Jonas Smyth1

b. 15 February 1805, d. November 1887
FatherJohn Smyth2,3 b. 3 Jun 1778, d. 8 Sep 1835
MotherNancy Stewart4 b. 4 Nov 1778, d. 16 Dec 1851
Birth15 Feb 1805 Jonas Smyth was born on 15 Feb 1805.5,1 
Marriage6 Dec 1832 He married Lydia Dunn, daughter of William Dunn and Lydia Musgrave, on 6 Dec 1832 in Washington County, Virginia.6 
Legatee1835  Jonas's father, John Smyth, wrote his will in 1835 and died the same year. He left his estate to be divided among Jonas and his siblings.2 
Land-Buy23 Sep 1843  In 1843 Jonas purchased the 4/6 interest of Lydia's siblings in the land left to them in the will of Lydia's father William Dunn in 1819. The tract was in the Rich Valley on the North Fork of the Holston River and contained 211 acres. Lydia inherited an additional sixth share herself. The remaining share had been left to Lydia's sister Jane who married John Moffett in 1831 and was widowed a few years later. 
Court Record28 Feb 1853  In the early 1850s Jane Moffett was commited to the asylum at Staunton. As a result her estate was inventoried and recorded at court. Those records indicate she was carrying a note for $78 on Jonas Smyth. This may indicate she had sold him her 1/6 share of the William Dunn land.7 
Cens-18401840  Jonas's 1840 household included tallies for an adult male and female of the expected ages for he and Lydia as well as tallies for a male between 5 and 9, and a female under 5. This corresponds with the expected ages of the couple's two known children, son John Chesterfield and daughter Leanna Jane. However, a male aged 15-19 is also indicated. Since Lydia and John had only been married 8 years this probably does not represent their child.8 
Cens-18506 Aug 1850  The unidentified male may be the same person as the 19 year old John Smith recorded with the family in 1850. He was probably the son of Jonas's deceased brother Francis Smyth.9 
Cens-186028 Jun 1860  The 1860 Washington County census recorded 55 year old Jonas along with Lydia (52), Chesterfield (25) and Adaline Logan (24), who was employed with the family as a seamstress [she and Chesterfield Smyth married a few years later]. Jonas's land was valued at $5,460; he also owned personal property worth $5,860.10 
Cens-1860- Slave9 Jun 1860  The personal property reflected the families ownership of 6 slaves including a 26 year old male and 5 females (37, 16, 12, 11 and 10y).11 
Cens-187030 Sep 1870 In 1870 Jonas and Lydia were enumerated in Glade Spring township. Their son John Chesterfield, as well as John's wife Adeline and their three children were all in the home. In addition Jonas and Lydia were providing a home for 13 year old L.L. Smith [probably Lycenius Logan Smith, son of Jonas's younger brother William "Buck" Smith]. Also in Jonas's home in 1870 was Lydia's sister Jane Moffett who was no longer hospitalized at Staunton. In addition M.E. Logan [?] was living with the family.12 
Cens-18702 Oct 1870  Interestingly, Jonas and Lydia were enumerated a second time, this time in the Third District (Saltville area). Lydia was listed as Liddie and this time their son John C. was listed adjacent, but as the head of his own household, with his wife and children.13 
Cens-188018 Jun 1880 Ten years later, at the age of 75, Jonas was enumerated in the Saltville District with Lydia who was seventy-two. Chesterfield, Adaline and their children were still living with them, as was a niece, Lydia Smyth. She was the daughter of Jonas's brother John who died in the Civil War.14 
DeathNov 1887 Jonas died of dropsey on the 25th or 26th of Nov 1887 in Washington County, Virginia, at age 82.15,16,17 
Burial He was buried at Smyth's Chapel Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.5,18 

Research Comment:

Some Smyth family researchers state Jonas and Lydia had an additional son named William but I have not been able to find any evidence that this is correct.1

Related Links and Images:

Jonas's headstone
Other interments in Smyth's Chapel Cemetery
The 1850 Washington Co., Virginia census listed Jonas as the head of household number 292. Follow the link to see who lived nearby.

