Research Request
August 29, 2013. From: Susan Mahoney

This is a possibility that I've long considered. but General Smith is not listed as a child of William Smith in any records that I've found. The DNA match was for John Frazier Smith, born 1814, he is linked to William Smith, Jr. as a son, however, I'm not sure if this is correct information. You do not list him as a son of William, Jr. on your site either. This may be a wrong assumption by the researcher. I did however see a note somewhere that Baxter Smith, Jr. had a son named John Smith born in that time period. That was in Huxford Genealogy Quarterly Magazine, Volume 10, which I have not been able to obtain. A snippet of this info was found on a search on google.com/books. General Smith was in Marlboro County, SC in 1800, then Bulloch Co, GA by 1814, also had dealings in Screven Co., Irwin Co., Liberty Co. and finally Wayne County, GA. Williford Smith was his bondsman when he married Laney Wiggins, in Liberty County, GA. I believe that Williford Smith is the son of Baxter Smith, Sr. and is maybe a few years older than General. Wish I could find a copy of Baxter Smith, Sr.'s will, so that I could know for sure. Thank you, Susan

Thank you Jeannette, it will take some digging...that's for sure. Not sure if I told you, but Baxter Smith Sr., Baxter Smith, Jr., Williford Smith, and General Smith were all in Marlboro County, SC in 1800. Baxter Smith, Sr. was there in 1790 with 2 sons,along with a Millington Smith who had 3 sons, a William Smith with 3 sons,...don't know if this is the same William that shows up in Liberty Co., GA, but possible. I appreciate anything you can find.

Research by Jeannette Holland Austin

On Fri, Sep 6, 2013 at 5:39 PM, Jeannette Austin wrote: Back in Atlanta now. Today, I started searching Liberty County and found one will book of records not indexed and placed in front of will book B. Therefore, I am in the process of reading it, but it is about 400 pages and will take awhile. Wills and estates are there dating from about 1824. I think some more connections can be made to the Smiths of Liberty and Wayne Counties. Found an estate of Austin Smith (must be father of Austin Smith of Wayne County). Also, I am trying to find an estate or anything on Baxter Smith. So far no luck. There was also a James Smith who died early in Liberty County. William Sr. does look suspect and I believe the names of his children came from the Revolutionary War Soldiers of Georgia by McCall. The reason that he is suspect is a bond of the estate of John Smith in Liberty County which connects the family to William Sr. (John had a son, Madison) and there is a William B. on it. Baxter Smith may be William B. Smith. Get back to you later on this next week after some more searching.

Marboro County, SC Deeds | Marboro County, SC Deeds

Liberty County Estates Estate of John W. Smith dated 1841 in Liberty County Note: Apparently two of the sons of John W. (William) Smith signed off on the bond of his estate, viz: William Smith Jr. and William B. (Baxter) Smith along with Charlton Hines (married a Quarterman). This pertains to Madison Smith, another son of John W. Smith. In other words the William Smith genealogy of Liberty County is actually " John William Smith". I have seen references that he died in Wayne and Charlton Counties and was buried in Tattnall County, but think that neither information is correct. What I am trying to do is locate more pierces of his estate to obtain a list of all of the children, as I believe that your General Washington Smith was the first son.

Research continues.