In a prior post about Elizabeth Smith Crozier, I established her as the daughter of Isaiah Smith. This revelation led to the discovery that in 1880, Mary Ann Crozier, Isaiah Smith’s granddaughter, was living with Elizabeth J Johnson Grace Smith, Needham Smith’s granddaughter. They were listed as cousins in the 1880 census records.
This article aims to explore the connection between Isaiah Smith and Needham Smith to elucidate how Elizabeth Smith Crozier, Mary Ann Crozier’s mother, and Elizabeth J Johnson Grace Smith could be considered cousins.
Here are some quick bullets to set the stage for the evaluation of the relationship.
- Needham Smith: born on or before 1762.
- Isaiah Smith: born on or before 1785.
- Historical records exist for Needham Smith in Wilkes, Warren, and Washington Counties (1784 – 1826), while there are no records for Isaiah Smith during the same period and in the same localities.
- By 1827, both Needham Smith and Isaiah Smith are living on adjoining properties in Houston County, Georgia.
Let’s examine the five main probable relationships that could exist between Isaiah Smith and Needham Smith.
- Father / Son – assumes Isaiah Smith is the son of Needham Smith
- Brothers – assumes Isaiah Smith and Needham Smith are brothers
- Half Brothers – assumes Isaiah Smith and Needham Smith are half brothers (same father/different mothers)
- Uncle / Nephew – assumes Isaiah Smith is a nephew of Needham Smith
- First Cousins – assumes Isaiah Smith and Needham Smith are first cousins
Father / Son – this relationship assumes that Needham Smith is the father of Isaiah Smith.
Extensive research has been conducted on this hypothesis over the years, as it seems intuitive to presume a father-son bond between the two individuals. Below are two articles on Isaiah Smith and Needham Smith to provide background context on their lives.
However, drawing from extensive research and insights gleaned from DNA analysis, as of 2024, my hypothesis suggests that Isaiah Smith is not the biological son of Needham Smith.
The primary dataset that significantly influences my hypothesis is found within the Houston County Georgia Deed Books. Upon Needham Smith’s demise in 1843, Richard Johnson, Needham Smith’s son-in-law, and William Smith, his son, served as administrators of his estate. In the absence of a Last Will & Testament, Needham Smith’s estate underwent probate and liquidation, with the remaining funds distributed among his heirs.
Houston County Georgia, Houston County Deed Book H page 705 Georgia, Houston County Received January 23rd 1844 of William Smith & Richard Johnson, Administrators on the estate of Neadham Smith, late of said county deceased, one thousand dollars in full & complete satifaction of all my right title or interest in & upon the estate, real & personnal property of said deceased. In testiony whereof I have here unto set my hand & affixed my seal, this day & year first above written. Signed Adam Hardin (seal). Witnessed by Eason (his mark) Smith and Oliff Bradshaw. Georgia, Houston County Personally came before me, D. W. Taylor, one of the Justices of Peace in & for said county, Eason Smith and after being duly sworn deposeth & saith that he saw Adam Hardin sign, seal, and deliver the within receipt to William Smith and Richard Johnson administrators on the estate of Neadham Smith deceased and that Oliff Bradshaw was a subscribing witness with myself sworn to before me this 18 March 1844. Eason (his mark) Smith. D.W. Taylor, J.P. - Recorded 20 March 1844.
This record reveals a disbursement to Margaret Smith Hardin, who was a daughter from Needham Smith’s first marriage to Margaret Smith. Eason Smith is believed to be Needham Smith’s nephew, while Oliff Bradshaw is known as Needham Smith’s son-in-law.
Houston County Georgia, Houston County Deed Book I page 481 Georgia, Houston County May 10 1847. Received of Richard Johnson and William Smith, Administrators of Needom Smith late of said county, deceased, one thousand dollars in full & complete satifaction of all my right title or interest in & upon the estate, real & personnal of my father the said Needom Smith, deceased. In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand & affixed my seal, this day & year first above written. Signed James Smith (seal). Witnessed by Brasil B. Johnson and James Cherry, J.P. - Recorded February 10 1849.
