Dr. John Pomfrett Smith

Narrative:

     Dr. John Pomfrett Smith was born on 10 Feb 1791 in Granville Co., North Carolina.^6,7,8
     John married first Elizabeth Reeks Walton, daughter of John Walton and Dolley Reeks, on 17 Dec 1816 in Granville Co., North Carolina.^6,9,10
     John appeared on the 1830 Federal Census of Granville Co., North Carolina, with a household consisting of one male under age 5 (son Alexander), two age 5 to 10 (James and John), and one age 30 to 40 (himself), one female under age 5 (daughter Penelope), one age 15 to 20 (unknown), and one age 30 to 40 (wife Elizabeth). There were also five slaves listed, three males and two females.¹⁵
     John and Elizabeth moved to Fayette Co., Tennessee, in 1833.¹⁶
     His wife died on 31 Oct 1835 in Fayette Co., Kentucky.¹⁷
     John appeared on the 1840 Federal Census of Fayette Co., Tennessee, with a household consisting of one male age 5 to 10 (son Samuel), one age 10 to 15 (Alexander), one age 15 to 20 (James), and one age 40 to 50 (himself), and one female age 10 to 15 (daughter Penelope). There were also six slaves listed, three males and three females.¹⁸
     John married second Sarah Cleaves, daughter of William Cleves and Jane [surname unknown], on 12 Mar 1843 in Fayette Co., Tennessee.^6,11,12
     John and Sarah appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Fayette Co., Tennessee, enumerated 16 Oct 1850, reporting real estate valued at $2,400. Their children Agnes and Sallie and his son by his previous marriage, Samuel, were listed as living with them, There were also 14 slaves, ranging in age from 48 years to four months.^19,20
     John was a physician and a farmer. He reported in 1850 that his farm included 160 acres of improved land and 140 acres unimproved, and was valued at $2,400, with another $120 worth of implements. He reported that he had 7 horses, 1 mule, 4 milch cows, 2 working oxen, 10 other cattle, 20 sheep, and 75 swine, all valued at $735. He had produced over the prior year 30 bushels of wheat, 1000 of corn, and 200 of oats. He had produced 25 400-pound bales of cotton, 20 bushels of peas and beans, 310 of potatoes, 100 lb. of butter, 40 of honey and slaughtered $205 worth of animals.^21,22,23
     John left a will dated 25 Jan 1856 stating he was of Fayette Co., Tennessee, in which he appointed Joel L. Pulliam as his executor. He left his wife, for her widowhood, the 300 acres of land where they lived, for her benefit and that of their two daughters. He also left her four Negros, Barsheba, Angerona, Peter and Hill, two beds and furniture, two choice horses or mules, two cows and calves, one barouche (a type of carriage) and harness, one wagon and gear, two sows and pigs, ten head of stock hogs, six head of sheep, all of the poultry, two bedstead, and all the household and kitchen furniture. He left to daughters Agnes and Sallie five Negros, Milly and Boy Scott, Mary, Boy Ben, and Zadock, to be undivided one attains the age of 18, and for each one bed and furniture. He left to his daughter Elizabeth Negros Sally Ann, Bobbie, and Mary Ann, and a bed and furniture. He left to his grandchildren, children of his son James, slaves Bob and wife Huldo and boy Harroow, and 17 shares of stock in the Memphis and Charleston Rail Road Co., all to be held in trust by his son Samuel. He left to his daughter Penelope and her children slaves Jack ad Kara, to be held by son Samuel for their use and benefit, independent of the control of her husband and "in no way liable to pay his debts." To his son Samuel he left Negroes Tom, Abe, and Aramanta, and a bed and furniture, and all claims he held against him by open account, but not by note. The land given to his wife for her widowhood was to be sold at her death or marriage and the proceeds divided equally between his children or their representitives if deceased, to be held the same way as other property mentioned.²⁴
     John died on 18 Jun 1859 in Fayette Co., Tennessee, at age 68.^13,14
     His estate was probated in Aug 1859.²⁴