Mary Spencer Smith

see: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=rmlsmith&...

GEDCOM Note

BIOGRAPHY: Mary Spencer Speed went by Polly in most documents, and Polly S. Hopkins after her second marriage. She was born 8 Jun 1770 in Charlotte Co, VA to James and Mary Spencer Speed. She moved to KY with her parents and siblings in the fall of 1782. She married William Smith in 1787, and they had three children. William was killed or died in late 1793 or early 1794, and Polly married John Samuel Hopkins in 1796. They had two children. It is not clear just when her second husband died, but in Jan 1825 she prepared a will and it was approved in the Mercer Co, KY court in May 1825. She was probably staying with her daughter, Elizabeth Julia Smith Fry and her son-in-law in Mercer Co, KY at the time of her death. Burial location is unknown, although she may well be buried with her father who was buried nearby.

BIOGRAPHY: Records and Memorials of the Speed Family.by Thomas Speed, 1892, Louisville, Ky.: Courier-journal job printing company Pp 79-80 MARY SPEED SMITH Mary Speed, second child of Captain James Speed, married William Smith, 1789. He was a man of substantial means who went to Kentucky from North Carolina about 1788. Being fine looking, well educated and intelligent, he at once took his natural position among men and won friends in the new Kentucky community. He became acquainted with the family of Captain James Speed, and in 1789 he and Mary Spencer Speed were married. They continued to reside in Kentucky, and three children were born to them: 1. Elizabeth, born 1790. 2. John Speed, born 1792. 3. Guy, born 1794. (There is no record of Guy, except that he went to Shawneetown, Ills., and was there a clerk of a court and Receiver of Public Moneys under a Government appointment.) William Smith died 1796, and some years after his widow married Samuel Hopkins, and two children were born of this marriage : 1. James Speed Hopkins, who was greatly beloved by all the family. He went to Missouri several years before the Civil war, and no record of him has been obtained for this book. 2. Sarah Hopkins, who married Alien and lived in the southern. part of Kentucky.

BIOGRAPHY: From George W. Frye, "Colonel Joshua Fry of Virginia and Some of His Descendants and Allied Families," 1966, Cincinnati, Ohio, Pg 95-99 - Located in DAR Library in Washington, DC: "Mary 'Polly' Speed Daughter of Capt. James Speed and Mary (Spencer) Speed was born 8 Jun, 1770 in Virginia; married first, 1789, William Smith; married second, Samuel Hopkins. Mary's Will, dated 25 August, 1822, probated October, 1825, mentions: daughters, Eliza S. Fry, and Sally A. Allin, deceased; sons Guy W. Smith, John Speed Smith, and James Speed Hopkins; brother, John Speed; grandson, John James Allin; sons-in-law, Thomas W. Fry, and John J. Allin." The footnote says that this will is located in Mercer County, Ky, Will Book 8, p. 284

BIOGRAPHY: "Hopkins of Virginia and Related Families," by Walter Lee Hopkins, J. W. Fergusson & Sons, Richmond, VA, 1931, available from Higginson Book Co, pg 19-21 gives information on Mary Spencer Speed's Family, primarily about her second husband, John Hopkins, and their descendants. It lists her children by William Smith but mistakenly identifies him as Hon. John Speed Smith, who was her son by William Smith.

