(NOTE: This is an edited version of a narrative appearing in the book, "Caldwell County Kin, The First 150 Years." The hardbound version can be purchased from the Genealogical and Historical Society of Caldwell County.)
Before the SMITH, HINDS and WEST families became part of Caldwell County, they were historically linked to Brazoria County. The Cornelius SMITH family arrived first, perhaps at the start of 1824, and was one of Stephen F. Austin’s “Old 300” colonist. The name "Old 300" is used to refer to the colonists who received land grants in Stephen F. AUSTIN's first colony granted by Spain in 1821 then Mexico in 1823. The HINDS family was second arriving in the mid to late 1820’s and the mid 1830’s. The WEST family arrived about 1850. The last known members of the above families in Brazoria County were Thomas Shelton HINDS and his wife, Mary Polly Smith HINDS. The only name in the 1870 Census of Brazoria County was Thomas S. HINDS, age 60. Thomas’ probate record is dated 1872. After Thomas’s death nearly all descendants of the above families were living in Caldwell County. It would be another 80 years after his death before a descendant migrated back to Brazoria County from Caldwell County.
Brazoria County was officially formed March 24, 1836. The city of Brazoria was the county seat until 1896 when it moved to Angleton. Prior to March 2, 1836, Brazoria was a district in the state of Coahuila and Texas, Mexico. From March 24, 1836 to December 1845, Brazoria was a county in the Republic of Texas. The Congress of the United States accepted the Texas State Constitution and Texas became the 28th state of the United States. The legal date of annexation is December 29, 1845.
Cornelius SMITH, son of Thomas and Mollie Mackie (Mckee) SMITH, was born December 23, 1783 in Rowan County, North Carolina. Cornelius married Elizabeth “Betsy” Roberts January 21, 1808 in Pulaski County, Kentucky. Betsy was the daughter of William and Peggy ROBERTS. Cornelius’ father and mother were married January 21, 1775, in Rowan County, North Carolina. Cornelius’ immediate family was as follows:
1 Thomas SMITH, b. October 15, 1752
+ Mollie MACKIE July 14, 1752
2 Robert, b. February 10, 1776
2 Anna, b. January 6, 1778
2 Andrew, b. July 31, 1779
2 Thomas, b. March 21, 1781
2 CORNELIUS, b. December 23, 1783
+Betsy ROBERTS
----3 Margaret “Peggy”, b. November 28, 1809; d. September 1, 1881
----3 John B., b. March 11, 1814; d. January 11, 1838
----3 William Robert, b. April 29, 1816; d. June 20, 1848
----3 Mary Polly, b. April 6, 1817; d. 1869-1870
----3 Lucretia, b. June 2, 1818; d. April 7, 1860
----3 Cornelius Jr., b. January 16, 1821; d. June 30, 1830
----3 Rachel, b. August 8, 1823; d. July 25, 1824
----3 Henry SMITH , b. August 8, 1827; d. 1863-1870
----3 Gaines Bailey, b. November 13, 1829; d. December 16, 1864
----3 Wesley Lee SMITH , b. February 4, 1832; d. December 23, 1870
----3 James, b. July 24, 1835; d. March 7, 1871
----3 Elizabeth Jane, b. July 18, 1837; d. February 3, 1855
2 Sara, b. November 14, 1785
The SMITH family has been traced back to Yorkshire, England, circa 1490. The SMITHs migrated to the colonies about 1670. They were living in Hopewell, Burlington Co, New Jersey in the early 1700’s. By the end of the 1700’s they had migrated to North Carolina. The SMITHs were members of the Jersey Baptist Church in the Jersey Settlement, Rowan County, North Carolina. In 1789 Cornelius’ future father-in-law, Robert MACKIE (McKee), was “excommunicated” from the Jersey Baptist Church for “drinking and using profanity.” Cornelius’ uncle, Cornelious, was also excluded from the church because he “drank too much liquor and abused his wife.” The official church record on Cornelious, dated February 1, 1794, was as follows: “After conferring jointly agreed that he should be excommunicated, and he was declared publicly to be unto us as an heathen man and a publican and not in our fellowship or under our watch.” Thomas SMITH (Cornelius’ father) and family migrated to Kentucky about 1805 according to records of the Jersey Baptist Church. Six of Cornelius and Betsy’s children were born in Kentucky, one (Lucretia) in Missouri, and the last five in Texas.
