And my ancestors are also Smiths: John and Susannah Smith who emigrated from Northern Ireland to Chester in 1720. Presbyterians. 13 children--is it any wonder Smith is such a common name? And researching all the Johns, James, Samuels gives all of us fits. Fortunately my ancestor, grandson of John and Susannah, was named Gideon. If only the biographer of the Smiths had not pronounced him dead before 1779, I might not have had to start from scratch. Nancy