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View Tree for William SmithersWilliam Smithers (b. Abt. 1760, d. August 13, 1837)

William Smithers (son of SMITHER)275 was born Abt. 1760 in On the Western frontier of Virginia, near the Holston River.276, and died August 13, 1837 in Columbia, Texas277. He married (1) Nancy Cecelia Fitzpatrick on Abt. 1782 in Near the Holston River, western VA278. He married (2) Mary Winters on April 22, 1795279.

 Includes NotesNotes for William Smithers:
The Texas State Historical marker on US 77, 1 mile south of Halletsville, LavacaCo, TX:

"William Smothers (1760-1837). A veteran of the American Revolution, a native of Virginia, William Smothers was orphaned at 12 when Indians killed his father, and his mother died of shock. In the American Revolution, he fought at King’s Mountain, Guilford Courthouse, Camden, and Eutaw Springs. He moved to Kentucky in 1781, built two forts near present Hartford, originally called "Smothers Station," and in 1798 founded an Ohio river port that later became Owensboro. He was a leader in civil affairs in early Kentucky, was a militia captain, and commanded troops in the War of 1812. Smothers Park in Owensboro is named in his honor. Smothers scouted in Texas before 1820, returned in 1821 with the exploring party of Stephen F. Austin, and helped build Fort Bend for the safety of the 'Old 300' settlers. In 1824 Mexico gave him a land grant; in 1826 he and two sons helped settle DeWitt’s Colony, receiving land grants in the vicinity of this marker. Fearless and a skillful guide, he often hunted with his friend Jim Bowie. Reputedly he tomahawked bears in hand combat. Married twice, he was ancestor of many leading Texans. He died in 1837 after seeing a son and three grandsons help win the war for Texas Independence (1977)."

In addition to being among the first Austin Colonists and a resident of the DeWitt Colony in the census of 1828, according to historian John Henry Brown, William Smothers (I) and son John Smothers (I) were also among the first to settle the Lavaca River valley area of the DeWitt Colony near current Halletsville.  William Smothers is said to have had five daughters who remained in Indiana.  Sons John and Archibald appear to have joined him when he moved to the Lavaca River in the DeWitt Colony.  William Smothers was known as a fierce hater and fighter of Indians beginning from the time of the murder of his father and continued into his last years in actions against Indians which included scouting and hunting trips with James Bowie.  Smothers died at Columbia, Texas on August 13, 1837.
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More About William Smithers:
Date born 2: Powhatan Co., VA.280
Education: Abt. 1772, Educated briefly by his uncle, Henry Chrisman..
Military service 1: 1780, Fought in the battle of Kings Mountain in 1780..
Military service 2: Abt. 1778, Served as a private in the Albemarle County, VA troops..281
Military service 3: Abt. 1780, Fought in the battle of Guilford Court House, and at Camden and Eutaw Spring..
Military service 4: Abt. 1812, Commanded troops (A Mounted Spy Battalion ?).
More: Abt. 1781, He and others went into the wilderness and built the fort at Hartford..
Moved 1: Abt. 1781, Moved to Lexington, KY with his wife and sister..282
Moved 2: Abt. 1782, Then moved to Yellow Banks (Owensboro, KY)..
Moved 3: Abt. 1820, Moved on to Texas..
Occupation: Hired as a rider, rubber and washer of horses..
Other-Begin 1: Abt. 1772, He left his brother and sister and their farm with a family named Fitzpatrick and went to live with his uncle, Henry Chrisman..
Other-Begin 2: Abt. 1781, Visited the Fitzpatricks who had cared for his brother and sister, met Nancy Fitzpatrick, courted her on a Sunday evening, married her the next Thursday..283
Other-Begin 3: 1821, Explored Texas, founded first permanent settlement in Texas, near where Richmond is now..

More About William Smithers and Nancy Cecelia Fitzpatrick:
Marriage: Abt. 1782, Near the Holston River, western VA.284

More About William Smithers and Mary Winters:
Marriage: April 22, 1795285

Children of William Smithers and Nancy Cecelia Fitzpatrick are:
  1. +Jane Smeathers, b. 1783, the fort at Hartford, Ky286, d. 1867, Rockport, Indiana287.
  2. Mary Smeathers, b. 1784, VA288, d. date unknown.
  3. James Smeathers, b. 1785288, d. date unknown.
  4. +Betsy Smeathers, b. 1786288, d. date unknown.
  5. +Elizabeth Smeathers, b. 1789289, d. 1859289.
  6. Margarita Smeathers, b. 1789290, d. date unknown.

Children of William Smithers and Mary Winters are:
  1. +Mary Smeathers, b. April 27, 1796291, d. August 14, 1876291.
  2. Joseph Smeathers, d. date unknown.
  3. Garrett Smeathers, d. date unknown.
  4. Alfred Smeathers, d. date unknown.
  5. Daniel Smeathers, d. date unknown.
  6. James Smeathers, d. date unknown.
  7. Margaret Smeathers, d. date unknown.
  8. +Elizabeth Smeathers, d. date unknown.
  9. +Archibald Smeathers, d. date unknown.
  10. +John Smeathers, d. 1846, Texas.
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