THE SMITH FAMILY HISTORY

THE SMITH FAMILY HISTORY

WHERE DID THE SMITH NAME COME FROM?

It is generally accepted that the surname SMITH is occupational in origin. When folks started taking surnames, they often ended up with something that described their trade. So a SMITH would have been a blacksmith, silversmith, etc. My SMITH family roots come from Portugal. As you can probably guess, SMITH is not a Portuguese surname. My ancestors assumed this name when they immigrated to the US in the mid 1800s. It is said that they heard that it was a popular "Anglican" surname, so they chose it to fit in. (Although, I’d think their accents probably gave them away!) I have come across more recently, information that suggests that the Portuguese surname of Ferriera translates to Smith. Indeed, the original surname of the Smiths was Ferriera.

HOW DID THESE FOLKS END UP IN ILLINIOS??

Well, here’s how the "legend" goes…My 3^rd great-grandmother and family fled to Madeira Island from Portugal to escape religious persecution. Around 1845-1850 they immigrated, with my 2^nd great-grandfather (Joseph Smith, b. ca 1842) in tow, to the US landing in NewYork. After the arrangements they had made fell through, they were basically stranded in New York. It seems that the mayor of Jacksonville,IL at the time, heard of this and offered land and jobs to the stranded Portuguese immigrants. It was said that there were around 250. My ancestors took a freight train to Jacksonville, IL and settled there. (Click HERE for more info on the Portuguese in Jacksonville.)

Descendants of Joseph Smith

1 Joseph Smith Abt. 1842 - Abt. 1907

.. +Ellen Goveia - Abt. 1931

......... 2 Joseph Smith

.................... 3 Joseph Jr. Smith

.................... 3 Margie Smith

......... 2 Arthur Smith

............. +Nettie

.................... 3 Carl Smith

......... 2 Bertha Smith

............. +Tom Chittick

.................... 3 Bud Chittick

.................... 3 Robert Chittick

.................... 3 Helen Chittick

......... 2 Kathryn Smith

............. +Frank Brown

.................... 3 Frances Brown

.................... 3 Garland Brown

......... 2 George Smith

......... 2 Ben Smith

............. +Mabel

......... 2 William Smith

......... 2 Dora Smith - Abt. 1924

......... 2 Laura Smith

............. +(?) Leonard

......... 2 Earl Smith 1882 - 1961

............. +Ina Mae Trimble 1894 - 1978

.................... 3 Tom Smith 1916 -

........................ +Lena

.............................3... Sara Ellen Smith 1918 - 1974

........................ +Herb Newberry

............................... 4 Herb Newberry 1943 -

.................... 3 Ed Smith 1920 -

........................ +Amelia

............................3. Mary Elizabeth Smith 1921 - 1996

........................ +Cary Allen Thurman 1914 - 1987

............................... 4 Cary Allen Thurman, Jr. 1940 - 1940

............................... 4 Robert Earl Thurman 1943 - 1992

............................... 4 Larry Gene Thurman 1949 - 1997

+wife

5. 2 children, 1 grandchild (private)

.......................................... 4 S. Thurman (private) -

............................... 4 A. Thurman (private)

...................................+wife

5. 3 children (private)

(I’m sure that this is not complete, so if you’d like to add something, or have any comments, please email me at cdubelko@mailcity.com)

Links

Madeira Sharing and Searching | Morgan County ILGEN WebPage | Cass County ILGEN WebPage | Deb Kleber's Excellent Resource Site on the Madeira Exiles

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Last updated 1/21/99