Thomas Dodd Smith

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1783, , Amherst, Virginia, USA
• Residence: 1812, Militia, Franklin, Indiana, USA
• Residence: Apr 1816, , , Indiana, USA
• Residence: 1818, , Washington, Indiana, USA
• Residence: 1824, , , Indiana, USA

Notes:

Thomas Dodd Smith was born 17 February 1750. He was the son of John Smith and Jane Bunderant.. On 1 October 1785 he married Kesiah Bunderant and lived in Bedford County, Virginia. Family tradition says that Thomas Dodd Smith, father of Fanny Smith Harris, was a veteran of the Revolutionary War.

Thomas Smith applied for a Revolutionary War Pension in Washington County Indiana, when he was about 70 years old. On the 12th of October 1818, and on the 16th of June 1819, he appeared before Judge Davis Floyd of the Circuit Court of Washington County in the second Judicial Circuit, District of Indiana, and made sworn statements to the effect that about the year 1776 he enlisted in the State of Virginia in the company commanded by Captain Samuel Cavil (or, Cabba) of the Sixth Virginia Regiment; that he was in the battles of or near Albany in the State of New York, where Johnsons Indians were made prisoners and carried into Albany; also the battle of White Marsh, near Philadelphia, generally known by the name of Chesnut Hill; as also the battle of Saratoga at the taking of General Burgoyne; and that he continued in the service of the United States until the 4th of March 1778, when he was discharged from the service at the Sign of the White Horse on the Lancaster road twenty-six miles from Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania.

In 1820 the law required that a veteran prove his need for a pension. The following sworn statement, made by Thomas Smith and recorded by Basil Prather, clerk of the court, was apparently intended to serve that purpose:

District of Indiana...
"On this 13th day of October 1820 personally appeared in open Court (being the Circuit Court of Washington County in the Second Judicial Circuit, and having unlimited in all cases as well civil as criminal) Thomas Smith aged Seventy years Resident in Washington County in said circuit, who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his Oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows: That he enlisted in Armherst (Amherst) County State of Virginia Regiment, in the company of Captain Samuel Cabbill of the Sixth Virginia Regiment , commanded by Col. Buckner, that he served in said Corps about one year, at the end of which time he was drafted into Col. Morgans Regiment of the State of New Jersey under the command of the aforesaid Cpt. Samuel Cabball on the Continental Establishment,and that his original declaration was stated on the 12th day of October One thousand Eight Hundred and Eighteen, and that I was a resident citizen of the United State on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not since that time by gifts, sales, or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent there by so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act,to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and Naval services of the United States in the revolutionary war passed the l8th day of March 1818--and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities, contracts any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed, to wit, Thirty nine acres of Land not paid for, 1 old blind Mare with a coult, 2 cows & 3 yearlings, 9 head of Hogs, l pair old gears, l shovel plough, 2 hoes, l axe, l oven, l pot, l dish, 4 plates, 6 cups & saucers, l old coffee pott & one chair. My occupation a farmer, but not able to pursue that business from old age and infirmity, Kessiah my wife aged about 55 years, weakly and unable to do much labour in consequence of having a confirmed case of the consumption -- which said property was valued by the Court at $114.50.
Thomas Smith

A file notation further reads: "12811 Indiana -- Thomas Smith, of Washington County in the state of Indiana who was a Private in the 6th regiment...of the Virginia line, for the term of three of three years (corrected to '1776 2 years') -- Inscribed on the Roll of Indiana at the rate of 8 dollars per month, to commence the 12 of October 1818 -- Certificate of Pension issued the 12th of July 1819 and sent to David (Davis) Floyd ...Salem Indiana -- arrears to 4th of Mar. 1819: $38.19; semianl all'ce ending 4 Sept. 1819: $48.00; Total: $86.19."

A last notation states: "Died Feb. 27, 1829"

It appears that his wife Kesiah outlived him, because she is listed in the 1830 Census of Lawrence County, Indiana. (Lawrence County adjoins Washington County.) However, her name was not found in the Census of 1840.

Thomas Dodd Smith, father of Fanny Smith, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He was also known as "Devil Tom" Smith, a name he earned for himself by his daring as a soldier, it is said. During the period of his service, like so many of the poorly-clothed and equipped American soldiers, he had many trying experiences and was often in danger. Once, along with another soldier he deserted, but on the way home he thought better of it and decided to return. The other soldier went on toward home, but was killed by Indians on the way.

