Edward Smith was born ca 1798 presumably in Warren County, Georgia. This is based on where his father Benjamin Smith Sr was living in 1798.
Edward Smith married Nancy Banister on 23 May 1819 in Pulaski County, Georgia.
Interestingly, Edward Smith’s father Benjamin Smith Sr’s second wife was Lydia Banister (maiden name unknown). This is inferred by Benjamin Smith Sr referencing in his will a James Banister as his stepson. Further research is required to determine if Nancy Banister was Edward Smith’s stepsister or was Nancy Banister a niece to Lydia Banister.
A few years after moving to Stewart County, Georgia from Houston County, Georgia; Edward Smith purchased a tract of land in District 24.
Stewart County Georgia, Stewart County Deed Book L pg 403 Jeremiah Smith of Bibb County to Edward Smith of Stewart County; $500; land situate lying and being in the 24th twenty fourth district of originally Lee County now Stewart County known as lot no (223) two hundred twenty three; 21 May 1843. Signed Jeremiah Smith (seal). Witnessed by Caroline Stapleton, Winfield S (his mark) Diyess. - Recorded 9 January 1844.
About two and a half years later Edward Smith sold this property to his presumed son Solomon Smith.
Stewart County Georgia, Stewart County Deed Book Q pg 15 Edward Smith to Solomon Smith; $500; tract or parcel of land situate lying and being in originally Lee now Stewart County known and distinguished by lot no 223 two hundred and twenty three in the 24th district; 1 January 1846. Signed Edward Smith (seal). Witnessed by S. Harrell and Ivey W Gregory J.J.C. - Recorded 6 July 1846.
Almost two years later, Edward Smith’s brother Benjamin Smith Jr sells a tract of land that was bequeathed to his stepmother Lydia Smith, as wished in Benjamin Smith Sr’s Last Will & Testament. This may suggest that Lydia Smith died and the land was transferred to him, also per his fathers will.
Stewart County Georgia, Stewart County Deed Book Q pg 425 Benjamin Smith to Peter Allday; $500; tract or parcel of land situate lying and being in the twenty third district of originally Lee now Stewart County known and distinguished in the plan of said district by Lot number (138) one hundred and thirty eight containing two hundred two and one half acres more or less; 13 October 1847. Signed Benjamin Smith (seal). Witnessed by Nathan Clifton and Gustavus Ashaunay J.J.C. - Recorded 18 November 1847.
A few years later, by 1848/49, Edward Smith and his son Solomon Smith migrated to Leake County, Mississippi.
Leake County Mississippi, Leake County Deed Book H pg 369 James L Brudine and Mary Burdine to Edward Smith; $700; following tract of land to wit the SW1/4 of section 14 also the NW1/4 of section 23 Township Eleven & Range nine E all in Leake County & State of Miss, containing three hundred and twenty one acres, more or less; 10 July 1848. Signed James L Burdine (seal) and Mary Burdine (seal). Witnessed by Samuel Chapman Judge 7th Judicial Circuit State of Alabama. Pickens County Alabama This day personally came before me Samuel Chapman one of the Judges of the Circuit Court of the state of Alabama. Mary Burdine who being separate and aprt from her said husband by me privately examined acknowledges that she relinquished all her right and title to Dower to the within described land without any fear or compulsion of her said husband to the said Edward Smith freely & voluntarily of her own count. Given under my hand and seal this 10th day of July 1848. Signed Samuel Chapman (seal).
Leake County Mississippi, Leake County Deed Book H pg 399 George W Harlow and Elizabeth J Harlow his wife of Attala County to Solomon Smith of Leake County; $400; parcel of land situate in the County of Leake and State of Mississippi known and designated as the East half of the south east quarter of section twenty and west half of south west quarter of section twenty one in Township Eleven North of Range nine east; 10 January 1849. Signed George W. Harlow (seal) and Elizabeth J Harlow (seal).
Leake County Mississippi, Leake County Deed Book H pg 427 Hezekiah Mask and Drusella Mask his wife to Solomon Smith; $50; tract or parcel of land lying and being in the said County of Leake and state aforesaid designated and known as the south west quarter of the north west quarter of section twenty one in Township Eleven and Range nine containing forty acres more or less; 29 March 1849. Signed Hezekiah Mask (seal) and Drusella Mask (Seal). Witnessed by Benjamin Smith and James Mask.
Of interest is that Benjamin Smith witnessed the above deed in 1849. It is assumed that Edward Smith’s brother Benjamin Smith migrated to Leake County as well. He is recorded purchasing land near his brother Edward Smith in Leake County.
Leake County Mississippi, Leake County Deed Book M pg 8
Military Bounty Land Act of 28 September 1850. Register's Office.
Columbus Mississippi 12 November 1853.
Military Land Warrant No 16028 in the name of William Verner has this day been located by William Verner upon the W1/2 of SE1/4 quarter of Section Five in Township Eleven W of Range Nine E subject to any preemption claim which may be filed for said land within forty days from this date.
