William Smith was likely born in either Surry or Isle of Wight County, Virginia in about 1709. William Smith moved with his parents George Smith and Elizabeth Smith to Occoneechee Neck, Chowan Precinct, North Carolina in about 1719.
William Smith appears in historical records for the first time when he purchases land in 1738 from his brother-in-law John Baldwin.
Bertie County North Carolina, Bertie Deed Book E1 pg. 349 To all Christian people to whom these presents shall come; Greeting know ye that John Baldwin of Edgecombe Precinct the Province of North Carolina, Planter, for and in consideration of the sum of six pounds current money of Virginia to me in hand paid before the ensealing and delivery hereof well & truly paid by William Smith of Bertie Precinct & Province aforesaid, Planter the receipt whereof I do hereby ... [truncate] ... or tract of land situate lying and being in Bertie Precinct Province aforesaid containing by estimation fifty acres be it more or less bounded as followeth, viz, beginning at a red oak a corner tree in Henry Jones' line so along that line to a meadow so down the windings of the meadow to a hickory a corner tree then along a line of marked trees to a pine a corner tree on George Smiths line then up that line to the first station. [truncate] ... set my hand and fixed my seal this thirteenth day of November 1738. Signed John Baldwin (seal). Witnessed: George S. Smith, Jeremiah Smith. Proved in November Court 1738
This deed was witnessed by George Smith and Jeremiah Smith, William Smith’s father and brother, respectively. What is interesting in this deed is that father George Smith is listed as George S Smith. Is this a reference to a middle name for George Smith or is it where the transcriber entered the ‘S’ without indicating it was his mark?
This newly acquired track adjoined the south southwest of his fathers 140 acres in Occoneechee Neck.
So far I have been unable to locate a deed where John Baldwin acquired this land.
The disposition of this 50 acre tract has not been located in the deed records for Bertie or Northampton counties. It has been found referenced in a 1758 lease agreement between Robert Jones Jr and Thomas Amis and a 1765 deed between Robert Jones Jr and his son Allen Jones. (note: these Joneses are of no relations to the Joneses mentioned in the following sections)
The 1758 lease agreement (Northampton DB 2:440) indicates that Robert Jones Jr is leasing the 140 acres to Thomas Amis. This 140 acres is the land Robert Jones Jr bought from Jeremiah Smith, William Smith’s brother (property was formerly their fathers 140 acres shown above). The agreement states, “and bounded as follows, to wit on John Amis, John Williams, William Smith and the above said Robert Jones and the Occoneeche Swamp”.
This reference can imply that William Smith is still alive in 1758, likely still owns the 50 acre property, but having moved away as will discussed below.
The 1765 deed (Northampton DB 3:397) states, “then a straight course to Littles line where the line dividing the land of the widow Smith from the land purchased by the said Robert Jones of Jeremiah Smith“.
This reference could imply that William Smith is deceased and that ownership of the land is now with his widow.
Living in and near the Smiths in Occoneeche Neck where the Greens, Paces, Joneses and Aycocks.
An immediate neighbor to the west of the Smiths were Henry Jones and his sons Henry Jones Jr, William Jones, John Jones, Francis Jones, Phillip Jones and James Jones.
There are numerous connections between the Jones and Smith families. For example William Smith’s father George Smith signed as a witness to Henry Jones’ Last Will & Testament in 1733. Henry Jones’ son James Jones signed as a witness to George Smith’s Last Will & Testament in 1746.
A nearby neighbor to the southwest of the Smiths were John Green (Jr) and his wife Amy Pace Green. Amy Pace Green was the daughter of Richard Pace III who appears to have settled near Yourha Swamp (Urahaw Swamp). Amy Pace Green’s sister was Rebecca Pace married first John Bradford and second William Aycock.
William Aycock moved into the region in the 1740s and lived in the vicinity of Mount Royal, land that adjoined that of Thomas Avent. Rebecca Pace Bradford Aycock’s daughter Rebecca Bradford would marry Phillip Jones and her other daughter Frances Bradford would marry James Jones.
Other relationships of nearby neighbors: John Bobbitt was John Green’s brother-in-law and John Pace Sr was the brother of Richard Pace III.
Members of this family group would migrate to Johnston County, North Carolina in the early 1750s. This begins when James Jones applies for a land grant in Johnston County.