In the winter of those days the soldiers slept on the ground, and this is how their beds were made: The snow was first removed from the spot and piled to one side, and a blanket put down. Then the soldier lay down with another blanket over him while one of the other piled snow over the top, it being warmer that way.

It is said that for a period of about three months "Devil Tom" served as one of the Washington's bodyguard, and as such was often one of the last to be bedded down and covered with the snow.

Moses Harris, who married Fanny Smith, is reported to have said, "My father-in-law. Tom Smith, said to me sometime before his death, 'Moses, the Lord is going to establish His work in the earth, and I'm going to look to you for salvation.' This was hard for me to understand, because I thought he was a good man, as good as myself, and felt that his salvation was a sure as anyone's. But when the Gospel was restored and I accepted it, the meaning of his prophetic words became plain to me."

A search of the file of "Nauvoo Baptism" in Salt Lake City shows that in 1841 a vicarious baptism was performed at Nauvoo for "Thomas Smith, at the instance of Fanny Harris, Daughter."

Thomas married Keziah Bondurant on 1 Oct 1785 in , Bedford, Virginia, USA. Keziah (daughter of John Peter Bondurant and Pauline Marshall Allen) was born in 1765 in , Bedford, Virginia, USA; died in 1835 in Liberty, Clark, Indiana, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1850, , , Utah, USA
• Residence: 1860, Washington, Washington, Utah, USA
• Residence: 1870, Harrisburg, Washington, Utah, USA
• Residence: 1880, Glendale, Kane, Utah, USA; Marital status: MarriedRelation to Head of House: Wife

Notes:

I am FANNY SMITH HARRIS----The wife of Moses Harris. He is a great man, well respected, and I love him. When people speak about Moses they forget that I ever existed.
I was with him when he joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We were baptized at the same time, along with his sister Margaret.
I was there when good byes were said to parents and family. They were hard times.
I was there when a dark dreary day was lighted with a ball of fire. It frightened two of our girls because of its intensity. They were coming home from playing with some friends. This happened when the Prophet and his brother Hyrum were murdered.
I was with Moses when we were driven out of Illinois and out into an unknown country.
I was there when a young boy was sent to communicate with his father. When the boy jumped off his horse the saddle blanket fell to the ground and frightened a team of oxen. They started to run away and taking with them the remains of what the owners had managed to bring with them. This oxen team FRIGHTENED other teams and a stampeed ensued.
Precious Margaret was holding the reigns of an ox team. She became frightened and jumped from the wagon. She fell and other ox teams ran over her and many cattle. She was buried the next day along with many others who met the same fate.
I was there when a vicious armed mob forced us to leave our home in DeWitt, Missouri.
I was there when we had to flee from our beautiful Nauvoo home into a trackless desert.
I was there when we were driven from our spacious homestead in California by Johnston's army into a drought stricken area, disease infested, called the Cotton Mission.
I was there when savages ransacked our home and forced us again to move.

My husband wondered why I was gaining weight when there was so little to eat and our daily life was nothing but hardships. He didn't fully realize until I presented him with another mouth to feed. We just did not talk about these things, even to our husbands. These were special and sacred events and were not to be discussed. I managed to surprise him every two years.

I grieved at the loss of four of our children, but I had to go on. My testimony was strong and I knew that we had the Lord on our side.
I made friends with most of the Indians that came to our door. I loved to feed them and they liked me. Some of the Indians were hostile and I had to outwit them.
I gave all I had to help my husband, my children, my church. I even gave my inheritance, my labor and my love. I look forward to the future time when all of us will be together in the Celestial realms on high.

Now, may I say: "As we ponder the history of nations and peoples and read the fragments of written records left by them, we see men and women much like ourselves who struggled and pressed forward doing the best they could with the elements at hand. Some traveled by foot over desert wastelands, others lived in palatial splendor, and others crossed unknown lands and waters in search of a better life.

Among these millions are those to whom we owe a special tribute--they are ours--they preceded us in life and laid the foundation for the world we live in. They are they who fought for our freedom, challenged the wilderness, crossed the prairies, and embraced the gospel in its infancy. They are they who plowed, prepared, and planted the field for us to reap. We are, in part, what we are because they were what they were. We cannot live without the legacy they left; they must look to us for the blessings they could not have.

