Matthias Gossett, one of the youngest members of the family group in the Cumberland Valley, was born about 1740. According to records, he was buying and selling land in 1766, 1767, 1768, 1769, in Frederick County, Virginia. This was before Berkeley County was formed from Frederick. Then we find him in Berkeley County in 1777 and thereafter.

Closely associated with Matthias Gosset in the records of Frederick and Berkeley Counties, in the same locality where Mary Gossett Morgan lived, there was a land owner named William Gossett. He must have been another son of John Gossett of Cumberland County Pennsylvania.

Records obtained from the clerk's office of Frederick County, Winchester, Virginia, give "Mary" as the wife of Matthias and "Nancy", the wife of William. The maiden names of their wives are not mentioned in any records.

1. November 7, 1769, Matthias Gossett and Mary, his wife made deed to John Rees for 350 acres of land (Deed Book 13/260).
2. November 6, 1769, Mary Littler to Matthias Gossett for 250 acres of land (Book 13/259).
3. Another deed from Matthias Gossett to Nathaniel Pusey
4. Another from William Gossett and Nancy his wife to...
5. Another from Smith to William Gossett
6. Another from William Gossett Jr. and Ann his wife. There are no deeds or wills, only the appraisement of Adrian Gossett, but no names of other Gossetts are mentioned.

As by law, the signatures of both husband and wife were required on a deed of sale. When a man bought a piece of property, the deed was in his name alone, but when he sold the same property, it had to be a joint sale from himself and wife (provided he was married).

Family tradition states Mary's maiden name was Littler. From the interpretation of records in Frederick County and Berkeley County, Virginia, that is, records of wills and conveyances of land, it is reasonable to assume that Mary Littler was the wife of Matthias Gossett.

Mary Littler was a daughter of Samuel and Mary Littler. Wills disclose that Samuel's parents were John and Mary Littler. (Deed Bk. 13, p. 259, Frederick Co., also, p. 260 and 261. Bk. 16, p. 167, Berkeley Co. Frederick County Records of wills: Bk. I, p. 212, Will of John Littler, Aug. 13, 1748; Bk. 4, p. 381, Will of Samuel Littler, May 1778.)

In 1738, the boundary dispute between Pennsylvania and Maryland was settled. Later, Indian raids swept through this section of the Cumberland Valley and so terrorized the settlers that the outlying districts became almost depopulated. This is given as another main reason for the great emigration from Pennsylvania to Maryland, Virginia, and the south. Families followed the road to the Potomac through the narrow strip of Maryland and on to the Back Creek district of Virginia. This point is worth consideration as the property acquired by Matthias Gossett of Berkeley County (formerly Frederick) was located on Back Creek. 

According to several deeds, Matthias Gossett purchased and sold large tracts of land in Berkeley County, at different times, in the same general locality situated on or near Back Creek, a considerable stream. It rises in the lower part of the county, west of Martinsburg, and flows northeast to empty into the Shenandoah River. Probably the tracts of land which Matthias Gossett bought were near enough together to be used in one general farming operation. But since land speculation was quite common and there was an influx of population in this area, Matthias Gossett may have made investments with the intention of selling at a profit.

Records of land purchases and sales, dating from 1766 to 1811, by Matthias Gossett in Virginia are numerous. Some of these deeds have special significance and should be noted, as they reveal information in regard to his family, viz.--

Lease and Release Book I, pages 470, 471.

On March 12, 1773, Matthias Gossett of Berkeley County, Colony of Virginia, leased a tract of land "lying on Back Creek" apparently for farming purposes. This land, part of a larger tract, had been granted to one Wm. Dillon in 1752. Wm. Dillon sold the entire tract to John Neill who in turn bequeathed it to his son, John Neill, Jr. On March 12, 1773, John Neill, Jr., leased 100 acres of the larger tract for a nominal sum to Matthias Gossett and the following day, March 13, sold the same 100 acres to Gossett for 50£, current money.

This was a tract that "Matthias Gossett, Sr.," sold to William Hartsock for 150£ in 1811. It was probably the home place.

Deed Book 12, page 518.

On April 9, 1796, Matthias Gossett and "wife Mary" of Berkeley County, State of Virginia, sold a tract of 100 acres for 50£., current money of Virginia, to George Lamon of the same place. Witnesses: W. Hinshon, Geo. Cunningham, Thos. Lewis, David Griffith, Wm. Martin Recorded 1796.

