Dates of birth and death for William B. Matthews taken from a plaque in the Essex County courthouse. He was clerk of the court from 1814 to 1830.

In about 1815, orator and oratrix Robert G. Haile and Matilda his wife complained to the justices of King and Queen County. That Edward Wright late of this county died on ____ 1815 intestate leaving the following heirs: Matilda the wife of Robert G. Haile, William A. Wright, and James A. Wright, Mary S. Wright, Edward Wright, David P. Wright and Sally Wright, the said James, Mary, Edward, David and Sally being infants under the age of 21, and Lucinda E. Matthews an infant daughter of Lucinda E. Matthews deceased who was married to William B. Matthews. Administration of the estate of Edward Wright was granted to William A. Wright and William B. Matthews. The land is partly in King and Queen and partly in Essex. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 28, item 28-N-48.]

On 20 November 1817, Essex County court settled a chancery suit concerning the division of the estate of Thomas Wood senior. The estate was divided between Catharine Dix, wife of James Dix, who was Catharine Wood; the heirs of William Wood; the heirs of Carter Wood; the heirs of Thomas Wood Jr.; and the heirs of Joseph Wood. The heirs of William Wood were Henry H. Boughan in right of his wife Julia, James Wood, and Fontaine Wood. The heirs of Carter Wood were William B. Matthews in right of his wife Maria G., John H. Micou in right of his wife Catharine C., and Muscoe Wood. The heirs of Thomas Wood Jr. were George Newman in right of his wife Elizabeth, Edward B. Wood, Philip B. Pendleton in right of his wife Polly, Catharine Wood, Thomas Wood, Rebecca Wood and William Wood. The heirs of Joseph Wood were Norborne Wood and Ophelia Wood. [Essex County, Virginia, Order Book 43, pages 65–67.]

On 20 September 1824, Ann Mann, Peter Trible, William H. Hill and William B. Matthews were bound $2,000 for Ann Mann’s administration of the goods, chattles and credits of Philip Mann. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 20, page 74.]

On 7 December 1825, Wm B Matthews witnessed a power of attorney from Thomas Boughan of Essex County of Josiah Minter. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 41, pages 448–449.]

On 15 January 1827, William B. Matthews and William A. Wright were bound in the penalty of $500 for William B. Matthew’s administration of the estate of John Gordon, deceased. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 21, pages 94–95.]

On 17 March 1829, William B Matthews and William A Wright were bound in the penalty of $2,000 for William B Matthew’s administration of the estate of Nancy Gordon, deceased, late wife of John Gordon, deceased. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 21, page 348.]

On 19 April 1830, an inventory of the estate of John Gordon, deceased, made by William B. Matthews, administrator, was ordered recorded. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 22, page 97.]

The estate of John Gordon, deceased, in account with William B. Matthews, administrator, from 1827 to 1830 was ordered recorded on 19 May 1830. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 22, pages 99–101.]

On 21 February 1831, Reuben M. Garnett and Muscoe G. Wood were bound in the penalty of $5,000 for Reuben M. Garnett’s adminsitration of the estate of William B. Matthews, deceased. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 22, page 198.]

On 28 May 1833, orator Thomas William Micou, who had already filed a bill re Stella Matthews requested as defendants Thomas Matthews a brother of the said testatrix, Virginia Baynham relict of Wm Baynham decd a sister, Albert Micou and Elizabeth M his wife who is a daughter of Fanny B. Micou decd late the wife of James R. Micou, another sister of the textatrix, Eleanor Roy Micou, Ann O. L. Micou and James R. Micou Jr (in his own right) who are only children of Fanny B. Micou decd, John C. Matthews, William B. Matthews and James M. Matthews infant children of the late William B. Matthews decd another brother of the said testatrix, Lucy Y. Matthews, Philip Matthews and Maria Louisa Matthews infant children of John R. Matthews decd who was a son of John Matthews decd another brother of the said testatrix, and therefore nephews to the said textatrix, and John M. Tupman a son of Nancy Tupman another sister of the said textatrix only heirs of law of Stella Matthews. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 46, item 46-G-20.]