The original Susan Post Office opened in Williams Store, February 15, 1898. The first postmaster was William Larkin Williams, who, according to various accounts, named the post office for his sister or daughter. The building was used as a post office until 1955. The first mail addressed to Susan, Virginia, came in by steamboat or carriage and was put up in a general store nearby.

Mathews County, originally that part of Gloucester County known as Kingston Parish, was created by Act of Assembly of 1790 and named for Thomas Mathews, Speaker of the House of Delegates.

A subscription paper, signed by twenty four of the leading citizens of Mathews in 1798, was a contract assuring delivery of the mail to and from the county. Mr. Richard Billups was paid $35.00 per year to carry and fetch letters and newspapers from Gloucester Post Office to Mr. Henry Respess at his tavern in Mathews Court House.

In 1835, the Court House Village, called Westville contained about 30 houses, 4 mercantile stores, 1 tanyard, 3 boot and show factories, 1 tailor, 2 blacksmiths, 1 saddler, 1 carriage maker and 1 tavern. The population in 1830 was 7,666.

In 1863, during the Civil War, Major General John G. Foster after hearing of Confederate activity, such as the manufacture of much needed salt from seas water and the running of food from the eastern shore at night, ordered naval gun boats and army armed vessels to blockade the entire coast of Mathews County and to destroy everything in the form of a boat they could find. “Not a house in Mathews but was entered,” said General Wistar in his report.

Since the East River was a port of entry, a sailing vessel trade began with the ports of Norfolk and Baltimore. Farm produce, in addition to fish and oysters began to become a valuable part of the export trade.

Two great natural disasters greatly affected the county since the turn of the century. The great freeze of 1917, and the hurricane of 1933, wrecked many docks, boats and harbor facilities. However, the same spirit which manifested itself after the Civil War reprisals soon showed itself again, and the county immediately began to recoup its losses and regain its economic position.

The county’s geographical borders have remained unchanged since its first formation. Its home population has remained approximately constant in numbers since the 1830s. Many of its citizens are direct descendants of its early settlers.