Richard Smoot (1636 - 1676)

Born 1636 in Hampton, Elizabeth City Shire, British Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Died 31 Oct 1676 at about age 40 in Charles County, Colony of Maryland

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Biography

Richard Smoot, Sr., was born in 1636 in Hampton, Elizabeth City Shire (became Elizabeth City County in 1643, later York County).^[1] His parents were William Smoot and Grace Wood, although she may have been a widow and Wood was the surname of her first husband. Both were born in England and immigrated to the British colony of Virginia in 1634.

William Smoot was a boatwright (ship-builder) and originally went to Virginia for just 50 days to build small inter-coastal trading ships for Col. Thomas Burbage. He decided to remain in the British North American colonies and founded his family there.^[2]

William and his family left Elizabeth City (became York County), Virginia, in 1646 and moved to the new colony of Maryland, where he established a shipyard on the west bank of the Wicomico River in Charles County, Maryland.

William's oldest son, Richard Smoot, was born in Virginia in 1636; he moved to Maryland with his parents and siblings. In 1656, in Charles County, Maryland, Richard married Eleanor Rowland, born in York County, Virginia, in 1638. They had 5 children:

1. Richard Jr. Smoot b: 1663 in Pickawaxon Hundred, Charles County, Maryland
2. Elizabeth Smoot b: 15 Dec 1666 in Pickawaxon Hundred, Charles County, Maryland
3. William Smoot b: abt 1667 in Chicamuxen, Charles County, Maryland
4. Edward Smoot, Sr. b: abt 1668 in Chicamuxen, Charles County, Maryland
5. Eleanor Smoot b: 1672 in Chicamuxen, Charles County, Maryland

Richard Smoot wrote his Will in April 1676 in Charles Co., Maryland. The Will was proven on October 31, 1676, shortly after Richard's death. He bequeathed to his eldest son, Richard, the dwelling-plantation at the age of 21 years, and Edward an 100-acre portion of "Smoot's Purchase" at majority. The residue of his estate was to be divided among his five named children-- Richard, Edward, Elizabeth, William, and Eleanor. ^[3]

At the court held in Charles County during January 1676/77, Elizabeth Smoot "by the consent of Captain William Barton one of the overseers of the estate of Richard Smoot late of Charles County deceased" was placed under the guardianship of Elizabeth wife of Henry Bonner to learn the orphan to read and write and not to work without the house". At the same court Edward Smoot chose Thomas Taylor, and Richard Smoot that of Walter Davis. On January 20, 1677, Walter Davis of Charles County, the greatest creditor of Richard Smoot, appeared in court and declared that the overseers "would not to further intermeddle with goods". Furthermore, he stated that Richard Smoot, the eldest son, was then of age sufficient to select his own guardian and that he had chosen him. The judge ordered that the goods and chattels of Richard Smoot be transferred to Walter Davis.

The inventory of the personal estate of Richard Smoot Sr. was appraised by John Cage and George Creducle on May 15, 1677, with William Barton Jr., as the executor. The following letter of the same date to Walter was signed by Philip Calvert:

"I understand that William Barton Jr. hath intermeddled with goods of Richard Smoot and not fit to administer. He brought an inventory which I ordered to be recorded...The orphans are under your care now and I desire you to look after them".

On July 18, 1677, Captain Humphrey Warren in court exhibited the bond of Walter Davis, the administrator of Richard Smoot Sr., deceased, with John hater and Robert Inglesby as the sureties.

Parents' Marriage: William Smoot and Grace Wood [Immigration file card says Elizabeth Wood was her daughter. Wood was probably her married name from a previous marriage, not her last name at birth.]

William & Grace's children:^[4]

1. Ann b. 1640
2. Richard, b. bef.1646
3. Thomas b. 1643
4. Elizabeth bef. 1646 in Va.
5. Ales (Alice?) bef. 1646
6. William, prob. after 1646

Sources

1. ↑ Elizabeth City Shire article on Wikipedia
2. ↑ Hamm/m Genealogy - William Smoot
3. ↑ Arkansas is the Center of the Universe - Richard Sr. Smoot
4. ↑ Dr. Lois Green Carr, Biographical Files of 17th and 18th Century Marylanders, St. Mary's County Career Files, Men’s Career Files, Maryland State Archives, accessed Jan 15, 2015, MSA SC 5094, Image No: sc5094-3885-01, Summary card for William Smoote.

• Source: S2154715033 Repository: #R3198678162 Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=5513553&pid=314002985 . Repository: R3198678162 http://www.Ancestry.com

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Smoot-68 created through the import of Foster Family Tree.ged on May 27, 2011 by Ferrell Foster. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Ferrell and others.