

Most records were burned in Richmond on 3 April 1865, where they had been moved for safekeeping during the Civil War.

From the guide to the Mathews County (Va.) Superintendant of the Poor Records, 1871-1931, (Library of Virginia)

Mathews County was named for Thomas Mathews, of Norfolk, the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1790 when the county was formed from Gloucester County.

Most records were burned in Richmond on 3 April 1865, where they had been moved for safekeeping during the Civil War.

From the guide to the Mathews County (Va.) Road and Bridge Records, 1861-1906, (The Library of Virginia)

Mathews County was named for Thomas Mathews, of Norfolk, the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1790 when the county was formed from Gloucester County.

Most records were burned in Richmond on 3 April 1865, where they had been moved for safekeeping during the Civil War.

From the guide to the Mathews County (Va.) Tax and Fiscal Records, 1854-1903, (The Library of Virginia)

Mathews County was named for Thomas Mathews, of Norfolk, the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1790 when the county was formed from Gloucester County.

From the guide to the Mathews County (Va.) Circuit Court Records, 1948, (Library of Virginia)

Mathews County was named for Thomas Mathews, of Norfolk, the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1790 when the county was formed from Gloucester County.

Most records were burned in Richmond on 3 April 1865, where they had been moved for safekeeping during the Civil War.

From the guide to the Mathews County (Va.) Treasurer Records, 1870-1931, (Library of Virginia)

Mathews County was named for Thomas Mathews, of Norfolk, the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1790 when the county was formed from Gloucester County.

Most records were burned in Richmond on 3 April 1865, where they had been moved for safekeeping during the Civil War.

From the guide to the Mathews County (Va.) Records, 1792-1952, (The Library of Virginia)

Mathews County was named for Thomas Mathews, of Norfolk, the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1790 when the county was formed from Gloucester County.

Most records were burned in Richmond on 3 April 1865, where they had been moved for safekeeping during the Civil War.

From the guide to the Mathews County (Va.) Organization Records, 1908-1960, undated, (Library of Virginia)

Mathews County was named for Thomas Mathews, of Norfolk, the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1790 when the county was formed from Gloucester County.

Most records were burned in Richmond on 3 April 1865, where they had been moved for safekeeping during the Civil War.

From the guide to the Mathews County (Va.) Tax and Fiscal Records, 1792-1955, (Library of Virginia (Some records in this collection may be located at the State Records Center. Contact Archives Research Services for access information, directions, and hours.))