William Henry Mater was born in November, 1845 in Allen Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He had alternate birth years from various sources: 1846 from the 1920 Warwick County, VA federal census; 1847 from the Cumberland County, PA federal census; 1848 from the 1910 Warwick County, VA federal census; and 1849 from the 1880 Elizabeth City County, VA federal census. The 1846 and 1848 birth year census entries also had his birth place as VA rather than PA.
He was a member of Henry Mater and Elizabeth Shireman's household in the census
on August 29, 1850 in Lower Allen Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He
was listed as William H. Mater, 3 years old, and born in PA.
He appeared in the 1860 census on July 12, 1860 in Upper Allen Township,
Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. This census entry is a possibility for
William. After his father, Henry Mater, died, Solomon Mohler became the
guardian of Elizabeth Mater's minor children. William, in this census entry
listed as "W. Water", is found in the household of S. Mohler in Upper
Allen Township. I think that William's surname is misspelled -
"Water" instead of "Mater." He is 14 years old and born in
PA. No occupation is given. S. Mohler is a farmer with real estate worth
$30,000 and a personal estate worth $2,150. It's possible that William worked
on the farm since it was a large farm. The Mohler's were also prosperous enough
to have a servant working for them, C. Shelley.
William served in the Union Army during the Civil War from August 2, 1864 to
June 21, 1865. He was a Private in the Pennsylvania 201st, Company D, enlisted
on August 2, 1864, mustered into service on 15 August 1864, and mustered out on
June 21, 1865 at Harrisburg, PA. The 201st was organized in July 1864, at
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in response to President Abraham Lincoln’s call for
500,000 men for one year. The unit didn't participate in any major battles and
was primarily assigned to guarding railroads, supply lines, and military
installations in Pennsylvania and Maryland.
He appeared in the 1870 census on June 8, 1870 in Bullskin Township, Fayette
County, Pennsylvania. This is a possible census entry for William. He was
living with David Leightliter and his wife, Margaret. William was 21 years old,
worked as a Domestic Servant, was born in PA, could not read or write, and was
listed as a male aged 21 and up.
He appeared in the 1880 agricultural census on June 14, 1880 in Wythe District,
Elizabeth City County, Virginia. William had a 50-acre farm he paid rent for,
consisting of 18 acres of tilled land and 32 acres of woodland and forest. His
farm was valued at $600, with farm implements worth $5 and livestock worth $65.
He paid $5 for farm labor in 1879, and estimated his farm produced $200 of
goods that year. His livestock consisted of 1 horse, 1 milch cow, 1 other cow,
10 hogs, and 16 barnyard chickens that produced 50 dozen eggs 1879. On his
farm, 7 acres were planted in Indian corn, which yielded 80 bushels. Five
bushels of Canadian peas were produced. One-half an acre was planted in Irish
potatoes that yielded 60 bushels, and another three-quarters of an acre was
planted in sweet potatoes that yielded 90 bushels. From his woodlands, 150
cords of wood were produced worth $225. Nearby farmers were C.C. Nettles, John
W. Todd, Charles Butler, Frances Lewellen, Thomas Landrum, W.R. Webb, William
Wood, Joseph N. Parker, and Solomon Marshall.
William appeared in the Veterans Schedules census in 1890 in Wythe District,
Elizabeth City County, Virginia. It said he was a Private in the Infantry in
Company D of the 201st from Pennsylvania. He enlisted on July 1, 1864 and was
discharged in 1865.
He appeared in the census on June 15, 1900 at the home of A. J. Jones in
Warwick County, Virginia. This might explain why the rest of his family is
listed separately in the census (see his daughter Carrie Mater's 1900 census
entry). The census entry said he was related to the head of household as
"Help"; born in November 1845; 54 years old; Single; born in PA;
father born in PA; mother born in PA; Servant; able to read; able to write;
able to speak English.
William applied for a Civil War pension on April 27, 1910 . He applied as an
invalid and the application said he served in the PA 201st Infantry, Company D.
He was a member of William T. Wilson and Susan Jane "Susie" Mater's
household in the census on May 4, 1910 at a farm on the main county road to
Newport News in Newport News District, Warwick County, Virginia. He was listed
as William H Mater, the father in law of William T Wilson; 62 years old;
Widowed; born in PA; father born in PA; mother born in VA; able to speak
English; working odd jobs; wage worker; not out of work on April 15, 1910; 0
weeks out of work in 1909; able to read; able to write.
