Benjamin Smith of Nash County, North Carolina and Laurens County

Benjamin Smith 1724 -7/29/1799 m. abt 1753 Mary Smith (1734- 12/2/1794) Revolutionary War Soldier. His Will dated 1/19/1799, probated 8/1799 in Nash County, North Carolina. His family moved to Georgia about 1800 and after living in Jefferson County for awhile, moved to Washington County,that part later known as Laurens County. Benjamins Will only names three sons - Samuel, Jordan and Bennett - however, other Georgia records prove his other children: (Benjamin A. Smith Bible in poss. of W. D. Harvey, Americus, Ga.

• Samuel Smith, Devised by his father 38 acres on Sposey Creek in Nash County, N. C. and 600 acres originally bought from Duncan Lamon. He married Elizabeth Turlington. He was listed on the 1802 Jefferson County, Georgia Tax List and drew in the 1805 Georgia Land Lottery, a resident of Jefferson County. Samuel b. 1774.
• Jordan Smith, born.1777, probably Nash County, N. C., was granted 287-1/2 acres of land on the fork of Limestone Creek and 300 acres in Washington County, Georgia, near Limestone Creek. He was married to Mary Gainer, born 11/8/1779, died 11/14/1847, the daughter of William Gainer, Revolutionary War Soldier and his wife, Martha Williams. Jordan Smith died 8/25/1835 in Laurens County, Georgia. From The Southern Recorder, published in Milledgeville, Georgia: "Jordan and William Smith,administrators of Jordan Smith Estate, advertise for sale the first Tuesday in October, Lot 150 in Laurens County", dated 8/2/1836. Listed on 1830 Washington County Census. Children:

  1. Jordan Smith, Jr. Listed on 1830 Jefferson County, Ga. Census.
  2. William Smith.

• Bennett Smith, born 1779. Was Bequeathed by his father 550 acres "whereon I now live." Bennett Smith left a Will in Laurens County, Georgia dated 12/1/1814, probated January 1815, naming his sister, Mourning Smith, and executor, Archibald Griffin. From Laurens County Returns, 1811-23, Page 65-7, 80-81, the Estate of Bennett Smith paid Simon Smith and Mourning Smith. Children named in Will: Sion Smith, Charity Smith and Griffin Smith. Son-in-law, Archibald Griffin, executor, Samuel Smith.

  1. Sion Smith. Listed on 1830 Oglethorpe County, Ga. Census.
  2. Griffin Smith.Listed on 1830 Dooly County Census. The Christian Index dated Oct. 27, 1843: "Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, the wife of Griffin Smith, age 36, died 9/23/1843 at Starkville. " Starkville is in Lee County.
  3. Charity Smith, married Archibald Griffin, listed on 1830 Laurens County, Ga. Census. Archibald Griffin died in Wetumpka, Alabama 1/8/1838, aged 72 years.

• Brittain Smith. His Will dated 12/4/1801 Jefferson County, Georgia, probated 2/1/1802, naming children, John, Fanny, Mary, Jordan and Thomas; also nephew, Wilson Warren, and brothers, Simon Smith and Jordan Smith. Mentions the fact that he had five brothers. Brittain b. 1754.

  1. Fanny Smith married John Pennington 8/10/1812 Laurens Co.
  2. Thomas Peter Smith, born 1795 Jefferson County, Georgia, married Margaret Hill, born 1803 Ga., 4/1/1819 Laurens County, Georgia. He had children by another wife (unknown), viz, Franklin Smith and Guyton Smith. Listed on 1850 Laurens County Census, with children:

  1. Green P. Smith, born 1836 Laurens Co. Ga.
  2. Thomas Daniel Smith, Major, born 1839 Laurens Co. Ga., served three years in the Confederate Army, Blackshear Guards, from Laurens Co., 14th Ga. Regt. He was in 19 battles and saw service in norhtern Virginia. Children: Robert Lee Smith m. 1st, Minnie Hagen, 2nd, Kitty Zeigler; Thomas C. Smith b. 1871 m. Isadora Peacock; Mark A. Smith b. 1882 m. Belle Irwin.
  3. Francis Smith, born 1842 Laurens Co. Ga.
  4. Pabers Smith, son, born 1844 Laurens Co. Ga.
  5. Christopher Columbus Smith.

