Friday, November 14, 2008

Three Generations of Barak Smith and Betsey Drake Family - Rehoboth, Taunton, Grafton, New Hampshire, Moira, New York

Sixth Generation of
Descendants of Henry and Judith Smith
Rehoboth, Massachusetts


Barak (Baruch) SMITH6 (Eleazer5, Henry4, Joshua3, Henry2, Henry1) was born 16 Jun 1764, Rehoboth, Bristol Co., MA[1]. Barak came to Grafton, Grafton Co., NH in 1780 with his parents and siblings[2]. He died 28 Mar 1860, Moira, Franklin Co., NY.

Barak m. c1795 in Grafton, Betsey DRAKE. Betsey was b. 21 Jun 1773, Taunton, Bristol Co., MA, d. 11 Jul 1845, Moira, Franklin Co., NY. She was the daughter of Capt. Daniel Drake and Lois Reed[3].

The Reed family were long-time residents of Taunton. Drakes were at Weymouth[4], then Taunton.

Barak and Betsey resided on the height of land area in Grafton, New Hampshire[2].

About 1821, Barak and Betsey Smith moved to Moira, New York, where their son, Bradford, and other family and friends had moved with their families. Part of Bradford's War of 1812 military service was spent in Plattsburgh, New York, in the general vicinty of what is now Moira[2].

Barak Smith was a tax collector for the town of Grafton. His name appears on deeds from the sale of land by non-resident owners who were delinquent in their taxes[2].

Barak and Betsey Smith had the following children:

  • + Bradford SMITH7, b. 1796, Grafton, NH; d. 17 Sep 1842, Moira, NY[2].

  • Enos SMITH, b. April 1799, Grafton, NH; d. 30 Jul 1877, Grafton, NH[2].

  • Preserved SMITH, b. 1802, Grafton, NH; d. 27 Apr 1883, Moira, NY[2]. One of Preserved's descendants said that he had been told that Betsey and Barak Smith were traveling by covered wagon, moving somewhere else when she began having trouble with her pregnancy. They returned to Grafton. The birth was difficult and the child's life expectancy short. They prayed that the Lord would "preserve the child." They named him "Preserved" because he was preserved by God.

  • Lydia SMITH, b. 1805, Grafton, NH; d. 28 Feb 1882, Moira, NY; m. James S. WOOD[2]. There were several children.

  • Dolly SMITH, b. c1807, Grafton, NH; d. young[2].

  • Betsey SMITH, b. c1809, Grafton, NH; d. young[2].

  • Benjamin SMITH, b. c1812, Grafton, NH; d. 1860, Moira, NY[2]. Unmarried.

  • Daniel D. SMITH, b. 1812, Grafton, NH; d. 9 Jan 1898, Moira, NY[2].



You will find quite a lot about Barak Smith and his ancestors at the Carpenter Museum in Rehoboth.

Researchers of this Smith family after their move to Grafton may find these addresses handy:

Grafton Town Clerk
Birth, death records
TX: (603) 523-7270

Grafton County
Registry of Deeds, County Court House, and other offices.
RR1, Box 65F
North Haverhill, NH 03774-9708
TX: (603) 787-6944

Grafton County Probate Court
3785 Dartmouth College Highway, P. O. Box 3
North Haverhill, NH 03774
TX: 603-787-6931



Seventh Generation of
Descendants of Henry and Judith Smith - Rehoboth, Massachusetts


Bradford SMITH was born 1796 in Grafton, Grafton Co., NH[2]. He died 17 SEP 1842 in Moira[5], Franklin Co., NY. He married 17 Feb 1820 Sarah (Sally) (Wheat) BULLOCK in Grafton. Sally was the daughter of Rev. Joseph Wheat and Bridget (Powers) FARLEY of Canaan, New Hampshire. She was the widow of Asa BULLOCK at the time of her marriage to Bradford SMITH[6].

Bradford is named as head of household in the following Federal enumerations:

  • Census 1820 Dickinson, Franklin Co., NY

  • Census 1830 Moira, Franklin Co., NY

  • Census 1840 Moira, Franklin Co., NY



Capt. Bradford Smith marched to the Battle of Plattsburgh with the New
Hampshire troops in the War of 1812. He later was commissioned
Captain of a light infantry company of militia in Moira, New York, and
returned to Grafton after the battle[2].

