Thomas Smith^[1]

1768 - 1820  (52 years)

• Name	Thomas Smith
  Birth	1768	Lilesville, Anson, North Carolina, USA
  Gender	Male
  Death	1820	Lilesville, Anson, North Carolina, USA
  Person ID	I27093	Master
  Last Modified	22 Feb 2017

  
  

  Father	John Smith,   b. 1740, , Wake, North Carolina, USA d. 1782, , Anson, North Carolina, USA (Age 42 years)
  Mother	Mary Flake,   b. 1748, Lilesville, Anson, North Carolina, USA d. 1794, Lilesville, Anson, North Carolina, USA (Age 46 years)
  Marriage	1766	Lilesville, Anson, North Carolina, USA
  Family ID	F6879	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Jane Goff,   b. 1772, Lilesville, Anson, North Carolina, USA d. 1835, Lilesville, Anson, North Carolina, USA (Age 63 years)
  Marriage	1793	, Anson, North Carolina, USA
  Children	1. Naomi Elizabeth Smith,   b. 1786, , Anson, North Carolina, USA d. 1830, , Anson, North Carolina, USA (Age 44 years)  [Father: natural]   2. John Auld Smith,   b. 1794, Lilesville, Anson, North Carolina, USA d. 1847, Lexington, Henderson, Tennessee, USA (Age 53 years)  [Father: natural]
  Family ID	F6885	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	30 Jan 2017

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 1768 - Lilesville, Anson, North Carolina, USA Marriage - 1793 - , Anson, North Carolina, USA Death - 1820 - Lilesville, Anson, North Carolina, USA  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Notes

