David Smith and Rebecca Lindley
compiled by Patricia Freeman Hardin
(PHOTOS & DOCUMENTS)
[This link will take you to another website. To best view the images you will need to click on the image to get a full view. You can also enlarge each image by clicking on the small "magnifying glass" tool above the image and to the right. You can copy the images by right clicking on each image and copying. To return to "Pat and Bill Hardin" website click on the "Back" arrow.]
David Smith was born in the year 1760 and died 27 March 1833. He was the son of Job Smith. David’s mother was possibly named Hannah. David Smith married Rebecca Lindley, daughter of James and Mary Cox Lindley. Rebecca was born in 9 Aug 1763 in Orange County, NC and died 22 Apr 1857 in Walton County GA. They were married in March 1782 in Abbeville District, SC.
David Smith lived in 96 District of Pendleton County, SC. He received a Grant on 28 May 1788 for 640 acres on branch of 23 Mile Creek of the Savannah River. David is listed in various deeds as a miller and in 1802 he sold his one half of both grist mill and saw mill that he was an equal co-partner with William Rankin. Both mills were located on 23 Mile Creek. David is listed in the 1790 and 1800 census in Pendleton County living near his father, Job Smith, Sr. and several of his siblings. David’s brother Benjamin married Ruth Lindley who was a sister of Rebecca.
About 1807 he and his family moved to what was then Jackson County, than later became Walton County and is now Barrow County, GA. Some of his descendants still live on the property today. David and Rebecca are buried on their land in the David Smith Family Cemetery on Hog Mountain Road (GA-53) in Winder, Barrow County. The cemetery is well maintained by the family.
David Smith was a Revolutionary War soldier. He served as a private in the South Carolina Militia under Captains Robert Maxfield, John Laurens and Peter Burns and Colonels Wade Hampton and Andrew Pickens, all under the command of General Thomas Sumter. He also was a scout against the Indians and was involved in several skirmishes. He wife Rebecca received a Widow's Pension for his service. The Sunbury Chapter NSDAR of Winder, Georgia placed a marker at his grave. Several Sunbury Chapter members are descendants of David Smith.
Among the papers filed for Rebecca Lindley Smith to receive a widow’s pension are copies of affidavits written by several of her relatives. Most of these affidavits state what their relationship was to Rebecca. Jonathan Lindley testified that he was Rebecca's brother. He stated that he was born in Abbeville District, SC and that he was 81 years old at the time that he gave the affidavit on Sept. 9, 1852. This affidavit was taken in Cobb County, GA where Jonathan was a resident at the time according to the affidavit. Jonathan states that his father was killed in the Revolutionary War and that shortly after the war, Rebecca married David Smith and that soon after he (Jonathan) went to live with them and continued to live with them until he was grown. According to an affidavit, Jonathan Lindley was living in Cobb County, GA with his son Jonathan Lindley, Jr. who was 43 years old in 1851. Jonathan, Jr. referred to Rebecca Smith as is aunt. Another affidavit was given by Mary Abercrombie who said that she was sister to Rebecca Smith. Mary was 86 years old in 1855, then living in Laurens District, SC. She stated that for 5 years of the war she was living in North Carolina. Another affidavit was given by William Lindley who referred to Rebecca Smith as sister of his father, Thomas Lindley. William Lindley was a resident of Laurens District, SC and 70 years old in 1855. Another affidavit was given by Mrs. Nancy Bolt, living in Laurens District, SC and 67 years old in 1855. Nancy Bolt was Nancy Lindley Bolt (Mrs. John Bolt). She was a niece of Rebecca Lindley Smith. Nancy's father was Thomas Lindley. Additional Affidavits included in Rebecca’s application for Widow’s Claim are from Rebecca and her daughter, Catherine Clack. Both affidavits provide valuable information on the children and grandchildren of Rebecca and David Smith and also mention his David’s brother, Benjamin Smith.
Rebecca’s parents came from Quaker families. Rebecca’s father, James Lindley was born in Chester County, PA in 1735. He moved with his parents to Orange County, NC. James married in 1754 to Mary Cox in North Carolina where nine of their ten children were born. About 1768 they moved their family to South Carolina where they lived on Rabon Creek in Granville County, now Laurens County. James owned a large amount of land and built Lindley’s Fort to protect his family and other settlers against Indian raids. [Lindley’s Fort west of Laurens off SC-252 on county road S 30-398, is marked with a Historical Marker and listed in the National Register.] James was licensed by the Crown to keep an Ordinary in his home. James was commissioned a Crown Justice-of-the-Peace in South Carolina until the Revolution. The State Assembly appointed him a Justice for Ninety-Six District in 1776 but James remained loyal to the Crown and became Captain in the provincial militia. He was captured and released several times, but after being captured at the Battle of Kettle Creek in Wilkes County GA he was tried, convicted and hanged for treason at Ninety-Six in 1779. [Ninety-Six is now a National Historic Site operated by the National Park Service]. Two of Rebecca’s brothers were murdered for their support of the Crown.
