John Smith was among the early settlers of Truro. He was born in Colvin, Scotland, in 1742. He was married to Mary McVicar in 1764. He was a whitesmith by trade. They immigrated to Prince Edward Island, where they arrived about the first of July, 1774. He commenced clearing a farm out of the woods, which is hard, discouraging work to the inexperienced. He said afterward, ''He haggled the tree all round about, and could not get it down.'' Still he toiled away and did smithwork for the few settlers around him, encouraging Mary his wife, though he was discouraged himself. Being destitute of public gospel ordinances, they started for Truro in the summer of 1776, in order that they might hear the Gospel, and have their son John baptized, who was now two years old. They came by Pictou, and traveled on foot from Pictou to Truro, lodging one night in the woods, and carrying their son in their arms. They arrived in Truro and called upon the Rev. Mr. Cock, who had lately come from Scotland. Mr. Cock had a little girl about two years old, and it would appear that little Johnny and she struck up a match which was happily consummated more than twenty years after.
They returned to the Island again and that fall the mice destroyed all their crops, (that year is still known among old men as the year of the mice), and they resolved to move to Truro. Mr. Smith came over to Pictou with a part of their movables and hired Mr. Paterson's horse to assist in bringing them to Truro. One article was an anvil of about two cwt. This he brought on the horse's back. His grandson, Daniel Smith, is still using this anvil at Wallace River. He returned again to the Island for his family, and came back to Truro by Tatamagouche, the distance through the woods being much shorter this way than by Pictou. On account of Mr. Smith's being a blacksmith the people in the Village were anxious to have him settle near them, so they proposed to give him their Right to Birch Island and the adjoining swamp lands. Each Grantee of Truro Township held a lot of this Island and swamp, containing two acres. Mr. Smith having obtained a deed of these lots built a house which is still standing and owned by his grandson Robert Smith. Here he carried on the blacksmith business until about the year 1799, when he removed to Upper Stewiacke, and built a house and shop near Mr. Abraham Newcomb, and carried on the blacksmith business ten or twelve years. He then sold out and returned to Truro again. He lived in a house which stood between his old house and the house in which Robert Smith now resides. He died June 26th, 1818, aged 76. His widow died April 11th, 1823, aged 76.
Mary, their eldest daughter, was born in Scotland, 1765. She was married to William, son of Charles and Eleanor Cox, January 26th, 1786. They had six sons and three daughters, who appear among the descendants of Charles Cox. They removed to Stewiacke in 1792.
William, the eldest son of John and Mary Smith, was born in 1767. He came with his parents to Nova Scotia. He commenced clearing a farm in Upper Stewiacke about 1790, and very soon raised wheat in abundance. To get this wheat ground they had to carry it on their backs through the woods to Truro, or take it down the Stewiacke River to the Shubenacadie, thence down to the Bay, and up the Bay to Truro. Shortly after, Mr. Smith built a boat, loaded it with wheat, and, in company with another man, started for Truro. They met the flood tide off Salter's Head, when the boat was upset, the wheat lost and the man drowned. Mr. Smith clung to the boat, and was drifted up the Bay still crying out for help. William Cutten Esq. was coming up the Bay from Noel at the time, and came within hearing of his voice. He pulled for him and succeeded in getting him into his boat very much exhausted having drifted from Salter's Head to Savage's Island. He was married to Esther, daughter of Robert Hunter and Esther Moor, his wife, February 28th, 1793, and in grateful remembrance of his deliverer, he called his first son William Cutten. They settled in Upper Stewiacke on the farm, which Jacob Layton recently sold. A few years after, he exchanged farms with James Kennedy and moved to Middle Stewiacke to the farm on which Wm. F. Putnam now resides, when in the year 1806 he exchanged farms with his brother-in-law, John Hunter, and returned to Truro. He lived in the old Hunter House, and maintained Mr. and Mrs. Hunter while they lived. In 1814 he sold out in the Village and built the house on the Island in which his grandson, Richard Smith now resides. Here he died November 3rd, 1853, aged 86 years. His wife died May 10th, 1835, aged 62 years.
Letita, their eldest daughter, was born December 23rd, 1793. She was married to Thomas M. Crowe, December 24th, 1816. They had eight sons and one daughter. She died December 11th, 1872, aged 79 years.
Mary, the second daughter of William and Esther Smith, was born in Stewiacke, August 1796. She was married to David H. Crow, of Onslow, January, 1819. They had six sons and two daughters. She died May 24th, 1861, aged 64 years, and her husband died August 10th, 1843, aged 49 years.
