Francis Smith, of Taunton

Not a known child of John Smith and Susanna Hinkley

Biography

Francis Smith was born by about 1614 (based on grant of land at Hingham in 1635; "about sixty years of age" on 22 February 1678/9). Came to Plymouth Colony in 1635 (based on grant of land at Hingham on 18 September 1635). First settled in Hingham; moved to Taunton by 1655. Died between 22 February 1678/9 (date of will) and 13 September 1679 (date of inventory).

MARRIAGES:

• (1) By 1639 Agnes _____. "Agnis Smith wife of Francis Smith died the sixth of January 1665[/6?]" at Taunton.
• (2) By an unknown date Sarah _____ (who was named in his will).

Created by: Linda Mac Record added: May 18, 2009 Find A Grave Memorial# 37241241

Family

Parents unknown

From https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Smith-8336

Marriage and Children

• Married: 1st - Agnes Unknown, by 1639. She died 6 January 1665/6 in Taunton. [1]
• Married: 2nd - Sarah Unknown. His will names his wife Sarah. No other records found to indicate where or when they were married. [1]

Children of Francis and Agnes Smith:

1. Samuel Smith. Baptized October 1639 in Hingham, Massachusetts. d. 5 Mar 1688, m. Boston, MA 13 Dec 1659 Susanna Read, b. Eng. abt. 1633
2. John Smith. Born say 1641 (rough estimate based on older brother's birth date). He married first Elizabeth Tisdale, daughter of John Tisdale.

Death and estate

Summary

From http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~mroman/genealogy/smith.htm

Francis' will was dated Feb. 22, 1679 and he described himself as about 60 years of age. He mentioned his wife Sarah, his eldest son Samuel, and his youngest son John. Also mentioned were Samuel's children Hannah, Samuel, and Susanna.[1] The fact that Francis mentioned his grand children in his will is very important as the name of Smith was numerous even in those days, and in addition, the record keeping in Taunton left something to be desired. Thus we are provided with a valuable connection through three generations in this line. The estate of "Samuel" Smith of Taunton came to 233 pounds in 1680 and indicates five children.[5/6:32] This must be a mistake, actually meaning Francis rather than Samuel.

Died: Between 22 February 1679 and 13 September 1679.
Date will made and inventory taken.
Will: Francis Smith of Taunton
Date of Will 22 Feb 1679; inventory 13 Sep 1679. Proved 3 November 1679. [3]

• "Francis Smith of Taunton ... about sixty years of age" bequeathed to "my loving wife Sarah as her own whatsoever moveable goods she brought with her, I also bequeath to her my said wife during her life my homelot with my dwelling house, cellar and barn and other appurtenances thereon, the fruit of the trees of that part of the orchard next the barn";
• to "my eldest son Samuel ... a piece of meadow a little on this side Broad Cove commonly called the Hole, and six acres ofland on the other side the Great River and my last division of plain being six acres" and moveables and "my part in the iron works";
• to' "my younger son John ... two acres of meadow at Lylley Pond and my twenty-two acre division on the Three Mile River at the northwestern part of the ten and three acres of swamp in my last division together with my right in future divisions, as also a piece of salt meadow from the Rock and so onwards to Muddey River" and "after my wife his mother's decease, the aforesaid homelot, house, cellar and bam with all the appurtenances thereof' and moveables;
• to "Hannah the daughter of my son Samuell" moveables, including "the chest I brought from Hingham";
• to "Samuell the son of Samuell my son" moveables;
• to "Susannah the daughter of Samucll my son" moveables;
• to "Elizabeth the daughter of my son John" moveables; residue of moveables
• to "my wife," she to be sole executrix
• (PCPR 4:1 :47-48).

On I November 1679, "[t)his Court have ordered MI'. Browne and
Mr. Smith to prove the last will and testament of Mr. Francis Smith, upon their return home" [peR 6:24).

His inventory was taken on 13 September 1679 and his widow Sarah gave oath to the truth of the inventory on 3 November 1679.[4]

Notes

• He initially settled in Hingham, Massachusetts by September 1635. He moved to Taunton, Plymouth Colony by 1655.
• Immigration: Uncertain, the first record of Francis Smith in New England is a land grant in Hingham, Massachusetts on 18 September 1635.
• Freeman: Made a freeman on 13 May 1640. [5]
• Taunton Iron Works: The discovery of bog iron in Taunton led to the establishment of the Taunton Iron Works. A company was formed around 1656, and Francis Smith was one of the original shareholders or investors in the venture. In 1660, the iron works were leased to Hezekiah Hoare, George Hall, and Francis Smith. The records of the iron works prove conclusively the children and grandchildren of Francis Smith.
• Merge caution: Robert Charles Anderson in his Great Migration series, warns that Savage "combined a confusing number of Francis Smiths in his treatment of the name."[7] Pope also reported a "clearly impossible sequence" of events, including a second wife who had children through 1663, but died in 1667 at age 84.[7] </br> He is not the same as Francis Smith of Roxbury.
• Origins: The parents and origins of this Francis Smith are unknown. There is no evidence of any kind to link him to any Smith family in England. As such, any precise birth place or birth date is incorrect. Removed birth data of May 2, 1619 Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England

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References

1. WikiTree contributors, "Francis Smith (abt.1614-bef.1679)," WikiTree: The Free Family Tree, (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Smith-8336 : accessed 27 January 2024).
2. Anderson, Robert Charles. Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume VI, R–S. (Boston: NEHGS, 2009): 355-358, biography of Francis Smith of Hingham. < AmericanAncestors.org >
3. SmithConnections Northeastern DNA Project at FamilyTreeDNA, Y-DNA12 Markers, haplogroup Rb1 NE03, kit# 110153, Francis Smith < link >
4. http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~mroman/genealogy/smith.htm cites
   1. [1] Plymouth Colony Transcripts (Document Set 494)
   2. [2] The History of Hingham, Mass. - Town of Hingham, 1893
   3. [3] The History of Taunton, Mass., Samuel Emery, 1893
   4. [4] Planters of the Commonwealth - Charles Banks, 1930
   5. [5] Records of Plymouth Colony, 1855
   6. [6] The New England Historic Genealogical Register, 1881 (pg.22)