Rev. William Smith Sr. (RS)
son of James Madison Smith (1720) of Hampshire, England who came with his father
(Grandson of) Madison Smith Sr. ( who emigrated to Georgia in 1733)

William grew up in Liberty County, Ga. until 1819 when he moved to Appling County, Ga. when it was created and settled on the Little Satilla River (Appling County & Wayne County line) and later moved to Red Bluff Creek area and built his home there and cleared his land for farming.
He was buried at the Bethany Church (Arabia Cemetery), the beautiful snow-white sand cemetery.

William Smith was a Revolutionary soldier and served in the Georgia Line (Knight's Roster of the Revolution). For his services , he was granted 287 and a half acres in Washington County in April 10, 1785.

He was Justice of Peace in the 17th District of Liberty County (1815-1819). He served as one of the first Justices of the Inferior Court of Ware County (1825-1829). He was Justice of peace in the 586th District of Ware County (1830-1837). This district was later cut into Clinch County.

Rev. William Smith participated in the organization of the present Piedmont Baptist Association on October 20, 1815 at the Little Ohoopee Church in Tattnall County and was a delegate from Jones Creek Church.
In 1819-1820 he attended as a delegate from the Little Satilla Church. He was Moderator of the Association 1817-1818 and was appointed to preach the Introductory Sermon at the 1824 Association but he failed to attend.

William Smith was very much active for many years in religious work and a member of the Baptist Church. His earliest known church membership was at Beards Creek Church in Tattnall County, but in 1810 he joined in the organization of Jones Creek Church in Liberty County (now Long County).
He was ordained to the ministry by Jones Creek Church on February 27, 1819 , he was dismissed by letter May 22, 1819 and became a charter member of Little Satilla Baptist Church in Appling County.
His membership remained there until shortly before his death when he helped to organize an 'arm' of Union Church at what is now Bethany Church in the present Clinch County in 1841.
William died a few weeks later.
Rev. Smith died at his home in what was then Ware County.

His 1st wife was Mrs. Mary Townsend Platt (1766-1808) died in Liberty County, Georgia
His 2nd wife was Miss Bineta 'Neta' or 'Neter' Stephens

Children of William Smith and Mary Townsend Platt Smith not linked are:

Sarah -- Jun 20, 1787 -- Dec 12, 1860.
Israel -- 1796
Eleanor -- 1801

Children of William Smith and Bineta Stephens Smith not linked are:
James Madison -- 1830