Peter Smith

  General Notes:

Peter known as Peter Smith of Round Hill. In 1764 he purchased 202 acres in Orange County, NC from George Counts known as Hogans Creek on Round Hill Branch. Caswell was formed from Orange in 1777 and Peter's property was in that part which became Caswell County. The farm was located on the northside of Hogans Creek on the Round Hill branch. There were several Peter Smiths in Caswell at that time and this
helped sometimes in distinguishing him.

Two books have been done on our Smiths (that I'm aware of).

Peter Smith: Some of His Virginia, North Carolina, and Kentucky Descendants.
1973 and Revised 1985, by Miss Pearl O. Smith, 217 East Elm Street, Marion,KY
42064-1622 (current).

Peter Smith of Westmoreland County, VA (Died 1741) and Some Descendants,
1996, by Richard Bender Abell and Wilmer Lane Smith. Richard Abell's address
was 8209 Chancery Court, Alexandria, VA 22308 and Wilmer Smith, 308
Allworthy Street, Port Charlotte, FL 33954. Their book included much of
Pearl's data adding their own descendants.


Peter Smith 1793

Source: Caswell Co., North Carolina Will Book C Folio 249. NC State Archives

In the name of God Amen. I Peter Smith, of Caswell County state of North Carolina, for diverse good causes and considerations, now hereunto moveing have made constituted and appointed this my last will and testament, in the following manner.

Item first. I give to my daughter Elizabeth, her heirs etc. a certain Negro woman named Jane, a horse, saddle and bridle and feather bed, etc. now in her and her husbands possession.

Next I give to my daughter Martha a Negro girl named Bess, a horse, saddle and bridle and Feather bed and furniture.

Next I give to my son Jesse a negro boy named Lewis.

Next I give to my son Moses a negro boy named Edmond.

Next I give to my son Aaron a negro girl named Fannie, and I will that all my other property estate consisting of land, negroes, stock, household furniture, etc., be equally divided between the rest of my sons, to wit: James, William, Pressley, George, John B., Elias and Elijah, except my Negro man Anthony, who tho not absolutely free, I will that he have liberty to have his own choice from time to time, to serve which of my children he shall choose, and not to be confined to any one particular, but if ill treated by one, to have liberty to go to another as he shall see fit, and not to be sold to any other person.

In testimony whereof, I set my hand and seal this 18th day of April Seventeen hundred and ninety three 1793, and I appoint John Windsor, Richard Hornbuckle, and my son William W. Smith executors of this my last will and testament.

Signed Peter Smith

Teste
Jas. Grant Junr.
Jeptha Rice
Henry Ferrel

Caswell County, October Court, 1797.
The executors of this Will was duly proved in open court by the oaths of James Grant and Jeptha Rice, subscribing witnesses, and on motion, ordered to be recorded.
A.C. Murphy, Clerk

Note: Records show that the following children of Peter Smith and Jemima Simpson came to Muhlenberg County: James Simpson, John Bailey, Pressley Wheeler, William Wiggington, Aaron Fairfax, Elias Guess, Moses F. and Martha (Smith) Blackwell Roberts.

Peter married Jemima Simpson, daughter of George Simpson and Susannah Wheeler, about 1764 in Virginia. (Jemima Simpson was born on 17 Mar 1743 in Fairfax, Virginia and died before 18 Apr 1793 in Caswell County, North Carolina.)