Person:Matthew Varner (4)

Name: Matthew VARNER 1 2 3 Sex: M Birth: ABT 1765 in Rowan County, North Carolina Death: 29 JUL 1847 in Ogelthorpe, Wilkes County, Georgia Baptism: 3 DEC 1795 Ogelthorpe County, Georgia Residence: Ogelthorpe County, Georgia Event: Kinship to WD Hosey 1st Cousin, 7 Times Removed Reference Number: 816 Note:

   Matthew Varner was born in Maryland in about 1760. He moved to Rowan County, NC, with his parents during his early childhood years. He fought there with American forces during the Revolutionary War. Shortly after the war, he marrried Susan Henley. The two of them then moved to Wilkes County (later Oglethorpe), GA, where they settled adjacent to George Varner, believed to have been Matthew's brother, and Frederick Varner, who was probably Matthew's cousin or brother.

   Matthew and Susannah lived in the same home place on Falling Creek in Oglethorpe County, GA for about 50 years, until his death in 1847. His property, both land and slave holdings, increased at a slow rate in the early years of the 1800's and then accelerated about 20 years later. In 1800, he owned only 140 acres of land and one Negro slave. In 1803, he had 200 acres and two slaves. In 1813, his land ownership had increased to 350 acres and his slave holdings to seven. By 1819 he had 605 acres and 13 slaves. Then in 1826, Matthew paid taxes on over 1400 acres on land and he had 26 slaves. His property holdings then remained the same level at or near the time of his death.

   Like his brothers and\or cousins, George Varner and Frederick Varner, Matthew Varner served on Oglethorpe County juries from time to time. Minutes of the Inferior Court report that he served on juries in 1794, 1799, and 1808. The minutes were indexed, thus there may have been additional times that a quick review of the minutes did not reveal.

   Matthew and Susannah Varner may have attended the County Line Baptist Church in its very early years when they lived nearby. Church minutes for the years prior to 1807 were not located. The family had moved about 15 to 20 miles away from where the church is located before 1807 and their names do not appear in the miunutes for years after 1807. They may have atended a church closer to their plantation on Falling Creek.

   Will Fails To Include Some Children
   Matthew Varner wrote his will 30 Oct 1845, nearly two years before his death. It was submitted for probate property equally among his children, leaving some of them nothing. Consequently, those who were not granted equal shares contested the will. They claimed that Matthew Varner "was not of sound mind and disposing memory at the time of the making of the said pretended will...that (he was) very aged and infirm, (and that) undue influence was exercised and fradulent representations made by the legatees mentioned in said will to cause the said Matthew Varner to disherit the caveators...(and that) the said Matthew Varner was very aged and possessed of feeble mind and no recollection" at the time he made the will.

   Apparently, the will was settled out of court because children who had brought the action against the will withdrew their suit. Matthew Varner, Jr., was then confirmed by the court as executor of the will. Consequently, the property was appraised and the estate was settled.

   The date of death of Matthew Varner's wife, Susannah Henley Varner is unknown. She died prior to the time in 1845 when Matthew wrote his will because she is not mentioned in the will nor in the estate proceedings.

   FACT #1: Records of Matthew Varner while he was a resident of Rowan Co., NC, consist of his marriage testimony as a witness to a legal document. FACT #2: On 27 Oct 1786, Matthew Varner was witness to the transfer of land from William Lambert to Mighi Dillow
   FACT #2: On 27 October 1786, Matthew Varner was witness to the transfer of land from William Lambert to Mighi Dillow.
   FACT #3: Matthew was listed as a taxpayer in Wilkes County, Georgia in 1791.
   FACT #4: Matthew and Susannah Varner settled in the Southeast corner of teh present day Ogelthorpe County, Georgia near George and Betsy Varner and Frederick and Judy Varner. A few months later, they moved 15-20 miles southwest of the original settlement. Matthew lived in the same home place, on Falling Creek in Ogelthorpe County, Georgia for about 50 years, until his death in 1847.
   FACT #5: Matthew's property, both land and slave holdings, increased at a slow rate in the early 1800's. In 1803, he had 200 acres and two slaves. In 1813, his land ownership had increased to 350 acres and seven slaves. By 1819, he had 605 acres and 13 slaves. Then in 1826, he paid taxes on over 1400 acres of land and he had 26 slaves. His property holdings then remained at about the same level until his death.
   FACT #6: Marriage Notes for MATTHEW VARNER and SUSANNAH HENLEY:
   Darby Henley, believed to be Susannah's father, was bondsman and John Macey was witness.

   Varner Genforum Posting DLTumlin@AOL.COM: Matthew Varner (Sr) was born about 4 miles from Baltimore, Maryland about 1765. He moved to Rowan County, North Carolina on the Yadkin River while still a child. He joined the Revolutionary War as a substitute for George Varner 1780 at age 15-17 years. He received his Revolutionary Pension 1845 in Georgia. Matthew died 7-29-1847 in Oglethrope County, Georgia, at 82 years of age. He married Susannah Henley in Rowan County, North Carolina, 8-17-1787. Susannah was the daughter of Darby Henley (III) and Elizabeth Chamberlain. Susannah died about 1835 in Oglethorpe County, Georgia.

   Posted by: Vickie Gaffield Date: March 16, 2000 In Reply to: HENRY, S/O JOHANN ADAM WERNER by Darlene Gutwein
   I have it that Katherine Varner Alderman is the widow of James Alderman and the second wife of John Lewark and that John's first wife Mary Hutton died 1798 perhaps of child birth as I have daughter Elizabeth born in 1798. Katherine and John had 10 children, Sybil, Sally, John Jr., Thomas J., Eli, Andrew T., Anna, Patterson, Fletcher, William T. and Michael F.

   Debra Tumlin Email 8/28/99--Matthew moved to Rowan County, North Carolina on the Yadkin River while still a child He joined the Revolutionary War as a substitute for George Varner 1780 at age of 15-17 years. He received his Revolutionary War Pension in 1845 in Georgia.

   The application by Matthew Varner for a Revolutionary War pension proves beyond doubt that his father was John Varner of Rowan County, North Carolina. That record also proves that Matthew Varner was a substitute for George Varner. The relationship of Matthew to George is not stated. However, one of the affidavits submitted with the application by a person who had lived near the John Varner family during the war said she remembered that Matthew and his brothers were away from home for long periods of time during the war. She believed then, and still did when she wrote the testimonial, that Matthew and his brothers were fighting in the war. The brothers were not named. Nevertheless, this suggests, but does not prove, that George and possibly Henry and/or Frederick were Matthhew's brothers. No specific record was located to prove whether Frederick Varner fought in the Revolutionary War.
   Records of Matthew Varner while he was a resident of Rowan County, North Carolina consist of marriage and his testimony as a witness to a legal document. He married Susannah Henley, 17 Aug 1787, in Rowan County, North Carolina. Darby Henley, believed to have been Susannah's father, was bondsman and John Macey was witness. On 27 October 1786, Matthew Varner was witness to the transfer of land from William Lambert to Mighi Dillow.