INDEX to the Smith Family Files

Generation 1

RALPH SMITH (prob. c. 1616 - by 1685) of Hingham, co. Norfolk, England, Hingham and Eastham

Ralph Smith was probably born about 1616. [Ref, pp. 1696-9] He died before 27 Oct 1685. He married Grace Unknown. [Ref, pp. 1696-9] Grace was apparently not the widow of Thomas Hatch, as is sometimes claimed, and she is the only wife who appears in the records. [Ref, pp. 1696-9]

Ralph Smith of Hingham, England came to New England with Edmund Hobart [Ref, p. 22] and arrived in Charlestown in 1633. [Ref, pp. 66-7] He was in Eastham in 1657. [Ref, pp. 66-7] He took the oath of fidelity in 1657. [Ref, pp. 66-7] He probably came as a servant. [Ref, pp. 1696-9]

Ralph was appointed constable on 6 Jun 1660 in Eastham. [Ref, pp. 1696-9] This did not work out. The Plymouth Colony Records state, "Ralph Smith, for lying in and about the neglect of his duty, about a warrant directed to him, and concerning the seeing or not seeing a whale, and otherly misorderly carriages tending to disturbance in the town of Eastham, was fined twenty shillings." [Ref, pp. 1696-9]

Administration on Ralph's estate was granted to his widow Grace and his son Samuel on 27 Oct 1685. [Ref, pp. 66-7]

Children of Ralph Smith and Grace Unknown:

1. Unknown Smith was buried on 15 Feb 1640/1 in Hingham. [Ref, pp. 1696-9][Ref, 121;12]
2. Samuel Smith was baptised on 11 Jul 1641 in Hingham, Plymouth, Massachusetts. He died on 22 Mar 1696/7 in Eastham. He married Mary Hopkins.
3. John Smith was baptised on 7 Jul 1645 in Hingham. [Ref, pp. 66-7, 23 Jul 1644][Ref, 121;17] He married Hannah Williams on 24 May 1667 in Eastham. [Ref, 4;33]
   some descendants of John Smith
4. Daniel Smith was baptised on 2 Mar 1647 in Hingham. [Ref, pp. 66-7] He died between 11 May 1716 and 20 Jan 1720/1. He married Mary Young on 3 Mar 1676/7 in Eastham. [Ref, pp. 1696-9][Ref, 4;33]
   Daniel Smith, yeoman of Eastham, signed his will on 11 May 1716. He mentions his wife Mary; his sons Daniel, James and Nathaniel; his daughters Content Howes and Abigail Smith. His will was proved on 20 Jan 1720/1 and on that day administration was granted to his son Nathaniel. [Ref, 3;407-9]
   some descendants of Daniel Smith
5. Elizabeth Smith was baptised in Sep 1648 in Hingham. [Ref, pp. 66-7, no month][Ref, pp. 1696-9]
6. Thomas Smith was born say 1651 in Hingham. [Ref, pp. 1696-9] He died between 10 May and 18 Oct 1720. He married Mary Unknown. Mary, the widow of Thomas, died on 11 Mar 1726/7 in Eastham. [Ref, 5;142]
   Thomas Smith, yeoman of Eastham, signed his will of 10 May 1720. It was proved on 18 Oct 1720. He mentioned his wife Mary; his sons Jesse, Ralph, Jonathan, David and Thomas; his daughter Rebecca Mayo. Administration was granted to his son Ralph on 18 Oct 1720. The untotalled inventory was also presented on that date. [Ref, 3;369-71]
   some descendants of Thomas Smith
7. Deborah Smith was baptised on 8 Mar 1654 in Hingham. [Ref, pp. 66-7] There is no further record of her. [Ref, pp. 1696-9]

Generation 2

SAMUEL SMITH (bp. 1641 - 1697) of Eastham and Chatham

Parents: Ralph Smith [Ref, p. 98] and Grace Unknown

Samuel Smith was baptised on 11 Jul 1641 in Hingham, Plymouth, Massachusetts. [Ref, p. 98][Ref, pp. 66-7] He died on 22 Mar 1696/7 in Eastham. [Ref, p. 99][Ref, pp. 66-7] He married Mary Hopkins. [Ref, p. 20][Ref, pp. 66-7]

