Josiah Smith (1773 - 1852)

Born 7 Apr 1773 in Liverpool, Queens, Nova Scotia, Canada

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Barss) Smith — married 5 Jan 1804 in Liverpool, Queens, Nova Scotia, Canada

Descendants

Died 8 Apr 1852 at age 79 in South Brookfield, Queens County, Nova Scotia, Canada

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Biography

TB Smith Collections: The Smith Family The first account, according to Governor Bradford's diary is Rev. Ralph Smith who was the first minister of Plymouth. His son Samuel married Mary Hopkins, March 3, 1667. She was the daughter of Giles Hopkins who was the son of Stephen Hopkins who came in the “Mayflower” in 1620. John, son of Samuel, born at Chatham, May 26, 1673 married May 14, 1694 Bethia or Bertha Snow. She was the daughter of Stephen Snow who was the son of Constance Hopkins, daughter of Stephen, thus uniting two lines of the Hopkins family. Stephen Smith, son of John and Bethia, was born in Chatham 1706 and married Bethelia Collins. He died Jan. 17, 1766. Stephen, son of Stephen, was born 1736, married Mehitable Eldridge and came to Liverpool 1766. He died Sept. 9, 1807. He was one of the Proprietors (of Liverpool, NS). Their children were Stephen, Nathaniel, Tabitha, Mehitable, Bethia, Sarah, Elizabeth, Ladowick, Hannah, Jonathan. Stephen, son of Stephen lived at Sandy Cove, now the property of Jacob Melanders’ sons, the old gambo roofed house being remembered to this day. He was engaged in lumbering owning a large part of Great Hill and having an interest in a lumber mill in Mill Village. He probably did some farming as most of the men of his time did. His wife was Susannah daughter of Josiah Godfrey and sister to the famous Capt. Alexander Godfrey of the River. Their family were Alexander, Stephen, Josiah, Lethrop, Lodewick. His first wife dying he married Rebecca widow of Joseph Freeman, Sr.. Stephen died in 1827 age 70 years. His wife died Feb. 24, 1834, age 90.She was the daughter of Jeremiah Nickerson. Of the sons of Stephen Smith Jr., Josiah is the most noted. Following the sea he rose to become master, then with many others of the place moved to the fertile farms of the Northern District making his home at Brookfield. Lodewick, son of Stepehen Jr. married Elizabeth, daughter of Thos. Kempton. Issue: Elizabeth and Letitia born 1812. He was lost at sea. Another son Henry died of yellow fever with Capt. Nat Smith in the West Indies. The daughters of Stephen Smith Sr. Tabitha born at Salem 1759 married William Cohoon 1774 and lived at Ragged Harbor, Port Moody. Sarah born July 1, 1761 was the third child to be born in Liverpool. She married Ebenezer Harrinton 2nd. Bethia married Benjamin Harrington. Mehitable married Joshua Chatsey. Hannah married Capt. John Mc…

TB Smith Collections: Vol 855, Image 398-406 SMITH, JOSIAH, born at Lpool, NS, Apl 7, 1773. Died 1852, aged 79, says Robt. Long. Page 847. Died at Brookfiled, April 8, Josiah Smith, Aged 79. Father: Smith, Stephen Mother: Godfrey, Susanna 1st. Wife: Collins, Esther, dau of Stephen & Ruth Colins, Married Jan. 3, 1797. She died Feb. 6, 1803. Children: Smith, Lewis, son, born at Lpool, NS, Oct 3, 1797. Died at St. Thomas Jan 1817. Smith, Eunice, dau, born at Lpool, NS, Feb, 6, 1801. 2nd. Wife: Barss, Elizabeth, dau of Joseph and Elizabeth Barss. Married Jan 5, 1804. Children: Smith, Susanna, dau, Borm at Lpool, Oct 3, 1804. Smith, Ann, dau, born at Lpool, Oct 17, 1806. Smith, Olivia, dau, born at Lpool, Oct 17, 1806. Smith, Elizabeth, dau, born at Lpool, Mch 1, 1811. Died unm Oct 1856. Smith, Roxanne, dau, born at Brookfiled, Feb 24, 1813. Smith, Lydia, dau, born at Brookfield, Oct 10, 1814. Smith, Stephen, son, born at Brookfiled, Mch 22, 1816. Smith, Abigail, dau, born at Brookfield, Feb 13, 1818. Smith, Lewis, son, born at Brookfiled, Mch 31 1819. Smith, Samuel, son, born at Brookfiled, May 19 1825.

