Smiths of Rockbridge County, Virginia

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Rockbridge County, Virginia
Surname/tag: Smith

Rockbridge County was created in 1777 from parts of Botetourt and Augusta Counties.

Contents 1 Earliest Records 2 Court Orders 3 Chancery Court Records 4 Tithables 5 1810 Census 6 1820 Census 7 1830 Census 8 Sources

Earliest Records

In 1753, John Smith and Joseph Smith were on a list of workers constructing a road from Campbell's schoolhouse to Renick Road^[1]

William Smith was on a list of men who signed a call in 1753 requesting that the Rev. John Brown to come to the Timber Ridge Presbyterian Church^[2]

William Smith purchased land originally sold as part of the Borden tract, recorded in Augusta County. William Smith purchased a corner of William Crowden's 200 acre parcel originally purchased in 1742. William Smith purchased 999 acres in 1742 and seemingly sold 711 acres of it, with wife Jean, to Joseph Kennedy in 1749. William Smith sold 283 acres to Samuel Houston in 1749 (note that 711 + 283 acres equals the original 999).

John Smith purchased in the Borden Tract and with wife Mary sold 200 acres of calfpasture to Andrew Lockridge in 1768.^[3]

Court Orders

Order and Minute Books from the County Court are have been digitized and are on FamilySearch.

On 1 September 1801, letters of administration on the estate of John Smith decd. were granted to Andrew Reid.^[4] Guardianship records:

• 1 June 1802 ordered that the overseer of the poor bind John Smith orphan of John Smith deceased to James Gambell.^[5]
• 5 October 1802 ordered that the overseer of the poor bind Grace Smith orphan of John Smith deceased to Arthur Walkup.^[6]
• Morton mentions the death of John Smith in 1802, children Grace, John, William. It is wondered if these names came from guardianship records. William's has not yet been located.

Suit of George Anderson against Richard Smith: on 5 October 1802, "appearing to the court that the defendant is dead," the suit was abated but revived again against Elizabeth Smith, widow relict.^[7]

In November 1803, Elizabeth Smith, infant, represented by her next friend and father Samuel Smith, recovered damages of 1 cent in separate cases against Benjamin Thompson and his wife Polly and against John Till. John Smith and Sarah Smith were awarded 1 dollar and 6 cents to be recovered from Elizabeth, each for two days attendance as witnesses in the cases against Benjamin and Polly.^[8]

A William Smith sued William Finley and John Cox over debt in a case that was initiated in 1802 and continued until 1804. It was abated on 6 March 1804 because William Smith had died.^[9]

Chancery Court Records

Several records involving Smiths created by the Court of Chancery are digitzed and online.

A suit of John Smith against William Somerville (search Defendant, Plaintiff=Smith, and locate cased with index number 1807-004). John's deposition states that hed had purchased of Patrick Reid a plot of land, at which time Patrick said a small corner of 3 acres or so, the most worthless land in the parcel, could be part of the Borden tract, in which case John would not have title to that corner. When the Borden tract was surveyed, it turned out half of the land was in the Borden tract, including improvements and some of the most valuable parts. Patrick had transfered John's bond to William Somerville, so in the suit initiated 1804, John sought relief from this obligation. The case file includes the original deed dated 20 April 1804, showing that the land was on Whistle Creek, neighboring Thomas Thompson, John Symons, and Merrick Hostetter.

On a suit against the heirs of John Smith over an unpaid debt (search Defendant, Surname=Smith, and locate cased with index number 1846-018)

• on 6 April 1821 John Smith executed his bond to Robert Kirkpatrick for 50 dollars, which bond was assigned to Joseph Smith, by Joseph Smith to Dennis Conner, and by Dennis Conner to Cyrus [Hyde?].
• a suit was instituted in the life time of the said John Smith by Joseph Smith, assignee of Robert Kirkpatrick for the benefit of Cyrus Hyde against the obligor John Smith
• after judgment was rendered in the suit, John Smith died and the suit was revived against Daniel Ayres, administrator of John's estate
• in November 1843, at court, judgment was renedered against the administrator for the principal of the bond with interest
• John Smith died posessed of a tract of about 32 acres lying near the House Mountain in Rockbridge County and bounded by the land of George Muterspaw, Robert Wilson, and Nathaniel Gaylor
• he devised the land to his wife Eleanor during her natural life or widowhood, with remainder over to his two youngest sons Henry Smith and James Smith
• John Smith's widow died during the last winter and title
• in response Henry Smith and James Smith stated they were small boys at the time of their father's death and had no knowledge of the 50 dollar bond or other transactions

On a partition of the land of John Smith among his heirs, court record dated 1846 (search Defendant, Surname=Smith, and locate case with index number 1846-007)

• John Smith died in 1827 owning 308 acres on Bread Creek ajoining Thos. Welch, Sylvanis Rowlison, and Jas. Miller
• Sylvanus Rowlison and Nancy his wife, late Nancy Smith, a sister of John, were entitlted to 1/8 part and the residue belonged to John
• John's only children at his death were Nancy Wilson, wife of Thos. G. Wilson (who brought the petition), Robert Smith, and William Smith, both of whom were still infants
• Nancy Wilson was William's guardian, and Benjamin [Selfsh?] was Robert's guardian

