A Wilson Family Tree
Notes for Daniel Smith
"Gleanings of Virginia History, An Historical and Genealogical Collection, Largely from Original Sources", by William Fletcher Boogher (Washington, DC, 1903), pp. 337-38:
Daniel Smith, 2d of Capt. John and Margaret Smith, bom in Ireland in 1724, came to America with his parents aged about six years; finally settled in Augusta county, where he married Jane Harrison about 1751, bom 1735, daughter of Daniel Harrison, and sister of Col. Benjamin Harrison, of Augusta county (see Harrison family.)
March 10, 1751, he purchased a tract of land on the head of Linsville Creek, adjoining the land of his father-in-law, where he built his residence later known as "Smithland," a magnificent estate in Augusta county, now Rockingham. His is said to have been the first brick house built in the Valley; situated two miles north of Harrisonburg, Va. Smithland, the estate on which he lived and died, was patented Aug. 20, 1741, by Daniel Harrison, his father-in-law. (Deed book 1, Augusta county records.)
In 1757 Col. Daniel Smith was one of the Justices for Augusta county; was Capt. of a company under Gen. Lewis in the battle of Point Pleasant; he was a member of the Courtmartial for West Augusta district from the beginning of the French wars until Oct., 1777; on Sept. 20, 1781, he was commissioned, in the Revolutionary army, as Deputy Purveyor, Southern Department. As the Presiding Justice of Rockingham county, he signed the court records for the last time on Sept. 24, 1781, and left immediately for Yorktown, where he joined four of his sons, viz.: John, Daniel, Joseph, and Robert, who were in the Revolutionary army. After the return of the troops from the siege of Yorktown, Daniel Smith, then designated Colonel, summoned those from Rockingham, for a review to celebrate the victory; the last act of which was the "running salute." As the troops began firing, his horse became frightened, sprang aside, spraining his rider's back and throwing him; from which injury he died in a few days.
In 1778 Rockingham county was formed from Augusta; the plantations of Col. Daniel Smith being in the new county; He was commissioned by the Governor one of the first Justices, the first court being organized April 27, 1778, which convened in his house until suitable buildings could be constructed. He is said to have been the wealthiest man of his day in the county; he was a member of the convention in 1775. He died in 1781, his will proven Nov. 20th of this year, his wife, Jane (Harrison) Smith, qualified as executrix, giving bonds of £50,000; was probably huried in the old Dayton graveyard near Smithsland, where some of the early members of the family are interred; his widow, Jane (Harrison) Smith, died 1796[.]
Gleanings of Virginia History lists 12 children: John, Daniel, Joseph, Robert, Margaret, Benjamin, Ann, Jane H., Sarah, Abraham, William, and James.
Note: Some of the information in these pages is uncertain. Please let me know of errors or omissions using the email link above. ...Mike Wilson
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