| George Smith migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 308) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm |
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George Smith [1] was born in England.[2] A birth of 1618 would make him twenty-one when he signed the New Haven Fundamental Agreement. Holmes' Directory of the Ancestral Heads of New England Families designates that he was from Hertfordshire, but without citing a source.[3]
George married Sarah ____ about 1641, probably in New Haven. After his death, Sarah married 2 July 1668, John Jackson,[1] who removed to Derby, Connecticut. She survived John who died in 1683 (age about 60) and was still living in 1686.[2]
George was a signer of the New Haven Fundamental Agreement 4 Jun 1639.[2][4] He may have arrived in Boston on the Hector or it's sister ship in 1637,[5] but there are no records to prove this.
In a 1641 list of estates, George was assessed for 1 head (himself, no wife yet), and 21 acres. He paid 5s yearly rent.[2][4]
7 Jun 1643 George Smith "required satisfaction" against John Beach for killing one of his cows by felling a tree. The court found that Beach was negligent and Smith was awarded £5.[2][4]
George took the Oath of Fidelity to New Haven Colony 1 July 1644, at the time of it's first administration.[2][4] That year he requested a lot by the sea beyond the West River and thus became one of the earliest settlers of what is now West Haven.[2]
George and Sister Smith were in the 2nd row, other side of the door on their respective male/female sides in the 1646 seating of the meeting house. These seats were near the back in the far corners.[4] February 1655/56, the couple moved forward an entire section. George was seated in row four on ye stile on both sides of the door and Goodwife Smith was in Row 4 in ye side seats all along.[6] In the Jan 1661/2 seating, George and his wife were seated in the center of the meeting house in the seventh row.[6]
1 Jun 1647, George was part of several land transactions. John Nash sold him 11 acres of 2nd division upland. Peter Browne sold him 2 acres 32 rod of "west" meadow and 5 1/4 acres of upland in the first division of upland. George "alienated" 1 acre 16 pole of the previously mentioned meadow to Mathew Moulthropp. George and also Peter Browne sold their land in the Neck to Mr. Malbon.[4]
10 Mar 1648/9 George requested meadow at the Oyster River, this was referred to the viewers.[4]
29 Nov 1649 asked for 2 or 3 acres of meadow land near Mr. Lamberton's, which was on the west side of the river in current West Haven. The court granted this if after Mr. Lamberton's was laid out there was any left.[4]
May 1655. "Samuel Ford, the sonn of Timothy Ford, aged aboute sixteene yeares, … and charged that upon a Saboth day this spring (being as he saith appointed by his father to looke after some cattell, and contrary to his fathers command) went to Geo. Smithes house, and there had almost strangled the sonn of George Smith, a child aboute five or six yeeres old, in ye manner as followeth:" Tom Mullenner's son and George’s son were fetching water for a lame cow. They drew it upon a board or sled with a rope. Sam ford took the rope, made nooses, and put them around the boys heads. The Mullener boy slipped out, but George's boy was stuck fast. Ford drew backward and the boy fell down and the rope, drawn taut, almost strangled him. The Smith boy’s sister heard him groan, turned around and saw Ford pulling on the rope and yelled at him to leave off, which he did. George’s boy had a mark on his neck for several days. Of course Ford denied that he was pulling on the rope. Samuel Ford was also in trouble for “rebellios cariag to his mother.” Ford was publicly whipped by order of the court.[6] This son of George’s would probably be John, age eight, as Samuel the next son would only have been 4ish at the time. There are no clues as to which daughter this is.
Oct 1655, George Smith "passeth over" to Timothy Ford his house and home lot on the west side of the creek and another piece of land.[6]
Feb 1655/56, George was called as a group of workmen to "either cause a new bridg to be builded, or repaire ye old one, as they shall thinke fitt." on a committee to view a bridge,[6] implying that he had carpentry skills.[2]
Shortly before his death he was appointed a fenceviewer, 28 April 1662.
George Smith died 17 May 1662.[1][7] His inventory was taken 20 Dec 1662, valued at £195.3.4.[8] "The widdow being asked if there was noe Will of her husbands she answered noe." [9][10]
Immigrant Ancestor of yDNA group NE28 George Smith-2620 (d 1662 New Haven, Connecticut) m Sarah Unknown-177037. See SmithConnections Northeastern DNA Project.[12]
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George is 18 degrees from Emeril Lagasse, 17 degrees from Nigella Lawson, 19 degrees from Maggie Beer, 42 degrees from Mary Hunnings, 26 degrees from Joop Braakhekke, 26 degrees from Michael Chow, 18 degrees from Ree Drummond, 21 degrees from Paul Hollywood, 19 degrees from Matty Matheson, 19 degrees from Martha Stewart, 27 degrees from Danny Trejo and 24 degrees from Molly Yeh on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
I also removed some of the obvious rejected matches in the really long list of said.
Theodore Palmer