  THOMAS SMITH and JANE GOFF, his wife; BENJAMIN WILLIAMS and his wife; and JOHN AULD SMITH and LEUSEY WILLIAMS and their children Thomas Smith was born in Anson County, N. C, about 1768. That is thought to have been the exact year. He lived and died in that county after 1820. The oldest child of his parents, he, when yet a young man, was thrown on his own resources. His father had acquired a considerable landed estate. His grandfather, Samuel Flake, who died in 1802, being over 100 years old, was also a large landholder. John Smith, James Smith and Thomas Smith were all good financiers and accumulated what was then termed a wealthy estate. John and James grew to be extremely wealthy and Thomas with a fortune less than theirs, but with a sufficiency, on the marriage of his only son, John Auld Smith, gave him two good farms and fourteen negroes with which to begin life's battles. The records also disclose that he gave his daughter on her marriage two hundred acres of land. Besides being a Planter, Thomas Smith spent most of his time as a Distiller, making cider, apple and peach brandy. His mother, Mary (Flake) Smith was a member of the Baptist Church. We find that Thomas Smith and Benjamin Williams both wrote a good hand and both were frequently called upon to write or witness legal documents. Thomas Smith died shortly after 1820 and perhaps before 1825 and was buried near Lilesville. His wife Jane Goff survived him. We know absolutely nothing of her ancestry. Her will was probated in 1835 in Anson County, N. C, and tradition is that she at that time was about eighty years old. She was then probably born about 1765, but she was probably near the age of her husband. In 1792 we find that George E. Goff of Rowan County married Mary Frost. This is just north of Anson County. Besides the lands and properties that Thomas Smith had given his son about 1817 on his marriage, and the two hundred acres he gave Naomi Smith who had married James Capel, the records disclose that later a two hundred acre tract in which his wife, Jane (Goff) Smith had a dowry was sold or her dowry rather was sold to pay a note on which she was security. The son, John Auld Smith was not a good financier He and his mother also went on notes as security. The wealth left her dwindled and at her death, she only had one tract of land which brought a yearly rental of $50.00, the wages of a common laborer for that day. Benjamin Williams was born in Wake County, N. C. about 1780. It is possible that he was born in Edgecombe County and that the date of his birth may have been earlier or later. Tradition is that he was born in Wake County. He married Oct. 2, 1802 and from that only can we guess at the date of his birth. In 1800, with his parents, he moved from Wake to Anson County, N. C. and located near Lilesville. The records indicate that he was born in an humble home. The estates that had come from the Alston Family and from Samuel Williams Sr. had dwindled. Whether this was the result of mismanagement of the fortune, or misfortune of the Revolutionary war we know not. His father owned only a small tract of land in Wake County. He does not seem to have purchased any after coming to Anson. As the sons early purchased lands in Anson after coming there in 1800, it is likely the father, William Williams, lived on the lands of some child. Schools were scarce in those days. Only those of wealth were able to employ a private tutor or able to send the children to school to any great extent. Books were scarce. In some way, we know not how, Benjamin Williams was able to obtain a fair education. We have seen a number of writings left by him. He wrote a good, bold hand, well rounded letters, plain and well readable. He used good language, fairly correct, and his method of making out bills and keeping books showed him a man above the average intelligence. Benjamin Williams was a Planter by occupation. He also like Thomas Smith operated a Distillery, making cider, peach and apple brandy. Neither of these engaged in the manufacture of whisky as we later knew it. Peach and apple brandies and cider were their specialties. With Thomas Smith, Distilling was his occupation and Planting was a diversion. With Benjamin Williams, Planting was his occupation and Distilling a diversion. Benjamin Williams and Elizabeth Williams were married October 2, 1802. From tradition we are very confident that her name was Leusey Elizabeth Pate. We have no documentary evidence but this is the best traditional story. The marriage bonds of Anson County were destroyed during the war of the sixties. Possibly he returned to Wake County and there married her. Only a small per cent of the marriage bonds of that county are in existence. We find in Wake County, in 1820, John Williams married Nancy Pate, in 1815 Joseph Wright married Sally Pate, and August 12, 1783 John Williams married Barzilla Pate. It is possible that this John Williams was his oldest brother. There were many of the name of Williams in Wake County in that day. We are told by our Anson County relatives the name of the wife of John Williams was Martha. Elizabeth Williams, the first wife, died January 10, 1808 and Benjamin Williams later married a Miss Mitchell, sister of Thomas Mitchell. Our grandmother was by the first wife. In 1838 Benjamin Williams accompanied his daughter, Leusey Williams and her husband John Auld Smith to Henderson County, Tenn., where he purchased, for $800.00, two hundred acres of land and gave it to his daughter. When his daughter Elizabeth (Betsy) who married David Townsend went to Mississippi, or afterwards, he gave her, or later left her, quite a small estate. From the two above families came the marriage in the year of 1818, of John Auld Smith, the only son of Thomas Smith, to Leusey Williams, the oldest child of Benjamin Williams. With a marriage gift of two good farms and fourteen negroes from Thomas Smith, the life looked bright. This was considerable fortune in those days. A slave was valuable property. The good intentions of the father had not the effect expected. The father dying some three or four years after, the signature of John Auld Smith was good anywhere. He was asked to sign and freely signed as security for others. Too freely he indulged in the wares his father had manufactured. At one time seven of his slaves were put on the block and sold to pay the debts of others. A loving mother came to his rescue and acting unwisely she signed notes as security. Her dowry