2. LT. JOHN2 SMITH (JOHN1) was born 1618 in England, and died January 15, 1691/92 in Dartmouth, Bristol, MA. He married RUHAMAH KIRBY 1666 in Dartmouth, Bristol, MA, daughter of RICHARD KIRBY and JANE. She was born Abt. 1640 in Sandwich, Barnstable Co., MA, and died Aft. 1707 in Dartmouth, Bristol, MA.
Notes for LT. JOHN SMITH:
THE KIRBYS OF NEW ENGLAND, pg.233
Ruhamah2 Kirby (Richard1), born (???); died after July 21, 1707; married, as second wife, Lieutenant John Smith of Dartmouth,
and from the monthly meeting records of the Friends. This manuscript
was offered to the City of New Bedford for $3,500, and is now kept in the
New Bedford City Library.
Mass., born 1618; died Jan. 15, 1692. He was at Plymouth as early as 1629, for there is a Plymouth court order, dated Jan. 2, 1633-34, relieving him from his bond to Edward Doty at the expiration of five years of apprenticeship, which indicates that he was bound to Edward Doty when ten or eleven years of age. Nothing, however, has been learned of his parentage. He was known at Plymouth as John Smith, Jr., and as "the boattesman." In May, 1653, he accompanied Captain Thomas Willett in an expedition against the "Dutch at Monhatoes" in a barque of which George Watson was the master. He was admitted freeman June 5, 1651, and he took the oath of fidelity May 4, 1657. The same year, June 3, he is recorded as "Deputy that served at this Court." In 1658 he was fined for absenting himself from public worship, and in 1660 was twice fined for "permitting Quaker meetings at his house." He removed about 1665 to Dartmouth, Mass. In the deed of land at Dartmouth which he received from Edward Doty, dated Oct. 16, 1665, he is said to be "now residing in the town of Dartmouth." He was, in 1772, one of the three surveyors of highways in that town, and the same year was appointed by the Plymouth Court to investigate and settle a difference between John Cook and the town of Dartmouth. He was appointed, March 4, 1673-74, "to be the Lieftenant of the Military company of Dartmouth, and Jacob Mitchell to be ensign bearer of the said company." (See Court Orders, Vol. V., p. 96; also Old Colony Printed Records, Vol. V., p. 138. These were the first military officers that were appointed by the Plymouth Court for the town of Dartmouth. A lieutenant was at that time the highest military officer in the town.) In 1677, together with John Cook and John Russell, he was appointed by the Plymouth Court to distribute the œ22 fund donated by "divers Christians in Ireland for the relief of such as are impoverished, distressed and in necessitie by the late Indian war," and the following year the same court authorized him, naming him as "Lieftenant John Smith," together with John Russell and John Cook, "in his Majestie's name to call the town together to make such rates as are requisite." He is one of those mentioned in the town records, Dec. 10, 1684, as having taken the oath of fidelity. He died in Dartmouth, Jan. 15, 1692, in the seventy-fourth year of his age.
Lieutenant John Smith married, first, Jan. 4, 1648-49, Deborah Howland, daughter of Arthur Howland, by whom he had five children, viz., Hassadyah, John, Josiah, Eleazer, and Hezekiah. His wife Deborah died after Oct. 16, 1665.
More About LT. SMITH and RUHAMAH KIRBY:
Marriage: 1666, Dartmouth, Bristol, MA
Children of LT. SMITH and RUHAMAH KIRBY are:
