GENEALOGY OF THE SMITH FAMILY

OF  MORRIS COUNTY,

NEW JERSEY

 

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THE SMITH FAMILY
From "Rockaway Records of Morris Co., New Jersey Families by J. Percy Crayon (Rockaway, N.J., Rockaway Publishing Co., 1902)

The progenitor of the Smith family at Franklin and Union N. J., is said to have come from Vermont, another version is that he came from Long Island and was known as "Bold Smith." The Vermont version has a bit of romance that may be a matter of history. His name was William and he had been engaged to a girl in Vermont, and the day was set, and the hour appointed on which they were at once to proceed to the dominie's as was the common custom, on horse back, both riding the same horse. As there had been nothing said as to which would take the front seat, as, if two ride on one horse one must necessarily take a back seat. Tradition does not relate as to the real causes, but the effect was they did not get married.

Being somewhat disappointed in this love affair, he proceeded at once on a long and lonesome journey throught the then wilderness. This must have been as early as 1750, and it is not related that he stopped until he reached the wilds of Shongum, where he met a Dutch girl, who was willing to take a back seat, and they proceeded at once to the Dominie's where the two were made one. Her name was Christiana Derling.

William Smith purchased lands, built a log house and set up housekeeping, and is said to have had nineteen children. The old homestead is located where his son Gerrett lived, afterward his grandson John, now as the residence of Cornelius L. Smith. William and his sons owned at one time nearly all the lands between Shongom and Franklin, then called Pigeon Hill. It was not out of the order of the day, at that time, for an ordinary hunter and trapper to keep the table well supplied with bear, deer and turkey, and in the season, many of the broad acres of the Smith farm were literary covered with pigeons, hence the name Pigeon Hill, it was a paradise to the early settlers.

While at work many years after on the Shongum Pond, in getting out timber and crossing the lake on the ice, he was accidentally killed, and probably buried at Rockaway, as tradition has it that his wife was buried at Rockaway a few years after, which would naturally be by the side of her husband. As there is no monument or other records the precise date is unknown.

Children, as far as known, of William and Christiana (Derling) Smith, not named in order of birth

Joseph, member of Capt. Josiah Hall's Company in the Revolutionary War,
probably married as first or second wife, Polly Casterline Apr. 3, 1802.Had
children: Peter, who married (1) Betsey Losey, and had children:
Joseph, Anna and Lewis;

(2) Esther Whiting and had
John, Demas and Lucretia.

David, had a son George, born Mar. 8, 1818, married Margaret Thorpe 1839, died at Rockaway Jan. 31, 1899;

John, married Mehetible Youngs, "Aunt Hettie" as she was familiarly called; John, no records, only that he served in Captain Hall's Company, as also did Samuel;

Gerrett, born May 15, 1762, married Mary Losey about 1795, died May 12, 1842. She was born Sept. 2, 1773, and died Feb. 28, 1843. Both buried at Rockaway. Charity, lived at, "The Hill," not married;

Ruth and Millie, no records;

Katy, married a Cranford and probably removed, as the name is not familiar in the old records;

Pollv, no records;

Christiana, married a Hiler and lived at Denville;

William, lived on "The Hill," never married;

Amy, born 1760, married William Kirk, died May 29, 1845. He died May 22, 1855. Both buried at Rockaway.

Joanna, married a Freeman, removed to Sussex or Bergen county and lived to be over 100 years old;

Patty married a Martin.

Children of Gerrett and Mary (Losey) Smith: Eunice, born Apr. 14, 1796, never married;

Jacob, born Jan. 30, 1797, never married, died Sept. 13, 1854, buried at Rockaway;

Phebe, born Feb. 14, 1799, married John Dickerson Aug. 19, 1820, lived near the "Dickerson bridge," between Dover and Rockaway, died June 5, 1879. He was born Feb. 17, 1797, died Mar. 21, 1861. Both buried at Rockaway.

William, born July 13, 1804, married Harriet Fisher, of Shongom, Sept. 1827, lived where Bernard Towland now lives, died Aug. 17, 1854. She was born 1809, died Sept. 19, 1895. Both buried at Rockaway. The Fisher family lived at Shongom, and after its days of prosperity removed to Ohio.

Isaac, born Sept. 18, 1808, married Margaret Todd Mar. 1, 1837, died Mar. 4, 1890. She was born Oct. 2, 1820, still living at the homestead, where William S. Eagles now lives. He was called Colonel from the fact that he was acting Colonel on training days.

