Listed below are four generations of a Smith family I have been researching in New Hampshire and Vermont. They are an unknown Smith in Wentworth, NH; his children Mary and Simeon Smith; Simeon’s son Warren and probably Reuben Smith; and Reuben’s sons Albert R., Justus, Proctor, and Russell, and an unnamed daughter. Does anyone have more information on these Smiths and their families, particularly the first two generations?

FIRST GENERATION

Unknown Smith who began the settlement of Wentworth, Grafton County, New Hampshire in 1766:

"----------- Smith came to Wentworth some time previous to the Revolution, and settled in the northwestern part of the town, where he cleared a farm. He reared a large family of children, but none of his descendants of the same name reside in town. His daughter Mary became the wife of Zachariah Clifford, one of the early residents of this town."

Source: “Gazetteer of Grafton County, N. H.” Part First, by Hamilton Child (Syracuse, N. Y.: 1886) at pages 639-640

SECOND GENERATION:

Simeon Smith
Mary Smith m. Zachariah Clifford
Daughter Smith

Simeon Smith came to Warren, Grafton County, New Hampshire in February 1773 with Reuben Clement. Simeon’s son, Warren, was said to be the first white male born in Warren and was named after the town. On August 12, 1779, Simeon Smith was selected as constable for the town of Warren. In 1780 Simeon Smith was the only Smith on the list of legal voters of Warren. Simeon Smith is listed in the town tax list for 1781 and the inventory of 1782. In William Little’s “History of Warren” published in 1870 he states that the wife of Zachariah Clifford was the sister of Simeon Smith and that Mrs. Clifford also had a sister who was courted by John Clifford (at p. 434).

Sources:

William Little, “History of the Town of Warren, N. H. from its early settlement to the year 1854" (Concord, N. H.: Steam Printing Works of McFarland & Jenks, 1854) at pages 44-45, 52-55.

William Little, “The History of Warren; A Mountain Hamlet, located among The White Hills of New Hampshire” (Manchester, N. H.: William E. Moore, Printer, 1870).

THIRD GENERATION

Warren Smith
Reuben Smith m. Sarah Sabin on 2 Nov. 1802, Hardwick, Caledonia Co., Vermont

Warren Smith was one of the first settlers of Goshen Gore (later Stannard), Caledonia County, Vermont, but did not stay. Reuben Smith was also an early settler of Goshen Gore and he was born about 1780 in Warren, NH, which leads me to believe Reuben was a brother of Warren Smith and a son of Simeon Smith. Reuben Smith may have been named for Reuben Clement, a long-time friend of Simeon Smith.

“The first settlements [at Goshen Gore] were made by Elihu Sabin and Warren Smith in 1802. Smith did not settle permanently. Sabin built a frame house which he occupied until his decease, some 41 years. Other settlements were made soon after that of Sabin, by Reuben Smith, . . . .” Reuben Smith: “From Warren, N. H., was another of the early proprietors. He died Jan. 30, 1860” at age 80, according to the inscription on his headstone. “The Vermont Historical Gazetteer” by Abby Marie Hemenway, Vol. I (1868) at pp. 434-435.

On November 2, 1802, Rubin Smith married Sarah Sabin (brother of Elihu Sabin), ceremony performed by Amos Tuttle, in Hardwick, Caledonia County, Vermont.

Sources:
"The Vermont Historical Gazetteer: A Magazine, Embracing A History of Each Town, Civil, Eccleslastical, Biographical and Military" edited by Abby Maria Hemenway, in three volumes. Volume I. Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Chittenden and Essex Counties. (Burlington, Vermont: Published by Miss A. M. Hemenway, 1868).

FOURTH GENERATION

Albert R. Smith
Justus Smith
Daughter Smith
Proctor Smith
Russell Smith

In March 1842 the case of Reuben Smith v. Albert R. Smith was decided by the Vermont Supreme Court. Albert R. Smith was the eldest son of Reuben Smith and in the winter of 1827-28 they reportedly entered into an oral agreement that Albert, who just came of legal age, would live with, take care of, and support Reuben and his wife during their lives, and their children until they were of an age suitable to learn their own trade. The family consisted of Reuben, aged 50 years, his wife, his sons, Russell, aged 3 years, Proctor, about 9 years, and Justus, about 16 years, and a daughter about 12 or 13 years.

I have a date of birth for Albert R. Smith as 6 July 1805. Reuben’s wife, Sarah Sabin, died on 17 Feb 1844 in Goshen Gore, and Reuben Smith died on 30 January 1860. If Justus was about 16 in 1827, he was born about 1811. Were there other children born to Reuben and Sarah between 1805 and 1811 then living who were not included in the lawsuit?

Source:
“Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in The Supreme Court of the State of Vermont” Vol. XIV, Third Series, –Volume IV by William Weston (Burlington: Chauncey Goodrich, 1843) at pages 440-446.