This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: CDSnickers1 Surnames: Smith & Halterman Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.illinois.counties.union/433.1128.1171.1201.1.2.3.3/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Loretta, Here is th elong letter that I promised. smith, smith, smith . . .I don't even know where to start. My direct line is also Anderson and that is how I became involved in this Smith line. Cornelius Anderson (1670-1724) and Annetje Opdyke (1675-1746)(these are my 8th great grandparents) had Rebecca Anderson (1699-1785). Andersons were Dutch and settled in New Amsterdam. When land became scarce, the Andersons moved with their in-laws, Opdykes, to New Jersey. In fact, Andrew Smith(1689/90-1767) named the town of Hopewell, New Jersey. Are you famaliar with the Coxe Affair? Many families had purchased their land from Thomas Revell. In the meantime, Daniel Coxe purhased the land from the natives and set himself up as governor. In 1731, calamity fell on these settlers when the heirs of Dr. Coxe "declared that most of Hopewell belonged to them, a claim without an honest basis. The settlers had to pay for their land again. or "Quit." Thomas Smith, husband of Rebecca An! derson, and John Parke refused to pay for their land again and refused to vacant until forcibly evicted. In 1735, Smith and Parke tarred and feathered the interlopers who occupied their homes as well as burning the homes and barns. They escaped with several other families to the Shenandoah Valley. They were safe from the law but farming was difficult. In 1741 Bladen County issued deeds along the Yadkin river. These families moved together to North Carolina and started the Jersey Settlement. Some of the families that moved from Hopewell to Jersey Settlement were: Smith, anderson, Stout, Hunt, Green, Merrill, Titus, Woolsey That is how I became involved with the Smith family and I can trace thomas's family from 1600 to the middle of the 1700's. Many of the Jersey families moved to Kentucky/Tennessee and then on to Union County, Illinois. That is why I feel all these Smiths may be related. My great great great great grandfather, George Smith (ca1800-1851)is the brother to your Davault Smith. I can find snips and bits of pieces of Andrew smith and Catherine Halterman, but no real proof. I do have the book "Bethal Bear Creek Church"state "Some Families who were members of the Dutch Buffalo Creek Church" "Andrew Smith and wife Catherine. 1799 diary states services were held in homes, barns, among trees, wherever they could gather. Services held today at Jacob Hagler's house, March 3, 1799. Four children were baptized. Their son, Andrew Smith was among the four. . .' Not able to make any connection with the Smith line. I went to the Jonesboro courthouse two weeks ago and tried to find the Haltermans. I discovered that a great many Haltermans were members of the Camp Ground Church. I talked with the clerk and she researched and found no Catherine Halterman. I found no help in the courthouse either. If you can point me in any direction, I would really appreciate it. As you can tell I have done a great deal of research. It's like doing a jigsaw puzzle in which you have lost the last pieces. If any of this can help you, please let me know, I will be glad to give you more specifics. According to my findings, Andrew and Catherine had 6 or 7 children: Barbara, George, Susan, Catherine Elizabeth, Davault, Sarah Jane and Nancy. I am not sure that these really are all their children. Notice there is no Andrew listed. Only place I found him was at the Dutch Buffalo Creek Church. I promised you a long letter. I hope I was able to help. I hope we can piece this family together. I am looking forward to your reply. If ypu want, you can E-mail me directly at CDSnickers@Charter.net Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.