Source: J. Percy Crayon, Rockaway Records of Morris County, N. J. Families, (Rockaway, N.J., Rockaway Publishing Co., 1902) The progenitor of the Smith family at Franklin and Union N. J., is said to have come from Vermont, another version is that he came from Long Island and was known as "Bold Smith." The Vermont version has a bit of romance that may be a matter of history. His name was William and he had been engaged to a girl in Vermont, and the day was set, and the hour appointed on which they were at once to proceed to the dominie's as was the common custom, on horse back, both riding the same horse. As there had been nothing said as to which would take the front seat, as, if two ride on one horse one must necessarily take a back seat. Tradition does not relate as to the real causes, but the effect was they did not get married. Being somewhat disappointed in this love affair, he proceeded at once on a long and lonesome journey throught the then wilderness. This must have been as early as 1750, and it is not related that he stopped until he reached the wilds of Shongom, where he met a Dutch girl, who was willing to take a back seat, and they proceeded at once to the Dominie's where the two were made one. Her name was Christiana DERLING. William SMITH purchased lands, built a log house and set up housekeeping, and is said to have had nineteen children. The old homestead is located where his son Gerrett lived, afterward his grandson John, now as the residence of Cornelius L. SMITH. William and his sons owned at one time nearly all the lands between Shongom and Franklin, then called Pigeon Hill. It was not out of the order of the day, at that time, for an ordinary hunter and trapper to keep the table well supplied with bear, deer and turkey, and in the season, many of the broad acres of the Smith farm were literary covered with pigeons, hence the name Pigeon Hill, it was a paradise to the early settlers. While at work many years after on the Shongom Pond, in getting out timber and crossing the lake on the ice, he was accidentally killed, and probably buried at Rockaway, as tradition has it that his wife was buried at Rockaway a few years after, which would naturally be by the side of her husband. As there is no monument or other records the precise date is unknown. Children, as far as known, of William and Christiana (Derling) Smith, not named in order of birth - - Joseph, member of Capt. Josiah Hall's Company in the Revolutionary War, probably married as first or second wife, Polly Casterline Apr. 3, 1802. Had children -
- Peter, who married (1) Betsey Losey, and had children:
- (2) Esther Whiting and had
- John,
- Demas and
- Lucretia.
- David, had a son George, born Mar. 8, 1818, married Margaret Thorpe 1839, died at Rockaway Jan. 31, 1899;
- John, married Mehetible Youngs, "Anut Hettie" as she was familiarly called; John, no records, only that he served in Captain Hall's Company, as also did
- Samuel;
- Gerrett, born May 15, 1762, married Mary Losey about 1795, died May 12, 1842. She was born Sept. 2, 1773, and died Feb. 28, 1843. Both buried at Rockaway. Charity, lived at, "The Hill," not married;
- Ruth and
- Millie, no records;
- Katy, married a Cranford and probably removed, as the name is not familiar in the old records;
- Pollv, no records;
- Christiana, married a Hiler and lived at Denville;
- William, lived on "The Hill," never married;
- Amy, born 1760, married William Kirk, died May 29, 1845. He died May 22, 1855. Both buried at Rockaway.
- Joanna, married a Freeman, removed to Sussex or Bergen county and lived to be over 100 years old;
- Patty married a Martin.
Children of Gerrett and Mary (Losey) Smith: Eunice, born Apr. 14, 1796, never married; - Jacob, born Jan. 30, 1797, never married, died Sept. 13, 1854, buried at Rockaway;
- Phebe, born Feb. 14, 1799, married John Dickerson Aug. 19, 1820, lived near the "Dickerson bridge," between Dover and Rockaway, died June 5, 1879. He was born Feb. 17, 1797, died Mar. 21, 1861. Both buried at Rockaway.
- William, born July 13, 1804, married Harriet Fisher, of Shongom, Sept. 1827, lived where Bernard Towland now lives, died Aug. 17, 1854. She was born 1809, died Sept. 19, 1895. Both buried at Rockaway. The Fisher family lived at Shongom, and after its days of prosperity removed to Ohio.
- Isaac, born Sept. 18, 1808, married Margaret Todd Mar. 1, 1837, died Mar. 4, 1890. She was born Oct. 2, 1820, still living at the homestead, where William S. Eagles now lives. He was called Colonel from the fact that he was acting Colonel on training days.