Elizabeth Roberts SMITH’s family has not been traced back as yet. The ROBERTS’ have been traced forward. Elizabeth’s family is as follows:
1 William ROBERTS, b.1755 to 1765; d.spring of 1826
+ Peggy b. abt.1770; d. 1832
2 Elizabeth (Betsy), b.1785; d.August 31, 1859; husband Cornelius Smith
2 Andrew, b. before 1800; d. August 19, 1844 (Old 300 colonist)
+ 1st wife, Sally, d. abt.1830
----3 Mary, b. 1820;
------+ 1st husband, John PICKETT
------+ 2nd husband, Abner HARRIS
----3 Martha, b.1825; d. abt.1850
------+John PEVEYHOUSE
----3 Margaret, b.1824; d.1846; m. Abner HODGE
------+ 2nd wife, Cynthia HODGE, b.1814 d.1905
----3 Sarah C. b. abt.1831;
------+ John JONES
----3 John, b. 1832
----3 Joel Walter, b. May 2, 1837; d. January 23, 1920;
------+ 1st wife, Elizabeth Catherine MAULDING,
------+ 2nd wife, Lucy Lelia TARVER
------+ 3rd wife, Laura LIVINGSTON
----3 Abner, b.1840
----3 Archibald, d. abt.1846
William ROBERTS died intestate in “the spring of 1826.” His probate record reflected that his only heirs were his son, Andrew, and his son-in-law, Cornelius SMITH. After Andrew ROBERTS died, his 2nd wife Cynthia married James P. MOFFETT May 19, 1847 in Brazoria County. By 1850 the MOFFETT’s family had migrated to Limestone County, Texas, with Andrew’s sons, John, Joel and Abner.
Cornelius and Betsy SMITH arrived in Coahuila and Texas with seven children, Margaret “Peggy” age 14, John B. age 10, William Robert age 8, Mary Polly age 7, Lucretia age 6, Cornelius Jr. age 3 and Rachel age 10 months. The first death in the family and in Brazoria County was Rachel. She died July 25, 1824 age 11 months, a few weeks before Cornelius received his land grant. Cornelius Jr. died June 30, 1830 age 9. Cornelius and Betsy had five more children all born in Texas and all living to adulthood. Betsy was about 52 years old when she gave birth to Elizabeth, her last child.
On April 20, 1824, Cornelius SMITH, along with his father-in-law William ROBERTS and a group of colonists were at the home of James “Brit” BAILEY when Josiah H. BELL read the Constitution of 1824 and heard their oath of loyalty to the Mexican government. Those who took this oath with the above mentioned were: John Jones, Joseph Callahan, Benjamin Fowler, Shubael Marsh, Smith Bailey, William Singer, Samuel Carter, John McCormick, Owen H. Stout, James Nelson, William Berry, David Shelby, Charles Johnson, Joseph Stewart, Patrick Dowling, James Crunk, William Pelmare, David Frame, John W. Peter, Joseph Dupangh, and John Bradley. After administering the oath, the settlers elected a military officer. James Britton BAILEY was elected lieutenant and one of his responsibilities was to protect the colony from the Karankawa Indians. They all signed a petition to elect Felipe Enrique Neri, Baron de Bastrop, as representative to the legislature of the new state of Coahuila and Texas. Felipe was elected in May 1824.
Cornelius’ Mexican land grant of 1 league and 1 labor (4,605.5 acres) was dated August 7, 1824 and was approved by Estevan F. AUSTIN (Stephen F. AUSTIN) August 10, 1824. It was surveyed by Horatio CHRIESMAN August 10, 1824. The actual acreage was 4,587.096 acres. Cornelius’ father-in-law, William ROBERTS, was also an “Old 300” colonist. William’s land adjoined Cornelius’ on its southern boundary. William sold half of his 5,312.13 acres to his son, Andrew (28 Dec, 1824), and the other half to his son-in-law, Cornelius (27 Dec 1824), for $150.00. This brought Cornelius’ land holdings to about 7,243 acres. The following day, December 28, 1824, Cornelius sold to John JONES a quarter (about 1,150 acres) of his original grant.
Cornelius’ children married into the WEST and HINDS families and other historical families. Lucretia SMITH’s first husband, Jesse WILLIAMS, and her second husband, Levi PITTS, both fought at the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836. William Robert SMITH may have fought at the Battle of San Jacinto. A “Wm. SMITH” is listed in Capt. Splane’s Company. The company was made up of men mostly from Brazoria County. A “J. HINDS”, which was James B. HINDS, William’s brother-in-law, was also listed in the company.