  Jordan Smith.

  Mary Smith.

  John Smith.

  Simon Smith. Born 1766 Nash County, N. C. Served on the Grand Jury in 1815, Superior Court of Laurens County, Ga. According to the book, Wiregrass of Georgia by Folks Huxford, Simon Smith was born in 1755 and died 1828 in Tattnall County, Georgia. He was a Revolutionary War Soldier who lived in Burke and Screvens Counties, Georgia. His wife, Mary. A certificate for Revolutionary War Service was issued him by Elijah Clarke 4/20/1784, certifying that at that time he was not a resident of Georgia at the time of enlistment, but had been for at least six months prior thereto. He was a Sergeant in a Georgia Battalion of Minute Men, and drew Lot Lot 145 in the Second District of old Troup County, now Talbot, in the 1827 Georgia Land Lottery. He received a headright and bounty grant in Washington County, Georgia in 1785. In 1805 Georgia Land Lottery, he was a resident of Jefferson County, Ga., as well as being on the 1802 Tax List of that county. In 1827 Georgia Land Lottery, Simon Smith, a resident of Tattnall County, drew land in Troup County, which was granted. Simon Smith died in Tattnall County, Georgia, his Will dated 9/18/1826, probated 5/8/1827, which names his children, i. e.: James Smith, Rebecca Smith who married Aaron B. Strickland, Mary Smith and her husband, Wilson Conner, and his grandchildren--Mary, Thomas, Henry, Elizabeth, Nancy and Eli Magee.
  
  Page 72, Tattnall County Estates, Estate of Vivian Smith, Jat?-Dec 1837, James Smith, executor. Letters of Dismission granted to Henry A. Smith, one of the executors of Simon Smith. Issue:
  
  
  • Rebecca Smith, born 1793 Screven County, Georgia, married Aaron B. Strickland, born 1800 S. C. Listed on 1830-1850 Tattnall County, Georgia Census. Children:

    1. Mary Strickland, born 1836 Tattnall Co.
    2. James Strickland, born 1837 Tattnall Co.
    3. Rebecca Strickland, born 1845 Tattnall Co.

  • Mary Smith, born ca 1788, married Wilson Conner, Jr. 5/3/1828. Lived in Screven County in 1830. Divorced.
  • John C. Smith, born 3/8/1812 Tattnall County, died 10/26/1858 Tattnall County. According to Memoirs of Georgia, Jeremiah Smith married the daughter of Daniel E. Jones of Lumpkin County and they had seven children. Rebecca born 1806. Children:

    1. Susan Smith, born 1839 Tattnatl Co. Ga, married A. C. Moore.
    2. Dicy Smith, born 1842 Tattnall Co. Ga. married S. B. Rogers.
    3. Caleb W. Smith, born 1843 Tattnall Co. Ga., lived at Reidsville. Was in Co. B, 61 Georgia Regiment, wounded at Fredericksburg in 1862. He was Tax Collector and Ordinary of Tattnall County. Married Oct. 31, 1871 Mary Slater, the daughter of John Slater of Bulloch County. Children: Clarence Smith born 9/15/1872 Tattnall Co.; Rosalie Smith, born 10/4/1874 Tattnall Co.; Daisy Smith, born 2/3/1877, died 2/16/1880; John Smith, born 12/7/1879 Tattnall Co.; Mary Smith, born 4/11/1882 Tattnall Co.; Mattie M. Smith, born 1/6/1885 Tattnall Co.; Julia H. Smith, born 10/24/1886 Tattnall Co. Fannie L. Smith, born 8/4/1888 Tattnall Co.; Ethel L. Smith, born 6/30/1891 Tattnall Co.
    4. James D. Smith, born 1845 Tattnall County, Ga., died Lynchburg, Virginia.
    5. Alexander Smith, born 1847 Tattnall County, Ga.
    6. M. A. Smith, born 11/10/1848 Tattnall County, Ga., married Susan Hagan of Bulloch County, the daughter of James and Keziah Hagan. Susan was married first to Simon Brewton. Farmer. Children: Dr. J. C. Smith, dentist;L. A. Smith, farmer; Keziah Smith; Frank Smith, telegraph operator; Ada Smith; and a deceased child in 1895, when Memoirs of Ga. was published.
    7. M. W. Smith, farmer.

