Ancestor Bio – Elishaba Smith

52 Ancestors – Week 191
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.Elishaba Smith was born, lived her entire life, and died in New London County, Connecticut. What makes that statement so odd and what provided such a source for learning for me was that I learned that there is no county government nor county seat for New London County.  There isn’t a county government in any of Connecticut’s eight counties. In Connecticut, the towns are responsible for all local government. Although some neighboring towns might share resources, water, gas, the county is a mapping convention and has no government.

Darling-Huber 2017 – Ancestor #99

List of Grandparents

  • Grandfather: Robert Harry Darling
  • 1st Great-grandfather: Rufus Harry Darling
  • 2nd Great-grandfather: Rufus Holton Darling
  • 3rd Great-grandmother: Sally Ann Munsell
  • 4th Great-grandmother: Elishaba Smith
  • 5th Great-grandfather: Hezekiah Smith

 

Elishaba Smith (1748-1803)

Elishaba Smith was born on either 15 or 16 February 1747 in Lyme, New London. She was the child of Hezekiah and Sarah (Chadwick) Smith.

Childhood

Connecticut was an up-and-coming place in the mid 1700s. In 1758 the New London Summary was founded by Timothy Green. The newspaper was discontinued when Timothy Green died in 1763. However, the paper was immediately replaced by Timothy Green’s nephew, also named Timothy Green, with the New London Gazette.

Marriage

Elishaba married Timothy Munsell in Lyme on 11 Feb 1768.

They had seven children.

Children of Timothy and Elishaba (Smith) Munsell

Child Born Died
William Wescott Munsell 24 Jan 1770 20 Jan 1867
James Munsell 28 Jun 1773
Anna Munsell 07 Sep 1775 18 Jun 1777
Timothy Munsell 16 Apr 1778
Thomas Munsell Abt. 1784 1849
James Andross Munsell 09 Jul 1781 Abt. 1845
Sally Ann Munsell Abt. 1786 Unknown

Adult

Leaf1790 Census shows the Timothy Munsell family living in New London. It indicates three males living there under the age of 16.  Timothy (Age 12), James Andross (Age 9), and Thomas (Age 6) would have been the correct ages to fit the family.  William Wescott was born in 1770 and would have been 20 at the time so he must have lived elsewhere.

The census record also shows two females in the household. Elishaba (age 43) and Sally Ann (age 10)

1798 – Timothy Munsell died leaving Elishaba a widow.

1800 Census show Elishaba Munsell as the head of household. Living with her is one female between 10 and 16 years of age who is presumed to be Sally Ann who was born between 1784 and 1786.

Death

Elishaba Munsell died on 16 Sep 1803. Her burial location is unknown.



Sources

 

 

 

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