| Jane (Mackall) Smith resided in the Southern Colonies in North America before 1776. Join: US Southern Colonies Project Discuss: southern_colonies |
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Jane (Mackall) Smith[1]
This updated biographical sketch of the woman known by previous researchers as Lyle Jane McKay Prather Smith (McKay-479) is derived from the intensive research conducted by Beth Golden (Brown-18795) from March through August 2020. Because of the the extent of the findings which would be too long for the space provided below, a brief outline follows. Please see the attached PDF document, Jane Mackall Prather Smith- A Brief Biography, for additional information. Even more details, additional research including One-Name Studies and other data are available by contacting Beth.
Comments, suggestions, corrections, etc. are most welcomed; but please do not make changes without consulting with the profile managers.
A GRACIOUS LADY TOBACCO PLANTER AND MERCHANT
Jane was born a Mackall (spelling variations) about 1645+/-5 in the area southeast of Edinburgh, Scotland, with the parish of Haddington being the most likely. She is very likely the sister or cousin of George Mackall (1636-1675) and they are second cousins once removed from James Mackall (abt.1630-1693) with their common ancestors being John McCall and Issobell MacMorane of Edinburgh, Scotland. If she and George were siblings, their father was John Maccall (abt.1615-abt.1680). If first cousins, Jane's father was Thomas Maccall (abt.1620-abt.1680). Note that John and Thomas were brothers and sons of Robert Maccall (abt.1600-abt.1650).
In official records. Jane never used the name Lyle. The previous last name at birth, McKay, cannot be correct as there is no record of a McKay of the right age to be a father living in the colonies of Virginia or Maryland between 1635 (her previously listed birth year) – 1660 (approximate date of residence in Maryland). MACKALL may have been read as MACKAY. The 2 “L's” in Mackall may have been interpreted as the 2 humps of the “Y” in Mackay. [1] There are numerous spelling variations for this surname in Scotland, Virginia and Maryland and include Macall, M'Call, McCall, Macgael, Makcall, and even M'Kawele (1370-1380) [2]
She likely arrived in the colony of Virginia, along the Mobjack Bay with other Mackall (spelling variations) families in the early 1650s. [3] [Please see MYTHS DEBUNKED section in the attached PDF regarding the incorrect assignment of Jane to George Gouldsmith (Gouldsmith-4) and related information regarding George Gouldsmith.]
Jane's first husband was Jonathan Prather (Prather-72). The exact date and place of their marriage is unknown, but likely about 1661 on Thomas Spriggs' plantation, Resurrection Manor, Calvert County, Maryland. [Please see MYTHS DEBUNKED section in the attached PDF regarding the often cited Prater's Hall on Swan Creek located near Fort Washington as their place of marriage.]
Children: Jane (Prather-2), Jonathan (Prather-71), George (Prather-94), William ((Prather-92), Thomas (Prather-11), John (Prather-93) and Elizabeth (Prather-95)
Jonathan Prather died before 21 August 1680. Jane then married John of Mattapany Smith in Calvert County, Maryland (later Collington Hundred, Prince George's) after 24 August 1682. [4] The ceremony may have taken place on Thomas Sprigg's property, Northampton. [Note: They were not married at Brook Wood, Mattapany Landing, Prince George's County, which was previously thought as John had not yet purchased it and Prince George's County was formed from a part of Calvert County in 1695] Since this was a late in life marriage, she and John did not have any natural children, but John was a loving step-father and Jane's children were mentioned in his Last Will (1707) with significant bequests. [5], [6]
Jane owned land, slaves and servants most if not all received from her husband, John Smith, at his request in his Last Will and Testament. See John Smith (abt.1640-1707) [highlights of the biography written by Beth Golden; full biography available upon request.
Jane had a degree of literacy and knowledge skills as she managed the tobacco production and sales following John Smith's death. She signed her Will with her signature, a mark and a seal indicating her ability to at least write her name as well as her status. Her Inventory included printed books suggesting the ability to read. [7]
Likely among very few woman in the early years of 18th century Maryland, Jane managed the tobacco production, shipping and sales from 1707, the year of her husband's death, until her own passing in 1713. Jane may have learned or at least experienced business skills from her relatives in Edinburgh, Scotland. In particular was David McCall. During his lifetime, he was a wealthy merchant conducting international trade. [8] David was munificent and as the first treasurer of the Tron Kirk (Church) [9] in Edinburgh, gave over 12,000 merks to provide for a week-day preacher. [10]
Jane died in November 1713 at her home, Brooke Wood Plantation, Mattapany Hundred, Prince George's, Maryland. Her Last Will was presented to the Prerogative Court on 7 December 1713. [11], [12] Her cause of death is unknown but was likely malaria, lead poisoning from pewter, contaminated food, tainted water or a cooking fire. [13] Her burial site was likely on her property, Brooke Wood [14] or in the old Patuxent Presbyterian Church graveyard in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. [15] Her tombstone remains have not been found and are probably lost to time.
In the Name of God Amen. I Jane Smith widow & Relict of Jno: Smith late of Prince Geo.'g's County dec'd being sick & weake in body but through the Infinite mercy of God of sound & p.fect memory calling to mind the uncertainty of this Transitory Life & that it is appointed for all men once to dye do make ordain constitute & appoint this to be my Last will & Testament: in manner & forme following that is to say.
First & Cheiffley I give & bequeath my Immortal Soul into the hands of allmighty God my Creator that gave it wth: true & harty sorrow for all my sins committed agt: him hoping & trusting that through the death Resurrection assention & mediation of my Dear redeamer & Lord Jesus Christ I shall receive pardon & remission of my sins & at the Last day be received up into Glory & for the Temporall Estate wch: was left me by the last will & Testamt: of my Dear husband dec'd I give & bequeath in manner & forme following as is hereafter expres't.
Imprimis I give & bequeath to my son's Wm: Thos: & Jno: Prater & to two sons of Jonathan Prater viz. Jonathan & Thos: Prater all my ?oth: & dividend of the household goods to be equally divided between the son's of the Eldest Jonathan ?oth: between his two sons before mentioned.
Item. I will that my son Jonathan Prater have one English woman servt: named Prudence Blyth five years to serve.
Item. I will the Eldest Daughter of Jno: Prater called Elizh: Prater have one negro man called Jack aged 25 yrs:
Item. I will that Pricilla Prater Daughter of Wm: Prater have one negro female child called Pegy & that she continue with the mother till she is one year old.
Item. I will that my son Wm. Prather have one Scotch Servt: a Tayler called George Dunbar.
Item. I will that Thos: Prater have one negro man named Cook.
Item. I will that the Eldest Daughter of my son Thos: Prater have one negro woman named Pegy.
Item. I will & bequeath to my Jno: Prater one Irish boy called Thos: Daniell.
Item. I will my son Jno: Prather's eldest Daughter Mary have one negro boy named David.
Item. I will that James Mullikin's Daughter Jane have one negro boy named Jerry.
Item. I will that the three sons of James Mullikin viz. Thos: Wm: Jno: have each of them a heiffer two year's old.
Item. I give & bequeath to my Grand-Children Ann, Martha, Jane, Susannah children of Jonathan Prater & to Thos: Jno: Philip Eleanor & Rachell children of Thos: Prather as as also to Wm: Prissilla & Margett, children of Wm: Prather as also to Jno: & the youngest next to Jno: Prather children of Jno: Prather all the residue of my estate be it in money goods Cattle horses hoggs or of what nature or kind so ever it be, be it in England or any other part of her majesty's Dominions or on the seas or wheresoever it be, & i'ts further my will that if any of my grandchildren should be called from this life before they have rece'd their portion's of the residue of my Estate that his her or their part or parts be equally divided among the surviving children of that family or surviver if but one.
