Revolutionary Roster: Smith Family Patriots in the North Carolina Militia

In Cumberland County, North Carolina, during the Revolutionary War, the organization of militias followed a structured yet community-driven approach. At the county level, these militias were composed of local men who either volunteered or were conscripted to serve. Recruitment efforts were often spearheaded by prominent community members, including local leaders, landowners, and respected veterans. These... Continue Reading →

May 30, 2024 0

Indigenous Identity: The Mystery Surrounding Charlotte Mott Smith’s Ancestral Origins

In the mysteries of family lore, the figure of Charlotte Mott Smith looms large, shrouded in mystery and intrigue. According to legend, she was believed to be of Native American descent, with her son, Richard Isaiah Smith, purportedly born on a reservation in Florida. The narrative is further embellished by documents from a grandmother's bible,... Continue Reading →

May 4, 2024 0

The Confederate Chronicles: Richard and Hardy Smith’s Fight for the South

In the mid 1800s, the United States was experiencing an era of tremendous growth, marked by a fundamental economic difference that existed between the country's northern and southern territories. In the North, a robust manufacturing and industrial sector flourished, while agriculture predominantly consisted of small-scale farming operations. In contrast, the South's economy revolved around large-scale... Continue Reading →

April 30, 2024 0

Forging a New Frontier: The Smiths’ Journey to Georgia and the Riches of Wilkes County Headright Grants

By April 1783, the skirmishes stemming from the Revolutionary War reached their conclusion, marking an end to the hostilities of the war. The Smith clan resided primarily in the northern region of Cumberland County, North Carolina, establishing their homes along Black River, Niells Creek, and Buies Creek. In the days leading up to the war's... Continue Reading →

April 16, 2024 0

Unraveling the Legacy: John Smith of Black River and the Cumberland County Chronicles

John Smith's probable birth year is circa 1731, placing his origins in Bertie County, North Carolina, specifically in Occoneechee Neck. The estimation of his birth year is based on historical records, taking into account the apparent age of his son Benjamin Smith Sr. Furthermore, extensive research into his father, William Smith Sr, has contributed to... Continue Reading →

May 26, 2023 0

Unveiling William Smith: The Enigmatic Journey to Black Creek

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... Continue Reading →

May 21, 2023 0

Flowing Through Surry: Thomas Smith’s Story on the Blackwater River

During the 1600s, in the Colony of Virginia, the laws allowed any person who settled in Virginia (personal right) or paid for the transportation expenses of another person who settled in Virginia (transportation right), to be entitled to receive fifty acres of land for each immigrant. This provision was known as a headright system. On... Continue Reading →

December 26, 2022 3

Benjamin Smith

Benjamin Smith was likely born in Johnston County, North Carolina ca 1752. He is the son of John Smith Sr. John Smith Sr was living in an area of Johnston County near Swift Creek that became Wake County in 1771. On 7 July 1778 John Smith Sr made a claim on 300 acres of land... Continue Reading →

July 1, 2022 0

Smiths in the 1805 Georgia Land Lottery

One of the troubles that genealogy researchers face is trying to track people moving into or living in Georgia from about 1784 to 1820. This is primarily due to the lost U.S. Census records for Georgia for the years 1790 through 1820. My research is able to follow the Smith Clan from Cumberland County, North... Continue Reading →

June 30, 2022 0

Isaiah Smith Sr – My Brick Wall

The parents of Isaiah Smith Sr are to this day still undertermined. This brickwall has been a formidable advisary in my genealogy research. I have found sections of this brickwall that have broken and I have been able to peer through the cracks to see some images of Isaiah Smith Sr's ancestors by means of... Continue Reading →

June 10, 2022 1

John W Smith

This post was originally published on 3 November 2018 and is being revised based on newly discovered information (20210828). John W Smith was born about 1813, presumed by inductive reasoning, in Washington County, Georgia. An alternate case can be made for Wilkinson County, Georgia. See article for Isaiah Smith Sr. John's grandparents and uncles started... Continue Reading →

