Smith Family HistoryOn April 16, 1852, in Bibb County, GA, records show that slaveholder Benjamin Davis sold Charles and Milly along with many other slaves to Elisha Davis for $7,000. This was not the first time they were sold and most likely not the last time they will be sold as slave. March 26, 1856, Charles and Milly were hired out with many other slaves by their slaveholder William O. Smith to W. E. Hamilton of Louisiana. They were sold to the Bossier Parish in Louisiana. The Bossier Parish from 1841- 1865 conveyance as many as 4,000 slaves. These slaves worked to make huge profits for their slaveholder's. The main profit crops were in from cotton, corn, and sweet potatoes. Charles and Milly were among the thousands of slaves that worked the fields in Louisinian from sunrise to sunset. William O. Smith hired out 14 slaves in all to William E. Hamilton. These slaves were to work for W.E. Hamilton for three years. Under the term of agreement, W.E. Hamilton was to paid William O. Smith three notes payment of $11,000 until 1859 with an interest rate of 8% on each slaves. In the year of 1851, Charles Smith and Milly Smith gave birth to the second generation of the Smith clan. Charles and Milly name their son David. He was born a slave as his parent before him. A story was passed down to David grandchildren that revealed how David ran away from a plantation in Louisiana when he was a very young man because of the horrible conditions and treatments of blacks. He would walk and run 2 or 3 miles during the night and hide during the day. We do not know where David went and we do not know what he did during those years but, we do know that he met Chaney Lambert in Mecklenburg County in the mid 1870's. On December 28, 1876, David Smith married Chaney Lambert. Father: Charles Smith-slave Mother: Milly Smith-slaveDavid Smith-son-born slave in 1851 In an area called Flat Creek Township that is located in Mecklenburg County, a man name Henderson and a woman name Mary A. Lambert united and begin a family of their own.. Their children names were Chaney, Lewis, James, Elizabeth, Adolphus, and Robert E. Chaney was the oldest child of Henderson and Mary Lambert. In later years, Chaney Smith often told her granddaughter Carrie Bell Smith about seeing Yankees during the Civil War as a little girl. Carrie quoted, “Grandmother Chaney told many stories, however I can recall her telling me about how she saw many Yankees riding their horse's throughout the land and destroying the property of white landholders.” Father: Henderson Lambert-slave Mother: Mary A. Lambert-1843-slaveChaney Lambert-daughter-born 1860James Lambert-son-born 1865 Lewis Lambert-son-born 1864 Elizabeth Lambert-daughter-born 1868 Adolphus Lambert-born 1872 Robert E. Lambert-born 1874 David and Chaney lived in the Buckhorn District of Mecklenburg County. Eventually, David bought land in Mecklenburg and built a log cabin with two rooms. The log cabin had a room upstairs and large room downstairs with a fireplace and cooking stove. David was a farmer and Chaney was a housewife. It was on the farm that David and Chaney raised their children Lewis and Mary. Today the log cabin is gone, but their legacy still remains.
Father: David Smith-1851 Mother: Chaney Lambert Smith-1860-1937Mary Smith-daughter-born 1883 Lewis Smith-son-born February 1887, died 1954Lewis Smith was born in the month of February 1887. He was the only son of David and Chaney Lambert Smith. He grew up on the farm helping his father with the land. Lewis Smith was a man of few words and he enjoyed working the farmland. He was member of Lambert RZUA Chapter Church and later became a trustee of the church. During his manhood, he met and fell in love with a women name Willie Belle Miller. Willie Belle Miller was born on June 24, 1887 in Mecklenburg County. Her parent's names were William and Jennie Winkfield Miller. When her mother died, her father re- married a woman named Mary. William and Mary continue to raise the family in Meckelenburg County. Willie Bell had 5 brothers named William ,George, Govan, Paul and Robert. She also had 6 sisters named Martha E, Anna, Harriet M, Lucy, Virginia and Martha. Willie Belle was a quiet and hard working woman. She became a member of Temple Gate RZUA church and a true Christian. Her father William Miller was a true believer in God and a Deacon of Temple Gate until his death. Father: William Miller-1851 Mother: Jennie Winkfield Miller-1855 Martha E.Miller-daughter-born-1879 Anna Miller-daughter-born-1880 Harriet M. Miller-daughter-born-1881 Govan Miller-son-born-1882 Martha Miller-daughter-born-1884 Lucy Miller-daughter-born-1886 Willie Belle Miller-daughter-born-1887 Virginia Miller-daugher-born-1888 William Miller-son-born-1890 George Miller-son-born-1891 