George L. Smith, son of Elias Guess Smith

George L. Smith, son of Elias Guess Smith, born January 23, 1809; died 1892.  He and Margaret Fulkerson were married December 3, 1829, in Ohio County, Kentucky.  The Ohio County census for 1850 showed that his household consisted of the following:

George L. Smith                   41        Farmer       Born in   Kentucky      

Margaret Smith                     40                                            Kentucky

John Smith                           13                                            Indiana

Oliver P. Fulkerson              23                                            Kentucky

George Smith and his family, at some time later, moved to Uvalde, Texas. 

Peter Smith, son of James Simpson Smith

Peter Smith, son of James Simpson Smith, born 1812 or 1813.  In 1850 he lived with his father and his brother, John B.; his occupation was that of blacksmith.  In 1860 he was a farmer whose real estate was valued at $800 and personal property at $300.  He probably married after his father's death.  Ellen was his wife's name, and their children were:

Sarah E.,                   b. 1855 or 1856         

James M.,                  b. 1857 or 1858         

Samuel R.,                b. 1859 or 1860       

Anna,                        b. 1862 or 1863

John,                          b. 1866 or 1867

Leonard,                    b. 1868 or 1869

Josephine,                b. 1872 or 1873

Evidently Peter Smith died between 1873 and 1880, for the 1880 Muhlenberg County census shows Ellen Smith to be a widow.  She, Peter, and all their children were native Kentuckians. 

Presley Smith, Son of James Smith

Presley Smith was born in either Prince William or Fairfax County, Virginia.  His date of birth has not been ascertained, but certainly it was before 1749, for in that year he is mentioned in his father’s will.  He married Nancy Kincheloe of Fairfax County, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Wickliffe) Kincheloe.

William and Mary Quarterly 22 (W) (1) 186 states:

“One Nathaniel Wickliffe, late of Prince William County, Virginia, died intestate in Nelson County, Kentucky, in 1790 and his lands passed to his next of kin; namely, ...Presley Smith and his wife Nancy. ...”

Washington County, Kentucky, where Presley died in 1819, was formed from Nelson County in 1792.  It appears that Presley and Nancy remained where her inheritance was.

Other than the suit in chancery against the heirs of William Bailey Smith, mentioned above, very little has been found concerning Presley Smith.  Washington County, Kentucky, Will Book C, p. 235, lists the sale and purchase of his property.  At a court held on January 10, 1820, a list of sale of his estate was returned by Presley C. Smith and ordered to be recorded.

From other sources the names of Presley and Nancy Smith’s children have been learned.  They follow, with all the information available to me concerning them:

Elizabeth (Betty), born about 1773 in Fairfax County, Virginia; died after 1850 in Henderson County, Kentucky; married Elijah King on November 1, 1792, in Washington County, Kentucky.

Mary (Polly), born in Virginia; married Nicholas Ray.

Dorkiss (Dorcas?), married Mr. Grant.

Sarah (Sally), married Edmund Purdy on January 26, 1797, in Washington County.

Nancy, married Henry Purdy on March 13, 1793, in Washington County.

Jane, married Richard Burks.

Daniel James, married Lee Holland Aydelott on October 19, 1803.  Daniel bought land in Henderson County from William Bailey Smith in 1802.  It appears that he died in the year 1840.  Holland Smith's will was probated in Henderson County in December 1845.  The two children named in her will were Sarah Emily Smith and Tobiatha (Smith) Shaw.  Tobiatha married John Shaw on December 24, 1839.

John, (twin)

Peter W., (twin), Peter bought land in Henderson County from William Bailey Smith in 1802.

William.  Did not marry.  Died at age 76.

Presley C., married Sarah Burks on June 10, 1816, in Washington County, Kentucky.

Elias W., married (1) Margaretta Payne, on October 31, 1817, in Washington County; (2) Miss Lee.

