Samuel Smith is my fourth great-grandfather.  He married Elizabeth Bending about 1784 in Maryland – most likely Prince George’s County.  Samuel’s baptismal record is listed as April 8, 1755, in Prince George’s County, leaving us to believe his birth date was in late March or before the 8^th of April in 1755.  Elizabeth Bending was the daughter of John Bending and Monica Keath. 

Samuel and Elizabeth Smith came to Kentucky in 1790, when it was still a part of Virginia, and came to the Cartwright’s Creek settlement.  The first church, built in 1798, was St. Ann’s Catholic Church.  Many of the old pioneers are buried in St. Ann’s graveyard – but no stones survive to tell their stories.  St. Rose was built in 1806.   

In Samuel’s will he gives the land and homestead to wife Elizabeth.  Thomas and Samuel (my ancestor) are younger sons and are to be given a bed and furniture equal value to what the older children were given when they married.  Sons John B. and Thomas C. are named executors to their father’s will.  From the marriage records of Washington County, I found that Samuel E. Smith married Nancy Cusick July 31, 1823.  John B. Smith married Elizabeth Dant May 6, 1822, then married Mary E. Palmer October 23, 1823 – could this be the same John B. Smith with Elizabeth Dant passing away shortly after their marriage?   Thomas Smith married Louisa Dant January 28, 1823.  I am unsure of marriages for possible daughters.

Will of Samuel Smith

Washington County Kentucky Will Book C Page 423-424

In the name of God, Amen.  I, Samuel Smith, of the County of Washington and State of Kentucky, being debilitated in body but of sound memory and understanding, do institute and ordain this to be my last will and testament in manner and form as follows, to wit, my soul I resign to my creator who gave it me and as to my worldly goods, after all my just debts and funeral expenses are paid, I will and bequeath as follows:

Item First.  I give and bequeath unto my wife, Elizabeth Smith, the sixty-two and ¾ acres of land on which we are now living together, with all improvements thereon to her only proper use and benefit for and during her natural life and after her death to be sold on a credit of twelve months to the highest bidder, he bond and good security for the purchase money, when collected, to be equally divided among all my children.  I also give and bequeath unto my wife Elizabeth all the provisions of every kind we shall have ? in at my death for the support of the family, also the crops then growing and the flax collected and wool received or 8 ?, also her saddle and bridle and the leather and all the poultry of every description.  Also, one bed and furniture, her choice of them.

Item Second.  All the balance of my estate not herein bequeathed I will and devise to be sold at public auction and credit of twelve months before the said sale my sons Thomas and Samuel is to have a bed and furniture and equal in value to those I gave my other children when married, and after my wife draws her third part of the proceeds of said sale, which I solemnly give her the remainder there is to be equally divided and among all my children.  Those that are married adding first into the aggregate or whole amount the residue of all I gave them in marriage receipt, the bed and furniture given to each one.  Thomas my eldest is also to have the worth the mare I gave him, five dollars, twelve and a half cents I paid, and I give my son Samuel over once above his part as before devised all my wearing apparel of every description.

Item Three.  I do hereby constitute and appoint my two sons, John B. Smith and Thomas C. Smith, Executors to this my last will and testament.  Witness my / and seal this 17^th of December 1821.

Samuel Smith

Signed, sealed and delivered by the said Samuel Smith, he being in his perfect senses at the time, before us – John Lancaster, Ignatius Medley

At a County Court began and held for Washington County on Monday the 8^th day of April 1822.  This last will and testament of Samuel Smith, deceased, was produced in court and proved by the oaths of John Lancaster and Ignatius Medley, subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded and on the motion of John B. Smith and Thomas C. Smith, the Executors therein named, they having executed

and acknowledged bond with Ignatius Medley, their security, in the penalty of $1,000, administered as the law requires, a certificate is granted them to obtain a probate thereof in due form of law.

John Hughes, C.W.C.