Smith, Moses, [died] Dec. 6, 1776, at Ashby [?] upon his way from the army at York. CR
Occam's Razor (why look for a complicated answer when a simple one is available, or the KISS principle) may not always apply to genealogy, but identification of the husband of Elizabeth Lombard as the son of Deacon Aaron Smith and his wife Abigail Scott is based on that principle, combined with a lack of contradicting evidence. Deacon Aaron Smith served as selectman of Athol at the same time as Elizabeth's father James Lombard, so the families would have undoubtedly been acquainted, and such a pairing looks good. Since Moses died before his father (1776 vs 1798), Aaron's will, if he left one, may not be much help in confirming this assumption, unless he lists Moses' only surviving son Eliel as a heir.