Appendix B - The Will of James Smith

Fairfax County Will Book A (No. 1), Part 2, page 280

In the name of God Amen, the 14^th day of October I, James Smith of the County of Fairfax in the 1749 Colony of Virginia, being sick and weak but of perfect memory and understanding thanks be to God and calling to mind my mortal state and that it is appointed for man once to die, I do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, that is to say first of all I recommend my soul into the hands of the Great God of Heaven and Earth and my body to be buried in a decent Christian form at the Discretion of my executors and as tuching such worldly estate as the Lord God hath bin pleased to bestow on me, I give, bestowe and devise of the same in the following manner and forme.

ITEM.  I give and leve all my land to my three sons Peter Smith, William Smith and Presley Smith to them and their heirs of their body lawfully begotten in the following manner, that is to say, all the land below the branch where I now live up to the back line of my young land to be one’s part and all the land above this said branch to be divided across from the branch to the back line by a spring below peach orchard hill for two other parts, and my eldest son to have first choice.

ITEM.  I give to my son Peter Smith one Negro woman named Janey to him and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten with all increase and in case said son Peter should dye without any lawful Eshew then to my son William and his heirs forever and on Default of such heirs my other son and his heirs.

ITEM.  I give to my son William Smith one Negro woman named Sue to him and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten with all her increase forever.

ITEM.  I give to my son Presley Smith one Negro girl named Beck to him and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten with all her increase forever, and in case my two sons William Smith and Presley Smith should dye without any lawful Eshew (issue) then their Negroes to goe to my son Peter Smith and his heirs.

ITEM.  I give to my daughter Anne Smith the sum of 25 pounds current money or a young Negro at the discretion of my executors to her and the heirs of her body lawfully begotten.

ITEM.  I give to my Loving wife all my money and all my Tile (?) cash, to her for her proper use Duren her natural life and after her decease to be equally divided among my four children aforementioned.

ITEM.  I give to my son Peter Smith my still and furniture thereof to him and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten.

ITEM.  My will is that all the remainder of all my moveable estate be equally divided to my wife and children according to Law, further I constitute and appoint my loving wife Elizabeth my executor of this my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.

James Smith

Witnesses:    Hugh Thomas, William Moon, Charles C. Morris, John Smith

-----------------

At a Court held for Fairfax County September 24, 1751, this last will and testament of James Smith, deceased, was presented in court by Elizabeth Smith the executor therein named, who made oath thereto according to Law and being further proved by the oaths of Hugh Thomas, William Moon, and John Smith, three of the witnesses, was admitted to Record and the said executor having performed what is usual in such causes certificate is granted her for obtaining approbate thereof in due form.

Jess John Graham, Clerk.

P. 519.            Inventory of James Smith.

(Inventory was too long to copy.  Total worth was not given.  It mentioned valances and curtains, books, pistols and sword, tools, in addition to the usual household goods, dishes, etc.  The appraisement was returned to the court on June 17,1752.)

Thomas Smith, Son of Peter Smith of Westmoreland County, Virginia

Thomas Smith sold land to Daniel Jenings in 1747 and the sale is on record in Deed Book B, No. 1, of Fairfax County, Virginia.  It reads:

"Indenture made the 14^th day of April 1747 between Thomas Smith of Truro Parish in Fairfax County, planter, of the one part and Daniel Jenings...witnesseth that the said Thomas Smith for and in consideration of the sum of 100 pounds current money of Virginia...paid by Daniel Jenings...sold a piece or parsel of land containing 325 acres of more or less which Peter Smith, father of Thomas Smith, by his last will and testament dated 10^th day of January 1738 did give and bequeath unto his son Thomas Smith; ...being part of 1160 acres of land granted by the proprietors of the Northern Neck of Virginia by deed to the said Peter Smith bearing the date of 30^th day of June 1712, which said 325 acres of land is where the said Thomas Smith now dwelleth at Bull Run adjoining to the land of his brother James in the aforesaid parish of Truro of the county of Fairfax, and all houses,  outhouses and edifices, building, trees and woods, etc. ...Thomas Smith set his hand and affixed his seal the day and year first above written."