On a request to divide land by Nancy Rowlison nee Smith (search Defendant, Surname=Smith, and locate case with index number 1851-029)

• Nancy Smith states that she was one of five children of ____ Smith, a very poor man, who died many years previously. The children were
  • Mary Smith m. James Perry and removed shortly thereafter to Tennessee. Her heirs at the time of petition were Robert Perry, James Perry, Nancy Long, wife of James Long, John Perry, William Perry, and Samuel Perry (John and Nancy believed to be in Tennessee and the others in Illinois)
  • William Smith also removed to Tennessee in early life and still resides there
  • John Smith d. 1827, children Nancy Smith, Robert Smith, and William Smith
  • Robert Smith d. October 1822, never married, left no heirs
  • Nancy Smith m. Sylvanus Rowlison

Tithables

A titheables list in 1778 shows just James Smith as the single titheable Smith in the county.^[10][11]

The 1782 list shows James Smith tithable, with 1 horse, and Isabella Smith, with 3 horses and 10 cattle.^[12]

1810 Census

p.271 (penned) Robt. Smith

1 male over 45

1 male and 1 female aged 26-44

1 male and 2 females aged 10-15

1 male and 3 females aged 0-9

p.280 James Smith

1 male and 1 female aged 26-44

1 male and 1 female aged 0-9

p.281 Jno M. Smith

1 male aged 26-44

1 male and 1 female aged 16-25

2 males and 1 female aged 0-9

Four entries down John Smith

1 male [and 1 female?] aged over 45

1 male aged 16-25

1 male aged 10-15

p.285 Jno Smith

1 female aged over 45

2 males and 1 female aged 16-25

[2 males? maybe erased] aged 0-9

p.287 Jno Smith

1 male aged over 45

1 female aged 26-44

1 female aged 10-15

1 male and 1 female aged 0-9

p.293 Saml. Smith

1 male and 1 female aged over 45

1 female aged 16-25

1 male aged 10-15

Next line down Saml. Smith Jr.

1 male and 1 female aged 16-25

1 male and 1 female aged 0-9

[also 1 male aged 26-44, but smudged out, and possibly 1 female aged 26-44 and 1 female aged 10-15, but looks like bleed-through from opposite side of page]

p.296 James Smith

1 male and 1 female aged 26-44

1 female aged 16-25

2 males and 1 female aged 0-9

p.300 [J? possibly smudged out] Wm. Smith

1 male and 1 female aged 26-44

1 female aged 10-15

2 males and 2 females aged 0-9

p.301 [?]urley Smith

1 male and 1 female aged 26-44

2 males ane 1 female aged 0-9

15 lines down [John Smith?]

1 male and 1 female aged 26-44

1 male aged 16-25

1 male and 2 females aged 10-15

1 male and 2 females aged 0-9

(Eight lines below have names destroyed)

p.302 Peter Smith

1 male [and 1 female? crossed out] aged over 45

1 female aged 26-44

1 male aged 16-25

1 male and 2 females aged 10-15

1 male and 1 female aged 0-9

p.307 George Smith

1 male and 1 female aged 26-44

1 female aged 0-9

1820 Census

This census taker grouped residents by first letter of surname when he encountered them. It is not strict alphabetical order within the names starting with 'S', but it is still dangerous to infer proximity of residence from proximity in the census.

p.295 (penned, upper-right corner) [??]y Smith

1 female aged 10-15

(presumably other marks that are now not visible)

Next line down [Benjamin?] Smith

1 male aged 16-25

1 enslaved female

2 lines down John Smith

1 male aged 16-25

1 enslaved male

8 lines down (last line on page) [Jame?]s Smith

1 male and 1 female aged 26-44

2 males and 1 female aged 10-15

3 males and 2 females aged 0-9

1 enslaved male

p.295.5 (top line, 1 line down from [James?] Smith on previous page) [Francis E.?] Smith

1 male aged 16-25

1 enslaved male

Next line down Mary Smith

1 female aged over 45

2 females aged 16-25

1 male aged 0-9

7 lines down [Sa]lly Smith

1 female aged 26-44

3 males and 1 female aged 0-9

Next line down Samuel Smith

1 male aged 26-44

1 female aged 16-25

1 enslaved male

p.296 Isaac Smith

1 male and 1 female aged 26-44

[4?] males and 1 female aged 0-9

1 enslaved male

14 lines down [P???y] Smith

1 female aged over 45

1 male and 1 female aged 16-25

1 male aged 16-18 (possibly the same as in the 16-25 category)

