Elizabeth Smith

Origins

No evidence to support as daughter of Laurence Humphrey, Dean of Gloucester and Winchester

She was born in England and married in Maryland. She arrived in Maryland under the protection of a Mr. Fenwick who paid for her transportation and who was reimbursed by Frances Posey for such cost. She made a deposition under oath as "Elizabeth Posey" on November 30, 1647 in Charles County, Maryland.

The following is an extract from chapter one of The Posey Family in America by Lloyd Franklin Posey and Betty Sue Drake Posey.

"His wife, Elizabeth, surname as yet unknown, was brought to America by Cuthbert Fynwick as an indentured servant (one who contracted to work for a specific time in repayment for boat passage). Her debt was paid off by her husband, Francis Posey (Jordan, IV:495). Whether she married Francis in England before he came to the colonies, or in Maryland after she came is not known, but the marriage likely occurred in Maryland. Francis died in 1654, leaving his wife and three children, Benjamin, John and Anne, perhaps named for Anne de Colnet Poschet of France."

"The following information concerning the identify of Elizabeth Posey has been handed down through the generations of the Benjamin Vernon Posey family. Elizabeth is said to have been a granddaughter (or daughter) of Laurence Humphrey of Oxford, England. If granddaughter, Elizabeth's father's name is not known. The name "Humphrey" has been used as a given name of at least 15 Posey sons, suggesting that it is a name somehow connected with an early Posey. No records verifying the authenticity of this tradition have been located. It seen that research along this line could well be profitable."

"Elizabeth Posey married twice more after the death of Francis Posey and died about 1676. Her second husband was John Belaine who died about 1663 and by whom she had two children, Nicholas and Grace. Nicholas married Mary, who married after Nicholas' death, Benjamin Posey, eldest son of Francis and Elizabeth Posey. Mary may have been the mother of all of Benjamin's children. Benjamin was in his forties at the time of this marriage, and it is possible that she was his second wife. The daughter, Grace, married Giles Collier or Ollar."

Third husband was Alexander Smith.

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