In 1837 Cornelius was sued by his daughter, Mary Polly HINDS, for one quarter of the estate of Smith BAILEY. Smith BAILEY was Mary’s first husband who died in the cholera outbreak of 1833. According to the lawsuit, Mary was “left in an equally destitute situation ” after Smith BAILEY’s death. Cornelius was appointed “tutor” of Mary’s daughter, Lucinda BAILEY. Cornelius, who died before the lawsuit was settled, won. The Sheriff of Brazoria County was "commanded by the courts" to collect from Mary P. and Thomas S. HINDS $25.00 for Cornelius SMITH and $25.00 for court costs.
Cornelius SMITH died October 10, 1837, age 53. His probate record indicated he died intestate. By this time Cornelius had sold about 1,300 acres of his land. Gerren HINDS was appointed administrator of Cornelius‘s estate. A few months after Cornelius died, his eldest son, John B. SMITH, died (January 11, 1838) at age 23 in Brazoria County. John’s probate record revealed little about him.
Gerren HINDS, son of Levi and Susan Gerron HINDS, was born December 31, 1801 in Kentucky. He was the younger brother of James B. HINDS. According to land records of the DeWitt colony he was married before April 13, 1825, (date of his land grant in the DeWitt colony). He married Margaret Elizabeth SMITH, daughter of Cornelius and Betsy SMITH, in Brazoria (or Kentucky, as other researchers suggest). A marriage record has not been found in either state.
Gerren HINDS arrived in Coahuila and Texas, in 1825. It is possible his brother, James B. HINDS and family was with him. Gerren left Brazoria with James KERR (an “Old 300” colonist) and general surveyor for the DeWitt colony), Erastus “Deaf” SMITH, and several other men and a few slaves. Their mission was to locate a site for the capital of the Green DeWitt colony. The party arrived by August 1825. Gerren along with his brother, James, were original landowners in the Green DeWitt colony. The Green DeWitt colony, one of the major colonies in the settlement of Texas, was established by Green DeWITT and James KERR in 1825.
Gerren HINDS played a prominent roll in Brazoria County. He was a private in Henry S. BROWN’s Division I at the Battle of Velasco in June 1832. He had land holdings in Brazoria County and if had so chosen, he could have been an “Old 300” colonist. The HINDS family had land holdings in six more counties beside Brazoria and Caldwell. Gerren was one of the few in the SMITH and HINDS families who could read and write which is probably why he was involved with many family legal proceedings in Brazoria.
Gerren’s brother, James B. HINDS, was in Brazoria for a brief time. According to census records, several of James’ children were born in Brazoria County. His first wife may have died in Brazoria. James B. HINDS’ daughter, Minerva, was born and married in Brazoria County. She married James HANSON June 16, 1847. James B. HINDS’ daughter, Martha Jane, died in 1849 or 1850. Martha’s probate record at the Brazoria County Courthouse is dated 1850. It reflected she was deceased and the daughter of James B. HINDS. James 2nd marriage was to Louisa Cottle JACKSON, widow of Alamo defender Thomas JACKSON, who died at the Alamo. A record for James’ first marriage has yet to be found though several have been found that meets the timeframe of known facts.
The HINDS family arrived in Texas at different times based on the 1838 report of the Board of Land Commissioners of Brazoria County. Gerren’s brother Thomas Shelton HINDS arrived prior to March 2, 1836. Gerren’s father, Levi Jr., brothers Levi S. and Eli “Clem” Clement, arrived after March 2, 1836 but before October 1, 1837. Based on the class and amount of land allowed, Clem, age 17, was the only one who was not married. Gerren’s brother, Levi S., may have returned to Kentucky. Some Hinds researchers reflect that Levi never migrated to Texas. Thomas lived his entire life in Brazoria County. The following Will information was copied verbatim from “Wayne County Kentucky Records #1”:
“HINDS, LEVI SR. – (of Knox Co. TN.) - Written 28 Aug 1817 – Probate Jan 1818 - Will Book A, page 18 – Sons; Joseph, Levi and John. Daughter; Rutha Pierce, Hannah Graham, and Sarahm, Manasa, Levina Charity and Rhoda Gist. Exec: Sons; Joseph Hinds, Levi Hinds and Eli Scaggs. Wit; William Emberson and Ruth Hinds.”
The Wills of Joseph HINDS and Joseph HINDS Sr. and can also be found in this book. Several of the names of the executors in these two Wills are Isaac WEST, George HINDS and Nicholas M. MERCER. The HINDS and WEST’s knew each other very well before they migrated to Texas.
