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Descendants of John Smith




Generation No. 1


      1. John1 Smith (Source: (1) Bailey, Rosalie Fellows "John Smith of Hempstead, New York Beginnings of the "Rock" Smith Family".., (2) "Hempstead Town Records"..) was born Abt. 1614 in North of England, and died Bef. April 03, 1706 in Hempstead, Long Island, New York.

Notes for John Smith:
John Smith was often referred to as "Rock", or "Senior", and he early on lived at Cow's Neck, which is now Manhasset, Long Island, New York. It is still not certain why he was referred to as "Rock", but Rosalie Fellows Baily guessed that it arose from the unusual form of the founder's mark which rather resembled a rock. Nothing is certain about his English origin, but the fact that he was referred to a "Goodman Smith" indicates a humble origin. It is not known whether his parents, or any siblings came to New England with him, for we first see him when he is 25, so he could have come to these shores alone. In a deposition (FPR: 3:349), we find the following: "Anno 1674 March 20th: The deposition of John Smith of Hempstead aged about 60: who formerly was a liner in the Towne now called Standford (Stamford, Ct.) and there commonly called by the name of Rock John: Ye deponent Testifieth upon his owne knowledg that Mr. Ward, Mr. Coe, Mr. Gildersleeve were Chosen by ye inhabitants of ye first setlers of Standford for to act for theme and in ther behalf for settlement of ye bounds between Grenwich men and them and further Sayth not the Deponent". It is possible that a later Henry Smith of Stamford, who died testate in 1687, who could not sign his name and he deeded land to his son John in 1680: Henry's interest in a part of Stamford called Rockey-neck appears in a town meeting record of 1671 and a deed of 1679 (Stamford Town Records). This man could be related, either a father, or brother, but this is again not proven. What is known about John Smith Rock is that he was employed to help run the boundary line for the three men in charge, and left after he finished, and this took place in Stamford; this may be why he was referred to above as "Liner". John Smith may have lived elsewhere from 1641-1644, and the location could have been in New Haven, Ct.. The New Haven colony records of 23 June, 1644, includes a motion made on behalf of "Goodman Smyth" for a lot by the seaside, referred to others for consideration (New Haven Col., p. 136). John Rock Smith was truely one of the original Patentees of Hempstead, Long Island in 1644. On 20 March, 1674/75 he testified to being about 60 years old, and he was a proprietor and resident of Hempstead, Long Island, from 1644 until his death shortly before 03 April, 1706. His will was proved at that time. On 04 July, 1656 he was living in Hempstead, when he, along with others in this village, sent a letter to Governor Stuyvesant which was signed by 42 men from Hempstead, in which they said they were ready to pay Tithes (CDNY: 14: 363). On 10 May, 1664, John Smith, alias Rock Smith, made a complaint against Consider Wood of Westchester in an action of the case for the unlawful receiving and concealing stolen goods". Governor Nicholls in his confirmatory patent to Hempstead dated 06 March, 1666 named John Smith Sr., and John Smith Jr.,, who, in his patent one year later on 06 March, 1667, were termed "John Smith R." and "John Smith B" (L.I. Pat. pp.152, 155). Thusly, the John Smith Jr., was another man, not to be confused with John Rock Smith. On 24 June, 1672 John Smith Rock Senior was choosen as schepen (Magistrate) of the town, but was replaced that very month (CDNY: 14:667; 2:591, and 616). In October, 1676 John Smith Rock was one of 4 John Smith's of Hempstead who pulled down the house of Governor Andros. On 03 Jan., 1680/81 John ordered that his own land on Cow Neck, 100 acres be surveyed for each of a group including Joseph, John, and Jonathan Smith, sons of John Smith. Seven years later John Rock Smith and others signed as owners of Cow Neck (CDNY: 14:725-727, and 761; HPTR: 1:383, and 2:59; OndQu, pp.9-10). In 1685 John Smith received payment for expenses in Hempstead from Governor Dongan (Hempstead Town Records 8:132). Early original patent records of Hempstead shows property of "Rocke Smith" in Mr. Coe's Neck in 1654; and "Rock Smith" number 41 of the 43 proprietors who in 1677 were voted liberty to take up 100 acres of woodland each, and 50 acres in 1679 (HPTR: 1:113, and 311; 2:106). John Smith Senior received the patent right of "Goodman Smith, Rock" in Hempstead. John was a solid, and cautious man, he did his civic duty, and was religious, and he concentrated on increasing his land holdings for his children. He purchased property from Ambrose Sutton in 1661, and contracted to pay for it by raising the next year's crop. He had one of the largest herds in Hempstead, about 14 cattle in 1657, and 9 cows, and 5 calves in 1658 (HPTR: 1:28, 62-64, and 68-71). John had been taxed for 8 cattle gates in 1657. In 1665 "John Smith Roack" had 2 horses, and 2 mares, and they were branded G and IS (HPTR 1: 11: 180, 196, and 163). In the 1683 Valuation of lands John Smith Rox had 1 head, 50 acres, 6 oxen, 9 cows, 5 three year olds, 6 two year olds, 6 yearlings, 12 hogs, 16 sheep, and 1 horse or mare (DHNY 2:525). On 13 May, 1659 John became an innkeeper in Hempstead. In 1658 Stuyvesant summoned him, and 10 other Hempstead men for failure to pay excise taxes on the sale of his liqour. His Inn was located on the old road from New York which ran along the Island's center to this village, where it turned southward on the Indian path to Merrick, and then continued along the south side to the Hamptons (Smith V, p.34). He owned 2 other home lots near the Inn at this time. In 1687 "John Smith Rocke", a yeoman, deeded "To my well beloved son Jonathan Smith, yeoman, already in his possession, my two and a half acre home lot bounded easterly, and southerly by the street, and other lands, except half the barn and half the cowyard (HPTR:2:44-45). In his 1695 will, he gave to his same son Jonathan Smith, "all that my one half of the barn, built between him and myself." and other property; and "to my well beloved son Joseph Smith, all that my dwelling house and home lot in the town, with the appurtenances, except one half the barn," and other properties (WNYHS: 1:420). In 1698 John was living alone at Foster's Meadow, west of Hempstead, his son Joseph Smith was in the village, and his son Jonathan Smith at Herricks to the northwest (Arthur, S. Wardwell's analysis of the Hempstead census: Rec:45:66, 60, 57). In his will he left his son's much of his land as follows: "To my sons of my eldest son John deceased: lands in the New field (Herricks) adjoining son John's land, and on Washburn's neck. To my second son Joseph: my dwelling in town, lands at Rockaway, Hicks' Neck, Coe's Neck, and old field, also in the Holly and at the northwoods windmill. To my son Jonathan: a home lot and barn in town, lands in Tanner's Hook Point, Howes Bay Hollow, and Half moon, also at Rockaway and Coe's Little Neck, and a lot east of his Windmill Hollow. To each living child and to certain grandchildren; cattle of a specified value. To all my five children, now living (1690), equally; all my lands at Matinecock and elsewhere." Also listed in the 1690 document were his daughters as such: "my daughter Mary wife of Samuel Denton, my daughter Martha Chappell (Anne and Mary Rushmore and William and Stephen Chappelle, the children of my daughter Martha Chappelle deceased), my daughter Hannah Tredwell (wife of John Tredwell), my eldest son John deceased's children: eldest son Richard Smith, his brother Timothy Smith, and his two sisters Sarah Pine, and Mary Smith." The will of John Smith Sr., of Hempstead was dated May 10, 1695 (WNYHS: 1:419-21). His will was proved on 03 April, 1706 (WNYHS:1:327, corrected).
     