This record reveals a disbursement to son James Smith. Brazil B. Johnson warrants attention, as pending further research, he may be identified as Richard Johnson’s nephew.
Houston County Georgia, Houston County Deed Book I page 481
Georgia, Houston County
Received July 1st 1847 of Richard Johnson and William Smith, Administrators of Needom Smith late of said county, deceased, one thousand dollars in full & complete satifaction of all my right title or interest in & upon the estate, real & personnal, of Needom Smith, in right of my wife daughter of said deceased. In witness whereof I have here unto set my hand & affixed my seal, this day & year first above written. Signed Ollif Bradshaw (seal). Witnessed by Emanuel McNeese and William (his mark) Baddy.
Georgia, Houston County
Personally came before me, Matthew Grace, a Justice of Peace for said county, Emanuel McNeese & after being duly sworn deposeth & saith that he saw Oliff Bradshaw sign, seal & deliver the within receipt and saw William Body sign the same as a subscribing witness. May 6 1848. Emanuel McNeese. Matthew Grace, J.P. - Recorded Feb 10, 1849.
This record reveals a disbursement to daughter Quintine Smith Bradshaw. Matthew Grace and Emanuel McNeese are affinal relatives of Needham Smith through his daughter Jane Smith Johnson.
The revelation of Quintine Smith Bradshaw’s identity, supported by this record and the accompanying article, is likely to surprise the majority of family genealogists. While many have extensively studied and documented the children of Needham Smith’s second marriage to Tabitha Tillman Smith, Quintine Smith Bradshaw has been notably absent from historical discourse. Below is a record substantiating her existence.
Houston County Geogia, Houston Cound Deed Book I page 395 Tabitha Smith to Drury W. Taylor; .... consideration of the natural love & affection which she the said Tabitha Smith has & bears to her daughter Quintine Bradshaw of said State & Dooly County, wife of Olive Bradshaw ....; 30 September 1847. Signed Tabitha (her mark) Smith (seal). Witnessed by James Cross, William Smith, and Richard Johnson Jr.
Houston County Georgia, Houston County Deed Book I page 482
Georgia, Houston County
Received July 1st 1847 of Richard Johnson and William Smith, Administrators of Needom Smith late of said county, deceased, one thousand dollars in full & complete satifaction of all my right title or interest in & upon the estate, real & personnal of the estate of Needham Smith, in right of my wife Sarah, daughter of said deceased. In witness whereof I have here unto set my hand & affixed my seal, this day & year first above written. Signed John M. Shira (seal). Witnessed by Samuel Lawson and John D. Dawson.
Georgia, Dooly County
Before me, N.H. Bostick a Justice of the Peace in & for said county personally came Samuel Lawson who being duly sworn, saith that he saw John M Shira sign the within instrument of purposes within specified and that he the deponent signed it as a witness, & saw John D. Dawson do so likewise. Sworn to before me this May 6 1748. Samuel Lawson. N.H. Bostick, J.P. - Recorded Feb 23, 1849.
This record reveals a disbursement to Sarah Smith Shira, who was a daughter from Needham Smith’s first marriage to Margaret Smith.
Houston County Georgia, Houston County Deed Book I page 482 Georgia, Houston County Received July 1st 1847 of Richard Johnson and William Smith, Administrators of Needom Smith late of said county, deceased, one thousand dollars in full & complete satifaction of all my right title or interest in & upon the estate, real & personnal of the estate of Needom Smith, in right of our mother Agnes Rains, daughter of said deceased. In witness whereof we have here unto set our hands & affixed our seals, this day & year first above written. Signed Needom (his mark) Raines (seal), James Raines (seal), Griffin (his mark) Raines (seal) & Guardian for Hampton Raines (seal), Giles B Webb (seal), and Richard (his mark) Raines (seal). Witnessed by John T. Hamill, Moses West, English Smith, and Richard T Smith. Georgia, Dooly County Giles B. Webb acknowledged his signature to the above receipt before us this the 8th of August 1848. J.T. Hamill. W.S. Hamill J.P. Georgia, Dooly County Before me William S Hamill a Justice of the Peace came John T Hamill personally who being duly sworn says that he saw Needom Raines, James Raines, Griffin Raines, for himself, & as guardian of Hamilton Raines sign the within receipt for the purposes therein specified that he signed the same as a witness & saw Moses West do so likewise. Sworn to & subscribed before me this the 8th of August 1848. J.T. Hamill. W.S. Hamill J.P. - Recorded February 19 1849.
