3 William Smiths - Disambiguation
While covering 1757 in 2021 we ran into several William Smiths.
In July 1757 GW hanged a William Smith.
Earlier in March and April 1757 GW writes to a different William Smith who is an author.
And finally there is a different William Smith who becomes one of the first Supreme Court Justices of a new nation.
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1. William Smith
prisoner hanged July 29, 1757
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From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 3 August 1757
To Robert Dinwiddie [Fort Loudoun, 3 August 1757]
I send Your Honor a copy of the proceedings of a General Court martial. Two of those condemned, namely, Ignatious Edwards, and Wm Smith, were hanged on thursday last, just before the companies marched for their respective posts. Your Honor will, I hope excuse my hanging, instead of shooting them: It conveyed much more terror to others; and it was for example sake, we did it. They were proper objects to suffer: Edwards had deserted twice before, and Smith was accounted one of the greatest villains upon the continent. Those who were intended to be whipped, have received their punishment accordingly; and I should be glad to know what your Honor wou’d choose to have done with the rest?8
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General Court-Martial, 25–26 July 1757
General Court-Martial [Fort Loudoun, 25–26 July 1757] The Proceedings of a General-court-martial held at Fort Loudoun on the 25th & 26th Days of July 1757 by Vertue of a Commission directed to
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William Smith a Soldier draughted by a late Act of Assembly, confin’d by Lieut. Crawford for Desertion was brought before the Court.
The Prisoner (after the Nature of his Offence was explain’d & the Act of Assembly relative thereto read &c.) was by the Judge Advocate asked wheather he was guilty or not guilty of the Crime that he was accused of & he answer’d Guilty.
He was then asked the same Questions that had been put to Joshua King & George Curtis all which he answer’d in the same Manner that they had done with this Defference only viz. that he had deserted with an Intent to procure a Man to come in his Room.
It is the Sentence of the Court that the Prisoner William Smith shall suffer Death by hanging.
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From George Washington to William Crawford, 20 July 1757
To William Crawford [Fort Loudoun, 20 July 1757] To Ensign Crawford By George Washington Esquire; Colonel of the Virginia Regiment. You are ordered forthwith to go in pursuit of Wm Smith, a Deserter from the aforesaid regiment, and to use your best endeavours to apprehend and bring him to justice at this place.1 If he shou’d resist, and stand upon his defence, contrary to the Laws of the country; you are in that case, to fire upon him as an Enemy. Given &c. this 20th July 1757. G:W. LB, DLC:GW. 1. In the list of deserters advertised by Dinwiddie (see GW to Dinwiddie, 11 July 1757, n.4) a William Smith is named. He is identified as a 20–year-old “sadler.” See the General Court-Martial, 25–26 July, at which a William Smith in Crawford’s custody was tried for desertion and sentenced to be hanged. He was executed on 29 July.
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2. William Smith 1727 to 1803
Episcopal Priest, in Pennsylvania, creator of Huntingdon PA
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Smith was also the founding editor of The American Magazine, or Monthly Chronicle for the British Colonies, the first publication of its kind, which appeared from October 1757 until October 1758, when publication ceased owing to Smith's incarceration due to the previously mentioned libel action initiated by the Pennsylvania Assembly.
Smith's best known work as an author is "Bouquet's Expedition Against the Ohio Indians in 1764" (1765), an account of the last campaign in Pontiac's War, led by Colonel Henry Bouquet.
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Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon, was a patron of William Smith's and had some unfortunate personal tragedies which motivated her interest in the spread of religion. Incidentally, Smith named his real estate venture Huntingdon in her honor. This was along the Juniata River, in central Pennsylvania. Lady Huntingdon was persuaded that the Church of England needed to return to the path of righteousness. The Wesleys (John Wesley, Charles Wesley) and George Whitefield whom she supported, in addition to Smith's interests, found it easier to work towards righteousness in the "low" church or what became called Methodism or the "Methodist Movement."
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William Smith (1727–1803), a Scot who came to New York in 1751, became one of the leading figures in Philadelphia of his generation.
1. Smith sent GW volume I, number 1 (October 1757), of his American Magazine or Monthly Chronicle for the British Colonies, printed and sold by William Bradford of Philadelphia.
