Byrd Bowker Smith (1761 - 1815)

Born 27 Sep 1761 in Albemarle, Sussex, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Rhoda (Ingles) Smith — married 20 Nov 1781 in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States

Descendants

Died 19 Feb 1815 at age 53 in New Orleans, Jefferson, Louisiana, USA

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Biography

Byrd was born about 1761. He is the son of Guy Smith and Ann Hopkins.:

He married: 1781/11/10, Smith, Bird & Rhoda Ingles, Brief of Wills & Marriages in Montgomery & Fincastle Cos, VA, 1733-1831, pg 36.:

The Christians‘ planned move to Kentucky was delayed by several years due to the death of William‘s father, Israel, and other family illnesses. Christian sold his property in phases: in 1783, he sold 1,400 acres of land, 400 acres of which was from the original Dunkard‘s Bottom grant, to James McCorkle, with the intention of moving his family to Bear Grass, Kentucky (Kegley and Kegley 1980:314; Summers 1929). By January 1785, Anne Christian reported that the tutor,―Mr. Gillon, has broke up school here in order for our Children to prepare for their journey to Kentucky, as we propose to go in April‖ (Letter from Anne Christian to Anne Fleming, January 17, 1785, in Hammon 2003). In February, William Christian sold his remaining New River property to James McCorkle, Bird Smith, and Daniel Trigg for £1200, which was to be paid ―in Kentucky land (£300), Luke and children (£400), £100 in horses, and £400 in money,‖ stating that he planned to move on April 1 (Kegley and Kegley 1980:314; Letter from William Christian to Elizabeth Christian, February 19, 1785, in Hammon 2003).:

25 January 1785, MCOB 1, p. 150 Ordered that Byrd Smith be appointed overseer of the road from the Seven mile Tree to Ingles’s ferry in the room of Abraham Trigg and that the said Abraham divide the Tithables between the said Byrd and Richard Mynatt.:

27 September 1785, MCOB 1, p. 231 Ordered that James Charlton be appointed overseer of the road from the seven mile Tree to Ingles’ Ferry in the room of Byrd Smith & that Byrd Smith deliver him the list Tithables that usually work thereon, & that he with the same keep it in repair:

1787/3/12, Smith, Bird took oath as commissioner, Montgomery Co, VA, dbA, 1773-1789, pg 413.:

1796/7-1797/7, Smith, Bird, Thomas, & Andrew Henry, 84 A by survey, Montgomery Co, VA, wb1, 1786-1809, pg 5:

1787, Smith, Bird & Rhoda sell 200 A, Montgomery Co, VA, dbA, 1773-1789, pg 472.:

Madison Co., Tn. Deed Bk. 1; Pg. 648-649

William B. McClellan & his wife Juliett L. McClellan of Madison Co., Tn. sold to Sugars McLemore of Madison Co., Tn., for $205.00, a tract of land lying in Madison Co., 10th Dist., it being 1/12 (or 34 1/6 acres) of an undivided 410 acres and it being part of 500 acres granted to Bird Smith by Grant #17204. This indenture was made December 5, 1826. Wm. B. McLellan Juliett L. McLellan Reg: March 24, 1828 Proven: May Term 1827 Micajah Midget & Joshua Cosart were given power to take the examination of Juliett McClellan and this was done on February 6, 1828.

November 10, 1792 An act was passed incorporating Christianburg, VA. One hundred and eighty acres of land, the property of the County of Mongomery...are hereby established a town by the name of Christianburg and Byrd Smith, Christian Barnett, Hugh Crockett, Samuel Eason, Joseph Cloyd, John Preston, Christian Sni (dow), James Charleton and James Craig, gentlemen, constituted and appointed trustees, thereof. The town was created to commemorate Col. William Christian.

Chancery Case Excerpt

Although Bird was appointed as an executor in his father's Estate, he does not appear to have had an active roll:

Stephen Smith vs LEGT(S) of Guy Smith https://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/case_detail.asp?CFN=067-1834-025

p2 Orator (Stephen Smith) appointed one of executors for Guy Smith, also Daniel Trigg and Bird Smith.

A division of the estate took place between the Different Legatees, Bird Smith took a negro man slave named Squire, and a woman named Annakey, Joseph Crockett who married Lucy Smith negro man Dick, also woman Grace. John Leftwich married Susannah Smith took Gabriel

p3 William Terry married Jenny Smith took woman named Sarah. Guy Smith took James. All of whom your Orator prays may be made defendants together with Thomas Crutcher who married Catey Smith. your Orator further showeth that notwithstanding the said Bird Smith, Joseph Crockett & Lucy his wife, John Leftwich & Susannah his wife, William Terry & Jenny his wife, Guy Smith and Thomas Crutcher & Catey his wife (well knew your) had passed away ….

A notice concerning the estate appeared in the May 5, 1827 edition of The Jackson Gazette (TN). The names of some of the heirs can be confirmed from the notice.

Sources

The Jackson Gazette:

• Brief of Wills & Marriages in Montgomery & Fincastle Cos, VA, 1733-1831, pg 36.
• Montgomery Co, VA, dbA, 1773-1789, pg 413.
• Montgomery Co, VA, wb1, 1786-1809, pg 5
• Montgomery Co, VA, dbA, 1773-1789, pg 472.
• 1781/1/10, Smith, Guy, wife Ann Smith,dt Ann Trigg, dt Elizabeth Smith, dt Joannah Hail, son Bird B Smith, son Guy Smith, dts Jenny, Lucy, Susannah, & Katie Bowker. Unmarried children named as: Jenny, Bird Bowker, Lucy, Susannah, Katie Bowker, and Guy. Exors: Daniel Trigg, Stephen Smith, Bird B Smith,. Bedford Co VA wb1, 402
• Bedford Co VA OB 6,328, (1774-1782)Smith, Guy, will probated, exor, apprs, apptd
• Stephen Smith vs LEGT(S) of Guy Smith https://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/case_detail.asp?CFN=067-1834-025 pp 2,3
• Source: S16 Ancestry Family Trees (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.) m. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. TID 0 Footnote Ancestry Family Trees (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.) ShortFootnote Ancestry Family Trees Bibliography Ancestry Family Trees. Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Repository: #R1 Ancestry Family Tree Page Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=107241224&pid=135
• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 21 December 2019, 00:18), entry for Bird Bowker Smith(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:LYLP-2VB); contributed by various users.

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