244. Capt. Dennis Smith (1738-1829) Age 91
D. A. R. Ancestor Number A105114
Dennis Smith was born about 1738 in Germany, a son of Dennis Schmidt. He married Elizabeth Zook 14 or 15 Nov 1771 in Pennsylvania and soon after served in the Revolutionary War.
Dennis lived in Washington County, Pennsylvania, in an area which would later become Greene County.
Dennis was a sergeant in Captain George Myers' Company in the Washington County Militia. He served seven years and for his service was granted a land warrant for 500 acres in the Virginia Military District, which he located in Stonelick Township in Clermont County, Ohio. Dennis never lived there, but his sons, Joseph, Christopher, and David, and his son-in-law, James Seals, settled the area. There are several accounts stating that Dennis visited his sons and son-in-law once after they settled and remained several months, returning to Pennsylvania afterward.
In Pennsylvania, Dennis had settled on land warranted to Job Walton, which he patented 25 Mar 1806 under the title "Patience", located in Washington Township.
Dennis lived in Washington County, Pennsylvania, in an area which would later become Greene County.
Dennis was a sergeant in Captain George Myers' Company in the Washington County Militia. He served seven years and for his service was granted a land warrant for 500 acres in the Virginia Military District, which he located in Stonelick Township in Clermont County, Ohio. Dennis never lived there, but his sons, Joseph, Christopher, and David, and his son-in-law, James Seals, settled the area. There are several accounts stating that Dennis visited his sons and son-in-law once after they settled and remained several months, returning to Pennsylvania afterward.
In Pennsylvania, Dennis had settled on land warranted to Job Walton, which he patented 25 Mar 1806 under the title "Patience", located in Washington Township.
Dennis died 27 Aug 1829 in Greene County, Pennsylvania, and is buried in the Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery in Lippincott, Greene County, Pennsylvania.
Calvary Baptist Church and Cemetery on Lippincott Road, Greene County, Pennsylvania. Image from Google maps.
From the Observer-Reporter, Washington, Pennsylvania - 17 Dec 1976:
"Dennis Smith was born about 1738 and died in Greene County, Pa. August 29, 1829. On 12-29-1838 his widow, Elizabeth, applied for a widow's pension based on his Revolutionary War service. She was then residing in Clermont County, Ohio. She alleged that her husband, Dennis Smith, while residing in Washington County, Pa., served about four years as a private and was in the battles of Bunker Hill and Brandywine. Part of the time he served in Capt. James Seals' Company of Col. Thomas Crooks' Regiment. She was married to Dennis Smith on Nov. 14 or 15, 1771, in the state of Pennsylvania. She moved to Clermont County in the fall of 1829, after the death of her husband.
The pension was not allowed due to a lack of proof of his service and Elizabeth Smith died Sept. 19, 1845 in Stone Lick Township, Clermont County, Ohio. The children of Dennis and Elizabeth Smith were listed as Elizabeth Johns, Peter, Susan, Berry, Joseph, Polly, Dennis, Sarah, Hannah Wiggins, Catherine Seals, Christopher, David, Rachel Foster and Abraham. The eldest was born in 1772 and the youngest in 1799. Joseph and Sarah died before their mother; Peter, Dennis and Hannah died before 1852, when David, Catherine and Christopher were living in Clermont County. Other sources give her maiden name as Elizabeth Zook."
"Denni[s] Smith is said to be buried in the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery in Morgan Township in an unmarked grave."
Last Will and Testament of Dennis Smith
(Transcription of the Will of Dennis Smith from the Greene County, PA, Courthouse.)
NOTE: The following transcription was made from a copy of the entry in the will book. Some correction has been made in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar, in order to facilitate the readability of this document.
NOTE: The following transcription was made from a copy of the entry in the will book. Some correction has been made in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar, in order to facilitate the readability of this document.
Will Book 1, Page 362
No. 636
Will of Dennis Smith, Senior, deceased
I, Dennis Smith, considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound mind and memory, blessed be Almighty God, do make and publish this, my last Will and Testament; that is to say, I devise to my son Abraham all the homestead tract of land whereon I now live, in fee simple, with all the rights, privileges and appurtenances thereto belonging; provided my said son Abraham shall well and faithfully provide convenient and comfortable food, clothing and lodging, fitting for the declining years of myself and Elizabeth my beloved wife, in health and in sickness, during our joint lives and the life of the survivor of us; and provided also, that he, my said son Abraham, shall pay to my Executors, hereinafter named, for the use of my other children, as hereinafter provided seven hundred dollars: to wit, fifty dollars at my death, and fifty dollars annually thereafter until the whole sum be paid – and I give and bequeath to my son Peter one hundred and eighteen dollars; to the heirs and representatives of Joseph my son, deceased, one dollar; to my son Dennis fifteen dollars; to my son David fifty dollars; and to my son Christopher, eighty-two dollars. The sums thus bequeathed to my five sons, added to the several advancements made to them respectively amount to three hundred dollars each; except David’s which is fifty dollars more because he had his house burnt.