1 female aged 10-15

p.296.5 Levi Smith

1 female aged 26-44

1 male aged 16-25

1 male and 2 females aged 0-9

1 enslaved male

2 lines down William Smith

1 female aged over 45

1 male aged 26-44

2 females aged 10-15

1 male and 1 female aged 0-9

3 enslaved males

4 lines down James Smith

1 male aged 16-25

1 female aged 16-25

1 male aged 0-9

1 enslaved male

2 lines down Joseph Smith

1 female and 2 males aged 16-25

1 male aged 16-18 (possibly one of the two males in the 16-25 category)

1 male aged 0-9

1 enslaved male and 1 enslaved female

Next line down William Smith

1 male aged 26-44

1 female aged 16-25

2 males and 1 female aged 0-9

Next line down John Smith

1 male and 1 female aged over 45

1 male and 1 female aged 26-44

1 male and 1 female aged 10-15

2 males aged 0-9

3 enslaved males

p.297 [Nancy?] Smith

1 female aged over 45

[2?] males aged 26-44

1 male and 1 female aged 16-25

1 male and 2 females aged 0-9

4 lines down [Henry?] Smith

2 males and 1 female aged 26-44

some enslaved individuals

9 lines down John Smith

(hard to make out any numbers — seemingly no females)

1830 Census

This census taker grouped residents by first letter of surname when he encountered them. It is not strict alphabetical order within the names starting with 'S', but it is still dangerous to infer proximity of residence from proximity in the census.

p.333 (penned)

Eleonora Smith

1 female aged 50-60

1 male aged 20-30

Next line Thos. Smith

1 male and 1 female aged 20-30

1 male and 1 female aged 0-5

Next line Wm. Smith

1 male aged 50-60

1 female aged 30-40

1 female aged 15-20

2 males aged 5-10

1 male aged 0-5

Next line Henry Smith

1 male and 1 female aged 15-20

Next line Wm. Smith

1 male and 1 female aged 30-40

2 males aged 10-15

2 males aged 5-10

2 males and 1 female aged 0-5

Next line Wm. Smith

1 male aged 50-60

1 female aged 40-50

1 female aged 15-20

1 male aged 10-15

1 male aged 5-10

1 male aged 0-5

3 lines down Wm. Smith

1 male aged 30-40

1 male aged 20-30

1 female aged 5-10

2 males aged 0-5

p.334 Jas. Smith

1 male and 1 female aged 30-40

1 female aged 10-15

2 males aged 5-10

1 male and 1 female aged 0-5

12 lines down Levi Smith

1 female aged 30-40

1 male aged 20-30

1 male and 1 female aged 10-15

1 male and 1 female aged 5-10

1 male and 1 female aged 0-5

10 lines down Polly Smith

1 male and 1 female aged 30-40

1 female aged 20-30

2 males and 1 female aged 5-10

1 male aged 0-5

p.335 (7 lines beyond Polly) Jas. Smith

1 male aged 50-60

1 female aged 40-50

1 female aged 20-30

1 male and 1 female aged 15-20

2 males aged 10-15

p.336 Judy Smith

1 female aged 60-70

1 male aged 30-40

1 female aged 20-30

10 lines down Jo[n?] Smith

1 male and 1 female aged 20-30

1 female aged 0-5

Next line Francis Smith

1 male aged 30-40

1 female aged 20-30

1 male aged 5-10

1 male and 1 female aged 0-5

p.337 Wm. Smith

1 male aged 60-70

1 female aged 50-60

2 males and 1 female aged 20-30

1 female aged 15-20

2 males aged 10-15

2 lines down Robt. Smith

1 male and 1 female aged 30-40

1 male aged 5-10

2 males and 1 female aged 0-5

Next line Betsy Smith

1 female aged 20-30 [sic?]

Next line Mary Smith

1 female aged 50-60

2 females aged 20-30

1 male aged 15-20

1 female aged 5-10

Next line Geo. Smith

1 male aged 70-80

1 female aged 30-40

1 male and 2 females aged 20-30

Next line Elias Smith

1 male aged 50-60

1 female aged 30-40

1 female aged 5-10

1 male aged 0-5

4 lines down Wm. Smith

1 male and 1 female aged 20-30

1 female aged 5-10

Next line Saml. Smith

1 male and 1 female aged 30-40

2 females aged 5-10

2 males and 1 female aged 0-5

p.338 Charles Smith

1 male and 1 female aged 20-30

1 female aged 0-5

Separately under "Lexington", p.284 Samuel R. Smith

1 male and 1 female aged 30-40

1 male aged 10-15

2 males and 1 female aged 0-5

1 male aged 0-5

Sources

1. ↑ Morton, page 56
2. ↑ Morton, page 459
3. ↑ Morton, page 363
4. ↑ Order book vol. 5 page 435
5. ↑ Order book vol. 6 page 60
6. ↑ Order book vol. 6 page 143
7. ↑ Order book vol. 6 page 140
8. ↑ Order book vol. 6 pages 560–2
9. ↑ Order book vol. 7 page 26
10. ↑ Morton, page 368
11. ↑ Transcription of 1778 Tithables in Rockbridge County]
12. ↑ Morton, page 377

• Oren F. Morton, A History of Rockbridge County, Virginia (Staunton, VA: The McClure Co. Inc., 1920.