BIOGRAPHY: Guy Allen included in his Smith Family History the text of a letter written by Mrs. Mary Spencer Speed Smith Hopkins from Morganfield, Union Co, KY, to Guy William Smith while he was the clerk at the Federal Salt Works at Shawneetown, Ill. When the history was written, the letter was in the possession of Guy Allen Smith. [Spelling, punctuation, etc. has not been changed.] 20th Feb. 1815 Dear Guy:- It has been so long since you wrote me that I can hardly find subject for a letter after telling you that your relations are all well. What you are about or what you intend I get from hearsay. Sometime after I received your letter last spring, I heard that you had given up the office and that you were writing in a land office, that you was clerk to the Agent at the Saline. David Apperson wrote wrote that you were making $500. I hope you are in some safe way of making money, but then I should like to hear from your own pen something of what your future views are and whether you consider yourself settled in that place. And whether you think it is not so prudent not to visit us, if so, I can content myself without seeing you. There is some mystry attached to your situation with one about B. Towne, perhaps you have concluded to be done with it, or she may have made the conclusion. She was up here last fall on a visit, there was nothing said that related to the subject. If you have concluded to drop it, I should think it best myself for I know your reason must be good. If you will trust me with a statement of your fix, I will give you, if you desire it, my candid judgement, for I assure you I am ancious to know how you are situated. And it is well that you have concluded to get in a way to live before you marry. By Jack Allin I shall expect a long letter. Report makes Jack S. Smith a courtyin, but I do not believe he is, not Miss. Clay at least. I supose from Poly Bowens letter, you stay pretty close at business as you so seldom see them, particularly as Miss. B. is there. Sally and Polly are siting by and beg you will come over and go with them to a play tomorrow evening, Polly says she will wait til you come, so you must dust up and start or the play will be over before you get here. Betsy tells Guy she should be very glad to see him, but if he will not come she will content herself. Your grandmother is in good health. I am pretty much in the old way -- headaches enough. Your uncle Henry is still inclined to move - talks of the state of Ohio or to Saint Louis. I shall be glad how soom I see a letter from you, for I almost begin to think hard of you. Betsy, Polly Allen and Sally all joine in love with your affectionate mother-- P.S.Hopkins P.S. Betsy says she has had two children since you were here and she is doubful you will stay till she has another. I see you have been in two little battles since I saw you and it is doubtful whether you will not take another campaign before I see you yet. (P.S.H.) Notes from Guy Allen Smith about the above letter. This letter seems to infer that Guy William was not a frequent visitor at the Hopkins home, tho the family relations were most genial. The Jack Allin mentioned was no doubt a brother of William Allin who married the Generals half-sister, Sally Ann Hopkins, a few months after this letter was written. Jack S. Smith was John Speed Smith, brother of the General, and he did marry Miss. Clay. Polly Allin was probably a sister to John (Jack) and William Allin. Betsy was his sister, Elizabeth Julia, who married 1805, Dr. Thomas Walker Fry (she was called Betsy in the family).

BIOGRAPHY: "First Census" of Kentucky, 1790, lists Wm. Smith on tax rolls in Fayette Co in 1789 and 1790 and in Mercer Co in 1789 - whether this is our Wm Smith or another is unknown. 1795 Census still lists Wm. Smith in Tax Lists in 1795 for Fayette and Mercer Co - whether this is our Wm Smith or another is unknown - probably not. James Speed is listed in the 1795 Census in Mercer Co Thos. Speed is listed in the 1795 Census in Nelson Co Mary Smith is also listed in the 1795 Census in Nelson Co This Thomas Speed & Mary Smith are probably Thomas Speed, brother of Mary Spencer Speed Smith, who was guardian of her children after William Smith's death and our Mary Spencer Speed Smith. Nelson Co was split into Nelson and Bullit County by 1800. John Hopkins is listed in the 1795 Census in Bourbon, Fayette, Madison, & Mason Co "Second Census" of Kentucky, 1800, from tax records by G. Glenn Clift, Genealogical Publishing Co, Baltimore, MD, 1970 John Hopkins in Bullitt Co Thomas Speed in Bullitt Co This Thomas Speed is probably Thomas Speed, brother of Mary Spencer Speed Smith, who was guardian of her children after William Smith's death and John Hopkins who married our Mary Spencer Speed Smith in 1796. Bullit Co was from Nelson Co and Jefferson Co in 1797.

BIOGRAPHY: DAR Patriot #799070, Add 844, Frances Caroline Smith LaFace, verified 26 Jul 2002, Service, Member of the Charlotte County committee of Safety in 1775, member of the Virginia House of Burgesses Mary Spencer was the child of Thomas Spencer, Sr, born @1721 at (Lunenburg Co,) VA died at Charlotte Co, VA on 2 Dec 1793 and his 1st wife Elizabeth Julia Flournoy, born 5 Dec 1721 at Amelia C, VA died at (Prob Charlotte Co, VA) on (bef 1793) married 18 Sep 1741 at Amelia Co, VA Mary Spencer Speed was the child of James Speed born 4 Mar 1739 at Mecklenburg Co, VA died at Mercer (now Boyle Co.) KY on 3 Sep 1811 and his 1st wife Mary Spencer born 20 Oct 1742 at Charlotte Co, VA died at Bardstown, Nelson Co, KY, on 5 May 1829 married (10) Dec 1767 at Charlotte Co, VA. Guy William Smith was the child of William Smith b @1758 at Lunenburg Co, VA died at Jessamine Co, KY @ 1794 and his 1st wife Mary Spencer Speed born 8 Jun 1770 at Charlotte Co, VA died at Morganfield, KY on (Apr) May 1825 married on 1 Nov (1781) 1787.

