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Facts and Events
| Name |
General James Smith |
| Alt Name |
Captain Slick _____ |
| Gender |
Male |
| Birth[1][2][3][4][5][6] |
10 Sep 1792 |
, Spartanburg District, South Carolina |
| Marriage |
Abt 1816 |
Spartanburg, Spartanburg, South Carolina, United Statesto Hannah Parker |
| Death[7][8] |
25 Dec 1854 |
Henderson, Rusk, Texas |
| Burial[9] |
|
Smith Park, Henderson, Rusk County, Texas |
Name Suffix: General
James Smith became a Mexican citizen March 30, 1835 at
Nacogdoches, Texas. His sponsor was John M. Dor. This same John M. Dor
sponsored Samuel Pablo Houston, April 21, 1835
There was a Bert Harrington in Lincoln County, Tennessee, where the Smiths and Harringtons lived. This Bert Harrington received several tracts of land from James Smith on 23 May 1829. This prior to the time when James Smith
went to Texas. Notice that one of Gen. James Smith's sons is named Bert H. Smith. The tie to the Morehead family by the marriage of his daughter, Barsheba, to Joe Morehead further substantiates the Morehead connection.
James wife and children arrived in TX Jan 1, 1836. James returned to TN early in 1836 and raised a company of volunteers.
War of 1812 Veterans in Texas by Mary Smith Fae
History of Smith County Texas
1850 Rusk County Texas census :
CENSUS YR: 1850 STATE or TERRITORY: TX COUNTY: Rusk DIVISION: Rusk REEL NO: 315-31 6 PAGE NO: 501
13 35 35 Smith James 56 M W Farmer 6,300 SC
14 35 35 Smith Hannah 47 F W SC
REMARKS: maiden name Parker
15 35 35 Smith Wm Jasper 22 M W TN
16 35 35 Smith Marian 17 F W TN X
17 35 35 Smith Burt 13 M W TX X
Smith county Texas is named for him
fought in the war of 1812 was at Battle of New Orleans. Volunteered in Lincoln County Tennessee
Fought in the Battle of San Jacinto to liberate Texas.
Marker is at his gravesite in Henderson, Rusk, Texas, also on Shelby county courthouse grounds and dedicated by the State in 1936 Texas house of Representatives 1844-1847
His photo is displayed in the Rusk County, Texas courthouse in Henderson, Texas
=
Smith Park--the gravesite where General James and Hannah Parker Smith are buried
by Mary F. Dunn, Rusk County Cemeteries Vol II
submitted by Gloria B. Mayfield, Rusk County Coordinator
Located at the end of South Street in Henderson, Texas:
Historical Marker: General James Smith 1792-1855 [1854] on this hill, as he wished for burial in sight of courthouse, is the grave of General James Smith, one of the founding fathers of Henderson, Rusk County, Texas. A south Carolina Native, he fought for the United States in War of 1812, moved to Texas in 1835. Returned to United States (Tennessee) to raise troops for Texas War for Independence, Later he fought in Republic's Indian Wars, Regulator-Moderator uprising in 1840's in East Texas, and in the Mexican War.
He was first Judge, East Texas District: a Legislator: honored in naming of nearby Smith Co.. His wife, Hannah Parker is buried beside him in this park. Also buried here is Burt M. Smith , a son who died in 1863 and it is believed that a daughter also, Frances Smith Timmons is buried here, She and her husband also donated land to Henderson. Both of these latter graves are unmarked and lost.
certified copy NO. 89 for Jas Smith
receiving land, showing he "arrived in this Republic April Eighteen hundred & thirty five"
Inscriptions at grave:
General James Smith 1792-1855. [Date is incorrect--it should read 1854] Fought in War of 1812 War of Independence of TX 1836, Battles of TX Republic 1837-1838, commander of North Western Frontier of TX 1841. Donated Land for Co. Site of Henderson 1843. Settled in Henderson 1836 . Smith Co. Was named in honor of this valiant soldier and patriot.
General James Smith gave unselfish service and leadership to TX and his community, honored citizen, soldier, legislator erected by the State of TX 1962.