{Contents of this tract located Eight Seven 92/100 acres}
Excess of Nine 90/100 dollars was paid by William Verner. Fielding L Doming - Register.
For value received I William Verner to whom the within certificate of location was issued do hereby sell and assign unto Benjamin Smith and to his heirs and assigns forever the said certificate of location and the warrant and land therein described and authorize him to receive a patent therefore.
Witness my hand and seal this 12th day of November 1853. Signed William Verner (seal).
In 1850, Edward Smith sold some of his property to his presumed son James Smith.
Leake County Mississippi, Leake County Deed Book I pg 252 Edward Smith and Nancy Smith to James Smith; $450; land situated and being in SW1/4 of Section 14 & in NW1/4 of Section 23 in Township (11) Eleven and Range nine east to wit. to have two hundred acres on the west side of said fourths, that is to say to run parallel with the line on the west side so as to make the ___ of two hundred acres by running from the south west corner of the NW1/4 of Section 23 in Township 11 R9 then on the line between SW1/4 & NW1/4 of said Section sufficient far by the following Road to make the above quantity that is to say from said line north to the line between NW1/4 & SW1/4 of Section 14 & thence west to the 1/2 mile stake between S14 & 15. & thence south on said line to the beginning corner; 24 April 1850. Signed Edward Smith (seal) and Nancy Smith (seal).
Edward Smith and Nancy Banister Smith were still in Leake County when the 1850 U.S. Census was taken. They appear in dwelling no. 34 along with their presumed daughter S Smith and a W Banister (currently researching to determine if this is James Banister’s son).
Solomon Smith is listed in dwelling no. 41 with his wife and son’s John Smith, Edward Smith, James Smith and William Smith.
James Smith is listed in dwelling no. 42 with his wife Mary Ann Mask Smith and daughter. (James Smith married Mary Ann Mask daughter of Hezekiah Mask)
A couple of years later, in 1852, Edward Smith and Nancy Banister Smith sold the rest of their property to Rufus West.
Leake County Mississippi, Leake County Deed Book J pg 267 Edward Smith and Nancy Smith of Leake County to Rufus West of Leake County; $660; tract or parcel of land situate in the County of Leake and State of Mississippi known and designated as the east half of the north west quarter of section twenty three and the east part of south west quarter of section fourteen in Township Eleven Range Nine East containing one hundred and twenty acres lying and being on the east side of said quarter section the dividing line running parallel with the line on the east side of said section; 1 October 1852. Signed Edward Smith (seal) and Nancy Smith (seal). Leake County Mississippi Before me Hezekiah Mask an acting Justice of the peace in and for said county this day came Edward Smith who acknowledged that he signed sealed and delivered the foregoing deed as his own act and deed and that he executed it for the purpose therein specified on the day and year therein mentioned also on the same day came Nancy Smith his wife who being examined separate and apart from her husband acknowledged that the signed sealed and delivered the foregoing Deed as her own voluntary act and deed without fear threats or compulsion on the part of her said husband and that she executed it for the purposes therein specified on the day and year therein mentioned. Given under my hand and seal this 21st day of October AD 1852. Hezekiah Mask J.P.(seal).
It is assumed that Edward Smith and Nancy Banister Smith migrated again to an unknown location as derived by the 1853 Mississippi State Census and the 1856 Leake County Tax Roll where Edward Smith nor Nancy Banister Smith are recorded as a resident of Leake County.
However, Solomon Smith, James Smith and Benjamin Smith Jr do appear in the 1853 Mississippi State Census. Solomon Smith likely appears on page 21 of the census for Leake County as S. S. Smith (a contradiction to the ancestry community indicating his middle name is Monroe). The S. S. Smith household is shown with 5 males and 2 females. This could logically represent Solomon Smith his wife Sarah Ann Green Smith and his sons James Smith, Edward Smith, James Smith and William Smith. The one potential error with this summation is Solomon Smith’s son Ananias is not accounted for. So there could be debate if he was born in 1852 or 1853.
James Smith and Benjamin Smith Jr appear on page 22 of the census. James Smith’s household is listed with 2 males and 2 females. Benjamin Smith’s household is listed with 5 males and 2 females.
James Smith would end up selling the property he bought from his parents on 12 November 1850 (Leake County DB I pg 286) and 28 August 1851 (Leake County DB J pg 170). James Smith would die at a young age in 1858. His estate was probated in Attala, Mississippi on 18 October 1858.
Benjamin Smith Jr, Edward Smith’s brother, would sell his land to James Mask in 1855.
Leake County Mississippi, Leake County Deed Book M pg 9 Benjamin Smith and Elizabeth Smith wife of Leake County to James Mask; $275; certain lands situated in the County of Leake and State of Mississippi. Namely the West half of the South East quarter of Section five in Township Eleven North of Range Nine East; 5 November 1855. Signed Benjamin Smith and Elizabeth Smith. Attest: Hezekiah Mask J.P.
By 1856, only Solomon Smith and James Smith, of this Smith line appear to remain in Leake County.
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