25 April 1749 – State Archives of North Carolina microfilm call S.108.249 frame 870 (Granville Grants Deeds: Folders 67-C to 75-D)
Survey for James Jones – Grant issued 29 October1751.
This plan is the true shape of five hundred & sixty three acres of land on Swift Creek in Johnston County … beg at a gum on Swift Creek … surveyed for James Jones.
Chain Carriers: Phillip Jones, William Coleman / Signed John Wade
One of the chain carriers was his brother Phillip Jones.
William Aycock (b. abt 1705) and William Smith (b. abt 1709) appear to migrate with the Jones brothers. William Aycock can be found obtaining a 300 acre tract of land near James Jones (b. abt 1705-1710) in 1752.
Uncovering the point where William Smith migrated with his family to Johnston County, North Carolina is a bit more challenging as there are no land ownership records (patents/deeds) that show William Smith had owned any land. Our first clue (needle in the haystack) comes from a survey for 400 acres executed for William Lowther.
And it is worth noting at this point that the William Smith mentioned is believed to be William Smith Sr son of George Smith and not William Smith Jr son of William Smith Sr. William Smith Jr is currently estimated to have been born 1733-1736. While it is plausible that the William Smith shown below is William Smith Jr about the age of 21, the more logical conclusion is that the below is William Smith Sr (abt 56 yoa).
21 January 1755 – State Archives of North Carolina microfilm call S.108.249 frame 1136 (Granville Grants Deeds: Folders 67-C to 75-D)
Survey for William Lowther – Land Entry: 31 October 1754 in Col John Edward’s name and returned in Col John Edwards ____ in the name of William Lowther. Grant issued 11 November 1757
This diagram represents four hundred & eighty acres of land, surveyed for William Lowther in Johnston County; beg at Thomas Hill‘s corner pine on the north side of Swift Creek; running thence north 240 poles to a corner white oak; then west 320 poles to a corner white oak; then south 240 poles to a corner hickory; then east by Hills line to the beginning.
Chain Carriers: William Smith, Henry Witherington // Signed W. Haywood
From this record, we can correlate several things.
First is that based on James Jones and William Smith being close family friends and living next to each other in Occoneeche Neck; it makes logical sense that the William Smith that appears in Johnston County, North Carolina amongst the locality of James Jones, is likely the same William Smith.
William Smith would then have migrated to Johnston County 1750-1755.
The William Lowther property was located to the NW of the James Jones tract.
It’s assumed that William Smith was living in the area, potentially on James Jones‘ land, or nearby vacant land he wanted to acquire. There appears to be no Entry records to verify this. Squatting was a common practice during this time.
Also circled above is likely the first historical appearance of William Smith’s son John Smith. He witnesses a deed from William Aycock to his son Richard Aycock.
There were several contemporary John Smiths in the area during this time. The two, besides John Smith son of William Smith, which would be old enough and fit this time frame would be John Smith Sr and John Smith Jr (provided land for the establishment of Smithfield, North Carolina). However, John Smith Jr lived amongst other places, further south on Middle Creek and John Smith Sr’s plantation was to the east on the Neuse River, opposite of Smithfield. John Smith Sr and John Smith Jr, among other things, were also land speculators and acquired thousands of acres of land in Johnston County. It has been challenging to document and differentiate the many transactions over the course of 40 years.
Several years later, 1756-1761, William Smith would move from the Swift Creek area, south to Black Creek.
Johnston County North Carolina, Johnston County Deed Book A1 pg 176 This indenture made this 13 day of February in the year of Christ 1761 between Nathan Nall of the County of Johnston and parish of St Stephens in the Province of North Carolina, Planter, of the one part & John Smith of the parish, county & province aforesaid living on Swift Creek and son of William Smith who now resides on Black Creek in the county aforesaid, Planter of the other part; Witnesth that the said Nathan Nall for and in the consideration of the sum of twenty five pounds current money of the said province to him in hand paid the receipt hereof doth hereby acknowledges ... [truncate] ... certain parcel of land containing of estimation one hundred acres be the same more or less lying on the south side Swift Creek parted from that land of Nathan Nall by a line of marked trees beginning at the creek at a stony point just below the mouth of the Ready or the Duchmans Branch running thence near south to the surveyed line then on that west to a a corner made called willits or Jones' thence on that line near north on a line of marked trees crossing the said Duchmans or Ready Branch to the creek thence down the said creek to the first stations; including the plantation whereon John Hancock now lives being part of a survey granted by a deed from the Office of the Righteous Hon John Lord Carteret propation to Philip Jones, dec'd, and by him rightfully & lawfully conveyed to the said Nathan Nall in being in the parish and county afsd ... [truncate]. Signed by Nathan Nall. Witness: William Keiff, John Hancock Jun, G.R. Turner
James Jones‘ brother Phillip Jones had made an entry for and patented 640 acres of land on 10 May 1757. This tract of land was located on Swift Creek just east of Duchmans Branch; about 10 miles up Swift Creek from James Jones‘ 563 acre patent.