and his interest in a two hundred acre tract of land were sold at public sale to pay debts of others, if traditions are correct as verified by the records. John Auld Smith was of the old Baptist religion. A crime it was not to pay a debt. It was not many years until all of the wealth his father gave him was gone. He ever afterwards lived in a most humble home. Until his death he was able to retain his greatest fortune, Leusey Williams, his wife. She retained the Scotch spelling. Leusey, instead of Lucy. There was a large flow of Scotch blood in her veins. She was a maiden fair, a mother loved, worshipped, and idolized; a sainted ancestor whose life long had its influence on her children after she had passed away. In 1818, Elijah Flake and others had left Anson County and gone to the great west where they settled in Henderson County, Tenn. near Red Mound. Finding fields and pastures there to their liking, others from Anson came. On January 5, 1837, Elijah Flake was back in Anson County on a visit. A new babe was then born. At his request it was named Elijah Flake Smith. Elijah Flake had no doubt become impregnated with that American spirit that has ever characterized those going west and no doubt sang the praises of this new country. Deciding to make the venture, John Auld Smith and his wife began the journey in the early spring of 1838. With six horses hitched to a wagon, in which were loaded their household goods and things of that character, together with members of the family, possibly with some cattle driven on foot, they began their journey. We are of the opinion that they early crossed the Cinch river and then journeyed down and along the western and northern meanders of that stream, and of the Holstein and Tennessee rivers, passing where is now Knoxville, Chattanooga, and to Florence, Alabama, then called Mussel Shoals, and there crossed the Tennessee river. They perhaps then traveled along near the river for some distance, at length leaving it for Henderson County, Tenn. and in the last part of April arrived and settled seven miles Northwest of Lexington, Tenn. There they lived and died and were buried. There were some dangers attendant to this journey but nothing of a serious nature happened. One night Nancy Ellen, then five years old, was trudging along behind with the older children, holding to and at times riding on the long coupling pole extending behind. Unexpectedly they came to a creek, and in it the horses and wagons went, while Nancy Ellen was thus riding. Completely under the water she went, but game like, held on and was none the worse save for a cold baptizing. On this journey, there may have been others. We are of the opinion that Hampton Williams, a half brother, Nancy Williams, a half sister, and her husband, Isaac Williams came with them. Benjamin Williams, the father, was with them. For $800.00 Benjamin Williams purchased 210 acres of land, on which there was a small log house and ten acres of corn just planted, and this he had deeded to Leusey (Williams) Smith and after her death to her children. As a gift he thus lightened the burdens of his daughter, and then journeyed to North Carolina to look after his business. In ways at other times he assisted this daughter, as well as other members of his family. In our childhood days, there was more narrowness in Church circles than at the present day. At least that is our opinion. In our section, the minister of one denomination did not fill the pulpit in the Church of another denomination. Large gatherings were held and the doctrines of diff rent religions were often debated. We were raised the strictest of Methodists, baptized, fed and nurtured in and on its doctrines. We were told it was sinful to dance, play a social game of cards, go to the theater. The drinking of wine of any character was forbidden. About one mile from our village once a year, the Primitive Baptist would have a footwashing. We invariably attended this meeting. To us then it was a kind of a circus. If perchance there was on that Sunday, preaching at our church, we would be afterwards told that we should attend our own church. We thought the Primitive Baptist most wonderful sinners because they danced and enjoyed some worldly pleasures that in our youthful days we disdained because of I heir tendencies. We have a most profound respect for the Methodist religion. We know of no Church to which present civilization is so greatly indebted. It has a wonderful religion. When we grew to manhood and went West, with us we took our church letter. We have ever since remained without the folds of the church. We have become more liberal in our views on some matters. We have never in our lives taken a drink of whiskey nor a glass of beer. Our views on that and gambling are unaltered. As we grow older there comes in our life a more profound and unshaken belief that there is a Deity, whose anxiety is a watchful eye and a pleasing expression for every noble deed, or good intention. More and more we have thought as we grow older that the church is not the place to locate a Christian but he can be best discerned in the business transactions of week day business. Our calling for thirty years and more has been to deal with those indebted to others. We have had occasion to deal with those of most every character, study and read human nature in its most exposed condition. Our calling in life may to others seem to have somewhat narrowed our vision, but we are unable to see any difference so far as the approbation or punishment of Deity is concerned, between the common thief and he who can and will not pay his honest debts, or refuses to be frugal and thrifty in order that he may render unto man that which by legal or moral contract he has agreed to pay him. In the last twenty-three years we have often had occasions to have business dealing with members of the Primitive Baptist Church, entirely ignorant of our position. We have learned to love and admire that religion. We have often said they were the most honest people and best debt-payers of any people we have had dealing with. It is a part of their religion. If unable to pay, others of the Church lend a helping hand. If a member declines to pay his debts he is turned out and not allowed to worship as a member in Illinois. It is a consistent religion. It is a commercial religion, going into all the business dealing with your fellow man, everyday in the week. It was not with any sadness, when, on the 24th day of