Item. I will that Mr. Thos: Brooke, Junr: & Mr: Philip Lee if they will be pleased to favour me so far as see an equall division among the grandchildren, wch. said children I will be capable to receive their portions as the following years viz. Both males & females at the age of seventeen but if the females should marry before that the day of marriage & I do hereby request & desire my well beloved son's Wm: Thos: & Jno: Prather to be Exers of this my last will & Testamt: & I do hereby fully & absolutely revoke & make null & void all or any other will Testamt. or Codicill by me formerly made or in my name made or pretended to be made & do make constitute & ordain & publish this to be my last will & Testamt: wittness my hand & seal this 27th: day July anno Dmi. 1710
Jane (signum) Smith (seal)
Signed sealed & declared to be the last will & Testamt: of the above named Jane Smith in presence of us
Philip Lee George Dunbar Jno: (his mark) Bryon
And on the back was Endorsed
Decembr: the 7th: day Anno Dmi. 1713
Then came Geo: Dunbar & Jno: Bryon wittnesses to the wth:in will & did make oath upon the holy Evangelist of Almighty God that they were present at the time that the dece'd Jane Smith did signe seale & acknowledge the wth:in will to be her last will & Testamt: & that att the same time she was in her perfect sences
Sworn before me
Benjn: Berry Depty: Comry: Prin: Geo: Co:[16]
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M > Mackall | S > Smith > Jane (Mackall) Smith
Categories: Prince George's County, Maryland | Common Genome of Descendants of Francis Bird | Maryland Colonists
I see the use of the project box which requires project co-management. Project protection will also protect the great research you've done here.
Question: what about her using a mark to sign her name leads you to believe she could sign her name or was literate? My understanding is that use of a mark instead of signing a name is indication of lack of literacy.
Jillaine, co-leader, US Southern Colonies project @ wikitree
I'm not sure who put the project box on the page, but it prompted me to be in touch with Jack Day and from there join the SoCOl/MD and main SoCOL projects, and to send a request for Project protection. I'm still waiting to here whether that's approved.
Answer: I need to rewrite that sentence. She signed, used a mark and used seal.
I added project protection to the profile (edited the locked status) of Jane Mackall Smith per your request.
Regards, David Douglas
Also, at the very least, I suggest her surname at birth should be Mackay, as McKay is the Irish spelling.
I hesitate to make any profile changes without collaboration. Thanks!
edited by Beth (Brown) Golden
Also, the Brooke.... properties owned by John Smith were bequeathed to his nephew John Bowie upon Jane's death. Satisfyingly, the property in Collington Hundred, a part of Robert Brooke's Brookewood, also known as Frienshipp, stayed in the family through the 1850's when it was owned by the Eversfield family. Note: there is a plantation known as Brookwood, located at 12807 Duley Station Road, Upper Marlborough, MD, which was built about 1850 by the Eversfield family and is listed on the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties (PG:86A-4) https://mht.maryland.gov/mihp/MIHPCard.aspx?MIHPNo=PG%3a86A-4 accessed 12 July 2020. Fielder Bowie, grandson of John Bowie, married Elizabeth Claggett Eversfield about 1765. Brookwood may have been named in honor of the plantation owned by John and Jane Smith and subsequently by John Bowie, or this Brookwood may actually be the land originally granted to John Bowie by his uncle, John Smith in his Last Will of 1707 and the Eversfield family improved the property.
It is unknown if the Halterman family somehow connects to Jane, one of her 2 husbands one of her children, and/or John Bowie (John Smith's nephew who inherited Brookewood after Jane's passing)
By happenstance I discovered that just a 1/4 mile or so further south, Francis BEALL owns land! I'm not sure how or from which Beall he descends. He could possibly be a direct male descendant of Ninian who owned land in the general vicinity. The land appears to once been a part of the all the Brooke family lands.
Both of these land records were found using https://www.pgatlas.com/ on 9 July 2020
I've untagged Jane and John Smith from the pdf and will soon be uploading a new document. Also I plan on sharing the other land location research I've done which tracks Jane's residences through Maryland.
edited by Beth (Brown) Golden
As mentioned in my post last week, the first McKay I've found living in VA in 1635 is Melashus (MacKay-6622). Unfortunately, intensive research to date has not resulted in any information regarding his life in VA.
It may be that Jane was born about 1650 in either VA, MD, England, or Scotland, as the birth year of her first known child is 1664 and some women during this time married as early as 14 years old. Plus a later birth year makes sense with her age at death. Dying at age 78, if born in 1635, was not normal during this time and place.
After 4 months of researching, I've several possibilities as to Jane's parentage, but no proof. I'm about at the point of concluding my research and finishing up my bio of her which includes proven facts as well as one-name studies conducted to verify her LNAB and my theory as to her parentage based on this.
