Mats was born in 1734. Mats' father was Jaan and his mother was Kärt. His paternal grandparents were Peep and Ell; his maternal grandparents were Mats and Madli. He had seven brothers and five sisters, named Toomas, Mikk, Peeter, Peep, Juhan, Märt, Jaan, Mai, Anu, Ann, Liis and Epp. He died at the age of 55 in 1789.