Supplement to Norwalk, Conn., Volume One: Genealogy

Lewis, son of Eliakim'2'"1 and Lydia Smith, was born October 30, 1784. His early child- hood was spent in the house still standing (15 Ann Street). The house which his grandfather, Eliakim Smith1"1 had built upon that site had been burned by the British in 1779 and the present house was erected in 1788. Close by was Rusco Creek, in which, in childhood, he sailed his little boats. When seven years old his father, who owned and commanded a schooner, took him to New York, and thence to Little Egg Harbor. In 1804, having received a nautical education, he made a long voyage, being away from home fourteen months. In 1805 he embarked upon a United States Custom House brig, receiving a commission from Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States, and James Madison, Secretary of State. In 1810 he commanded a ship. The year in which war was declared against Great Britain he entered the service, and during the struggle assisted in capturing ninety cannon and four hundred and one prisoners. He faced the mouth of the enemy's guns while his companions were killed at his side. He also commanded two private armed schooners. He left Nor- walk (to assume charge of these) by stage on the 7th of October, and arrived at New Bedford on the 9th. In December following he was chased for six hours and then captured by the British blockading squadron. He was on Commodore Hardy's ship for seventeen days, where he was well treated. The Commodore took pleasure in conversing with him, and on the morning of his release he breakfasted with the Commodore, who requested him to tell the inhabitants of Stonington that if they molested him with any of their fireships or torpedoes, he would surely knock their town down about their ears. Commodore Hardy offered to give him a license to trade with any of the fleet under his command. The brave Norwalk youth thanked him, but declined the favor. He landed at Stonington. When the inhabitants were informed of Commodore Hardy's intention regarding their conduct in molesting him, it did not appear to alarm them. He was in service at sea when peace was declared. In Jan- uary, 1816, he united with the Congregational Church in Norwalk, of which Rev. Roswell Swan was pastor. He removed to New York in 1820, and in January, 1821, united with the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York, of which he remained a member till the end of his life. He was widely known and his Christian character greatly admired. Lewis Smith married in May, 1808, Elizabeth, daughter of Benjamin and Catharine (Raymond) Weed, and had William Lewis, born February 16, 181 1 ; Ann Eliza, born March 5, 1813 (Mrs. Dr. L. D. Gale);1 Clara Augusta (Mrs. William Allen first, and, second, Mrs. 'The children of Dr. Leonard D. and Ann Eliza (Smith) Gale were Clara Augusta (Mrs. William Al- len first, and, second, Mrs. Edward O.Graves). Mrs. William Allen had Clarence Gale Allen, who married Martha McKee of Washington, D. C. The children of Mrs. Edward O. Graves were Jessie, Bertram and Evelyn. Dr. Leonard D. Gale assisted Prof. Morse in his electrical work. Himself and Morse w Iked from Baltimore to Washington in the work of superinten- dence of putting up wires for the first telegraph line. In their experiments Dr. Gale had thirty miles of wire stretched around his room, and Morse a shorter dis- tance of the metal. The discoveries of both were united. See Century Magazine, 1888. Morse and Gale are closely linked names. 434 NORWALK. Edward O. Graves); Lydia Esther, born January g, 1816 (unmarried); Harriet Augusta,1 born December 3, 1821 ; Mary, born November 9, 1824 (Mrs. Henry Bushnell Sheldon);2 Catharine (unmarried). The Norwalk Jamaica, L. I., Smith blood emenates from Ebenezer Smith of said Jamaica, and has mention on pages 186, 213, 262 and 263. The earliest names of such of that branch of the Smith household as have Norwalk registry are Robert, John, Abraham, Samuel and Mary (Mrs. John Gregory, Jr., of 1735). JOSEPH AND EUNICE SMITH LINEAGE. At least three of the children, Eliphalet, Hezekiah and Gershom B. of the above captioned Smiths established homes in Norwalk and Westport. The first, located in Cran- berry Plains, the second, in Saugatuck, and the last on Norwalk Island. The family is prob- ably of Dong Island origin, and constitutes a distinct branch of the name. Eliphalet married Olive Gregory; Hezekiah, Emma Meeker, and Gershom B., first, Sarah Finch, and, second, Temperance Sheffield. The complete Joseph and Eunice Smith3 family roll is Rachel born March 21, 1759, Eliphalet, February 25, 1761, Joseph, May 27, 1763, Sarah (Mrs. Abraham Pulling), September 29, 1765, Eunice, January 23, 1768, Hezekiah, January 18, 1770, Huldah, January 29, 1773, Priscilla (Mrs. John Duncan), September 28, 1775, Belinda, September 14, 1777, Gershom Burr, February 9, 1780, and Walter, January 15, 1784. The widow Eunice was in 1786 one of the administrators of her late husband's estate and in 1807 both parents were deceased. Their daughter Eunice