As with all genealogical projects, the research of the MATHIS family is ongoing. This article outlines the importance of using a will and how it can provide details of an extended family.
The reason this has been published is because over the years there has been some confusion about the genealogy of two people called Richard MATHIS, who were born in Sussex around the same time.
Richard MATHIS, son of Thomas MATHIS and Sarah GURLEY, baptised at St Peter’s Bexhill on 2 April 1809 and
Richard MATHIS, son of Richard MATHIS and Anne SARGEANT baptised in Catsfield on 18 March 1810.
As it turns out, they were cousins, grandchildren of Richard MATHIS, Yeoman of Bexhill. It is the will of this Richard MATHIS which provides some detail as to who these other Richards were.
Richard MATHIS, Yeoman of Bexhill (1755-1843)
Richard MATHIS appears in the 1841 census at Little Common in Bexhill.
| Name | Age | Sex | Profession | Born in County |
| Richard MATHIS | 85 | Male | Ind[ependent] | Yes |
| James BENNETT | 40 | Male | Bricklayer | Yes |
| Mary BENNETT | 30 | Female | Yes | |
| Mary BENNETT | 5 | Female | Yes | |
| Henry BENNETT | 11 | Male | Yes |
Richard died on 22 December 1843 at Bexhill at the age of 88. The cause of death was old age. The death was registered by Mary Ann BENNETT who was present at the death. He was buried at St Peter’s Bexhill on 27 December 1843.
Richard left a will which was proved on 26 February 1844.
The Will
A copy of Richard’s will can be found on Ancestry.co.uk in the record set East Sussex, England, Wills and Probate, 1518-1858. This is a digitised copy of the original held at The Keep – East Sussex and Brighton Record Office
The will was originally written on 20 July 1841 and proved 26 February 1844.
Property Details – the will indicates that Richard owns properties both in Bexhill and Hooe.
Executors – Joseph MITTEN (tenant) and Thomas MATHIS (son).
Richard’s signature (right) was on every page
Legacies
The legacies outlined in the will are very clearly set out, explaining the relationship to him
| Name | Relation | Inheritance |
| Joseph MITTEN | Executor and tenant | £19 19s[hillings] |
| Mary HONISETT David HONISETT Elizabeth HONISETT | Nieces and nephew Children of sister Mary HONISETT (deceased) | £19 19s £10 £10 |
| Mary BENNETT | Housekeeper, wife of James BENNETT | £10 |
| Eliza SCOTT (wife of James SCOTT) Richard MATHIS | Grandchildren Children of son Thomas MATHIS | One 1/5 share |
| Emma WINBORN (wife of William WINBORN) Richard MATHIS Mary MATHIS William MATHIS Stephen MATHIS | Grandchildren Children of son Richard MATHIS | One 1/5 share |
| Richard MATHIS Charlotte NEEVES | Son Grandchild, child of daughter Hannah NEEVES (deceased) | One 1/5 share to be split 1/3 to Richard 2/3 to Charlotte |
| Lucy TWINE | Niece Daughter of sister Margaret TWINE (deceased) | £19 £19s |
| Charlotte RICH Maria RICH | Granddaughters Children of Emma RICH (deceased) | One 1/5 share |
| Emma TUTT (wife of Thomas TUTT) George HONISETT | Grandchildren Children of Charlotte HONISETT (deceased) | One 1/5 share with the following deductions £15 – Emma £20 – George |
| Thomas HONISETT | Son-in-law Widow of Charlotte HONISETT Father to Emma TUTT and George HONISETT | £35 deducted from 1/5 share above |
The family tree
Using the information above and supporting entries within the parish records held at East Sussex. The following family tree could be created.
The parish records
As can be seen from the family tree above and the individual entries below, the records are spread around several parishes in the area
- Battle
- Bexhill
- Catsfield
- Crowhurst
- Herstmonceux
- Hollington St Leonard
- Hooe
- Ninfield
The records are available to view in the East Sussex Collections on Ancestry.co.uk and at The Keep – East Sussex and Brighton Record Office
Using a search engine such as Ancestry allows the researcher to view multiple parishes at one time, the need for which would not be immediately apparent if searching manually at the Archives.