August 29, 2021 0

Tricounty Map – 4 (Hardy Sanders, Richard Smith, Theophilus Hunter Sr)

It was previously learned that when Richard Smith in 1773 purchased 100A from John Smith Sr on Black Creek, it was annotated that Richard was of/from Cumberland County. Shifting map focus to the south southeast across the Johnston County line into Cumberland County, on 22 May 1772 Hardy Sanders received a grant for 500A on... Continue Reading →

July 23, 2021 0

Tricounty Map – 2 (Philip Jones, Robert Mims, William Ward, Joseph Johnston, Richard Smith)

On 2 July 1767 William Smith of Johnston County deeded 100A to Philip Jones (JoCo E1:244) for 12£ proc. The deed was witnessed by Robert and David Mims. The following year, in 1768, Philip Jones would become Johnston County Sheriff upon the death of Sheriff John McCullers. Fast forward 4 years later, Philip Jones is... Continue Reading →

July 21, 2021 0

Tricounty Map – 1 (Jesse Page, William Smith Sr, John Smith Sr)

On 17 January 1764 Jesse Page and his wife Anne deeded 100A of their 517A grant to William Smith Sr of the county & province afsd (this being Johnston County, NC) (JoCo D1:163) for 5£. The deed was witnessed by Lodwick Tanner and Francis Payne. Lodwick Tanner is known to be a nearby landowner. He... Continue Reading →

July 16, 2021 0

Tricounty Map – 0 (William Eason, Jesse Page, John Smith Sr)

This map will focus on plotting properties where present day North Carolina counties of Johnston, Harnett, and Wake come together, about 2 miles northeast of Angiers, North Carolina. Starting off in the NE quadrant of the map, the first tract to review is one granted to William Eason in 1755. William Eason - 359A issued... Continue Reading →

July 15, 2021 0

Debunking William Smith

At this stage of my research, I have identified a common DNA link between Isaiah Smith Sr and Needham Smith Sr. For repetition, I have a DNA match to a user who's traced lineage via documented sources starts with Patricia Rhodes > Minnie Claire Cox > Charlie Needham Cox > Needham Cox > Elizabeth Ann... Continue Reading →

November 26, 2018 4

Theophilus Hunter – 320A – Black River

The next grant to plot is by Theophilus Hunter. This will help tie the start point for these plots together. The entry for this grant was made on 3 December 1778, which described the land as 320 acres lying on the branches of Buies Creek and on both sides of the Widow Cutts path that... Continue Reading →

February 7, 2018 0

Richard Smith – 300A – Black River

On 25 August 1778, Richard Smith made a entry for 300 acres of land lying in Cumberland County on the Black River joining his own line. Four years later on 4 January 1782 a warrant was issued to conduct a survey for this entry. The survey was conducted on 30 April 1782. The chainers for... Continue Reading →

February 4, 2018 0

Hardy Sanders – 500 acres – Black River in Cumberland County, North Carolina

I've decided to jump over to Cumberland County, North Carolina to start plotting some land grants and deeds. I was interested in locating the land that Hardy Smith bought from Richard Smith in 1783. Hardy Sanders was issued a land grant on 22 May 1772 for 500 acres in Cumberland County, North Carolina on the... Continue Reading →

February 3, 2018 0

The Hardy Smith Timeline – Part 2 (Georgia)

Continued from Part 1 Following the clues left behind in Cumberland County, North Carolina, Hardy Smith can be found having migrated to Georgia. Observing the migration to Georgia of Hardy's Cumberland County neighbors and acquaintances (those living on the Black River and nearby Buie & McNeill Creek, as well as in Johnston County), it warrant's... Continue Reading →

February 1, 2018 0

The Hardy Smith Timeline – Part 1 (Cumberland County)

This is the life timeline of Hardy Smith, as interpreted, based on connecting historical documents, circumstantial information and affiliation to other known individuals. Hardy Smith's testimony in open court on 6 May 1833 as part of his Pension Application process, Hardy stated he was 76 and was born on the waters of Neuse River Johnston... Continue Reading →

January 28, 2018 10