"[Samuel] early engaged in the whaling and mackeral fishery and was very successful." [Ref, p. 98] He was later a trader and innkeeper at Eastham and his homestead was at Billingsgate. [Ref, p. 98] He at one time owned 400 acres in the southern part of the town, known as Smith Purchase. [Ref, p. 98]

Mr. Samuel Smith of Eastham bought land at Tom's Neck in Chatham from John Cousins, Indian, and his mother in early 1691. [Ref, p. 98] Sarah Covell deeded land at Tom's Neck in Chatham that she had received from her father to Samuel Smith on 10 Mar 1690/1. [Ref, p. 99] Samuel and William Nickerson purchased a tract in the eastern part of Chatham on 27 Jun 1694 from John Quason, Jr., with Samuel taking two thirds and William taking one third. [Ref, p. 99] He assigned Mercy Nickerson a 19 Aug 1693 mortgage to two grandsons of Mattaquason for land on Cotchpinicut Neck in Chatham on 6 Mar 1694/5. [Ref, p. 99] He was chosen by the village as commissioner in Aug 1695. [Ref, p. 98]

Samuel died intestate and on 20 Apr 1697 administration on his estate was granted to his widow Mary and son John. [Ref, 2;39-41] The beneficiaries of Samuel's estate were his widow Mary, his son Samuel's sons Samuel and Joseph, his son John Smith and Mary Smith alias Hamilton. [Ref, 2;39-41] Inventory on Samuel's estate, taken on 6 Apr 1697, amounted to £1,270. [Ref, 2;39-41] His estate included 50 cattle, 60 sheep and a large number of horses. [Ref, p. 99] After debts, the estate was worth £620.

Mary Smith, the widow of Samuel and late of Eastham, died intestate and on 18 Jul 1700 her estate was divided between Samuel and Joseph, the sons of her son Samuel, her son John and her daughter Mary Hamilton. [Ref, 2;79-83] Her son-in-law Daniel Hamilton was granted administration on her estate and attested to the inventory, amounting to abour £135, on 18 Jul 1700. [Ref, 2;79-83]

Children of Samuel Smith and Mary Hopkins:

1. Samuel Smith was born on 26 May 1668. [Ref, p. 99] Samuel Smith, Jr. of Eastham died on 22 Sep 1692. [Ref, 1;86-7][Ref, p. 99] He married Bathshuba Lothrop on 26 May 1690. [Ref, pp. 66-7]
   Inventory was taken on Samuel's estate in 1693 with his widow Bathshuba attesting. [Ref, 1;86-7] Letters of administration were granted to Bathshuba on 1 Apr 1693. [Ref, 1;86-7]
   some descendants of Samuel Smith
2. Mary Smith was born on 3 Jun 1669. [Ref, p. 99] She died after 18 Jul 1700. She married Daniel Hamilton of Eastham about 1693. [Ref, p. 99]
3. Joseph Smith was born on 10 Apr 1671. [Ref, p. 99] He died on 22 Sep 1691. [Ref, p. 99]
4. John Smith was born on 26 May 1673. He died before 25 Feb 1717. He married Bethiah Snow.
5. Grace Smith was born on 5 Sep 1676. [Ref, p. 99] She died on 1 Dec 1691. [Ref, p. 99]
6. Rebecca Smith was born on 10 Dec 1678. [Ref, p. 99] She died young. [Ref, p. 99]

Generation 3

JOHN SMITH (1673 - by 1717) of Eastham, Chatham and Harwich

Parents: Samuel Smith and Mary Hopkins [Ref, p. 20]

John Smith was born on 26 May 1673. [Ref, p. 25][Ref, p. 99] He died before 25 Feb 1717 when administration on his estate was granted to his son Samuel. [Ref, p. 24] He married Bethiah Snow [Ref, p. 20] on 14 May 1694. [Ref, p. 25]

