Col. William Stephens Smith, Sr.

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SMITH, WILLIAM Ancestor #: A106172 Service: NEW YORK Rank(s): LIEUTENANT COLONEL, AIDE-DE-CAMP Birth: 11-8-1755 NEW YORK NEW YORK Death: 6-10-1816 WESTCHESTER -PROB NEW YORK Service Description: 1) MAJ;ADC GEN.SULLIVAN;LCOL,ADJ,INSPECTOR 2) LAFAYETTE;ADC GEN.WASHINGTON

Residence

Created: 2002-03-27 23:23:55.3, Updated: , By: Conversion 1) City: CHERRY VALLEY - State: NEW YORK

Spouse Number Name

Created: 2002-03-27 23:17:13.16, Updated: 2002-03-27 23:17:13.16, By: Conversion 1) ABIGAIL ADAMS

William Stephens Smith (November 8, 1755 - June 10, 1816) was a United States Representative from New York and a son-in-law of President John Adams, a brother-in-law of President John Quincy Adams and an uncle of Charles Francis Adams.

Born on Long Island, he graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1774, studied law for a short time, and served in the Revolutionary Army as aide-de-camp to General John Sullivan in 1776. He was on the staff of General Lafayette in 1780 and 1781, and then transferred to the staff of General Washington. He was secretary of the Legation at London in 1784 and returned to America in 1788; he was appointed by President Washington to be United States Marshal for the district of New York in 1789, and later supervisor of revenue.

He was one of the originators of the Society of the Cincinnati, and served as its president from 1795 to 1797. He was appointed by President John Adams surveyor of the port of New York in 1800 and in 1807 moved to Lebanon, New York.

Smith was elected as a Federalist to the Thirteenth Congress, holding office from March 4, 1813 to March 3, 1815. He presented credentials of his election to the Fourteenth Congress, but he did not qualify, and on December 13, 1815, Westel Willoughby, Jr. successfully contested his election. Smith died in Smith Valley in the town of Lebanon in 1816; interment was in the Lines Hill Cemetery, between Smyrna and Sherburne.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Stephens_Smith

William Stephens Smith (November 8, 1755 – June 10, 1816) was a United States Representative from New York. He married Abigail "Nabby" Adams, the daughter of President John Adams, and so was a brother-in-law of President John Quincy Adams, and an uncle of Charles Francis Adams.

Born on Long Island, he graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1774, and studied law for a short time.

American Revolutionary War

He served in the Revolutionary Army as aide-de-camp to general John Sullivan in 1776. Smith fought in the Battle of Long Island, was wounded at Harlem Heights, fought at the Battle of White Plains, was promoted to lieutenant colonel at the Battle of Trenton and fought at the Battle of Monmouth and Newport. He was on the staff of General Lafayette in 1780 and 1781, became an adjutant in the Corps of Light Infantry then transferred to the staff of George Washington.

Years after the war

He was secretary of the Legation at London in 1784. While there, he met and courted John Adams's daughter Abigail ("Nabby"), whom he married in 1786.[2] He returned to America in 1788.

Smith was appointed by President Washington to be the first United States Marshal for the District of New York in 1789, and later supervisor of revenue. He was one of the originators of the Society of the Cincinnati, and served as its president from 1795 to 1797. He was appointed by President John Adams surveyor of the port of New York in 1800. During this period the Smiths bought land in what was then the countryside outside of New York City, and planned to build an estate, which they called Mount Vernon, in honor of George Washington. They never lived there, but a carriage house on the property was later converted to a hotel and is now operated as the Mount Vernon Hotel Museum.

Colonel Smith raised private funds, procured weapons, and recruited soldiers of fortune to fight the Spanish territory of Venezuela. This action was inspired by Smith's renewal of acquaintance with Francisco de Miranda, whom Smith had first met when he was John Adams's secretary in London in 1783. On 2 February 1806, a force of filibusters, including Smith's son William Steuben, set sail on a chartered merchant vessel, the Leander. The Spanish captured the ship and the mercenaries. Steuben later escaped.

Colonel Smith was indicted in New York for violating the Neutrality Act of 1794 and put on trial. Colonel Smith claimed his orders came from U.S. President Thomas Jefferson and U.S. Secretary of State James Madison, who refused to appear in court. Judge William Paterson ruled that the President "cannot authorize a person to do what the law forbids." Colonel Smith stood trial and was found not guilty.

In 1807 Smith moved to Lebanon, New York.

Smith was elected as a Federalist to the 13th United States Congress, holding office from March 4, 1813 to March 3, 1815. After the United States House of Representatives elections in New York, 1814, credentials of his election to the 14th United States Congress were issued by the Secretary of State of New York, but Stephens did not take or claim the seat. Part of the votes had been erroneously returned for "Westel Willoughby" (omitting the "Jr."), thus giving Stephens apparently a majority. On December 13, 1815, Westel Willoughby, Jr. was declared by a vote of the House entitled to the seat.

Smith died in Smith Valley in the town of Lebanon in 1816. He is interred in the West Hill Cemetery in the Town of Sherburne, on New York State Route 80.

page 38 The Smith Wills of New York

49. W(m) Smith of New York, merchant and mariner.

"I leave to my youngest children, Blanche and Sarah, a certain piece of land I bought of Richard Willis, lying on the east side of Kings street in the town of Greenwich, Ct. about 8 acres, also ;£400 each. To my daughter Ann ;^6oo. To, my son John £2 0 and my silver large double tankard. I direct that the house and lot I now live in, on the south side of Queen Street in Hanover Square, and the lands I bought of Joseph Brundridge, and the lands I bought of Justus Bosch of Greenwich, and all my personal estate, except as above to be sold within 3 months and the proceeds to go to my children, John, Blanche, Sarah, Ann, and Mary Jauncey. Makes son John, daughter Ann, and Peter Van Brugh Livingston " merchant " executors. Dated Feb. 19, 1752. : Proved May 13, 1752. Witnesses: Tho. Grigg ; Robert Henry ; Charles Johnson Liber 18. P. 109

Note:* William Smith left a distinguished line of descendants. He married first Charity, daughter of Justus Bosch, second Sarah, daughter of Rene and Blanche Hett.

1. The daughter Mary married James Jauncey.
2. Ann married Rev. Benjamin Halt.
3. John Smith married first Mary, daughter of Judge William Smith, second Margaret . His children were Mary, wife of Richard Bancker; Colonel William S., born 1755; Sarah, wife of Charles Adams, son of PresKSlrt"^oBn'A3airis'f°ElTzarAnn,Johii,"T58fa'Tys^r?^9^ bom 1761; Margaret and Belinda, wife of Matthew Clarkson.

Colonel William S. Smith was a distinguished officer in the army of the Revolution. He married Abigail, daughter of President John Adams, and has many descendants. He owned at one time the greater part of what is now Washington Square, New York.

The house " on the south side of Queen Street in Hanover Square, where William Smith lived, is now No. 136 Pearl street. New York. If it was sold it was purchased by his son John, who lived there. His widow, Margaret Smith, sold it to Hugh Stocker.

from: Full text of "Wills of the Smith families of New York and Long Island, 1664-1794: careful abstracts of all the wills of the name of Smith recorded in New York, Jamaica, and Hempstead, prior to 1794, with genealogical and historical notes by William S. Pelletreau