Augustine Smith (abt. 1666 - 1734)

Born about 16 Jun 1666 in Gloucester County, English Colony of Virginia (North America)

Ancestors

Husband of Susannah (Darnell) Smith — married 1690 in Virginia

Descendants

Died 2 Jul 1734 at about age 68 in St. Mark's Parish, Orange Co., English Province of Virginia

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Biography

Augustine Smith was named for his great-uncle, Augustine Warner.

^[1]This Augustine Smith is sometimes confused with his distant kinsman, Augustine Smith of "Purton," Gloucester County, Virginia, who married Sarah Carver, on Feb. 9, 1711. The Augustine of "Purton" was the son of John and Mary (Warner) Smith, grandson of Augustine, Jr and Mildred (Reade) Warner, and great-grandson of Augustine, Sr. and Mary (Townley) Warner.^[2]

The Augustine Smith of this profile was born in June 1666 as the son of Lawrence Smith^[3]Captain Augustine Smith commanded the first garrison at Fredericksburg. He had been public surveyor for St Mary's Parish, whose people did not like him. However, the Williamsburg colonial authorities made him surveyor of both Spotsylvania and Essex Counties when the upper end of St Mary's Parish was split. The feud grew greater through the years as the local old planters tried many tactics to get rid of him. The creation of a new county (Caroline) seemed a plausible way.

Spotsylvania Co., VA. ^[4] dated 4 Feb 1728, from John Waller and John Taliaferro as Trustees of the town of Fredericksburg in Spots. Co. to Augustine Smith of Caroline Co., VA., conveyed lots 30 an 32 in said town. Augustine Smith was the first to purchase a lot,^[5][6] dated Nov. 2, 1731. Augustine Smith of Spts. Co., Gent. to his eldest son, Thomas Smith, of the same County, Gent., 250 ster. and for said Thos. advancement in life, 400 a. in Spts. whereon sd. Thos. now dwells and for some time past has dwelt, etc. - ^[7]

[Note:^[8]dated 17 Jun 1752 a Deed of Gift from Lawrence Washington, to his brother George of King Geo. Co., Gent., conveyed his interest acquired as heir of the late Augustine Washington, deceased, in Lots 33, 34 and 40 in the town of Fredericksburg]. ^[9]

^[10]

"The first Robert Slaughter of Culpeper m. Mary Smith, daughter of Augustine Smith, of Culpeper, an early land surveyor, who lived on the Rappahannock river. His will is on record in the first Vol. of Will records of Orange county. Augustine Smith was of the Horseshoe Expedition of Gov. Spotswood^[11] as was also another surveyor, Col. James Taylor. Augustine Smith was the son of Col. Lawrence Smith, of Gloucester county, and York Town. Col. Smith for years was commandant of the fort at Falmouth, Virginia. The House of Burgesses also gave him civil jurisdiction over a section around the fort, an unusual mark of confidence, and donated to him a tract of land on the Rappahannock [River], three and a half miles wide by five miles long. [Col. Smith] was once defeated in battle by Bacon, his troops deserting him. Altogether he was one of the most distinguished Virginians of his day. He (Col. Lawrence Smith) laid out York Town."

^[12]

"Augustine Smith (son of Major Lawrence Smith, great-uncle of Thomas Smith, of York,) was one of the Knights of the Golden Horseshoe. He married Susanna Darnell; had a son Thomas, a son John, and daughter Mary, who married Robert Slaughter. His will proved in Orange County; [he] lived in St. Mary's Parish, Essex County."

Regarding Augustine Smith's wife:

Augustine's wife was indeed named Susannah, but she was not Susannah Darnell:

^[13] On 7 Feb. 1706/7, Augustine Smith of St. Ann's Parish, Essex County, sold 1162 acres in St. Ann's parish to Francis Gouldman. The land was part of a patent formerly granted to a Robert Beverley and then deserted, and was granted "unto Augustine Smith 16 May 1704". Susanna Smith relinquished her right of dower on 10 Feb 1706/7.

But the Susannah Darnell who married a different Augustine Smith, did so in Fauquier Co. in 1780, and therefore could not be the wife of Augustine Smith, son of Col Lawrence Smith:

^[14] "Smith, Augustine. . . . MB (marriage bond) 12/30/1780 to Susanna Darnell - bd Jesse Nelson", p. 323

There is nothing in the records of Old Rappahannock (Richmond), Essex, Orange or Spotsylvania counties that gives the surname of Susannah, wife of Augustine Smith, son of Col Lawrence Smith of Mobjack Bay.

6 April 1712. Deed of Gift. William Smith of the Parish of Abington and the County of Gloucester, Gent., gives "for and in consideration of the natural affection and Brotherly love which I have and bear unto my well beloved brother Augustine Smith of the Parish of St Ann in the County of Essex"...920 acres, this land having been patented by William Smith for his brother Augustine Smith, due to his being remote from the Gen'l Court and paying expenses. This land lying on the branches of Occupation Run and the branches of Cockel Shell Creek and bounded by land of Richard Robinson and Mrs Beth Gilson, an Indian path, etc. Said patented granted 6th April 1712. [signed] Wm Smith. Wit: Salvator Muscoe, Abraham Merchant, & Isaac Walters. Rec: 12 Feb 1713. Essex Co. VA Deed Book 14, p.100.

