I have some questions which pertain to J. Michael Smith (Schmidt), Jr. He came to Virginia in 1717, at the age of five, with his father and mother. His father had the same name, but I believe the father was commonly called Michael Smith. The son was inclined to use a "J" or "John" as a part of his name.
The father, as Michael Smith, was one of the two collectors who went with Stoever on the fund-raising trip to Europe. Just prior to this trip, he was a collector of funds in Virginia to support Stoever. The father's will, written in 1760, left all of his land to his only son, John Michael Smith, Jr. Apparently there were no daughters.
J. Michael Smith, Jr., married Anna Magdalena Thomas, a sister of John Thomas, Jr., and a stepdaughter of Michael Kaefer. In 1742, Michael Smith, Jr., was deeded 600 acres by Christian Clement. After his father's death, Michael, Jr., was the owner of more than 1000 acres of land. He disposed of this land in a series of deeds to his three sons and four sons-in-law over the period of time, from 1762 to 1772. During the first three transfers in 1762, Anna Magdalena Thomas, his wife, signed also. Later in 1771 and 1772, she does not appear on the deeds, which probably indicates that she had died.
In 1783, J. Michael Schmitt is the last name on the communion list. Earlier in the year, there were two Michael Schmitts at a communion service. In the prior year, 1782, J. Michael Smith and his wife, Catharina, were present. In 1775, the first year of recorded names at communion, there were two Michael Smiths. One of the Michaels might have been J. Michael, and the other might have been his first cousin, once removed, the son of Nicholas, who was the son of Matthias Smith. Neither of these Michaels had a wife listed in 1775. All of this is given to help identify the man.
My first question, and perhaps the most important one, is, "When did J. Michael Smith die?" I am not aware of any estate settlement for him. His major assets, the land, had been given away already.
It would be of interest to know who Catharina, the second wife, was.
The name J. Michael Smith appears outside of Culpeper County in Virginia, even as far afield as Pennsylvania. Does this name always refer to the same man, or were there two or more men of this name?
(01 Mar 02)
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