My Fifth Great Grandfather – John Matson, Sr.

John Matson, Sr, of Upper Merion, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, was probably born between 1680 and 1690. It is not known from whence he came nor is it known as to his parentage, but speculation leans towards Swedish or Welch ancestry. The town of Merion was settled in 1696 by Quaker Friends who immigrated from Wales. Early members resided in Haverford, Radnor, and adjacent towns, holding meetings in private homes as early as 1683.

In 1712 John Matson, an early settler, acquired land from William Penn that included the west bank of the Schuylkill River from the present-day Bridgeport to the Lower Merion Township Line. Peter Matson, John Matson's son, built his house along the river and installed a 'ford' by placing rocks in the river. That community became known as Matson's Ford, a name that still endures today as a street in town. Matson's Ford played a small part in history during the Revolutionary War. In 1777 Washington's army left Whitemarsh and traveled down Conshohocken's Fayette Street towards Matson's Ford. They constructed a bridge of wagons, over which rails were laid as the soldiers crossed under the command of Lafayette. As they were coming over, Lord Cornwallis and his British soldiers appeared from the hills. Our soldiers were forced to retreat and cross Swede's Ford into Valley Forge on Dec. 13, 1777.

John Matson, Sr. had two wives. We believe his first wife’s name was Margaret, but this has yet to be proven. John and “Margaret” had seven children before she died in 1731. I descend from Morris Mattson (he spelled his name with two tts). Morris and his wife Mary had ten children. I descend from Aaron Mattson. Aaron and Mary McMinn had five children. I descend from George. George and Ann Pierson (his second wife) were both born and were married in the state of Delaware. They had five children in Delaware. George died there in 1827.

After her husband died, Ann Pierson Mattson was converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This was the beginning of one branch of my pioneer ancestry. Ann’s son, George Brinton Matson, Sr. married Mary Jane Guymon. She was the daughter of Noah Thomas Guymon.

It was in Edgar County, Illinois, in 1836 when Thomas Guymon, the father of Noah Thomas Guymon heard of a “new religion.” He and his family listened with interest and soon they, too, were converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And this was the beginning of another branch of my pioneer ancestry.