This land was located near Back Creek and was part of the tract acquired by Matthias Gossett in 1789. The remaining 90 acres of this tract was deeded to Jacob Gossett (then of Kentucky) in 1804. The deed is one of the confirmations that Matthias was the father of Jacob, namely: Berkeley County, Deed Book 19, p 186, October 6, 1804, Matthias Gossett of Berkeley County in consideration of one dollar to Jacob Gossett of Montgomery County, Kentucky, a tract in Berkeley County, Virginia. consisting of 94½ acres being part of a larger tract granted Gossett by patent Beverly Randolph, Esq., Governor of Virginia, June 30, 1789; also, 4 acres and 2 rods granted by patent to said Matthias Gossett, etc.. Witnesses: Samuel Dunham, John Stell (or Steel)

In 1811 Matthias Gossett, Sr., deeded W. Hartsock 380 acres. Wits.: Azel Fletcher, Matthias Gossett, Jr., and John Gossett.

The inability of Matthias Gossett to move his home as frequently as he bought and sold land should explain why his son John was born in Pennsylvania while his son Jacob was born in Virginia. Possibly, Matthias continued to live in Pennsylvania until the early part of 1769 when John was born, then moved to Virginia before September 6, 1770, when Jacob was born (according to family records). In 1773, Matthias Gossett was living on a large tract of land near Back Creek.

Matthias is joined by "wife Mary" in the deeds of sale. One factor of the deed of sale on April 9, 1796, is that this was the last deed on record which was signed by Mary. The later deeds of sale of 1804 and 1811 are made by Matthias alone. Therefore, we may conclude that Mary died between the years of 1796 and 1804. There is no will for Matthias Gossett in Berkeley County, Virginia. The fact that he was a widower in 1804 and that he disposed of land for cash in 1811 leads to the conclusion that Matthias Gossett also went to Kentucky, where some of his family were already settled.

Records indicate Matthias Gossett was a minister. There are marriage records in Bourbon County, Kentucky, showing Matthias Gossett performed marriages early in 1800, but later than 1811. Presumably he died in Kentucky.

There is an entry in the Vestry Book of Frederick County, 1764-1818, (Episcopal Seminary in Alexandria), showing the Vestry engaged Matthias Gossett for a burial service, reading thus:

"Vestry held for Parish of Frederick on 18th day of November, 1768: To Matthias Gossett for burial of Benjamin Bright 3 S 5-0."

Matthias Gossett was a resident and landowner or ?planter? of Frederick and Berkeley Counties, Virginia, in the colonial period. This gives him Colonial Record.

The following data give Matthias Gossett Revolutionary Record: Mary H. Pollard, genealogist of Richmond, Virginia, produced a copy of a manuscript certificate found in Virginia State Library, known as Public Claims Papers, Berkeley County, Virginia. The certificate certifies that Matthias Gossett performed nonmilitary service in the Revolutionary War, as follows:

Certificate, No. 273. Virginia, Berkeley County. We do certify that there is due unto Matthias Gossett, Thos. Nowland, Isaac Chenowith the sum of One Hundred & Eighty Pounds for Nine Bushels of Wheat furnished by the said Gossett, Nowland and Chenowith for the Use of State of Virginia, agreeable to an Act of Assembly, entitled An Act for Procuring a Supply of Provisions, etc. Witness our hands this 24th day of October 1780. James McAllister for himself and Charles Morrow Commissioners.

On page 34 of An Index of Non-Military Service, West Virginia Revolutionary Ancestry, by Anne Waller Reddy, pub. 1930, appear the names of Matthias and William Gossett in Berkeley County. The Index has been compiled from records in the state house at Richmond, Virginia, of nonmilitary service in the Revolutionary War.

Military service at that time was exacted from all males between the ages of 16 to 60, consequently Matthias and William Gossett may have belonged to a religious group that forbade its members to serve in a military capacity.

The following item gives Matthias Gossett Huguenot Record: His father, John Gosset, was a grandson of Jean Gosset, a Huguenot, who took refuge in Jersey Island, England, in 1685, when the Edict of Nantes was revoked.

Matthias and Mary Gossett had three sons, who were Matthias Gossett, Jr., born about 1767, in Virginia.); John, born in 1769 (gravestone record), and Jacob, born September 6, 1770 (gravestone record).

The names of their sons (perhaps the only children of Matthias and Mary Gossett) are indicated on a personal tax list of Berkeley County, West Virginia, certified by Mary H. Polard, genealogist, Richmond Virginia. The list is filed in the state library Richmond, Virginia, appearing the following manner:

Personal Tax List, Berkeley County, West Virginia

For the year 1787:	Matthias Gossett	1 tithable
For the year 1788:	Matthias Gossett	1 tithable
	Matthias Gossett, Jr	1 tithable
	John Gossett	1 tithable
For the year 1790:	Matthias Gossett, Sr.	2 tithable over 16
For the year 1791:	Matthias Gossett, Jr.	1 tithable
For the year 1792:	Matthias Gossett Sr.	1 tithable
	Matthias Gossett, Jr	1 tithable
	Jacob Gossett	1 tithable

It is important to note that the name of Matthias Gossett, Jr., appears on the list from 1788 to 1792; that the name of John Gossett appears for the year 1788, and the name of Jacob Gossett for the year 1792. Data of Matthias, then of Jacob, and finally of John will be recorded in the following pages.

