George R. Smith, son of Peter Smith of Caswell County, North Carolina

George R. Smith (son of Peter and Jemima Smith), I had abandoned hope of learning anything about this son of Peter and Jemima.  Then a very few years ago, a letter was received from Mrs. Henry R. (Dorothymae) Peck, of Evansville, Indiana, saying she was a descendant of George R. Smith and that she had been told I was engaged in research on other members of his family.  Our subsequent exchange of information has been of assistance to both.  I am indebted to Mrs. Peck for most of what will follow concerning this man's family.

He was born in Caswell County, North Carolina, on April 10, 1772; died June 23, 1840, in Smith Township, Posey County, Indiana, and is buried in the Smith Cemetery there.  He married, first, Lydia (Jenny) Tate (also Tait) and, second, Sarah Armstrong.

George R. Smith's and Lydia Tate's marriage took place on December 20, 1800, in Caswell County.  Lydia was the daughter of Zaccheus Tate and almost certainly was a native of Caswell County.  Her date of birth is not known, but she died after January 6, 1807, in Kentucky.  It is believed that, after their marriage, George and Lydia lived in Kentucky and that after her death he went to Indiana on a prospecting mission and, while there, met and married Sarah Armstrong.  George R. and Sarah settled in Posey County, Indiana, in what became known as Smith Township (named for George).  He was a farmer, a Baptist, and became an influential man of affairs in Smith Township.  

George R. and Lydia's children were:

Peter K. Smith

Zachius Tate Smith

Lydia S. Smith

George R. Smith was married to Sarah Armstrong on May 14, 1810, in Knox County, Indiana.[1]  Sarah was the daughter of John Armstrong and Mary Swain; her date of birth was December 17, 1784; of death, June 24, 1854.  George R. and Sarah (Armstrong) Smith's children were:

William Bailey Smith

Mary (Polly) Smith

Nancy Smith

Elsberry Smith

Julia Ann Smith

George C. Smith

Sarah Jane Smith

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[1]  Knox County, Indiana, Index to Marriages, page 28