  • Rachel Smith married Henry Magee. Rachel Magee listed on 1830 Butts County, Georgia Census. Children: Nancy, Eli, Mary, Thomas, Henry and Elizabeth Magee.
  • Daughter, who was deceased by 1826. Married John Dowdy, listed on 1830 Screven County, Georgia Census.
  • Alexander Smith, born 1803 Screven County, Ga. Living with him on 1850 Tattnall County Census was Lucinda Strickland, age 21.
  • James Smith, born 7/28/1819, died 1885 Tattnall County, Ga.
  • Mourning Smith. Her will dated 9/13/1846 Laurens County, Ga. names her nephew, Bennet Whitehead. Also names Thomas P. Smith and the daughter of Mary W. Brazeal. Also, her niece Rhody Whitehead and Antionette Whitehead. Her brother, Bennett Smith left her slaves and furniture in his Will.
  • Elizabeth Smith married Mr. Whitehead. She was left slaves in her brother Gennett Smith's Will. Children: (Elizabeth b. 1764)

    1. Bennett Whitehead, listed on 1830 Laurens Co. Census.
    2. Antionette Whitehead.
    3. Rhody Whitehead married Joseph I. Battle 1/18/1810 Laurens Co. Ga.

  • Mary Smith married Simon Vick. She was left slaves from her brother, Bennett Smith, in his Will. Listed on 1830 Laurens Co, Georgia Census. Mary b. !764.
  • Zion Smith, b. 1759.
  
  

  HARDY SMITH of Johnston County, North Carolina and Laurens County

  
  Hardy Smith was b. 1757 in Johnston Co., N. C., and d. 2/1842 in Laurens Co., Ga. He was a Revolutionary War Soldier, Pvt. In N. C. Troops under Col. Armstrong and Col. Johnson. Received bounty lands in Georgia on the Oconee River; also received a pension for his service. He was a Revolutionary War Soldier, applied for pension, S7539, lived in Cumberland Co., N. C. when enlisted into the war, served in N. C. Troops in 1779, m. 11/16/1796 in Washington Co., Ga., Rebecca Thompson, who applied for pension due to husband's service in war in 1833 Laurens Co., Ga. aged 71. Rebecca d. 8/1835 Laurens Co., Ga.
  
  From Memoirs of Georgia, published in 1895, Hardy Smith left North Carolina and migrated to Georgia, settling on the Oconee River, where he cleared up a patch of land and built a rude home.
  
  Because of service in Revolutionary War Soldier from North Carolina, he drew land in the 1827 Georgia Land Lottery; granted land in Coweta County in 1829.
  
  From History of Laurens County, relates how Hardy Smith and his family after the Revolution, starred for the West in search of a better home..." He pitched his tent on the banks of the Oconee River about ten miles below the present site of Dublin, this river then being the boundary between the "whites" and the Indians. Here he cleared a patch and established a rude home...."
  
  Hardy Smith m. (1) Ann, the daughter of Gaillard Anderson from N. C., a pioneer settler to Laurens Co., and (2) in 1796 Rebecca Thompson who d. 1835 in Laurens Co. (From her pension).

