The genie gods have a mean sense of humor when it comes to SMITHs...
JP_Smith
Probably 12 years ago a cousin sent, what I later realized, was a Family Treemaker report for 7 generations including my SMITHs. He ran into the virtual brick wall at JOHN SMITH, born 1745 and sister Martha A. both likely in England. Being a newbie I thought I could pick up the trail and discover documentation that would lead to his parents across the pond, as we like to say. After these 12 years of research I probably have 40 bits of source discoveries including even getting John listed as a Son of the American Revolution (SAR); however, we have not moved him 1 inch further back in time to his parents. The Manchester Vermont Town Clerk's office may hold a vital clue. He married MARY BULL, born 1748 in Dutchess county, New York and her lineage is much easier to trace thanks to the studious records kept by the Society of Friends. SMITH DNA studies (Haplo Group R1b1b2a1b), have identified several proven cousins; but, we have not yet made connections in our family gedcom files. So, every morning I look in the mirror to see a modern-day JOHN SMITH who will begin the search anew for his 5th great grandfather, JOHN SMITH. The genie gods chuckle quietly.
by JP_Smith
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Contact | Subscribe | Block this user on 2012-08-20 12:41:53
By J.P. Smith, long suffering SMITH researcher in Arizona.
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Treenut67 on 2012-08-20 18:50:58I live in Arizona, also and I feel your pain. My maternal great-grandmother's maiden name was Smith. Julia Fredona Smith born February 6, 1870 in Texas, to be precise. She had a sister Alice B. Smith born circa 1873. Her Mother Melinda Elizabeth McCarley, also born in Texas remarried either while pregnant with Alice or shortly thereafter. She married her cousin George Clayton Neill. Because she remarried between censuses, I can find no trace of her first husband and am almost to the point of tears. If any of your Smiths are related in anyway to my Great Grandmother, I would love to hear back from you. Should I come across anything useful for you, I will gladly do the same. Your friend in the search.
Judi Risinger aka "Treenut67" (As I mentioned, I live in Arizona, too. Mesa, Ariz.)
JP_Smith on 2012-08-21 13:57:26Hi Judy, I'm in east Mesa. Looking for Smiths really takes the fun out of research, doesn't it? I did not recognize any of your Smith names yet. But this is my second day on this site, so I'll scratch around and see what can be found. All the best, JP.
dmck on 2012-08-21 18:46:07My paternal grandmother was a Smith, and her father's name was John. They were in Prince Edward Island, Canada. John's father, Alexander, was born in 1811 in Nova Scotia, Canada. All I know about his father is that his name was John and he came from Scotland.... I haven't done a lot of looking in that direction yet, but I'm sure it won't be easy.
JP_Smith on 2012-08-22 12:01:17You might consider getting a Family Treemaker or 23 & Me DNA test which will connect you to proven SMITH cousins. Then, compare family trees. 23 & Me has the added value of medical results. It's also the company used for "Who Do You Think You Are?" and other family investigation shows. Thanks for reminding me I need to consider Canada as a possible source of immigration for my pesky SMITHs. Have a super week, JP.