Barnabas Matthews (1749-1826)

Biography
Barnabas Matthews, son of Isaac Matthews and husband of Desire Rider, was a veteran of the Revolutionary War. According to his war record, he was both a soldier and a sailor during the Revolution and had many adventures. Starting as a corporal in 1775 he served defending the coast until taken prisoner and sent to Halifax. In 1777, he was exchanged and immediately enlisted as a seaman and was again captured. He must have escaped for before the end of the year, he is a Private in Captain Ebenezer Baker's company, where he served for a month "on a secret expedition". The next year, he was back to sea, where he served on the brigantine HAZARD. According to an article in Whitehall, N.Y. Scrapbooks. 1910-1927, "Before the war he was one of the 'Indian' that took part in the Boston Tea Party. (many who really participated did not reveal themselves at the time for fear of legal problems from the Tea Company. Many who are listed a participants were not) Barnabas and his family came to Whitehall in the 1790s, living not far from the Hampton line. It is said that the reason he left Yarmouth was to keep his boys from going to sea. (his first son, Solomon, was stayed, did go to see and became a shipbuilder) The family were members of the old White Congregational church of North Whitehall. In the first assessment roll dated 1798, Barnabas is a large property owner. The Family were leading members of the town. "old people tell that they hae heard that the Matthews were a highly esteemed family." Barnabas died in Whitehall in 1826 and his son, Barnabas, Jr. died in 1833. After the death of Barnabas, Jr. the Matthews family removed to Central New York. They first settled in Pavilion and then to Warsaw.