John Smith m. (1) Dorothy --- [named in church lists]. "...no records in New England for John Smith which show him with wife Mary ... The claim for a first wife Mary probably derives from a misreading of the 1635 Mather record ... not the name of the wife of John Smith, but is probably the daughter Mary ... With even less reason some later sources state that this supposed wife Mary was surnamed Ryder...".
Dorchester the 23th day of the 6th moneth. Anno. 1636. ... The names of such as since the constituting or gathering of the church at dorchester have been added to the church and joyned thereunto as members of the same body, by profession of faith and Repentance and taking hould of the Covent before the Congregacon; viz. ... John Smith X dorothy Smith [The mark "X" used to designate husband and wife]
Quoting Rev. Thomas Prince, grandson of daughter Mary, about Mary: "ye only child of Mr Quarter-master Smith by his 1st wife formerly of Lancashire in England and afterward of Dorchester in New England."
