Robert Smith Genealogy

(1.) I. ROBERT SMITH of Moneymore, county of Londonderry, Ireland, son of James Smith of Ireland, came to this country with a number of families, in the autumn of 1736, and spent the following winter at Lexington, Mass. He was a tanner and brought with him considerable property. Most of the company made a settlement in Lunenburg, Mass. Some of his brothers settled in Virginia. Four children came with him and settled in Peterborough, New Hampshire. He died Jan. 14, 1766, aged 85. His wife was Elizabeth Smith, daughter of James Smith of England, who was the son of James Smith of Scotland. She died at Lunenburg, Sept. 28, 1757, aged 74.

For the character of the first settlers of Peterborough, see the address, delivered at the centennial celebration, 1839, by Rev. John H. Morison. " In the year 1759, " Mr. Morison says, "there were forty-five or fifty families, from Lunenburg, Mass., Londonderry, N. H., and some immediately from Ireland. They all, however, belonged to the same stock. They came to this country from the north of Ireland, and were usually called Scotch Irish."

The name of the town from which Robert Smith emigrated is variously spelled. Munnihaugh, Moneymar, and Moneymore. An original certificate of church-membership, dated June 24, 1737, has it Moneymore. It is so spelled on a modern trap of Ireland. It is situated in the south-east part of the county of Londonderry, near Lough Neagh.

The children, who came with Robert and Elizabeth Smith to this country, were as follows:

1-1. John.
2-2. Sarah, b. 1716, d. Jan. 31, 1814, a. 98, some supposed 100; m. before leaving Ireland, James Bell, the ancestor of Samuel and John Bell of Hooksett, N. H. Her second husband was William McNee, by whom she had no children. He resided several years in Dublin, N. H., a town adjoining Peterborough.
3-3. Mary, b. 1720, d. Dec. 29, 1799, a 79; m. Capt. Thomas Morison, who died Nov. 23, 1797, a. 87.
4-4. William. (2.)