CAPTAIN STEPHEN SMITH WHO LIVED IN MACHIAS, MAINE, IN REVOLUTIONARY TIMES Sprague's Journal of Maine History Volume 9 July, August, September, 1921 page 130-131 (By Mark A. Barwise.) John Smith came to Barnstable, Massachusetts, from England, about 1630, was betrothed to Susanna Hinckley, daughter of Samuel Hinckley and brother of Thomas Hinckley, afterward gov- ernor, in 1642, and married in 1643. In 1663 he succeeded Rev. William Sargent as pastor of the Barnstable church. Subsequently he went to Long Island and New Jersey and in 1675 removed to Sandwich and in 1676 became pastor of the Sandwich church. continuing as such until 1688, when his pastorate was terminated at his own request, he being 74 years of age. The record of his death is obscure as to the year but the probability is it occurred October 2, 1710, at the extreme age of 96 years. Stephen Smith was a descendant in the fourth generation of John and Susanna (Hinckley) Smith and the son of Samuel and Bethia Smith. He was born in Sandwich, Massachusetts, and married in 1762, Deborah, daughter of Johnathan and Patience Ellis, of Plymouth. In 1772 Stephen Smith removed from Sand- wich to Machias, in the District of Maine, where, but nine years before, a settlement had been made. In 1776 he was appointed Truck-master to the Indians, by the Provincial Congress. The duties of this office were to supply the Indians with provisions, and to keep them from taking an active part against the Colonists in the Revolutionary War. The next year he was spoken of as Captain Smith, of the militia, and he was associated with Col. Allan, Col. Eddy and Maj. Stillman, in the defense of the settle- ments in Eastern Maine. He showed himself, in the numerous skirmishes, to be a good commander, and one whom the Indians respected and obeyed. That he was a generous man and one who contributed to the support of the church, is shown by the fact that, in the subscription, "that the Rev. James Lyon tarry here this present year (1778) and preach the Gospel among us," Stephen Smith is recorded as giving "four thousand boards, or £12," which is the largest subscription on the list. Perhaps it may be inferred that he owned a saw mill from the above. Four of the ancestors of Capt. Stephen Smith, on his mother's side, came over in the Mayflower, viz: John Tilley and his wife Elizabeth, their daughter Elizabeth Tilley and John Howland. John Howland married Elizabeth Tilley soon after their arrival at Plymouth. Hope Howland, daughter of John and Elizabeth, and Elder John Chipman were married in 1646, and their grand- daughter, Bethia, daughter of Hon. John Chipman, married Samuel Smith and was the mother of Stephen Smith. Captain Smith died in Machias, September 29, 1806. (c) 1998 Courtesy of the Androscoggin Historical Society ************************************************* * * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. ************************************************* * * * * The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. It is always best to consult the original material for verification.