Individual Details

John Smith probably first settled in Dorchester, MA where, on 3 Sep 1635 he was banished because of his dangerous opinions. He came with Roger Williams and four others to form the new settlement of Providence in the early summer of 1636. The earliest mill grant in Rhode Island was made to John Smith on 1 Mar 1646. In 1649 the mill grant was confirmed to Alice Smith, widow, and John Smith, her son, administrators on the estate of John Smith, Miller, late deceased.

John Smith, the immigrant ancestor. Is generally known as "John Smith, the Miller," to distinguish him from others of the same name. He settled first at Dorchester, Massachusetts, but soon was banished and removed to Rhode Island. It was ordered by the general court September 3, 1635 "that John Smith shall be sent within these six weeks out of this jurisdiction, for divers dangerous opinions which lie holdeth and divulged, if in the meantime he removes not himself out of this plantation." In 1636 he came with Roger Williams and four others, in early spring or summer and made the first settlement of white men in what is now Rhode Island. Roger Williams declared November 17, 1677; "I consented to John Smith, Miller, at Dorchester (banished also) to go with me." Smith became the town clerk in 1641. It was agreed by the town at a monthly court meeting, March 1, 1646, that Smith should have the valley wherein his house stands in case he set up a mill, as also excepting sufficient highways and the town agreed to permit no other mill to be erected. His mill was on the Moshausick river. In 1649, after his death, his widow Alice and son John made a formal agreement with the town as to the operation of the mill; one-sixteenth part to be allowed for grinding corn; no other mill allowed as long as this mill is maintained; grant of one hundred and fifty acres of land. The widow Alice died after 1650. The children: 1. John, mentioned below. 2. Elizabeth ; married Shadrack Manton, son of Edward Manton; he died January 27, 1714.
Source:
Historic homes and places and genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts; by Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; pages 1711-1712.

Birth	1595
Death	Bef 1649	Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island
Marriage		Alice [Smith]

Spouse	Alice [Smith] ( - )
Child	John Smith [Miller] (1638 - 1682)
Child	Elizabeth Smith ( - )