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smithsworldwide (Admin)
Three Benjamin Smiths in Massachusetts - Need YDNA testers

Posted by smithsworldwide in Smith Tangled Lines on February 10, 2022 Views:(54)  Replies (0)
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Line #1 is Benjamin Smith d 1788 in Southborough, Massachusetts. This line comes through Joshua Smith b 1722 Watertown, Middlesex Co MA d 1756 Shrewsbury, Worcester co MA m Sarah Prentice. In the list of children for this family, there are two Benjamins. The first Benjamin was born 23 May 1742 in Shrewsbury, and according to Vital Records of Shrewsury, p 95, this Benjamin was stillborn.  Later, on Jan 22, 1752, Joshua and Sarah had another son they named Benjamin. This is also corroborated in the book "History and Genealogy of the Prentice or Prentiss Family in New England." Sarah Prentice Smith married, 2nd, on April 12, 1759, Col Timothy Brigham, of Southboro, Massachusetts. This Benjamin Smith is buried at Old Burial Ground, Southborough, Worcester County, Massachusetts. He apparently never married, although he was planning to marry a Mary Ward, according to his will of March 13 1788 which also mentions two brothers, Joshua and John Prentice Smith and others. Would like an additional male Smith YDNA tester for this line, believed to be of Thomas Smith b 1605 m Mary Knapp.

Second Benjamin Smith is first found in Natick, Middlesex County, Massachusetts in 1764 where he married Ruth Perry, daughter of Samuel Perry and Ruth Lealand/Leland. It is unknown at this point who his parents are, but the marriaage record says "Both of Natick".  He had children Mary (married Luke Sawyer), Benjamin Jr, John Smith, Olive Smith (m Abijah Hartwell), Nathan Smith, Luther Smith (married Sally Page), William Smith and Samuel Smith. Before 1790 he had moved with his wife and family to Fitchburg, Worcester, MA (2 of his children born there, the rest were born in Natick). He died around 1812 in Fitchburg, and his estate papers are here (there are more at the familysearch link than is posted here). Note that his widow Ruth Smith mentions sons John Smith, Nathan Smith, Samuel Smith.  Israel Turner is administrator of esate. Would also like a YDNA male Smith  tester of this line 

These 2 Benjamin Smiths cannot be the seme. The first died in 1788 and is buried in Southborough, the second is found at least through 1810 on the Fitchburg, Worcester Co MA census.