Matthew Talbot
June 5, 1800 Washington County, Georgia
October 16, 1876 Calvert, Robertson County, Texas
Buried Calvert City Cemetery, Calvert, Robertson County, Texas

Matthew Talbot was the son of Rev. Edmund J. Talbot (Mar. 28, 1767 Bedford County, VA - February 18, 1854 in Houston County, AL) and Mary Harvey Talbot (bc 1771 Washington County, GA - d before 1897 Washington, County, Georgia). His siblings included Patsy Talbot, William Harvey Talbot (1790-1863), Sarah Ann "Sally" Talbot (1792 - ????), John Talbot (1794-1860), Martha Talbot (1798-1879), Mary Pauline "Pollie" Talbot (1803-1840) and Elizabeth Talbot (1805-????).

Rev. Talbot was the first pastor of the First Baptist Church of Columbia, Alabama and served until 1853. He donated the land for the church and had the building constructed at his own expense at the present site of the Columbia Cemetery. Rev. Talbot was  buried at the Columbia Cemetery with his second wife, Susannah Cawthon Talbot.

Matthew, a merchant in Mobile, AL,  married Harriet Sarah Gayle (September 29, 1809 – February 24, 1851) on February 1, 1831 in Greene County [now Hale County], Alabama. Harriet came from a leading Alabama family of wealthy land owners, politicians, and lawyers. Her mother, Sarah Meriwether (September 25, 1787 SC - October 2, 1809 SC) died three days after Harriet was born and her father, Billups Gayle (c1785 SC - c1823 AL), also died when she was young. She was raised by relatives, including her uncle John Gayle, Governor of Alabama.

The family moved to Texas in the 1830s  where they first lived in San Augustine before moving to Matagorda. Their plantation was on Caney Creek in the Thomas Duke League and they maintained a home in Matagorda as well.

Harriet and Matthew had 8 children, several of whom were baptized at Christ Church in Matagorda.

Billups Talbot 1832 – 1832 AL
Sally Harvey Talbot Shortridge b 10 Jul 1834 AL baptized 28 Feb 1841 d 1898 married John Howard Shortridge
Mary Gayle Talbot b 26 Oct 1836 AL  baptized 28 Feb 1841 d 1906?
Matthew Talbot Jr. b 16 Sep 1935  baptized 28 Feb 1841 
Gayle Talbot b 21 Jun 1840  baptized 28 Feb 1841 d Jun 26, 1879 m 1 Mattie Warren, 2 Fidelia Jones, 3 Emily Eugenia Wells
Harriet Talbot b Sep 23, 1842 Matagorda Co
Emily Rees Talbot Fry b Mar 25, 1845 – Oct 15, 1888 Galveston married Joseph Talbot Fry on August 30, 1866 on Matagorda Peninsula at the Shortridge home.
John Darrington Talbot c 1851 - 1851

1850 Census - Texas - Matagorda County
Matthew Talbot, age 49, b GA, Planter, value of real estate $4000
Harriet S. Talbot, age 39, b SC
Sally H. Talbot, age 16, b AL
Mary G. Talbot, age 14, b AL
Matt Talbot, age 12, b TX
Gayle Talbot, age 10, b TX
Harriet Talbot, age 7, b TX
Emily R. Talbot, age 5, b TX
John M. Mason, age 30, b GA, Overseer

Harriet was a communicant of Christ Episcopal Church and it was noted in the death records that Mrs. Harriet M., wife of Judge Talbot (a communicant), age 41 died on February 23, 1851 after a long illness. She was buried in Section E of Matagorda Cemetery.

1860 Census - Texas - Matagorda County
M. Talbot, age 59, b GA, Planter, Real Estate 12,000, Personal Estate 25,600
Mary G. Talbot, age 24, b AL
Gayle Talbot, age 20, b TX, Overseer
Harriet Talbot, age 16, b TX
Emily Talbot, age 14, b TX
J. H. Shortridge, age 27, b AL, Clerk
Sally H. Shortridge, age 26, b TX (daughter of Matthew Talbot)
Narcissa P. Shortridge, age 1, b TX                                             

Matthew Talbot served Matagorda County as
Chief Justice 1841-1844; 1848-1865
County Attorney – Jan-Feb 1867; 1884 – 1893
County Surveyor – 1883
Past Master of Matagorda Masonic Lodge #7, A. F. & A. M.

He was Commissioned on August 21, 1861 as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 22nd Reserve Company of Matagorda County.

Ardent Confederate, he became a prisoner on a vessel belonging to Admiral Farragut’s fleet for a number of months, returning to Texas just prior to the Fall of New Orleans.

1870 Census - Texas - Matagorda
M. Tolbert, age 70, b GA, Without Occupation, Value of Real Estate $1000
Mary Tolbert, age 33, b AL, Keeping House
Harriet Tolbert, age 25, b AL, Without Occupation
William James, age 26, b Nova Scotia, Sailor

Matthew Talbot was buried at Calvert City Cemetery, Calvert, Robertson County, Texas
 

Copyright 2014 - Present by the Carol Sue Gibbs
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