Birth date is estimated at abt 1700-1725. His Last Will & Testament (LWT) was dated 1771, probated Nov 25, 1776; therefore, he died before 25 Nov 1776.
In the LWT Robert mentions his wife, Elizabeth, and sons: Robert, Jr., George, Larkin, and Byrd, and daughters Mary and Betty Smith. Witnesses were John Noell, Jesse Andrews, and Mary Andrews. Dr. Mark Andrews was one of the executors. Surety on the executor's bond was John Andrews.
He lived on a 400 acre tract of land purchased in 1763 from James Allen of "Meadow Bridges", Hanover. The 4400 acre land grant in Cumberland was known as "Allendale". Smith's 400 acres depicted on the attached map in red. Immediately adjacent to the western lot line of this 400 acres is what Willie Allen once referred to (to me) as the "Overseers Place". Perhaps Smith was the overseer for the Allens?
In the 1750's, in the Hanover Processions for the precinct managed by James Allen, was located a "Robert Smith". We believe that this was either Robert of Cumberland or his father. Indeed, this "Robert" disappears from the processions at about the time Robert Smith of Cumberland purchased the Allen land in 1763. It is, however, notable that Robert Smith Jr. recorded himself as being born in Cumberland in 1749 (the year Cumberland "Southam Parish" was created from Goochland).
Robert was married to Elizabeth "Betty" Smith when he wrote his LWT in 1771. However, some have surmised that Robert had been first married to a woman named "Mary" but that supposition proved errant. That "Mary" was Mary Jarrett, wife of Robert Smith of Rockcastle, previously of Gloucester County (the family of William Smith of Montrose in Powhatan County). Likewise of the "Montrose" family was the Robert Smith (son of William) who married Elizabeth James. These errors have corrupted our Robert Smith (C1700-1776) family genealogy for many years and, thusly, led to a comprehensive review of all Smith families recorded in Cumberland, Goochland, and Henrico counties. Moreover, Y-DNA testing has likewise excluded all other families of Smiths thereby isolating Robert Smith (c1700-1776) to himself.
Thus far, the only matching Y-DNA profiles are Smith families whose origins are in Scotland and Northern Ireland, which was largely settled by Scottish tenants. Distant relatives are also found in Australia.
The "Two-Wives" theory (as once promoted by T.W. Smith) was this:
Mary married Robert and had:
1. Robert Jr born 1749
2. George born about 1751
3. Mary born about 1753
Mary died, and Robert remarried to Elizabeth (Surname Unknown) & had:
4. Larkin born 1760
5. Byrd born about 1762
5. Elizabeth born by 1771 (LWT date)
The question of Elizabeth Smith's maiden name yet lingers. There have been a number of "guesses" and a couple are: a. Elizabeth James, who married Robert Smith in 1763 b. Elizabeth Browne, daughter of Samuel Browne (d1782). But the probability that Elizabeth was an Allen relative is much more likely.
We now know that Elizabeth James married Robert(1743-1784), son of Lt. William Smith of "Montrose", Powhatan County, VA. Also, after new research, it is believed that "Elizabeth Browne" married THOMAS Smith/Smyth, son of Robert Smyth (d1770, Cumberland) and Sarah Clements.
As for Robert Smith Sr's Origins:
A statement in a 1998 email from a Smith researcher, which statement cannot be verified for accuracy, reads: "...An Englishman, a tailor by trade, by the name of SMITH, came to America and settled in Virginia. ROBERT SMITH [jr], his grandson, was born in Cumberland County, Virginia, [;] in 1804 [he] later...[settled]...in Oglethorpe County, Georgia. His four sons and one daughter, all born in Virginia, came with him to Georgia. They were, to wit: Anthony G[arnett], James, Milton, and William, and daughter Avie...."
New evidence, however, suggests Scottish origins, and is in-line with Family Lore:
In 1715 a "Robert Smith of Biggar, Lanark, Scotland" was brought to Yorktown as a Jacobite prisoner.
GA Smiths tell of our ancestor coming to VA "in chains". Another set of Smiths, now in FLA, tell further of our Smiths having a Coat-of-Arms depicting "3 holly sprigs". Indeed, the McGow(an) [aka "SMITH"] families of Scotland have this Arms.
Perhaps a family myth? Perhaps there really is a manuscript from which this information was taken? We simply do not yet know.
What we DO know is this: Y-DNA testing of a Byrd Smith descendant provided a little more information as to these Smiths. The tester carries a Y-DNA mutation known as J-L24/L70+, also carried by descendants of "Anthony Garnett of Kendal, England". Garnett was involved in the Iron Industry in England in an area known as "The Weald". Perhaps this was the origin of our Smith surname.
