Isaiah Smith Sr

Isaiah Smith Sr was born about 1785-86, this is according to the information in the 1850 U.S. Census for Houston County, Georgia. He is shown as 64 years old and born in North Carolina.

Isaiah’s father is believed to be Needham Smith Sr (potential father) or Richard Smith Sr (potential grandfather). Richard, from 1784 to 1785, was in transition on moving his family from Cumberland County, North Carolina to Wilkes County, North Carolina.

On 25 September 1784 a survey was completed for 100 acres of land in Wilkes County, Georgia on the Brier Creek. The survey also shows that the surveyor certified that Richard was living in the state at the time of the survey.

Understanding the historical timeline of events during this period, Richard likely would have been given 6 months to claim the grant of land. Then to secure the grant he would have been required to occupy the land, cultivate at least three percent of the land and live on the land for at least one year.

Assuming Richard or Needham claimed their grants around the beginning of April 1785, Needham / Richard’s wife was likely pregnant with Isaiah during this time. If the 1850 U.S. Census is accurate then Isaiah’s birthday could be around November or December of 1785 and he could have been born in Cumberland County, North Carolina. It would seem that the family would have completed their move to Wilkes County, Georgia by 1786.

The Cumberland County, North Carolina records show that Richard Smith executed a deed on 31 October 1787 to sell his real property in Cumberland County. The deed states, “This indenture made the 31st day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven between Richard Smith of the County of Wilks and State of Georgia …”.

At around 5 years old (1792), Isaiah Smith Sr appears likely to have moved to Washington County, Georgia (to an area around Buffalo Creek, Oconee River, and Oconee) with his family. This is evident by a deed between Richard Smith  and Needham Smith Sr.

This deed was for 100 acres on Brier’s Creek in Warren County, Georgia.

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Isaiah likely married in Washington County, Georgia around 1808. This has been reasoned based on the information gleamed from the 1830 U.S. Census.

The 1830 U.S. Census for Houston County shows Isaiah with the following household:

• 1 Male: 40 – 50; this is Isaiah and supports his birth year previously discussed as 1785.
• 1 Female: 30 – 40; this is presumed to be Isaiah’s wife, likely Elizabeth as noted from the 1850 U.S. Census.
• 1 Male: 20 -30; (b. btw 1800 – 1810); this male is presumed to be born about 1809 – 1810 making him around 21 years old. Isaiah’s wife would have been about 19 years old when this male was born.
• 2 Males: 15 – 20; (b. btw 1810 – 1815); one of these males is son John W. Smith b. about 1813. The other male has not been identified.
• 1 Male: 10 – 15; (b. btw 1815 – 1820); this male is son Isaiah Smith Jr. b. about 1816.
• 3 Females: 15 – 20; (b. btw 1810 – 1815)
• 1 Female: 5 – 10; (b. btw 1820 – 1825)

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Isaiah Smith Sr moved to Houston County, Georgia between 1821-1829. He first appears in the records of the 1829 Houston County Tax List paying $1.56 and 3/4 on 202 and 1/2 acres of land in Capt Calhoun’s District, District 13 Houston County Lot 165.

It appears that Isaiah purchased this tract of land from Frederick Carter who drew this lot in the 1821 Georgia Land Lottery. This tract of land was located just south of what is today Elko, Georgia. History tells us this area of the Old Thirteenth Georgia Military District was mainly a cotton farming area from the time when Houston County was formed.

In 1827, Isaiah Smith Sr (resident of Houston County) was a fortunate drawer in the 1827 Georgia Land Lottery. On 20 March 1827 (the 12th day of the drawing) Isaiah Smith drew Lot 25 District 9 in Muscogee County, Georgia.

This source is the, ‘Reprint Of Official Register Of Land Lottery Of Georgia 1827’, compiled and published by Miss Martha Lou Houston.

Also here is a snippet of an article from the 16 April 1827 edition of the Macon Telegraph. It’s a list fortunate drawers in Houston County. Abbreviations – s. soldier, r.s. revolutionary soldier, ilig. illegitimate, w. widow, orp. orphan, id’t. ideot, f. a. father absent, h. n. husband absent.

The following is a list of other drawers in the 1827 Land Lottery that has some significance as they are in some way related to Isaiah Smith Sr. This is recorded here for future research.