John, called John Junior to distinguish him from any other John Smith, born Sept. 15, 1812, married Ruth Skellenger, of Chester, Dec. 25, 1841, died Mar. 4, 1864. She was born Nov. 30, 1819, died Mar. 9, 1900. Both buried at Rockaway.

Children of William and Harriet (Fisher) Smith: Mary, married Jacob Blanchard and lived near the Asylum.
Jacob, went West;
Phebe, married William Ayres. - See Ayres family.
Emily, born Feb. 1853, married Bernard Towland Apr. 1875, living at the homestead;
Hannah Maria, married Jonathan O. Cooper. - See Cooper family.
Charles F., married Mary Ann Lyon, daughter of Isaac.

Children of John and Ruth (Skellenger) Smith:

Mahlon M., born Aug. 20,1843, was in the Navy in the Civil War, married Emma
Louisa Smith daughter of Isaac and Margaret (Todd) Smith, May 28, 1873, have one child, Laura Estella, born Feb. 14, 1874.
Eunice A., born Jan. 9, 1845, died Nov. 19, 1869;
George A., born July 11, 1846;
Henrietta, born Nov. 11, 1847, died Sept. 9, 1848;
Julia L., born Feb. 18, 1850;
Cornelius L., born Sept. 2, 1857;
Theodore P., born June 23, 1853;
Malinda C., born July 29, 1857;
Mary E., born Feb. 27, 1863, married Edward A. Smith.

Children of Isaac and Margaret (Todd) Smith: Elizabeth, married George Sturtevant, who was born 1831,died Nov. 30, 1899;

Harriet, married William Hedden;
Phebe Ann, married George Betts,
Garrett, unmarried;
Nancy, born 1851, married William S. Eagles Aug. 15, 1868, died May 10, 1897, buried at Mt. Freedom, had one son Wilbert A., born Mar. 25, 1874, married Lida K. Youngs June 26,1895;
Clara, married Thomas Farlow;
Emma Louisa, married Mahlon M. Smith, and
Frank, unmarried.

Children of John and Mahetible I (Youngs) Smith:

Henry,
Nancy, married Stephen Dickerson May 26, 1827...
Julia, married Abraham Eagles;
Miller, born Apr. 22, 1819, married Mary Bathia, daughter of Stephen Trobridge, died at Dover May 2, 1892;
Polly, married Nathaniel Dickerson July 31, 1839. -See Dickerson family.
John J., born Oct. 26, 1830, married Maria Jane Dickerson Apr. 13, 1853, died Oct. 6, 1895, buried at Rockaway;
David, married Mary Minton.

Children of John J. and Maria J. (Dickerson) Smith:

Lauretta D., born Oct. 25, 1854, married Silas Edwin Cooper Mar. 29, 1873. -
Children see Cooper family.

Frances, born July 24, 1867, married (1) Isaac Eagles Dec. 25, 1875;
(2) Andrew J. Tuers Mar. 18, 1896;
Nellie, born Apr. 3, 1861, married Linus Beaty Apr. 3,1883. He died Nov. 11, 1887, children:

Mabel Frances, born Sept. 6, 1883;
Ziba Cleveland, born Sept. 1885.
Monroe, born Mar. 4, 1867. married Anna, daughter of Robert Jenkius, Apr. 8, 1888;
Clara Amelia, born Jan. 16, 1866, died Mar. 11, 1889, buried at Rockaway;
Cora Elizabeth, born Sept. 18, 1874, not married.

Children of Isaac and Frances (Smith) Eagles -.

John A., born Jan. 4, 1874;
Oliver, born May 11, 1879;
Clara A., born Mar. 14, 1885;
Gertrude, born June 21, 1887.

Children of Monroe and Anna (Jenkins) Smith:

Lena J., born Feb. 9, 1890;
Harold O., born Jan. 22, 1892;
John Robert, born Mar. 21, 1894;
Elsie May, born May 31, 1896;
Mary E , born Feb. 1900.

 

CMT, OR CHARCOT-MARIE-TOOTH DISEASE

A neuro-muscular disease known as C. M. T., or Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome, has afflicted several members of the Trowbridge family. It comes in two forms: 1A, the more common and less severe form, and a rare, but more serious form: type 1B. If you suspect that you have this condition, consult your physician immediatly so he can test you for the condition. Just a note, the disease is difficult to detect, with each strain having it's own individual blood test. So as a consequence, you should mention this when seeing your physician.

