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Samuel Smith Jr. (military captain)

Samuel Smith Jr. (January 26, 1714 – November 14, 1785) was a Christian anti-British politician from Topsfield, Massachusetts and the paternal great-grandfather of Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism.

Early life

Samuel Smith was the third child of Samuel Smith Sr. and Rebecca Curtis. He was described in the town being a "gentleman" in the Topsfield census, On May 27, 1734, Samuel married Priscilla Gould. The couple had six children together: Priscilla Smith (1735–1792), Samuel Smith III (1737–1792), Vashti Smith (1739–1807), Susanna Smith (1741-1741), Susanna Smith (1742–1811), and Asael Smith (1743–1830). On September 25, 1744, Priscilla died of unknown reasons and Samuel married her first cousin also named Priscilla Gould; Priscilla had no children with Samuel but helped raise his children.

Military and politics

Roles

  • During his visit to Ipswich in 1744, he became a congressman for the Massachusetts Provincial Congress.
  • Samuel enlisted in a Massachusetts militia and achieved the rank of Lieutenant from 1758 to 1766.
  • Served as a moderator from 1758 to 1783.
  • From 1760 to 1785: he became a grand juryman.
  • Served as a representative to the General Court from 1763 to 1781.
  • In 1766 he achieved the rank of Captain and led an entire military company.
  • Left the military in the 1770s.
  • Supervisor of roads in 1770.
  • Served as an Assessor and selectman from 1771 to 1777.
  • Became Chairman of the Tea Committee in 1773 which would eventually led to the Boston Tea Party on December 16, 1773.
  • In October 1774, Samuel Smith was chosen to represent the town of Topsfield for a meeting in Ipswich over the Intolerable Acts imposed by the British Empire following the Boston Tea Party.
  • "Recog. of Debts from 1777 to 1783.
  • Served on the Committee of Public Safety from 1779 to 1785.
  • From 1781 to 1782, served as a town clerk.

Later years and death

Samuel's physical and mental health declined rapidly once he left politics which only became worse because of his debts. Due to his heavy involvement in public affairs, he accumulated a large amount debt which he lived with until his death. On November 14, 1785, Samuel died due to a stroke.

References