Person:John Smith (103)

m. Abt 1719
  1. Capt. Abraham Smith, of Rockingham County, VAAbt 1722 - 1782
  2. Col. Daniel Smith, Sr., of North River and Linville Creek, VAAbt 1724 - 1781
  3. Henry SmithAbt 1727 - Bef 1792
  4. Patrick SmithAbt 1728 - Abt 1756
  5. Lt. John SmithAbt 1730 - 1756
  6. Joseph SmithAbt 1734 - 1756
  7. David SmithBef 1739 - Bef 1782
  8. Margaret 'Louisa' Smith1741 - 1823
  9. David Smith1741 -
  10. Jonathan Smith1744 -
  11. James Jordan SmithBef 1749 -
  12. unproven Jordan SmithBef 1753 -
  13. William SmithBef 1753 -
Facts and Events
Name Lt. John Smith
Gender Male
Birth[1][2] Abt 1730 of, Ulster, Ireland
Death[3] 25 Jun 1756 Shawsville, Montgomery, Virginia, United StatesKilled by Shawnee Indians at Fort Vause (modern day Shawsville, Virginia)

John Smith, Jr. was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia

Contents

Welcome to
Old Augusta

Early Settlers
Beverley Manor
Borden's Grant
Register
Data
Maps
Places
Library
History
Index

……………………..The Tapestry
Families Old Chester OldAugusta Germanna
New River SWVP Cumberland Carolina Cradle
The Smokies Old Kentucky

__________________________

Early Land Acquisition in Augusta County, VA

Acquisition of Land from Chalkley's:

  • Page 341.—1st June, 1756. Silas Hart, gent., and Jane to John Smith. Jr., 230 acres, part of 400 acres patented to Jno. McClure, 15th December, 1749, and conveyed by McClure to Hart, on South Fork of North River of Shannandore. Teste: Jno. Malkem, Alexander Herring, Robert Gragg. Recorded on motion of Daniel Smith on behalf of John. Delivered: Henry Smith, 28th July, 1764.

Will and Estate Records of John Smith, Jr.

From Chalkley's:

  • Page 155.--22d January, 1766 (s/b 1756). John Smith's will--To John Smith, son of brother Daniel Smith, the plantation on North River, Shanedoe, which testator bought of Silas Hart; to brother Daniel; to brother Abraham Smith; to brother Henry Smith. Executor, brother Daniel Smith. Teste: Thomas Sewell, Benj. Kinley (Kinsey), Daniel Smith. Proved, 18th August, 1756, by Benj. Kinsey, and to lie for further proof. Daniel Smith qualifies with Silas Harte and Robert Harrison.
  • Page 371.—17th August, 1774. Abraham Smith to John Smith, son of Daniel Smith. Whereas John Smith, brother of said Abraham Smith, about 1753 did agree with Silas Hart for the purchase of a tract on South Fork of North River of Shanandoah; John died in year 1757 (s/b 1756), having will wherein he devised to above John, son of his brother Daniel Smith; Daniel paid the consideration to Hart, 1st June, 1756, and received deed to John, 1st June, 1756. John Smith's will was proved by only one witness and may be called in question by the heirs of said Abraham, who was eldest brother and heir-at-law of John, deceased.

Indian Attacks of 1755-1758 in Augusta County, VA

According to records in Augusta County, Lt. John Smith was killed in the Indian Attacks of 1755-1758 in Augusta County, Virginia Based upon these records, he was killed at Ft. Vause on 25 June, 1756.

Records in Rockingham County, VA

  • 23 November 1779, Rockingham County, VA Minute books, 1778-1878; 23 November 1779 - On the motion of Abraham Smith as Heir at Law to his Bro Jno. Smith decd as Claim for Land under the King of great Britain procla in 1763 it appears to the Court from a Wit's examined that the said Jno Smith was Lieut. in Capt. John Smith Comp'y of Rangers in the Year 1756 raised in this State & was killed at Fort Vause & the sd. Abraham made Oath that he has never rec'd any Alliance in land for the same.

Information on John Smith, Jr.

Name Suffix:<NSFX> [LT.] Ancestral File Number:<AFN> Q65B-PN

John Smith: [Either he or Joseph may have been the oldest son of Col. John and Margaret Smith if the House of Burgesses report is correct.]

a. John Smith is listed as in 1740 Importation of John Smith as one of “his own Charges from Ireland to Philadelphia & from thence into this Colony” [Orange County, Virginia.]

b. 1753 will of John Smith:. . .my Executors to Pay five Shillings Each to my Sons Abraham Henry Daniel and John. . .

c. Smith Cousins Four: John Jr., born 1730, was killed at Ft. Vause, June 25, 1756. [Smith Cousins Four compiled by Zula Wood Atwood, Frank L. Eddens, Jr, Mildred Smith Shumaker, & Guy R. Smith.]