Washington County Resident

• Job Smith, Tysons District, drew Lot 51 District 15 Muscogee County
• Job Smith, R. S., Tysons District, drew Lot 8 District 7 Lee County
• Jesse Croom’s heirs, O’Quinns District, drew Lot 63 District 4 Coweta County
• English Smith, sol. Castelows District, drew Lot 88 District 1 Lee County
• Isiah (Isaiah) B. Avant, Avants District, drew Lot 160 District 3 Muscogee County

Warren County Resident

• Richard Smith, R. S., Brinkleys District, drew Lot 114 District 6 Muscogee County
• William Powell, Bulls District, drew Lot 56 District 1 Lee County

Laurens County Resident

• Job E. W. Smith, Plummers District, drew Lot 35 District 17 Lee County
• Mathew Smith, Plummers District, drew Lot 231 District 11 Lee County
• Ezekiel Smith, R. S., Mizels District, drew Lot 99 District 14 Carroll County
• Hardy Smith, R. S., Powers District, drew Lot 98 District 4 Coweta County
• Hardy Smith Jr, Powers District, drew Lot 84 District 1 Troup County

Houston County Resident

• Henry Smith, Smiths District, drew Lot 30 District 2 Muscogee County
• Joseph Cutts, R. S., Farnels District, drew Lot 125 District 5 Lee County
• Neadom (Needham) Smith, Batemans District, drew Lot 103 District 2 Muscogee Co.
• Samuel Hart’s orphans, Pitts District, drew Lot 156 District 18 Lee County

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In the Houston County 1831 tax list (Capt Barron’s District), 1835 tax list (Capt Gilmore’s District) and the 1837 tax list (Capt Brown’s District), Isaiah is listed paying taxes on the same lot of land (165). Isaiah is not listed in the 1839 tax list.

A good article on how districts were formed and utilized in Georgia, and likely in other counties and states can be found at the Georgia Archives.

Isaiah appears to have moved to District 3, Dooly County, Georgia around 1838.

The 1840 U.S. Census for Dooly County, District 3 shows Isaiah with the following household:

• 1 Male: 60 – 70, this entry is likely an error from the census taker as Isaiah is about 55 years old in 1830.
• 1 Female: 40 – 50; Isaiah’s wife; she should be about 49 or 50 years old.
• 1 Male: 20 – 30; working theory, presumed to be son John W Smith
• 1 Male: 10 – 15;
• 1 Female: 20 – 30; working theory, presumed to be daughter-in-law (and cousin) Nancy A Smith

Below is a mashup from the Houston County and Dooly County district plat maps. The most north orange circle represents where Isaiah Smith Sr lived in District 13, Houston County. The bottom map represents District 3, Dooly County where Isaiah appears to be living in the 1840’s. It is to be noted that District 3, Dooly County is just across the county line of District 13, Houston County. Cross referencing Isaiah’s neighbors from the 1840 U.S. Census Dooly County to the 1851 Dooly County Tax list, the yellow circles represent his neighbors Joseph Bridges, Martin Roberts and Wade Crosier. The green circles represent land owned by Needham Smith Sr, in Dooly County, as reported in the 1841 tax list of Houston County. The orange ellipse represents the generalized area where Isaiah Smith Sr was believed to be living in Dooly County. No research to date has identified the exact lots where Isaiah may have lived.

 

Mashup of District 13 Houston County and District 3 Dooly County.

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Isaiah Smith Sr next appears in the Appraisements and sales 1834 – 1858 vol A-B of Houston County, Georgia. In March 1845 it was documented by Richard Johnson (Needham’s son-in-law) and William Smith (likely Needham’s brother), administrators for the probate of Needham Smith Sr’s death. They record that in approximately December of 1843 Isaiah Smith paid a note to Needham Smith Sr of $15.

“Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G93R-DCN1?cc=1999178&wc=9SBS-2N5%3A267651301%2C267674201 : 20 May 2014), Houston > Appraisements and sales 1834-1858 vol A-B > image 157 of 574; citing Houston County Probate Court Judge, Georgia.

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Isaiah Smith Sr is last seen listed in the 1850 U.S. Census for Dooly County, Georgia. He is not listed in the 1851 Dooly County tax list. It appears he and Elizabeth either left Dooly and settled somewhere else or possibly he was a tax defaulter in 1851 tax year and just wasn’t listed.

Either way no death records or information have been found to date.