Folks, Enclosing great information from Ann Irwin. Roberta ******************************************************************** Subject: Thomas Smith Date: Sun, 28 Feb 1999 20:11:09 -0600 From: "S, ANN IRWIN" <AIRWIN@prodigy.net> To: "ROBERTA FULTON HIRTH" <hirth@frontiernet.net> Dear Roberta, Haven't heard from you for a while, hope all is OK . I still am plugging - and thats what it feels like- away on my Hugh with nothing new. He can't be the son of William, son of Richard, as that Hugh is in Ross Co. Ohio.. But I have put together the Thomas Smith informaton, If you want to post some or all to your web page, its fine with me. I will be interested in your comments, and if you have any information to add: See you in October Ann THOMAS SMITH OF MARTIC TOWNSHIP LANCASTER CO. PA. The following is to provide background history on the Smith family that I believe the widow Mary Smith Fulton married into after her husband, Robert Fulton, the tailors, death. At this time there is no evidence that her second husbands family was related to her birth family, Joseph and Isabel Smith of Oxford, Twp, Chester Co. Pa. Thomas Smith was born in Martick Twp. where his father , William Smith, settled in 1726. The elder Smith owned a Grist & Saw Mill. His wifes name was Joannah. Thomas and his brother William Smith build Martick Furnace in 1753 or 54. Thomas Smith married Jane Allison on Jan 16, 1761 at St. James Church in Lancaster Pa.. She is listed in different records as Jane or Jean. She was the daughter of John Allison of Derry Twp. whose will was dated 1747. John Allison was a native of Londonderry, Ireland and emigrated in 1725 to the barrens of Derry which became Derry Twp, Lancaster Co. Pa. . This area is now Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Janes Children were listed in her brother Robert Allisons will of 1768, this will also shows she was deceased at this time. The children of Thomas & Jane(Jean)Smith were John, William, James, Robert. Nothing more is known of these children at this time. Thomas Smith was elected Sheriff of Lancaster County in 1752 and 1754. Revolutionary War records show a Thomas Smith of Lancaster Co. Pa. but cannot confirm him to be this Thomas Smith. Since it is documented that his brother William was actively involved in the war, it is quite probable that Thomas was also. According to Lancaster Deed Abstracts by Mayhill, Thomas Smith is entered as Sheriff in 1753,1754,1755. In The Middle Octorrora Church pamplet by Lancaster Historical Society, in 1763 William and Thomas Smith purchased the Green Tree Inn and surrounding land. They formed the town of Smithsborough from 19 acres of this land. They then sold the town to James Fulton who resold it to Robert Thompson in 1764. This was situated in Bart Twp. Page 2 - Thomas Smith The Lancaster Deed Abstracts lists Thomas Smith and wife Jane and William Smith and wife Dinah of Martic Twp. sold lot 24 in Smithsborough 14 April 1767. The following articles are found in the Pennsylvania Gazette: 9 July, 1767 - to be sold Martick Furnace and forge and about 4000 acres situate on branch of Pequea - apply to Thomas Smith living near the works. It must have taken a large investment to purchase property of this size. 26 June 1769 - Public Sale of Martic Furnace late property of Thomas Smith, James Wallace and James Fulton. - Which evidently indicates Smith was unable to sell the property. as this sale was advertised by the Sheriff. 7 May, 1770 Black Horse Tavern & Farm situated part in Martick and part in Strasburgh Twp. Lancaster Co. for sale - Apply to Thomas Smith in Martick Twp. Then a later notice "Public Sale" Late property of Thomas Smith siezed and taken to be sold by Sheriff - also 30th at Martick Furnace will be sold quality of casing. In The Lancaster Deed Abstracts, among the original members of the Juliana Library dated 22 oct 1763 were William Smith, Thomas Smith, and Robert Fulton. There also was a Robert Fulton associated for a short time with the Martic Furnace with Thomas Smith. It seems obvious that these Smiths and the Robert Fultons were acquainted. In the Trinity Lutheran Church records of Lancaster County is a marriage dated 5 Apr 1780 of Thomas Smith and Mary Fulton, two widowed persons. Robert Fulton inventor of the Steam Boat and son of the above Mary Fulton purchased land in Hopewell Twp, Washington Co. Pa May 8, 1786. It has been stated that this farm was for his mother, and sisters. It seems unusual that the son would purchase a farm for his mother if she had remarried, but its also seems obvious that Thomas Smith had financial problems. Other records that indicate the relationship of a second marriage and the presence of Thomas Smith in Mary Smith Fulton's life are: 28 Jan, 1786 Abraham Smith Fulton brother of Robert purchased 400 acres on Waters of Potato Garden & Monture Run, witness to this transaction were Robert Fulton(brother) and Thomas Smith. Page 3 - Thomas Smith I have copies of two letters from Robert the son to his Mother Mary dated June 14, 1790, and Jan 20, 1792. One is addressed to Mary Smith, and the other asks to be remembered to M. Smith.. None of the Tax lists, nor 1790 Census for Hopewell Township, Washington Co. Pa. (where the land was located that Robert Fulton purchased for his mother) list a Mary Fulton, but both records do show a Thomas Smith.) In the Washington Co. Will Book 1 - P 397 is the will of Thomas Smith who died in 1801 left wife Mary Smith, and appoints James Cook and Mary Smith as executors, this was signed Mar 9, 1800. (Mary's daughter Isabell married a Peyton Cook) There is no will for Mary Smith Fulton Smith, or any variation thereof. But this certainly throws a question about the accuracy of the widely accepted date of her death as 1799. Some background information on the brother who was involved with Thomas in several financial transcations: William Smith married Dinah Edwards Nov. 11, 1755. Dinah was born Nov 7, 1736. She was the daughter of John Edwards (B1708) and Sarah Davis. William also was a Sheriff of Lancaster County Pa. elected in 1758 and 1760. He and his family moved to New Holland (in Earl Twp) and he was a Justice til his decease in 1806. William was said to have taken an active part in the Revolutionary War and died in New Holland. Both the Davis and Edwards families were from Earl Township, in and near New Holland. [the majority of this information came from Egle's Notes & Queries] Ann Irwin