In Bradford’s papers (PHi) there appears in a folio volume a sheet headed “We the Subscribers agree to pay the Sums Annexed to our Names—for the American Magazine—Octr 1. 1757.”
Pasted to the sheet is a facsimile of a slip of paper with the names of Lord Fairfax, John Funk, John Hope, and GW—all written in GW’s hand. Both Funk and Hope were property holders in Winchester.
On the sheet itself is a list of the names of thirty men. The list is written by Capt. Robert Stewart (see Stewart to GW, 24 Nov. 1757).
The thirty men named include fifteen officers of the Virginia Regiment, the new contractor William Ramsay, Adjutant William Hughes, Quartermaster David Kennedy, and a number of men from Winchester and Frederick County. Each of the subscribers agreed to pay 12s. in Pennsylvania currency for one year’s subscription to the magazine. The “Octr 1. 1757” at the top of the sheet is the date the subscription was to begin.
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From George Washington to William Smith, March–April 1757
To William Smith [March-April 1757] [March-April 1757]. The text of this letter is printed as Document III of “The Capitulation of Fort Necessity.”1 There William Smith is tentatively identified as the addressee. On 3 Mar. 1757, while GW was in Philadelphia to attend Loudoun’s meeting with the southern governors, the printer James Chattin announced in the Pennsylvania Gazette (Philadelphia) his intention to publish within two months “A MEMORIAL, containing a summary Account of Facts, in Answer to the Observations of the English Ministry, addressed to the Courts of Europe.” Among other things, the Memorial included GW’s journal of his 1754 campaign and “The Journal of M. de Villiers,” the two documents with which GW’s letter is mainly concerned. The contents of the letter suggest that GW wrote it not long after Chattin’s announcement, either in March 1757 while he was still in Philadelphia or in April in Winchester shortly after his return to Virginia.2 Sparks, Writings of Washington, 2:463–65. 1. Papers, Colonial Series, 1:168–72. 2. Diaries, 1:162–73.
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3. William Smith (18 June 1728 – 6 December 1793)
Chief Justice
historian too
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was a lawyer, historian, speaker, loyalist, and eventually the loyalist Chief Justice of the Province of New York from 1780 to 1782 and Chief Justice of the Province of Quebec from 1786, later Lower Canada, from 1791 until his death.
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n 1776, he moved to Albany to avoid the contentious politics but in 1778 declared his allegiance for the loyalist cause and joined the British in New York City. Smith was escorted across the lines by Aaron Burr and became an important adviser and confidant of the military and civilian officials including both Governor William Tryon and General Sir Henry Clinton.[1] In 1780, he was appointed Chief Judge of New York but by this time the office only related to the small part of the Province that was still in British hands. The real judicial power was held by Daniel Horsmanden.[2]
He published the first history of New York, The History of the Province of New-York, from the First Discovery to the Year M.DCC.XXXIII. To which is annexed, A Description of the Country, with a short Account of the Inhabitants, their Trade, Religious and Political State, and the Constitution of the Courts of Justice in the Colony. in 1757 (London: Thomas Wilcox).
Smith returned to England in 1783 and then came to Quebec City in 1786, when he was named Chief Justice for the province and also named to the legislative council. In 1791, he became chief justice for Lower Canada and was appointed to the Legislative Council of Lower Canada, serving as its first speaker.
Personal life
He married Janet Livingston, of the Livingston family of New York.