married John Lockwood (see page 423). Their son Hezekiah has reference on page 223. Gershom B. Smith was Norwalk Island identified. He sold a portion of the island to the government and for some thirty years he had charge of the light there established about seventy years ago. Norwalk light, remarked one of the New York dailies over a half century ago, is reliable. Mr. Smith's stately fashioned home thereat is a pleasant memory to- day. The original house which survived, for years, Mr. Smith's residence, was in existence, seem- ingly, as long ago as the days of Nathan Reed. In 1793, Noah Smith sold that house with ten acres of surrounding land to Joseph Franklin White, son of Joseph Moss White of Dan- bury. On January 24, 1804, Mr. J. F. White and wife Betsey sold for $6,000 "Little Long Island, or Smith's Island or White's Island" to Robert Sheffield, a ship master of New York. 1 Harriet Augusta, daughter of Lewis and Eliza- beth Smith, married Thomas E. Lee and had Lewis Smith, Harriet Augusta, Florence Pohlman, and Alice. Lewis Smith Lee married Clara Paulison and had Howard Sheldon, born June, 1883, and Paul Paulison, born November, 1885. A granddaughter of Lewis Smith, Miss Florence Pohlman Lee, takes a most loyal and loving interest in her Norwalk Smith ancestry. She makes periodical visits to the town and tenderly cares for her kindred's resting places in its soil. These kindred rest in Union and Pine Island cemeteries. The latter burial placeis Norwalk-ancient. 2 Henry Bushnell and Mary (Smith) Sheldon had Augusta, Henry Bushnell and Elizabeth. Henry Bushnell Sheldon married Charlotte S. Sutphen. 3Joseph Smith, (Eunice wife) the parent of Ger- shom B. Smith and his brothers Eliphalet, Hezekiah, Joseph and Walter, appears to have been from the Richard, Samuel, Joseph and Thomas Long Island Smith stock. Samuel was the founder of "Smith Ridge," and this section of the large Smith family seem to have established "Smith Hills," near Poplar Plains, and to have settled in near by Weston, which was anciently within the bounds of Fairfield. The Noah and Robert (Hadley and Jamaica) Smith lines are entirely distinct, not alone from each other, but from the Samuel Smith branch. SMITH— INTERPAGE. Lieutenant Samuel Smith, mentioned in paragraph two, page 431, died, it has been ascertained, some four or so years before 1685 (1680-1 ). His son Kiliab had children other than those indicated in next paragraph, viz : John, born October, 1661 (married Martha Golding) ; Sarah, born April, 1673 (died young); Hester, born 1674 (Mrs. Nathaniel Ingraham);1 a child who died in infancy ; Elizabeth, born February, 1678 (Mrs. James Smith); Mary, born 1681 (Mrs. Preserved Smith, first, and, second, Mrs. Peter Mon- tague) : Kiliab2"'1, born August, 1683, (died in infancy); Kiliab8ri, born Febru- ary, 1685 (married Mary Golding), and Sarah, born 1688 (Mrs. Jonathan Martin). Martha, daughter of Eliakim and Abigail Smith, as mentioned on page 431, married Ebenezer Nash. She probably had died in young married life, and before her sister of same name was born in 1756. Mrs. Jonathan Thompson, named in note one, page 432, had also sons David and George Thompson. Eliakim and Lydia (Olmsted) Smith (second wife) had beside the three sons named on page 432, Samuel, born May 1, 1780. Before her marriage to Benjamin Weed, Catherine (mother of Mrs. Lewis Smith, page 433, had been a widow of Peter Smith. While these lines are being penned (November, 1899), the old "Elia- kim Smith Home on Rusco Creek," South Norwalk, is being demolished in order to make contemplated improvements in the interests of the Corset Company, which company now owns the property. It should never, however, be forgotten that a brave "Old Well" boy (Lewis, son of Eliakim2"'1 and Lydia Smith, see page 433) was there brought up. This Norwalk youth grew to become the gallant Captain Lewis Smith, who did splendid service in the war of 1812. He was a capturer of British vessels, and albeit he was once himself captured, still it was against great odds, and when fired upon by the squadron surrounding him. When the heroic Smith saw that he must give up, he threw guns, muskets and powder overboard, and had no apology to render when explanation for such a step was demanded of him by the enemy. He was in command of the "Governor Tompkins" at the time that a son of the Earl of Shrewsbury was his prisoner. Pointing to the ensign at Captain Smith's peak, the Earl's son "thought it a shame that British colors should be compelled to strike to it." The fearless Smith replied "that it was not the first time and he believed it would not be the last."2 The story of the disappearing (1899) Rusco Creek Smith home abounds in instructive passages and the site is of interesting memory. * Elizabeth, daughter of Nathaniel Ingraham, married (second wife, see note, page 384) Samuel, son of Daniel Beldenlst. 2 "We would like to see Commodore Decatur," said one of the British officers to Captain Smith. " And he would be equalh* happy to see you," was Smith's reply. NORWALK 435