  Warren County Deed Book A, Page 74, 1/5/1795, William Smith of Washington County to James McCormick, William Smith having obtained 200 acres granted 1/7/1786 on Brier Creek. Witness: Hardy Smith and

  Hardy Smith was listed on 1830 Laurens County, Georgia Census. Child by 1st wife:
  • Stephen Smith.
    Children by 2d wife:
    
  • Hardy Smith, Jr., born 1801 Washington County, Georgia, died 3/27/1864, m. 1st, Honore Beacham, born 1800 Georgia, Oct. 21, 1826 in Laurens County. He m. 2d, Ann Anderson, the daughter of Gaillard Anderson of N. C. 5/22/1836.
    
    Laurens Co. Deed Hardy Smith of Laurens Co. deeded to William Jay land in Land Lot 507 of Cherokee Co. On 10/28/1835. Cherokee Co. Deed Book B, page 307.
    
    On 1850 Laurens County Census he declared the value of his real estate at $8000. Children by 1st wife:

    1. Matthew Smith m. Nettie Williams.
    2. Charlton Smith, farmer and baptist minister, m. 1st, Anne McLendon, 2nd, Anne Jane Perry.
    3. Allie Smith 11-19-1833-9/1908 m. Daniel Anderson.
    4. Jane Smith m. Ann Anderson (8/11/1819-11/24/1907).
       
       Children by 2d wife:
    5. Ann Eliza Smith, born 1834 Laurens County, married Daniel Anderson 7/25/1852 Laurens Co.
    6. John A. Smith b. 9-1-1837.
    7. *Hardy Smith, born Oct. 24, 1841 Laurens County, elected Clerk of the Superior Court in 1866. He was Ordinary in Laurens County, and Captain in C. S. A., Co. H, 14th Regiment Georgia Volunteers. Married 11/21/1867 Eliza Few Douglas (7/26/1845-6/9/1916), the daughter of Dr. Tillman and Phoebe (Carlton) Douglas of Burke County. Hardy Smith served as enrolling officers of the Fifth Congressional District with headquarters in Augusta, until the surrender. After his return home, he served as Clerk and Treasurer of the Superior Court in 1866; elected Ordinary in 1893. *See marker. Children:

    a. Claudie E. Smith b. 9/28/1868 m. William Coney Bishop (7/23/1860-7/17/1907), son of Capt. W. Bishop of Laurens Co. Issue: Mildred Anne Bishop; Adelaide Bishop m. R. E. Braddy; T. Dupree Bishop m. Lucile Hubbard; Olive Eugenia m. K. L. Hudson; Mary Elizabeth m. Adonis L. Gray; Claudia Helen Bishop m. Robert W. Thomas; and William Coney Bishop m. Margaret Webster.

    Phoebe E. Smith b. 4/8/1870, d. Childhood.

    Arthur Peyton Smith (6/6/1872-7/16/1906)

    Annie D. Smith b. 12/18/1874 m. George H. McCullough of Brunswick, Ga.

    Cora Adelaid Smith (6/29/1877-2/14/19--) m. Perry Fryer.

    Nina Charlton Smith b. 10/15/1879 m. Dr. S. N. Bradshaw (b. 4/9/1883).

    Hardy Smith, Jr. b. 10/20/1880 m. Inez Sessions.

    Tillman Douglas Smith b. 1/4/1884 m. Corrie LaZarus of Atlanta.

    Augusta (Gussie) Lester Smith m. Robert Earl Camp.

    Helen Few Smith m. Dr. S. T. Brown, residents of Savannah.

    Lofton Lamar Smith (12-5-1843-2/24/1918) Laurens Co., Ga. m. 1-8-1885 Julia Lucina Spell (9/3/1853-1/11/1927). Children: Claudia Emily Smith m. Herschel Wade Jenkins, Dublin, Ga.; Ethel Lamar Smith m. James Simmons Devereaux; Anna Eliza Smith m. Tom Sikes; Edwin Smith m. Lora Cotney; Eunice Smith m. O'Daniel Kitchens; Julia Frances Smith m. George Comb; Lofton Smith; and Jimmie Smith.

