History of the Smyth (Smith), Jones, Reddick, and Norment Families Catahoula and Orleans Parishes, La. Submitted by Thomas Butt (tom.butt@intres.com) Date: Mar. 1998 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Descendants of James Smyth ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Generation No. 1 1. JAMES3 SMYTH (SAMUEL2, JOSEPH1) was born September 20, 1799 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and died January 18, 1876 in Security Plantation, Catahoula Parish, LA. He married ELIZABETH JONES 1822 in Vincennes, IN. ******Notes for ELIZABETH JONES****** Died - at Security Plantation July 21, 1874 Catahoula parish, Louisiana, in the seventy second year of her age, MRS. ELIZABETH SMITH, formerly a resident of New Orleans. A native of Jefferson County, Kentucky, she was married in her twentieth year, in Vincennes, Indiana, to Mr. James Smith, a brother of Rev. Dr. Smyth of Charleston, South Carolina. For thirty-four years a member of the Presbyterian Church, by her consistent living, she adorned the doctrine as a "weeper at home" and as one who trained her children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Much of her life was passed in New Orleans, and the writer holds in grateful remembrance the aid given by the blameless walking of these two fellow helpers who cheered his heart and strengthened his hands in his opening ministry in the Fulton Street [now Lafayette] Presbyterian church in New Orleans. Passing beyond life's allotted limit, the burdens and infirmaries of age were born with Christian patience and sustained by the promise "to old age I am He; and to hoar hairs will I carry you," she entered into rest. May her name be "as ointment poured forth" to her children and their households, and may our aged brother, amid his desolation, find God "a refuge a strength, and a present help." TRM From the Norment Family Bible, in possession of Jack Butt, Fayetteville, AR. Children of JAMES SMYTH and ELIZABETH JONES are: 2. i. SIDNEY WELCH4 SMYTH, b. December 30, 1840, New Orleans, LA; d. February 24, 1907, Batesville, AR. ii. SARAH SMYTH, m. RANSOM REDDICK. ******Notes for RANSOM REDDICK****** James Smyth owned a plantation on the Black River in Louisiana but lived and worked a great deal in New Orleans. Sarah Smyth fell in love with her father's plantation overseer, a fellow named Ransom (some accounts say "Noah" Redick). However, her father would not consent to her marriage because Mr. Reddick was not "landed" - he did not own any property, which apparently James Smyth considered a requirement for any serious suitor of his daughter. Mr. Reddick was a good overseer and businessman, though, and with money he earned, he loaned money to one of the local planters on Black River, in Catahoula Parish, and took back as security the planter's plantation. The planter defaulted on the loan, Mr. Reddick claimed his plantation security, and now he was a property owner. At that time Sarah Smyth was living with herfather, James Smyth, in New Orleans. Reddick caught a river steamboat down the Black River and Mississippi River to New Orleans and went to claim his bride. However, he feared that James Smyth might still deny his daughter's hand. He paid the steamboat captain $400 to delay departure back up river, went to the Smyth house and somehow got Sarah out, and eloped with Sarah back up to his new Black River plantation, which they named "Security" because of the way they came into it. There is still a point on the Black River named "Security Landing." Soon Sarah's parents, James and Eliza Jones Smyth, forgave Reddick. They then bought a nearby plantation, Ashcot, seven miles below trinity on Black River to be near their daughter. Another Daughter, Sidney, soon (October 1863) was married to James Norment at their home, Ashcot, and lived across the Black River in Concordia Parish at either Norma or Normandy Plantation. Another family member was Eliza Jones Smith's brother, Charles Jones, said to have come from Ireland to Catahoula Parish about 1840. In 1841, he received Elmly Plantation through a land grant patent. By 1860, he was considered a wealthy man; Elmly and its slaves were valued at $250,000. He also owned Troy Plantation at the present location of Jonesville, which is named for his family. According to comments in the Thomas Smyth book (Smyth Geneology) he was said to have been very handsome, influential, and politically powerful. The comment was also made that the two families lived close together but did not have anything to do with each other. For the entire story of the Jones-Liddell feud, see Red River Valley Historical Review or Helen Martin Kings' account in the transcription of a tape she made). Security Landing remains a place on the 1988 maps. It went to Sarah Reddick's parents, Eliza and James Smyth after she and Ransom died. After the death of the Smyth's, it went to Sidney Smyth Norment who moved there sometime between the end of the Civil War and the early 1880's. She was left a widow when her husband, James Norment, died of a heart attack on a boat en route home from New Orleans. She was pregnant at the time and already had four other children. The two grown boys, "Zip" and Jime, died tragically in the 1880's. Letters from 1890-1893 indicate the hardships she faced during periods of great financial difficulty in the area, devastating floods, typhoid epidemics. At one time she may have operated