Henry Matteson (1646-1690)

Why is the Henry Matteson family of interest to descendants of Audrey Mae, Edith Anna and John Edward, the three children of Mary Jane (née Vaughn) and William J.B. Spencer?  Because the three children’s great, great-grandmother, Roby (née Tarbox) Spencer, was a descendant from Henry and Hannah (née Parson) Matteson!  Hence, the three children and their descendants are also descendants of Henry and Hannah Matteson.

On her artistically designed map of the Vaughn cemetery, Audrey Mae drew the commemorative plaque (or placque) on the gravestone monument to Henry Matteson.  This monument is located at the back of the cemetery or at the west end which is farthest from the east side front gate.   Audrey Mae printed the Matteson name and the date 1670 on her artistically designed map of the Vaughn family cemetery.  Web site author does not know why she printed the 1670 date.   Henry Matteson’s birth date is recorded elsewhere as October 27, 1646 and his death is recorded as 1690.  However, 1670 was the date of Henry and Hannah’s marriage.

Also, on the cemetery west end Audrey Mae drew twenty small field stones.  Web site author does not know whose burials these field stones represent or if they represent any colonial(s).

Audrey Mae (née Spencer) MacDonald tells the 1995 story of how a bus load of Matteson descendants from Ohio, believing their ancestor, Henry Matteson’s remains were in the Vaughn family cemetery, set up a monument for Henry Matteson at the back of the Vaughn family cemetery on the west side.  Following is information on this event recorded on web pages www.findagrave.com:

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mattesons-in-the-usa-websiteHOWEVER, There is a controversy among Henry Matteson descendants; some descendants feel strongly that Henry Matteson is buried elsewhere in East Greenwich.  This web site author has no additional  information to substantiate either side of this controversy and web site author is not certain what Audrey Mae’s opinion was on this subject.

Also, some descendants tell that Henry Matteson was the first Dane in America.  If so, that is really impressive. Again, web site author has no knowledge of this, outside of what is already on the internet.

 

The names of Henry Matteson and Thomas Matteson are on the East Greenwich Founders’ and Early Settlers’ Stone.  They are listed as early settlers of East Greenwich, Rhode Island, USA, but, apparently, they were not founders. Founders were “granted a first farm lot as compensation for service in the King Philip War 1675-1676”

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Henry Matteson and Thomas Matteson, 3rd and 4th name on 3rd columm, EARLY SETTLERS OF THE TOWN OF EAST GREENWICH, R.I. 1677-1716

Since one of Henry’s and Hannah’s sons was named Thomas, the name on the memorial plaque on the Founders’ Stone could be their son, Thomas.  More Matteson research needed.

Audrey Mae (née Spencer) MacDonald corresponded for many years with Porter Matteson who was one of the original founders of The Matteson Historical Congress of America. Web site author believes Porter was living in Ohio at their time of correspondance. Audrey Mae often sent him historical papers that she had inherited from her family.  In 1949, Porter Matteson  sent her the Matteson Congress document Mattesons in America which gave the details on how Audrey Mae, Edith Anna and John Edward Spencer descend from Henry Matteson.  According to Porter Matteson, the three children descend from Henry Matteson through their father, William J. B. Spencer. The three children’s great, great-grandmother Roby (née Tarbox) Spencer was a descendant from Henry Matteson.  Roby Tarbox was married to Richard Anthony (“Deacon”) Spencer on April 3, 1817 in Exeter, Rhode Island. Roby and Richard (“Deacon”) first son was also named Richard Anthony.  Richard Anthony’s daughter, Anna Maria (pronounce Mar-eye-ah), was Audrey Mae’s Edith Anna’s and John Edward’s paternal grandmother.

The document from Porter Matteson:

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Mattesons in America, Wm. J.B. Spencer’s lineage from the first Matteson emigrant, Henry Matteson

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Mattesons in America, Wm. J.B. Spencer’s lineage from the first Matteson emigrant, Henry Matteson (end of page one)

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Wm. Spencer is a lineal descendant of King Cunedda of Wales

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Wm. Spencer is a lineal descendant of King Cunedda of Wales (end of page)

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Audrey Mae’s, Edith Anna’s and John Edward’s descent – Nine Generations – from Henry Matteson

 

 

 

 

Using the above information from Porter Matteson , the web site author typed the following to show how the three children, Audrey Mae, Edith Anna and John Edward, descend from Henry and Hannah (née Parsons) Matteson.  (The information about Henry being the first Dane in American was found on the internet.)

 

 

Henry and Hannah Matteson descendants, if you have any further information on the Matteson ancestors as they relate to the three children’s, Audrey Mae’s, John Edward’s and Edith Anna’s, ancestry, please add a comment.  Web site author will add your information to this web site.  Thanks.

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