Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
Name“Smithee” John SMITHEY Sr. 
404, John Smithey Sr.-6 October 1756 – 1789 • K8HS-FG5,470, Robert Smithey-Information,470, John “Smithee” Smithey Sr.
404, John Smithey Sr.-6 October 1756 – 1789 • K8HS-FG5,470, Robert Smithey-Information,470, John “Smithee” Smithey Sr.BirthOct 6, 1756, Goochland County, Virginia404, John Smithey Sr.-6 October 1756 – 1789 • K8HS-FG5,470, Robert Smithey-Information
Death1789, Caswell County, North Carolina404, John Smithey Sr.-6 October 1756 – 1789 • K8HS-FG5,470, Robert Smithey-Information
BurialUnknown470, John “Smithee” Smithey Sr.
Flags Research Pending
FatherRobert SMITHEY (1736-1756)
MotherRebecca SHEPPARD (1740-1810)
Spouses
1Elizabeth WILLIAMSON 404, Elizabeth Williamson-1760 – 8 January 1808 • MDS4-BX8,470, John “Smithee” Smithey Sr.-Information,470, Elizabeth Williamson Smithey
404, Elizabeth Williamson-1760 – 8 January 1808 • MDS4-BX8,470, John “Smithee” Smithey Sr.-Information,470, Elizabeth Williamson SmitheyBirth1760, Caswell County, North Carolina404, Elizabeth Williamson-1760 – 8 January 1808 • MDS4-BX8,470, Elizabeth Williamson Smithey
DeathJan 8, 1808, Caswell County, North Carolina404, Elizabeth Williamson-1760 – 8 January 1808 • MDS4-BX8,470, Elizabeth Williamson Smithey
BurialUnknown470, Elizabeth Williamson Smithey
Obituary Online notes for “Smithee” John SMITHEY Sr.
Possibly a Revolutionary War Solder.
Living in Halifax Va. at the time of the war.
Brother Richard Smithey KIA in the Revolutionary War.
Name most likely changed from Smithey to Smithee after the Revolutionary War after the family moved to Arkansas
-----------------------------------------
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/halifax/military/revwar
Names of those who deserted their post
Transcribe from copy of original document obtained from Virginia State Archives
A list of the mens names belonging to Maj. Jones Battalion of Militia who have
deserted, Distinguishing those who carried off their arms from those who did not,
also those who deserted from their post. Cabin Point Feby. 23 1781
…
John Smithey
…
Note from transcriber: These are the 27 names of men from Halifax County on this list.
The document is from the files of the Virginia State Archives. Charles Powell is listed
as taking his gun, bayonet, cartridge box, flint, and cartridges. Everyone on the list
is listed as deserting "From Post". We have only the first page of this list. We do not
know the total number of pages. This page contains 41 names with others from Buckingham, Bedford and Mecklenburg County
Military: Halifax County Militia, 1781: Halifax County, Virginia
------------------------------------------
http://dna-explained.com/2015/04/06/george-estes-1...ran-52-ancestors-66/ (See Cabin Point Feb 23 1781 and the Halifax Militia)
...By late summer 1780 with South Carolina under their control, the British were ready to push into Virginia and Maryland and deal Washington a final blow. In Virginia, Governor Thomas Jefferson had placed General Steuben in charge of the state's defense. By January 1, 1781, the British were in Chesapeake Bay and Jefferson was calling up county militiamen to repel the impending attack. Benedict Arnold, now in charge of the British fleet, sailed up the James River and burned Richmond then moved back downriver to settle in at Portsmouth on the Chesapeake Bay. The Halifax County Militia and was sent to Cabin Point on the James River to watch for Arnold's next anticipated raid up the river. The militia had little to do but sit and wait and worry about the news coming in daily of Cornwallis' raids in the Carolinas and his impending threat to Virginia.
It seems that all was not well at home in Halifax County during this time. Boyd's Ferry is the present city of South Boston and the Boyd's Ferry crossing was very close to the Estes homestead, which was located just above the crossing on the main road.
In a letter to Governor Jefferson dated February 15th, 1781, camped at Boyd's Ferry on the Dan River, Greene called for reinforcement of militia:
"We have crossed the Dan, and I am apprehensive they will cross it above us…If they should they will oblige us to cross the Stanton branch of the Roanoke…It is by no means certain, that Lord Cornwallis will not push through Virginia."
Jefferson dispatched letters on February 17 and 18 to a long list of county Lieutenants and Baron von Steuben asking for militia to join General Greene who had "crossed the Dan at Boyd's Ferry and was retreating before the enemy." News of the alarming activities of Greene and Cornwallis aligned along either side of the Dan near Boyd's Ferry must have reached the Halifax County Militiamen shortly after February 18. While they sat on the James River waiting for Arnold to make a move, Cornwallis and his army was camped at the doorstep of their homes in Halifax County.