Thomas Shelton HINDS married Mary Smith BAILEY by bond in 1835 under Mexican law and again August 1, 1838, in Brazoria County. Mary Polly was the widowed daughter of Cornelius and Betsy SMITH. Her first marriage was to Smith BAILEY, son of an Old 300 colonist, James Britton BAILEY. Mary had a daughter, Lucinda, by her marriage to Smith BAILEY. Gerren HINDS was appointed guardian for Lucinda BAILEY after her grandfather Cornelius died.
In 1837 the HINDS were living on Bailey’s Prairie near to or with the SMITH family. Levi Jr. was about 70 years old. His wife Susan is not mentioned and may have died in Kentucky before he came to Texas. Probably arriving with Levi Jr. were sons Levi S. age 26, Clem age 16, and daughter, Lorinda age 15. His grandson Eli Scaggs HANKINS and granddaughter Ruth Ann HANKINS came with him. Eli and Ruth were raised by their grandparents because their parents, John and Malinda Hinds HANKINS, died young. Levi S. probably had his wife with him also. There is no further finding of Levi S. and his wife in Brazoria County. Levi Jr.’s daughter Lorinda Hinds FORSYTHE, was married and widowed (or divorced) before November 1839.
Levi HINDS Jr. lived no more than two years in Brazoria County. He died August 7, 1838 and his probate record can be found at the Brazoria County courthouse. Levi Jr. did enjoy horse racing as did many in early Texas. The following is from Vol. 1, The People, published in Brazoria, Wednesday, April 18, 1838:
“The Celebrated Red Fox will stand this spring at my plantation, head of Bailey’s Prairie. Spring season to commence on the 1st of April and end on the last of July. This horse was got by partnership of Ky.—is 15 hands high, and well built. Terms -- $8.00, single cover; $15.00, season; $25.00, insurance. Due attention will be paid to said horse by Mr. Levi Hinds.
Pay at the end of season. Robert Scoby. April 4, 1838”
Eli Scaggs HANKINS married Elizabeth C. DAY December 20, 1846 in Guadalupe County, Texas. He fought in “The Battle of Plum Creek” and the Civil War. His sister Ruth Ann married John N. WARD March 22, 1843 in Brazoria County.
Cornelius SMITH’s son, William Robert SMITH, married Levi Jr’s daughter, Mrs. Lorinda Hinds FORSYTH November 13, 1839. William and Lorinda had two children, Margaret born January 4, 1842, and William Cornelius born August 29, 1843. Margaret died before 1850. William Robert died June 20, 1848. His probate record is also dated 1848. Lorinda married again December 26, 1848, to Abner HARRIS, an “Old 300” colonist. Abner’s marriage to Lorinda was very short since he was deceased by 1849. Lorinda and son, William C. SMITH, were living with her brother, Gerren, in the 1850 Census of Caldwell County. Lorinda died October 30, 1850 in Caldwell County.
Abner HARRIS’s first recorded marriage, November 22, 1837, was to Mrs. Mary PICKETT, widow of John PICKETT, and a veteran of the Texas Revolution. Mary (Roberts) PICKETT was the daughter of Andrew ROBERTS, bother-in-law of Cornelius SMITH. Mary was deceased by July 31, 1838, when Abner was “praying for letter of administration” of his wife’s estate. Clement HINDS, Eli HANKINS and ___BARNETT were appointed appraisers for all the property lying in Caldwell County of Mary’s estate.
Gerren HINDS’ last link to Brazoria County was about 1849. There were land transactions as late as 1874 dealing with Gerren’s wife, Margaret. Gerren was appointed postmaster on a new postal route from Columbia to Virginia Point, Galveston. Virginia Point is just north of the present day causeway. One station on the route was called “Hinds.” This was probably near the SMITH’s place. The first postmaster was Obadiah ROWLEY, 1846 to 1848. Gerren HINDS was second from 1848 to 1849. The route was discontinued in 1854 and the town Hinds was lost. The town of Hinds was located at what is now the intersection of SH35 and FM521. Gerren HINDSdied December 11, 1870 and is buried at McNeil Cemetery.