    Rachel E. Smith, b. 1847 Laurens Co., m. James A. Wright, 4/22/1865 Laurens Co., Ga.

    Rebecca Smith b. 4/9/1849 Laurens Co. Ga. m. Frank Morris, d. soon after marriage.

    Henry Preston Smith. B. 10/30/1856 m. Emily Young.

    Daniel Anderson Smith 9/9/1851-1/7/1919 m. 3/4/1885 Celestia Herndon (10/15/1869-12/19/1933).

  • Lofton Smith, b. 1805 Washington Co., Ga., listed 1850 Laurens Co. Census, with issue: 1. Blackshear Smith b. 1836 Laurens Co. Ga.
    2. Caswell Smith b. 1834 Laurens Co. Ga.
    3. William Smith b. 1840 Laurens Co. Ga.
    4. Henry Smith b. 1842 Laurens Co. Ga.
    5. Lofton Smith b. 1845 Laurens Co. Ga.
    6. Jane Smith b. 1849 Laurens Co. Ga.
    7. Martha Smith b. 1847 Laurens Co. Ga.
  • James Smith b. 1808 Washington Co, Ga., living with Loftin, above, in 1850.
  • Stephen Smith, son of Hardy Smith, Sr. by Ist wife, lived in Baker Co., Ga. in 1852.
  
  

  ISHAM SMITH of Laurens County

  
  Wife, Gracy. Laurens County Wills, Page 141-143, Will of Isham Smith, dated 4/20/1834, probated July 1835. Isham, Sr. listed on 1830 Laurens County, Georgia Census. Children:
  • John W. Smith, born 1786 in Georgia. Wife, Bean, born 1790 N. C. Listed on 1850 Laurens County Census with daughter, Mary Ann Smith, born 1835 Georgia.
  • Robert Smith. Born 1790 Georgia, farmer. Listed on 1850 Laurens County Census with children:

    1. Martha Smith, born 1829 Laurens Co.
    2. Elizabeth Smith, born 1830 Laurens Co.
    3. T. P. Smith, born 1832 Laurens Co.
    4. Robert A. Smith, born 1836 Laurens Co.

  • Thomas P. Smith, born 1795 Georgia. Married Margaret Hill 4/1/1819 Laurens County, Ga. Margaret was born 1795 Ga. Farmer. Listed on 1850 Laurens Co. Census with children:

    1. Green P. Smith, born 1836 Laurens Co.
    2. D. T. Smith, daughter, born 1839 Laurens Co.
    3. Francis Smith, born 1842 Laurens Co.
    4. Pabers Smith, son, born 1844 Laurens Co.

  • Isham Smith, Jr., married Martha Payne 4/13/1820 Laurens Co. Ga.
  • Martha Smith married Allen Ashley 3/4/1824 Laurens Co. Ga.
  
  

  JOHN N. SMITH of Laurens County

  
  Last Will and Testament of John N. Smith was dated 6/14/1856 Laurens Co. names children:
  • Gracy Smith, wife of Greene Adams. Gracy Ann Smith married William G. Adams in Laurens Co. 8/21/1853 Laurens Co.
  • Freeman W. Smith.
  • Simon H. Smith.
  • Martney Smith. Wife, Susan. Their daughter, Mary.
  
  

  L. E. SMITH

  
  L. E. Smith was born 1798 in North Carolina, farmer, living in Laurens County 1850. Children:
  • Nancy Smith, born 1831 Ga.
  • G. W. Smith, born 1834 Ga.
  • Cloil Smith, born 1836 Ga.
  • Nancy Smith, born 1839 Ga.
  • Clinton Smith, born 1844 Ga.
  • Merrit Smith, born 1846 Ga.
  • John Smith, born 1831 Ga.
  