Matthias Gossett, Jr., was a witness named on the deed of sale of 380 acres to William Hartsock from Matthias Gossett, Sr., in 1811. There are proofs that Matthias Gossett, Jr., for a number of years remained in Berkeley County, West Virginia, while his brothers migrated to other states. It is confirmed by records that John settled in Ohio and Jacob settled in Kentucky.

The following records of marriages are on file in Berkeley County, West Virginia:

1. Matthias Gossett to Mary Garner, April 17,1788. Name of minister, Hugh Vance.
2. John Gossett to Nancy Crabb, March 19, 1819. Name of minister-Rev?d Recbenack.
3. Unindexed book of Berkeley County, Bk. 3, p. 67, gives a marriage, August 29, 1807, as follows: Perry Mahew and Betty Gossett, dau. of Matthias Gossett. Signed: Matthias Gossett, John Mahew.

Matthias Gossett, Jr., was married April 17, 1788, to Mary Garner, when he was about 21 years of age. His daughter Betty was married August 29, 1807, to Perry Mahew, in Berkeley County, West Virginia.

In a nearby location, in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, a land purchase of 300 acres was made by a Matthias Gossett, August 15, 1793, as recorded in Pennsylvania Archives, 3rd. Series, Vol. 25, p. 524. This purchase of 1793 could have been made by either Matthias Gossett, Sr., or his son Matthias.

The returns for 1810 census show that in Berkeley County, Virginia, Matthias Gossett was the head of a household of five males up to 16 years, with himself about 45 years old. The only other male by the name of Gossett was a David Gosset of 45 years, etc., with one male of 10 years.

In the census returns of 1820, neither of the 1810 households is given, so that the name of Gosset or Gossett disappears from the census records of Berkeley County, West Virginia, before 1820.

In the Census of 1820, Jacob Gosset (long "s" and one "t") is listed as the head of a household in Bath County, Kentucky, with a good-sized family. This Jacob Gossett was the ancestor of Miss Josie Gossett of Kansas City, Missouri. Her articles on her Gossett ancestry were published in Tyler's Historical Genealogical Magazine and in The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society.

John Gossett
Matthias and Mary Littler Gossett
Jacob Gossett, third son of Matthias and Mary Gossett (deeds of Frederick County, Virginia), was born September 6, 1770 (graveyard record); died October 30, 1852. The will of this Jacob Gossett is recorded in Bath Co., Kentucky. He was married probably between 1790 and 1797 to Mary. Family tradition states she was Mary Dunham, daughter of Samuel Dunham. (Ref: The Vital Statistics of Bath Co., Ky.) Jacob Gossett, son of Matthias Gossett, Sr., of Berkeley Co., Virginia, moved to Kentucky where he resided in Montgomery County, that part which fell into Bath Co., Kentucky. Kentucky Historical Register, Vol. 43, p. 181, gives the following entry: Death Jacob Gossett died 1852, age 82 years, was born in Virginia. The name of Jacob Gossett appears on a Personal Tax List of Berkeley Co., Virginia, for the year 1792 with Matthias Gossett, Sr.)
Matthias Gossett, b. May 6, 1798; d. December 23, 1874; m. Rebecca Judy, November 21, 1816. (Clark Co., KY, record).
Martin Gossett m. Mary Atkinson. Martin Gossett, oldest child of Matthias and Rebecca Judy Gossett of Kentucky, married Mary Atkinson. (Martin was deceased in 1867, as the will of his father gives this information.) Martin and Mary Atkinson Gossett had 3 children:
John M. Gossett, b. October 17, 1845; d. 1933; m. May 9, 1867, Betty Hazelrigg in Kentucky. She was born in 1849; d. 1935. They lived many years in Bethel, Kentucky. They had 4 children:
Ches Gossett, m. Ella Ratliff of Kentucky.
Annie, m. Will Irvin of Kentucky. He was an author and a graduate of Stanford University.
Clyde
Charles, a minister. An obituary of Charles Alban Gossett gives the following information: He was born in Bethel, Kentucky, August 24, 1874; d. 1929 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Buried in Edmond, Oklahoma, the home of his parents. Chess and Clyde Gossett are connected in business with Long-Bell Lumber Sales Corporation of Edmond, Oklahoma.
Lucy Gossett Smathers
Louisa Gossett Smathers of Sharpsburg, Kentucky.