Paul Miller-son-born 1894 Robert Miller-son born 1894 On January 26, 1908, in Mecklenburg County, Lewis Smith and Willie Bell Miller were married. They lived in a log cabin not very far from his parents home. During Lewis and Willie Belle marriage they were blessed with 9 children. Their names were William Henry, Mary, Martha Lizzie, Carrie Bell, Robert, John, Hattie, Mattie, and Louise Smith. Three of their children died at an early age. William Henry died at age 6, Mary at age 17 and Louise at 1 month. As of Today Martha (Lizzie), Hattie, Mattie, Robert and Carrie are deceased. Living today is John Eddie. Willie Bell loved her children very much and in returned they loved her just as much. John Smith quoted, “ Mother was known for her ashcakes. She would mix corn meal and water and pat the cakes into a round shape. The cake would be placed in the fireplace under ashes for 30 minutes. She would then run water over the cakes to remove the ashes. I remember putting a lot of butter on top of the cakes would make them taste so good.” Father: Lewis Smith-1887 Mother: Willie Belle Miller Smith-1887-1973 William H. Smith-son-born 1908, died 1915 Mary M. Smith-daughter-born 1912, died 1929 Martha Lizzie Smith-daughter-born 1913, died 1983 Carrie Bell Smith-daughter-born 1915,died 2005 Robert Lewis Smith-son-born 1917, died 2000 John Eddie Smith-son- Hattie A. Smith-daughter-born 1922, died 1989 Mattie S. Smith-daughter-born 1924, died 1998 Louise Smith-daughter-born 1926, died 1926 Lewis Smith died December 1954 at the age of 67 and his wife Willie Belle died June 28, 1973 at the age of 86. Both are buried along side other family members in the Smith Cemetery located on the Smith farm. Today the family and friends of the Smith family meets every year at the homestead where David and Chaney begin the journey of generations to come. Together the Smith Family members will continue to share a love which travel from the beginning of Charles and Milly union. Father: Watson Harper Mother: Martha L. Smith Harper Geraldine Harper-niece Anna Harper-niece Truman Harper-nephew
Geraldline Sturdivant Bishop-daughter-born 1933-died 1961 Lincoln Sturdivant-son Artish G. Sturdivant-son Orney Sturdivant-son James E. Sturdivant-son Joyce Sturdivant Lawson-daughter Helen S. Sturdivant Hardy-daughter Vivian Davis Smith-niece Father: Robert Smith Mother: Belva Smith Ernestine Smith-daughter Father: John E. Smith Mother: Alma Smith Howard Smith-son Florence Smith Brodnax-daughter Eddie Smith-son Lillian Smith Richardson-daughter Father: Orien Lambert Mother: Hattie Smith Lambert Charles Lambert-son Alice Lambert Robertson-daughter Laverne Lambert Carr-daughter Father: Wilson Walker Mother: Mattie Smith Walker Michael Walker-son Donna Walker-daughter Willie & Carrie Bell Smith Sturdivant GenerationFather: Ocsar Arnold Bishop, Jr. Mother: Geraldline E. Sturdivant BishopMonica V. Bishop Thomas-daughter Keith L. Bishop-son Kevin O. Bishop-son
Father: Lincoln Sturdivant Mother: Celica SturdivantKennth Sturdivant-son Gina Sturdivant Day-daughter Tonya Sturdivant-daughter
Father: Artish G. Sturdivant Mother: Fidelia SturdivantPatrice Rogers Wooden-daughter- (mother: Dorthy) Desmond Sturdivant-son Gina Sturdivant-daughter Father: Orney Sturdivant Mother: Jenny SturdivantAndre Sturdivant-son Micheal Sturdivant-son Tracy Sturdivant-daughter
Father: James Sturdivant Mother: Mary SturdivantJames Sturdivant, jr.-son Gerald Sturdivant-son
James & Joyce Sturdivant LawsonNo children
Father: Robert Hardy Mother: Helen Sturdivant HardyTerrell Hardy-son Danielle Williams-daughter- (father: Daniel)
Father: Cyde Smith Mother: Vivan Davis SmithStephen Smith-son Scotty Smith-son
Robert & Belva Smith GenerationErnestine Smith- no childrenJohn & Alma Smith GenerationFather: Howard Smith Mother: Dorthy Smith Howard Smith Jr.-son (mother: Margaret) Kevin Smith-son Steve Smith-son
Father: Freddie Brodnax Mother: Florence Smith BrodnaxFelicia Brodnax Rogers-daughter
Father: Eddie Smith Mother: Jerdana Corey Smith-sonCarlisa Smith-daughter Timothy Smith-son Step-Father: Edward Richardson Mother: Lillian Smith Towns Richardson
Carmeshia Towns-daughterBryant Towns-son
Orien & Hattie Smith Lambert GenerationFather: Charlie Lambert Mother: Annie
Benight C. Lambert-daughterAnnett Lambert-daughterDebra Lambert-daughter Regina Lambert-daughter Charlie Jr.-son (mother: Louise)
Father: Ernest Robertson, Sr. Mother: Alice Lambert RobertsonJacqueline Bryant-daughter Ernest Robertson, Jr.-son Step-Father: John Carr Mother: Laverne Lambert CarrCheryl Freeman-daughterWilson & Mattie Smith Walker GenerationMichael Walker-no children
Father: Percy Harris Mother: Donna WalkerShana Harris-daughterCherise Harris-daughter |
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