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In April 1695, Abraham Smith was witness to the marriage of WilliamShawand Lydia Parsons in Cape May County, New Jersey. He owned landthere in 1699, and in 1712 was a founding member of the first Baptistchurch of Cape May. Several other Baptists among the early settlers ofthatcounty, such as the Crowells, Eldridges, Whilldins, and Swaines,came from Rhode Island. It would be easy to suppose Abraham Smith wasassociated with these families before he came to New Jersey. However, there is an item in the records of Brookhaven on Long Islandthat seems certain to refer to him. "Article of Agrement concluded 24Maij 1683 between Abram Smith of the one party and Iseck Daiton ofBrookhaven the other party as followeth, that is to say that the above said Iseck daiton is to goe in the boete of the above said Abram Smith and to doe his labor to the best he can doe for fraighting and thelieke and they or both of them to goe equall shares in what they shallgetteth by the boete onlly they ar to allow the boete a therd part of whatthay both getteth and it is to be noeted that the saide Iseck daiton is togo in her as long as he pleaseth." This seems to be the only mention of Abram Smith in the Brookhaven records. This Isaac Dayton was a brother of Jacob Dayton who settled in Cape May about the same time as Abraham Smith, and Abraham's son Thomas later married as his first wifeAletha, daughter of Jacob Dayton. There is record at Jamaica, Long Island, of an Abraham Smith who on 4 Sep 1668 was appointed executor of the estate of Richard Everett.Could he have been a son of John Smith, who moved from Taunton in thePlymouth Colony to Mespath, Long Island, about 1664, and was killed there by Indianas? This John Smith had at least three children: eldest sonJohn, who in 1703 lived at Hempstead; Elizabeth, born about 1633, whomarried first William Ludlam of Southampton, and second, Nehemiah Smith of Jamaica; and Samuel, born about 1636, who left a will dated 14 Mar1714/5 and probated 20 May 1715 that called hom "of Jamaica". There may have been others as well. Was this Abraham Smith the Cape May settler? Among the proprietors of Hempstead, Long Island, in 1647, was one Abraham Smith. He appears to have been at New Haven in 1641, and tohave had intersts in Jamaica in 1656. In 1657 he is listed as having "8 gates" at Hempstead, but he was not among those listed as havingcattle in the common herd that year. (Among the others in these lists are Richard Willets and Adam Mott, whose descendants married Smiths in New Jersey.) He was one of five men voted "Townes-men" for 1663. In 1666he was the keeper of the town's cow herd, and in 1667 he was to keep creatures from destrying crops in the town field. In 1663, the townpaid Thomas Langdon, Abraham Smith, and Thomas Hicks for losses theysuffered in an attack by some of the Rockaway Indians. "Abraham Smitth" was among those listed when "Att A Generall Towne Meetting helld att hempsted y'e 24 of June: 1679 itt was Voatted and Agreed apon tthatt those persons above named shall have libertty."(Does this refer to the right to vote at town meetings?) On 3 Jan 1682 "Abraham Smith of fosters medow" filed suit against William Wier.Later in the records of this case he is referred to as "Abraham smith J:" Itis easy, then to suppose that this Abraham Smith is the son of the proprietor, and is the one who moved to Cape May. In 1687, we find"The testimoni of Abraham Smith aged about 43 years this deponent testifies about the beginning of this Winter Timothi Halsted Ju Came to hishouse and desired him and Son Isack to go with him to Samuell Dentons to discourse about A sow..." The last mention of Abraham Smith in the Hempstead records is his signature on a deed dated 25 Sep 1704.
Karl-Heinz
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