Historic Homes and Properties of Mathews County, Virginia
A Series of Five

The historic houses chosen for inclusion in the Historic Homes and Properties of Mathews County, Virginia series date to the antebellum period. The year the Civil War started, 1861, was chosen as the cutoff date for each home’s construction. We consulted primary sources, such as deeds, wills, plats, demographic records, tax records, and collections of private papers, such as family Bibles and account books. We also made use of records maintained by the Mathews Archives, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (VDHR), the Virginia Historical Society, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, and other respected records repositories. We have employed well qualified architectural historians to analyze each structure and provide an approximate date on the basis of architectural features. This evidence, supported by documentary sources, has allowed us to determine each dwelling’s approximate date of construction.

The county's old churches, post offices, schools, and the people associated with them--while vitally important to the growth and development of the community--can best be told in another publication that focuses solely on their development. They are not included in the series.

From the beginning of this project, historic accuracy has been our main goal. Because the bulk of Mathews County’s antebellum records were destroyed in 1865, when Richmond burned, we have consulted other primary sources, such as the records of Gloucester County, Mathews County’s antecedent. Whenever undocumented material has been used, it is so noted, generally by the phrase, "according to family tradition." Footnotes have been provided for the sake of scholarly credibility.

Because of the number of properties and the amount of research involved, in 2008 the Society decided to publish a series of five soft cover books with ten properties per volume. Images provided by numerous photographers appear in these books. Also included are photographs on file in the Mathews Archives, at the VDHR, and in private collections. In all, this series of books will feature 50 historic homes. The Historic Homes and Properties of Mathews County, Virginia series, published by the Donning Company, is being sponsored by Chesapeake Bank, with additional support from Mathews Community Foundation, J. Edwin Treakle Foundation and donations to the society’s Publication Fund.
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Whitfield Landing (formerly Jesse Hudgins House) – circa 1800.
Historic Homes & Properties of Mathews County, VA - Vol. 1
Softcover, 40 pages, 32 photographs. $11.95. Available at Amazon.
Historic Homes and Properties Vol. 1 Slideshow
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Bellevue - circa 1800/1853.
Historic Homes & Properties of Mathews County, VA - Vol. 2
Softcover, 40 pages, 44 photographs. $11.95. Available at Amazon.
Historic Homes and Properties Vol. 2 Slideshow
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Eastover - circa 1840s-1850s.
Historic Homes & Properties of Mathews County, VA - Vol. 3
Softcover, 40 pages, 41 photographs. $11.95. Available at Amazon.
Historic Homes and Properties Vol. 3 Slideshow
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Hyco - circa 1836-1837
Historic Homes & Properties of Mathews County, VA - Vol. 4
Softcover, 40 pages, 39 photographs. $11.95. Available at Amazon.
Historic Homes and Properties Vol. 4 Slideshow
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Providence - circa 1800-1815
Historic Homes & Properties of Mathews County, VA - Vol. 5
Softcover, 40 pages, 33 photographs. $11.95. Available at Amazon.

​Historic Homes and Properties Vol. 5 Slideshow