SMITH Jeremiah R9794 Margaret SMITH, widow, James SMITH, son (claim rejected for fraud.) Undated flyleaf from Bible. Jeremiah SMITH was born March 8, 1752 and married Margaret COLWELL March 31, 1771. Jeremiah SMITH this Bible bought in Charltown June 3, 1788(?) and paid fore dollars(?). 19 Jan. 1838 North Carolina, Secretary of States writes that his records show that Jeremiah SMITH enlisted in Capt. ALLEN’S 2nd regiment in 1777 and was discharged Jan. 30, 1780. Another Jeremiah SMITH enlistment is shown on Jan 1, 1782, under Capt. JONES in the 10th regiment: That Jeremiah SMITH died Sept. 14 1782.
25 April, 1838 Coffee County Tenn., Margaret SMITH aged 84 states she is the widow of Jeremiah SMITH who died Sept. 1823. They were married 31 Jan. 1777. He ensisted in 1777 under Capt. ALLEN 2nd regiment, and was discharged 30 Jan 1780. She was not married 17 June 1838 Lincoln County, N.C. Capt. Samuel CALDWELL aged 80, pensioner and a resident of this county, states he was well acquainted with Jeremiah SMITH and wife Margaret, and they were married in 1771.
18 June 1838 Lincoln County N.C. Lawson HENDERSON aged 66 states he became acquainted with Jeremiah and Margaret SMITH between 1776 and 1783 at which time they were living on the plantation belonging to affiant’s father on the south side of the Catawba River in this county. At that time SMITH was a blacksmith by trade. He understood then that SMITH had served in the Revolution and had married a woman by the name of CALDWELL who was a distant relative of the affiant’s father.
18 Sept. 1838 Carthage, Tenn. A. FERGUSSON of the Pension Office.
Enclosed is proof by Secretary of North Carolina that Jeremiah SMITH did serve. He was led to the proof by a clue from the soldier’s son, who stated that the father had received 640 acres of land for his service.
10 March 1842 Carthage, Tenn., A. FERGUSSON to Pension Office, states that Margaret SMITH is now dead and inquires whether an heir or any other person has taken action in the case. He wishes the office to survey the militia rolls to ascertain from which County in North Carolina SMITH served. He has heard of two possible witnesses to SMITH’S service but they live at a great distance.
30 March 1842 Pension Office to A. FERGUSSON. More proof is need to prove that Margaret is the widow of the same Jeremiah SMITH who serves. No application has been made in behalf of the heirs.
4 May 1842 Carthage, Tenn., A. SCOTT and W.E. JONES to Pension Office. Inquiry on behalf of some of the relatives whether any action has been taken on the application submitted two years ago by Adam FERGUSSON of this place. Mrs. SMITH lives in this county and did when she made her application. Undated Pension Office states FERGUSSON’S application was for resident of Coffee County, which must be a different Margaret SMITH.
29 May 1851 Sumner County, Tenn., John PATTERSON, in 85th year resident of this county states he was acquainted with Jeremiah or Jerry SMITH when he lived in Lincoln County, N.C., during the war, and married Margaret Caldwell. SMITH served part of his service under Capt. Henry DIXON and Gen. GREEN.
21 July 1852 Grundy County, Tenn. James SMITH claims his father Jeremiah SMITH served with the North Carolina regular troops. He died in 1823 leaving widow Margaret, affiant’s mother. affiant was the eight child is now 63 the oldest child, a female, if now living would be at least 75. Margaret SMITH died 25 Now 1845 leaving affiant, her only heir at law. Power of attorney is assigned to Taze W. NEWMAN.
Witness: Harris GILLIAM J.P. and William SMITH.
Harris GILLIAM J.P., states he was will acquainted with Jeremiah SMITH and vouches for James SMITH.
James BELL aged 78 states he became acquainted with Jeremiah SMITH in 1811 and that it was “a neighborhood report” in the early days of this settlement that SMITH had been a Revolutionary soldier.
Sarah SMITH aged 56 states she has heard Jeremiah SMITH speak of the depredations of the Tories on the people of North Carolina and mentioned that his wife had one child while he was in the service. Affiant was acquainted with the older children of Jeremiah SMITH.
14 Sept. 1853 Grundy County, Tenn., John SMITH aged 87 states he was raised in North Carolina and stayed with Jeremiah Smith’s wife and children while Jeremiah served . Affiant was too young to serve. They moved to Tennessee in company and lived in the same neighborhood. Margaret SMITH died in Grundy County. Sworn before Harris GILLIAM, Justice of the piece. Susannah SMITH aged 84 states that Jeremiah SMITH married a relative of hers and affiant was with Jeremiah’s wife when she had a child shortly after her husband entered the service. When Jeremiah returned from service “said child could run everywhere, being a good, smart child. Sworn before Harris GILLIAM, Justice of the Peace.
20 Jan. 1854 Washington Pension Office to Hon. W.M. CHURCHWEL, House of Representatives. Request that CHURCHWELL come to the office to review several applications from his district and give his opinion as to the “credibility and standing” of the claimants.
23 Jan. 1854 Washington, Pension Office to Taze NEWMAN at Winchester. Office suspects that NEWMAN has “… been imposed in by parties who superintended the execution of the depositions purporting to have been made by ‘John SMITH’ and ‘Susannah SMITH’, the signatures to which bear palpable evidence of having been written in an assumed hand.” The claim for a pension is therefore suspended.