Augustine Smith was one of the original Trustees for the town of Fredericksburg in 1727. ^[15]

"in 1722 [Augustine Smith] qualified as one of the first justices for Spotsylvania Co., and his will was proved in Orange Co., VA., 20 Jul 1736, and names issue, Thomas, of Prince Wm. Co., and Mary, wife of Robert Slaughter." [IF a son John existed, he apparently predeceased his father]

Will

In the name of God Amen I Augustine Smith of the Parish of St Mark in the County of Orange do make and declare this my Last Will & Testament in manner & form following ~ that is to say First I bequeath my soul into the hands of Almighty God believing Remission of Sins and Everlasting Life, by the Merits Death and passion of Jesus Christ of my Lord and only Saviour.
Item I give to my son Thomas Smith twenty Shillings Curr't Money of Virg'a he having had his full part & Shear of my Estate already
Item I give to my daughter Mary Slaughter twenty Shillings she having had her full part & Shear of my Estate already
Item I give to my grandson Lawrence Slaughter the Mulatto boy named George to him and his heirs forever
Item I give to my son Augustine Smith Jnr all that Tract of Land belonging to my plantation being three hundred Sixty Six Acres surveyed by Mr James Woods Surveyor and the remainder of that Tract where John Carder liveth being two hundred fifty Acres and all my meat Cattle Horses and Mares and Hoggs and all my beds and furniture and all my household goods in what kind whatsoever to him and his heirs forever Provided that my said son Augustine Smith Junr do acknowledge Levy execute Good and Sufficient Deeds to the hon'ble John Grymes Esq and to heirs forever in and unto a certain Tract or Parcel of Land containing three hundred thirty three acres which Abraham and William Bletsoe made Deeds to the s'd Augustine Smith Junr for the said Land but if my said son Augustine Smith Junr doth refuse and will not acknowledge levy and execute Such Deeds to the hon'ble John Grymes Esq then the above gift to be void and of none effect as if it had never been written, and then my will is that my Executor hereafter named shall have full power authority to Sell acknowledge levy and Execute to any person or persons that will buy the above said two Tracts or Parcels of Land and meat Cattle Horses and Mares and Hoggs to pay the the hon'ble John Grymes Esq his Debt

At a Court held for Orange County of Tuesday the 20th day of July 1736
This will of Augustine Smith was presented into Court by Robert Slaughter Gent who desire leave to administer on the Estate of the said Augustine Smith dec'd which was granted him Certificate thereof...Robert Slaughter, John Taliaferro, & Samuel Ball acknowledge their bond...^[16]

Sources

1. ↑ According to the Article entitled "Thomas Smith of Fairfax County, Virginia," by Henry G. Taliaferro, in Volume 40, Number 1 (January-March, 1996) of The Virginia Genealogist:
2. ↑ Cited on: Ham/m Genealogy on RootsWeb - Augustine Smith. This well-researched family genealogy is by a retired college professor & covers DE, MD, VA and NC ancestors.
3. ↑ per page 54 of "Colonial Caroline: A History of Caroline County, Virginia," (1954) by T. E Campbell.
4. ↑ DB A (1722-1729)
5. ↑ per "History of Fredericksburg Virginia," (1937), by Alvin T. Embry.
6. ↑ Spots. Co. Deed Book B (1729-1734),
7. ↑ M. Battaley [sic=Battaile], J. Mercer. Nov. 2, 1731.
8. ↑ Spots. Co DB E (1751-1761)
9. ↑ For info on Fredericksburg see: http://www.ego.net/us/va/fb/history/index.htm .
10. ↑ From page 98 of Genealogical and Historical Notes on Culpeper County, Virginia, Embracing a Revised and Enlarged Edition of Dr. Philip Slaughter's History of St. Mark's Parish, compiled by Raleigh Travers Green (1958), Baltimore Southern Book Company: St. Mark's, p. 85--Slaughter Family--
11. ↑ (see: http://cal.jmu.edu/sherwork/Writings/History/1716.htm),
12. ↑ From page 98 of "The Armistead Family 1635-1910," (1910), by Virginia Armistead Garber:
13. ↑ From the Essex Co., Virginia Deeds and Wills Book no. 12, 1704-1707, pg 348-51.
14. ↑ From "Fauquier Families, 1759-1799", by John P. Alcock, Iberian Publishing Co., Athens, GA, 1994.
15. ↑ From page 97 of "The Armistead Family 1635-1910,"
16. ↑ Will of Augustine Smith proved 20th July 1736. Orange Co. Will Book 1, p. 23-24.

• "Orange, Virginia, United States Records, August 5, 2018," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/records/images/image-details?rmsId=TH-1971-48134-6884-13&imageIndex=24&singleView=true : March 28, 2020), image 25 of 474; Virginia. County Court (Orange County).

• "Orange, Virginia, United States Records, August 5, 2018," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/records/images/image-details?rmsId=TH-1971-48134-6884-13&imageIndex=24&singleView=true : March 28, 2020), image 25 of 474; Virginia. County Court (Orange County).

• "The Founding of Fredericksburg", by Trip Wiggins. The Rappahannock Gazette, Newsletter of the Rappahannock Colonial Heritage Society, Inc. Volume 6, Number 1. Winter 2003. https://www.wikitree.com/photo/pdf/Smith-1243