Esther, their third daughter, was born in Stewiacke, February 13th, 1799. She was married to Robert, the youngest son of Colonel Thomas and Martha Pearson, May 25th, 1820. They had three sons. Mr. Pearson died suddenly December 17th, 1825, aged 27 years. She was married again to John L. Dogget, December 4th, 1828. They had five sons and one daughter.
William Cutten Smith, their eldest son was born in Stewiacke, July 15th, 1801. He was married to Renew, the eldest daughter of Charles and Mary Nelson, January 7th, 1831. He inherited the half of his father's farm and built the house in which his widow and some of their family now reside. They had four sons and six daughters. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church from the year 1845, until he died, May 7th, 1870, aged 69 years.
Mary, the eldest daughter of William C. Smith and Renew Nelson, was born January 9th, 1832. She was married to Anthony McKean, of Pictou Town, November 18th, 1854. She died May 6th, 1856, aged 24 years. John Smith, their eldest son was born April 15th, 1834. He inherits a part of his father's farm. Esther Hunter, their second daughter was born February 4th, 1836. She died February 6th 1838, aged two years. Esther Hunter, their third daughter was born December 23rd, 1838. She was married to Charles A., son of John Kent and Sarah Archibald, December 16th, 1869. They have one daughter. William McCulloch their second son was born January 17th, 1840. He died February 21st, 1853. Charles Nelson Smith, their third son was born January 30th, 1842. He removed to the United States, and was married there to Margaret Moran, October 10th, 1870. They had one son. Agnes Kellor Smith, their fourth daughter, was born November 10th, 1844. She was married to Gavin Walker, youngest son of Isaac Smith and Mary Waddell, June 12th, 1865. They have one son and two daughters. Elizabeth Smith, their fifth daughter was born April 16th, 1846. She was married to James Richard Smith, from Pictou, June 10th, 1869. They had one son. She died June 27th, 1871, aged 25 years. Henry Kellor Smith, their fourth son was born July 27th, 1848. He is settled at Maitland, carrying on the business of harness making. Caroline Crow Smith, their sixth daughter, was born July 19th, 1850.
John, the second son of William and Esther Smith, was born in Middle Stewiacke, August 21st, 1803. His wife being the only daughter of Samuel and Mary Creelman. She was born September 17th, 1810. They were married February 17th, 1829. They now reside on the farm that James Campbell Creelman owned. Samuel Creelman Smith, their eldest son, was born June 4th, 1830. He was married to Eleanor, daughter of Abraham Bentley and Margaret Fletcher, January 28th, 1850. They have two sons and three daughters. William, their second son was born August 21st, 1832. He was married to Mary, daughter of George Steel and Rebecca Fulton, February 15th, 1859. They have two sons and one daughter. Mary Jane, their eldest daughter, was born November 30th, 1834. She died unmarried November 24th, 1858. Esther, their second daughter, was born April 18th, 1837. She married to Alexander Steel, in the year 1856. They had one daughter. Mrs. Steel died March 17th, 1857, aged 20 years. Sidney, their third son, was born January 9th, 1840. Rachel, their third daughter was born February 11th, 1841. John their fifth son was born July 28th, 1843. David Holmes, their fifth son was born March 25th, 1846. Letita, their fourth and youngest daughter, was born July 28th, 1851.
Robert Hunter, the third son of William Smith and Esther Hunter, was born in Stewiacke, December 23rd, 1805. He was married to Catherine, the eldest daughter of Hugh Dunlap and Susan Gourley, of Stewiacke, March 4th, 1828. They settled on the Halifax road, about three miles from Truro. Susannah, their eldest daughter, was born in Truro, August 4th, 1829. She married to Isaac Dunlap, of the Lower Village of Truro, February 10th, 1854. They have two sons and four daughters.