The Rev. Jacob Dunham Gossett, b. November 29, 1818, in Clark Co., KY; died in Jackson Co., Missouri, April 3, 1897. Married Joan Frances Ratliff, daughter of Caleb Ratliff. Other children were Elizabeth and Sarah.
Caleb Sanford Gossett, b. June 18, 1847; d. at Buenavista, Texas, in February 1911. For several years he was deputy recorder of deeds at Independence, Missouri. Never married.
Matthias Gossett, b. July 4, 1848, near Sharpsburg, Bath Co., KY. Moved to Missouri with his father's family in 1866 or 1867. In 1872 he returned to Kentucky and was married October 15, 1872, to Kittie Berkeley Bourne at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walker Bourne, near Mt. Sterling, Montgomery Co. KY. Walker Bourne was a soldier of the War of 1812. Mr. Gossett at the time of his death, May 10, 1910, had for many years been a merchant in Independence, Missouri, and was a member of the city council. Mr. Gossett is buried in the family lot at Independence.
Walker Bourne Gossett, b. at Lee's Summit, Missouri, July 9, 1873, was graduated from Louisville Medical College; practiced medicine in Louisville; was professor of obstetrics eighteen years; captain in the first World War and, later, major in Medical Reserve Corps; following the war was in charge of Veterans Hospital at Houston, Texas. At the time of his death was doctor at State Hospital, Hopkinsville, KY. Was married July 25, 1905, to Miss Pattie Zollman, daughter of William Zollman. No children. Died December 27, 1936.
Joanna (Josie) Gossett, b. in Kentucky, August 12, 1875. Attended school at Independence, Missouri. She was graduated from Wellesley School in Louisville, Kentucky. Excelled in the study of mathematics. Has lived the greater part of her life in Missouri. A business woman. Never married.
Dr. Henry Stone Gossett, dentist; b. November 12, 1877, in Owingsville, Kentucky, in the old Owens House, famous in time of Revolutionary War on account of housing both Lafayette and Louis Philippe of France. In the issue of July 24, 1927, of the Louisville Courier Journal appeared a notice with picture, saying the house was moved, piece by piece, from Baltimore to Owingsville 125 years ago; the building contained a beautiful circular three- story stairway. Dr. Gossett served on the Mexican border during the first World War. Married April 22, 1908, Miss Kathryn Slusher. Died September 15, 1939, at Independence and is buried in the Mt. Washington Cemetery. No children.
Willey Jameson Gossett, b. in Kentucky, September 29, 1879; graduated from high school in Independence; valedictorian of her class; married January 4, 1905, Joel Harrison Hickman, son of Wm. Z. and Fannie Lipscomb Hickman. Their children:
Frances Berkeley Hickman, b. January 16, 1906, at Independence, Missouri. Graduated from Independence High School; married John Hawkins.
Mary Jo Hickman, b. January 4, 1910, in Kansas on ranch. Graduated from Independence High School with highest honors of her class. Attended Park College, Parkville, Missouri, and William Jewell College of Liberty. Married Frank E. Treharne of Pennsylvania, who was a graduate of Rush Medical College, Chicago, Illinois. Served internship, General Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri.
Laura Lane Hickman, b. September 24, 1912, near Grain Valley, Jackson Co., Missouri. Graduated from University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky. Married Charles Wesner, graduate of College of Technology, Georgia University.
Sarah Elizabeth Gossett, b. near Sharpsburg, Kentucky, September 29, 1883; graduated from high school, Independence, Missouri. Was married August 3, 1901, to Edward Lindsay Powell Cave, son of the Rev. R. L. Cave. She died April 9, 1911, Kansas City, Missouri; buried in Independence. Two children:
Winthrop Gossett Cave, b. March 17, 1902, Independence, Missouri. Died in California March 22, 1927. Unmarried; buried in Pasadena, California.
Sadie Elizabeth (Betty) Cave, b. December 30, 1905, Independence, Missouri. Graduated from Independence High School. Attended William Woods College, Fulton, Missouri, and State College at Warrensburg, Missouri. Married June 19, 1925, Dale E. Henry (son of Mr. and Mrs. George E. Henry), United States Army Engineer, Assistant of Chief Engineer. They live in Washington, D.C.. They have one son, Robert Lee Henry, b. February 6, 1926; attended University of Missouri; entered World War II as Marine on U. S. Steamship New Orleans, sea duty, and was in the entire engagement at Okinawa. Reentered University of Missouri in 1946 and was graduated. Married Margaret Eloise Ewell of Florida.
Polly (Mary) Gossett, b. August 22, 1800; m. Asa Judy, October 23, 1821. (Clark Co., KY., record)S
Samuel Gossett, m. Sarah Ann Casper, October 18, 1827. (Clark Co. KY, record).
John D. Gossett, m. Cyntha Ann Chorn, July 16, 1829. (Clark Co., KY., record).
Hanner (Hannah?) Gossett, m. _____ Rogers (father's will mentions name).

From Magna Charta

Families of Royal Descent by John S. Wurtz, "Hedgefield", Germantown, Pennsylvania, pub. 1950. Gossett
Josie Gossett -- May claim descent from