Person:Sylvanus Smith (2)

Sylvanus Smith was born about 1743, some say in CT while other sources claim he was from Hadley, MA. He was living in Norwich, VT by 1790 and had moved to Hartford, VT by 1810 where he was active in town affairs. He appears often in the town meeting records and served as Selectman, Moderator, and Justice of the Peace.

He died 30 DEC 1812 in Stowe, Jefferson Co., now Lamoille Co., VT. He is buried in the Old Yard Cemetery, Section 9- Lot 4. His will dated 17 NOV 1812 and probated 25 MAR 1813 lists 18 children probably in the order of their birth: Justin Smith, Elenor Stoddard (deceased), Miriam Richards, Cyrus Smith (deceased), Lorana Dutton, Olive Savage (deceased), Aaron Smith, Phillip Smith, Sylvanus Smith, Samuel Smith, Jesse Smith (deceased), Stilman Smith, Polly Chapman, Amy Smith, Leicester Smith, Dexter Smith, Rebecca Smith, and Eunice Smith.

Amy Sprague Smith died less than three months after her husband as did two of the three of the will's witnesses Oram and Orange Moody. All were perhaps victims of the 1813 spinal meningitis epidemic which hit Vermont. Sylvanus's son Jesse also died about the same time.

The children of the first marriage, for the most part, seem to have remained in Vermont. Three of them died before Sylvanus's will was probated. Many of the sons of Amy and Sylvanus emigrated to Ohio. Daughter Mary (Polly) also went to Ohio with husband Simon Chapman. Daughter Rebecca was married there by her brother Sylvanus Smith, Jr.

Military

SMITH, Sylvanus, Sgt., VT; b. c 1743; r Peru, MA 1771; Clarendon; Lt. Johnson's co 1777; r Hartford; Norwich; d 1812; bur Stowe; m (1)___ (2) Amy; 41 p. 40; CL-5a, 49:243 Source: Soldiers, Sailors, and Patriots of the Revolutionary War-Vermont (NARA unable to locate records 18 Nov 2002; the above from state records). Pension file requested 5 Jul 2003 Military: A Pay Roll of Lt. Moses Johnson's in William William's Regiment, as due from this State from the 25th of September to the 17th of October, 1777, Sylvanus Smith Sergt. Engaged Sept. 25, Discharg Oct. 16, Pr. Month 2.12.0, Days 26, Pr. Day 1.9, Total 2.3.9 (Sylvanus's pay per day was the same as the two officers in the company and slightly more than the other two sergeants ). Rolls of the Soldiers in the Revolutionary War 1775 to 1783 Military: (Capt. Abraham Salisbury's Company) A payroll of Capt. Abraham Salisbury's Company of Militia for service in the year 1780. Jesse Sprague, Sgt. 12 days in service, Amount 19.4, Miles 13, Amount 4.4, Total 1.3.4 Sylvanus Smith (no rank given), 1 days service, Amount 1.4, Miles 5, Amount 1.8, Total 0.3.0 From: Vermont, Rolls of the Soldiers in the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783 Source: Copies of pay records Is this where Jesse Sprague and Sylvanus Smith met? Jesse's daughter Amy would have been 17 and Sylvanus might have been a 38-year old widower.

CENSUS

1790 Norwich, VT census: Males over 16: 1; Males under 16: 6; Females: 4 1800 Hartford, VT census: Males: 2,3,1,0,1; Females: 2,0,0,1,0 1810 Hartford, VT census: Males: 2,0,3,0,1; Females: 2,2,0,0,1

Will

In the name of God, Amen. I Sylvanus Smith of Stowe in the county of Jefferson & State of Vermont being weak in body but of sound & perfect mind & memory do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner & form following, that is to Say, Imprimis, I give to my beloved wife Amy Smith one third of all my Estate real & personal, of which kind or nature with all the Household furniture and clothing and the use of al untill the yougest Child then living is of lawful age and then to be equally divided among my children so that each of the boys shall have twice as much as each of the girls_ I also hereby appoint my beloved wife Amy Smith Sole Executrix of my last will and testament herby revoking all former wills by me made._In witness whereof I do hereunto set my hand and seal this 17th day of November in the year of our Lord 1812_ Sylvanus Smith. Witnessed by Olive Moody, Orange Moody, Oram Moody FHL# 0029040 Washington Probate Records Vol. A, p. 156

Sources

Newton, Smith, Huston, Cole, McIntyre, McCreery, Vantine, Butler Genealogy Entries: 6355 Updated: 2004-12-09 23:37:02 UTC (Thu) Contact: Ken Newton

Title: Sprague Families of America, Author: Compiled and Published by Warren Vincent Sprague M.D., Publication: The Tuttle Company Printers, Rutland, Vermont, 1913 Repository: Call Number: Media: Book

Title: Soldiers, Sailors, and Patriots of the Revolutionary War-Vermont Author: Maj. Gen. Carleton Edward Fisher and Sue Gray Fisher Publication: Picton Press, Camden, Maine Repository: Call Number:

Title: Hartford, Vermont Vital Records 1764-1853 Author: Town Clerk Publication: FHL# 0028354 Repository: Call Number: Media: Microfilm

Title: Town records Vols. 1-3, 1761-1895 Norwich, Windsor Co., VT Author: Town Clerk, Norwich, Windsor Co., VT Publication: Earmarks, town meetings, marriages, births, freemen lists, warnings out, etc. Repository: Call Number: FHL# 0028587 Media: Microfilm Page: 91, 95, and 98

Title: Rolls of the Soldiers in the Revolutionary War 1775 to 1783 Author: The State of Vermont, Published by the Authority of the Legislature Publication: Rutland, VT, The Tuttle Company, 1904 Repository: Call Number: Media: Book Page: 40

Title: Soldiers, Sailors, and Patriots of the Revolutionary War-Vermont Author: Maj. Gen. Carleton Edward Fisher and Sue Gray Fisher Publication: Picton Press, Camden, Maine Repository: Call Number: Media: Book Page: 485

Title: Rolls of the Soldiers in the Revolutionary War 1775 to 1783 Author: The State of Vermont, Published by the Authority of the Legislature Publication: Rutland, VT, The Tuttle Company, 1904 Repository: Call Number: Media: Book Page: 583-584

Title: Soldiers, Sailors, and Patriots of the Revolutionary War-Vermont Author: Maj. Gen. Carleton Edward Fisher and Sue Gray Fisher Publication: Picton Press, Camden, Maine Repository: Call Number: Media: Book Page: 485 Text: "r. Peru, MA 1771;"

Title: Washington District, Vermont Probate records Author: Sylvanus Smith's will and estate settlement, Stowe, VT 1812-13 Publication: FHL# 0029040 Repository: Call Number: Media: Microfilm Page: Volumes A and B

1. ↑ History of Hartford, VT. (GenealogyLibrary.com).
2. ↑ OneWorldTree.

   Ancestry.com. One World Tree (sm) [database online]. Provo, UT: MyFamily.com, Inc.

3. ↑ OneWorldTree.

   Ancestry.com. One World Tree (sm) [database online]. Provo, UT: MyFamily.com, Inc.

4. ↑ OneWorldTree.

   Ancestry.com. One World Tree (sm) [database online]. Provo, UT: MyFamily.com, Inc.

5.   Probate: Sylvanus Smith, Washington District, Vermont, FHL# 029040, Vol. B., 1814-1831, p. 215