Biography of
Smith Surname of Pawlet, VT

SMITH, Capt. NATHANIEL, from Conn., at an early day came to this town with several brothers among whom was Judge Pliny Smith, of Orwell. All the brothers but himself left town in a few years. He was in the legislature in 1795—96. We have often heard the old inhabitants speak of him in the highest terms of respect. He died 1807, aged 57. His widow in 1820, aged 69.

SMITH, Capt. BENONI, from Glastenbury, Conn., 1781 settled on the present premises of his son Robert H. Smith. He brought with him and encouraged to come from time to time large numbers of settlers who looked upon him almost as a father.  He was a man of life and energy, and contributed greatly to promote the settlement of the neighborhood.  He built a grist and saw mill on his premises soon after he came to town.  His wife died in 1788, aged 47, leaving seven children: Josiah, Arthur, Reuben, Hoel, Ira, Jemima and Anna, who m. Benjamin Tyler of Claremont, N. H. Next he m. Elizabeth Smith, who died in 1832, aged 77, leaving two children, Robert H. and Eliza, who m. David Hitchcock, of Granville, N.Y. Robert H. Smith has been in the legislature two years. Capt. Smith died in 1799, aged 59.

SMITH, JOSIAH, m. Ruth Goodrich and settled on the present premises of Horatio Hollister. He was a leading Episcopalian and senior warden of Trinity church, Granville, from its organization to his death in 1823, aged 56. His widow died in 1846 aged 77. His death was caused by a kick from a horse. In his domestic and church relations he was greatly beloved and esteemed. He raised ten children: Ephraim, Noah, Hoel, Josiah, Betsey, Penelope, Julia, Ruth, Mima and Laura. The three first named removed to Illinois; Josiah removed to Londonderry; Betsey m. Allen Blossom; Mima m. Hoel Clark, of Wells.

SMITH, REUBEN, m. Sarah da., of Col. Samuel Willard, and settled near his father. He was kind-hearted and pleasant man, and highly esteemed.  He kept tavern some twenty years before 1832, when he removed to Burke, N.Y.  He raised six children: Benjamin, John, Arthur, Ann, Abigail and Emily.  These all removed to Burke, N.Y., and vicinity. Mr. Smith died in 1862, aged 96.

SMITH, ARTHUR, settled south of his father’s. He was a scholarly intelligent man. He removed to Scipio, N.Y., with all his family, about 1810.  Some of his family have become distinguished in the professions.  He was deacon of the Congregational church in Scipio, and died recently at a very advanced age.

SMITH, HOEL, m. Ruth, da. of John C. Bishop the head of the well known Bishop family in Granville, N.Y.  He entered upon the mercantile business in that place and died in 1806, aged 35, leaving no children.  He commenced life with the most flattering prospects and his untimely death was greatly deplored. His widow did not cease to mourn her loss through a long life.

SMITH, IRA, m. Maria, da. of Col. Samuel Willard, and removed in early life to Franklin county, N.Y.  We know little of him, but we understand he maintained a creditable position in society. He died in 1856, aged 76.

SMITH, Rev. ZEPHANIAH H. from Glastenbury, Conn., came here as a missionary before there was any settled minister in town. He returned to Conn., and was pastor of a church in Newtown, His religious views being changed, he adopted the profession of law, in which he became very distinguished. He was uncle of the Rev. George Smith, of Hebron, N.Y., who was the first preacher of the Methodist church at the village in 1825, and founder of the Methodist Protestant church in 1832, in the south part of the town.

SMITH, Dr. JUSTIN, m. Irene, da. of Col. Ozias Clark, and removed to Lima, N.Y.  He was a physician of the highest order of talent, but became insane, which destroyed his usefulness.  His son James, well known in town, recently lost his life by the caving in of a well in Iowa.

SMITH, Gov. ISRAEL. We have been often told by the old residents that Gov. Smith was for some years a resident of this town. History seemed to contradict this, as he was the representative of Rupert at the same time he was claimed to be a resident here. Our solution of the question is that he lived on disputed land between Rupert and Pawlet, which on a final settlement was adjudged to this town. He was from Suffield, Conn., 1783, a graduate of Yale, an attorney, in the legislature four years, and member of congress from 1791 to 1797. In 1797 he was chief justice of this state. In 1800 he was again in congress and served one term when he was elected U. S. Senator, which office he held until 1807, when he was chosen governor. He died in Rutland, in 1810, aged 51.

SMITH, Hon. NOAH a brother of Gov. Smith, and who graduated at Yale with him, came here during the early years of the revolution; ; he too was an attorney. At that day it was confidently expected that this town would become the county seat of the present counties of Bennington and Rutland; hence the influx of distinguished men to this place. Being disappointed, Noah Smith returned to Bennington and delivered the first anniversary oration in commemoration of the battle of Bennington in 1778. he was states’ attorney from 1781 several years, and judge of the supreme court of the state; in the whole five years. He removed to Chittenden county about 1800, and soon after died.

SMITH, ALONZO, from Wells, 1860, settled on the homestead of George Willard. He m. Lydia, da. of Jacob Lyon. His oldest son Frederic m. Harriet, da. of Curtis Weeks.

SMITH, JOHN, settled in Fairfax county, Va, whence he was driven in 1861, by the confederates. He has been lessee of the town farm since 1864.