In Fairfax County Deed Book B, page 237, “Thomas Smith acknowledges this to be his act to Daniel Jennings and Elizabeth, the wife of said Smith being privately examined and relinquished her right of dower to said land.”  [Here is evidence that Thomas Smith’s wife was named Elizabeth (Fleming)]

Having sold the 35 acres in Fairfax County that he inherited from his father, Thomas Smith leased land in Prince William County, Virginia, in 1749.  The transaction is recorded in Prince William County Deed Book L, page 197, and reads:

“Lease.  Dated 22 May 1749.  Recorded 22 May 1749.  Between Francis Watts of Prince William County and Thomas Smith of same.  Consideration:  500 pounds of tobacco annually on 25 December.  Tract of land for the term of space 99 years in Prince William County on Bull Run containing 103 acres more or less.  Thomas Smith covenants to build a sufficient dwelling house and tobacco house and corn house and to plant an apple orchard or 100 trees.  First rent to begin December 25, 1751.  Witnesses:  John Combs, Obed Calvert.”

Thomas Smith died before September 12, 1778, for on that date, an inventory of his estate was presented, as follows:

“Prince William County, Virginia, Will Book G, page 10.

“We the subscribers being first sworn have proceeded to inventory Sept the 12^th 1778 an inventory of the Estate of Thomas Smith decd.  Presented to our view by the administrator.

“To one lease of Francis Watts for ninety-nine years, seventy years of which is to come, appraised to 100 L.  [Inventory amounted to 135 L  0 S  and 3 D.  Items will not be listed here.]  Prince William pet.  Signed:  John Anderson, Robert Spittle and John Woodyard, sworn before John Flood.”

“At a court held for Prince William County the 5^th of Oct. 1778 this Inventory and Appraisement of the Estate of Thomas Smith dec’d was presented to the County and admitted to record.

“Test. Robert Graham  Cl. Court”

. . .

“The Estate of Thomas Smith Decd with Charles Smith Admr.

“Cr. September 1778 by amount of the Inventory          L 135 0 3

                                                                                                            L          S         D        

“To Elizabeth Smith widow her third part of the estate                           45        0          1

“To Fleming Smith one ninth part of the remainder of

            the estate per receipt                                                                10        0          0

“To John Smith ditto per receipt of his brother-in-law

            John Gibbs                                                                              10        0          0

“To John Gibbs for one ninth per receipt                                              10        0          0

“To Elizabeth Smith one ninth ditto                                                       10        0          0

“To my own share of the estate (Charles Smith)                                    10        0          2

“The balance remaining in my hands for Daniel Smith,

            Thomas Smith, Peter Smith and James Smith,

            sons of the Deceased now in the State of

            South Carolina for each L 10                                                   40        0          0

                                                                                                       L   135     0          3

“Note the Debts owed by the deceased have been all paid by the children, the charges of the administration to be hereafter settled and paid by the several claimants time not permitting the inclusion of them in this account by the administrator.

“(Signed)  Charles Smith”

Acknowledgements of receipt of the amounts set forth above, for the stated “part” or “share” of estate, were signed by Elizabeth Smith, Fleming Smith, Elizabeth Smith [daughter], John Gibbs, John Gibbs for John Smith.  Some bore the date “28^th Sept 1778” and others “5^th day of Oct. 1778.”

In his History of Spartanburg County, 1900, Dr. J. B. O. Landrum included a chapter headed “Smith Family,” beginning on page 208.  Dr. Landrum stated that just before the Revolutionary War five brothers from Bull Run, Virginia, settled in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.  He named James, Fleming, Thomas, John, and Charles and told of some of their descendants.  He stated that their mother was a Miss Fleming.

While the father’s name was not mentioned and sons Daniel and Peter were omitted, those he did mention are sons named in the will of Thomas Smith of Prince William County, Virginia.  It is the opinion of some present-day descendants of this family that Dr. Landrum erred in saying that Miss Fleming was born in France and that the father (Thomas Smith) was born in Wales.  One researcher asserts that Elizabeth Fleming was born in 1710 in Richmond County, Virginia, the daughter of Alexander and Sarah (Kenny) Fleming.  I have made no attempt to verify this statement.  However, Thomas Smith, being the son of Peter Smith of Westmoreland County, Virginia, is not likely to have been born in Wales.