Hamilton W. (H.) WEST, son of Solomon Jr. and Hetty Norton WEST married Clarissa Eleanor HINDS, daughter of Levi Jr., in Wayne County, Kentucky, October 12, 1832. Hamilton and Clarissa arrived in the State of Texas with seven children, Susan, Margaret Jane, Nelson Baylor, Harrison H., Cealia, Eliza A. and Hamilton. From the 1850 Cherokee Co, Tx, census, daughter Larinda (Lara) was born Oct 1850. Their last child, John, was born in Brazoria County in 1852. The 1850 census below is the only census Hamilton and Clarissa can be found. Hamilton and Clarissa were deceased before the 1860 census. The exact death and burial of Hamilton W. is unknown. Clarissa died August 8, 1857, and was buried on the C.W. MATTHEWS’ place (CR 128) near Luling. The 1860 censuses reflect the nine children are living in Brazoria County and Caldwell Co living with Smith and Hinds families.
1850 Census of Cherokee Co, TX; Town of Rusk (2 Nov 1850)
p.64b
H. WEST 39 m Farmer KY
Clarissa 31 f "
Susanna 17 f "
Margaret 15 f "
Nelson 11 m "
Harrison 9 m "
Celia D. 7 f "
Eliza A. 5 f "
Hamilton 4 m "
Larinda 1/24 f TX
Saml GOODWIN 24 m Carpenter KY
Hamilton’s brother, Mercer Norton WEST, migrated to Texas in 1870. His son, Elza, migrated to Texas after the Civil War. Elza was a prominent citizen of McLennan County, Texas. Mercer WEST has the distinction of being the earliest birth date in either Battle or Lone Oak Cemetery in McLennan County.
There was a double wedding August 7, 1851, in Brazoria County. Brother’s Henry and Gaines Bailey SMITH married sisters Margaret Jane WEST and Susan WEST respectively. Elizabeth Jane, Mrs. Betsy SMITH’s youngest child, married Samuel P. GOODEN June 18, 1852. James SMITH, Betsy’s youngest son, married Rachel Ingram SMITH (no relation) July 7, 1859. James and Elizabeth were both married in Brazoria County. Elizabeth GOODEN died February 3, 1855 and her husband Samuel probably about the same time. Their daughter, Sarah Jane GOODEN, was raised by her aunt and uncle, Gerren and Peggy HINDS in Caldwell County. Sarah Jane married Hamilton WEST, son of Hamilton and Clarissa Hinds WEST.
Mrs. Elizabeth “Betsy” Roberts SMITH died August 31, 1859, in Brazoria County at age 74. In her Will, written October 5, 1854, she named her son, Gaines Bailey SMITH as Executor. Her heirs were Gaines Bailey SMITH, Wesley SMITH, James SMITH, Henry SMITH, William C. SMITH (grandson and minor), Margaret (Smith) HINDS, Sarah Jane GOODEN (granddaughter and minor), Mary Polly (Smith) HINDS and Lucretia PITTS. Her estate was valued at about $15,000.00. She was the last of the original families that moved to Coahuila and Texas, District of Brazoria in the 1820’s.
Wesley SMITH, Gaines Bailey SMITH and family all migrated to Caldwell County about 1856. Susan and Gaines Bailey SMITH had two of their children born in Brazoria County. William “Little Billy” was born December 13, 1852 and Eliza Jane May 1, 1855.
Henry and Margaret Jane SMITH have vanished from record leaving their children, Susan Henrietta and Robert S., orphans in Brazoria County. Henry and Jane probably died and were buried in the family plot in Brazoria. They also had a daughter, Elizabeth born May 1, 1855. Elizabeth was deceased before 1860. The last document found on Henry was dated May 1864. His 214 acres on the Cornelius SMITH tract was “sequestered by the Confederate States of America” and sold at public auction to J. A. CORKER for $1,070.00. The 214 acres was owned by Kent Poag & Co., an “alien enemy” to the Confederate States of America.
James SMITH’s wife, Rachel died February 25, 1865 at age 23 of complications from giving birth to Mary. Mary died March 1, 1865, age four months. James and Rachel’s first born, George Washington SMITH, died October 3, 1864 age 4. James and his son, John Francis SMITH, were in the 1870 census of Caldwell County at the home of Harrison WEST. James died March 7, 1871 in Caldwell County. His son, John age 9, went to live with his aunt, Mary Ann McNABB in Matagorda County, Texas. The book, “McNabb, Smith, McSmith Family Tree” written by Mrs. Elaine CEPEK of Houston, Texas, is about the life of John Francis SMITH. John married Aletha Jane FLORIDA in Caldwell County December 18, 1882. John change his last name to McSMITH and a new story began.
Listed below are the SMITH and WEST men who fought for the Confederacy and enlisted in Brazoria County. There were many more members of these families who enlisted in Caldwell County.