Smith, James
Marker Number: 11060
Marker Title: General James Smith
Index Entry: Smith, James
City: Henderson
County: Rusk
UTM Zone: 15
Subject Codes: GEN
Year Marker Erected: 1967
Marker Location: Corner of S Main & Henderson Sts, Henderson
Marker Size: 18" x 28"
Repairs Completed: Missing
Marker Text: Park named for General James Smith (Sept. 10, 1792-Dec. 25, 1854) On this hill, as he wished for burial in sight of courthouse is grave of General James Smith, co-founder of Henderson. A South Carolina native, he fought for the U.S. in War of 1812. Moved to Texas 1835. Returned to U.S. to raise troops for Texas War of Independence. Later he fought in Republic's Indian Wars; regulator-moderator uprising in 1840s in East Texas; and in Mexican War. He was first Judge, East Texas District; a legislator; honored in naming of nearby Smith County. His wife, Hannah Parker Smith, is buried beside him in this park. They had ten children.
Estate of James Smith
The State of Texas County Court January Term 1855
To the Hon John C Miller, Chief Justice
Your petitioner Henry M Smith, a resident of County of Rusk respecifully represents unto your Honor that his father James Smith, late of said - died at his resident in said county a short time since, intestate, leaving a considerable real and personal estate:
That the widow of said intestate -to wit- Hannah Smith declines to administer upon the estate of said intestate and is desirous that your petitioner will do so. He therefore prays that your Honor will grant him letter of administer upon the estate of the said James Smith and for all other things necessary in the premises.
Filed January 5th 1855
This is in Vol. D, pages 505 - 514 in the Probate Minutes in the Rusk County Court House.
General James Smith was married to Hannah Parker in 1816. They had ten children. When Rusk County was created in 1843, Smith, who had settled on the site of Henderson in 1836 offered to donate 69 acres of land for the proposed County Seat. He represented Rusk County in the Texas House of Representatives Feb. 16, 1846 to Dec. 13, 1847. The tomb of Smith and his wife is located at the forks of South Main Street, Henderson, Texas. From: http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com/family_history.html
Notes from Helen Price:
James served as a Representive from Rusk County from 2-16-46 to 12-13-1847. (Texas did not go into the Union until 1846.)Smith County was named for James 2-26-1846. County was created, organized, 1846, from Nacogdoches.1847 Elected first District Judge of Rusk County.
The part about James turning down a cabinet post was from the book "Texas and Texans". I'm sure I sent you the picture that is in the Tyler Public Library, Tyler, Texas. L.L. Stevens sent the copy to me July 26, 1990.This same article mentions him being primitive Baptist. This really made me think that the other Parkers in TX were family members of Hannah. These Parkers and the Smiths lived in adjoining counties in TN. James and 2 Parkers were at the Battle of New Orleans. Daniel Parker established the first Protestant (non Catholic) church in TX called "Pilgrim Predsesinarian Regular Baptist Church". That family had a Issac (on a census in Rusk Co) and a Silas.
James Smith became a Mexican citizen March 30, 1835 at
Nacagdoches, Texas. His sponser was John M. Dor. This same John M. Dor
sponsored Samuel Pablo Houston, April 21, 1835
There was a Bert Harrington in Lincoln County, Tennessee, where the Smiths and Harringtons lived. This Bert Harrington received several tracts of land from James Smith on 23 May 1829. This prior to the time when James Smith
went to Texas. Notice that one of Gen. James Smith's sons is named Bert H. Smith. The tie to the Morehead family by the marriage of his daughter, Barsheba, to Joe Morehead further substantiates the Morehead connection.
James and Hannah Parker Smith family in 1820 Lincoln County, Tennessee Federal Census
- 38.9 James Smith
1 male under 10 years [ Henry M. Smith b 17 Nov 1817]
1 male 26 to 45 years [ James Smith born 10 Sep 1792]
2 females under 10 years
1. Sarah Elvina Smith b.18 Dec 1818
2. Unknown*
If the 1850 Census is correct for Frances Smith, then James & Hannah had a daughter listed here as a Female under 10 years old who died before the next census in 1830.
2 females 16 to 26 years
1. Hannah Parker
2. Unknown
This Female is possibly Hannah's youngest sister Sarah Parker ["Sally" who later married James Childress. They lived in Alabama, then moved to Rusk County, Texas. Hannah's and Sarah's parents, Isaiah & Elizabeth Guyton Parker, both died before 1820, so it is reasonable that Sarah would live with her oldest sister, Hannah. Later, two daughters of James & Sarah Childress married two of sons of James & Hannah Smith.)
