William Smith
Zilphie(a) Williams Cohen Vickery’s mother was Nancy Smith daughter of William Smith and first wife Mary Townsend Platt.
This briefing comes from the books
of Folks
Huxford, Pioneers of Wiregrass, Georgia., Volume I.,
pages 255-257.
William Smith was born in Georgia,
March 16, 1765, a son of Madison Smith who was born in
1720 in Hampshire, England and emigrated with his
father, Madison Smith, Sr., to Georgia in 1733.
He grew up in Liberty County where he lived until
1819 when he moved to the new County of Appling and
settled on the Little Satilla River near the Appling and
Wayne County line.
He lived there three years and then moved further
southward and located on Red Bluff Creek in Appling
County, built his home there and cleared up a farm.
This was Lot 149, 7th district of
original Appling.
This territory was cut up into Ware County in
1825; into Clinch, 1850; and into Atkinson, 1918.
Mr. Smith lived there until his death July 16,
1841. He was
buried at
Arabia cemetery Bethany Church in what is now Clinch
County, his being among the first graves in the
beautiful snow-white sand cemetery there.
Mr. Smith was twice married.
His first wife Mary Townsend Platt, was born Jan
2, 1766, and died in Liberty County about 1808, after
giving birth to 7 children ( I am descended from this
line). The
second wife was Miss Bineta (generally called “Neta” or
“Neter”) Stephens, born 1776 in North Carolina.
They were probably married in Tattnall County,
and she bore him 8 children.
Mr. Smith was very active for many
years in religious work and was a member of the Baptist
Church in Tattnal County, but in 1819 he joined in the
organization of Jones Creek Church in Liberty (now Long)
County. He
was ordained ot the ministry by Jones Creek Church
February 27, 1819.
He was dismissed by letter May 22, 1819, and
became a charter member of Little Satilla Baptist Church
in Appling County the same year.
His membership remained there until shortly
before his death when he helped to organize an “arm” if
Union Church at what is now Bethany Church in present
Clinch County, in 1841.
He died a few weeks later.
Reverend Smith participated in the
organization of the Piedmont Baptist Association,
October 20, 1815, at Little Ohoopee Church in Tattnall
County, and was a delegate from Jones Creek Church.
In 1819 and 1820 he attended as a delegate from
the Little Satilla Church.
He was a moderator of the Association, 1817-1818.
He was appointed to preach the Introductory
Sermon at the 1824 Association but failed to attend.
Reverend William Smith died at his
home in what was then
Ware County July 16, 1841.
He was survived by his second wife and fifteen
children.
Mrs. Smith died at her home in Clinch County about 1854
in her 78th year.
For D.A.R. reference, see Mrs. Cora
Smith Sweat (a great-granddaughter), member of John
Floyd Chapter, Homerville, Ga., Nat. No. 377370.
John Floyd Chapter, D.A.R.,
marked the grave of this patriot December 3, 1950.
A large number of descendants were present.
Judge W.C.Hodges of Hinesville, a descendant,
delivered the main address.
Census References:
1820, Appling; 1830, 1840 Ware; 1850, Ware (widow
only).
There is a
stone plaque commemorating the life of Mary Townsend
Platt located on Garland Smith Lane (Rye Patch
Community)_Ludowici, Long County, Georgia USA, Postal
Code: 31316