SO, TO THE PLOWERS, PLANTERS, HARVESTERS, AND REAPERS, WHEREVER THEY MAY BE, WE DEDICATE PAGES OF HISTORY AND HOPE THAT ONE DAY WE MAY MEET AND REJOICE IN A WORK WELL DONE."


Birthdate: 18 April 1805 at Pittsylvania, Virginia
Death: 3 Jan. 1891 at Glendale, Kane, Utah
Parents: Thomas Dodd Smith and Keziah Bunderant
Pioneer: 1849 - Allen Taylor Company was principle company of 100, but the company was divided into two groups of 50 with Reddick N. Allred as Captain of 50, and Enoch Reese as captain of 50. Fanny was in the group of 50 with Reddick N. Allred.

Spouse: Moses Harris
Married: 1 Jan. 1824 at Lawrence County, Indiana
His Death: 15 March 1890 at Glendale, Kane, Utah

Children:
Silas Harris -- born 14 Oct. 1824
Keziah Harris -- born 19 Feb. 1826 (Died Oct. 1827 - age l yr. )
John Smith Harris -- born 7 Dec. 1828
Annaretta Harris -- born 15 Feb. 1831
Lydia Harris -- 28 Dec. 1832
Thomas Jefferson Harris -- born 30 May 1835 (Died abt. Feb. 18,1837)
William Jones Harris -- born 5 Jan 1837
Samuel Harris -- born 30 May 1839 (Died abt. 1841)
Mary Ann Harris -- born 15 Nov. 1841 (Died Sept. 1842)
Cynthia Ann Harris -- born 25 Sept.1843 (Died Dec. 1846)

Fanny Smith Harris, along with her husband Moses was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 27 Feb. 1833. Their farewell parting was a hard one for them as they left to join the rest of the Saints. Their parents were not in favor of their decision to join the Mormons, but hey had heard the truth and were determined to do what ever was asked of them. Fanny came from a home of much love and refinement. She lived a shielded, comfortable life with her parents. It was a shocking life for her to be driven from their home with only what the wagon would hold. She loved the Church and supported her husband in his decisions. At Zarahemla, where they stopped she lost three of her children from a terrible disease. They finally continued on and arrived at Council Bluff just in time to enroll their oldest son into the Mormon Battalion. Because of the extreme hardships Moses health began to fail him, and because of this, Fanny shouldered a tremendous amount of the responsibility along with her second son, John. Fanny was a great nurse for her husband, so along with her faith and diligence Moses survived. When Silas arrived home from the Mormon Battalion they left for the trek west arriving in the Salt Lake Valley Oct. 15, 1849 with the Reddick N. Allred Company of 50. They settled in Bountiful. There they built a home and were settled in comfortably when the call came for them to leave their home to go to San Bernardino. Happy was Fanny to build another home in such a beautiful fertile valley When Johnston's army threatened the life of any Mormon, so by the advice of their Prophet, Brigham Young, they were to leave their San Bernardino home and find refuge in Washington, Washington County, Utah. They lived there for about a year, then in the spring of 1859 Moses and two his married sons, Silas and William and their families, together with several other families settled Harrisville, located at the confluence of Quail Creek and the Virgin River. Then in the spring of 1861 Harrisville was abandoned and the settlers moved some three miles up the creek (north) and settled Harrisburg.

Fanny was a life-member of the Relief Society and received a certificate for her dedication and compassion in her callings. She was a dedicated wife, a loving mother, tender and compassionate to everyone. She knew how to stand her ground in face of difficulty or her rights. Her faith was her guiding star and by that she won many a battle.

She experienced depredations with the Indians. She made friends with them and fed them often, but when kindness and food would not suffice she fled from them. Many times she was alone with her little children and it was her duty to protect them, and she did.

Fanny learned how to be frugal and by so doing helped Moses over many an obstacle.

Frances married Moses Jefferson Harris on 19 Jan 1824 in Bono, Lawrence, Indiana, USA. Moses (son of Silas Harris and Annaritta Wright) was born on 20 Jul 1798 in Fitch, Somerset, Pennsylvania, USA; died on 15 Mar 1890 in Glendale, Kane, Utah, USA; was buried in Glendale, Kane, Utah, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Silas married Sariah Aldridge on 2 Sep 1849 in Independence Rock, Natrona, Wyoming, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Ann married John Brimhall in 1850. John was born on 16 Apr 1824 in Olean, Steuben, New York, USA; died on 18 Dec 1906 in Glendale, Kane, Utah, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]