Matthew Tilghman
(1760-1801)
MSA SC 3520-1268
Biography
Born: on June 5, 1760, in Queen Anne's County; fourth
son of father.
Native: fourth generation.
Resided: in Queen Anne's County; in Kent County
by January 1786.
Died:
administration bond dated March 14, 1801, in
Kent County.
Family Background
Father: Edward Tilghman (1713-1785), son of Richard
Tilghman (1672/73-1738/39).
Mother: Julianna
Carroll (ca. 1729-?).
Uncles: William Tilghman
(1711-1782); James Tilghman (1716-1793); Matthew Tilghman (1717/18-1790).
Aunts: Mary
Tilghman (1702-ca. 1736), who married James
Earle, Jr. (ca. 1694-1739); Henrietta Maria
Tilghman (1707-1771), who married first, George
Robins (1697-1742), and second, William Goldsborough (1709-1760); Anna Maria Tilghman
(1709-1763), who married first, William Hemsley (1703-1736), and second, Robert Lloyd (ca. 1712-1770); and Mary Carroll, who married Michael
Earle (1722-1787).
Brother: Benjamin (1764-ca. 1784).
Half Brothers: Richard; Edward
(1750/51-1815); Benjamin (?-died young).
Sisters: Mary; Susanna.
Half Sisters: Anna Maria;
Elizabeth; Anna Maria.
First Cousins: Michael
Earle (1722-1787); Richard Tilghman Earle (1728/29-1788); Anna Maria Earle (1725-1795), who
married Thomas Ringgold (1715-1772); Henrietta Maria Earle (1730-1767), who married William Hemsley (1736/37-1812); Peregrine Tilghman (ca. 1741-1807); James Tilghman (1743-1809); Anna Maria Robins (1732-1806), who
married Henry Hollyday (ca. 1725-1789); Margaret Robins (1734-1808), who married William
Hayward (?-1791); Henrietta Maria Robins (1736-1791), who married James Lloyd Chamberlaine
(1732-1783); William Hemsley (1736/37-1812);
Deborah Lloyd (?-1810), who married Peregrine
Tilghman (ca. 1741-1807); Richard Tilghman, Jr.
(1723-1783); James Tilghman Jr. (ca. 1748-1796);
William Tilghman (1756-1827); Anna Maria
Tilghman (?-1817), who married William Hemsley (1736/37-1812); Elizabeth Tilghman, who
married James Lloyd (ca. 1756-1830); and Margaret Tilghman (1742-1817), who married Charles
Carroll, Barrister (1723-1783).
Married: probably
by January 1786 Sarah, daughter of Thomas Smyth
(1730-1819). Sarah was the granddaughter of
Thomas Smith (ca. 1710-ca. 1741/42) and probably also of Richard Gresham (?-ca. 1773). Her brothers were probably Richard Gresham (?-by
1795); Thomas Smyth, Jr. (1757-1807). Her
brothers or half brothers were William; James;
and Henry (?-by 1818). Her sisters or half sisters
were Elizabeth (?-by 1818); Maria (1784-1823).
Children
Sons: Edward, who married Anna Maria
Tilghman; Henry, who married Martha Hall.
Daughter: Sarah, who married Francis Hall.
Private Career
Education: His father's will, written in February 1781, directed that Matthew,
who was away at school at the time, be bound to
study law in May 1781.
Social Status and Activities: Gent., by 1786; Esq., at death.
Occupational Profile: planter.
Public Career
Legislative Service: House of Delegates, Kent County,
1789 (Claims), 1792, 1793, 1794 (speaker; resigned on November 21, 1794, to enter the Senate), 1798. 1799; Senate, Eastern Shore, Term of
1791-1796: 1794 (elected November 21, 1794, to
fill vacancy), 1795.
Local Offices: justice, Kent
County, appointed 1791, 1792; justice. Orphans
Court, Kent County, appointed 1791, resigned 1792.
Wealth During Lifetime
Personal Property: 12 slaves, 1790.
Land at First Election: probably 4,115 acres in Kent County and Kent
County, Delaware, plus 1 lot in Chestertown, Kent
County (3,333 acres in Kent County, Delaware,
and 649 acres in Kent County, Maryland, received from his brother Edward in exchange for
lands in Queen Anne's County devised to Matthew by their father; 133 acres in Kent County
by purchase; 1 lot in Chestertown as a gift from
his father-in-law).
Significant Changes in Land Between First Election and Death: purchased 62 acres in 1789, 234 acres in 1790, 57 acres in
1795, and 50 acres in 1800, all in Kent County;
sold 2 one-half acre lots near Georgetown Crossroads, Kent County, 1790.
Wealth at Death
Personal Property: Total estate value £5,400.16.3 current money (including 49 slaves,
82 oz. plate, and books); FB, £116.6.1 current money.
Land: 1,184 acres and 1 lot in Chestertown, Kent County, plus unknown acreage in
Delaware.
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