Recently a lead came on the possible father of Zelphia b.1823, GA; Needham b.1828, GA; Willis b.1829, GA; and George Washington SMITH b.1835, GA.

I received an e-mail note that the death certificate of Willis SMITH of Henry Co, AL (b.1829, GA; d.1922, AL) listed his mother's maiden name as Mrs. SPINKS. I have not yet seen this death record, but have ordered it.

I posted a query on GENFORUM and received an e-mail reply about an Elizabeth SMITH b.1800, NC who was the daughter of Rev. Enoch SPINKS and Elizabeth NEEDHAM.

I decided to see if I could find some SPINKS in GA, who might be collocated with SMITHS. I found a very promising lead in Talbot Co, GA.

1840 census of Talbot Co, GA lists Isaac SPINKS and John SPINKS on the same census sheet as John SMITH. Isaac SPINKS's second wife was Rachel SMITH, who was b.1810, GA (according to 1850 census of Talbot Co, GA).

I had identified John SMITH from the 1850 census of Talbot Co, GA as a possible father of my George Washington SMITH.

1850 census Talbot Co, GA SHT 284
John SMITH 82 M Farmer VA
Elizabeth 53 NY
Heatty 23 F GA
George 16 M GA
Frances 7 F GA
Elizabeth 1 F GA
George Ann 5 F GA

There are a few problems with this census. The writing is not very clear. I might be reading some of the ages incorrectly. NY is not what I want to see on the birth place of Elizabeth. I want it to read NC and it possibly could be NC instead of NY, but the natural reading of it is NY.

Also I did not have the names Heatty, Francis, Elizabeth, George Ann as daughters of John and Elizabeth. I have Elizabeth in the 1860 census of Henry Co, AL in the hh of George SMITH, so where are the others?

In the 1860 census of Henry Co, AL, William SHERLEY and wife Zilthea (unproven daughter of John and Elizabeth SMITH) lists Frances and Georgia Ann both born in GA like Zilthea. They are directly after Zilthea with last name as a apostrophe. Then the next daughter starts with a listed last name Nancy SHERLEY 13, AL. I think Frances and Georgia Ann's last names should have been listed as SMITH. There is a Georgia Ann SMITH who marries William H. SHIRLEY on 9 Aug 1867, Henry Co, AL. I think this is the same person.

There is a Hatta SMITH who marries 25 May 1853 Richard LEE in Henry Co, AL. I have not yet located them in the census. I think this is the Heatty listed in the 1850 census.

I have not found the daughter Elizabeth in the 1860 census, but she is listed in the 1870 census of Henry Co, AL with her mother in the household of William SHERLEY.

Additional censuses on John SMITH:

1830 Talbot Co, GA SHT 339
1840 Talbot Co, GA SHT 227

These censuses fit having children the ages of Zelphia, Needham, Willis, and George Washington.

Very possible that this is the same John SMITH who is listed in the 1800 census of Randolph Co, NC SHT 344 (directly above Enoch SPINK). This same John is also listed in the 1810 census of Randolph Co, GA SHT 182.

I have not identified John SMITH in the 1820 census.

If the Elizabeth SMITH in the 1855 state census of Henry Co, AL is the widow of John SMITH of Talbot Co, GA; this means that John SMITH died between 1850 and 1855.

If the John SMITH of Randolph Co, NC and John SMITH of Talbot Co, GA are the same person; then John SMITH was previously married before marrying Elizabeth SPINKS. This would make sense since according to the 1850 census he was born in 1768, VA and she was born 1797, NC.

SPECULATION: The Rachel SMITH who married Isaac SPINKS might be a daughter of John SMITH and his first wife.

According to the SPINKS family records, Rev. Enoch SPINKS of Randolph Co, NC did have a daughter Elizabeth SPINKS born about 1800. There is a note that she died young, but this is not confirmed. I'm speculating that this Elizabeth actually married John SMITH after the death of his first wife.

There is a book on the SPINKS family that I have not yet been able to consult. Information sent to me about this family is that the Isaac SPINKS in Talbot Co, GA was the son of John SPINKS and Sarah BAKER. John is the brother of the Enoch SPINKS listed in the 1800 census of Randolph Co, NC. They are sons of Enoch SMITH and his wife Amy. Isaac is listed in the will of John SPINKS wo was in Lincoln Co, NC at the time of his death. Will probated 12 Jan 1800.

What I'm lacking:

Records in Talbot Co, GA other than census information that might confirm John SMITH as the father of my George Washington SMITH.
Records in Talbot Co, GA and/or Randolph Co, NC that might confirm the John SMITH in Talbot Co and Randolph Co are the same.