More's history: Captain Josiah Smith was an efficient shipmaster, and was largely engaged in the fisheries in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. At the breaking out of the American War of 1812 he was determined to have nothing to do with privateering, and he was removed to the Northerm District where he lived and died much respected. (page 178).

Lucius, page 14, says: "Of the sons of Stephen Smith, Jr, Josiah is the most noted. Following the sea, he rose to master, then like many others of the place moved to the fertile farms of the Northern District, making his home at Brookfield.

Perkins: Nov 24, 1800: The Schooner Eliza, Josiah Smith, Master, is nearly ready to sail for Carolina. Perkins, Jan 30, 1801: Capt Ellis Bradford arrives from Edmonton N Carolina ... and informs that the Eliza, Captain Smith, is seized for having 5 demijohns of Brandy on board, as the law of the States does not allow of any foreign spirits to Imported in anything less than Casks of 90 Gallons. It forfeits the liquor and the vessel. The rest of the cargo is not contaminated by it. There was hope of the vessel being given up, as it appeared no fraud was Intended, but the Ognornace of the Law was able reason. Capt Smith has wrote the circumstances, and expects to know his Distany by the middle of February. Capt Smith was advised by Capt Bradford, in case of forfeiture, to purchase the vessel, and git a freight for N. York, Boston, or this country, and in the meantime to write by way of Boston how it was like to go with him. Perkins: Feb 15, 1801: Brings letters from Capt Josiah Smith, at Edmonton, and from Mr Wm Walter, of Boston.Mr. Walter recd a letter from Smith advising of his situation, & he wrote to his correspondent, Mr John Little, at Edmonton, to assist Capt Smith, & supply him with money, if necessary, and says the amount of the brandy is not sufficient to condemn the Vessel, only the Brandy confiscated. Perkins, May 1, 1801: Towards the middle of the night the Eliza comes in sight & appears to be loaded. Capt Smith comes on shore & says was released without a tryal, which was made known to him on the ... of March. the changes in the officers of Government caused considerable delay.

Perkins, Aug 8 1802: At evening the Schooner Alexander, Josiag Smith, Master, arrives from Natashkwen, with about 300 pounds of salmon. Perkins, Oct 14, 1802: Capt Snow Parker's Brig Trusty, and Schnr Alexander, Josiah Smith, sail for West Indies.

Perkins, Feb 6, 1803: I hear that John Peach & the wife of Josiah Smith both dyed last night. Perkins, Feb 7, 1803: The remains of Josiah Smith's wife, who died last Saturday Night, is Buried. She was the grand daughter of Rev Cheever, and the daughter of Mr Stephen Collins, deceased. She has been a long time in a declining state.

Perkins, Feb 6, 1806: Capt Josiah Smith arrives from Boston. the Hunter sailed in Company with him, and Capt Freeman Gardner was to sail soon. They left Boston last Sunday. The news they bring concerning the affairs in Germany is very disagreeable. The French have approached very near to Vienna.

John Payzant's Marriages: Jan 3 1797: Josiah Smith to Esther Collins.