John lived first at Eastham. [Ref, p. 24] He received half of two farms at Tom's Neck in Monomoit [Chatham] in his fathers will. [Ref, p. 24] By a 3 Jun 1697 deed John Smith, later of Harwich, bought 20 acres in the Hall neighbourhood in Harwich from William Cahoon, the husband of Elizabeth Nickerson. The purchase was in exchange for land at Monomoit. [Ref, p. 151] John and his brother-in-law Daniel Hamilton sold land at Tom's Neck to Mary Small not long after 1702. [Ref, p. 152]

John was chosen surveyor in Monomoit in 1702. [Ref, p. 152] In 1702 he was chosen to go to the Court and answer for Chatham's not having a pound. [Ref, p. 154] In 1703 he was chosen grandjuryman. [Ref, p. 154] He was chosen fence viewer in 1707. [Ref, p. 159] He was chosen selectman in 1712. [Ref, p. 162] On Mar 1713, John was chosen constable at the first town meeting of the newly incorporated town of Chatham. [Ref, p. 180]

On 21 May 1706 John Smith, the husband of a daughter of Stephen Snow, attested that he had received a share of Stephen's estate and relinquished further claims. [Ref, 3;13-16]

Children of John Smith and Bethiah Snow:

1. James Smith was born on 13 Feb 1694/5. [Ref, p. 24] He died on 27 May 1696. [Ref, p. 24]
2. Samuel Smith was born 25 May 1696 [Ref, p. 24] in Eastham. [Ref, p. 239] He married Mary (Mercy) Higgens after 19 Jul 1718 (int.). [Ref, p. 24][Ref, p. 239] She was the daughter of Isaac Higgens of Eastham. [Ref, p. 24] She died on 25 Sep 1736. [Ref, p. 239] He died not marry second Sarah Snow, as has been claimed. [Ref, p. 24]
   some descendants of Samuel Smith
3. Deane Smith was born about 1698. [Ref, p. 24] He married Esther Ryder on 17 Oct 1720. [Ref, p. 24] Esther was the daughter of John Ryder of Yarmouth [Ref, p. 24] and Esther (Hall) Ryder. [Ref, p. 239]
   In her will of 24 May 1701, Miriam Wing, left her estate to her kinsman Dean Smith, the son of her kinswoman Bethiah Smith of Monomoit. [Ref, 2;124] The estate of Miriam Wing, widow of John Wing and late of Harwich, was granted to her kinsman Dean Smith, son of John Smith of Manamoit on 14 Jan 1702/3. [Ref, 2;122] On 19 Oct 1716, Deane was about 18 and his father John was appointed to manage the estate that he had acquired through inheritance. [Ref, 3;154]
   some descendants of Deane Smith
4. Mercy Smith was born between 1698 and 1702. [Ref, p. 24] She married Nathan Kenney of Chatham on 24 Sep 1728. [Ref, p. 24]
5. Mary Smith was born about 1702. [Ref, p. 24] She died in 1767. [Ref, p. 24] She married Obadiah Chase about 1732. [Ref, p. 24] Obadiah was the son of Isaac Chase of Yarmouth. [Ref, p. 24]
   On 11 Jul 1722 Mary, age about 20, chose Samuel Steward, yeoman of Chatham, to be her guardian. [Ref, 4;67]
6. John Smith was born on 7 Apr 1703. [Ref, p. 24] He married first Elizabeth Brown on 21 Sep 1727. [Ref, p. 24] He married second Lydia Unknown. [Ref, p. 24] Lydia was the widow of Ebenezer Snow of Eastham. [Ref, p. 24]
   After his second marriage, John moved to Eastham. [Ref, p. 24]
7. Stephen Smith was born about 1706. He died on 13 Jan 1766 in Chatham. He married first Hannah Collins. He married second Bathsheba Brown.
8. Bethiah Smith was born about 1708. [Ref, p. 25] She married Elisha Young, Jr. on 15 Dec 1731. [Ref, p. 25]
   William Nickerson of Chatham was appointed the guardian of Bethiah Smith, the 14-year-old daughter of the late John Smith of Chatham, on 11 Jul 1722. [Ref, 4;62]
9. David Smith was born about 1711. [Ref, p. 25] He was living in 1734. [Ref, p. 25]
10. Seth Smith was born about 1713. [Ref, p. 25] He married first Elizabeth Unknown on 15 Mar 1737. [Ref, p. 25] She was born on 15 Mar 1718. [Ref, p. 25] She died on 12 Apr 1756. [Ref, p. 25] He married second Mary (Godfrey) Nickerson on 18 Nov 1756. [Ref, p. 25] Mary was the widow of Caleb Nickerson. [Ref, p. 25]
    some descendants of Seth Smith