In 1770, he built a manor house in West Haverstraw, New York.[3] From July 15 to July 18, 1778, while his sister Martha and her husband Col. Ann Hawkes Hay were living in the house, it served as headquarters for General George Washington.[4] The house burned down c. 1808–1809 and the Fraser-Hoyer House later built on the site.[5]
He died in Quebec City in 1793. He was buried at Mount Hermon Cemetery in Sillery. Smith's diary and selected papers were compiled and edited in two volumes by L.F.S. Upton in 1963 as part of the Champlain Society's General Series.[6]
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From George Washington to William Smith, 21 August 1778
To William Smith Head Quarters [White Plains] August 21st 1778 Sir. I received your letter of the 15th Inst. by Lieut. Colonel Burr.1 It gives me pleasure to find that the conduct of the flag was such as contributed to your ease; and I am much obliged to you for the attention shewn to the convenience of my officers. It was really altogether out of my power to take any concern, (without interfering with the civil authority) in the matter of your request, but I have transmitted the letter to Governor Clinton who I doubt not will do every thing proper on the occasion.2 I am Sir your Most Obt Servt. Df, in James McHenry’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. William Smith (1728–1793), a New York lawyer and historian, had served from 1763 to the outbreak of the Revolution as chief justice of the Province of New York and since 1767 as a member of the provincial council. Having twice refused to take an oath of allegiance to the state, he was among those ordered banished within enemy lines by the state commissioners for detecting and defeating conspiracies. Smith left New York with the British troops in 1783, and in 1785 he was appointed chief justice of Canada, where he served until his death. 1. Smith’s letter of 15 Aug. has not been found, but according to Smith’s memoirs, he wrote GW “to thank him for the Civilities of his Officers and to solicit his Permission to my Servants to follow me with the Horses” (Sabine, Smith’s Historical Memoirs, 1778–1783, 4). According to Lt. Col. Aaron Burr, Smith’s letter “requested his Negroe Slaves, his Coach Horses, and the Remainder of his Moveables now at Haverstraw” (Burr to George Clinton, 19 Aug. 1778, NHi). GW had appointed Burr on 1 Aug. to conduct Smith and other Loyalists to New York City (see Robert Hanson Harrison to Burr, 1 Aug., NjMoHP, and Clinton to the Commissioners for Conspiracies, 2 Aug., in Hastings, Clinton Papers, 3:601–2). 2. GW wrote George Clinton on this date: “The inclosed was received by Colo. Burr, who conducted the Flag which was sent in with Mr Smith and his family. As I did not conceive myself authorised to interfere or give any orders respecting the matter referred to me, I barely acknowledged the Receipt of it, and informed Mr Smith that I had forwarded it to you” (LS, CSmH).
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3. William Smith
prisoner hanged July 29, 1757
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From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 3 August 1757
To Robert Dinwiddie [Fort Loudoun, 3 August 1757]
I send Your Honor a copy of the proceedings of a General Court martial. Two of those condemned, namely, Ignatious Edwards, and Wm Smith, were hanged on thursday last, just before the companies marched for their respective posts. Your Honor will, I hope excuse my hanging, instead of shooting them: It conveyed much more terror to others; and it was for example sake, we did it. They were proper objects to suffer: Edwards had deserted twice before, and Smith was accounted one of the greatest villains upon the continent. Those who were intended to be whipped, have received their punishment accordingly; and I should be glad to know what your Honor wou’d choose to have done with the rest?8
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General Court-Martial, 25–26 July 1757
General Court-Martial [Fort Loudoun, 25–26 July 1757] The Proceedings of a General-court-martial held at Fort Loudoun on the 25th & 26th Days of July 1757 by Vertue of a Commission directed to
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William Smith a Soldier draughted by a late Act of Assembly, confin’d by Lieut. Crawford for Desertion was brought before the Court.
The Prisoner (after the Nature of his Offence was explain’d & the Act of Assembly relative thereto read &c.) was by the Judge Advocate asked wheather he was guilty or not guilty of the Crime that he was accused of & he answer’d Guilty.
He was then asked the same Questions that had been put to Joshua King & George Curtis all which he answer’d in the same Manner that they had done with this Defference only viz. that he had deserted with an Intent to procure a Man to come in his Room.
It is the Sentence of the Court that the Prisoner William Smith shall suffer Death by hanging.
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From George Washington to William Crawford, 20 July 1757
To William Crawford [Fort Loudoun, 20 July 1757] To Ensign Crawford By George Washington Esquire; Colonel of the Virginia Regiment. You are ordered forthwith to go in pursuit of Wm Smith, a Deserter from the aforesaid regiment, and to use your best endeavours to apprehend and bring him to justice at this place.1 If he shou’d resist, and stand upon his defence, contrary to the Laws of the country; you are in that case, to fire upon him as an Enemy. Given &c. this 20th July 1757. G:W. LB, DLC:GW. 1. In the list of deserters advertised by Dinwiddie (see GW to Dinwiddie, 11 July 1757, n.4) a William Smith is named. He is identified as a 20–year-old “sadler.” See the General Court-Martial, 25–26 July, at which a William Smith in Crawford’s custody was tried for desertion and sentenced to be hanged. He was executed on 29 July.
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