NSHS Vol 16 Page 107, by RB Mcleod: In 1811 Mr Wm Burke sold his improvements (at South Brookfield) to capt Josiah Smith, a son of Stephen Smith (Jr), of Liverpool, a native of Chatham, who was fifth in descent from stephen Hopkins, a notable Mayflower Pilgrim. Smith was supplied with some ready cash. His wife was a daughter of Capt. Joseph Barss, of Liverpool, and was then the mother of four little girls. Mr. Smith built the first framed and boarded house, and also a grist mill that must have proved a great boon to the settlement. His hospitable doors were ever open to the needy, and there he closed a lonf life within my childish recollection. My mother was his daughter, and rode behind him on horseback when a very little girl, as she made her first trip into the country.

Arthur M Griffiths, 164 Carlyle Ave, Town of Mount Royal, Montreal, Que. supplied the following: Captain Josiah Smith, born Apl 7 1773, married Esther Collins (born Feb 14 1774) Jan 3 1797, his first wife. First wife left two children: Lewis - died in Jamaica and Eunice, mar Thomas Bryden. After death of first wife he married Elizabeth Barss (Bearse) (Born June 2 1780) in year 1804. She died Apl 8 1876. Josiah Smith died July 30 1848. Children: Susan Smith, b Oct 2 1804, mar John Harlow Dec 1824, died Apl 1876. Ann Smith, b Nov 17 1606 m Jame Mcleod Sept 1826. Olivia Smith, b June 28 1809, m Ephraim Hunt, died May 10 1841. Elizabeth Smith, b Mar 1 1811, unm, died Oct 1856. Roxanna Smith, b Lpool Feb 24 1813, mar Robert Burton Randell Aug 1830 at Brookfield, died July 19 1875 at Fonthill, Ont, Canada. Lydia Smith, b Oct 18 1814, m John Waterman, died Aug 1850. Stephen Smith, b Mar 31 1819, mar Abigail Park Nov 1839. Abigail Smith, b Feb 15 1818, mar Amasa Fisk, died Mar 1886. Lewis Smith, b Mar 31 1819, mar Adelia Freeman, died Apr 1886. Samuel Smith, b May 19 1824, mar Caretha Park.

Lpool Transcript Jan 18 1855: Remarks and Remins. by an Old Man: (Angus M Gidney) ... Josiah Smith, too, of Brookfield, a genuine "Country Gentleman", whose hospitality, strict integrity, and humane disposition secured for him a wide-spread and general respect, has "gone the way of all earth": - he will long be remembered in the District with deep affection.

From TB Smith Collections: Long, Page 420: The salmon fisheries were a very important business for Liverpool merchants for many years, the vessels being sent to Labrador, Newfoundland and the River St Lawrence for this purpose. This year - 1794 - Nathaniel Smith, Josiah Smith, George Collins and Job Harrington obtained a lease for salmon fishing in rivers running into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. the lease ran for eight years - they were to pay one-tenth of the salmon caught.

Find a Grave: Capt Josiah Smith Birth: Apr. 17, 1773, Liverpool, Nova Scotia, Canada Death: Apr. 8, 1852, Brookfield, Nova Scotia, Canada aged 79 yrs From Dave Walz: Josiah Smith was the son of Stephen Smith (1749 - 1787) and Susanna Godfrey (1754 - 1795). He married Elizabeth Barss in Liverpool, 5 Jan 1804. Family links: Spouse: Elizabeth Barss Smith (1780 - 1848)* Children: Olivia Smith Hunt (1809 - 1841)* Lydia Smith Waterman (1814 - 1850)* Burial: Pioneer Cemetery, South Brookfield, Queens County, Nova Scotia, Canada Created by: RLJ Record added: Jul 19, 2015 Find A Grave Memorial# 149492672

Sources

• " TB Smith Collections, Simeon Perkins Diary," https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-95NW-SH51?i=397&wc=M6G1-JTR%3A206521701%2C206521702&cc=1918186

• Dexter Lucius' "History of Brooklyn", 1871 and 1881 Census of Canada

• "Nova Scotia Marriages, 1711-1909," database, FamilySearch

(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XL5D-H3T : 5 December 2014), Josiah Smith and Elizabeth Barss, 05 Jan 1804; citing Liverpool, Queens, Nova Scotia; FHL microfilm 837,883.