Smith DNA Project Community Forums

Have heard recently from researcher J Bornefeld who has two main changes to suggest, based on strong inference and documents.

First, William Smith will dated 22 Nov 1797 Shenandoah VA's wife is Elizabeth.  He is son of William Smith d 1742 Farnham Parish, Richmond Co VA, wife Mary. In William, the son's will he mentions brothers David, Samuel, Alexander and William and more info, to William Smith, the son of Samuel and Mary Smith (tracking with your comment about Samuel Smith Sr b 1726) 

I do have a question about the 1800 Shenandoah Co VA death date for two reasons. One, I could not find a will or probate record for this with Samuel. If you or anyone has a source document for this, would be great. As an alternative, Bornfeld had found several documents, three of which I have on this page. Two are indentures from 1772 between Valentine Beeler and Samuel Smith and the second, which references the 1772 indenture, is from 1785 and mentions not only the original sale between Beeler and Smith, but in the latter, that Samuel of 1785 along with Mary his wife,  is the son and heir of Samuel who purchased the land in 1772. This would be the Samuel Smith who married Mary Ruddell. Since this latter deed says that Samuel Smith who originally bought the land is deceased, he would have to have died before 1785, not 1800.

The children I have for Samuel Smith b 1726 VA are: Mary Ann Smith who married Grifin Dobbyns/Dobyns. According to Bornefeld, Samuel had a first wife Sarah of whom Mary Ann is the daughter-needs a source for this. Children of Samuel and Mary (need source for last name of wife), are Elizabeth who married George Long and went to Hawkins Co TN; , Samuel, William b 1752 VA who MIGHT have gone to Bath Co VA-needs source)  Sarah who married Edward Wyatt, and John. (possibly went to Jefferson Co TN) If anyone has any information with sources for this part of the family, please weigh in.

Samuel Smith, Jr. did marry Mary Ruddell.

Samuel Smith, Sr. married 1st, to Sarah UNK; 2nd to Elizabeth UNK. Need last names. Sarah is listed as wife of Edward Wyatt and d/o Samuel Smith in will of Samuel Smith's brother, William Smith's will written 1797. Samuel Smith died between 29 Nov and 31 July 1783. On 29 Nov 1782 he was appointed guardian in court case, Shenandoah Co VA. 31 July he fails to appear. 27 March 1784 he is declared deceased in the same court case. Between 31 July 1783 and 27 March 1784, intestate, Shenandoah Co VA, when land purchased by Samuel Smith Dunmore Co VA from John Valentive Beeler on 25 August 1772 was sold by Samuel Smith, eldest son and "heir at law" of Samuel Smith. Original land records.

William Smith, b ca 1684 married Mary Woollard, b 1 Oct 1682. Mary Woollard had married 1st, John Peck. With him had 2 daughters who married Edward Bates who m Jane Peck and James Love who m Mary Peck, respectively. Mary and William Smith entered into land sales in an effort to "gift" land that William and Mary were living on, at their deaths, to these two girls. They did this in an effort to gift this land because of the way the Laws of VA were written at that time. Richmond Co VA land records.

William Smith, b ca 1684. Birth date figured out by guardianship records Old Rappahannock Co VA. William Smith was orphaned in 1693 when his father, Capt. Anthony Smith, died after being assaulted by Richard Cunningham, Sr. on the Kings Road in Essex Co VA. The assault is described by witnesses in the court records. William Smith is left a cow by John Suggett, in his will, 1704, and referred to him as his "Brother in Law" in North Farnham Parish, Richmond Co VA. Old Rappahannock Co was split into Richmond on the north side of the river, and Essex on the south side of the river. a small part of Richmond was on the south side of the river according to oild maps that can be clearly seen. Anthony Smith is referred to as Anthony Smith in the earlier records. He became Capt. Anthony Smith later on.

William had siblings, Ann, Elizabeth and Agatha. Ann married William Ayres, David Lewis, Robert Gwilliam and David Barrick. I suspect from these two "Davids" that he got the idea to name his oldest son, "David", never having known his father, Anthony.

Elizabeth, married John Suggett, above mentioned.

Agatha, died before marrying. Her estate was settled by the husbands of her sisters, Ann and Elizabeth, ie, William Ayres and John Suggett. Old Rappahannock Co VA Ct Recs.

William's mother, Ann, married after the death of her husband, Capt. Anthony Smith, to John Webster. John Webster had previously been married and had a daughter Mary who married a Boughan. To these two people, John Webster, gave land that belonged to William Smith. Court case brought by Francis Merriwether against John Webster, as the guardian of William at the time the case was brought. William had many guardians and court cases brought in his behalf.

JeanneB