William Bryan, William Avera, John Smith Short, & Robert Whittington

When I first plotted this 440A parcel for William Bryan I thought for sure that I had messed up the bearing on a few of the legs. Luckily, I found the survey below showing I had not made a mistake.

The next patent was issued to John Smith Short. John’s name has also been written as Short John Smith and John Smith (Short). Who is this Smith?

Searching for additional patents, as well as grantor/grantee deeds turns up only one additional patent for 100A in 1793. In fact there are not any Short’s listed in the deed records until 1893 when the first one is listed.

Based on my familiarity with the Smith’s in this area in 1779 there is John Smith Jr (being called Col Smith during this time period), John Jr’s son John Smith (III), and John McKinnie Smith (Samuel Smith Sr’s son).

Is this John Smith (Short) the same John Smith (III)? In Vol 2 of the Whitfield, Bryan, Smith, and related families, the only info for John Smith (III) is that he is the son of John Smith Jr and he was perhaps dead by 1793 (ironically the same date as the last patent for John Smith (Short)) as he is not mentioned in the will of his brother.

William Avera patent

Robert Whittington patent