James Smith Family
1830 Lincoln County, Tennessee Federal Census
There may have been a daughter of James and Hannah Parker Smith die between the 1820 and 1830 census if Frances Smith's birth date is correct here. The 1823 date for Frances Smith comes from the 1850 Census.
Ken Smith listed the James Smith family in the 1830 Lincoln County, TN, Federal Census with these names:
- 272 James Smith family:
3 males under 5 years
1. William Jasper Smith b 28 Mar 1830
2. Isaac Newton Smith b. abt 1828
3. Andrew Jackson. Smith b. abt 1826
1 male 5 to 10 years
Joseph P. Smith b abt 1825
1 male 10 to 15 years
(James Smith junior according to Ken Smith's website) b.1815-1820 * [questions by Sandra Gwilliam-what sources? Could this be someone else, or was James born in 1820 just after the last census but died before October 1839-the next Smith document with children listed?]
1 male 15 to 20 years
Henry M. Smith b 17 Nov 1817
1 male 30 to 40 years
James Smith, the father
1 female 5 to 10 years
Frances Smith b. abt 1823 [birthdate according to the 1850 census]
1 female 10 to 15 years
Sarah Elvina Smith b.18 Dec 1818
1 female 30 to 40 years
Hannah Parker Smith, the mother
If The War of 1812 Veterans in Texas by Mary Smith Fae and Ken Smith's interpretation of the census is correct, then James Smith (the son), was born in Lincoln County, Tennessee sometime between 1815-1820 (but sometime after the 1820 census because only Henry Smith is on the 1820 census as son of General James Smith. The next record listing children is in 1839, but no James Smith as heir was listed, so the son James would have had to die before 1839).
References
- ↑ Census: 1850 USA Federal Census
page 501, 11 Sep 1850.
1850 - Rusk Texas census page 501 handwritten [240 printed] family 35 lines 13-17 [the x is attending school]
13 35 35 Smith, James 56 M W Farmer 6,300 SC
14 35 35 Smith, Hannah 47 F W SC
[birthdate differs from the 1860 census]
[Hannah Parker Smith daughter of Isaiah & Elizabeth Guyton Parker]
15 35 35 Smith Wm Jasper 22 M W TN
16 35 35 Smith Marion 17 M W TN X
17 35 35 Smith Burt 13 M W TX X
36 36 James Childress 48 M Farmer SC
36 36 Sarah " " 43 F do [ditto- SC]
[Sarah is Sarah Parker, daughter of Isaiah & Elizabeth Guyton Parker & the sister of Hannah Parker Smith]
James & Hannah Smith family in 1850 Rusk County, Texas Federal Census--see Text & image
- ↑ Family histories & records
Courier-Times-Telegraph, 9 Jun 1963.
Man for Whom Smith County Is Named Is Honoree Sunday
By Earle Walker Courier-Times-Telegraph Sunday Editor
Brig. Gen. James Smith for whom Smith County was named will be honored Sunday at 3 pm. in the dedication of a state marker at the base of his tomb at Henderson.
Rusk County Historical Society will make the dedication, and members of Smith County Historical Society are to be special guests.
Texas State Historical Survey Committee and the State Building Commission have provided the marker.
The tomb of Gen. Smith where the ceremony is to take place is located at the end of South Main in Henderson in a small park. It is reached by turning to the right at the end of South Main, onto Jacksonville Drive for about a block, then to the left onto Montgomery Drive, a short, dead-end street.
This wording will be on the marker:
"Gen. James Smith gave unselfish service and leadership to Texas and his community. Honored citizen, soldier and legislator." "Erected by the State of Texas"
Inscribed on the tomb itself are these highlights of Gen. Smith's life: 1792-1855 [should be 1854]: Fought in the War of 1812; the War of Independence of Texas, 1836; battles of Texas Republic, 1837-38; Commander of Northwestern Front of Texas, 1814; donated land for county seat, Henderson, 1843; settled in Henderson 1836; Smith County was named in honor of this valiant soldier and patriot."
