When Moses Smith was born on 25 January 1739, in Shrewsbury, Worcester, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, his father, Ephraim Smith Junior, was 40 and his mother, Hannah Rice, was 24. He married Lydia Smith on 30 April 1760, in Shrewsbury, Worcester, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America. They were the parents of at least 5 sons and 9 daughters. He registered for military service in 1775. He died on 1 September 1815, in Barre, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, at the age of 76.
Do you know Moses? Do you have a story about him that you would like to share? Sign In or Create a FREE Account
1739–1815 Male
1740–1812 Female
1759–1837 Male
1761– Female
1762– Male
1764– Female
1767–1851 Male
+9 More Children
1698–1788 Male
1714–1796 Female
1733–1811 Male
1736–1736 Male
1736–1825 Male
1738–1779 Male
1739–1815 Male
+6 More Children
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.
As a nonprofit, we offer free help to those looking to learn the details of their family story.