UPDATED YDNA info shows matches to families in SW Scotland.
In the LWT Robert mentions his wife, Elizabeth, and sons: Robert, Jr., George, Larkin, and Byrd, and daughters Mary and Betty Smith. Witnesses were John Noell, Jesse Andrews, and Mary Andrews. Dr. Mark Andrews was one of the executors. Surety on the executor's bond was John Andrews.
He lived on a 400 acre tract of land purchased in 1763 from James Allen of "Meadow Bridges", Hanover. The 4400 acre land grant in Cumberland was known as "Allendale". Smith's 400 acres depicted on the attached map in red. Immediately adjacent to the western lot line of this 400 acres is what Willie Allen once referred to (to me) as the "Overseers Place". Perhaps Smith was the overseer for the Allens?
In the 1750's, in the Hanover Processions for the precinct managed by James Allen, was located a "Robert Smith". We believe that this was either Robert of Cumberland or his father. Indeed, this "Robert" disappears from the processions at about the time Robert Smith of Cumberland purchased the Allen land in 1763. It is, however, notable that Robert Smith Jr. recorded himself as being born in Cumberland in 1749 (the year Cumberland "Southam Parish" was created from Goochland).
Robert was married to Elizabeth "Betty" Smith when he wrote his LWT in 1771. However, some have surmised that Robert had been first married to a woman named "Mary" but that supposition proved errant. That "Mary" was Mary Jarrett, wife of Robert Smith of Rockcastle, previously of Gloucester County (the family of William Smith of Montrose in Powhatan County). Likewise of the "Montrose" family was the Robert Smith (son of William) who married Elizabeth James. These errors have corrupted our Robert Smith (C1700-1776) family genealogy for many years and, thusly, led to a comprehensive review of all Smith families recorded in Cumberland, Goochland, and Henrico counties. Moreover, Y-DNA testing has likewise excluded all other families of Smiths thereby isolating Robert Smith (c1700-1776) to himself.
Thus far, the only matching Y-DNA profiles are Smith families whose origins are in Scotland and Northern Ireland, which was largely settled by Scottish tenants. Distant relatives are also found in Australia.
The "Two-Wives" theory (as once promoted by T.W. Smith) was this:
Mary married Robert and had:
1. Robert Jr born 1749
2. George born about 1751
3. Mary born about 1753
Mary died, and Robert remarried to Elizabeth (Surname Unknown) & had:
4. Larkin born 1760
5. Byrd born about 1762
5. Elizabeth born by 1771 (LWT date)
The question of Elizabeth Smith's maiden name yet lingers. There have been a number of "guesses" and a couple are: a. Elizabeth James, who married Robert Smith in 1763 b. Elizabeth Browne, daughter of Samuel Browne (d1782). But the probability that Elizabeth was an Allen relative is much more likely.
We now know that Elizabeth James married Robert(1743-1784), son of Lt. William Smith of "Montrose", Powhatan County, VA. Also, after new research, it is believed that "Elizabeth Browne" married THOMAS Smith/Smyth, son of Robert Smyth (d1770, Cumberland) and Sarah Clements.
As for Robert Smith Sr's Origins:
A statement in a 1998 email from a Smith researcher, which statement cannot be verified for accuracy, reads: "...An Englishman, a tailor by trade, by the name of SMITH, came to America and settled in Virginia. ROBERT SMITH [jr], his grandson, was born in Cumberland County, Virginia, [;] in 1804 [he] later...[settled]...in Oglethorpe County, Georgia. His four sons and one daughter, all born in Virginia, came with him to Georgia. They were, to wit: Anthony G[arnett], James, Milton, and William, and daughter Avie...."
New evidence, however, suggests Scottish origins, and is in-line with Family Lore:
In 1715 a "Robert Smith of Biggar, Lanark, Scotland" was brought to Yorktown as a Jacobite prisoner.
GA Smiths tell of our ancestor coming to VA "in chains". Another set of Smiths, now in FLA, tell further of our Smiths having a Coat-of-Arms depicting "3 holly sprigs". Indeed, the McGow(an) [aka "SMITH"] families of Scotland have this Arms.
Perhaps a family myth? Perhaps there really is a manuscript from which this information was taken? We simply do not yet know.
What we DO know is this: Y-DNA testing of a Byrd Smith descendant provided a little more information as to these Smiths. The tester carries a Y-DNA mutation known as J-L24/L70+, also carried by descendants of "Anthony Garnett of Kendal, England". Garnett was involved in the Iron Industry in England in an area known as "The Weald". Perhaps this was the origin of our Smith surname.
UPDATED YDNA info shows matches to families in SW Scotland.
