Limited Biography of John Smith(1786-UNKN), my 3rd Great Grandfather

 

John Smith(1786-UNKN)(S8)

Birth: Abt 1786 in New York

Father:  Unknown

Mother: Unknown

Married:  Sarah Howdle(1783-1836)

Children:

• Unknown Male
• Unknown Female
• Maria Smith(1813-1837)
• Edward B. Smith(1815-1863)
• Unknown Male
• Unknown Female
• Unknown Female

Died: Unknown

John is one of the dead ends in the family.  He was born around 1786 in New York but I have not found any record of his parents.  He married Sarah Howdle before 1813.  Their first child, Maria Smith was born in 1813.  Their second child Edward B. Smith was born on October 2nd, 1815 in Middletown, CT.  At some point after this, the family moved to Lee, MA.  Family stories say that he was a paper maker like his son and grandson and moved for work but there is no documentation to support this.

The 1830 U.S. Census shows John living in Lee, MA with the following people:

• Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9: 1-Unknown but possibly another child
• Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14: 1-Likely Edward
• Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29: 1-Unknown
• Free White Persons - Males - 50 thru 59: 1-Likely John
• Free White Persons - Females - Under 5: 1-Unknown
• Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14: 1-Unknown
• Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19: 2-One is likely Maria
• Free White Persons - Females - 40 thru 49: 1-Likely Sarah
• Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored) : 9

Sarah died in 1836 in Lee, MA but the family stayed in town.  In 1940 the census gives the following information:

• Free White Persons - Males - 60 thru 69: 1-Likely John
• Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14: 1-Unknown
• Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19: 1-Unknown
• Persons Employed in Manufacture and Trade: 1-Likely John
• Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 3

The 1855 Massachusetts census shows John(69) living in Great Barrington, MA with a Jane Shaw(46), Josephine Shaw(11) and Electra Shaw(9).  My theory is that Jane is one of the unknown daughters and Josephine and Electra are grandchildren.  John is listed as working as a gopher. I don't know if this is a role in paper making or something else.

John died at some point after this, but I have not been able to track down his gravesite.  

Branch

• Generation 4(3rd Great Grandparents): John Smith and Sarah Howdle
• Generation 3(2nd Great Grandparents): Edward B. Smith and Lydia Edna Kilborne
• Generation 2(Great Grandparents): Merrick Luther Smith and Catherine Ellen McCann
• Generation 1(Grandparents): David Sanders Wright and Florence Edna Smith
• Generation 0: Robert Ervin Putnam and (Florence) Caroline Wright

Sources

• 1830 United States Federal Census: 1830; Census Place: Lee, Berkshire, Massachusetts; Series: M19; Roll: 62; Page: 389; Family History Library Film: 0337920
• 1840 United States Federal Census: Year: 1840; Census Place: Lee, Berkshire, Massachusetts; Roll: 175; Page: 71; Image: 724; Family History Library Film: 0014674
• Massachusetts, State Census, 1855:  Name John Smith, Gender Male, Birth Year 1786, Birth Place New York, Residence Great Barrington, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA, Enumeration Year 1855, Age 69, Household Number 90, Reel Number 2, Volume Number 3
• Massachusetts, Death Records, 1841-1915:  Name John Smith, Gender Male, Spouse Sarah Smith, Child Edward R Smith
• Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988:  Name Edward R Smith, Death Age 47, Record Type Death, Birth Date 1816, Death Date 7 Sep 1863, Death Place Lee, Massachusetts, USA, Father John Smith Mother Sarah Smith