This record reveals a disbursement to Agnes Smith Raines, who was a daughter from Needham Smith’s first marriage to Margaret Smith.
Houston County Georgia, Houston County Deed Book I page 483 Georgia, Houston County Received July 10th 1847 of Richard Johnson and William Smith, Administrators of Needom Smith late of said county, deceased, one thousand dollars in full & complete satifaction of all my right title or interest in & upon the estate, real & personnal, of the estate of Needom Smith, in right of my wife Elizabeth daughter of said deceased. In witness whereof I have here unto set my hand & affixed my sea, this day & year first above written. Signed Cullen Cox (seal). Witnessed by James Raines and Needom (his mark) Raines. Georgia, Houston County Personally came before me, Matthew Grace, a Justice of Peace for said county, Needom Raines & after being duly sworn deposeth & saith that he saw Cullen Cox sign, seal & deliver the within receipt and he was a subscribing witness & saw James Raines sign as the same. 24 August 1848. Needham (his mark) Raines. Matthew Grace, J.P. - Recorded Feb 10, 1849.
This record reveals a disbursement to daughter Elizabeth Ann Smith Cox.
Houston County Georgia, Houston County Deed Book I page 499 Georgia, Houston County Received July 15th 1847 of Richard Johnson and William Smith, Administrators of Neadom Smith late of said county, deceased, one thousand dollars in full & complete satifaction of all my right title or interest in & upon the estate real & personnal of my father the said Neadom Smith, deceased. In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand & affixed my sea, this day & year first above written. Signed English Smith (seal). Witnessed by Alexander Smith and John E. Smith Georgia, Washington County Personally appeared, John E. Smith before me, S.W. Buck J.P. in & for said county & saith on oath that he saw English Smith sign the within receipt for the contents therein specified. Sworn to & subscribed before me this 13 February 1849. John E. Smith; S.W. Buck J.P. - Recorded Feb 23, 1849.
Houston County Georgia, Houston County Deed Book I page 500 Georgia, Houston County Received July 15th 1847 of Richard Johnson and William Smith, Administrators of Needom Smith late of said county, deceased, one thousand dollars in full & complete satifaction of all my right title or interest in & upon the estate, real & personnal of my father the said Needom Smith, deceased. In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand & affixed my seal, this day & year first above written. Signed Richard Smith (seal). Witnessed by Calton Davidson and English Smith. Georgia, Washington County Personally appeared, English Smith before me, S.W. Buck J.P. in & for said county & saith on oath that he saw Richard Smith sign the within receipt for the contents therein specified. Sworn to & subscribed before me this 13 February 1849. English Smith; S.W. Buck J.P. - Recorded Feb 23, 1849.
These records primarily identify the heirs of Needham Smith. Needham Smith Jr. does not appear to have received a payout, as documented in the county records. This omission is likely due to his acquisition of some of his father’s land (consisting of 6 lots totaling 1316 acres) at a reduced price of $2,025 through a court auction in 1844 (refer to Houston County Deed Book H, page 861).
If Isaiah Smith were indeed a son of Needham Smith, it would be reasonable to anticipate that Isaiah Smith would have received a payout similar to other heirs, as depicted in the above records. However, no historical records from that period, including the ones mentioned above, indicate any such disbursement to Isaiah Smith.
Moreover, Isaiah Smith, born circa 1785, would presumably have been the eldest among Needham Smith’s known heirs. This implies that we should have encountered at least a few historical records (from 1800 to 1826) pertaining to Isaiah Smith in Warren County or Washington County, similar to the records we find for Needham Smith himself and his numerous heirs and presumed relatives. However, no such records relating to Isaiah Smith have surfaced during that time span in those areas.
From a historical record and genealogical perspective, the evidence strongly suggests that Isaiah Smith is not the biological son of Needham Smith.
To be continued in part 2 ….
digging our roots 
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