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it and expressing his intention of drawing up a
new one. Smoot died before writing a new will,
however, and the children of his two marriages
entered into litigation over his estate. His will was
declared valid at the conclusion of the first trial.
The verdict was appealed, but the outcome is
unknown.
SMYTH (SMITH, SMYTHE), THOMAS (1730-
1819). BORN: on April 12, 1730, in St. Paul's Par-
ish, Kent County; probably elder son. NATIVE:
third generation. RESIDED: in Chestertown, Kent
County, at least until after the Revolutionary War;
lived on his plantation, probably in Eastern Neck,
Kent County, in later years. FAMILY BACK-
GROUND. FATHER: Thomas Smith (ca. 1710-ca.
1741/42), son of Thomas Smith (1656-1719).
MOTHER: Mary Ann (ca. 1712-by 1734), daugh-
ter of Thomas Ringgold (by 1672-1711). STEP-
MOTHER: Mary Frisby (1713-?). AUNT: Martha
Smith (1712-?), who married Richard Gresham
(?-ca. 1773). BROTHER: James (1732-?).
BROTHER OR HALF BROTHER: William. HALF
BROTHER: Charles (1736-?). SISTERS OR HALF SIS-
TERS: Hannah (1734-?); Mary. HALF SISTER:
Martha (?-1799), who married Emory Sudler
(1725-ca. 1797). FIRST COUSINS: William Ringgold
(ca. 1723-1789), a possible legislator; Thomas
Ringgold (1715-1772); Sarah Ringgold, who mar-
ried Alexander Williamson (ca. 1712-1760). MAR-
RIED first, his first cousin Sarah (1730-1761),
daughter of Richard Gresham (?-ca. 1773) and
wife Martha Smith (1712-?). Sarah was the
granddaughter of Thomas Smith (1656-1719). She
was the niece of Thomas Smith (ca. 1710-ca. 1741/
42). MARRIED second, on October 11, 1764, Mar-
garet (1745-1794), daughter of Thomas Beding-
field Hands (?-ca. 1768) and wife Sarah (1721-
1754). Her brother was Thomas Bedingfield Hands
(?-1811). Her sister was Elizabeth. CHILDREN.
SONS Richard Gresham (?-by 1795), a merchant;
William (ca. 1777-1819), who married Mary H.
Perry, daughter of William Perry (1746-1799);
Dr. James, of Baltimore City; Thomas Smyth, Jr.
(1757-1807); and Henry (?-by 1818). DAUGH-
TERS Maria (1784-1823), who married in 1806
Dr. Thomas Willson (1778-1859); Elizabeth (?-
by 1818), who married (first name unknown) Ni-
chols; and Sarah, who married in 1788 Matthew
Tilghman (1760-1801). PRIVATE CAREER. EDU-
CATION: literate; by the terms of his father's will
in 1741/42, Thomas was to be apprenticed to James
Calder (ca. 1695-1755), a lawyer. RELIGIOUS AF-
FILIATION: Anglican, Chester Parish. Kent County.
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SOCIAL STATUS AND ACTIVITIES: Esq., by 1771;
third generation legislator. OCCUPATIONAL PRO-
FILE: merchant, 1764-at least 1785; planter; ship
builder. ADDITIONAL COMMENT: Smyth owned his
own shipyard and was deeply involved in ship
construction during the Revolution. He com-
municated on a regular basis with the Council of
Safety about the purchase of supplies, rigging,
and sail cloth, and offered to have his seamstress
make tents out of sail cloth for the 9th Company
of Light Infantry, which his son commanded. PUB-
LIC CAREER. LEGISLATIVE SERVICE: Conventions,
Kent County, 1st, 1774, 4th, 1775, 5th, 1775, 6th,
1775 (elected, but declined to serve), 9th, 1776.
OTHER PROVINCIAL/STATE OFFICE: Councils of
Safety, Eastern Shore, 1st, 1775, 2nd, 1776, 3rd,
1776, 4th, 1776. LOCAL OFFICES, sheriff, Kent
County, 1762, 1771-1774; Chester Parish Vestry,
Kent County, 1769-1771; justice, Kent County,
appointed 1768-1769, 1771, 1777; manager of a
lottery to raise funds to build a market house in
Chestertown, 1773; justice, Orphans' Court, Kent
County, appointed and resigned, 1777; Commit-
tee of Observation, Kent County, elected, 1776;
commissary of troops, Kent County, appointed
1777; commissary to collect clothing and draft
horses, appointed 1782. MILITARY SERVICE: called
major in April 1776. STANDS ON PUBLIC/PRIVATE
ISSUES: manumitted two slaves to be effective at
his death; specified that any slaves sold by his
executors should be kept within the state, and if
possible within the county. WEALTH DURING LIFE-
TIME. PERSONAL PROPERTY: assessed Value
£3,091.0.0, including 64 slaves and 220 oz. plate,
1783; assessed real and personal value, $4,910,
1807; assessed real and personal value, $5,081,
1819. LAND AT FIRST ELECTION: 1,027 acres in
Kent County, plus 4 lots and a water mill in Ches-
tertown, Kent County (505 acres inherited from
his father); controlled 1,226 acres in Kent County,
plus an unknown number of lots in Chestertown,
1772-1778, as a guardian for the heirs of Richard
Gresham (?-ca. 1773), his father-in-law; Thomas
was given the use and profits of Greshan's entire
estate for six years and the use of heir Thomas
Gresham's portion until he reached 19 years of
age in ca. 1791. SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN LAND
BETWEEN FIRST ELECTION AND DEATH: Owned
1,550 acres in Kent County, plus 2 lots in Ches-
tertown, and controlled 893 acres, plus an un-
specified number of lots in Chestertown for the
heirs of Richard Gresham, 1783. He sold 197 acres,
plus several lots in Chestertown, by 1786. From
1787 to 1792, he used his property several times
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