In Search of Heritage: Roots and Branches

NOTE: This page has been adapted for the Website from Donald Coburn’s My Line. Use of the first person is in relation to Donald and not the webmaster/author of the site. Subscript index numbers (ex. Moses⁴) refer to generations after the family’s arrival in North America. Edward Colborne being generation 1.

THE SMITH FAMILY

I am indebted to Mr. Ralph E. Smith of Fredericton for any knowledge of the Smiths beyond my father’s maternal grandparents. They were Thomas Smith born 1788 at Rusagonis Sunbury Co. and Jane Anderson born 1798 at Douglastown, Northumberland Co.

Andrew, Samuel and Thomas Smith were loyalist brothers who came to New Brunswick in 1783 from southern New Hampshire. Andrew and Thomas settled in Rusagonis. Samuel settled in Geary. The following is a record prepared by Janice Seeley:

Andrew married Abigail Tracey and had 13 children.
Samuel married Sarah Tapley and had 12 children.
Thomas married Phoebe Bidell and had 12 children.
Andrew born 1756 died 1842 married Abigail Tracey born 1769 died 1813 both buried in Rusagonis Cemetery.

Children:

Elizabeth	1786
Thomas	1788	went to Northumberland Co.
Samuel	1790	died while in teens
Andrew	1792-1830	Mary Gallisham
Jeremiah	1794-1870	Elizabeth Smith, daughter of Samuel Smith - Margaret Foss 21 children
Israel	1797-1877	Sarah Tracy
Sarah	1799	Thomas Shelbourne
William	1801	Mary Barlow
John	1803-1874	Frances Amelia Smith, daughter of Thomas
James	1806-Ont.	Charlotte M. Smith, daughter of Thomas
Solomon	1808-1880	Frances Slipp
Abigail	1808-1869	Thomas H. Smith, son of Thomas
George	1812-1812

Samuel born 1761, died 1822 married 1792 to Hannah A. Tapley born 1774 died 1858, both buried in Geary.

Children: infancy

Thomas	1793	infancy
Elizabeth	1795-1839	Jeremiah Smith, son of Andrew
Mary	1797-	Rufus Wiggins
Samuel	1799-1870	Hannah Boone
William Henry	1801-1860	Rebecca Boone
Sarah	1803
Andrew Holland	1805-1881	Sarah Ann Till
Victoria	1807	infancy
John Valentine	1809-	Mary Monroe
Hannah O.	1811-1835	Alexander Boone
Nathaniel	1813-	Katherine (poss. White)
Abigail	1815-1893	unmarried

Thomas Smith born 1759 died ? married Phoebe Bidell born ? died ? Both believed to be buried in the Rusagonis Cemetery.

Children:

Elizabeth	1792
Samuel	1793
Catherine Jane	1795
Mary Ann	1797	some say she married John Peabody
Stephen	1799
Thomas H.	1802-1870	Abigail Smith, daughter of Andrew
George	1804-?	Abigail Phillips from Tracy
Sherman W.	1807
Andrew	1812-	Frances
Frances	1813-1863	John Smith son of Andrew
Charlotte	1816-1855	James Smith son of Andrew
Caroline	1816 -	"infancy"

My ancestor Thomas son of Andrew and Abigail (Tracy) Smith lived, after 1825, at Crock’s Point, near his brother Samuel who was born 1790. That date more nearly agrees with the 1851 census. It appears that the Samuel, born 1793, son of Thomas and Phoebe (Bedell) Smith was the teenage casualty.

The Tyler and Elizabeth (Smith) Coburn family bible has, on a sheet of paper, a drawing of a marble slab tombstone inscribed as follows:

HERE
LIES THE
BODY
of
ELIZABETH
Wife
of
STEP^N SMITH
who departed this Life
May 29 1840
Aged 32 years 2 months
and 8 days
Remember me, as you pass by
As you are now, so once was I
As I am now, so you must be
Prepare for death and follow me

Was my grandmother Elizabeth Ann Smith b 1838 named after this lady? Was that Stephen Smith b 1799 the son of Thomas b 1759 and Phoebe (Bedell) Smith?