This Bible is believed to be now destroyed. These recordings presented here are from the notes, taken directly from the original Bible by Jane Wingo Smoot of Manchester, Coffee Co. Jane’s husband is Ralph Smoot, a direct descendant of William and Matilda Smoot.

The Bible had been maintain in the Smoot home on Old Shelbyville Road in southwest Warren County for well over a hundred years. It was removed from the Smoot home by a family member.

In 1968, Jane and two of Ralph’s brothers visited the new home of the Bible. Jane was allowed to copy the inscriptions. What is presented here are the notes made by Jane. In 1992, Jane allowed me to copy her notes. The following year, on a return visit, I checked my copy against her notes and we discussed her date entries and a question over the middle name of Sophia Smoot. Jane said she converted many of the dates to all numbers, so as to finish the job quickly. I will convert the dates back to original form. My notes will be in brackets [ ].

Fred Smoot

William Smoot Buried at Nashville [Jane’s note]
Born 9-6-1816 [6 Sep 1816]
Married July 16,1840

Matilda Anderson
Died Nov 1885, Vervilla [Matilda Anderson, wife of William Smoot.
She is buried at Old Philadelphia Cemetery, Vervilla, Warren County.]

Mary Elizabeth
Born 4-6-1843. [6 Apr 1843]
Died 5-9-1883. [9 May 1883]
[Married] Tom Henegar

Thomas Middleton
Born 8-13-1845 [13 Aug 1845]
Died 4-8-1868 [8 Apr 1868]

William Henley
Born 2-19-1847 [19 Feb 1847] 1
Died 9-3-1903 [ 3 Sep 1903]

Sophia Nunnley 2
Born 3-15-1849 [15 Mar 1849]
Died —

Joseph Murphy
Born 3-8-1851 [8 Mar 1851]
Died 9-13-1903 [13 Sep 1903] 1

Isaac Anderson
Born 3-4-1854 [4 Mar 1854]
Died —

Nancy
Born 3-12-1858 [12 Mar 1858]
Died —

John C. Smoot
Born 10-30-1860 [30 Oct 1860]
Died —

Virginia Ann
Born 3-11-1863 [11 Mar 1863]
Died 5-23-1876 [23 May 1876]

James Madison
Born 5-18-1868 [18 May 1868]

Daniel Smoot
(Brother of William) [Jane’s note]
Born 9-6-1814 [ 6 Sep 1814]
Died 4-17-1862 [17 Apr 1862] 3

End of Jane’s notes.

Notes:

1. The death dates for William Henley Smoot and Joseph Murphy Smoot are accurate. They died ten days apart.

2. The middle name of Sophia Smoot is believed to be “Kennedy.” Sophia is always recorded in county records with middle initial of “K.” Sophia’s paternal grandmother’s maiden name has been recorded as Mary Venettie Kennedy. Jane acknowledges the name was very difficult to read in the original.

3. Daniel Smoot is buried in the Pioneer Cemetery in Lynchburg, Tennessee. His head stone reads: Born Sept. 6 1814, Died April 17, 1863.