William, the eldest son of Robert H. and Catherine Smith, was born November 7th, 1831. In the spring of 1834, Mr. Smith was driving his team with a heavy load. His little boy was following him and fell, when the cartwheel passed over his body. He was considerably injured, but soon recovered again. Some years afterwards he went to Canada, where he remained about six years. He returned to Truro, and followed pump making. On the 14th of October, 1859, in putting a pump in a well, he had occasion to go down into the well. The stones fell in and buried him. About four hours after, he was taken out dead. He was in the 28th year of his age. ''an's life is a vapor.'' Esther, the second daughter of Robert H. and Catherine Smith, was born August 21st, 1833. She was married to Amos Fowler, of the County of Cumberland, February 13th, 1862. She died April 27th, 1872, in the 39th year of her age. Jesse Gourley Smith, their second son, was born October 19th, 1836. He removed to California and was married there. Robert Hunter Smith, their third son, was born August 27th, 1838. He removed to California a number of years ago, and continues to reside there. Hugh Dunlap Smith, their fourth son, was born January 24th, 1842. He removed to California, and is engaged there in the dairy business. Thomas Bush Smith, their fifth son, was born January 12th, 1847. Kate Smith, their third and youngest daughter, was born November 24th, 1848. Robert H. Smith, Senr. died April 1st, 1872, aged 66 years.
Daniel Cook, the fourth son of William and Esther Smith, was born in Truro, July 15th, 1808. He was married to Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of Samuel Dunlap and Mary Miller, December 17th, 1834. He inherited the half of his father's farm, where they reared their family. Mrs. Smith died December 18th, 1871, aged 56. Letitia, their eldest daughter, was born November 2nd, 1835. James, their eldest son was born November 17th, 1836. He was married to Elizabeth Hawley, of Mabou, C. B., June 11th, 1867. They have one son and one daughter. Richard, their second son, was born November 13th, 1838. He was married to Jane Letitia Wilson, daughter of Joseph Wilson and Alice Barnhill, July 28th, 1863. They have one son and two daughters. Samuel, their third son, was born November 15th, 1840. David H., their fourth son, was born November 25th, 1848. He was licensed to preach the Gospel, but his voice failing him, he was obliged to give up the good work and is now keeping a bookstore in Truro Village. Edwin, their fifth son, was born March 12th, 1845. He is settled in Brookfield and Middle Stewiacke as their Minister. He was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Timothy Putnam, October 22nd, 1872. William Vicker, their sixth son, was born Feb. 21st, 1848. He settled in Dartmouth, where he carries on the business of harness making. Annie, their second daughter, was born February 28th, 1851. She follows school teaching. Maria, their third daughter, was born June 12th, 1853. Frank, their seventh son, was born December 15th, 1855. He is a schoolteacher. Renew, their fourth and youngest daughter, was born February 21st, 1858.
John, the second son of John and Mary Smith, was born in P.E. Island, July 16th, 1774, and was brought by his parents to Truro in 1776. He married to Jane, the youngest daughter of the Rev. Daniel Cock, March 10th, 1796. He inherited his father's property in Truro, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. He died June 29th, 1848, aged 74, and his wife died July 16th, 1845, aged 71 years. Ebenezer, their eldest son, was born May 8th, 1797. He was married to Mary, daughter of Eliakim Tupper and Lydia Putnam, his wife, of Stewiacke, December 10th, 1818. She died July 25th, 1820.
He was married again to Nancy, the eldest daughter of Mark Paten Martin and Margaret McElhenney, December 27th, 1824. Margaret Jane, their eldest daughter, was born May 28th, 1828. She died May 6th, 1843, aged 15 years. Mark Paten Martin, their eldest son, was born November 26th, 1831. He was married to Clara, daughter of James Flemming Esq., and Hannah McElhenney, his wife, December 4th, 1861. He inherits his grandfather Martin's property at Debert. They have four sons and two daughters. Mary Ann, the second daughter of Ebenezer and Nancy Smith, was born May 15th, 1833. She was married to Charles, the youngest son of Robert McElhenney and Elizabeth Stewart, his wife, December 30th, 1858. They have three sons and five daughters. John, the second son of Ebenezer and Nancy Smith, was born December 26th, 1835. He died May 27th, 1862, aged 27 years. Lavinia, their third daughter, was born July 1st, 1839. Maria, their fourth daughter, was born 1841. She died June 29th, 1842. Nancy Martin, Mr. Smith's second wife, died July 14th, 1842, aged 39 years.
He was married again to Sarah, daughter of Hugh Dunlap and Susannah Gourley, March 12th, 1845. Susannah, their eldest daughter, was born May 1st, 1846. Nancy Jane, their second daughter, was born February 16th, 1848. Catherine Margaret, their third daughter, was born March 6th, 1850. Sarah Elizabeth, their fourth daughter, was born May 1st, 1852. Ebenezer Erskine Smith, their only son, was born August 14th, 1854.
