When Israel Smith was born on 2 October 1813, in Plaistow, Rockingham, New Hampshire, United States, his father, Stephen Smith, was 31 and his mother, Martha Harriman, was 27. He married Caroline Baker on 24 April 1843. They were the parents of at least 4 sons. He lived in Palatine Township, Cook, Illinois, United States in 1860 and Illinois, United States in 1870. He died on 9 August 1876, in Palatine, Cook, Illinois, United States, at the age of 62, and was buried in Palatine, Cook, Illinois, United States.
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1813–1876 Male
1818–1896 Female
1844–1900 Male
1847–1912 Male
1847–1929 Male
1856–1858 Male
1782–1866 Male
1786–1822 Female
1808– Female
1809– Male
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1811–1812 Female
1813–1876 Male
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English and Scottish: occupational name denoting a worker in metal, especially iron, such as a blacksmith or farrier, from Middle English smith ‘smith’ (Old English smith, probably a derivative of smītan ‘to strike, hammer’). Early examples are also found in the Latin form Faber . Metal-working was one of the earliest occupations for which specialist skills were required, and its importance ensured that this term and its equivalents in other languages were the most widespread of all occupational surnames in Europe. Medieval smiths were important not only in making horseshoes, plowshares, and other domestic articles, but above all for their skill in forging swords, other weapons, and armor. This is also the most frequent of all surnames in the US. It is very common among African Americans and Native Americans (see also 5 below). This surname (in any of the two possible English senses; see also below) is also found in Haiti. See also Smither .
English: from Middle English smithe ‘smithy, forge’ (Old English smiththe). The surname may be topographic, for someone who lived in or by a blacksmith's shop, occupational, for someone who worked in one, or habitational, from a place so named, such as Smitha in King's Nympton (Devon). Compare Smithey .
Irish and Scottish: sometimes adopted for Gaelic Mac Gobhann, Irish Mac Gabhann ‘son of the smith’. See McGowan .
Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.
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