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2-4, chairman). OTHER PROVINCIAL OFFICES: na-
val officer of Oxford, 1694-1695; treasurer of the
Eastern Shore, 1695-1713/14; justice, Provincial
Court, 1699-1707/8 (quorum), 1712-1713/14 (chief
justice, 1701-1707/8). LOCAL OFFICES: justice,
Talbot County, 1685-1690, 1694-1695/96 (quo-
rum, 1689); deputy surveyor, Talbot County, by
1686; St. Michael's Parish Vestry, Talbot County,
1692/93; deputy commissary, Talbot County, by
1699. MILITARY SERVICE: major, 1694-1699; lt.
colonel, 1699; colonel, by 1706. ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS: In 1713, in a letter to the Lower House,
the rector, governor, and visitors of the Free
Schools expressed concern over Col. Smithson's
ability to be entrusted with the money he col-
lected as treasurer of the Eastern Shore. They
explained that Col. Smithson himself had re-
quested many times that the money be removed
from his hands, he having admitted to being "very
aged and crazy." STANDS ON PUBLIC/PRIVATE IS-
SUES: wrote the bishop of London in 1690 in op-
position to the government of Protestant Asso-
ciators; enjoyed considerable patronage from Gov.
Francis Nicholson, with whom he cooperated
closely; was recommended for appointment to the
Council in 1701/2, but was never appointed; given
a special gratuity as encouragement not to resign
as chief justice of the Provincial Court and treas-
urer of the Eastern Shore, 1702; sought a special
gratuity again in 1706, but the Assembly denied
his request; protagonist of Gov. John Seymour,
who removed Smithson as chief justice of the
Provincial Court in 1707/8; left bequests for St.
Michael's Vestry and the Free School at Annap-
olis. WEALTH DURING LIFETIME. LAND AT FIRST
ELECTION: at least 2,000 acres, and probably 3,400
acres, patented by 1694 in Talbot, Dorchester,
and Kent counties. SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN LAND
BETWEEN FIRST ELECTION AND DEATH: patented
an additional 988 acres by 1700. WEALTH AT DEATH.
DIED in March 1713/14; will probated on April
9, 1714, in Talbot County. PERSONAL PROPERTY:
TEV, £854.14.8 current money (including 11
slaves); FB, £10.4.4 (disbursements included
£584.0.11 due from Smithson as treasurer of the
Eastern Shore for the use of the Free Schools).
LAND: ca. 2,000 acres in Talbot and Dorchester
counties.
SMITHSON, WILLIAM (ca. 1744-1809). BORN.
ca. 1744, in Baltimore County; probably first or
second son. NATIVE: at least third generation. RE-
SIDED: in Baltimore (later became Bush River
Lower Hundred, Harford) County. FAMILY BACK-
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GROUND. FATHER: Thomas Smithson (1712/13-
1795) of Harford County, son of Thomas Smith-
son (?-ca. 1732) and wife Ann Scott. MOTHER:
Mary (ca. 1723-1812). BROTHERS: Thomas (?-
by 1775), who married in 1767 Sarah Bond; Na-
thaniel (ca. 1755-?); Archibald (ca. 1765-?); and
Daniel (?-1798). SISTERS: Ann (ca. 1738-?), who
married Samuel Durham (ca. 1728-ca. 1787);
Elizabeth, who married in 1759 John Durbin;
Sarah, who married in 1765 David Durham; Mary
(ca. 1758-?); Margaret (ca. 1760-?), who mar-
ried (first name unknown) Bartin (Baslin); and
Cassandra (ca. 1763-?), who married (first name
unknown) Green. FIRST COUSIN. Samuel Durham
(ca. 1728-ca. 1787). MARRIED on November 11,
1766, Elizabeth (ca. 1749-1818), daughter of
Aquila Scott (1724-1760) and wife Elizabeth Put-
tee. Elizabeth Scott was the granddaughter of
Daniel Scott (ca. 1680-1744/45). Her brothers were
Aquila (1751-ca. 1827), who married in 1770 Mary
Preston; Daniel; and James. Her sisters were
Sarah; Martha; and Rebecka. Her first cousins
were Aquila Scott (1756-?); James McComas (1735-
1791); and Thomas Bond, of Thomas (?-1800).
CHILDREN. None suriving; apparently cared for
the nine children of his deceased brother Daniel
after 1798. PRI VATE CAREER. EDUCATION: literate.
RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION. Anglican background.
SOCIAL STATUS AND ACTIVITIES: Gent., by 1775;
Esq., by 1779; Hon., at death. OCCUPATIONAL
PROFILE: farmer. PUBLIC CAREER. LEGISLATIVE
SERVICE: Lower House, Harford County, 1777,
1777-1778, 1781-1782, 1782-1783; Senate,
Western Shore, Term of 1806-1811: 1806 (elected
on November 19, 1806, to fill vacancy), 1807,
1808 (died before the 2nd session of the 1808-
1809 Assembly). OTHER STATE OFFICE: Maryland
Senate elector, Harford County, 1801, 1806. LO-
CAL OFFICES: justice, Harford County, appointed
1774-1783, 1784 (did not qualify), 1786-1789,
1791-at least 1793, in office 1798, 1800; judge,
Orphans' Court, Harford County, appointed 1782,
1786-1787, 1789, 1793. STANDS ON PUBLIC/PRI-
VATE ISSUES: signed Bush Declaration, March 22,
1775. In his will provided for the manumission of
his slaves after his death. WEALTH DURING LIFE-
TIME. PERSONAL PROPERTY: 2 servants, 6 slaves,
1776; assessed value £483.19.4, including 9 slaves,
10 oz. plate, 1783; 16 slaves, 1790; 16 slaves, 1798.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, had four tenants on his
property in 1798; his dwelling house was assessed
at $600.00, 1798. LAND AT FIRST ELECTION: prob-
ably 500 acres in Harford County (acquired through
purchase). SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN LAND BE-
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