Rufus Smith

Brief Life History of Rufus

When Rufus Smith was born on 17 February 1780, in Rutland, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, his father, James Smith, was 25 and his mother, Mary Browning, was 25. He married Martha Howe on 25 February 1805, in Rutland, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 2 daughters. He died on 2 June 1852, in Rutland, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, at the age of 72.

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Family Time Line

Rufus Smith
1780–1852
Martha Howe
1781–1845
Marriage: 25 February 1805
Mary Ann Smith
1809–1878
Dolly Howe Smith
1812–1880
William Owen Smith
1813–1873

Sources (20)

  • Rufus Smith, "United States Census, 1850"
  • Rufus Smith, "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915"
  • Rufus Smith, "Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910"

Spouse and Children

Parents and Siblings

World Events (8)

1781 · The First Constitution

Serving the newly created United States of America as the first constitution, the Articles of Confederation were an agreement among the 13 original states preserving the independence and sovereignty of the states. But with a limited central government, the Constitutional Convention came together to replace the Articles of Confederation with a more established Constitution and central government on where the states can be represented and voice their concerns and comments to build up the nation.

1783 · A Free America

The Revolutionary War ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris which gave the new nation boundries on which they could expand and trade with other countries without any problems.

1800 · Movement to Washington D.C.

While the growth of the new nation was exponential, the United States didn’t have permanent location to house the Government. The First capital was temporary in New York City but by the second term of George Washington the Capital moved to Philadelphia for the following 10 years. Ultimately during the Presidency of John Adams, the Capital found a permanent home in the District of Columbia.

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

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