Thank so much to all of you who have answered my request on how to locate a William Smith in the early 1700's. The first proof I have of my Smith family is a John Smith, who bought land in York County, Huntington and Tyrome Townships, in October of 1753. He had bought the land of 50, acres from a George Smith and a George Branson. A William Smith bought land next to him, it was about 200 acres. The probate of William Smith, who died in 1777, names his widow Elizabeth and children, James, George, William, and Elinor. The will of John Smith, who died in 1784, names his wife Margaret, children, George, John, Eleanor, Elizabeth and Hugh. I believe the two, John and William are related, possibly brothers, and George may be another brother, father, or uncle. They lived in an area next to the Pine Hills in Huntington Township. James Smith, son of William, married {his cousin?} Elizabeth Smith, they lived on the John Smith land and some of the William Smith land. They called the area Smithfield. Now, my reasoning as to searching for a William Smith. A William Smith took a licensure of 100 acres just west of the Susquehanna in 1734. Could this have been the father of John and/or William, above, or could it have been the William, named above. Where does George fit into this family? There was a Ephraim Smith in Sadsbury, whowas probably related to the above Smith families, as the name of Ephraim has been passed down through the Smith family until the mid-1800's. I do have land plots of the Smith land in Huntington township, but they must have come from some county previously to 1753. So, I am wondering where to locate a William, or George Smith, previous to that date. Thank you again. I would like opinions on how to find/ sort out these above Smith family members. Judy Smith/Colorado

My own Smiths were in York County, and arrived in the 1750s....they came with a lot of others in their Seceder Church congregation....and, I found lots of other Scots who arrived in the same timeframe. Thus, it's very possible that when you say "they must have come from some county previous to 1753", they well may have been original emigrants rather than someone from elsewhere in the New World...so, they may not BE in any earlier colonial records. Have you checked the York Co Original Pa Land Records, by Neal Otto Hively? He publishes them under townships, and includes data other than just land records......in the one for Hopewell I found 'MY' Smiths. I traced my Smith line by forming a theory that 2 of the sons were named for real men, namesakes of 2 of the Smith 'boys'...Andrew Finley Smith and Alexander Douglas Smith....I looked for Andrew Finley and Alexander Douglas, and eventually found them in the same congregation with the Smiths...in York Co. With Smiths, you need to really think outside the box, when researching for them! You say, in your email, "thank so much to all of you who have answered my request on how to locate a William Smith in the early 1700's".....as none of these suggestions went to the list, would you mind posting them? We all are interested in new ways to trace our family members. Sandra -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.11/496 - Release Date: 10/24/2006