Generation 4

STEPHEN SMITH (c. 1706 - 1766) of Chatham

Parents: John Smith and Bethiah Snow [Ref, p. 20]

Stephen Smith was born about 1706. [Ref, p. 25] He died on 13 Jan 1766 in Chatham. He married first Hannah Collins about 1727. [Ref, p. 25][Ref, p. 239] He married second Bathsheba Brown [Ref, p. 556][Ref, p. 14] on 9 Apr 1729. [Ref, p. 25]

On 11 Jul 1722 Stephen, age about 16, chose Thomas Atkins, yeoman of Chatham, to be his guardian. [Ref, 4;67]

Stephen was chosen deacon of the Congregational Church in Chatham on 6 Sep 1749. [Ref]

Children of Stephen Smith and Hannah Collins:

1. Stephen Smith [Ref, p. 239] was born about 1727/9.

Children of Stephen Smith and Bathsheba Brown:

2. James Smith was baptised on 8 Dec 1729 in the Congregational Church in Chatham. [Ref]
3. George Smith was baptised on 16 Dec 1731 in the Congregational Church in Chatham. [Ref]
4. Archelaus Smith was baptised on 23 Apr 1734 in the Congregational Church in Chatham. He died in 1821. He married Elizabeth Nickerson.
5. Elijah Smith was baptised on 24 Feb 1737 in the Congregational Church in Chatham. [Ref]
6. Hannah Smith was baptised on 5 Jan 1739 in the Congregational Church in Chatham. [Ref]
7. Obadiah Smith was baptised on 2 Jan 1741/2 in the Congregational Church in Chatham. [Ref]
8. Bathsheba Smith was baptised on 5 Jan 1744 in the Congregational Church in Chatham. [Ref] She died on 18 Jan 1766. [Ref, p. 240]
9. Phebe Smith was baptised on in the 8 Jan 1747 Congregational Church in Chatham. [Ref] She may be the Phebe Smith of Chatham who married Thomas Kenwrick on 6 Nov 1766. [Ref, p. 556]
   Thomas was the son of Thomas and Anna (Atkins) Kenwrick and the grandson of Edward Kenwrick and Samuel Atkins. [Ref, p. 556]
   Edward and Phebe settled in Harwich. [Ref, p. 556]
   some descendants of Phebe Smith
10. Betty Smith was born in 1750. [Ref, p. 240] She died on 7 Feb 1766. [Ref, p. 240]

Generation 5

ARCHELAUS SMITH (bp. 1734 - 1821) of Chatham and Barrington

Parents: Stephen Smith [Ref, p. 20] and Bathsheba Brown [Ref, p. 14]

Archelaus Smith was baptised on 23 Apr 1734 in Chatham [Ref, p. 20] in the Congregational Church. [Ref] He died in 1821. [Ref, p. 556] He married Elizabeth Nickerson [Ref, p. 556] after 18 Apr 1752 (int.) in Chatham. [Ref, 13;28]

Archelaus was one of several men from Chatham who were impressed into military service from 10 Jul to 24 Dec 1759. [Ref]

Archelaus came to Barrington in 1761. [Ref, p. 84]

Achelaus was on the proprietors' committee on 8 Dec 1766 in Barrington. [Ref, p. 141] He was a magistrate in 1772. [Ref, p. 170] He was a proprietor's clerk in 1778. [Ref, p. 170]

Children of Archelaus Smith and Elizabeth Nickerson:

1. Susanna Smith was born in 1753. She died in 1838 in Barrington. She married Joseph Atwood.
2. Hezekiah Smith married Abigail Doane. [Ref, p. 26]
   some descendants of Hezekiah Smith
3. Elizabeth Smith married Henry Newell in Barrington. [Ref, p. 16, daughter of Archelaus][Ref, p. 3, "Eunice"] Henry was the son of Henry Newhall (Newell) and Elizabeth Grouard. [Ref, p. 3] He was born in Boston. [Ref, p. 3]
   Henry moved to Barrington and is the ancestor of the Newhall (Newell) family in Barrington. [Ref, p. 3]
   some descendants of Elizabeth Smith
4. James Smith was born on 6 Oct 1762 in Barrington. [Ref, p. 3][Ref, p. 135] He died on 28 May 1842 in Barrington. [Ref, p. 56] He married first Sarah Wilson on 9 Dec 1784 in Barrington. [Ref, p. 39] She died on 29 May 1800 in Barrington. [Ref, p. 56] He married second the widow Tabitha Nickerson in Jul 1803 in Barrington. [Ref, p. 56]
   some descendants of James Smith
5. Stephen Smith was born on 15 Dec 1764 in Barrington. [Ref, p. 3] He died on 28 Dec 1785 in Barrington. [Ref, p. 18]
6. Archelaus Smith was born on 19 Aug 1766 in Barrington. [Ref, p. 3] He married Patience Hamilton [Ref, p. 28] on 6 Oct 1785 in Barrington. [Ref, p. 37] Patience was the daughter of Thomas Hamilton of Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts. [Ref, p. 37]
   some descendants of Archelaus Smith
7. Hannah Smith was born on 1 Mar 1768 in Barrington. [Ref, p. 3][Ref, p. 3]
   

Generation 6

SUSANNA SMITH (1753 - 1838)

Parents: Archelaus Smith and Elizabeth Nickerson

Susanna Smith was born in 1753. [Ref, p. 433] She died in 1838 in Barrington. [Ref] She is buried at the Head in Barrington. [Ref, p. 433] She married Joseph Atwood on [Ref] 10 Aug 1767. [Ref, p. 134]

References

Anderson, Robert Charles, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633. Vol. 1-3. Boston, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995. Online: New England Historic Genealogical Society website.

Bowman, George Ernest, "Vital Records of Chatham," Mayflower Descendant 13, 1911, 27-31.

Crowell, Edwin, A History of Barrington Township and Vicinity, Shelburne County, Nova Scotia, 1604-1870, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, unknown.

Egan, C. Edward, "The Hobart Journal," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 121, 1967, 3-25, 102-127.

Hawes, James W., Historical Address on the Occassion of the Celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the Incorporation of Chatham, Yarmouth, C. W. Swift, 1912.

Hinckley, Gustavus Aldolphus, trans., “Barnstable, MA: Probate Records 1685–1789,” Online database, NewEnglandAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.

Lamont, Belle Eldredge, Lamont-Eldredge Family Records, Albion, NY, unknown, 1948.

No Author, Barrington & Argyle, Nova Scotia Vital Records, Online Database, AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011.

No author, Doane Reunion at Barrington Head, Nova Scotia, Canada, Truro, N.S., News Pub. Co., 1912.

Lincoln, Solomon, History of the town of Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, Hingham, C. Gill, Jr. and Farmer and Brown, 1990.

Paine, Josiah, "Edward Kenwrick," in Leonard H. Smith, ed., Cape Cod Library of Local History and Genealogy, v. I, Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co., c. 1992, pp. 550-570.

Smith, Leonard H. and Norma H. Smith, Vital Records of the Towns of Eastham and Orleans, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1993.

Smith, Tenney, Charles Smith and Rachel Amy Bryant: Their ancestors and descendants, Brattleboro, VT, Vermont Print. Co., 1938.

Smith, William C., Early Settlers of Chatham, Yarmouthport, G. W. Swift, 1915.

Smith, William C., A History of Chatham, Massachusetts, Hyannis, F.B. & R.P. Goss, 1909.

Smith, William C., "Smiths of Chatham, Mass.," Notes Section, New England Historical and Genealogical Register 64, 1910, 187-188.