d. Will of John Smith [son of Colonel John Smith] P. 155 Wills--22d January, 1756: to John Smith, son of brother Daniel Smith, the plantation on North River, Shanedoe, which testator bought of Silas Hart; to brother Daniel; to brother Abraham Smith; to brother Henry Smith. Executor, brother Daniel Smith Proved, 18th August, 1756.

e. Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia: Monday April 3d 1758, a Memorial was read - "To the President, Council, and House of Burgesses and referred to Consideration of the House", stating that in June 1756, the said [John] Smith then in Fort Vaufs [sic], in Augusta, [Virginia], was attacked by the enemy, his eldest son killed and he was captured. "He has lost three sons and a great part of his Fortune in the service of his country." [Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia 1752-1755, 1756-1758].

f. Note from Guy R.. Smith [Historian for the Col. John Smith Society]: The three sons John lost in the war: Lt. John Smith, Joseph Smith, and most likely a Patrick Smith. The State historical Library in Wisconsin has Preston Papers which summarized from 1754 to end of war the people killed Feb 1756 Chalkely Vol 2-March 1756 Robert Looney was killed (he was a neighbor of the Smith family),.. Patrick Smith was killed. He was probably born in the colonies because he was not listed in the importation papers.

From "Gleanings of Virginia history" By William Fletcher Boogher, pg. 331-335


Second Generation.

First. Abraham Smith, eldest child of Capt. John the emigrant and Margaret Smith, born in Ulster Province, Ireland, 1722, was Capt. during the French and Indian Wars from Sept. 11, 1756, to April 19, 1760. In 1778, one of the 1st Justices for Rockingham Co., and County Lieut. He is frequently referred to in the preceding pages of the work in connection with French and Indian war records of his county. Married' Sarah Caldwell, of Augusta county, resided near North Mountain in Rockingham county, Va., on a large land estate called " Egypt," where he died. Two children :

1. John, b. Dec. 16, 1755.

2. Henry, b. 1758.

References
  1. Court records
    p. 205, 1740.

    John Smith made oath that he imported himself, Margaret his wife, Abraham, Henry, Daniel, John & Joseph Smith & Robert Mc Dowel, as his own Charges from Ireland to Philadelphia & from thence into this Colony & that this is the first time of his proving his & their rights in order to obtain land.---

    Orange County, Virginia Order Book II, Circuit Court of Orange County, Orange, Virginia, 1740 p. 205


    [Note: There is no proof of any last name for Margaret, John’s wife. Guy Smith has a theory that perhaps Robert McDowel could be a relative of Margaret.]

    Importation of the John Smith family in the Orange County, Virginia Order Book II, Circuit Court of Orange County, Orange, Virginia, 1740 p. 205
    see text and image

  2. Court records
    p. 205, 3 Apr 1758.

    JOHN SMITH’S FT. VAUSE ADVENTURE
    1754-1763: French and Indian War. According to the World Book Encyclopedia, that war was the last and most important conflict over French and British possessions in North America. John Smith fought under George Washington in an unsuccessful attempt to force the French to leave their chain of forts along the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania in 1754. The French forces defeated them at Fort Duquesne (now Pittsburg, Pennsylvania). That campaign was the first battle of the French and Indian War. [Jean Carr & World Book Encyclopedia]
    1755 John Smith was Captain of Rangers. His company was at Fort Vause at the head of the Roanoke River (Shawsville) in the present county of Montgomery, about ten miles from Christiansburg, Virginia. He served until 1763. (Sandra's note: This differs from the Abercrombie report which calls him Major because according to Guy Smith, John Smith was in two different military units with different ranks in each.) (CF)
    1756 May 18, 1756: Formal declaration of war by England. June 9, 1756: Formal declaration of War by France.
    Major John Smith fought at Fort Vause, Virginia, which fell to French and Indian troops under the command of Monssieur Belester, commander of the Miamee Fort (Fort Miamee is near Toledo, Ohio). Major John Smith was captured by the French and held for two years. (CF)
    The original document of the Abercrombie extract #16 will provide…illuminating historical facts…concerning Col. John Smith's Fort Vause Adventure. The original document…can be found in the Public records office in London, England…The reference number is PRO 30/8/95. [Sandra's note: Apparently, Major John Smith wrote a journal during the time he was captured and transported. He described the Forts and the French forces and numbers of guns each fort held. He also took note of each Native American tribe, their size and feelings towards the British and Americans. Major John Smith gave this information to the British to help with the war efforts. Mr. Abercrombies's letter of Nov. 16th, 1757 to Mr. Wood contains extracts from Major (John) Smith's journal, 1756/7.]
    "…Major John Smith, Commander of a Company of Rangers on the Frontiers of Virginia, was prisoner for eleven months, taken with his party of ten men in a blockhouse towards the head of James River on the 25th of June 1756 by Monsieur Belester Com.der of Miamee Fort (about 500 miles from the head of James River) at the head of 205 Indians and 25 French Canadians of which party Major Smith killed 40 (and ) obliged Captain Belester to return without penetrating [Warwick] within 60 miles from Williamsburgh where he intended. According to the information of his [Shawnee] Indians, his spies who passed through the settlements of Virginia some [months] before as Cherokees and our friends... [Abercrombie 'extract' #16 page 2 of John Smith's journal transcribed by Guy Smith]
    "Putoataways [Guy Smith's note: probably Pottawatomie (Algonquian) tribe]. …of their towns, about 2000, inclined to come over to English for better trade…took Major Smith, into their counsel as a Sachem [a supreme or Political leader], went to their king, danced under the English colours, taken from Gen'l Bradock, and fired through the French colours, held council with Major Smith, agreed with him in a project formed by him for taking Fort Dequesne by their assistance with 1500 of their people. The intimacy [between] them and the Major being suspected, he was removed. He speaks the language." [Abercrombie 'extract' #16 page 3 of John Smith's journal transcribed by Guy Smith]
    Monday April 3d 1758, a Memorial was read - "To the President, Council, and House of Burgesses and referred to Consideration of the House", stating that in June 1756, the said Smith then in Fort Vaufs [sic], in Augusta, was attacked by the enemy, his eldest son killed and he was captured. "He has lost three sons and a great part of his Fortune in the service of his country." [Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia 1752-1755, 1756-1758].

