Person Page 2,452

William Harrison Smith

Parents

Children with Frances Jane Calvert (b. circa 1763, d. about 1855)

Son	David Smith
Son	William Smith
Son	Jacob Smith
Son	Benjamin Franklin Smith+ (b. 2 December 1787, d. 1 October 1848)

Biography

DNA Verified		17 DNA matches through William Harrison Smith
Birth	about 1762	He was born about 1762 in Edgefield, Edgefield, South Carolina, United StatesBGO.1
Military	1779	He served in the military in 1779 in Edgefield, Edgefield, South Carolina, United StatesBGO. William Smith was born 1762 and died March 17, 1848 in Edgefield just a few months before his son died. Frances was born 1763 in Virginia of unknown parentage and died in South Carolina after 1850 and before 1860. The children of William and Frances are Benjamin F, David, William, Jacob, and an unnamed son and daughter. All were born in Edgefield County. In 1779, at the tender age of 17, William Smith enlisted as a volunteer in Captain Henry Foster’s Company, South Carolina Regiment commanded by Colonel Leroy Hammond, and joined General Williamson’s Brigade at Liberty Hill opposite Augusta, Georgia. He then joined with General Lincoln’s army until after the battle of Stonewall. He again volunteered under Captain Toules (Towles) and joined General Greene’s army at the siege of Ninety-Six (The town of Ninety-Six). William was well acquainted with the area so was used during the siege to forage and provide provisions for the troops. He was attached as a guard to the wagons sent to Anderson’sMill on the Saluda River to procure meal for the army. He was separated from Greene’s army and lost a valuable horse in the retreat from 96. After the army retreated to North Carolina William remained in South Carolina as a scout against the Tories under Captain Pickens and Captain Toules. Eight months later he enlisted under Captain Sinqufield to build a block house at Anderson’s Mill on Saluda River with the purpose of overthrowing the Tories and providing refuge for the Whigs (Patriots). He acted as a scout for the remainder of the war. William’s pension application reveals that on November 21, 1837 Samuel Deen swore before James Maynard, JP that he knew William well during the Revolutionary War and that “he is a man whose character for veracity entitleshis statements made on oath to full credence”. (Revolutionary War Papers, William Smith W3729, BLWt 26259-160-55) Frances Smith’s widow’s pension application relates that she herself rendered service independent of William’s during the Revolution. It was she and Behetheland Butler who, at great personal risk, paddled a canoe up the Saluda River to 96 to inform Captain Wallace of the imminent approach of the English under Lord Rawdon thereby providing the Patriot forces time to retreat to North Carolina where they were able to live to fight another day.2
Marriage	2 September 1784	He and Frances Jane Calvert were married on 2 September 1784 in Edgefield, Edgefield, South Carolina, United StatesBGO.
Military	1812	He served in the military in 1812 in United StatesBGO.1
Residence	1840	He lived in Edgefield, Edgefield, South Carolina, United StatesBGO, in 1840.1
Military	between 1848 and 1862	He served in the military between 1848 and 1862 in South Carolina, United StatesBGO.1
Residence	between 1848 and 1862	He lived in South Carolina, USABG, between 1848 and 1862.3
Death	17 March 1848	He died on 17 March 1848 at age ~86 in Edgefield, Edgefield, South Carolina, United StatesBGO.

Citations

1. [S601] Young Family Tree, William Harrison Smith
2. [S227] Information from Leila Mayberry (3411 Lee Road 166, Opelika, AL 36804). (.)
3. [S864] Ancestry.com, U.S., Revolutionary War Pensioners, 1801-1815, 1818-1872, The National Archives; Washington, D.C.; Ledgers of Payments, 1818-1872, to U.S. Pensioners Under Acts of 1818 Through 1858 From Records of the Office of the Third Auditor of the Treasury; Record Group Title: Records of the Accounting Officers of the Depa