Columbia Blues, CO. A, 35th Regiment (Brown’s regiment), Texas Cavalry
Pvt. Henry SMITH (Cornelius SMITH’s son)
Pvt. Nelson Baylor WEST (Hamilton WEST’s son)
Pvt. Harrison WEST (Hamilton WEST’s son)
The last marriage of the families mentioned above in Brazoria County, was that of Harrison WEST and Lavinia WILLIAMS on July 25, 1865. Lavinia was the daughter of Jesse and Lucretia Smith WILLIAMS and Harrison the son on Hamilton and Clarissa Hinds WEST. By 1870 the remainder of these families had migrated to Caldwell County.
The BRAZORIA COUNTY Connection starts again, 80 years after it last ended. Robert “Bob” Lamar BENNER was the 2nd great-grandson of Cornelius SMITH. In 1951 Bob BENNER with wife Dorothy “Dot” Mae Maulding BENNER and two daughters, Cheryl Ann and Linda Jean, moved from Luling to East Columbia. East Columbia is approximately 3 miles due west of Cornelius SMITH’s original land. Bob, Cheryl and Linda were born in Luling. Dot was born in Edith, Coke County, Texas, but spent most of her life, before moving to Brazoria County, in the Luling area. Linda, her sister Cheryl and Cheryl’s daughter, Elizabeth, are members of the Cornelius Smith Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas of Luling, Caldwell County, Texas.
There is a story passed down of how Linda BENNER’s great-grandmother, Susan Henrietta SMITH, came to Caldwell County. Linda’s mother, Dot BENNER, was told this story by her mother-in-law, Maggie Derina Matthews BENNER; “A Mr. BIGGS (possibly Miles Monroe BIGGS) rode to Brazoria from Luling to get orphans Susan Henrietta SMITH and her brother Robert (Maggie’s mother and uncle).” Every time Maggie visited (circa 1955-1975) her son, Bob BENNER, in Freeport, she wanted to find the graves of her grandparents, Henry and Margaret Jane West SMITH. According to Maggie, they were buried in Brazoria. Maggie never knew if was the city of Brazoria or the County of Brazoria and the graves were never found. The 1870 census of Caldwell County lends credence to this story.
Another interesting tid-bit from Linda BENNER’s mother, Dot BENNER, was that she rode the school bus in Luling with Raymond SMITH, a direct descendant of Cornelius SMITH. Raymond’s father, Circy Lee SMITH, drove the bus. Dot also credits Dr. Walter Pruett WATKINS of Luling with saving her life when she was stricken with diphtheria at age 16 in 1946. She said Dr. WATKINS was a "fine man.” Dr. WATKINS also delivered her daughters, Cheryl Ann BENNER in 1948 and Linda Jean BENNER in 1949 at the Luling hospital. Dr. WATKINS' office was located above a drug store in Luling owned by Dr. WATKINS' brothers, John and Bill. Dr. WATKINS’ daughter, Dr. Linda Margaret WATKINS is Linda BENNER's 4th cousin and a direct descendant of Cornelius SMITH. Dr. Linda’s grandfather, William Henry MOSES, was the son of Lucius Newton MOSES and Margaret Elizabeth SMITH, daughter of Susan West and Gaines Bailey SMITH.
The following is Linda BENNER’s link to Cornelius SMITH:
1 Cornelius SMITH
--+ Betsy ROBERTS
----2 Henry SMITH
------+ Margaret Jane WEST
--------3 Susan Henrietta SMITH
----------+ John William MATTHEWS
------------4 Maggie Derina MATTHEWS
--------------+ Herbert BENNER
----------------5 Robert Lamar BENNER
------------------+ Dorothy Mae MAULDING
--------------------6 Linda Jean BENNER
----------------------+ David Gerald ROBERTS
Most of the early SMITH family members are buried in either Caldwell or Brazoria County. The SMITH family burial plot in Brazoria County has yet to be located. Much of Cornelius’s land is still undeveloped to this day. The SMITH family plot should contain the names, SMITH, HINDS, WEST, WILLIAMS, PITTS, GOODEN and more that have yet to be discovered. The majority of the families that migrated to Caldwell County are buried at the McNeil Cemetery, which is located just north of Luling.
There are family files at the research center in the Luling Library in Caldwell County and at the Brazoria County Historical Museum in Angleton, Brazoria County. The birth/death dates, marriage records, family bibles, probates, census records and land records can be found at either location. These files are constantly being updated. |
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