SAMUEL SMITHERMAN born circa 1720 England
by Leoma M. Smotherman
Samuel Smytheman was taken from Middlesex Prison on 18 May 1744 and put on
board the ship Justitia in the London harbor. The ship under its master Lach
Campbell arrived in America in 1744, the month not given. Reference: English
Convicts in Colonial America, Vol. I, Middlesex 1617-1775, by Peter Wilson
Coldham.
Samuel serves his indenture, marries a woman named Sarah and raises a family
in Fairfax County, Virginia. He is found in the 1782 Census for Fairfax
County, a free man with six (6) free whites in his family. In the same census
is shown Samuel Jr. and William Smitherman who we know did not immigrate to
America, so they have to be sons of Samuel. At the same time Thomas
Smitherman is shown in the 1784 Census for Surry County, North Carolina.
Knowing that Thomas did not immigrate to America, he must also be a son of
Samuel. Prior to 1801 we will find census reports for John Smitherman and
Hugh Smotherman and knowing that they did not immigrate to America, they must
also be sons of Samuel. This then makes five known sons of Samuel with at
least three other children unaccounted for. They are probably daughters
born in the 1750's and 1760's that can't be traced at this time.
The 1784 Conveyance Records of Fairfax County, Virginia in Book O, page 411
will show Samuel and Sarah Smitherman buying from William Fitzhugh a tract of
land in Fairfax County that has a common boundry, Pohich Creek, with Mount
Vernon, estate of George Washington. (Ref. to Pohich Crk. from B. Smitherman)
Samuel probably died in the late 1780's as he can not be found in the 1790
Census Reports. The Fairfax County, Virginia Historical Society reports that
there are no gravemarkers for Smithermans in that county, all known existing
cemeteries having been surveyed and recorded. They report that there are many
unreported graves under the miles of concrete that now covers the county.
SAMUEL SMITHERMAN b circa 1720 England, d circa 1780's VA, m Sarah.
Children:
1. Thomas Smitherman b 1750 VA, d 1812 N.C.
2. Samuel Smitherman b 1753 VA, d circa 1810-20 VA
3. William Smitherman b 1758 VA, d 1822 Alabama
4. John Smitherman b 1763 VA, d 1820 VA
5. Hugh Smotherman b 1766 VA, d circa 1820's TN
Believed to be at least three more children in this family. Samuel arrived in
America in 1744. He married a woman named Sarah. Found in 1782 Fairfax
County, Virginia Census report, a free man with six children in his family.
1784 Fairfax County, Virginia, Tax Records, Book O 1784 Conveyance Records,
Fairfax County, VA shows property purchased by Samuel and Sarah.
(
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