Matthew Goodwin

aka John Matthew Goodwin?

Major James Goodwin was a plantation owner and grew mostly tobacco and corn. He married Rachel Porter and they had seven children: Robert, John, Peter, Matthew, Martin, Susannah, and Elizabeth.

Their homestead was an imposing two-story structure facing Goodwin Island on the Thorofare in what is known as Dandy. The house was torn down shortly after 1900. It was reported to be located where "Powell Beatty" once lived.

Son of Maj. James and Rachel (Porter) Goodwin

Husband of Elizabeth Moore

Their son, Thomas Goodwin, Sr. (m. prob. Mary Harrison) ~

Where Matthew was born remains a question. He was born in Virginia about 1658 and living in York County in 1701 according to William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 8, No. 2 Supplement (Oct. 1899), or born in 1650 according to the All American Genealogical- Biographical Index (AGBI), Volume: 65, Page 21 which would suggest a case for being born in England.

There are few source documents on Matthew’s life in Virginia, to include what is in the W&M Quarterly as supplemented and corrected over the years.

This is not the case for England. There are numerous documents reflecting Mathew/Matthew Goodwins in England during this time who married and had children, but nothing that conclusively links those Mathews to this Matthew.

There are also Mathew/Matthew Goodwins who came to the colonies in 1654-7, but their arrival dates do not fit well with his birth dates prior to 1658 given no indication he was brought to Virginia as an infant. In addition, there is no documentation of his wife’s name, although the US and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 mention a marriage between a Mathew Goodwin and Ann without giving a date or location.

In addition, there is a tempting marriage between a Matthew Goodwin to an Anne Faulkingbridge in Stafford, England on 10/26/1676 (a date which would fit with his children's births), but this Anne died in England in 1711 and there is no evidence she came to the colonies only to return to England after her children were born and Matthew died.

Bottom line: No conclusive documentation of his wife, marriage dates, or birth location can be found. There is considerable thought and research in the W&M Quarterly, Corrections, and Additions To the W&M Quarterly Supplement of October 1897 that the following children are his, suggestions I believe to be correct:

Peter Goodwin (1681-?); John Porter (note: Porter is the surname of Mathew’s mother) Goodwin (1683-After 1730); Thomas Goodwyn (1685-?); Matthew Goodwin (?- After 1732).

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/191261603/matthew-goodwin