Brief Life History of Deborah
When Deborah Smith was born on 4 July 1741, in Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States, her father, James Smith, was 39 and her mother, Dorcas Richardson, was 35. She married Elijah Howe I on 24 June 1759, in Leicester, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States. They were the parents of at least 5 sons and 4 daughters. She died on 25 August 1816, in Leicester, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, at the age of 75, and was buried in Old Spencer Cemetery, Spencer, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.
Photos and Memories (1)
Do you know Deborah? Do you have a story about her that you would like to share? Sign In or Create a FREE Account
Family Time Line
Sources (22)
- Deborah Smith, "Massachusetts, Marriages, 1695-1910"
- Deborah Howe, "Find A Grave Index"
- Howe in entry for Catherine Luther, "Massachusetts Deaths, 1841-1915"
Spouse and Children
Children (9)
+4 More Children
Parents and Siblings
Siblings (8)
+3 More Children
World Events (7)
1742
Oldest Grave seen in Memorials list
1776
Thomas Jefferson's American Declaration of Independence endorsed by Congress. Colonies declare independence.
1776 · The Declaration to the King
"""At the end of the Second Continental Congress the 13 colonies came together to petition independence from King George III. With no opposing votes, the Declaration of Independence was drafted and ready for all delegates to sign on the Fourth of July 1776. While many think the Declaration was to tell the King that they were becoming independent, its true purpose was to be a formal explanation of why the Congress voted together to declare their independence from Britain. The Declaration also is home to one of the best-known sentences in the English language, stating, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."""""""
Name Meaning
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.
Possible Related Names
Discover Even More
As a nonprofit, we offer free help to those looking to learn the details of their family story.