Children of John Smith are:
  2 i.   Mary2 Smith, born July 20, 1630 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts; died Aft. 1698 in Hempstead, Long Island, New York. She married Samuel Denton Abt. 1654 in Hempstead, Long Island, New York; born May 29, 1631 in Coley Chapel, Halifax, Yorkshire, England; died March 20, 1712/13 in Hempstead, Long Island, New York.
  Notes for Samuel Denton:
In 1662 he owned property in the town of Hempstead, and he held title to different properties until at least 1703. In 1663 he was listed as living in Hempstead, and jointly with Thomas Rushmore he owned land at Matthew Garrison's neck and Matinicock. On 18 April, 1665 John Smith of Hempstead sold his son-in-law Samuel Denton certain lands in the area (HPTR:1:162). In 1673 he was listed as a resident of Hempstead, and he was still living there in 1683. However, it appears that he moved at this time to Jamaica, where he was listed on the rate list paying taxes for 2 oxen, 4 cows, and 6 acres of land. The Dutch cencus list of 1685 still shows him as a resident of Hemptstead however, so he most likely had land in both locations. At this time he was listed as owning 240 acres in Hempstead, and he owned slaves at this time. On 13 March, 1698 Samuel Denton of Jamaica, a planter, being 43 years old, and his wife Mary, and all his children, except Jane Denton were mentioned. Samuel was listed in the 1698 census of Hempstead with 6 of his 9 children living with him, or near him at this time. Also in 1698 Samuel Denton Sr., deeded gifts of land in Hempstead to his son James Denton , and also on 16 Dec., 1710. On 10 Marach, 1713 Mary Denton, the widow of Samuel refused to administer the estate of her late husband, so her sons Samuel, and Jonas were granted the dond. On 15 March, 1713 an Inventory of his estate was taken by Obadiah Valentine, and James Seaman. On 20 March, 1713 Samuel Denton, then listed as late of Hempstead, mentioned in his Interstate Probate records, and Administration was handled by his sons Samuel, and Jonas Denton, and also Hannah, wife of Thomas Treadwell, his daughter. On 20 March, a1713/14 (Genealogical Data from Inventories of New York Estates 1666-1825) "Denton, Samuel of Hempstead Yeoman----Renunciation of Mary Denton of her right to administer the estate of her deceased husband in favor of sons, Samuel, and Jonas Denton. Her renunciation was witnessed by Jacob Smith, and John Sprague. The inventory (15 March, 1713/14) was taken by Obadiah Volentine, and James Seaman. Mentions negro boy, girl, and man. Also payments to heirs of the deceased. To Mary Denton (widow of the deceased), to Peter Smith (Son of Mary Ellison, deceased, daughter), to Joseph Robinson, and Jane his wife (Who was a daughter of deceased), to Jonathan Seaman, and Elizabeth his wife (a daughter), to Robert Mitchell, and Phoebe his wife (Daughter), to Ezekial Smith, and Martha his wife (a Daughter), and to Jonas Denton son". On 10 May, 1717, Cornelius Polhemus bought of the executors of the estate of Samuel Denton, late of Hempstead, now deceased, a house, and two lots for 365 pounds. It consisted of 126 acres in the town of Hempstead. In 1702 Samuel Denton was a vestryman in Hempstead Parish.

  3 ii.   John Rock Smith Jr., died March 12, 1683/84 in Hempstead, Long Island, New York.
  4 iii.   Martha Smith. She married (1) Francis Chappell. She married (2) Thomas Rushmore.
  5 iv.   Joseph Smith.
  6 v.   Hannah Smith. She married John Tredwell; born Bef. 1644 in New England; died in Hempstead, Long Island, New York.
  7 vi.   Jonathan Smith, died in Hempstead, Long Island, New York. He married Grace Mott; born Abt. 1653 in New York; died in Hempstead, Long Island, New York.


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