I also give and bequeath to my daughter Catharine Seals fifty-three dollars and twenty cents; to my daughter Elizabeth Johns fifty-six dollars and twenty cents; to my daughter Hannah Huffman forty dollars; to my daughter Rachel Foster one hundred and fifteen dollars; and to my daughter Susannah Millikin eighty-four dollars; and I give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah Meeks one dollar. The sums thus bequeathed, added to the sums already advanced to my daughters respectively, make two hundred dollars each, except Sarah Meeks, who had ample advancements in monies received by her husband, Jacob Meeks, with which he purchased land. The residue of my estate I give and bequeath to my six daughters, Catharine, Elizabeth, Hannah, Rachel, Mary Iams, and Susannah Millikin in equal parts, share and share alike, except my daughter Mary shall have fifteen dollars and sixty-five cents less than the other five, she having received in advancements that sum more than their two hundred dollars and I direct that the funeral expenditure of myself, and of my beloved wife if she survives me, be made out of my effects, – and I hereby appoint and constitute my good and trusty friends William Seals and Samuel Black, my executors of this, my last Will and Testament.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the eighteenth day of January one-thousand eight hundred and twenty-six.
No. 636
Will of Dennis Smith, Senior, deceased
I, Dennis Smith, considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound mind and memory, blessed be Almighty God, do make and publish this, my last Will and Testament; that is to say, I devise to my son Abraham all the homestead tract of land whereon I now live, in fee simple, with all the rights, privileges and appurtenances thereto belonging; provided my said son Abraham shall well and faithfully provide convenient and comfortable food, clothing and lodging, fitting for the declining years of myself and Elizabeth my beloved wife, in health and in sickness, during our joint lives and the life of the survivor of us; and provided also, that he, my said son Abraham, shall pay to my Executors, hereinafter named, for the use of my other children, as hereinafter provided seven hundred dollars: to wit, fifty dollars at my death, and fifty dollars annually thereafter until the whole sum be paid – and I give and bequeath to my son Peter one hundred and eighteen dollars; to the heirs and representatives of Joseph my son, deceased, one dollar; to my son Dennis fifteen dollars; to my son David fifty dollars; and to my son Christopher, eighty-two dollars. The sums thus bequeathed to my five sons, added to the several advancements made to them respectively amount to three hundred dollars each; except David’s which is fifty dollars more because he had his house burnt.
I also give and bequeath to my daughter Catharine Seals fifty-three dollars and twenty cents; to my daughter Elizabeth Johns fifty-six dollars and twenty cents; to my daughter Hannah Huffman forty dollars; to my daughter Rachel Foster one hundred and fifteen dollars; and to my daughter Susannah Millikin eighty-four dollars; and I give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah Meeks one dollar. The sums thus bequeathed, added to the sums already advanced to my daughters respectively, make two hundred dollars each, except Sarah Meeks, who had ample advancements in monies received by her husband, Jacob Meeks, with which he purchased land. The residue of my estate I give and bequeath to my six daughters, Catharine, Elizabeth, Hannah, Rachel, Mary Iams, and Susannah Millikin in equal parts, share and share alike, except my daughter Mary shall have fifteen dollars and sixty-five cents less than the other five, she having received in advancements that sum more than their two hundred dollars and I direct that the funeral expenditure of myself, and of my beloved wife if she survives me, be made out of my effects, – and I hereby appoint and constitute my good and trusty friends William Seals and Samuel Black, my executors of this, my last Will and Testament.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the eighteenth day of January one-thousand eight hundred and twenty-six.
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The word Hundred rased [sic] out before sined [sic]
Witnesses present – Samuel Braden Isaac Kerr |
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| Dennis Smith (seal) | |
I hereby add this as a codicil to this, my last will and testament. I revoke so much of the above will as appoints Samuel Black as one of my executors – it being my will that there should only be one executor. In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal the fifth of May 1828.
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Signed, sealed, published and declared in presence of, who
in his presence and by his request have hereto subscribed as witnesses. Isaac Kerr - Samuel Braden |
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| Dennis Smith (seal) | |
Will of Dennis Smith from the Green County, Pennsylvania, Courthouse. Will Book 1, Page 362.
Page 363
Greene County SS
(Seal) On the 31st day of August in the year of our Lord one-thousand eight hundred and twenty-nine, before me, Levi Rinehart, Register for the Probate of Wills and granting letters of administration in and for said County, personally came Samuel Braden and Isaac Kerr, the two subscribing witnesses within named and on their solemn oaths did depose and say that they were present and saw and heard Dennis Smith, the Testator within named sign, seal, publish, pronounce and declare the foregoing and annexed instrument of writing as and for his last will and testament and that at the time of doing thereof, he was of sound disposing mind, memory and understanding to the best of their knowledge, observation and belief.
Sworn and subscribed the day above | Samuel Braden
written before me. | Isaac Kerr
Levi Rinehart – Register.
Registered the 31st August 1829 and letters testamentary granted to William Seals, Executor, the same day – with copy of will annexed.
September 22nd Inventory filed.
Will of Dennis Smith from the Green County, Pennsylvania, Courthouse. Will Book 1, Page 363.