Birth date is estimated at abt 1700-1725. His Last Will & Testament (LWT) was dated 1771, probated Nov 25, 1776; therefore, he died before 25 Nov 1776.
In the LWT Robert mentions his wife, Elizabeth, and sons: Robert, Jr., George, Larkin, and Byrd, and daughters Mary and Betty Smith. Witnesses were John Noell, Jesse Andrews, and Mary Andrews. Dr. Mark Andrews was one of the executors. Surety on the executor's bond was John Andrews.
He lived on a 400 acre tract of land purchased in 1763 from James Allen of "Meadow Bridges", Hanover. The 4400 acre land grant in Cumberland was known as "Allendale". Smith's 400 acres depicted on the attached map in red. Immediately adjacent to the western lot line of this 400 acres is what Willie Allen once referred to (to me) as the "Overseers Place". Perhaps Smith was the overseer for the Allens?
In the 1750's, in the Hanover Processions for the precinct managed by James Allen, was located a "Robert Smith". We believe that this was either Robert of Cumberland or his father. Indeed, this "Robert" disappears from the processions at about the time Robert Smith of Cumberland purchased the Allen land in 1763. It is, however, notable that Robert Smith Jr. recorded himself as being born in Cumberland in 1749 (the year Cumberland "Southam Parish" was created from Goochland).
Robert was married to Elizabeth "Betty" Smith when he wrote his LWT in 1771. However, some have surmised that Robert had been first married to a woman named "Mary" but that supposition proved errant. That "Mary" was Mary Jarrett, wife of Robert Smith of Rockcastle, previously of Gloucester County (the family of William Smith of Montrose in Powhatan County). Likewise of the "Montrose" family was the Robert Smith (son of William) who married Elizabeth James. These errors have corrupted our Robert Smith (C1700-1776) family genealogy for many years and, thusly, led to a comprehensive review of all Smith families recorded in Cumberland, Goochland, and Henrico counties. Moreover, Y-DNA testing has likewise excluded all other families of Smiths thereby isolating Robert Smith (c1700-1776) to himself.
Thus far, the only matching Y-DNA profiles are Smith families whose origins are in Scotland and Northern Ireland, which was largely settled by Scottish tenants. Distant relatives are also found in Australia.
The "Two-Wives" theory (as once promoted by T.W. Smith) was this:
Mary married Robert and had:
1. Robert Jr born 1749
2. George born about 1751
3. Mary born about 1753
Mary died, and Robert remarried to Elizabeth (Surname Unknown) & had:
4. Larkin born 1760
5. Byrd born about 1762
5. Elizabeth born by 1771 (LWT date)
The question of Elizabeth Smith's maiden name yet lingers. There have been a number of "guesses" and a couple are: a. Elizabeth James, who married Robert Smith in 1763 b. Elizabeth Browne, daughter of Samuel Browne (d1782). But the probability that Elizabeth was an Allen relative is much more likely.
We now know that Elizabeth James married Robert(1743-1784), son of Lt. William Smith of "Montrose", Powhatan County, VA. Also, after new research, it is believed that "Elizabeth Browne" married THOMAS Smith/Smyth, son of Robert Smyth (d1770, Cumberland) and Sarah Clements.
As for Robert Smith Sr's Origins:
A statement in a 1998 email from a Smith researcher, which statement cannot be verified for accuracy, reads: "...An Englishman, a tailor by trade, by the name of SMITH, came to America and settled in Virginia. ROBERT SMITH [jr], his grandson, was born in Cumberland County, Virginia, [;] in 1804 [he] later...[settled]...in Oglethorpe County, Georgia. His four sons and one daughter, all born in Virginia, came with him to Georgia. They were, to wit: Anthony G[arnett], James, Milton, and William, and daughter Avie...."
New evidence, however, suggests Scottish origins, and is in-line with Family Lore:
In 1715 a "Robert Smith of Biggar, Lanark, Scotland" was brought to Yorktown as a Jacobite prisoner.
GA Smiths tell of our ancestor coming to VA "in chains". Another set of Smiths, now in FLA, tell further of our Smiths having a Coat-of-Arms depicting "3 holly sprigs". Indeed, the McGow(an) [aka "SMITH"] families of Scotland have this Arms.
Perhaps a family myth? Perhaps there really is a manuscript from which this information was taken? We simply do not yet know.
What we DO know is this: Y-DNA testing of a Byrd Smith descendant provided a little more information as to these Smiths. The tester carries a Y-DNA mutation known as J-L24/L70+, also carried by descendants of "Anthony Garnett of Kendal, England". Garnett was involved in the Iron Industry in England in an area known as "The Weald". Perhaps this was the origin of our Smith surname.