One of the major battles of the Revolution in North Carolina was the “Battle of Lindley’s Mill” [also known as “The Battle of Cane Creek”] in 1881 just before the end of the Revolution. The mill belonged to Rebecca’s grandfather, Thomas Lindley. Although Thomas Lindley probably did not participate in the battle he died as a result of wounds received during the scuffle. [Lindley’s Mill Historical Marker, Lindley’s Mill Road, Graham, NC]
Even though the Quakers were not men of war and preferred to petition or discussion to settle disagreements, the Lindley’s became involved in the war.
Children of David and Rebecca Smith:
1. James Smith, b. c.1783 in Ninety Six Dist., SC; d. February 1850 in GA married Sarah (possibly Sarah Ragsdale). Sarah was born c. 1780, d. aft 1870 in GA.
2. Mary Smith, b. c.1785 in Ninety Six Dist., SC; d. aft 1857 in Walton Co., GA.
3. Ruth Smith, b. c.1787 in Ninety Six Dist., SC; d. abt 1802 in Pendleton Dist., SC (age 15).
4. Joseph Smith, b. c.1789 in Pendleton Co., SC; d. aft 1857.
5. Job Smith, b. 15 Feb 1793 in Pendleton Co., SC; d. June 8, 1840 in Walton (now Barrow) Co., GA. He married 10 Aug 1817 in Jackson Co GA to Nancy Camp b. 7 Mar 1795 in SC; d. 27 Nov 1887 in Walton (now Barrow) Co., GA. Both are buried in the David Smith Family Cemetery on Hog Mountain Rd, Winder, GA.
6. Catherine Smith, b. 9 Feb 1795 in Pendleton Co., SC; d. 1860 in Walton Co, GA. She married on 1 Dec 1810 in Jackson Co GA to George Washington Clack, d. bef 1850.
7. Hannah Smith, b. 1797 in Pendleton Co., SC; d. aft 1857 in GA. She married Mr. Johnson (possibly James Johnson).
8. John Smith, b. abt 1799 in Pendleton Co., SC; d. aft 1860 probably in Gwinnett Co GA. He married abt 1830 to Nancy (possibly Bowen) b. abt 1806, d. aft 1860 probably in Gwinnett Co GA.
9. Elizabeth Smith, b. c.1802 in Pendleton Dist., SC; d. aft 1860 probably in Walton Co GA. She married Mr. Williams (possibly Templeton Williams).
Sources:
1. Affidavts from Rebecca Smith’s Widow’s Pension Claim # 6082 for her husband’s service in Revolutionary War. Record from US National Archives.
2. “Smith Wills-Deeds & Family Histories, Vol. 1” Compiled by: Linda G. Cheek, 1993, p. 397.
3. US Census for 1790, 1800 of Pendleton County SC.
4. Pendleton County, SC
Conveyance Book B, 1701-1795, pages 2-3. Conveyance Book C-D, 1795-1799, page 343, page 381.
Conveyance Book F, 1800-1802, Pages 122-123.
Conveyance Book G, 1801-1804, Page 121.
Conveyance Book H, 1804-1807, Pages 38-39 & pages 457-460.
5. Jackson County Deed Book E, 1808-1812
Page 524. "Jackson County, Georgia Deed Abstracts, Books E - G, 1808 – 1822, by Faye Stone Poss. 2000. Page 111-112.
6. US Federal Census for 1850, Walton County GA, 88 Division; Page 50, Dwelling 697.
7. Rebecca Smith Estate in Walton County GA Court of Ordinary, Wills & Records on Estates, Book M, 1858-1860, p. 459-463.
8. “The Battle of Lindley’s Mill” by Algie I. Newlin, (Emeritus Professor of History Guilford College, Greensboro, NC), 1975. Published by The Alamance Historical Association, P.O. Box 411, Burlington, NC.
9. “Dictionary of North Carolina Biography, Vol. 4” edited by William S. Powell. Page 67.
10. Orange County NC Court Records.
11. Alamance County NC Court Records.
12. “South Carolina Deed Abstracts 1719-1772, Vol IV, 1767-1773, Books I-3,E-4” abstracted by Clare A. Langley.
13. “Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy” by William Wade Hinshaw. 1969.
14. Laurens County, SC Public Library, Lindley folder.