Peter Smith of Hempstead, Long Island
Estimated as born about 1662, Peter Smith2 was called "of Hempstead" to
distinguish him from his father who was "of Jamaica", according to
Samuel Stelle Smith in his genealogy of the Smith family (NYGB Record, Vol. 85,
1954).
He married Mary Denton prior to 16 Feb 1683/84, when they witnessed a land sale
in Jamaica, LI, between Thomas Wiggins, Jr., and seller William Foster. She
was born about 1668, the daughter of Samuel 2 Denton (Rev. Richard 1 Denton) and Mary 2 Smith (John "Rock" Smith) of Hempstead.
In 1685 or later, Peter paid toward the town patent of Hempstead. He owned
there a house on an acre of land. He died in testate before 8 Oct 1688,
when the inventory of his estate was taken in Hempstead by John Pine and John
Carmen. Among his possessions were a house, one acre of land, a horse and
cattle, a fire lock gun, a saddle and bridle, and twenty bushels of "Indin
Corne". Mary Smith and her brother Samuel Denton, Jr., were appointed
administrators of the estate 10 Apr 1689.
The only known child of Peter Smith and Mary Denton was a son Peter Smith who
was born in 1687.
After her husband's death in 1688, Mary married again and died before 1698. This
is based on two records. One is the 1698 Hempstead census in which she was
not enumerated but her son Peter Smith was.
Some believe her husband was Thomas Ellison, and if so, he must have been a
widower with children when they married. In the Hempstead census,
enumerated in the same household: Thomas Ellison, Elizabeth Rushmore,
Rahell (prob. Rachel) Ellison, Hannah Ellison, Seth Ellison, Peter Smith.
The Hempstead enumeration has so far proven to have been taken with head of
household first, a wife if applicable, then the children in birth order, with
those in the household not of the same surname last.
It is believed Elizabeth Rushmore was enumerated as the female head of the
household because she was the housekeeper and took care of the children.
She was the daughter of Thomas Rushmore by an unknown wife. He became a
brother-in-law to Mary (Smith) Denton when he married her sister Martha Smith by
1665.
The second record indicating Mary married again was the estate accounting of
Samuel Denton, Sr., her father, 20 Mar 1713/14, in which Peter Smith, son of
Mary Ellison, deceased, is included.
Sources: NYGB Record, Vol. 85, 1954; Jamaica Town Records, Vol. II, ed.
Josephine C. Frost, (Long Island Hist. Soc.); North and South Hempstead (LI)
Town Records, (Town Board of North Hempstead, 1896); Long Island Source Records,
from the NYGB Record, selected by Henry B. Hoff (Genealogical Publishing Co.,
1987); Genealogical Data from Inventories of New York Estates, 1666-1825,
Kenneth Scott & James A. Owre, 1970. John Smith of Hempstead, New York,
Beginnings of the "Rock" Smith Family" by Rosalie Fellows Bailey
(NYBG Record, 1957).
transcribed by Judy Tooman
4 Feb 2000
