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A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature 1635-1789 by Edward C. Papenfuse, et. al.
Volume 426, Page 749   View pdf image (33K)
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BIOGRAPHIES SM1

bly). OTHER PROVINCIAL OFFICES: surveyor gen-
eral, 1694; chief justice, Provincial Court, 1694-
1699; commissary general, 1697 (appointed, but
never served); Council, 1699-1706/7. LOCAL OF-
FICES: clerk of Indictments, Talbot County, 1688;
His Lordship's Attorney, Kent and Talbot coun-
ties, 1688; justice, Talbot County, 1692-1694
(quorum). STANDS ON PUBLIC/PRIVATE ISSUES:
supported Revolution of Protestant Associators
in 1689; enjoyed considerable support and pa-
tronage from Gov. Francis Nicholson (1655-1727/

28). WEALTH DURING LIFETIME. LAND AT FIRST

ELECTION: 3,877 acres in Talbot (now Queen
Anne's) County (acquired 7,100 acres by patent
and 1,765 by purchase; sold ca. 5,000 acres before
his first election). SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN LAND

BETWEEN FIRST ELECTION AND DEATH: patented

4,275 acres, purchased 13,000 acres, and sold
11,000 acres in Talbot and Kent counties. Most
of this land was located on the south side of the
Chester River. WEALTH AT DEATH. DIED: will pro-
bated March 18, 1706/7, in both Talbot and Queen
Anne's counties. PERSONAL PROPERTY: TEV,
£1,354.3.1 (including 17 slaves); FB, estate ov-
erpaid £1,109.19.6. LAND: will mentioned be-
quests of 1,000 acres of land to each of his broth-
er's children in England; 3 other tracts, totalling
1,850 acres, were named in the will and several
additional bequests of unknown acreage were
made. At least 5,515 acres were sold within four
years of Smith's death by his executors. IDENTI-
FICATION PROBLEMS. It is possible, but not likely,
that there were two Robert Smiths: 1) the man
who was a tenant in possession of "Hinson's Ad-
dition" in 1677, married the widow Hynson, and
was the merchant whose ship was seized; 2) the
man who was admitted to the Kent and Talbot
County courts as a lawyer, later a justice and
burgess. However, analysis of Robert Smith's land
holdings seems to indicate that the Robert Smith
who married Anne, the widow of Thomas Hyn-
son, was the same Robert Smith who owned sev-
eral thousand acres of land along the Chester
River and served as justice and burgess of Talbot
County.

SMITH, SAMUEL (1695-1748). BORN, on May
14, 1695, in St. James' Parish, Anne Arundel
County; only son of father. NATIVE: second gen-
eration. RESIDED, in St. James' Parish, Anne
Arundel County. FAMILY BACKGROUND. FATHER:
Anthony Smith (?-1711) of Anne Arundel County,
Gent.; a merchant, who was transported ca. 1678.
MOTHER: Dinah (?-1698), widow of Thomas

Knighton (?-by 1695), daughter of Ferdinando
Battee (?-1706) and his first wife (name un-
known), stepdaughter of Elizabeth Battee Hood
(?-1718). STEPMOTHER: by 1701, Johanna Hull,
who subsequently married in 1712 Alexander Ro-
senquist (?-ca. 1746). HALF BROTHERS: Thomas
Knighton, who married in 1700 Dorothy Wood;
George Knighton. HALF SISTERS: Mary Knighton,
who probably married first, Richard Harwood
(?-1711), and second, Joseph Jones (?-1733);
Elizabeth Knighton, who probably married George
Simmons; Millicent Knighton; and probably Sarah
Knighton. MARRIED on January 27, 1714/15, Eliz-
abeth, baptised 1701, daughter of John Watkins
(?-1697) and wife Ann (ca. 1670-1742); step-
daughter of both William Burgess (?-1698) and
Richard Jones (ca. 1671-1714). Elizabeth was the
granddaughter of Nicholas Gassaway (1634-1691/
92). She was the half niece of Thomas Gassaway
(1683/84-1739). Her brothers were Gassaway (?-
1746); Nicholas; and John (?-1743), who married
Mary (?-1768). Her half sisters were Ann Jones
(1700/1-?); Jane Jones (1703-1704). Her first
cousin was Sarah Cotter (1701/2-?), who married
John Gassaway (1707-1762). CHILDREN. SONS:
Samuel (1722-?), who married his cousin Ann
Watkins; John (1726-?) of Cecil County; and
Anthony (1727-?), who married his cousin Jane
Watkins. DAUGHTERS: Ann (1717-?); Elizabeth
(?-1733); Dinah (1730-?); Jane (1734-?); and
Elizabeth (1738-?). PRIVATE CAREER. EDUCA-
TION: literate. RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Anglican,
St. James' Parish, Anne Arundel County; clerk
of St. James' Parish Vestry, by 1716-1742. so
CIAL STATUS AND ACTIVITIES: Gent., by 1721; Esq.,
by 1743. OCCUPATION AL PROFILE: planter. PUBLIC

CAREER. LEGISLATIVE SERVICE: Lower House,

Anne Arundel County, 1738 (Accounts). LOCAL
OFFICES: overseer of highways, West River
Hundred, Anne Arundel County, in office 1717;
churchwarden, St. James' Parish, Anne Arundel
County, 1718-1719; justice, Court of Oyer and
Terminer, Anne Arundel County, 1720; justice,
Anne Arundel County, 1720-at least 1723 (no
records, 1724-1732), 1738-1742, 1746-1747
(quorum, 1738-1739, 1741, 1746-1747); St. James'
Parish Vestry, Anne Arundel County, 1729-1732;
sheriff, Anne Arundel County, 1742-1745.

WEALTH DURING LIFETIME. PERSONAL PROPERTY:

accepted 4 slaves, livestock, household goods, and
plate as security for £227.0.0 current money lent
to Alexander Rosenquist, 1744. ANNUAL INCOME:
received 1,000 lb. tobacco as clerk of St. James'
Parish Vestry. LAND AT FIRST ELECTION: at least

749



 

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A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature 1635-1789 by Edward C. Papenfuse, et. al.
Volume 426, Page 749   View pdf image (33K)
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