Smith was born Sept. 10, 1792 in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, according to a biography written by William A. Woldert.
Woldert found that when about 20 years of age, Smith volunteered in the War of 1812 between England and the United States, served under Gen. Andrew Jackson as a lieutenant, and participated in the Battle of New Orleans on Sunday, Jan. 8, 1815, which was 14 days after peace had been declared.
To Texas in 1834
After the establishment of peace, Smith returned to his home in South Carolina, and in 1819 married Miss Hannah Parker. The couple moved to Lincoln County, Tennessee.
In 1834, Smith came to Texas and his family came about Jan. 1, 1836, Woldert wrote. Under laws of the country at that time Smith was entitled to take up a headright of land as a married man. He was issued a land certificate by the Land Board of Nacogdoches County for 4,605 acres of vacant land. He filed the certificate on land whereon were an old "Shawnee Indian" village and several large welling springs and creeks. His tract lay on the waters of the big and little Shawnee creeks, and the old "Jonesboro" road coming down from Red River ran through Smith's land, said Woldert.
Actual surveying of Smith's land was prevented by the disturbed conditions in Texas in 1837 and the fact that the Land Office was closed. After about 10 years' delay Smith was issued a patent (Nov. 8, 1847) by his good friend James Pinckney Henderson, who had been elected the first governor of the state of Texas in 1846.
Friend of Notables
Gen. Smith was a close friend to Gen. Sam Houston, Gen. Thomas Rusk, and other early Texas notables. Houston at one time offered him a place in his cabinet, but Smith refused.
Smith was appointed commander of the "Northern Frontier of "Texas" forces and performed many beneficial acts, Woldert wrote. In 1839 he was in command of a company of Texas volunteers and took an active part in the fight against the Cherokee Indians whom President Mirabeau B. Lamar had ordered driven out of Texas. The general; became a noted Indian fighter.
In 1846 when Mexico and the United States became involved in war over the annexation of the Republic of Texas to the U. S., Gen. Smith went to Tennessee and raised a company of volunteer soldiers and entered the Mexican war with his men. He fought valiantly, Woldert wrote. After restoration of peace, Smith returned home, in present Rusk County.
Later he was elected the first district judge of Rusk County, opened a large farm on his land and became very successful.
From: Tyler Courier Times Telegraph [Texas newspaper] Sunday Jun 9, 1963 Sec. 2
Man for Whom Smith County Is Named Is Honoree Sunday
By Earle Walker Courier-Times-Telegraph Sunday Editor-- see text and image
- ↑ Court records: Probate
Rusk County TX Historical Society, 1817.
Barsheba Harrington Smith Lusk deed to her children.
The Rusk County Historical Society has papers from Union County, South Carolina with extracts of wills and deeds. In those papers is found the following (along with her deceased husband, David Smith's will):
In 1817 is a deed from Beersheba Lusk to "My sons" James Smith & Henry Smith for their portions in Estate of their father, David Smith "Which I forfeited when I married."
Barsheba Harrington Smith Lusk deed to her children names James & Henry as her children as found in The Rusk County Historical Society papers from Union County, South Carolina with extracts of wills and deeds.
- ↑ Land records
Headright Certificate #89, 1 Feb 1838.
The following document is on file in the Archives & Records Division of the Texas General Land Office.
Original Grantee:
James SmithFile number: Nacogdoches-1st-445 Headright Certificate #89
February 1, 1838, James Smith appeared before the Board of Land Commissioners for the County of Nacogdoches, and proved according to the law that he arrived in the Republic April 1835 and that he was a married man and entitled to one league and one labor of land (4605.5 acres), upon the condition of paying at the rate of three dollars and fifty cents for each labor (177.1 acres) of Irrigable land two dollars and fifty cents for each labor of temporal or arable land and one dollar and twenty cents for each labor of pasture land which may be contained in the survey secured to him by this certificate.
Field Notes: Description of the metes and bounds for one league and one labor of land (4605.5 acres) in Rusk County, surveyed February 23, 1838.
Patent: Final title issued for 4605.5 acres of land, November 2, 1847.