Phillip Jones sold 400 acres of this track to Nathaniel Nall between May 1757 – March 1759 (derived from Old Dobbs County Deed Book 4 1756-1757 (Grantor Index)). Nathaniel Nall would sell 100 acres of this tract to William Speight in 1760, 100 acres to John Smith, son of William Smith, in 1761 and the remaining 200 acres to William Speight in 1764.
The deed above is extremely important to this research as it is the link in associating the Smith YDNA J-M267 haplogroup to this earlier Smith line (William Smith > George Smith > Thomas Smith).
To date there have been no records found to identify where along Black Creek in Johnston County North Carolina, William Smith was living. There appears to be no Patents issued to William Smith prior to 1763 (second Earl of Granville died and the land office was closed) and deeds for Johnston County prior to 1759 have been lost.
Traveling, about 5 miles, south from the James Jones patent on Swift Creek, the next major creek crossing is Middle Creek. This area was populous in the 1760s as several members of status lived in the area. For example, John Smith Jr (Smithfield, NC namesake) and Sheriff John McCullers (also a Captain in the Johnston County militia).
The Middle Creek Chapel was also built in this area around 1757. Also living in this area and of importance to this article is William Bynum, Joseph Mims and Robert Mims.
William Bynum had been living in Johnston County as early as 1752 (Halifax DB 4:292 / ‘I William Bynam of Johnston County, Planter’). He had surveyed an entry he made for land in Middle Creek area in 1756. William Bynum sold 334 acres of this land to Benjamin Clements in 1761 and who sold it to Nathaniel Nall 1761-1763.
Why this is significant is not only because of the connection between Nathaniel Nall and John Smith but because William Bynum’s father William Bynum (Sr) witnessed the last will and testament for Thomas Smith (Sr) of Blackwater (Surry County Virginia). Thomas Smith surmises to be William Smith’s grandfather.
William Smith’s grandfather Thomas Smith would have known William Bynum Sr as a child and been acquainted with his father James Bynum. James Bynum purchased 150 acres of land from Luke Mizell Jr in 1690 which was located adjoining the land owned by Thomas Smith. If fact, in 1694, Thomas Smith and James Bynum along with Edward Newby and William Rogers were ordered by Surry County Virginia court to appraise the estate of Luke Mizell, who was deceased (Surry Order Book 1691-1718 page 101).
Additionally, it is known that James Bynum’s widowed sister-in-law Ann Bynum (w/o John Bynum) would marry Robert Warren by 1717. And as ascertained in my article on George Smith, Robert Warren lived next to the Smiths in Surry County and also was a witness to a deed for George Smith when he sold his property on Three Creeks in Isle of Wight County Virginia.
Another resident of this Middle Creek area was Joseph Mims and Robert Mims. Their father Lionel Mims moved the family into Bertie County North Carolina around 1736. This is evident by Lionel Mims first appearance in the Bertie records where he and his son Robert Mims witnesses a deed from John Bobbitt to Barnaby Melton (Bertie DB D:266). John Bobbitt lived and was an adjoining property owner to George Smith, William Smith’s father. Furthermore, in 1738 George Smith sold Robert Mims property on Great Quanky Swamp. (Halifax DB 1:248)
Robert Mims and his brother Joseph Mims moved to Johnston County North Carolina sometime in the late 1750s.
Joseph Mims and William Bynum seem to end up relocating to Orange County North Carolina while Robert Mims appears to remain in the area around Middle Creek as evident by him witnessing a deed between Joseph Mims and David Mims in 1768. He will also come to buy land on Black Creek in 1772.
Additionally, other residents of this area was Thomas Hill who owned land presumably near William Smith when he lived on Swift Creek and Green Hill who owned land next to William Smith when he lived on Black Creek.