  

  JACOB SMITH of Laurens County

  
  Jacob Smith was born 1812 in Georgia, married Elizabeth Morgan 8/8/1841 Laurens County. They lived in Laurens County, 1850 Census, with son, James Smith, born 1846 Laurens County, Georgia.
  

  THOMPSON SMITH of Laurens County

  
  Thompson Smith was born 1800 Georgia, Farmer, wife, Chanley, born 1805 Georgia, listed on 1850 Laurens Census. Listed on Montgomery County Census in 1830.
  

  JOHN SMITH of Laurens County

  
  John Smith was born 1784 North Carolina, farmer, wife, Nealy, born 1784 N. C., listed on 1850 Laurens County Census.
  

  LEWIS SMITH of Laurens County

  
  Lewis Smith was born 1817 Georgia, farmer, married Sarah Katherine Stanley 8/13/1843 Laurens County, Ga. Sarah born 1826 Ga. On 1850 Laurens Census with children:
  • Sophy Ann Smith, born 1842 Laurens Co.
  • Francis Smith, born 1850 Laurens Co.
  
  

  ZACHARIAH SMITH of Laurens County

  
  Zachariah Smith was born 1815 Georgia, married Elizabeth Rawls 12/14/1834 Laurens Co. Ga., listed on 1850 Laurens Census with children:
  • James A. Smith, born 1839 Laurens Co.
  • Mary E. Smith, born 1840 Laurens Co.
  • Nathaniel Smith, born 1844 Laurens Co.
  • Leaby Smith, daughter, born 1847 Laurens Co.

Site of Captain Hardy Smith House near Dublin, 307 West Gaines Street. House was built ca 1873. "Capt. Hardy B Smith (1841-1912), CSA, one of the noted veterans of Laurens County, served in the Army of Northern Virginia under General Robert E. Lee. Smith, when war broke out, was called home from classes at the University of Georgia and elected First Sergeant of Co. H, "The Blackshear Guards," of the 14th Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment. As a second lieutenant, Smith suffered a wound at Mechanicsville resulting in the amputation of his right arm. Yet he served for two more years. He resigned his commission in April 1864 to serve as an enrolling officer of the 5th District of Georgia. After the War he served as Commander of the Smith Camp, a division of the United Confederate Veterans and rose to Brigadier General and Commander of the Eastern Division. He was a public servant, farmer, and business man-Clerk and Treasurer of the Superior Court, Judge of the Court of Ordinary, and original stockholder in the Macon and Dublin Railroad. He married Ella Few Douglas in 1867 and reared ten children in this house. She, her mother, her sister and four other women founded the First Methodist Church. Capt. Smith donated the land next to this house to build the church in 1887."


Old Hardy Smith Home near Dublin, being restored.

Laurens County Records
Vol.C , 1826-37 Laurens Settlements.
Estate of William Smith, Kindred Braswell, administrator 1/1/1827; Samuel Smith, orphan, with Joshua Hightower, guardian 1/2/1827. Joseph Smith, minor; Elizabeth Smith, minor, Joshua Hightower, guardian 1/8/1828; Elizabeth Smith married Winfield Hightower 3/9/1828 Laurens Co.; Estate of Benjamin Smith , Hardy Griffin, executor; P. 42-44, 1828, account of Simon Smith.

Richmond County, Ga. Deed Book A
Simon Smith of Richmond County to Jonathan Miller of N. C., dated 3/13/1783, 100 acres of land, being part of an original land grant to Henry Coats in 1774.

Sources:Richmond Co. Deeds; Laurens Co. Marriages, Wills and Estates; 1830 Laurens Co. Census; 1850 Tattnall Co. Census; Memoirs of Georgia; History of Laurens Co., Georgia, Vol I; 1850 Laurens Co., Ga. Census; 1830 Montgomery Co. Census; History of Laurens County, Volume I; Memoirs of Georgia; Laurens County Records