Oziel Smith (1740 - 1818)

Born 16 Sep 1740 in Scituate, Providence, Rhode Island

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret (Walton) Smith — married 30 Jul 1778 in Scituate, Providence, Rhode Island, United States

Descendants

Died 18 Sep 1818 at age 78 in Livonia, Livingston, New York, United States

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Biography

Lieutenant Oziel Smith served with Rhode Island Militia during the American Revolution.

Oziel Smith is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A106591.

Oziel Smith is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: P-292806
Rank: Lieutenant

Little is known about Oziel prior to the 1770's. On 27 April 1773, he purchased land from James and Susannah Rounds in Scituate, Providence, Rhode Island. The property was bounded by land belonging to Capt John Smith (presumably his father), John Seamons and Timothy Hopkins. Source: Scituate Town Records.

In 1774, he presumably married Abigail Unknown. No marriage record has surfaced, but the pair are named in a Clarendon, Vermont birth record for son Noah^[1]date of birth March 18, 1774.

Abigail passed away while Noah was very young. Again, no record has been identified. But in1778, Oziel married, at Scituate, Margaret Walton^[2] The couple relocated to Clarendon VT, where Margaret died in 1793.

Sometime before 1800, Oziel married for a third time, according to a biographical sketch. No record has been found, and the name of this wife is unknown. He relocated his entire family to what is now Livonia, Livingston, New York about 1800.

Oziel's son and grandsons remembered him fondly. "Oziel lost an eye by a wound from a chip when chopping, which incapacitated him for military service; his only known military service being had in temporary neighborhood efforts to repel invasions or attacks. He finally came to Livonia and lived in the family of his son George, where he died Sept. 1818, aged 78 years. I remember him as a tall, well formed man, intelligent of a peaceful and genial disposition, light complexion and bright and pleasant blue eye."^[3]

Buried in the Livonia Union Cemetery, Livonia, Livingston County, New York.^[4]

Research Notes

Served in the militia during the Revolution, probably in both Rhode Island and Vermont.

Oziel appears as head of household in Scituate in the 1774 census of Rhode Island^[5]. His household composition was:

• one white male over 16: Oziel
• one white male under 16: son Noah
• two white females over 16: wife Abigail and unknown

This interpretation assumes that Abigail lived long enough to be counted in the census. Otherwise, both of the adult females are unknown. No trace of Abigail's identity has been found. Family letters say only that she died "soon after" the birth of son Noah. He was born 18 Mar 1774.

One Mark Smith, and his wife Sarah Hall of Dorset, VT are buried near Oziel in the Union cemetery. Were they related to him?

Sources

1. ↑ "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V89M-5FP : 5 November 2017), Noah Smith, 18 Mar 1774, Birth; State Capitol Building, Montpelier; FHL microfilm 27,691.
2. ↑ Rhode Island, Vital Extracts, 1636-1899. Vol 03: Scituate Marriages, Providence County, p 28 IM 134, Ancestry.com
3. ↑ Sketch of Hon. George Smith of Livonia by Hon. Lewis E. Smith, 1889, on file at the LIvingston County, NY County HIstorian's office.
4. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/32951528/oziel-g.-smith
5. ↑ 1774 Rhode Island Census, Scituate, Page 3, Entry 41 -- Oziel Smith; citing transcription by Linda L. Mathew in Rhode Island Roots 32 p.140, September 2006.