First Generation  

1. Ralph SMITH,^1,2 son of Thomas SMITH and Mary ?, was born on 3 Oct 1672 ² and died before 28 Feb 1734.³

General Notes: (Source: The Making of Smith, Compiled by C. A Hoppin, Antiquary at the request of T. Guilford Smith, The Making of Smith, (Buffalo, New York, 1910), The Making of Smith, A Collection of the Records, etc. of the Smith Family of Hingham and Cape Cod, Mass.; Burlington, N.J.; Philadelphia, Pa. and Buffalo, N.Y. and of the 46 Families that have become allied; on microfilm at The Historical Society of Pennsylvania <http://www.hsp.org/index.html>, partial transcription by Mary E. Henderson.)

Ralph Smith
of Burlington, New Jersey

The first official documentary record and the first descernable record of Ralph Smith in New Jersey is in the records of the Court of Common Pleas at Mt. Holly, NJ in the volume from 1717 to 1733, page 285:

Court Record Mt. Holly, NJ. "1725 - Ralph Smith, juryman" "March term Burlington County Court"

Hoppin: There is a singular absence of any trace of Ralph Smith in the Quaker records of Burlington and with the exception of the petition of his eldest son (?) guardian after Ralph's death, and the gravestone of Olive Smith, his wife, and the tradition (well founded) that he is buried by her side, there appears absolutely no existing record of his life whatever.

This remarkable fact is not so singular when it is remembered that this Ralph Smith was a "mariner". That he spent a larger part of his days upon the water there is but little doubt. That his being called a mariner implies that he was more than a fisherman, that his travels upon the water were out and beyond the Delaware River and Bay, maybe for weeks at a time. That his calling was not one in which he could or did acquire any noticeable wealth is very likely. To the average student of this man, it must appear that he had but little interest ashore beyone his family circle. His having been chosen juryman implies that he might have been a house-owner or land-owner. That he was buried in the land at St. Mary's Churchyard, Burlington, is proven by word of mouth of residents of Burlington who remember of having seen a headstone (now missing) by the side of the grave of Olive Smith, and who recognized it as marking the grave of Ralph Smith.

He died shortly prior to Feb. 28, 1734, his wife having died in 1731. Their children, so far as known were;
Hugh born about 1719, at the latest
Ralph born about 1721-1723

"In 1751 a boat was advertised to leave 'Crooked Billet Wharf' Philadelphia once a week for Burlington. The boat possessed numerous attractions; among them a commodius cabin fitted up with a tea-table and sundry other conveniences."
(Commerxes (?) Friends in Burlington, NJ)

"At a Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace held at Burlington for Burlington County March 13, 1721:

Ralph Smith brought before the Court for Breach of the Sabbath or Lord's Day.
He had allowed his colored man to unload a boat that day.
(Common Pleas Book 1717-1720 page 21 Burlington County, NJ Clerk's Office, Mt. Holly, NJ)

Ralph Smith and his son Hugh, and possibly Ralph Jr., were all engaged in the business of transporting freight and passengers between Burlington and Philadelphia. Hugh became a builder of boats. Both Hugh and his father were likely among pioneers in such traffic on the Delaware River.

Hugh Smith, eldest son of Ralph and Olive Smith, became a boatman, which entailed a similar life to that which had been followed by his father. Hugh continued his residence in Burlington awhile, and then became occupied at this trade in Philadelphia. It appears that he maintained a legal residence in Burlington and that he owned there "goods, chattle and credits" at the time of his death. His water-life partook probably (?) of the nature (?) transportation for merchandise and passengers between Philadelphia and Delaware River points, and later in building river craft. He married one Johannah - - - who survived him. Of children, there appears no record. He died prior (?) August (?) year 1752.
(Hoppin)

Ralph married Olive CLARK(E),^1,2 daughter of Thomas CLARKE and Margaret DUEHURST, about 1718. Olive was born in 1698 in Harford County, MD,^2,4 died on 17 Jul 1731 ^2,5 at age 33, and was buried in St. Mary's Church, Burlington, Burlington County, NJ.⁵

Children from this marriage were:

+ 2 F    i. Margaret SMITH

+ 3 F    ii. Olive SMITH

   4 M    iii. Jonathan SMITH

   5 F    iv. Catherine SMITH ^1,2 died on 17 Jul 1731 ⁵ and was buried in St. Mary's Church, Burlington, Burlington County, NJ.⁵

+ 6 M    v. Hugh SMITH ^1,2 was born about 1719.

+ 7 M    vi. Thomas SMITH ¹ was born about 1721 in Burlington Co., NJ and died after 11 Apr 1791 in Harford Co., MD.

+ 8 M    vii. Ralph SMITH ^1,2 was born on 29 Feb 1724 in Prob. Burlington, NJ ^1,2 and died on 20 Sep 1779 ¹ at age 55.