Rebecca (Christian) Smith (abt. 1700 - aft. 1759)

Born about 1700 in Charles City County, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Wife of Joseph Smith — married 1745 in Goochland, Colony of Virginia

Descendants

Died after 1759 after about age 59 in Goochland County, Colony of Virginia [uncertain]

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Biography

Rebecca Christian was probably born about 1700 in Charles City County, Virginia to Thomas and Rebecca (New) Christian She married Thomas Christian about 1723 in Henrico or Charles City County, Virginia.

She married Joseph Smith between March 1744/45 and March 1746/47, and they were both still living by July 1759.^[1]

Research Notes

Thomas Christian, who left a will in Goochland in 1737 treated his daughter Rebecca similar to his married daughter Ann Mourning (Christian) Coleman, and unlike his then unmarried daughters Mary and Constant.^[2] The theory accepted by Agnes Branch Pearlman who published the Christian Chronicles newsletter has this Rebecca as the wife of the Thomas Christian of Goochland who left a will in 1743. Rebecca's brother Thomas Christian Jr. lived in Charles City County and had a wife named Elizabeth. He inherited the 250 acres of land "that he lived on" mentioned in Thomas' will, which wasn't in Goochland.

Rebecca's first husband passed away in Goochland County, Virginia, where his will was proved on March 20, 1743.^[3] Thereafter, she may be found several times in the Order and Minutes Book for Goochland County. In August 1744, she sued John Goodwin (mentioned in her husband's will), as executor for a debt to her late husband's estate (requesting scire facias be issued against the defendant).^[1] William Christian sued her as executrix of Thomas Christian's estate in March 1744/45 for £0/29/5.^[1] James Scott brought a scire facias motion against Joseph and Rebecca Smith (she the executrix of Thomas Christian's estate) in March 1746/47. Sherrif reports they are not found and failed to appear (renewed judgment from August 1744 for £0/35/7 + 62 lbs neet tobacco).^[1] William Christian again sued Joseph and Rebecca Smith, executrix of Thomas Christian's estate in July 1752 (served Joseph, failed to appear, renewed judgment from March 1744 for £0/29/5 + 72 lbs. neet tobacco plus cost of this scire facias).^[1] Finally, in June 1759, Joseph Smith and wife Rebecca, executrix of Thomas Christian's estate sued John Goodwin (continued for auditor's report)^[1]

John Goodwin later appears in Road Orders for Albemarle County, specifically south of the James River, so the land he was to have purchased is probably in current-day Buckingham County. Joseph Smith is also mentioned in 1746 as an "overseer" and later as a tithable for "Horn Quarter Road" from the County Line to "Glover's Road" (also now in Buckingham).^[4]

Rebecca sometimes appears with a maiden name "Price" in various online "trees". Lack of evidence linking her to Price families in Virginia have led some researchers to link her to parents in Pennsylvania (usually John and Rebecca (Merryman) Price), however no evidence exists to explain how she would have removed to Virginia - apparently solo.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} Order and minute books, 1728-1880, Virginia. County Court (Goochland County), Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 1948
   Aug 1744: (OB5:360) film 31672 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4K-49SN-1?i=216&cat=401120
   Mar 1744/45 (OB6:32) film 31672 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4K-49SW-H?i=344&cat=401120
   March 1746/47 (OB6:276) film 31672 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4K-49SM-K?i=467&cat=401120
   Jul 1752 (OB7:142) film 31673 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4K-4S9Z-S?i=92&cat=401120
   Jun 1759, (OB8:238) film 31673 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4K-4S33-F?i=448&cat=401120
2. ↑ Deed books (with wills, inventories, etc.), 1728-1901, Virginia. County Court (Goochland County), Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 1948 (DB3:32) film 31654 "Will of Thomas Christian" https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99P6-9Q7Q?i=459&cat=406600
3. ↑ Deed books (with wills, inventories, etc.), Virginia. County Court (Goochland County), Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 1948 (DB4:316-318) film 31654 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9P6-9SPC?i=177&cat=406600 Husband's will
4. ↑ Albemarle County Road Orders 1744-1748, Nathaniel M. Pawlett, Virginia Highway & Transportation Research Council, Charlottesville, VA, 2003.

• Akard Christian, Nancy. "Christian Cousins from Hawkins County, Tennessee, Vol. 1." Church Hill, TN: Nancy A. Christian, 2005. Print.

• "Pedigree Resource File," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:3ML4-Y9S : accessed 13 April 2018), entry for Rebeckah /Price/, cites sources; file (2:2:2:MM4X-8RH), submitted 30 March 2012.

U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970, Ancestry.com