John Smith
of Bath county, Virginia, living 1813.
Date of birth: say 1740×50?
Place of birth: Unknown.
The estimated birthdate is based on the fact that his children were married in the mid-to-late 1790's, suggesting that his elder children were born in the neighborhood of 1770. This estimate is clearly subject to significant error. Indications of an origin in Ireland or Scotland are tenuous at best. A biographical sketch of his grandson Robert Smith (son of Robert) suggests that the Smiths were of Irish origin, but does not indicate how many generations back the immigration occurred ["The Smiths and Burnsides are descendants of the Emerald Isle." Hist. Logan co., OH, 679]. An appearance of one granddaughter (Rebecca Minshall, daughter of John Smith Jr.) in the 1880 census gives her father's birthplace as Ireland [1880 cen., Vernon co., MO, ED214, p. 13]. However, Rebecca's appearance in the 1900 census, as well as three other children of John Smith Jr. in the 1880 census, all indicate Virginia as the place of birth (see the page of the younger John Smith). Indications of a Scottish origin are based on a source of unknown reliability (see below).
Date of death: After 1813.
Place of death or burial: Unknown.
He appears on the tax list of Bath co., VA as John Smith Sr. in 1813, two other John Smiths also appearing in the list, his son John Smith Jr. and John Smith of Stony Creek. The 1814 list has two John Smiths, John Smith of Stony Creek and one other John Smith, whether Sr. or Jr. is unknown. The 1815 list has only one John Smith, probably John Smith of Stony Creek [Bath co., VA tax lists, FHL film #2,024,469]. See a detailed account of John Smith in the tax lists on the page of the younger John Smith.
Spouse(s): Unknown.
See below for the possibility that his wife's name was Margaret Harper.
Margaret Harper as the possible wife of John Smith, and the supposed Scottish origin
This undocumented name comes from a family history from 1966, which states that James Stephenson Jr. was married "to Margaret Smith, dau. John and Margaret Harper, who emigrated to N. America from Kilraghs, Scotland 6-15-1769. Like the Stephensons, they were strict Presbyterians." [Frances Stevenson Main, Stephenson-Stevenson (Harlingen, Texas, 1966), chapter III, 9, apparently citing as a "source" Mrs. E. E. Stephenson of Galesburg, IL] I do not know on what this is based. In possible support of this one could point out that James Smith had a son named Harper Smith.
http://sbaldw.home.mindspring.com/families/smi_jo01.htm