III. Smith family land and estate papers

Description data TOP

unitid

{"value"=>"2113798", "type"=>"local_mss"}

unitdate

{"value"=>"1665-1912", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1665/1912"}

unittitle

{"value"=>"III. Smith family land and estate papers"}

bioghist

{"value"=>"<p> In 1752 William Smith Jr. married Jennet (called Janet) Livingston (1730-1819). She was the daughter of James Livingston (1701-1763) and Maria Kierstede (1704-1762), and the granddaughter of Robert Livingston (1663-1725; “The Nephew” of the first Lord of Livingston Manor). Janet’s sister Margaret (1738-1809) married Peter R. Livingston (1737-1794), residing at “The Hermitage” at Livingston Manor. He was the son of Robert Livingston (1708-1790) the third manor lord. William and Janet Smith had ten children, of whom five survived to adulthood.</p> <p> Smith’s wealth was invested heavily in land holdings in New York and Vermont. Unlike most Loyalists, his lands were not confiscated, and in 1790 the State of New York granted him permission to return to resolve real estate matters, a step taken by his son William. Although Smith never returned to the United States, he and his family continued to benefit from the holdings well into the 19th century.</p> <p> William Smith Jr. left his estate to his wife Janet and their children: William (1769-1847), who married Susan Webber; Jennet (called Janet, 1753-1828) who married British Army officer John Plenderleath; Mary (born 1759), who married British Army officer William Doyle of Waterford, Ireland; and Henrietta (called Harriet; 1776-1849), who married Jonathan Sewell (1766-1839) of Quebec. Elizabeth (1757-1776) died at Haverstraw.</p> <p> William and Susan Webber Smith had three sons and three daughters. Their sons were British Army officer William Robert Brudenell Smith (1805-1886), Charles Webber Smith (1810-1879), and Edward Mountain Smith (1812-1823). William Robert Brudenell Smith had a son William Charles and a daughter Emily; Emily married Augustus Warren and left descendants. Charles Webber Smith left his estate to his nieces and nephews.</p> <p> Their daughters were Emily Ann (born 1806), Louisa Janet (born 1808), and Caroline Susanna (born 1814). Emily married Reverend George Mackie, Louisa married her cousin Robert Shore Milnes Sewell, and Caroline married Henry Stuart. Louisa and Robert Sewell had two daughters, Emily (1831-1893) and Constance (born 1833).</p> <p> Emily Sewell married, first, Ambrose Hickey; their son Percy A.S. (Percy Ambrose Sewell) Hickey (1857-1915) was a solicitor in London. In 1864 she married, second, Reverend John Hodgson, vicar of Kinver, England, who managed her financial and legal affairs. The Smith papers held by Hickey were those sold by Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, London, in 1919.</p>"}

scopecontent

{"value"=>"<p> Smith family land and estate papers, dated 1665 to 1912, consist of family wills, property records, correspondence and other papers regarding the land holdings and finances of William Smith Jr. and his heirs. Papers include the wills of Smith and Livingston family members; land conveyances and powers of attorney, the bulk concerning the New York land holdings of William Smith Jr. and his heirs; accounts for Vermont lands; and correspondence between William Smith III and agents for New York lands, with accounts. Also included are deeds documenting the ownership of land acquired by relative Jonathan Sewell in Quebec, chiefly in French; and papers of John Hodgson and Percy A.S. Hickey concerning Smith family estate matters and genealogy.</p>"}

date_start

1665

keydate

1665

date_end

1912

date_inclusive_start

1665

date_inclusive_end

1912

Child components TOP

1. Wills
2. Land conveyances and powers of attorney [7/1]
3. William Smith Jr. and Thomas Smith in account with Stephen R. Bradley
4. William Smith III correspondence and accounts concerning New York lands [6/1]
5. Jonathan Sewell farm on the Petite-Rivière Saint-Charles [2/1]
6. John Hodgson and Percy A.S. Hickey papers [3/1]