UPDATED YDNA info shows matches to families in SW Scotland.
In the LWT Robert mentions his wife, Elizabeth, and sons: Robert, Jr., George, Larkin, and Byrd, and daughters Mary and Betty Smith. Witnesses were John Noell, Jesse Andrews, and Mary Andrews. Dr. Mark Andrews was one of the executors. Surety on the executor's bond was John Andrews.
He lived on a 400 acre tract of land purchased in 1763 from James Allen of "Meadow Bridges", Hanover. The 4400 acre land grant in Cumberland was known as "Allendale". Smith's 400 acres depicted on the attached map in red. Immediately adjacent to the western lot line of this 400 acres is what Willie Allen once referred to (to me) as the "Overseers Place". Perhaps Smith was the overseer for the Allens?
In the 1750's, in the Hanover Processions for the precinct managed by James Allen, was located a "Robert Smith". We believe that this was either Robert of Cumberland or his father. Indeed, this "Robert" disappears from the processions at about the time Robert Smith of Cumberland purchased the Allen land in 1763. It is, however, notable that Robert Smith Jr. recorded himself as being born in Cumberland in 1749 (the year Cumberland "Southam Parish" was created from Goochland).
Robert was married to Elizabeth "Betty" Smith when he wrote his LWT in 1771. However, some have surmised that Robert had been first married to a woman named "Mary" but that supposition proved errant. That "Mary" was Mary Jarrett, wife of Robert Smith of Rockcastle, previously of Gloucester County (the family of William Smith of Montrose in Powhatan County). Likewise of the "Montrose" family was the Robert Smith (son of William) who married Elizabeth James. These errors have corrupted our Robert Smith (C1700-1776) family genealogy for many years and, thusly, led to a comprehensive review of all Smith families recorded in Cumberland, Goochland, and Henrico counties. Moreover, Y-DNA testing has likewise excluded all other families of Smiths thereby isolating Robert Smith (c1700-1776) to himself.
Thus far, the only matching Y-DNA profiles are Smith families whose origins are in Scotland and Northern Ireland, which was largely settled by Scottish tenants. Distant relatives are also found in Australia.
The "Two-Wives" theory (as once promoted by T.W. Smith) was this:
Mary married Robert and had:
1. Robert Jr born 1749
2. George born about 1751
3. Mary born about 1753
Mary died, and Robert remarried to Elizabeth (Surname Unknown) & had:
4. Larkin born 1760
5. Byrd born about 1762
5. Elizabeth born by 1771 (LWT date)
The question of Elizabeth Smith's maiden name yet lingers. There have been a number of "guesses" and a couple are: a. Elizabeth James, who married Robert Smith in 1763 b. Elizabeth Browne, daughter of Samuel Browne (d1782). But the probability that Elizabeth was an Allen relative is much more likely.
We now know that Elizabeth James married Robert(1743-1784), son of Lt. William Smith of "Montrose", Powhatan County, VA. Also, after new research, it is believed that "Elizabeth Browne" married THOMAS Smith/Smyth, son of Robert Smyth (d1770, Cumberland) and Sarah Clements.
As for Robert Smith Sr's Origins:
A statement in a 1998 email from a Smith researcher, which statement cannot be verified for accuracy, reads: "...An Englishman, a tailor by trade, by the name of SMITH, came to America and settled in Virginia. ROBERT SMITH [jr], his grandson, was born in Cumberland County, Virginia, [;] in 1804 [he] later...[settled]...in Oglethorpe County, Georgia. His four sons and one daughter, all born in Virginia, came with him to Georgia. They were, to wit: Anthony G[arnett], James, Milton, and William, and daughter Avie...."
New evidence, however, suggests Scottish origins, and is in-line with Family Lore:
In 1715 a "Robert Smith of Biggar, Lanark, Scotland" was brought to Yorktown as a Jacobite prisoner.
GA Smiths tell of our ancestor coming to VA "in chains". Another set of Smiths, now in FLA, tell further of our Smiths having a Coat-of-Arms depicting "3 holly sprigs". Indeed, the McGow(an) [aka "SMITH"] families of Scotland have this Arms.
Perhaps a family myth? Perhaps there really is a manuscript from which this information was taken? We simply do not yet know.
What we DO know is this: Y-DNA testing of a Byrd Smith descendant provided a little more information as to these Smiths. The tester carries a Y-DNA mutation known as J-L24/L70+, also carried by descendants of "Anthony Garnett of Kendal, England". Garnett was involved in the Iron Industry in England in an area known as "The Weald". Perhaps this was the origin of our Smith surname.
UPDATED YDNA info shows matches to families in SW Scotland.