BIOGRAPHY: Ancestry.com Mercer County, Kentucky Will Records Will Book 7 1818-1824 Will Book 8 1825-1826 Name: Mary Hopkins Two daughters: Eliza J. Fry and Sally A. Allin, dec. Three sons: Guy Smith, James Speed Hopkins, and John Speed Smith; Brother, John Speed; Grandson, John James Allin; Sons in law: Thomas W. Fry and John J. Allin; Witnesses: Joshua Fry and T. Allin Written: August 25, 1825 Probated: October Court 1825

BIOGRAPHY: Mercer Co, KY Will Bk 8, pg 284-286, Mary Hopkins Will I desire this should I die before I can better execute of dictate a will informing to govern my children in the little I have to bequeath them -- -- To my son in law - Thos W. Fry I give six hundred acres of the land made over to me by my brothers -- on the Ohio near Wolf Creek -- To my son Guy W. Smith I give the remaining six hundred acres under the same claim -- To my son James Speed Hopkins I give the four little negroes made over to me by himself & John J. Allin my son in law in consideration fo the money paid Warren & the lein on Wolf Creed which my John Speed is to pay me. I desire my son James sh?? these girls before all?? (To Wit) Sally, Jenny, & Milly children of Winny & Mary Jenney's daughter, with increas amount to ?? number by the time John JameS Allin my grandsond comes to the age of twenty one -- That he give him one of them as a bequest from this grandmother - it should be at least three or four years of age My son John Speed Smith will exc'd or one hundred dollars to be pd. him by his brother James to be used some ways so as to remind him of his mother's will to give had she any thing worth still giving. I wish my daughter Eliza J. Fry to keep her sister Sally A. Allin spoons @ one silver ladle, twelve table spoons, twelve tea spoons, till John James Allin comes of age to marry, then they are his given by his father since his mother's death. These were to have been divided between him and his brother Thomas, since my Thomas is no more I give them all to John James. Signed Polly S. Hopkins Written in haste this twenty fifth day August 1822 The little household furniture I have need not be included in a will - I should be glad James should get a pair of sheet & of course a pair of his gdfather dish & ?? cas as a rememberance of him Betsy Fry to tak the balance. It is not the smallest of my griefs that I leave it nothing more in my power to give Thos Fry more of a consideration for his care of me. -- I meant to have given im Eliza which was the only child property I have to dispose of -- The ?? brother John seems to conspire as in part givin by himself to James Should my mother out live me, please be tender of her & give her my clothes and things she wants If John James ?? chooses, I think he ?? best take his sister Sally's spoons and make it up to J. J. Allin ?? without any other will, I give John James Allin my little negroe girl Milly. James S. Hopkins Mary, Jenny, Sally. Signed P. S. Hopkins Jany 7th, 1825 Mercer County Court Oct 1825 The foregoing last will testament of Polly S. S. Hopkins dec'd was this day produced hereto court & proved by the oaths of Joshua Fry and J. Allin to be the ?? & willing of said decedent & was orderd to be recorded Thomas Allin CC

DEATH: Walter Lee Hopkins, "Hopkins of Virginia and Related Families" (C. J. Carrier Co, Harrisonburg, VA, 1980.), Pg 19-21, gives death place as Morganfield, KY. The only Morganfield I can find, also called Morgan Springs, Morgan's Field, Morganfield Court House, is located in Union County; however, her will was filed and probated in Mercer Co. In Maria T. Daviess's "History of Mercer and Boyle Counties, Kentucky," Harrodsburg, KY 1924, reprinted by Clearfield Co, Inc, Genealogical Publishing Co, Inc, Baltimore, MD, 1998, does not list a Morganfield in Mercer or Boyle, Co, KY. However, on pg 118 it does list in Harrodsburg, "The Morgan House, a long substantial row of brick buildings, was built and used for a hotel by Squire Joseph Morgan, a merchant of the early days, also a landed proprietor of the vicinity, whose lands have descended even to the third generation ..." If her will was filed in Mercer Co, the she likely died in Mercer Co, KY. In addition, she states that Thomas Fry assisted her & he lived in Mercer Co, KY. She probably moved back to Mercer Co to be close to family after the death of her second husband prior to her death - she was probably actually living with her daughter (Betsy) and son-in-law (Thomas Walker Fry).