William received his military pension (for serving in the Union Army during the
Civil War) from July, 1910 to August, 1923. His payments ranged from $12-$50
per month. He was classified as an Army Invalid. His last pension check for
September 1923 was cancelled once the pension office was notified of his death
in August.
He lived on Victoria Avenue near the C&O Railway crossing in Newport News,
Warwick County, Virginia and was a grocer in 1917. His son Jacob's farm was at
the same location.
He lived in Elizabeth City County, Virginia on a farm in 1918. The farm
bordered land now the site of the Liberty Baptist Church near Todd's Lane in
Hampton, VA.
William was a member of Jacob "Jake" Mater and Rosanna Wilson's
household in the census on March 8, 1920 at a farm in Newport News District,
Warwick County, Virginia. He was listed as the father of Jacob Mater; 73 years
old; Widowed; able to read; able to write; born in PN [PA]; father born in PN
[PA]; mother born in PN [PA]; no occupation.
He died on August 27, 1923 at the age of 77 at his home in North Newport News
(Hilton Village) in Warwick County, Virginia.
His obituary appeared on August 28, 1923 in the Daily Press newspaper in
Newport News, Virginia. Text of the obituary:
"W. H. Mater, Veteran of '61 Dies
At Home
William H. Mater, resident of Warwick County for the past thirty years,dies
last night at 9:30 o'clock at his home in North Newport News after a lingering
illness. He was a veteran of the War Between the States and was 76 years of
age.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 from the Hilton
Baptist Church, the Reverend Charles J. Sheets officiating. Burial will be made
in the West burying ground near Hampton.
Mr. Mater leaves two sons and five daughters, Jarrett and Jake Mater, and Mrs.
Cora Todd, Mrs. Alec Craig, Mrs. Charles W. Wagner, Mrs. Perry S. Leisheal and
Mrs. Thomas Wilson."
William's obituary appeared on August 29, 1923 in the Daily Press newpaper in
Newport News, Virginia. Text of the obituary:
"William Henry Mater To Be Buried
Today
William Henry Mater, who died Monday evening at his home in North Newport News
after a lingering illness, will be buried this afternoon at the West Cemetery,
New Market road, near Hampton. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 o'clock
from the Hilton Church, the Rev. C. J. Sheets, pastor of the church, officiating.
Mr. Mater, who had been a citizen of Warwick County for 30 years and merchant
of that place also, died last night at 9:30 o'clock after an illness of two
years. He is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Kate Wagner of Washington, D. C.,
and Mrs. Mary Vates (Bates?) of Pennsylvania. Seven children: Mrs. Frank Todd
of Elizabeth City County; Mrs. Perry Leishear of Washington, D. C.; Mrs. Alex
Caig of Washington, D. C.; Mrs. Charles Wagner of Brooklyn, NY; Mrs. Thomas
Wilson of York County; Jake Mater of Warwick County and Garrett Mater of this
city also survive him.
Active pallbearers will be: Mallory Maney, W. Spady, Bob Wood, L. Waterman,
Jesse Thomas, E. J. Todd and Tom Saunders.
Honorary pallbearers will be: S. R. Curtis, J. C. Curtis, William Kellum, W. C.
Harris, N. W. Milstead, R. A. T. Clement, A. B. Abbitt, C. C. Curtis, J. B.
Thornton, E. W. Harwood, W. W. Harwood, R. L. Atkinson, W. Webb, Dr. J. K.
Corin and Dr. F. A. Sinclair."
William's funeral was held on August 29, 1923 at Hilton Baptist Church in
Newport News, Virginia. The Reverend Charles J. Sheets officiated.
He was buried on August 29, 1923 at West Cemetery on Queen Street in Hampton,
Virginia. His grave is unmarked.
William appeared in an article in the Daily Press newspaper newspaper in
Newport News, Virginia on September 5, 1923. One of the pallbearers could not
attend William's funeral and put the following in the newspaper: "A
TRIBUTE TO MR. MATER. I take this method of expressing my regret at the
departure of Mr. Will Mater who passed away at the port News one week ago, also
to home of his son, Jake, at North Newport News one week ago, and also to state
why I was absent at funeral. I had been chosen as one of the pall bearers, a
compliment I accept with gratitude, but the paper containing the names of those
selected escaped my notice until too late, and while the services were going on
I was suffering with a bruised finger and was under the doctor's care, and was
disappointed in not being present. I offer this as my apology for what might
appear negligence in paying a duty I owed to a friend I highly esteemed. Mr.