Shortly after his marriage to Sally, the family moved to Moira. He
kept a hotel about a mile east from Moira Corners. Lieutenant
Governor Bradish boarded there about 1840. However, when the railroad passed by the town, the hotel failed[2].

Note: Moira, New York, was formed from Dickinson in Franklin County. Hence, some references may be to Dickinson and others to Moira.

Bradford and Sally had the following children:

  • + Bradford SMITH; b. 15 Nov 1820 in Moira, Franklin Co., NY

  • 71. + ii. Joseph Wheat(1) SMITH b: Dec 1823 in Moira, Franklin Co., NY

  • 72. + iii. Zilpha SMITH; b. ABT 1826 in Moira, Franklin Co., NY.
    Zilpha married Solomon Sayles. They had four children:
    Normand M.; Luther P.; Willie; and Martha. The family is found in the 1860 Census.

  • 73. + iv. Clarissa SMITH; b. 2 Dec. 1828 in Moira, Franklin Co., NY. She died 28 Apr 1892Ref. 10. Clarissa married Almond F. FLINT, b. 9 May 1823 in Vermont; d. 23 May 1916Ref. 10. He was a wheelwright. The 1900 Federal Census lists an Almon F. Flint, age 77 living in Moira with his daughter Clara Crozier b. abt 1867, age 35. Almon and Clara were still living in Moira when the 1910 census was taken. Both are listed as widows.

    Clarissa and Almond had the following children:

    Dana H. FLINT, b. abt 1852; Almond H. FLINT, b. abt 1857; Asa FLINT (3 Mar 1861 - 3 Mar 1865)Ref. 10; and Clarissa FLINT. Note: A marriage record in the Methodist Episcopal Church of St. Lawrence, New York states that Dana FLINT m. Edith V. HAWKINS 2 JUL 1887. However, I don't have proof that this is the same Dana Flint.

  • 74. + v. Isaac B.(1) SMITH; b. August 1829 in Moira, Franklin Co., NY. In 1860, he was living in Franklin Co., NY. He, his wife and children are listed on the Federal Census of 1860: Emma J Smith 28; Alice Smith 6; Joseph W Smith 5; Isaac Smith 2. Sarah Smith was living with her son.



Grafton County Court House
RR1, Box 65F
North Haverhill, NH 03774-9708
TX: (603) 787-6944

Grafton County Probate Court
3785 Dartmouth College Highway, P. O. Box 3
North Haverhill, NH 03774
TX: 603-787-6931

State of New York - Health Dept., Division of Vital Records. The fees for a search begin at $22 for a three year search, more for additional time spans ($42 for four to ten years, etc.). It takes five months or longer. The Dept. does suggest requesting directly from the local municipality. They do not have BMD records for Albany, Buffalo, or Yonkers before 1914, so one must contact the local registers for those. At the state level, birth records are available for genealogy research after 75 years and with proof of the death of the individual; death certificates are available 50 years after the individual's death; and marriage records can be obtained 50 years after the deaths of the couple. If you can prove you are a direct descendant, the time constraints may be waived.

Order forms and additional information about obtaining vital records are available online.

If you are looking for records for New York City, visit New York City Municipal Archives.

You may also wish to check New York State Archives for other records, including early wills and probate, and military records.



Eighth Generation of
Descendants of Henry and Judith Smith - Rehoboth, Massachusetts


Bradford SMITH8 (Bradford7, Barak6, Eleazer5, Henry4, Joshua3, Henry2, Henry1) was born 15 Nov 1820 in Moira, Franklin Co., NY.. He died 6 Sep 1906 in Detroit, Wayne Co., MI. He is interred in Elmwood Cemetery, Detroit, with both wives by his side.

Bradford Smith was the son of Bradford7 and Sally Wheat7 of Grafton, New Hampshire, and Moira, New York.

Bradford married twice.

Bradford m. (1) Lucia Wells WESTON on 9 Mar 1853 in Queens, NY. Lucia was born 3 Sep 1827 in Keeseville/Peru, NY, the daughter of Abner and Cynthia Hunt Weston. Lucia died 24 Jul 1867 in Detroit, Wayne Co., MI. They were members of Fort Street Presbyterian church, whose records list Lucia's death. She was probably named for her mother's sister, Lucia Hunt Wells.