    Note from Guy Smith: The three sons John lost in the war: Lt. John Smith, Joseph Smith, and most likely a Patrick Smith. The State historical Library in Wisconsin has Preston Papers which summarized from 1754 to end of war the people killed Feb 1756 Chalkely Vol 2-March 1756 Robert Looney was killed (he was a neighbor of the Smith family),.. Patrick Smith was killed. He was probably born in the colonies because he was not listed in the importation papers.
    John Smith Jr. [son of Captain John & Margaret Smith b.1730], was killed at Fort Vause, June 25, 1756. John Smith's will P. 155 Wills--22 January, 1756 …to John Smith, son of brother Daniel Smith, the plantation on North River, Shanedoe, [Shenandoah ?] which testator bought of Silas Hart; to brother Daniel; to brother Abraham Smith; to brother Henry Smith. Executor, brother Daniel Smith. Proved, 18th August, 1756
    Some sources list a son of Captain John Smith, named Joseph, b.1734 in Chester Co. Pennsylvania., taken prisoner at Ft. Vause along with his father, but that account may or may not be accurate. [More information is found in Smith Cousins Four compiled by Zula Wood Atwood, Frank L. Eddens, Jr, Mildred Smith Shumaker, & Guy R. Smith hereafter referred to as (CF)]

    John Smith--[Either he or Joseph may have been the oldest son of Col. John and Margaret Smith if the House of Burgesses report is correct that the oldest son of John Smith was killed.]
    Monday April 3d 1758, a Memorial was read - "To the President, Council, and House of Burgesses and referred to Consideration of the House", stating that in June 1756, the said Smith then in Fort Vaufs [sic], in Augusta, was attacked by the enemy, his eldest son killed and he was captured. "He has lost three sons and a great part of his Fortune in the service of his country." [Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia 1752-1755, 1756-1758]. document provided by Guy R. Smith--See text for more information.

  3. Court records
    Proved, 18th August, 1756.

    John Smith Jr. [son of Captain John & Margaret Smith b.1730], was killed at Fort Vause, June 25, 1756. John Smith's will P. 155 Wills--22 January, 1756 …to John Smith, son of brother Daniel Smith, the plantation on North River, Shanedoe, [Shenandoah ?] which testator bought of Silas Hart; to brother Daniel; to brother Abraham Smith; to brother Henry Smith. Executor, brother Daniel Smith. Proved, 18th August, 1756

    AUGUSTA COUNTY, VIRGINIA - CHALKLEY'S CHRONICLES; Vol 3, PP 540 - 549 June, 1756. John Smith's will was proved by only one witness and may be called in question by the heirs of said Abraham, who was eldest brother and heir-at-law of John, deceased.
    http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb

    John Smith Jr. [son of Captain John & Margaret Smith b.1730], was killed at Fort Vause, June 25, 1756. John Smith's will P. 155 Wills--22 January, 1756 names several brothers. Proved, 18th August, 1756-- see actual text for partial transcription
    document provided by Guy R. Smith

  4.   Harrison, J. Houston (John Houston). Settlers by the Long Grey Trail: Some Pioneers to Old Augusta County, Virginia, and Their Descendants of the Family of Harrison and Allied Lines. (Dayton, Virginia : J.K. Ruebush Co., 1935)
    pg. 199-200.