- John, called John Junior to distinguish him from any other John Smith, born Sept. 15, 1812, married Ruth Skellenger, of Chester, Dec. 25, 1841, died Mar. 4, 1864. She was born Nov. 30, 1819, died Mar. 9, 1900. Both buried at Rockaway.
Children of William and Harriet (Fisher) Smith: Mary, married Jacob Blanchard and lived near the Asylum. - Jacob, went West;
- Phebe, married William Ayres. - See Ayres family.
- Emily, born Feb. 1853, married Bernard Towland Apr. 1875, living at the homestead;
- Hannah Maria, married Jonathan O. Cooper. - See Cooper family.
- Charles F., married Mary Ann Lyon, daughter of Isaac.
Children of John and Ruth (Skellenger) Smith: - Mahlon M., born Aug. 20,1843, was in the Navy in the Civil War, married Emma Louisa Smith daughter of Isaac and Margaret (Todd) Smith, May 28, 1873, have one child, Laura Estella, born Feb. 14, 1874.
- Eunice A., born Jan. 9, 1845, died Nov. 19, 1869;
- George A., born July 11, 1846;
- Henrietta, born Nov. 11, 1847, died Sept. 9, 1848;
- Julia L., born Feb. 18, 1850;
- Cornelius L., born Sept. 2, 1857;
- Theodore P., born June 23, 1853;
- Malinda C., born July 29, 1857;
- Mary E., born Feb. 27, 1863, married Edward A. Smith.
Children of Isaac and Margaret (Todd) Smith: Elizabeth, married George Sturtevant, who was born 1831,died Nov. 30, 1899; - Harriet, married William Hedden;
- Phebe Ann, married George Betts,
- Garrett, unmarried;
- Nancy, born 1851, married William S. Eagles Aug. 15, 1868, died May 10, 1897, buried at Mt. Freedom, had one son Wilbert A., born Mar. 25, 1874, married Lida K. Youngs June 26,1895;
- Clara, married Thomas Farlow;
- Emma Louisa, married Mahlon M. Smith, and
- Frank, unmarried.
Children of John and Mahetible I (Youngs) Smith: - Henry,
- Nancy, married Stephen Dickerson May 26, 1827. - See Dickerson family.
- Julia, married Abraham Eagles;
- Miller, born Apr. 22, 1819, married Mary Bathia, daughter of Stephen Trobridge, died at Dover May 2, 1892;
- Polly, married Nathaniel Dickerson July 31, 1839. -See Dickerson family.
- John J., born Oct. 26, 1830, married Maria Jane Dickerson Apr. 13, 1853, died Oct. 6, 1895, buried at Rockaway;
- David, married Mary Minton.
Children of John J. and Maria J. (Dickerson) Smith: - Lauretta D., born Oct. 25, 1854, married Silas Edwin Cooper Mar. 29, 1873. - Children see Cooper family.
- Frances, born July 24, 1867, married (1) Isaac Eagles Dec. 25, 1875; (2) Andrew J. Tuers Mar. 18, 1896;
- Nellie, born Apr. 3, 1861, married Linus Beaty Apr. 3,1883. He died Nov. 11, 1887, children:
- Mabel Frances, born Sept. 6, 1883;
- Ziba Cleveland, born Sept. 1885.
- Monroe, born Mar. 4, 1867. married Anna, daughter of Robert Jenkius, Apr. 8, 1888;
- Clara Amelia, born Jan. 16, 1866, died Mar. 11, 1889, buried at Rockaway;
- Cora Elizabeth, born Sept. 18, 1874, not married.
Children of Isaac and Frances (Smith) Eagles -. - John A., born Jan. 4, 1874;
- Oliver, born May 11, 1879;
- Clara A., born Mar. 14, 1885;
- Gertrude, born June 21, 1887.
Children of Monroe and Anna (Jenkins) Smith: - Lena J., born Feb. 9, 1890;
- Harold O., born Jan. 22, 1892;
- John Robert, born Mar. 21, 1894;
- Elsie May, born May 31, 1896;
- Mary E , born Feb. 1900.
Contributed by Kathleen Pantano |