Mary, the eldest daughter of John and Jane Smith, was born February 29th, 1800. She was married to Oliver, the youngest son of William Blair and Mary Downing, December 20th, 1817. They had four sons and three daughters. She died July 18th, 1869, aged 69 years, and her husband died November 23rd, 1871, aged 77 years.
Daniel Cock, the second son of John and Jane Smith, was born July 13th, 1802. He was married to Susan Beebe, of Wallace River, July 16th, 1826. He afterwards settled there. Charles, their eldest son, was born in Truro, July 16th, 1827. He was married to Hannah, daughter of John Higgins and Hannah Stevens, widow of the late Miner Embree, of Amherst, June 13th, 1853. They have four sons and one daughter. Nancy, the eldest daughter of Daniel and Susan Smith, was born December 25th, 1829. She was married to David Davison, May, 1851. They had two sons and five daughters. John, their second son, was born February 1833. He removed to the United States. Harriet, their second daughter, was born February 1836.
Janet Colven, the second daughter of John and Jane Smith, was born May 15th, 1805. She was married to Thomas Miller, and had six sons and five daughters, who appear among the Miller families. She died January 23rd, 1873, aged 67 years.
John, the third son of John and Jane Smith, was born May 17th, 1808. He was married to Mercy P., eldest daughter of Charles Tucker Esq., and Mercy Parker Polley, December 13th, 1831.
Rebecca Hughes, the only daughter of John and Mercy P. Smith, was born January 14th, 1833. She was married to William Smith, the third son of David H. Crow and Mary Smith, of Onslow, January 1856. They have four daughters. Charles Tucker, the eldest son of John and Mary P. Smith, was born August 19th, 1835. John William, their second son, was born December 25th, 1837. He was married to Sarah Smith, of Cape Breton, February 26th, 1868. They have two daughters. Melville, their third son, was born May 9th, 1842. He removed to the United States. George, their fourth son, was born January 16th, 1845. He was married to Margaret Mary, daughter of the Rev. William Summerville and Sarah Dickey, December 8th, 1868. They had one daughter. He died November 24th, 1872. Henry, their fifth son, was born November 3rd, 1849. He removed to the United States, where he is carrying on the harness making business. Eldridge, their sixth son, was born October 3rd, 1854. Mrs. Smith died October 23rd, 1868, aged 54. He was married again to Margaret Mary, the youngest daughter of William Archibald and Susan Putnam, widow of the late Colin McLennon, of Pictou, August 11th, 1870.
William, the fourth son of John and Jane Smith, was born April 3rd, 1810. He was married to Louisa, daughter of John Higgins and Hannah Stevens, of Onslow, July 17th, 1835. Mary Jane, their eldest daughter, was born September 19th, 1843. She was married to George Embree, of Amherst, February 17th, 1862. They have two sons and three daughters. Amos Burton, the only son of Wm. And Louisa Smith was born August 9th, 1846. On December 10th, 1862, he was engaged with his gun in his father's house at Wallace River. In setting the gun down on the floor carelessly, it went off and the contents lodged in his brain, causing instant death. Lavinia, their second and youngest daughter, was born January 6th, 1850. She was married to Roderick McLain, of Pictou, February 23rd, 1871. They had one son.
Alison Jamison, the third daughter of John and Jane Smith, was born March 4th, 1813. She was married to James Whidden, the youngest son of John Corbett and Mary Flemming, April 3rd, 1833. They removed to Pictou, near New Glasgow, where she died February 24th, 1834, aged 21 years. Her body was brought to Truro and interred in Truro Cemetery. Her husband went whale fishing, and afterwards settled, married, and died in Sydney, New South Wales.
Robert, the fifth son of John and Jane Smith, was born April 2nd, 1816. He was married to Margaret, the second daughter of Charles Tucker Esq. and Mercy P. Polley, January 27th, 1842. He went into a store as clerk when he was a boy. He has been engaged in commercial business ever since, and is in possession of a large amount of property. He owns and resides upon what was his father's property. He is still engaged in business in Truro, and in Cumberland County. Julia, their eldest daughter was born in Truro, December 29th, 1842. She married to Captain William A. Fraser, of Pictou, November 2nd, 1863. They left in a few days after, in the "Dayspring," for the South Sea Islands. He sailed the mission ship as Captain about eight years. The returned home with one son and three daughters, July 30th, 1872. Charles, the only son of Robert and Margaret Smith, was born November 15th, 1844. He went a few trips to sea and died suddenly in St. Thomas, West Indies, January 21st, 1866, aged 21 years. His body was brought home for interment. Mercy Jane, their second daughter, was born August 15th, 1846. In the summer of 1862, she and Miss Hyde went to Pictou on a visit. While there, in company with several young ladies they took passage in the coal train to the Loading Ground. The passenger car was in front of the engine. Through some mismanagement two trains met on full speed. The passenger car was smashed. Miss Smith was so badly injured that she died in a few hours, July 28th, 1862, aged 16 years. Her body was brought home and interred in the Truro Cemetery. Miss Hyde was considerably injured, but she recovered. Margaret Emma, the third daughter of Robert and Margaret Smith, was born Sept. 13th, 1848. Mary Alice, their fourth daughter, was born April 24th, 1851. Eva, their fourth daughter, was born February 18th, 1853. Fanny Hunt their sixth daughter was born April 5th, 1855.