a small store at Security, as one store account book was found among her things as well as commissary jars for storing small candies and such. In the early 1890's family letters speak of freed blacks who are unable to get work and were starving, of the trials of trying to raise crops and keep some cattle. And also a great spirit of mutual concern and neighborly help that prevailed. Sarah Norment married Judson Moore of Powatan, AR, in June of 1893 and left to make her home there with him. Soon the other daughter, Belle Norment, married J.W. Martin, and also moved there. Mother Sidney continued to live at Security until Sarah died in childbirth with her third (and stillborn) baby. Then Sidney moved to Powatan to care for Sarah's children, Jessie Moore and Sam Moore. When the Martin's moved to Batesville, AR in 1903, John Martin built a house for the Moore children and Sidney Norment directly across the block behind the Martin house (Judson Moore having remarried by then). They lived there until Sidney's death, at which time Sam was grown and employed in the civil service. Jessie became a missionary, spending many years in Brazil, but staying at the Martin home whenever she returned to Batesville. In the ensuing years, the Reddicks prospered but had no children. They both died before her father, James Smyth, and he inherited Security Plantation and its furnishings from his daughter at her death. In his last years, he moved into the Security house. His daughter, Sidney, grandmother of Thomas K Butt and William Jackson Butt, II, had married into the Norment family plantations, either "Norma" or "Normandy." James Smyth was successful himself in his business life, and at is death at Security Plantation in 1886 he owned many beautifulthings. As told by Helen Martin (King) to William Jackson Butt (See Sidney Smyth (Norment) for remainder of story) Noah Reddick 00010000000000000000000000 (1840 Census from http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/catahoula/census/cen1840.txt) Ransom Reddick 0000100000000000000000000 (1840 Census from http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/catahoula/census/cen1840.txt) iii. JOSEPHINE SMYTH, m. WILLIAM G. MOUNT. ******Notes for WILLIAM G. MOUNT****** Spent early life in Washington County, MS. In 1878, the Mount family removed to the James Smyth Plantation. ("A History of Louisiana, Wilderness Colony;" Volume 2, page 381, by Henry Edwards Chambers, Published by the American Historical Society, 1925, Call # F 369 C45) Information from William Mount. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Generation No. 2 2. SIDNEY WELCH4 SMYTH (JAMES3, SAMUEL2, JOSEPH1) was born December 30, 1840 in New Orleans, LA, and died February 24, 1907 in Batesville, AR. She married JAMES R. NORMENT October 01, 1863, son of JAMES NORMENT and ELIZABETH MILLER. ******Notes for SIDNEY WELCH SMYTH****** I (Helen Martin Hail King) want to tell you grandchildren what I know about the Smyth family. Most of what I know was told to me by my grandmother, Sidney Welch Smyth Norment. First, a few lines about my grandmother. I don't believe I admired any woman as much as I did my grandmother. She was born and grew up in New Orleans, educated in a Catholic convent, although she was a Presbyterian. I think she must have grown up "in the lap of luxury" as she knew nothing of domestic chores. The only thing I remember her cooking was bacon, and she made the best bacon gravy I ever ate! She did beautiful needlework. She was married just before or during the Civil War to James Norment of Normandy Plantation, Louisiana. She was left a widow with eight children and a large cotton plantation to manage. She became an excellent business woman and a successful cotton planter. She died when I was eleven years old. I shall always remember her with great love and affection. Helen Martin Hail King (Abt 1960) DEATH OF A GOOD WOMAN MRS. S.W. NORMANT DIED SUNDAY AFTERNOON - BURIAL AT POWATAN (From Monday's Daily) Mrs. S.W. Normant died Sunday afternoon after an illness of several days of pneumonia and her body was taken today to Powatan to be buried there. Mrs. Normant was born and reared in Louisiana and has been a member of the Presbyterian Church since early girlhood, being for years a member of the LaFayette Presbyterial church in New Orleans (of which Dr. Markham, a man well known and loved in the Southern Presbyterian church was pastor for years). She was a daughter of James Smith and a niece of Dr. Thomas Smythe, the old pastor of the Second Presbyterian church of Charleston, S.C., and one of the ablest men the church has ever produced. She married in Louisiana and her husband died there. Her only living children are Mrs. J.W. Martin of Batesville and Wingate C. Normant of Powatan. She herself lived in Powatan for several years before moving to Batesville about a year ago. She was a godly, Christian woman, and a most splendid character. Although having lived in Batesville only about a year, she was known and loved by a host of friends. Her lovely character won friends wherever she went and by them her death is sincerely mourned, for she was ___the noblest works of God - a good woman. (Newspaper clipping in the Norment Family Bible, in possession of Jack Butt, Fayetteville, AR) James Smyth's children gathered for his funeral, including the D'Arman kin from Vincennes, IN. The D'Armans were the only ones who stayed at Security