Matthew and Rachel (Bonnifield) Maddox had their first child, Mary Molly Maddox (born 1776) in St. Mary’s County, Maryland and this was the only child born in that county and state.
Matthew, Rachel and Mary Molly Maddox moved from St. Mary’s County, Maryland in the year 1779 and went west over the Blue Ridge Mountains into a vast wilderness and into Indian Territory into what was then Dunmore County, Virginia. This county was named for Lord Dunmore. The county name was changed shortly after they arrived to Shenandoah County, Virginia.
Matthew and Rachel bought 401 acres of land in Shenandoah County in 1797 on a placed called Jeremy’s Run, bought from Jeremy Odell. This land is now known at Matthew’s Arm and a part of the Shenandoah Nation Park System.
In October 1780, Matthew enlisted into the Continental Army in Shenandoah County, Virginia, his Virginia Service Number was 17802. Matthew was assigned to the 3rd. Virginia Line Regiment and his service number was 38181 and his rank was that of a private. The officers in charge were Colonel Campbell, Captain Oldham, General Muhlenberg and Commanding General Nantanael Green. General Green was born in Potowarmut, Rhode Island on 27 July 1742 and died 19 June 1786.
In a letter written by Matthew Maddox, Jr., son of Matthew Maddox, Sr. he wrote that his father fought in seven hand battles against the British. Matthew fought at the battle of Camden, South Carolina against the British under the Command of Lord Cornwallis. Both sides suffered heavy losses. Matthew fought at the battle of Gilford Court House on 15 March 1781 against the British forces under the command of Lord Cornwallis, again both sides suffered heavy losses. On 25 April, 1781 Matthew fought at the second battle of Camden South Carolina, Hobkirks Hill again against the British Forces under the command of Lord Cornwallis. It was in this battle that Matthew was shot in his leg with a one-ounce British ball. Matthew was carried from the field by a man called Bisen or (Cisen) and dumped in the woods. Matthew remained in the woods for five days with no food or water, the only water he got was by licking the dew from the grass. Matthew was found by those who came to bury the dead and taken to the “hospital” at Charlotte Town. The small bone in his leg was removed from joint to joint. Matthew was then sent to Salesburg in North Carolina where he was judged unfit for service. Matthew was taken to the home of his parents, John and Mary (Dyson) Maddox in Culpeper County, Virginia and received a full discharge from the Continental Army.
Matthew appeared in a court held in Culpeper County, Virginia on 16 April 1787 to prove the Will of his mother, Mary (Dyson) Maddox.. The Will was proved and Matthew did inherit most of the personal estate and the property (see Will listed under Generation 3-John and Mary (Dyson) Maddox page 10). The 1787 Tax Record of Culpeper County, Virginia did indicate that Matthew paid taxes on one slave, 2 horses, 5 cattle and the property. Just what happened to this property is unknown. Research indicated that Matthew and his family had moved to Harrison County, Virginia in 1785 and he had returned to settle the Will of his mother and to pay the taxes on the property.
The children of Matthew Maddox who were born in Culpeper County, Virginia were Rozzel Maddox (born 1781 and Matthew Maddox, Jr. (born 1783). The following children were born in Harrison County, Virginia (WV). William Maddox (born 1785), Dorcus Maddox (born 1787), Thomas Maddox (born 1788), Arnold Maddox (born 1790) and Alpheous Maddox (born 1792).
The very first land record for Matthew Maddox, Sr. in Harrison County, Virginia was found in Deed Book 6, page 67 in which Matthew bought 500 acres of land on the Little Kanawha River, dated 30 December 1805, purchase price was $1.00.
The next record was found in Deed Book 7, page 18, dated 19 March 1807 in which Matthew sold the 500 acres of land under Deed Book 6, page 67 for $500.00 to Thomas Asberry.
The final record was found in Deed Book 7, page 33, dated 19 March 1807 where Matthew and his son, Rozzel Maddox bought 200 acres of land for $1,000.00 on the Rooting Creek at the head of the Blue Lick Creek. This property was located South of Romine Mills, the 3rd. creek on the west side of Rooting Creek (see maps). This property was purchased from Thomas and Elizabeth Asberry.
Another deed of interest was found in Deed Book 3, page 76, dated 20 November 1797 in the Harrison County, Virginia (WV) Deed Books. In this deed, Peter Romine bought 80 acres of land for $200.00 on the right hand fork of Hastings Run, just west of Romine Mills. Hastings Run enters Rooting Creek. This land was very close to the land purchased by Matthew and Rozzel Maddox in the 1807 deed. Peter Romine married Mary Molly Maddox in 1796 in Harrison County, Virginia (WV).
In 1812, Matthew, Rachel, most of their children, Peter and Mary Molly (Maddox) Romine and Rachel Romine, sister to Peter sold out in Harrison County, Virginia (WV) and moved to Wood County, Virginia (WV). They arrived at Parkersburg, Wood County Virginia (WV) on 24 December, 1812.
Matthew didn’t own any property in Wood County, Virginia (WV) and he left no recorded Will. Matthew and family lived with their son, Thomas Maddox, who was the landowner in Wood County, Virginia (WV).
Matthew applied for his Revolutionary War Pension on 20 July 1820 in a court held at Parkersburg, Wood County, Virginia (WV). Matthew was granted the pension on 21 September, 1820 and he received a total of $96.00 per year for the rest of his life. On his application he listed his possessions, 3 beds, 2 cows, 2 calves, 2 hogs, some kitchen furniture consisting of pots, pans and dishes and a total of $1.19 in money.
Matthew and Rachel lived with their son Thomas Maddox until the death of Rachel on 5 January 1826. After that, Matthew lived with his oldest child, Mary Molly (Maddox) Romine and husband Peter Romine until Matthew died on 1 January 1831.
The Maddox Family earned their living in Wood County by farming, orchards, shoe making, barrel making and making whiskey to sell.
On 11 November 1999 at the Maddox Cemetery, Wood County, West Virginia a new U. S. Veterans Grave Marker was dedicated to Matthew Maddox, Sr., complete with SAR and DAR rites with a three-gun salute by SAR members in full Continental Army Uniform. See Maddox Family History Book Number 1 for full details.
Records of Dunmore County, Virginia, Records of Shenandoah County, Virginia, Rent Roll Census of Shenandoah County, Virginia, Military Records of Matthew Maddox, Sr., SAR and DAR Records, The Will of John Maddox in Culpeper County, Virginia, The Will of Mary (Dyson) Maddox in Culpeper County, Virginia, The Proved Will of Mary (Dyson) Maddox in Culpeper County, Virginia, 1785-1786-1787 Census and Tax Records of Culpeper County, Virginia, Census of Harrison County, Virginia (WV), Marriage Records of Harrison County, Virginia (WV), Land Records of Harrison County, Virginia (WV), Maddox and Romine History by Isa P. Hazen, Quakertown Series (Lubeck District) Wood County, Virginia (WV) by The Parkersburg Dailey State Journal, Records of the Shenandoah Nation Park, Research submitted by Larry Maddox of Liberty, Missouri, The Book, Harrison County Deed Records by John Davis, published by the Heritage Books, Inc., Research submitted by Linda Sullivan, Research by Rodney C. Maddox, Wood County, West Virginia Genealogy Library, Roots Web-US Gen Web and Cathy Leonard, Director of the U S Gen Web, Harrison County, West Virginia