The record is dated February 23, 1781 Cabin Point, Virginia and states:
"A list of the mens names belonging to Major Jones Battalion of Militia who have deserted. Distinguishing those who carried off their arms from those who did not. Also those who deserted from their post."
The list of names does not include George Estes. He had a decision to make, and he chose to remain at his post, although one could scarcely have blamed him had he returned home to protect and defend his home place and family. Perhaps the knowledge that his father and siblings were there relieved his mind somewhat.
-------------------------------------------
Married Elizabeth Willimason
Children:
John SMITHY b: About 1773 in VA
Samuel SMITHY b: Between 1775 and 1784
William SMITHY
Reuben SMITHY b: About 1790 in VA
Nancy SMITHY
Elizabeth SMITHY
Ann SMITHY
470, John “Smithee” Smithey Sr.
Living in Halifax Va. at the time of the war.
Brother Richard Smithey KIA in the Revolutionary War.
Name most likely changed from Smithey to Smithee after the Revolutionary War after the family moved to Arkansas
-----------------------------------------
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/halifax/military/revwar
Names of those who deserted their post
Transcribe from copy of original document obtained from Virginia State Archives
A list of the mens names belonging to Maj. Jones Battalion of Militia who have
deserted, Distinguishing those who carried off their arms from those who did not,
also those who deserted from their post. Cabin Point Feby. 23 1781
…
John Smithey
…
Note from transcriber: These are the 27 names of men from Halifax County on this list.
The document is from the files of the Virginia State Archives. Charles Powell is listed
as taking his gun, bayonet, cartridge box, flint, and cartridges. Everyone on the list
is listed as deserting "From Post". We have only the first page of this list. We do not
know the total number of pages. This page contains 41 names with others from Buckingham, Bedford and Mecklenburg County
Military: Halifax County Militia, 1781: Halifax County, Virginia
------------------------------------------
http://dna-explained.com/2015/04/06/george-estes-1...ran-52-ancestors-66/ (See Cabin Point Feb 23 1781 and the Halifax Militia)
...By late summer 1780 with South Carolina under their control, the British were ready to push into Virginia and Maryland and deal Washington a final blow. In Virginia, Governor Thomas Jefferson had placed General Steuben in charge of the state's defense. By January 1, 1781, the British were in Chesapeake Bay and Jefferson was calling up county militiamen to repel the impending attack. Benedict Arnold, now in charge of the British fleet, sailed up the James River and burned Richmond then moved back downriver to settle in at Portsmouth on the Chesapeake Bay. The Halifax County Militia and was sent to Cabin Point on the James River to watch for Arnold's next anticipated raid up the river. The militia had little to do but sit and wait and worry about the news coming in daily of Cornwallis' raids in the Carolinas and his impending threat to Virginia.
It seems that all was not well at home in Halifax County during this time. Boyd's Ferry is the present city of South Boston and the Boyd's Ferry crossing was very close to the Estes homestead, which was located just above the crossing on the main road.
In a letter to Governor Jefferson dated February 15th, 1781, camped at Boyd's Ferry on the Dan River, Greene called for reinforcement of militia:
"We have crossed the Dan, and I am apprehensive they will cross it above us…If they should they will oblige us to cross the Stanton branch of the Roanoke…It is by no means certain, that Lord Cornwallis will not push through Virginia."
Jefferson dispatched letters on February 17 and 18 to a long list of county Lieutenants and Baron von Steuben asking for militia to join General Greene who had "crossed the Dan at Boyd's Ferry and was retreating before the enemy." News of the alarming activities of Greene and Cornwallis aligned along either side of the Dan near Boyd's Ferry must have reached the Halifax County Militiamen shortly after February 18. While they sat on the James River waiting for Arnold to make a move, Cornwallis and his army was camped at the doorstep of their homes in Halifax County.
The record is dated February 23, 1781 Cabin Point, Virginia and states:
"A list of the mens names belonging to Major Jones Battalion of Militia who have deserted. Distinguishing those who carried off their arms from those who did not. Also those who deserted from their post."
The list of names does not include George Estes. He had a decision to make, and he chose to remain at his post, although one could scarcely have blamed him had he returned home to protect and defend his home place and family. Perhaps the knowledge that his father and siblings were there relieved his mind somewhat.
-------------------------------------------
Married Elizabeth Willimason
Children:
John SMITHY b: About 1773 in VA
Samuel SMITHY b: Between 1775 and 1784
William SMITHY
Reuben SMITHY b: About 1790 in VA
Nancy SMITHY
Elizabeth SMITHY
Ann SMITHY
470, John “Smithee” Smithey Sr.