Adam Smith (originally Smidt) was born July 31, 1767 near Berlin, Germany in what was then, Prussia. He married Elizabeth Smith about 1787. Adam and Elizabeth had eight children. Early census records show that all children other than Enoch were born in North Carolina, but it is believed some were born in Germany and immigrated with the parents - others were born in North Carolina where they first settled, and their last child, Enoch was born in 1816 after they moved to Alabama, probably in 1815.

      Click here to see a timeline of Adam Smith's place in history.

      The name Smidt indicates Adam was a tradesman, but after he came to America, he became a farmer. Records show that Adam Smith purchased land at an Alabama public land auction, November 24, 1836, township 22, range 12. His son Jacob Smith purchased farm land nearby and handed it down to his son Joseph Smith.

      The Smith's lived about two miles east of Randolph, Alabama. It is all grown up now except where Sam Smith, Jr. lives. There is a Smith Cemetery in the woods next to his house.

      Adam Smith died April 26, 1846 at the age of 78, and is buried in Chilton County, Alabama very near the Bibb County line. He would have died in Bibb County as there was no Chilton County until 1868. Chilton was formed from parts of Bibb on Dec 30, 1868 and was known as Baker County until Dec 17, 1874 when the name was changed to Chilton. (This paragraph was written by Rickey Owens-Smith.)

      Rickey also stated, "Interestingly, our Adam Smith is buried very near to where I grew up. his grave is in a family plot deep in a wood, and I visited this place for the first time a couple years ago. I never knew the cemetery was there, nor did a lot of people. We started a project to replace the grave markers with new ones and it turned out quite well."

      The following information was obtained from courthouse records by U.V. Waldrop:

Adam Smith
Administrator of Estate

The estate of Adam Smith names his heirs; John Smith, Joseph Smith, Jacob Smith, Thomas Smith, Enoch Smith, Margaret Smith, Sarah Cost, widow of John Cost, and Mary Cost, wife of Thomas Cost. The $901 bill at the store seems to indicate when Adam died. Notice the purchase of whiskey, paregoric and Bateman's drops on April 21, 23 - then on April 26 (which was a Sunday) a large amount of black cloth, 8 screws (perhaps for a coffin) and other materials suitable for a funeral. It is my guess that Adam died either April 25 or 26, 1846. The inventory contains assorted farm items. It lists 120 acres of land at $250 and one Negro woman worth $400. The final amount for distribution came to $974.08.

      It is not known when Elizabeth Smith died.

      Adam and Elizabeth Smith had the following children:

1. John Smith (1792 - Apr 7, 1867) - Died in Alabama
2. Margaret Smith (Dec 25, 1796 - May 22, 1880) - Died Randolph, Alabama
3. Joseph Smith (Dec 25, 1796 - May 22, 1880) - died Randolph, Alabama
4. Mary Smith (1803 - ?)
5. Sarah Smith (1800 - 1850) - Died Randolph, Alabama
6. Jacob Smith (1805 - Apr 7, 1867) - died Alabama
7. Thomas Smith (1815 - ?)
8. Enoch Smith (Jan 1816 - ?) - died Alabama