Fleming Smith and his brother Charles served in the Revolutionary War from South Carolina.  Fleming moved his family, in 1802, from South Carolina to Cumberland County, Kentucky.  That portion of the county in which he lived later became Monroe County, Kentucky.  Fleming made application for pension on June 3, 1833, in the state of Kentucky, Application No. S-30708.  Pension payments began in March 1833 and the last payment was made on March 4, 1847, according to records in National Archives, Washington, D. C.  In Kentucky Family Records, Volume VI, 1977-78, page 77, it is said that Fleming Smith is buried in the cemetery of the Old Mulky Meeting House in Monroe County, Kentucky.

In 1767, a dispute arose over the dividing line between the land he had sold to Jenings and the land owned by James Smith.  The controversy was between the heirs of Jenings and the heirs of James Smith.  George Mason of Gunston Hall (the George Mason of our history books) was chosen to "arbitrate" the issue. See his award in Appendix A.

Will of Peter Smith of Westmoreland County

Westmoreland County (Virginia). Deeds and Wills No. 9, 1738-1744

In the name of God, Amen.  The tenth day of January 1738, I Peter Smith of the County of Westmoreland in Virginia being in health and of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God therefor calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and Testament that is to say Principally and first of all I give and Recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it and my body I Recommend to the Earth to be buried in decent Christian Buryal at the discretion of my Executors nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty Power of God and as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.

Imprimise.  I give and bequeath to my Daughter Mary Fleming forty Eight acres of Land where she now lives according to the courses of a Survey that Barber made Beginning at a corner tree of Whetstons land to her and her heirs for Ever.

Item.  I give to my son Peter Smith the Remaining Part of all the land that I possess in Westmoreland County to him and his heirs for Ever.

Item.  I give to my son James Smith three hundred and twenty five acres of Land in Prince William County lying and being on Bull Run where he now Lives to him and his heirs for Ever.

Item.  I give and bequeath to my son Thomas Smith three hundred and twenty five acres in the aforesaid County where he now lives to him and his heirs for Ever.

Item.  I give to my son William Smith three hundred and twenty five acres in the aforesaid County to his liking out of the Remaining Part of the same tract of Land to him and his heirs for Ever.

Item.  I give to my Daughter Abigail Fleming and my Grand Daughter Anne Bailey the Remaining part of that tract of Land in Prince William County aforesaid my daughter Abigail having the first choice, to them and their heirs for Ever.  AND as for what moveable Estate it hath pleased God to bestow upon me I give and bequeath as Followeth.

Item.  I give and bequeath to the heirs of my son John Smith one shilling Sterling money.

Item.  I give to my son James Smith one shilling Sterling money.

Item.  I give to my son Thomas Smith one shilling Sterling money.

Item.  I give to my son William Smith one shilling Sterling money.

Item.  I give to the heirs of my Daughter Anne Thomas one shilling Sterling money.

Item.  I give to my daughter Mary Fleming one shilling Sterling money.

Item.  I give to my Daughter Hannah Ware one shilling Sterling money.

Item.  I give to my Daughter Martha McClanahan a feather bed at the discretion of my Executor hereafter named.

Item.  I give to my Daughter Abigail Fleming one shilling Sterling money.

Item.  And the rest of my moveable Estate not already bequeathed I give and bequeath to my son Peter Smith whom I likewise Constitute make and ordain my whole and sole Executor of this my last will and Testament. And I do hereby utterly Disallow Revoke and disannull any and every other former Testament Wills Legacies and Bequests and Executors by me in any way before named willed and bequeathed Ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and Testament. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.

Peter Smith (Seal)

Signed Sealed Published and Pronounced and declared by the said PeterSmith as his last will and Testament in the presence of us.  Witnesses.  James Walker, Stephen Bailey, Jr., Hugh Thomas.

Westmoreland SS At a Court held for the said County the 28^th day of April 1741. This last will and Testament of Peter Smith deceased. Being presented into Court by Peter Smith his son and executor who made oath thereto and being proved by the oath of all the Witnesses thereto is admitted to Record and upon the motion of the said Executor and his performing what is usual in such cases Certificate is granted for him obtaining a Probate thereof in due form.  Recorded the twelfth Day of May 1741.

Teste.

George Tuberville C. C.