At least I've been able to document that she was not the biological or adopted child of George Gouldsmith and have updated his wikitree profile, have documented John Smith's life and created his wikitree profile, and found Melashus Mackay who may have been her father and created his wikitree profile. Perhaps future researchers can build on this and finally document the beginnings of Jane's life.
BROOKEWOOD PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY LAND RECORDS, Deed, 6 June 1700 From: THOMAS BROOKE of P. G. County, Esq. To: JOHN SMITH of P. G. County, planter Price; 100 pounds sterling Property: The 12 acre and 130 acre tracts being part of "Brookes Field" bounding on Brookes Creek Branch, land of JOHN SMITH being also formerly part of "Brookes Field," on land of Major NICHOLAS SEWELL, and on Bridge Branch. Signature: THO. BROOKE Wit.: THO. GREENFIELD, R. BRADLY Ackn'd: THOMAS BROOKE and wife BARBARA, 6 June 1700 Recorded: 18 October 1700, Vol. A, p. 215
FOUND - see my comment for details
edited by Beth (Brown) Golden
Hope you had a great Mother's Day.
pdf at http://aomol.msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc2900/sc2908/000001/000041/pdf/am41--277.pdf Please note that the date is 1659.
Also "The MacKay clan was an important Scottish clan in the 17th Century" needs documentation please, as what I'm finding indicates that Mackay was actually Mackall. Thanks!
edited by Beth (Brown) Golden
From your recent research into Jane, is there anything new? If so, please share either here or in an email to me.
If the majority of profile managers agree with you, then I'll be glad to update Jane's profile. While I await other responses on this, I've more research to do on Jane in hopes of proving her full name, birth date/place, parents, arrival to the Colonies, and marriage to Jonathan. fingers crossed :D
Thanks again!
Also, an earlier researcher seems to have interpreted this bequest of land as a dowry to Jonathan Prather. Unfortunately, the dates do not fit. The bequest was made in 1666 and Jonathan and Jane were married about 12 years before then.
Additionally, Jane is not mentioned in George's Last Will.
The only possibility of George being Jane's guardian is if Jane was born in England and the guardianship took place prior to 1650 in England when George transported himself, his wife and 3 children to VA (along with 8 others). It may be that one of these children was Jane. p. 196 All of George's 3 children were under the age of 16 at the time of his death in 1666. [See Ancestry.com, Maryland, Calendar of Wills, 1635-1743 (Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1998), Volume: I, Wills from 1635 (Earliest Probated) to 1685.] Additional research into the birth dates/places of George Gouldsmith, Sr.'s children as well as searching records in England is needed to prove/disprove his guardianship of Jane. A few days ago I did search the British Archives-Kew and found no records of guardianship for George Gouldsmith and Jane.
Would be glad to explore/discuss this further.
edited by Beth (Brown) Golden
STUDY OF THE WILL OF GEORGE GOULDSMITH. WRITTEN 1-_DAY OF APRIL 1666 and PROVED JULY 20th 1666. John W. Prather, Jr. 1997. http://prathergenealogy.com/jwpst21.htm accessed 7 April 2020
Doliante, Sharon J. Maryland and Virginia Colonials: Genealogies of Some Colonial Families : Families of Bacon, Beall, Beasley, Cheney, Duckett, Dunbar, Ellyson, Elmore, Graves, Heydon, Howard, Jacob, Morris, Nuthall, Odell, Peerce, Reeder, Ridgley, Prather, Sprigg, Wesson, Williams, and Collateral Kin; (Vol 2), Genealogical Publishing Com, 1991. Chapt 17 Prather-Prater p. 651
900 acres in Lancaster County, 25 November 1653. Upper north side of Rappahannock River bounded upon south side of of an eastern branch of the Corrotoman River beginning upon a point upon the eastern most side dividing this and land of William Clapham. George's land was on the western branch of the Corrotoman River, but the properties may have been in close proximity. In my opinion this is really stretching information, but it may prove helpful to future researchers.
Nugent. Cavaliers and Pioneers; abstracts of Virginia land patents and grants, 1623-1800; p. 256 https://archive.org/details/cavalierspioneer00nuge accessed 23 May 2020. Greer, George Cabell. Early Virginia Immigrants, 1623-1666, 1912. http://www.evmedia.com/virginia/ accessed 3 May 2020.
Frankie aka Linda Franks
Beth