Bradford m. (2) Julia SPENCER on 28 Oct 1869 in Detroit, Wayne Co., MI. Julia was born 13 Jul 1829. She died 21 Mar 1889 in Detroit and was buried about 24 Mar 1889 in Detroit.

Bradford graduated 1836 from the Potsdam Academy in Potsdam, NY. He graduated 1850 in Oberlin, OH, receiving a Master of Arts in Education from Oberlin College.

He moved to Detroit with his bride, Lucia Wells Weston, in 1853, to teach at the Houghton School. Bradford pushed for a technical school that would get street waifs and newspaper boys off the street and back in school by allowing them a chance at education and training in practical skills. He was also the first truant officer for the City of Detroit and worked in real estate, platting part of the city. Bradford Smith was appointed by the Governor of Michigan to serve on committee for the prohibition of alcohol.

Bradford led an exemplary life. By all accounts of his children, students, friends, and siblings, he was a man whose life set examples of clean living, Christian charity, and perseverance for generations to come.


Bradford and Lucia had the following children:

  • Mary Lucia SMITH was born 6 Dec 1855 in Detroit, Wayne Co., MI. She died 6 Dec 1855 in Detroit and was buried 9 Dec 1855 in Detroit.
  • A. Weston SMITH9 was born 10 Jun 1857 in Detroit, Wayne Co., MI. It's possible his first initial stands for "Abner," his
    grandfather Weston's Christian name. A search of church records in Detroit would most likely produce A. Weston's Christian name. The census of 1910 finds him with his wife, son and daughter boarding in New York City at a Mrs. Wells' residence (probably a cousin or an aunt, since his Grandmother Weston's sister married a Wells). Listed his occupation as furniture salesman. He and his family are found living in Westchester, New York, in the 1920 and 1930 censuses.

  • 78. F iv. Sarah L. SMITH was born 5 Aug 1859 in Detroit, Wayne Co., MI. She died 11 Mar 1867 in Detroit and was buried 14 Mar 1867 in Detroit. Her mother, Lucia, died later that year.

  • + Frederick Bradford SMITH, Sr., was born 13 Dec 1863 and died 16 Nov 1929. He married Nanette Louise SACKRIDER.

  • 76. + M ii. Joseph Wheat (2) SMITH was born 10 Jun 1865 and died 1924, in Detroit.



Bradford and Julia had the following children:
  • Henry S. SMITH was born 6 May 1872 and died after 1910, prob. Chicago, Illinois.
  • Dwight T. SMITH was born 6 Dec 1876 in Detroit, Wayne Co., MI. He died 2 Jun 1892 in Detroit, Wayne Co., MI.
  • Lucia Weed SMITH was born 12 Aug 1873 in Detroit, Wayne Co., MI, m. 27 Aug 1912 Edward J. STIMSON, a widower. No known children. Before her marriage, Lucia was a Detroit school teacher. She was called "Aunt Lucie" by her nephew, Fred, Jr.



Sources:
Links to various databases and resources that are free.

Sources:

1. Rehoboth, Massachusetts, Vital Records, 1642-1896

2. Walter G. Smith, "Genealogy of Eleazer Smith, Grafton, NH."

3. The Drake family in England and America, 1360-1895 : and the descendants of Thomas Drake of Weymouth, Mass., 1635-1691
4. History of Weymouth, Massachusetts
5. Moira Community Cemetery.

6. Genealogy files of Frederick B. Smith.

7. U.S. Federal Census of 1820.

8. U.S. Federal Census of 1830.

9. U.S. Federal Census of 1840.

10. U.S. Federal Census of 1860.

11. U.S. Federal Census of 1910.

12. U.S. Federal Census of 1920.

13. U.S. Federal Census of 1930.



Additional Sources:

The details about Bradford Smith, M.A., and his wives are found in church records, City of Detroit records, U.S. Federal censuses, vital records, newspaper clippings, and other public documents. If you are a descendant of Bradford's, you may wish to contact the Burton Historical Collection of the Detroit Public Library system.

Franklin County, New York, GenWeb Project

You'll find a growing free database of census images, vital records, cemetery and tombstone transcriptions, and message boards. Looking for free documents? Check out the Archives for a listing of what transcribers have made available online for free.

Wayne County, Michigan, GenWeb Project.

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