Individual Details
Col. John Smith
(1698 - 1783)
Burial Details Unknown. Specifically: His burial place may now be under a lake.
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In 1740, John, with his wife and family imported from Ireland to Pennsylvania, then to Augusta County, Virginia, but he was most likely born in England to David Smith Jr.
John Smith made oath that he imported himself, Margaret his wife, Abraham, Henry, Daniel, John & Joseph Smith & Robert Mc Dowel, as his own Charges from Ireland to Philadelphia & from thence into this Colony & that this is the first time of his proving his & their rights in order to obtain land.---
Importation of the John Smith family in the Orange County, Virginia Order Book II, Circuit Court of Orange County, Orange, Virginia, 1740 p. 205 document provided by Guy R. Smith
Numerous entries are in the Virginia court and church records for John Smith and his family.
According to some family records, Capt. John Smith died in the home of his son Daniel Smith in "Smithland", Rockingham County, Virginia.
John Smith had two wills. One was dated 1753 (See original wills, Box 3, Staunton, Virginia) and this one dated April 26, 1779. He did not die after his first will, which was probably proven at that date because Col. John Smith fought along with his sons at Fort Vause, was captured, moved from camp to camp, then taken to France for two years.
In 1758,John Smith was honored at the House of Burgesses in England:
Monday April 3d 1758, a Memorial was read - "To the President, Council, and House of Burgesses and referred to Consideration of the House", stating that in June 1756, the said Smith then in Fort Vaufs [sic], in Augusta, was attacked by the enemy, his eldest son killed and he was captured. "He has lost three sons and a great part of his Fortune in the service of his country." [Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia 1752-1755, 1756-1758].
During the time he was captured, his creditors thought that he was dead and tried to probate his will, but his sons stopped the attempt. [Chalkley]
At a Vestry held for Augusta Parish, Virginia, the 23rd Day of Nov. 1756, John Mathers Jr. was elected Vestry man in the Room (removal?) - Maj. John Smith was a prisoner-of-war at this time, he had been captured by the French at
Ft. Vause.
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First will:
"IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN-
I John Smith of Augusta County and Colony of Virginia being very Sick in Body but in my perfect Sences do make this my Last will and testament first of all I Leave to Margaret my well beloved wife all my Stock of Horses and Cattle Household Goods and all my Movables Whatsoever She shall also make Choice of any one Tract of Land that I have which She is to hold During her Life and at her Death the sd. Land to fall to my daughter Louisa I also Constitute and appoint Daniel Harrison Silas Hart and my son Abraham Smith to be my Executors and it is my will that they Shall Sell all or so much of my Land Excepting the above Tracts as will Pay all of my Debts and funeral Charges and what Ever of my Land Remains un sold to pay of my Debts to be Divided Equally between my sons William Joseph David Jonathan and James Jordan my Executors to Pay five Shillings Each to my Sons Abraham Henry Daniel and John & I Do hereby Revoke make null and void all other wills made by me before this Date and hereby Pronounce and Publickly Declare this to be my Last Will and Testament in Witness whereof I have Hereunto Set my hand an Seal this Seventh Day of May on Thousand Seven Hundred & Fifty Three- "In Presents of James Patton, Robt. Renick, Humphrey Madison
"Jno. Smith (seal)
(See original wills, Box 3, Staunton, Virginia) [Note: John Smith had at least 2 wills. This one dated 1753 and a final one dated April 26, 1779.]
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Second will:
COLONEL JOHN SMITH'S 1779 WILL
April the 26th 1779
In the name of God, Amen, I John Smith of Botetourt, County, and Colony of Virginia, being sound of mind and Memory, but calling to mind the Mortality of my Body knowing it is Appointed for all men once to Die, and as it has pleased God to Blefs [bless] me with some small property of this life, it is my will that the same may be distributed in the following manner: First I commend my soul to God who gave it, and my body to the earth to be buried in decent manner at the will of my Executor, hereafter mentioned-
Item it is my will that my just debts & funeral charges be paid out of my estate Imprimis and bequeath to my dearly beloved wife all my moveable estate and during her natural life and at her death to devolve to my son James Smith
Item: I bequeath to my son James Smith my part of a warrant for officer's Claim-- Now in the hands of Col Preston, which is one thousand acres. Also one Part of land in Craig's Creek containing about one hundred and eighty acres and one entry of land on Glade Creek. The above lands to be at his disposal to sell and dispose of as he thinks proper.
I do hereby appoint my trusty and well-beloved friend George Skillern executor of this my will and testament requesting that he may act thereon and for the same punctually perform and I hereby revoke and make void all other wills and testaments by me made and do publish, pronounce and Declare this to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand & seal the day and year above written.
Jno Smith [scrawled seal]
Published pronounced and declared by the said John Smith to be his Last will and Testament in presence of us
X George Hutchison
Joseph Dickson William Watson
Col John Smith's Will
---------------------
In 1740, John, with his wife and family imported from Ireland to Pennsylvania, then to Augusta County, Virginia, but he was most likely born in England to David Smith Jr.