March 1921, we first learned that this was the religion of our ancestors, and in it, and for it, our grandmother plighted her whole life, and served God first at Lilesville, then at Gum Springs, N. C. and then at Mt. Arat, Henderson County, Tenn., and that this was the faith of our grandfather John Auld Smith. Many years after he died, his daughter, Nancy Ellen in her delirious condition as she was about to pass to another existence, cried out: "Father! Father!" and a most devoted Christian she was, when now her soul left the body to fly to eternity. An invalid and bedridden for years as she had been, this may furnish thought for those of that cult, so numerous now in England, as well as many in this country, who think the living oft commune with, mingle with and converse with the dead. Prior to 1815, there was only one Baptist Church. In it was contained many of the virtues now found in both the Primitive and the Missionary Baptist Church. The minister was called Elder. Foot washing was a yearly practice. Expulsion from the church was the penalty for not paying a debt. The church divided as was claimed on missions. The Missionary Baptist church has grown in numbers, but the Primitive Baptist church has held sacred these practices. Little whiskey was then made. Moderate drinking of wines, cider and brandies was in no way frowned upon and was indulged in by the Elders. Dancing was not thought harmful. In the dance hall, in the tavern, in business dealing at all times, there was held in mind the teaching of that religion. As showing the feelings of that religion, we quote from a letter we recently read in a daily North Carolina paper. It is dated Dec. 10, 1814 and from Winifred Bryan of Johnson County, N. C. to her sons who were now in the army in the war of 1812. In part she says: "Your mother's hands that nursed you from infancy will be extended to your support while God shall give them strength. My dear sons: You are now out of my sight and beyond the reach of my voice, among strangers and a variety of characters; young men called into that service which has a tendency without a strict regard over one's self, to harden the feelings and brutalize the manners of men. I must, therefore, content myself the mode of requesting you to remember the many instructions I have given you whilst you were with me; to remember that you were raised in civil society, and guard against that encroachment of savage disposition incidental to camp life. It is my particular request that you abstain from drinking excessively, cursing and swearing, and other debaucheries of human nature. Guard against the temptation of evil, and indulge not in anything that will tarnish the character of the Christian or the gentleman. Be kind and attentive to your soldiers; let not a hasty temper or unguarded expression incur their displeasure. Be obedient and dutiful to your superior officers. Endeavor to improve in discipline and should emergency require it support the honor of your family, your country. State, and the interest of your country." In this letter is found the old time Baptist religion, and in its classic words and poetry in prose is a sermon which might take some other whole book to deliver. In 1832 there was preached at Lilesville a new gospel. The preacher was now Rev. Culpepper. It advised missions. Things taught and believed in by their fathers were decried. They believed in an educated ministry. He was an orator of some note. A dissension arose. They called themselves Missionary Baptist. Dirt was cheap. The building was of logs. Another could be built. Quarreling and strife; contention and illfeeling were no part of the religion of Elder Archibald Harris. Over the protest of his daughter, tradition is that he asked those who were of his faith to follow him, and they left the church and held their meeting out of doors and later built a church at Gum Springs. Our grandmother was present with her children and they followed Elder Archibald Harris. The Missionaries cried out and have ever since tried to dub them "Hardshell" but they, by common parlance of all, became known as the Primitive Baptist, and it is the honest opinion of this old sinner that they are in reality the First and Primitive Baptist, for we are constrained to think, yes we know, that in that church and its members is found more of that seven day honest commercial every day business integrity than any other church with whose members we have had considerable business dealings. It was the impressions of this religion of his mother, so deeply marked on her personality, that were transmitted and found lodgment in the life of our father, and his life was in keeping with the tenets so dearly loved and held by this sainted grandmother. Grandmother was an untiring worker. She carded, spun, wove and made all the clothing for the family. Her home was an humble one but neat and clean in every particular. She and her children were chums and companions. In the many busy duties she had, time was found to assist our father in trying to get an education. Tradition from all sources tells us that her children worshipped and idolized her. On March 25, 1921, we made a pilgrimage to the old place where lived these grandparents, and where they were buried. Upon a hill some two hundred yards in a Western and slightly Southern direction from where the house on this farm now is, with a large Oak on the west for a monument, and the stump of a large oak recently cut down as a foot marker, there lie three graves. In one is our grandfather. In one is our aunt Omy. In one is our grandmother and aunt Jemina together. They both died the same day and were buried together. Jemina was then about fourteen years old. Were it not that living persons remembered the exact spot, we could not have located it. By the purchasing of 24 by 24 feet and the proper fencing of it, the spot where these ancestors are buried can be preserved forever. Their daughter, Nancy Ellen (Smith) Fessmire looked after and kept the graves in proper condition when she lived, but since her death, they have been neglected. If some relatives desire to take a collection to purchase the ground and properly fence it, kindly do not fail to allow us to subscribe for that purpose. W. Thos. Smith

  
  

• Sources

  [S761] Yates Publishing, Ancestry Family Trees, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.), Ancestry Family Tree. http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=89949837&pid=14