The following is a description of CMT from the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association website:

"...Charcot-Marie-Tooth, or CMT, is the most common inherited neurological disorder, affecting approximately 150,000 Americans. CMT is found world-wide in all races and ethnic groups. It was discovered in 1886 by three physicians, Jean-Marie-Charcot, Pierre Marie, and Howard Henry Tooth.

CMT patients slowly lose normal use of their feet/legs and hands/arms as nerves to the extremities degenerate. The muscles in the extremities become weakened because of the loss of stimulation by the affected nerves.

Additionally, there is a loss of sensory nerve function. Unlike muscular dystrophy in which the defect is in the muscles, CMT is a disorder in which the defect is in the nerves that control the muscles.

What are its characteristics?
A high arched foot is one of the first signs of this disorder. As the disease progresses, structural foot deformities take place. The patient develops a pes cavus foot with hammer toes. Foot drop and ankle sprains are frequent manifestations. The progressive muscle wasting leads to problems with walking, running, and balance. To avoid tripping, patients with foot drop raise their knees unusually high resulting in high steppage gait. In some patients, muscle weakness may also occur in the upper legs. Flat foot is seen as well in patients with CMT.

Hand function also becomes affected because of progressive muscle atrophy, making fine manipulatory acts, like writing, difficult.

The loss of nerve function in the extremities also leads to sensory loss. The ability to distinguish hot and cold is diminished as well as the sense of touch.

CMT also can be inherited in a recessive or an X-linked pattern. The degree of severity can vary greatly from patient to patient, even within the same family. A child may or may not be more severely disabled than his/her parent.

How is it inherited?
CMT is generally inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. This means that if one parent has the disease (either the father or the mother) there is a 50% chance of passing it on to each child.

CMT can also be inherited in recessive or an X-linked pattern. To determine the pattern of inheritance, each CMT patient should consult a genetic counselor, neurologist or other medical authority familiar with the disease.

How is it diagnosed?
Careful diagnosis of CMT involves clinical evaluation of muscle atrophy, testing of muscle and sensory responses, nerve condition and electromyographic (EMG) studies, as well as a thorough review of the patient's history. CMT types 1A and 1X can now be diagnosed by a DNA blood test. Some people who carry the CMT genetic trait show no apparent physical symptoms. The variation in degree of physical disability, together with a lack of physician awareness of CMT, has often led to misdiagnosis.

Today, the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association is educating both medical specialists and patients about CMT.

How is it treated?
At present there is no cure for CMT, although physical therapy and moderate activity are often recommended to maintain muscle strength and endurance.

Custom shoes or shoe inserts (foot orthoses) will help to improve gait. Leg braces will prevent ankle sprains, improve gait, and reduce the amount of energy needed to walk. Corrective orthopedic foot surgery is available to help maintain mobility when medically indicated.

Splinting, specific exercises, adaptive devices and surgery can help maintain hand function.


Currently I am trying to track the extent of the disease in the Trowbridge family, namely those descended from David Trowbridge and Anna Youngs of Mount Freedom, New Jersey. If you or any members of your family who suffer from this disease, or any of the symptoms, you can email me at [email protected]. For more information on CMT, visit the above linked website. You can also get more information from the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) website by clicking here.

OTHER FAMILIES LISTED ON THIS WEBPAGE:

 

Beers	Coe	Fairchild	Gauer	Lewis	Merrill
	Sherwood	Southard		Trowbridge	Youngs

   

 

LINKS

 

 

LOCAL LIBRARIES, HISTORICAL SOCIETYS, AND MUSEUEMS:

     

               

 

FREE GENEALOGY WEB SITES:

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The webpage of Kylie Veale at CDV Genealogy       

 

      

Morris USGenweb site, maintained by Brianne Kelly-Bly, contains a lot of info on early Morris County, including projects to put the entire birth and death records of the Morristown, Morris County, New Jersey First Presbyterian Church, and Morris County genealogy records online, and much more.

 

 

 

         SUBSCRIPTION GENEALOGY SITES:

 

     


OTHER EARLY FAMILIES OF MORRIS COUNTY:

 

The Losey Family

The Descendents of William Fairchild

The Descendents of Edward Ball

(Great web site, lots of info on colonial Morris County )

  Genealogy of the Trowbridge Family of Morris County, New Jersey

The family of Caleb Fairchild

 

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