SMITH brothers; Dryden & Lansing, Tompkins Co., NY; 1790s+ Benjamin, Henry, Isaac, Jacob , and John Smith A very helpful correspondent just sent the following message to me: -----Original Message----- To: perry@streeter.com Subject: Henry Smith Perry, I looked at your Smith family of Tompkins Co. [see http://www.perry.streeter.com] and maybe I have an answer for you from a book on Dryden. It may tell you where to look next for more info. On the father of Henry... My husband's... family were also of Lansing but were listed in this Dryden book so there is a good chance this Smith family may be your's... the names of the children are so very simular to those that would be this Henry's sibling brothers. The Centennial History of the Town of Dryden - 1797 - 1897 compiled & edited by Geo. E. Goodrich - J.Giles Ford Printer: The Dryden Herald Steam Printing House. Dryden, New York [1898] pg. 166 [verbatim] "SMITH. In the early years of the century five brothers, Benjamin, Isaac, Jacob , John and Henry Smith, with their widowed mother, left Stroudsburg, Pa., and came into the wilds of New York State. They selected land on Lot 11 in Dryden and began clearing off the timber. At the breaking out of the War of 1812 the four brothers first named volunteered and served throughout the war. Soon after returning Benjamin died. Isaac moved to Danby and later to Ohio. Jacob, John and Henry remained on the original purchase until their deaths. Their mother lived to the age of 104 years. The land is still held in the family, Ex-Sheriff William J. Smith and the heirs of James Smith, who were descendants of John Smith, being the present owners." ------------------------- Original message concluded Stroudsburg, PA is adjacent to Northampton Co., PA from whence the BAUER/BOWER family migrated to Tompkins Co., NY. It seems quite probable that the Henry SMITH cited above is identical with the Henry SCHMIDT/SMITH cited in my documentation (see http://www.perry.streeter.com for more information): 1. Henry Schmidt/Smith, born New Jersey (1880 New York State Federal Census, [birthplace of Susan A. (Smith) Miner's father]) about 1772 [7 April 1773?]; "Henry Smith was born April the 7th 1743 [sic, 1773?]" (Mary L. Young [hereinafter Young], letter to her aunt, Susan A. (Smith) Miner, 31 December 1868, Ithaca, New York); "Henry Smith was born April 7th, 1743 [sic, 1773?]" (Smith Family Record 1 [hereinafter SFR1]. Henry died [Lansing, Tompkins County, New York] 1 October 1855 "Henry Smith died Oct. 1st 1855" (SFR1); "Henry Smith Died Oct 1st 1855 age 83 years" (Smith Family Record 2 [hereinafter SFR2]). Henry Smith was married 18 December [1796?] to Sarah Emerich/ Emery; "Henry Smith was Married to Sarah Emony [sic] Dec the 18th 1786 [sic, 1796?]" (Young). Sarah (Emery) Smith was born in New Jersey (1880 New York State Federal Census [birthplace of Susan A. (Smith) Miner's mother]) about 1777 [15 November 1775?]; "Sarah Emony [sic] was born Nov. 15th 1745" [sic, 1775?]" (SFR1); "Sarah Smith was born Nov the 15, 1745" [sic, 1775?] (Young). Sarah died [Lansing, Tompkins County, New York] 9 or 10 August 1865; "Sarah Smith died Aug. 10th 1865 aged 88 years 10 months" (SFR1); "Sarah Smith Died Aug 9th 1865" (SFR2)... ... In the 1880 Federal census, Julia (Smith) (Bower) McClay, indicated that Henry and Sarah were both born in Pennsylvania, rather than New Jersey, so we must consider this possibility. It appears probable that Jacob Smith was Henry's and Sarah's eldest son; this may be a valuable clue towards finding either one of their fathers. It should be noted that a John Emery was born in Covert, Seneca County, New York on 1 October 1832 to Jacob and Julia (Cook) Emery. Perhaps Jacob Emery was a brother or other close kinsman to Sarah (Emery) Smith... I am seeking all genealogical and biographical details for the family documented above including their ancestors, children, and grandchildren and the spouses thereof, including the full names of those spouses' parents. All additions and corrections within this scope, however speculative, will be greatly appreciated. Perry Streeter (perry@streeter.com) Canandaigua, New York USA http://www.perry.streeter.com