John Smith made oath that he imported himself, Margaret his wife, Abraham, Henry, Daniel, John & Joseph Smith & Robert Mc Dowel, as his own Charges from Ireland to Philadelphia & from thence into this Colony & that this is the first time of his proving his & their rights in order to obtain land.---
Importation of the John Smith family in the Orange County, Virginia Order Book II, Circuit Court of Orange County, Orange, Virginia, 1740 p. 205 document provided by Guy R. Smith
Numerous entries are in the Virginia court and church records for John Smith and his family.
According to some family records, Capt. John Smith died in the home of his son Daniel Smith in "Smithland", Rockingham County, Virginia.
John Smith had two wills. One was dated 1753 (See original wills, Box 3, Staunton, Virginia) and this one dated April 26, 1779. He did not die after his first will, which was probably proven at that date because Col. John Smith fought along with his sons at Fort Vause, was captured, moved from camp to camp, then taken to France for two years.
In 1758,John Smith was honored at the House of Burgesses in England:
Monday April 3d 1758, a Memorial was read - "To the President, Council, and House of Burgesses and referred to Consideration of the House", stating that in June 1756, the said Smith then in Fort Vaufs [sic], in Augusta, was attacked by the enemy, his eldest son killed and he was captured. "He has lost three sons and a great part of his Fortune in the service of his country." [Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia 1752-1755, 1756-1758].
During the time he was captured, his creditors thought that he was dead and tried to probate his will, but his sons stopped the attempt. [Chalkley]
At a Vestry held for Augusta Parish, Virginia, the 23rd Day of Nov. 1756, John Mathers Jr. was elected Vestry man in the Room (removal?) - Maj. John Smith was a prisoner-of-war at this time, he had been captured by the French at
Ft. Vause.
----
First will:
"IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN-
I John Smith of Augusta County and Colony of Virginia being very Sick in Body but in my perfect Sences do make this my Last will and testament first of all I Leave to Margaret my well beloved wife all my Stock of Horses and Cattle Household Goods and all my Movables Whatsoever She shall also make Choice of any one Tract of Land that I have which She is to hold During her Life and at her Death the sd. Land to fall to my daughter Louisa I also Constitute and appoint Daniel Harrison Silas Hart and my son Abraham Smith to be my Executors and it is my will that they Shall Sell all or so much of my Land Excepting the above Tracts as will Pay all of my Debts and funeral Charges and what Ever of my Land Remains un sold to pay of my Debts to be Divided Equally between my sons William Joseph David Jonathan and James Jordan my Executors to Pay five Shillings Each to my Sons Abraham Henry Daniel and John & I Do hereby Revoke make null and void all other wills made by me before this Date and hereby Pronounce and Publickly Declare this to be my Last Will and Testament in Witness whereof I have Hereunto Set my hand an Seal this Seventh Day of May on Thousand Seven Hundred & Fifty Three- "In Presents of James Patton, Robt. Renick, Humphrey Madison
"Jno. Smith (seal)
(See original wills, Box 3, Staunton, Virginia) [Note: John Smith had at least 2 wills. This one dated 1753 and a final one dated April 26, 1779.]
-----
Second will:
COLONEL JOHN SMITH'S 1779 WILL
April the 26th 1779
In the name of God, Amen, I John Smith of Botetourt, County, and Colony of Virginia, being sound of mind and Memory, but calling to mind the Mortality of my Body knowing it is Appointed for all men once to Die, and as it has pleased God to Blefs [bless] me with some small property of this life, it is my will that the same may be distributed in the following manner: First I commend my soul to God who gave it, and my body to the earth to be buried in decent manner at the will of my Executor, hereafter mentioned-
Item it is my will that my just debts & funeral charges be paid out of my estate Imprimis and bequeath to my dearly beloved wife all my moveable estate and during her natural life and at her death to devolve to my son James Smith
Item: I bequeath to my son James Smith my part of a warrant for officer's Claim-- Now in the hands of Col Preston, which is one thousand acres. Also one Part of land in Craig's Creek containing about one hundred and eighty acres and one entry of land on Glade Creek. The above lands to be at his disposal to sell and dispose of as he thinks proper.
I do hereby appoint my trusty and well-beloved friend George Skillern executor of this my will and testament requesting that he may act thereon and for the same punctually perform and I hereby revoke and make void all other wills and testaments by me made and do publish, pronounce and Declare this to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand & seal the day and year above written.
Jno Smith [scrawled seal]
Published pronounced and declared by the said John Smith to be his Last will and Testament in presence of us
X George Hutchison
Joseph Dickson William Watson
Col John Smith's Will
Events
| Birth | 1698 | Ulster, Ireland | |||
| Christen | 13 Mar 1699 | Donaghcloney, County Down, Ireland | |||
| Marriage | 9 Dec 1719 | Ulster County, Ireland - Margaret Schomhaeffer | |||
| Marriage | 9 Feb 1725 | Richmond County, Virginia - Margaret Schomhaeffer | |||
| Death | 1783 | Rockingham County, Virginia |
Families
| Spouse | Margaret Schomhaeffer (1700 - 1779) |
| Child | Henry John Smith Sr. (1729 - 1792) |