Family

Lydia Dunn b. 9 Apr 1808, d. 19 Jan 1884
Children
Last Edited21 Nov 2013

Citations

  1. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 78. Desc. chart for Jonas Smyth and Lydia Dunn; author unclear.
  2. [S695] John Smith will (1835), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 7: 71.
  3. [S1788] Jack Hockett, "Washington County, Virginia Chancery Notes", New River Notes (http://www.newrivernotes.com/hockett/wcvchancery.htm : Nov. 2010). Reel 118; case styled as Benjamin F. Fuller & others vs Tobias Smith, J. Kelly, admrs of the will of Jonas Smith, dec'd. Includes statements as to the heirs of Jonas Smyth which included the heirs of John Smyth deceased.
  4. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 76. Desc. chart for John Smyth and Nancy Agnes Stewart; author unclear.
  5. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 163. Stone reads: Jonas Smyth, 15 Feb. 1805-19 Jan 1884.
  6. [S4] D.E. Brown, Marriages of Washington Co., VA 1781-1853, p. 58.
  7. [S653] Appraisal of property of Jane Moffett (1853), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 12: 421. Appraisal was signed by Tobias Smyth, Conrad Fudge and W.P. Milner on 5 Mar 1853.
  8. [S679] Jonas Smith household, 1840 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, p. 46 (original script, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Household includes: 1 male 5-9; 1 male 15-19; 1 male 30-39; 1 female under 5; 1 female 20-29; 1 female slave 10-23.
  9. [S367] Ja__ Smith household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th District, p. 87b, dwelling 292, family 292, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2003, image 40 of 289. Ja__ Smith, 45, farmer, owns real estate valued at $1,700; Lydia 42; page 88: John Smith 19, laborer; John C. 16; Lena J. 14; all b. VA.
  10. [S234] Jonas Smith household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western District, p. 437 (added script), dwelling 507, family 495, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Aug. 2007, image 75 of 361. Household includes: Jonas Smith, 55, farmer, land valued at $5,460, pers. prop $5,860; Lydia, 52; Chesterfield, 25, farmer, owns pers. prop. woth $80; Adaline Logan, 24, seamstress; all b. VA.
  11. [S1308] Jonas Smith, owner, 1860 U.S. census, Washington Co., Virginia, slave schedule, p. 458 (stamped), line 24, viewed online at Ancestry.com. 6 slaves including: 1 26 year old male and 5 females (37, 16, 12, 11 and 10y).
  12. [S635] Jonas Smith household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Glade Spring Township, p. 77b (stamped), dwelling 337, family 342, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Aug 2007, image 48 of 49. Jonas Smith 65, owns real estate valued at $2,500; Lydia, 62; Jno C. 36, farmer; Adeline 30; Wm D. 7; Henderson 3; (cont. on p. 78) D. L. Smith (f) 2; L.L. Smith (m) 13; Jane Moffat 58; M. E. Logan (f) 21; all b. VA.
  13. [S635] Jonas Smith household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Third Division, p. 213b (stamped), dwelling 195, family 195, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Aug 2007, image 18 of 18. Jonas Smith 65, farmer, owns real estate valued at $2,00; Lydia, 60; both b. VA.
  14. [S165] Jonas Smyth household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Saltville District, ED 99, page 41 (229A stamped), dwelling 356, family 367, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, April 2003, image 41 of 63. Jonas Smyth, 75, farmer; Lydia, 72, wife, mother b. PA; Chesterfield, 46, son; Adalina, 45, dau-in-law; William, 16, grandson; Stuart, 14, grandson; Leanna J., 12, granddaughter; Robert, 9, grandson; Mary, 7, granddaughter; Lydia, 19, niece; all b. VA; all other parents b. VA.
  15. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 163. Stone reads: Jonas Smyth, 15 Feb. 1805-26 Nov. 1887.
  16. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 60. List of Persons buried in Tobias Smyth Memorial Chapel (Smyth's Chapel Cemetery); reports the date of death as 26 Nov. 1887.
  17. [S86] Fridley, "Washington Co., VA Deaths 1886-1896" online database, <www.Ancestry.com>, J. Smyth, d. 25 Nov. 1887 of dropsey of the chest at age 82.
  18. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 60. List of Persons buried in Tobias Smyth Memorial Chapel (Smyth's Chapel Cemetery).
  19. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 343. John Chesterfield Smyth, 28, single, farmer, s/o Jonas & Lydia D. Smyth and Adaline Missouri Logan, 23, single, d/o Caleb & Mary Logan; 10 Aug 1862.
  20. [S149] Washington Co., VA Marriage Register 1 & 2 (transcribed), p. 276. Licenius Theodor Logan, and Leanah Jane Smyth marr 8 Sept. 1858. He was 36, sgl, born and resid Washington Co., Virginia, s/o Caleb & Mary Logan, farmer; She was 23, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o Jonas & Lydia Smyth; E.E. Wiley.