The record of her marriage to Jarrerd says she was Diana Mashon but that was wrong (probably a typo). I was always suspicious since other than her, there is no early record of that name in Maryland.

The fact is she was Diana Marshall and the proof of that is the rather extensive series of petitions filed by the heirs of Thomas Marshall after he died intestate in 1831. Diana wife of Jarrard Matthews was specifically named as one of Thomas’ children.

Robert Barnes covers the early Marshall family but it is not clear where Thomas fits in. A Thomas Marshall born 1708 or so married Sarah Bull and had issue John born 1741 or so. Could our Thomas have been another son? Our Thomas was born about 1745 -- based on Census -- and died about 1831 -- based on that Orphan’s Court record.

If Thomas Marhsall is her father, she can be accounted for in his household in 1790.

1790. Thomas Marshall lives in Patapsco Lower Hundred. The household has 2 males over 16 and 2 under and 7 females.

Thoms Marhsall, I believe, was born about 1745 and died about 1831. The 1800 Census for Baltimore County was lost, but I can find him in 1810-1830 as well as 1790.

1810. Thomas Marshall Sr. lives in Pipe Creek and North Hundred. He is 45+, his wife if present is 26-45. Thomas Jr. lives in the same district. Isaac Marhsall is an immediate neighbor.

1820. Thomas Marshall lives in District 5, BAL Co -- he is age 45+.

1830. Thomas Marshall lives in District 5, BAL Co -- he is age 80-90.

He was named in both his father’s and mother’s will. There is no question, because of his unusual name, that he was their son.

He is with his father in 1790. The 1800 Census was lost. In 1810, though married, he may well still be living wth his father, or....

1810. He might be Garett Mathias, neighbor of Edward Matthews. Other neighbors include several young Marshalls, Thomas and Jacob and William and George Hampshire; Thomas Marshall Sr. is not far away. However, daughter Elizabeth is not present and should be, so it may be that Jarrerd, his wife and daughter are living in the William Matthews household who has a daughter of the right age.

1820. Jarratt Matthews lives in 5th District BAL. He is 26-44 as is his wife. There are 6 females under 10. Elizabeth Ann is about 10 and is no doubt one of them. Neighbors are: George Hampshear, William, Benjamin and Edward Matthews. William, Benjamin and Edward are all of the same age group as Jarratt and no doubt his brothers. A woman over 45 lives with William and could well be Betsy.

1830. Garrard Matthews of 5th Collection District BAL 40-50 with 1 male under 5 and 1 5-10. Females are: 1 40-50, 1 under 5, 1 5-10, 2 10-15 and 3 15-20. Jarrerd is 43, Diana 43 and Elizabeth Ann 20. A neighbor is Jesse Hoshall, Jr. who is 40-50 (actually 47).

1840. He is simply not to be found. Maybe he’s living with one of his children.

In 1830, the heirs of Edward Matthews disposed of a parcel of land called Jarrett’s Intention previously owned by Abraham Jarratt’s. Among the heirs seem to have been a William, Agnes and Rachel Mathews and also a Jarrett Mathews -- was he our Gerrard or a different man? MDLandRec WG 206 314. And was Abraham Jarratt someone of importance to this family?

In 1831, Gerrard and Diana deeded land that Gerrard had inherited from his father William. MDLandRec WG 209 377.

Jarrerd and Diana Matthews share a fairly new tombstone at Gunpowder Baptist Church. They were buried near their daughter Elizabeth Ann. Their tombstone says he died 1 Jul 1847 at age 60 and she died 21 Mar 1832 at age 45. Their modern tombstone says “erected by their granddaughter Fannie B Spies”. Jarrerd died intestate and his estate entered administration 18 March 1847 -- meaning he died sometime before that -- and showing that even though a date is “etched in stone” as his is on his tombstone, it can’t always be trusted.

We know from church records that Jarrerd married Diana Mashon 15 Apr 1809. But as discussed in my biography of her, that “documented fact” is also wrong. Her name was really Marshall and that big “typo” sent me on a wild goose chase for some time.

His name was sometimes spelled Jarratt and sometimes Gerard (and variations on both of those), but as his tombstone has it Jarrerd, I am generally using that spelling of his name.

Jarrerd and Diana had ten children. Their names are known from an 1832 Orphan’s Court action wherein Jarrerd was appointed the natural guardian for these children who were the heirs of Thomas Marshall.

The strange thing is I cannot find Jarrerd in the 1840 Census. With as large a family as he had at the time, I’d think he would have been head of household as opposed living with someone else. Maybe he was skipped, that’s certainly possible, but occurred much rarer than genealogists sometimes claim as mis-spellings were so prevalent. But I have many tricks to find people whose name has been mis-spelled and I cannot find Jarrerd.

His absence may have something to do with the fact that Jarrerd, though he inherited several land tracts from his father, apparently was not successful in managing those properties. So, by December 1835, Baltimore County land records reflect that he had to sign over all of his property to a trustee so the trustee could proceed to sell off the properties and thus pay off Jarrerd’s debts.