Brief Life History of Priscilla
When Priscilla Smith was born on 23 October 1773, in Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, her father, Samuel Smith, was 35 and her mother, Rebecca Towne, was 36. She married John McDowell on 12 November 1797, in Francestown, Hillsborough, New Hampshire, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 daughters. She lived in Bradford, Essex, Massachusetts, United States in 1840 and Hanover, Grafton, New Hampshire, United States in 1850. She registered for military service in 1853. She died on 1 February 1858, in Newbury, Orange, Vermont, United States, at the age of 84.
Photos and Memories (1)
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Family Time Line
Sources (13)
- Priscilla Tenney, "United States Census, 1850"
- Priscilla Smith, "Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915"
- Preskill Smith, "New Hampshire Marriage Records, 1637-1947"
Spouse and Children
Parents and Siblings
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World Events (7)
1776
Thomas Jefferson's American Declaration of Independence endorsed by Congress. Colonies declare independence.
1776
New Hampshire is 9th state.
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 NamesStory Highlight
Priscilla Dole Tenney pensions file, Isaac Pike affadavit
I Isaac Pike of Haverhill in the County of Grafton and State of New Hampshire of lawful age depose and say that I was well acquainted with David Tenney late of Hanover in the said County and his wife …
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