Mater was a lovable man and beloved by all who knew him. He was always ready to
lend a helping hand to those in distress. Well do I remember one black wintry
night in December in company with Doug Smith and others when death invaded a
home in his neighborhood, Mr. Mater was there and assisted in preparing the
body for burial.
It was my privilege to visit him recently and since then I have been near the
border and now that he has gone, I shall miss him. To his bereaved children I
tender my sympathy and hope time will eventually disedge the sharpness of their
sorrows. and faith in Him who doeth all things well will bring joy and gladness
to all.
The last enemy found him ready for the conflict: and full of peace, and
abounding in hope, his spirit was dislodged from its clay tenement and entered
its rest. R.D. WOOD."
William Henry Mater and Hannah Jane "Jennie" Topping were married on
July 19, 1871 in Hampton, Elizabeth City County, Virginia. William must have
moved from Pennsylvania to Virginia sometime after the 1870 census. No family
stories have been passed down about why he moved and how he and Hannah met.
They appeared in the census on June 14, 1880 at a farm in Wythe District,
Elizabeth City County, Virginia. William was 31 years old, married, born in
Pennsylvania, and a farmer. Hannah was his wife, 24 years old, born in Virginia
and keeping house. William's father and mother were both born in Pennsylvania,
and Hannah's parents were born in Virginia. Cora, their daughter, was 7 years
old and born in Virginia. Kate, their daughter, was 5 years old and born in
Virginia. Lucy, their daughter [who I think was really Ruth Hannah], was 3
years old and born in Virginia. Carrie, their daughter, and William G. her twin
brother, were 2 years old and born in Virginia. The family's neighbors were
John W. Todd, Christopher Nettles and Charles Butler, all farmers.
Hannah Jane
"Jennie" Topping, daughter of John Garrett Topping and
Martha Elizabeth Challis, was born on August 17, 1854 in Elizabeth City County,
Virginia. This birth date is from her gravestone. She had alternate birth
dates: 1853 from the 1860 and 1870 federal censuses, and 1856 from the 1880
federal census.
She was a member of John Garrett Topping and Martha Elizabeth Challis's
household in the census in 1860 in Back River District, Elizabeth City County,
Virginia. She was 7 years old, born in VA, and had attended school.
She was a member of John Garrett Topping and Martha Elizabeth Challis's
household in the census on August 5, 1870 in Hampton, Elizabeth City County,
Virginia. Hannah was 17 years old, born in VA, and at home.
Jennie died on March 23, 1893 at the age of 38. Her cause of death is unknown.
She was also known as Hannah Mater.
She was buried at West Cemetery on Queen Street in Hampton, Virginia.
William Henry Mater and Hannah Jane Topping had the following
children:
· Cora L. Mater, born March 15, 1873, Elizabeth
City County, Virginia; married Benjamin Franklin Todd, March 17, 1892, Hampton,
Elizabeth City County, Virginia; died March 9, 1954, Newport News, Virginia.
· Catherine
T. "Kate" Mater, born October, 1874, Elizabeth City County,
Virginia; married Truman Duvall Beckett, October 28, 1896, Elizabeth City
County, Virginia; married Alexander Caig, June 1, 1920, Washington, D. C.; died
November 1, 1949, Washington, D. C..
· Ruth
Hannah Mater, born September 17, 1876, Virginia; married Charles Wesley
Wagner, February 5, 1908, Portsmouth, Norfolk, Virginia; died April 23, 1969,
Washington, D. C..
· William
Garrett Mater, born February 21, 1879, Elizabeth City County, Virginia;
married Mary Anne Apsley, circa 1903; died January 29, 1948, Newport News City,
Warwick County, Virginia.
· Carrie
Bell Mater, born February 20, 1879, Virginia; married Richard James
Lyliston Jr., January 27, 1904, Hampton, Virginia; died July 7, 1919, Newport
News City, Warwick County, Virginia.
· Fanny
Darling Mater, born July, 1882, Virginia; married George Perry Leishear,
June 24, 1908, Washington, D. C.; died March 24, 1974, Fulton, Howard County,
Maryland.
· Jacob
"Jake" Mater, born December 9, 1886, Virginia; married Rosanna
Wilson, January 28, 1908, Hampton, Virginia; died January 22, 1934, Newport
News City, Warwick County, Virginia.
· Susan
Jane "Susie" Mater, born September 23, 1891, Elizabeth City
County, Virginia; married William T. Wilson, March 22, 1907, Warwick County,
Virginia; died January 12, 1972, Newport News, Virginia.
Preparer:
Steve Campbell
635 Caribbean Road
Satellite Beach, FL 32937
scampbellfl01@gmail.com
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