Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

setts, who forbid their withdrawal. They
then applied to the court of Massachusetts
for a grant of land in Hadley, which
was given them on condition that they
should submit to an orderly hearing of
the differences between themselves and
their brethren. In appointing the annual
Thanksgiving in November one reason
given for thanks was the settling of the
differences in Hartford. The General
Court of Massachusetts, so careful to
have the members separate from the
church in an orderly manner, never sug-
gested that there was any irregularity in
the conduct of the Wethersfield members
who settled in Hadley in 1659. The
Saybrook platform, in 1708, was the
result of this compromise between the
parties. Mr. Smith was one of the lead-
ing men in Hadley, where he also held
important offices in both church and
State, was representative from 1661 to
1673, a commoner and magistrate of the
town in 1661, lieutenant of militia from
1663 to 1667. He was a thrifty and substantial
farmer, and died about 1680, aged
seventy-eight. The inventory of his
estate was taken January 17, 1681
amount a little more than £700.
John Smith, youngest child of Lieutenant
Samuel and Elizabeth Smith, born
about 1637, probably in Wethersfield, was
slain by the Indians in Hatfield Meadows,
May 30, 1676. In 1668, in an association
with his brother Philip, he purchased the
three-acre homestead of his father on the
west side of Broad street, Wethersfield,
but later lived in Hadley. He mar-
ried, November 12, 1663, Mary Partridge,
daughter of William and Margaret
(Smith) Partridge, of Hartford and Had-
ley. After his death she married Peter
Montague, and died May 20, 1683.
Benjamin Smith, son of John and
Mary (Partridge) Smith, was born 1673,
in Hadley, and settled in Wethersfield.
;
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328
He married, March 14, 1700, Ruth Buck,
born December 4, 1681, daughter of
Henry and Elizabeth (Churchill) Buck.
Their fifth son, Jonathan Smith, born
in February, 1719, in Wethersfield, lived
in that town, where he died January 20,
1800, and was buried in the ancient ceme-
tery at Wethersfield. No record of his
second marriage appears. His widow,
Keziah, born 1734, died April 26, 1804.
Their son, George Smith, born 1773,
died June 15, 1854, in Wethersfield. He
married Sarah Blinn, baptized December
10, 1775, eldest child of Hosea and Ruth
(Smith) Blinn, and died November 19,
1855, in Wethersfield.
Their son, George Smith, born Decem-
ber 27, 181 1, died April 5, 1902. His education
was supplied by the common
schools of his home town, and he became
one of the most active and useful citizens
in the town. Early in life he was a
teacher, later engaged in the insurance
business, and for many years did most of
the fire insurance business of the town as
representative of the Hartford County
Mutual Insurance Company. He was also
extensively interested in the seed busi-
ness and in packing and shipping tobacco.
He was a Democrat in politics, filled
nearly every office in the town of Weth-
ersfield. and was twice postmaster there.
His commissions, during the administra-
tion of Andrew Jackson in 1835, and of
Andrew Johnson in 1867. are preserved
by his son, mentioned below. He married,
November 26, 1835, Lucy Robbins
Griswold, born November 9, 1812, baptized
June 17, 1821, eldest child of James
and Lucy (Robbins) Griswold, of Weth-
ersfield.
Edgar Robbins Smith, eldest son of
George and Lucy Robbins (Griswold)
Smith, was born June 20, 1840, in Weth-
ersfield, where he has made his home to
the present time, and through his indus-