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Smith Family Website This website will tell the story of Thomas Smith (1688-1768), who probably arrived in New England in 1719 with other Scotch-Irish immigrants, and is mentioned as an original settler of Chester, NH in the early 1720s. Little is known of Thomas' early family background, but one history says he may have come to Chester from Hampton. Another clue is found in some early land deeds. In one, he transfers land to "my loving & dutiful uncle Thomas Brown" and in another, he speaks of the "parental love and affection" he holds for his cousin Samuel Brown. These names suggest that Brown may have been Thomas' mother's maiden name. Around 1735 he moved to the area that would become New Boston, cleared the land, built a home and became its first settler. Goffstown News Article about Thomas Smith
Four of his sons are often mentioned in histories of that time - see the descendant lists for Samuel and John above. Another son, James, froze to death while traveling in New Boston. Son Reuben was living in the area in 1782, but was gone by the 1790 census - and local stories mention that he moved to the Passamoquoddy area in Maine after serving in the Revolution. Notes on the "Reuben Smith" quest Reuben may have been one of the many New Boston residents who joined the Cape Ann Association after being recruited in 1784 by the British who wanted settlers for the New Brunswick, Canada area. There is a "Ruben" Smith on the list of original settlers at Passamoquoddy, and this 1785 map of the settlement shows "Reuben" Smith's lot in the upper left quadrant. Many other familiar New Boston family names are listed also. Information about this possible branch of the family will be posted here as it is uncovered, and any contributions will be very welcome! Janice Castleman's New Boston Webpages New Boston Cemetery Thomas Smith 1756, 1776 & 1790 Census New Boston New Boston History History books about Chester, NH and New Boston, NH History of Old Chester from 1719 to 1869 (1869) by Benjamin Chase. 702 pages. History of New Boston, New Hampshire (1864) by Elliott Cogswell. 637 pages. (You'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader) |
The "Real" Smith Burying Yard - New Info
Some Other New Hampshire Cemeteries
Dodge/Balch Cemetery, Colburn Road, New Boston, NH
New Boston Cemetery, Cemetery Road, New Boston, NH
Old Hill Graveyard, Hovey Road, Londonderry, NH
Valley Cemetery, Pillsbury Road, Londonderry, NH
Chester Village Cemetery, Route 102, Chester, NH
Information about Early American Gravestones
Minor Revision July 2009
The Smith Family Website was created by Carolyn Agenjo in 2004.
This copy of her website www.smithfamilypages.org was created in 2022
by the New Boston Historical Society with the permission of Carolyn's family and will not be updated.
For up-to-date Smith Family genealogy please visit Roots of Eoghann which requires a no-charge registration.
Click here to return to the New Boston Historical Society website.