Peter Suther, the sixth and youngest son of John and Jane Smith, was born September 18th, 1820. He was married to Elizabeth, the youngest daughter of James Campbell Creelman and Alison Jamison Tupper, in the month of March 1842. He inherited the homestead part of his father's property. He was engaged a few years in business as a merchant. He was driving his horse one-day, and standing in his sleigh, turning the corner by John B. Dickie's store, he was thrown from his sleigh, and his head struck the ice, which fractured his skull. He still kept about his business for a few days, until the blood began to press on the brain, when he lost his reason and died January 15th, 1859, about two weeks after he was hurt. He was in the 39th year of his age. His widow died February 17th, 1861, aged 39 years. Maria, their eldest daughter was born in the month of January, 1843. She died at the house of Ebenezer Smith, May 15th, 1866, aged 23 years. Isabell, their second daughter, was born November, 1844. She died July 10th, 1858, in the 14th year of her age. Melissa, their third daughter was born December, 1847. She removed to Lynn, Mass., and was married there to Melen Stokes. She died October 16th, 1872, aged 25 years. Mercy Parker, their fourth daughter was born September 8th, 1850. She removed to the United States, and was married to Charles A. Stickney, January 6th, 1872. Robert their only son was born September 6th, 1853.
Daniel, the third son, of John and Mary Smith, was born in Truro, June 29th, 1777. He died when about 16 years old.
Janet Colven Smith, their second daughter was born August 17th, 1779. She was married to John Vance, April 16th, 1801. He settled at Debert River. They had four sons and two daughters. Mrs. Vance died August 1st, 1816, aged 37 years. He was married again to Charlotte Porter in 1828. She died about 1838. He married again to Mary Durning, July, 1840. Mr. Vance died January, 1846. Mary, the eldest daughter of John and Janet C. Vance, was born in 1802. She was married to Captain William Palmerton in 1826. They had one son and one daughter. She died July 1841, aged 39 years. David Vance, their eldest son, was born in 1804. He was married to Catherine Stinson of New Brunswick, December, 1827. They had one son. Mr. Vance died April, 1830, aged 26 years. His widow was married again to Robert Smith of Londonderry, February 7th, 1833. She died November 30th, 1871. John Smith Vance, their second son was born March 9th, 1806. He was married to Hannah Yuill, July 13th, 1836. They had two sons and two daughters. Their son David was carried overboard from the deck of a vessel in St. John Harbour, and drowned January 7th, 1872. Mrs. Vance died July 6th, 1846, aged 29 years. He was married again to Jane McCully, July 30th, 1827. They had one son and three daughters.
William Vance, their third son, was born in 1809. He was married to Sarah Stewart, February, 1830. He died and left no children, December, 1834. His widow was married again to Alexander D. Morrison, Esq. Sarah Vance, their second daughter, was born March 13th, 1813. She was married to John Noble McElhenney, Sept. 5th, 1833. They had five sons and one daughter. They inherited what was her father's farm. Matthew Vance, their youngest son, was born July, 1816. He was married to Margaret McElhenney, June, 1841. They had one son. He died September 15th, 1842. His widow was married again to Henry Urquhart, May 9th, 1843. She died December 14th, 1871.
Hannah, ,the third daughter of John and Mary Smith, was born January 30th, 1782. She was married to John Yuill, February 3rd, 1803. They had two sons and four daughters. She died September 4th, 1817. Mr. Yuill died October 4th, 1849.
Sarah Smith, their youngest daughter, was born February 4th, 1788. She was married to Thomas Corbett, January 23rd, 1807. They had five sons and six daughters. She died April 11th, 1837, aged 49 years. Mr. Corbett died August 3rd, 1867, aged 85 years.