Garry Mauro commissioner General Land Office
James Smith became a Mexican citizen March 30, 1835 at Nacogdoches, TX. His sponsor was John M. Dor. This same John M. Dor sponsored Samuel Pablo Houston, April 21, 1835
James Smith Headright Certificate #89 File number: Nacogdoches-1st-445
- ↑ Family histories & records
Sam Houston Papers, 1814-1957, 5 Oct 1836.
James Smith letter to Sam Houston 5 Oct 1836 NacogdochesOct 5th 1836To Genl. Samuel Houston Commander In Chief,Sir I hav to in form in hast [haste] of the movements of the different tribes of Indians on our Northwest part of the ____ when I first [word crossed out] went up I threw much Difficulty got your letter to them They appeared glad to reciev it and agread to comply with it and to Return what property they had taken but they hav Fail to comply with Evry part [“of” crossed out] ameadatly [immediately] of after We left them they all gathered up all they had and Put off In two or three [days?] after we went to the Villeg [Village] To see if all was Rit [right] but there was not on [one] Indian to be Seene we took there trail and persude [pursued] them About thirty miles by this tim we Discovered large trails coming in from differrant dirrection intill their trails becom Verry large and there must be [a? ink blot over word] large Number of them they skinned the trees and [smudged]inted [painted ?] them as they went and all the men that was acquanted with them said they intended war And our number was Small and we Return back for we know we could not overtake them befor they got to the main body which is on Trinity at the mouth of a streem call the Bodark where at this tim there is not less than Seven or Eight hundred warriors of Different Tribes which I stated to you in my letter sent by Major Lusk also Williams who lived amonst [amongst] the Cadawes [?written over] Cam to inform me that all the wariers was gon to that point there is no doubt but they intend Hostilities. The peple are Verry much [inserted above] alarmed they wanted Me to call on men and fall on them but nowing it Was my Duty to in form you of the fact I [word crossed out] would not But told them I new as soon as you was inform you would order me to call out men anuff to Defeat Them and I do not think less than three or four Hundred I hav acted with caulhion [caution] and will continue To do so I have give the facts, please answer me in hastI am truly your friend James SmithColn============Jacque Hall Higdon also found this letter in the archives in Austin. I have transcribed it as well as I can. I left his original spelling with a few inserts of what I think some of the words are.=============
Date Taken: 5 Oct 1836
Place Taken: Nacogdoches, Texas
Owner: Sam Houston Papers, 1814-1957, Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin
James Smith letter to Sam Houston 5 Oct 1836 --see text and image
- ↑ Family histories & records
University of Texas at Austin, 9 Apr 1835.
James Smith Letter of introduction by General Sam Houston
On the Envelope [not a full envelope, just a copy of the writing]:To Mr. James Prentiss Wall StreetNew York[left bottom section: Col Smith][Letter body]:Nacogdoches9th Apr 1835Dear Sir,Colonel James Smith, a friend of mine, will hand you this letter. He visits your city with a view of transacting business, and any information* which you may have at your command, I hope you will be kind enough to impart to him, to forward him in his business.Colonel Smith is a Gentleman and any civilities which you may be so kind as to extend to him, will be gratefully received by him, and appreciated by your obt servant & friend.Sam Houston[scrawl] Mr. James Prentiss*Spelling corrected Copied from the collections in the Center for American History, the University of Texas at AustinSam Houston Papers, 1814-1957, Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.Box2E250General correspondence, 1815, 1835-1843General correspondence, 1844-1863 and undated
Date Taken: 9 Apr 1835
Place Taken: Nacogdoches, Texas
Owner: Center for American History, the University of Texas at Austin
Jacque Hall Higdon took the time out of her busy schedule to dig through stacks of letters to find two of them for our Smith family! Thank you SO MUCH, Jacque from all of us!
9 Apr 1835 letter from Sam Houston introducing James Smith to a businessman.
found in: Texas Center for American History, the University of Texas at Austin
- ↑ Court records: Probate.
James Smith Probate Rusk, Texas Vol. D pp 505-514
LDS Family History Library film 1020929 transcription here: Pages 505-506
Estate of James Smith
The State of Texas Rusk County County Court
January Term 1855
To the Hon. John C. Miller Chief Justice
Your petitioner Henry M. Smith a resident of said County of Rusk respectfully represents unto your Honor that his father James Smith, late of said - died at his residence in said county a short time since, intestate, leaving a considerable real and personal estate.