It is important to say at this point, that there a number of name and spelling variations across the multiple documents, e.g. variations of HONEYSETT, NEEVE(S) and most importantly MATHIS which has been recorded as MATTHEWS in some parish registers.
The records below are those searched for in relation to the information provided in the will and subsequently gained. They may not include other people who may have already deceased before 1843. Similiarly there are those mentioned in the will where information has not yet been found.
BATTLE
John TWINE and Margaret MATHIS – Marriage 11 November 1779. Witnessed by Richard MATHIS
Lucy TWINE – Baptised 3 March 1780. Daughter of John and Margaret TWINE
Margaret TWINE – Buried 15 February 1792. Wife of John TWINE
John TWINE – Buried 11 November 1803
Thomas MATHIS and Sarah GURLEY – Marriage 9 June 1800.
Eliza MATHIS – Baptised January 1805. Daughter of Thomas and Sarah MATHIS
James SCOTT and Eliza MATHIS – Marriage 28 March 1826. Witness Thomas MATHIS
BEXHILL
Henry RICH WILDISH [also known as Henry RICH] and Emma MATHIS [also known as Amelia or Emily] Married 28 July 1798. Witnessed by Thomas MATHIS and Sarah GURLEY
Richard MATHIS – Baptism 2 April 1809. Son of Thomas and Sarah MATHIS
Charlotte HONEYSETT – Buried 1 December 1813. Aged 30
CATSFIELD
Richard MATTHEWS – Baptised 18 March 1810. Son of Richard and Ann MATTHEWS
Mary MATTHEWS – Baptised 20 September 1812. Daughter of Richard and Ann MATTHEWS
William MATHIS – Baptised 5 March 1815. Son of Richard and Ann MATHIS. Richard listed as labourer
Stephen MATTHIS – Baptised 24 August 1817. Son of Richard and Ann MATTHIS. Richard listed as labourer
CROWHURST
Thomas MATTHEWS – Baptised 31 March 1776. Son of Richard and Mary MATTHEWS
Richard MATTHEWS – Baptised 10 January 1779. Son of Richard and Mary MATTHEWS
Anna MATTHEWS – [could this be Emma?] Baptised 20 August 1780. Daughter of Richard and Mary MATTHEWS
Hannah MATTHEWS – Baptised 27 August 1785. Daughter of Richard and Mary MATTHEWS
Charlotte MATTHEWS – Baptised 23 September 1787. Daughter of Richard and Mary MATTHEWS
HERSTMONCEUX
Thomas HONNEYSETT and Charlotte MATHIS – Marriage 12 October 1807. Witnessed by Richard and Mary MATHIS
Amelia HUNNESETT [also known as Emma] – Baptised 17 January 1808. Daughter of Thomas and Charlotte HUNNESETT
HOLLINGTON ST LEONARD
Thomas TUTT and Emily HONEYSETT [also known as Emma] – Marriage 30 September 1827.
HOOE
Charlotte RICH – Baptised 7 June 1799. Daughter of Henry and Emma RICH
Maria RICH – Baptised 6 July 1803. Born 1 June 1803. Daughter of Henry and Emma RICH
Emma RICH – Buried 11 July 1804. Aged 27
Emma MATTHEWS – Baptised 7 Jul 1805. Daughter of Richard and Ann MATTHEWS
George HONNYSETT – Baptised 8 December 1811. Son of Thomas and Charlotte HONNYSETT
NINFIELD
Richard MATTHIS and Anne SARGEANT – Marriage 13 March 1803. Richard of parish of Bexhill
Charlotte NEVE – Baptised 24 February 1822. Daughter of John and Hannah NEVE. John’s occupation listed as a Labourer
William WIMBORN and Emma MATHIS – Marriage 27 December 1824.