Richard Smith > Job Smith > James Smith >
Temperance Smith > Keturah Tuthill > Elizabeth Lamoreaux > Samuel
Ransom > Jameson Harvey Ransom > Charles Francis Ransom > Lillian Emma
Ransom > Charles Lloyd Walters
The early life of Richard remains unclear, although tradition
says he was born in York, England and that his father fought alongside
Cromwell. After coming to the colonies, Richard may have resided in Boston for
a short time before moving to Long Island.
According to the History
of Long Island, Richard was a resident of Southampton, NY until 1656 when
he was ordered to leave due to his "unreverend carriage towards the
Magistrates." From here he moved to Setauket, NY before settling in an
area on Long Island that would come to bear his name, Smithtown.
Richard is sometimes referred to as "Bull"
Smith and there are several legends surrounding the man and his nickname. One
tradition says he was called “Bull” because he rode a bull instead of a horse. Some
stories carry this further, saying that before the founding of Smithtown, the
local Native Americans’ told Richard he could have whatever land he could
encircle from the back of a bull. Whatever the truth behind his name, it has
become a piece of the history of Smithtown and a statue of a bull can still be
found, in honor of the city's founder.
There was some disagreement over the rightful ownership
of the land Richard claimed was his. In a document signed May 4, 1665, Richard
states that he bought the land from Lyon Gardiner, a prominent settler and
soldier. Meanwhile, some of the Native Americans said the land belonged to
them, while others believed the land had been rightfully sold to Richard. In
the end, Richard "thought good to buy the land" for which he paid one
gun, one kettle, ten coats, one blanket, three hands of powder and three hands
of lead.
Richard and his wife Sarah had at least 9 children.
Richard probably died in 1693, as his will was proven on May 2, 1693.
Below I've included Richard’s entire will. It is a
typical will of the day, “misspellings” and all. (Standardized spelling didn't
come along until later, even in proper names. The will belongs to “Richard
Smith” but it is signed “Richard Smyth.”)
One thing I noticed with Richard’s will that differs
from other wills I've read, is that it seems to be written from both Richard
and Sarah. The will asks that “our” bodies received a decent burial and items
are given to “our children.” While Sarah’s name and seal are included at the
close of the will, there is no mention of her in the will itself. Usually, when
the wife is still alive, there are some provisions made for her. Maybe it was
thought that Sarah wouldn't long outlive her husband, but in actuality, she
outlived Richard by a number of years.
The will opens with Richard saying he is “of sound and
perfect memory” and gives the reminder that it is God’s will that determines
how long everyone lives.
When reading these old wills, I always find it
interesting to see the differences in what each child is given. As was fairly
common, the eldest son, Jonathan, was given a larger portion that his siblings.
Also fairly common, and sadly so, two of the sons were each bequeathed a slave.
Most of the children were given a specific piece of land along with “a share of
land in division with the rest of the children,” however son Adam only received
a share of the land. I wonder why he was given such a smaller portion. (There
could be a number of reasons for this. Maybe there was a disagreement in the
family, or maybe Richard had simply given Adam his share prior to his death.)
Richard’s
two daughters received land as well as his clothing which suggests how valuable
clothing was in the day, especially when it was the only household item singled
out in the will. Sons Jonathan and Richard were named executors and it was their
duty to pay Richard’s debts and see that the estate was divided among the
children.
The Will of Richard Smith
March the 5th 1691-2. In the name of God, Amen.
I Richard Smith Sen'r of Smithtown in the County of
Suffolk on Long Island, in the Province of New York, being sick & weake in
body but of sound and perfect memory, thanks be to God, calling to mind the uncertain
state of this life and that we must submit to God's will when it shall please
him to call us out of this life, doe make constitute and ordain this our land
will & testament, hereby revoking and anulling any former or other Will or
Testament made by us either by word or writing.
Imprimis. We give our soules to God who gave them &
our bodyes being dead to be decently buried in such place and manner as to or
Executors hereafter named shall seem convenient, and as for the lands, goods
& Chattels wherewith it has pleased God to endue us withal, our just debts
& Legacyes being first paid, we order and dispose in manner and forme
following.
Item. To Jonathan Smith our oldest son we give &
bequeath our house, barn and orchard joyning to his home log, and the homestead
as far as the old fence Northward and halfe way from the said house to Samuel's
house; and thence to the West ende of the barn, and the wood close on the East
side of the little brook over against the house and forty acres of land more than
his equall share in division with the rest of our children, and that lot of
meadow over against the hiss on the West side of the River.
Item. To our son Richard we give and bequeath our negro
Harry and an equall share of land in dividsion with the rest of our children.
Item. To our son Job we give & bequeath our negro
Robin for the terme of tweleve years and an equall share of land in dividsion
with the rest of our children, and at the end of sd twelve years the said Robin
shall be free.
Item. To our son Adam we give an equall share of Land
in division with the rest of our children.
Item. To our son Samuel Smith we give and bequeath the orchard
Southward of the house, & half the pasture bounded by the little Creek, the
Eastward parte thereof, & the lower or northward most fresh Island on the east
side of the river, with an equall share of land in division with the rest of
our children, and the swamp called the North swamp, with the land on the East
side which is fenced.
Item. To our son Daniel we give and bequeath the other
halfe of the pasture Southward of his house, the westward part of it, and an
equall share of land in division with the rest of our children. & our will
is that James Necke shall be and remaine for the use and improvement of my six
sons above said and their heires forever.
Item. To our daughter Elizabeth Townley we give &
confirm that land and meadow at a place called Sunk Meadow as it is mentioned
in a deed made by us, & also the one half of my cloathing.
Item. To our daughter Laurence we give & bequeth an
equall parte & share of land in division with the rest of our children
where it shall be most suitable & convenient, also the other halfe of my
clothing.
Lastly we doe hereby nominate and appoint our beloved
sons Jonathan & Richard Smith, Executors of this our last Will, &
Testament, to pay all our just debts and to make an equall partition amongst
all our children, of all the goods & chattels & what moveable estate
shall be left.
In Witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and
seals the day and year above named.
Richard Smyth [seal]
Sarah Smyth [seal]
Sealed & delievered in presence of
John Roe
Jonathan Lewis
Thomas Helme
Proved May 2, 1693
Sources:
A History of Long Island by Peter Ross, 1902; Portrait and Biographical Record
of Suffolk County (Long Island) New York, from Google Books; will and other
documents from Records of Smithtown, longislandgenealogy.com/smithtownrecords (In
the will, “the” was written as “ye” but I changed it to make the reading
smoother).