That the widow of said intestate - to wit - Hannah Smith declines to administer upon the estate of said intestate and is desirous that your petitioner will do so. He therefore prays that your Honor will grant him letter of administration upon the estate of the said James Smith and for all other things necessary in the premises.
Armstrong & Parsons attys for Petitioner
Petition: __ Filed January 5th 1855
_____ ccc Rusk Co.
By W A Leon Swan Dept.
NOTICE !!!
Whereas Henry M. Smith has filed his petition in the Office of the Clerk of the County Court of Rusk County praying to be appointed Administrator of the estate of James Smith deceased: Notice is therefore hereby given, To all persons interested in his said estate, to be and appear at the next term of the county court of Rusk County pertaining to the Estates of deceased persons & be holden on Monday the 29th day of January A. D. 1855 at the Court House in the town of Henderson, the County seat of said County, then and there to show Cause, if any they can why said application should not be granted.
Henderson AJan 16" AD 1855
Filed AJan 29" 1855 ___________ ccc Rusk Co
Order: Jan _ 1855
And now at this term of the Court this cause coming on to be heard and it appearing to the court that H M Smith had filed his petition praying to be appointed administrator of said Estate and that the required notice thereof had been given. It is ordered by the Court that the said H. M. Smith be so appointed upon his giving Bond in the sum of Thirty thousand dollars conditioned as the Law requires.
The State of Texas: County of Rusk
Know all men by these presents, that one H. M. Smith as principal and I. N. Smith & Wm Bromley & Joel B. Crain as his securities are held and firmly bound unto the Chief Justice of said County in the full sum of Thirty thousand dollars for the payment of which sum well and truly to be made. We bind ourselves, our heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, jointly and severally firmly by the presents signed with our hands and sealed with our seals (the seals being [scrawls] this twenty ninth day of January A D 1855.
The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas the ___bound H. M. Smith has been appointed by the Chief Justice of said County administrator of the estate of James Smith deceased. ____
Page 506
Estate of James Smith
as the duties required of him under said appointment - then this obligation to be null and void, otherwise to remain in full force and office.
H. M Smith [seal]
Joel B. Crain {seal]
I. N. Smith {seal]
Wm Bromley {seal]
I approve of this bond Febry 13th AD 1855
John C. Miller Chief Justice Rusk County Texas
I H. M. Smith do solemnly swear that James Smith deceased, died without leaving any lawful will so far as I know or believe & that I __ well and truly perform all the duties of Admr of the estate of the James Smith deceased to the best of my skill and ability. So help me.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 13th day of Feb A D 1855
____ ccc Rusk County H. M. Smith
Bond: Filed Feb 13th 1855
________ ccc Rusk Co.
Some records, histories and postings on the internet have his death date as December 25 1855, but his probate was begun 10 months before that date, so his real death date was 25 Dec 1854.
- ↑ Obituary from newspaper.
General James SMITH Deathat Henderson, Rusk County, Texas
The Memphis Daily Avalanche
Memphis, Tennessee
February 17, 1855
The Memphis Daily Avalanche
Memphis, Tennessee
February 17, 1855
- ↑ Cemetery: Tombstone.
Delilah Smith b 1862-?
3 1/2'[Daughter of Burt Smith is written on one source, but that is unverified. Records do not show him as ever being married. HThis could be a daughter of his brother Marion Francis Smith who is listed as having heirs in Birt Smith's will.] The Rusk County, Texas historical society could not verify the name of the child or its parents.28" gapBert Smith b. 1837-d.1863
7' x 32"28" gapJoe Smith b. 1825 d. 1861
7' x 32"General's Tomb
with wifeThomas Timmons b. 1815 - d. 1854
7' x 32"28" gapFrancis Smith Timmons b. 1823 d. 1859 7' x 32" 28" gapJulia Timmons b. 1848 d. 1850's 3 1/2' Barsheba Timmons b. 1849 d. 1850's 3 1/2'
Dimensions are from the Rusk County Historical Society:
Buried in Smith Park cemetery, Henderson, Rusk County, Texas-- The James & Hannah Smith plot--see image
- Randy Scott Crain.
439 Glenwood Drive, Paducah, KY 42003, 270-210-8056
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