William Smith, Quaker, GCT to Philadelphia MM for himself and family 1699 from Glastonbury MM, Somersetshire, England.

   Patricia Crespi stated: "I was told that my third great grandmother Elizabeth Smith, daughter of Alexander Smith, was of Indian descent but I could never figure out how that could be and could never prove or disprove the story. My great grandmother, Anna Marie Frazier Davis, related this story to my mother upon several occasions." According to family tradition of several of the descendants of Mary Smith and John Hiatt, there is a story of a relationship to Capt. John Smith and an Indian Maiden. This is an obscure and faded story of lost origin, however, it is widely held by so many families that it indicates that it has some possible bearing. As we also come across families that are of other branches of these Smith families, they also seem to have a similar tradition, could it be so? According to Joseph Copeland in a letter written in 1986, he stated "his family for about 100 years had researched this story and he had information which he was interested in publishing that connected our William Smith to Capt. John Smith and Pocahontas. There is currently no proof of this connection, and probably never will be. There were no records kept, nor any importance connected to it until well after 100 years after Capt. Smith's death where there were efforts to prove a relationship.

   On May 4, 1703, William Smith purchased from Philip Lynes one thousand acres of land lying on the East side of Elk River in Cecil Co., MD - the site of present day Elkton. He built a saw mill and a grist mill along the Elk River as early as 1706 according to the history of Cecil County. Apparently William Smith did not pay for his land completely when he purchased it. The deed between him and Philip Lynes provided that Lynes would pay William 514 pounds if their agreement was not completed and William sustained a loss. Presumably this was to protect William's investment in the mills. William died in 1710 after partially paying for his land. In his will he left the one thousand acres to his second son, John Smith, who completed payment for it. (Cecil Co. Deeds, Vol. 2, page 102) William Smith's will was dated 20 Sep 1708 and proved on 20 May 1710. As stated above he left to his second son, John Smith, all the plantation that I now live upon containing 1000 acres and also one grinding mill and one saw mill and other effects. He left his son-in-law, John Hayett, one English shilling. He bequeathed "unto my daughter, Mary, wife of John Hayett, one English Shilling. Hanna Smith daughter of my son William, one English shilling." He named wife, Grace Smith and son, John Smith to be joint executors. Witnesses were David Evans and Willliam Smith. It was earlier assumed that the William Smith who witnessed the above will was the son of the testator. This is now in doubt.. There is on file in the Hall of Records, Annapolis, MD, the following citation (Liber 21, folio 61, Cecil Co., MD) "John Hiett, administrator of William Smith, administrator in common form with James Robinson and Sampson George", dated 27 Jul 1708. This action took place nearly two months before William Smith, Sr. executed his will and suggests that the son, William Smith was deceased at the time of William Smith, Sr.'s death. He left nothing to his son, William, but only to his daughter, Hanna, suggesting the son, William was already deceased. Clearly, there were three William Smiths, father, son and one other. (Source: "The Hiatt/Hiett/Hyatt Genealogy & Family History" compiled by Larry Anderson)

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