As already mentioned William Smith’s grandfather Thomas Smith was ordered and performed an appraisal on Luke Mizell’s estate in 1694. Robert Hill and Eliza Hill (relict of Luke Mizell) presented this appraisal to court. (Surry DB 5:19).
Thomas Hill and Green Hill are believed to be descendants of Robert Hill’s brother Sion Hill.
William Smith does turn up in 1764 about 3 miles south of the Middle Creek area on Black Creek when he purchases 100 acres of land from Jesse Page.
Johnston County North Carolina, Johnston County Deed Book D1 pg 163 This indenture made this 17th day of January in the year of Christ 1764 between Jesse Page of the County of Johnston and Province of North Carolina, Planter & Anne his wife of the one part and William Smith Sr, of the County & Province aforesaid of the other part, witnesseth that the said Jesse Page and Anne his wife for and in consideration of the sum of 5 pounds current money of this Province to thence in hand paid at or before ... [truncate] ... confirm unto the said William Smith and to his heirs & assigns forever a certain parcel of land lying & being in the County aforesaid containing by estimation 100 acres be the same more or less. Beginning at William Easons corner running down Black Creek to a branch thence up the branch to Jesse Pages line thence on his line to his last corner thence down a branch to William Easons line thence on that line to the first station, the same being part of a survey of land whereon the said Jesse Page now lives. ... [truncate] ... In witness whereof the said Jesse Page and Anne his wife hath hereunto set their hands & seal the day above written. Signed: Jesse Page (seal), Anne Page (Seal). Signed sealed & delivered in presence of us Lodorick Tanner, Francis Payne.
It is noted that William Smith is referenced as a Senior which lends to the conclusion that he has a son named William Smith and would be of age in 1764 (William Smith Jr is presumed to be about 28-31 in 1764).
It is presumed that William Smith Sr may have died sometime in 1764 or 1765. This is primarily derived from the 1765 Northampton County deed discussed above.
No records (land records, death records (wills and/or estate records)) have been found pertaining to William Smith from 1765 to beyond.
The Smiths can be observed and documented starting to migrate from Black Creek further south to the Black River area in Cumberland County North Carolina before the start of the American Revolution.
William Smith (presumed William Smith Jr) would sell the 100 acre Black Creek property in 1767 to Philip Jones who is the son of James Jones. Philip Jones was also the Johnston County Deputy Sheriff under Sheriff and Militia Captain John McCullers. After John McCullers death, Philip Jones would briefly become Sheriff.
Johnston County North Carolina, Johnston County Deed Book E1 pg 244 This indenture made this 2nd day of July in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand seven hundred and sixty seven Between William Smith of Johnston County and Province of North Carolina of the one part & Philip Jones of the County and Province aforesaid of the other part. Witnesseth that the said William Smith for and in consideration of the sum of twelve pounds proclamation money to him in hand paid by the said Philip Jones ... [truncate] ... a certain tract or parcel of land situated on the north side of Black Creek and bounded as followeth; to wit, beginning at William Easons corner running down Black Creek to a branch thence up the branch to Jesse Pages line thence on his line to his last corner, thence down a branch to William Easons line thence on that line to the first station containing by estimation one hundred acres ... [truncate] Signed by William (his mark) Smith (seal). Witnessed by: Robert Mims and David Mims
Phillip Jones would sell this property to Robert Mims in 1772.
In summary, William Smith is estimated to have been born in Virginia (Surry/Isle Of Wight) around 1709. He likely married in Bertie County North Carolina around 1730. The name of his wife is unknown.
William Smith migrated to Johnston County in the early 1750s.
Some of his children are believed to be:
John Smith – born about 1731. Migrates to Black River and dies in 1795.
William Smith Jr – born about 1733-1736. Appears to migrate to Black River. Research still has not pinpointed if he remained in Cumberland County or migrated with his presumed brothers to Wilkes County, Georgia.
Richard Smith – born ca 1740. Migrates to Black River and then to Wilkes County. He’ll migrate again to Washington County Georgia where he appears to die 1805-1820.
Francis Scott Smith – born ca 1738-1742. Migrates to Black River area and then to Richmond/Columbia County, Georgia (property within a mile of Richard Smith; latter becomes part of Warren County). He’ll migrate again to Washington County Georgia. Research still pends in determining where he may have gone next or died.
digging our roots 
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