George Stokes Stovall Smith

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1800, , Jessamine, Kentucky, USA
• Residence: 6 Aug 1810, Jessamine, Kentucky, USA

Notes:

Lexington & Vicinity - The Kentucky River

Sun 25th We entered and passed thro Lexington the boast and pride of the Kentuckians It is an agreeable town pleasantly situated in a thriving condition and a place of considerable trade In the afternoon I arrived at my brother's and had the satisfaction of finding him and his family in health.

Mon 26th Was called to attend the funeral of a Mrs Moddis who is said to have feared God from her youth She died yesterday about 1 o clock leaving a husband and children to bewail her loss My brother requested me to preach which I did to a considerable number of people who were collected on the occasion

Fri 30th I went to Mr John Watkins in Woodford county attended by my brother and sister Frances I was greatly pleased with Mr Watkins settlement The situation is beautiful land fertile water good and air healthy These blessings with a contented mind are an inestimable treasure But alas where is the man that enjoys all these favors at once and the same time

Sat 3lst We walked to Mr Henry Watkins and saw there several old friends and acquaintances and returned in the evening to Mr John Watkins

Sun Nov 1st I went with Mr Watkins to a meeting house and heard Mr John Dupuy preach a good discourse After he concluded he requested me to preach I did so from Rev 3 etc The people heard with seriousness and the deepest attention while I pointed out the danger of apostacy and the blessed effects of perseverance After preaching I called and took dinner with Stephen Trabeu Mr Dupuy and a number of other old friends and acquaintances making up our company I then proceeded to Edward Trabeu's and spent the evening

Mon 2nd Here for the first time I see the Kentucky river and the inaccessible cliffs that appear on both sides of it The bed of the river which I suppose cannot be less than 300 feet below the tops of these enormous banks appears like a gutter cut to a vast depth by the water during a long course of time from the tops of these banks or as they are more usually called cliffs the sand goes off level and after getting a little from the river are amazingly rich I left Mr Trabeu's after breakfast dined at Mr Adams and then proceeded to Mr John Moss whose kindness to me while traveling to this country once before still fills my heart with gratitude

Tues 3rd I went to Lexington where were a vast number of people collected to see a poor felon executed Here I met with my brother and accompanied him home

Wed 4th I set out on a journey to the south side of Kentucky forded the river passed thro part of Mercer and Lincoln counties and reached John Bryant's in the evening

Thurs 5th Mr Bryant rode with me to Capt Owsley's in Madison county But instead of that cheerfulness that once characterized this family I found that grief had erected her standard here This was owing to the horrid and criminal conduct of a Mr Gouge a son in law of Capt Owsley's who a few days before had killed a man and for which atrocious act he is now confined in Frankfort jail and will probably suffer the punishment which his crime deserves The man murdered had discharged an innocent slave which Gouge intended to flog This was a crime too great for Gouge's boisterous temper to put up with He therefore discharged a rifle at the man the contents of which passing thro his knee caused his death 15 days later

Fri 6th I visited Wm Bryant where I wrote several letters to my family and friends expecting to have a ready conveyance by Mr Douglas's who intends to go to Richmond But how great was my disappointment when I called at Mr Douglass and found that he had started the day before It would have been a great gratification to me to have contrived a letter to them but must await another conveyance

Sat 7th I returned to Capt Owsley's and preached in the evening to a small but attentive congregation from Rev 22 17

Sun 8th I had appointed to preach at the meeting house on Sugar creek but was prevented by the rain In the evening I returned to Mr John Bryant's.

George married Frances Harriet Sandifer on 24 Jul 1773 in , Cumberland, Virginia, USA. Frances (daughter of Abraham William Sandifer and Joanna Branch) was born on 29 Jul 1757 in , Cumberland, Virginia, USA; died on 29 Jan 1831 in Cave Spring Plantation, Keene, Jessamine, Kentucky, USA; was buried in jessamine, Jessamine, Kentucky, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]