John Smiley (abt. 1781 - abt. 1859)

Descendants

Died about Oct 1859 at about age 78 in Virginia

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Biography

John Smiley was born in Virginia around 1785.^[1]

By 1810, John and his family were enumerated in Washington County, Virginia. The household consisted of one free white male under age 10, one free white male age 26-44, three free white females under age 10 and one free white female age 26-44. There were no enslaved people in the household. The older female could be John's wife Mary, also referred to as Polly.^[2][3] Mary's last name is presumed to be Allen, based on an analysis of marriages and associated families in Virginia.^[4]

In 1820, the John Smiley household included the following members: One male under 10 (possibly his son James), one 26-45 (John), four females under 10, two females 10-16, one 26-45 (appropriate for his wife, Mary). One person was engaged in agriculture.^[5]

By 1830, John Smiley’s household consisted of 13 people. There were three males: one male under age 5 (possibly Andrew), one male age 10-14 (possibly James), and John. There were 10 females: one under the age of 5 (this could be Minerva or a sister who did not survive), three females age 5-9 (possibly Minerva and two sisters), 1 female age 10-14, three females age 15-19, one female age 20-29, and one female age 40-49 (likely Mary). No enslaved people are enumerated with the Smiley household.^[6]

In 1840, the household of John Smiley included one male 10-14, one 20-29 (possibly son Andrew), one 50-59 (John), two females 15-19 (one likely Minerva), one 20-29 and one 50-59 (Mary). The census taker noted no enslaved people and no Revolutionary War pensioners. One person was employed in agriculture, one person was insane and idiot at public charge (Andrew), and no one was attending school.^[7]

By 1850 when names of all household members are recorded, John, a laborer, is living with Mary, "Manervy," and Andrew, laborer, who is listed as an “idiot,”^[1] the term used for someone with a developmental disability.

John's death was recorded in the mortality schedule for Washington County in 1860, noting he was a widower and died in October of 1859 of dropsy after an 8 month illness.^[8] Dropsy refers to edema, which likely was caused by chronic heart failure.^[9]

The connection of John Smiley to his son James currently rests on their age differences, proximity in Washington County, Virginia (such as the presence of both in the tax lists in 1852)^[10] and the fact that James named his eldest son John and a daughter Mary.^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} 1850 U.S. Census, Washington County, Virginia, population schedule, 67th District, page 68 (penned), dwelling 526, family 526, John Smiley; digital image, FamilySearch (FamilySearch link : accessed 27 Feb 2021), image 68 of 298; citing NARA microfilm publication M432, roll 980.
2. ↑ 1810 U.S. Census, Washington County, Virginia, district not stated, population schedule, p. 220 (penned), line 24 (hand counted), John Smiley; digital image, FamilySearch, (FamilySearch link : accessed 27 February 2021), image 43 of 78; citing NARA microfilm publication M252, roll 71.
3. ↑ "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940," database, FamilySearch (familysearch : accessed 11 February 2018), John Smiley in entry for Erastus Musselwhite and Minerva Smiley, 09 Jan 1856; citing Washington, Virginia, reference Page 319; FHL microfilm 34,389.
4. ↑ John Hockett with Tom Colley, Diana Powell, Ken Kestner, Joye Boardman, Victoria Cuddy and Shelia Hunt, “Documented Marriages or Marriages from Various Sources Not Contained in the 1850 Census Washington Co. VA Annotated,” Rambling Roots, (RamblingRoots : accessed 27 Feb 2021).
5. ↑ 1820 U.S. Census, Washington County, Virginia, population schedule, district not stated, page 39 (penned), line 7 (hand counted), John Smiley; digital image, FamilySearch (FamilySearch link : accessed 21 February 2021), citing NARA microfilm publication M33, roll 141.
6. ↑ 1830 U.S. Census, Washington County, Virginia, population schedule, Western district, page 286 (penned), line 27 (hand counted), John Smily; digital image, FamilySearch, (FamilySearch link : accessed 21 Feb 2021), citing NARA microfilm publication M19, roll 200.
7. ↑ 1840 U.S. Census, Washington County, Virginia, Western district, page 245 (stamped), page 45 (penned), line 13, John Smiley; digital image, FamilySearch (FamilySearch link : accessed 27 February 2021); citing NARA microfilm publication M704, roll 579.
8. ↑ 1860 U.S. Census, Washington County, Virginia, mortality schedule, Western Enumeration District (ED), p. 615 (stamped), p. 4 (penned), line 4, John Smiley; digital image, FamilySearch, ({https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-13P2-HF18?i=346&cat=414114/ FamilySearch link] : accessed 21 Feb 2021), Film #008923869, image 347 of 698; citing NARA microfilm publication T655
9. ↑ William C. Shiel Jr., Medical Definition of Dropsy, Medicinenet, (medicinenet : accessed 21 February 2021).
10. ↑ New River Notes, "The 1852 Washington County, Virginia Property Tax List," transcribed by Jack Hockett, ([https://www.newrivernotes.com/washington_enumerations_1852_personal_property_tax.htm/ link) : accessed 27 February 2021).
11. ↑ 1860 U.S. Census, Washington County, Virginia, Saltville, Western District, population schedule, page 15, dwelling 97, family 97, James Smiley household; digital image, FamilySearch, (FamilySearch link : accessed 21 February 2021); citing NARA microfilm publication M653, roll 1383.