after the funeral; apparently the other children lived nearby or were staying with their siblings who did live nearby. According to James Smyth's will, all of his land was divided into tracts; one tract was very small, but included the plantation house and all its fine furnishings. His beneficiaries drew lots to determine which tract each was to receive. Sidney Welch Smyth (Norment) drew the lot entitling her to the home and its furnishings. The D'Armans were greatly disappointed, because they had little use for Louisiana land, and had counted on getting the valuable household furnishings to take home with them. The next day, when James Smyth's children returned to Security, they found that the D'Armans were altogether gone; they had caught a steamer back up to Indiana, loaded with all the Smyth and Redick furniture and furnishings: sterling, crystal, china, linens, and all the furniture. The only thing they didn't take was a huge solid mahogany secretary desk, almost 10 feet tall, that James Smyth had ordered from France years before. Presumably it was too big to conveniently move, and had gotten to be left in the D'Arman's haste to get away with their ill-gotten booty. Years later, in the 1920's or 30's, Helen Martin (King), Sidney's granddaughter, was called to visit a lady she knew in Walnut Ridge, AR. The lady was elderly, in ill health, in poor financial shape and correctly predicted she was not long for the world. She was related, it turns out, some way to the D'Armans, and thus, presumably also to Helen Martin (King). When Helen arrived, the lady insisted that Helen take a large bag of sterling silver flatware. Upon inspection, it appeared to be at least part of the Reddick and Smyth silver! The lady said that it was rightfully Helen's, and in the lady's condition, she could never use or enjoy it. So, half a century later, the heirloom silver was returned to the rightful branch of the family. The large mahogany secretary is now in the home of William Jackson Butt, II, and in its drawers is flatware from Security Plantation. As told by Helen Martin (King) to William Jackson Butt, II Children of SIDNEY SMYTH and JAMES NORMENT are: 3. i. CLARA ISABELLE5 NORMENT, b. October 03, 1871, Norma Plantation, LA; d. March 17, 1940, Memphis, TN. 4. ii. SARAH REDDICK NORMENT, b. July 30, 1868; d. January 10, 1897, Powhatan, AR. iii. WINGATE NORMENT. iv. JIM NORMENT, b. July 22, 1864, Ashcot, LA. ******Notes for JIM NORMENT****** James Norment, residing about 12 miles below Trinity, in Concordia Parish, met with an unfortunate accident on last Friday afternoon, while at work in the Trinity Saw Mill, resulting in the loss of his left hand. He was engaged at the edging saw and by accident his left hand came in contact with it, the thumb probably striking first, then the whole hand was deflected to the ulnar side and the saw passed through the carpus, cutting all but the tendons of the little and ring fingers. He received prompt attention from Drs. B.F. Baker and J.L. Vialet. Thursday's Trinity herald announces that Mr. James Norment, who resides on Black River in this parish, had the sad misfortune on last Friday afternoon, of losing his left hand by getting it caught in a saw while working in the Trinity Saw Mill. After the above was put in type, we learn of Mr. Norment's death from the effects of the wound. On the morning of the 16th, about 7 o'clock, James Norment, who lost his left hand by an accident at the Trinity Saw Mill on the 10th, died never having rallied from the shock and hemorrhage. His body was taken to Security, his home, for internment, where over a hundred friends had gathered to pay the last tribute of respect to one universally liked by all who knew him. All of the above from newspaper clippings in the Norment Family Bible, in possession of Jack Butt, Fayetteville, AR. v. ZIP NORMENT. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Generation No. 3 3. CLARA ISABELLE5 NORMENT (SIDNEY WELCH4 SMYTH, JAMES3, SAMUEL2, JOSEPH1) was born October 03, 1871 in Norma Plantation, LA, and died March 17, 1940 in Memphis, TN. She married JOHN WILLIAM MARTIN September 04, 1894 in Security Plantation, Catahoula Parish, LA, son of FELIX MARTIN and SUSAN DOYLE. Child of CLARA NORMENT and JOHN MARTIN is: i. HELEN CHRISTINE6 MARTIN, b. September 20, 1895, Powhatan, AR; d. December 11, 1988, Fayetteville, AR; m. (1) FITZHUGH N. HAIL; m. (2) HARRY KING, December 31, 1916, Batesville, AR. 4. SARAH REDDICK5 NORMENT (SIDNEY WELCH4 SMYTH, JAMES3, SAMUEL2, JOSEPH1) was born July 30, 1868 (Source: Tombstone in Powhatan, AR Cemetary.), and died January 10, 1897 in Powhatan, AR (Source: Tombstone in Powhatan, AR Cemetary.). She married ALFRED JUDSON MOORE, son of D.W. MOORE and ELIZABETH PARSONS. Children of SARAH NORMENT and ALFRED MOORE are: i. HARRY ALLEN6 MOORE, b. December 02, 1896 (Source: Tombstone in Powhatan, AR Cemetary.); d. May 01, 1897 (Source: Tombstone in Powhatan, AR Cemetary.). ii. SAMUEL SIDNEY MOORE (Source: John E. Moore, 7150 Sutter Avenue, Carmichael, CA 95608 (916/944-2307).), b. January 20, 1894, Powhatan, AR; d. January 17, 1961, Ft. Bayard, NM; m. PERLA MAE EVANS (Source: John E. Moore, 7150 Sutter Avenue, Carmichael, CA 95608 (916/944-2307).), August 27, 1925, Alexandria, LA. iii. JESSIE MARIE MOORE (Source: Birth certificate, Powatan, Lawrence County, AR.), b. October 22, 1895, Powhatan, AR; d. December 29, 1967, Silver City, NM.