Finding A Family

Every once in a while, I make a wonderful discovery such as the subject of this blog, Samuel P Smith who was born in 1850 at Halfmoon to Hiram Smith and Phebe Ann Smith.

courtesy of Dan - Find A Grave

I had him as a single person who died in 1885 at 35 years of age, without a will, without an obituary, and the only mention of him in the paper revealed is cause of death

Daily Saratogian, Wed, 7 Jan 1885
Samuel P Smith of East Line, who has been seriously ill with typhoid fever, is now improving so that hopes are entertained of his recovery.

He died a couple weeks later BUT recently I stumbled across the Letters of Administration filed in Feb 1885. 

I recognized his brothers but who was Mary E?

When I plugged in Mary E Smith in Saratoga Co, surprise of all surprises the 1880 census for Ballston Spa popped up. Not that I didn’t see it before but I didn’t think he had married so I dismissed it.

Color me happy!! There were kids ~~Bertha & Chester. 

Away I went filling in the family and discovering another 50 family connections!

Another confession, I am guilty of working backwards at times ~~ sigh.

It wasn’t until I started this blog that I realized I didn't prove the connection of Mary E to Samuel P, that is, was this the right family?

So I had to do that before I could go further and wouldn’t you know it – Samuel’s brother, Wellington, named his nieces in his will!   

Have a look at this entry in the Saratogian, Tue, 28 Oct 1924 ~~ Hallelujah!
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Mary E turned out to be Mary E Earing - the daughter of Sylvester Earing & Helen Hermance.  After Samuel died, she remarried Ward B Jennings.

Albany Evening News, Wed, 22 Jun 1927
Funeral Conducted at Castleton for Former Resident
Many Castletonians were present at the burial of Mrs Ward Jennings of East Greenbush at the Mountain View Cemetery, Castleton, Monday afternoon. Mrs Jennings was a former resident of Castleton and while here was an active member of the Methodist Church. She was the first president of the Woman's Church Improvement Society of St Paul's Church.  The Rev Samuel W Spear, minister of the East Greenbush Methodist Church officiated, assisted by the Rev Thomas M Bishop of Castleton. Mrs Jennings is survived by her husband and four daughters, the Misses Ruth and Marguerite Jennings of East Greenbush, Mrs Sylvia Elwood of Gloversville, and Mrs Bertha Smith of Watervliet.
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Their only son, Chester, died at the age of 26

Albany Evening Journal, 18 Dec 1905
Funeral of Chester H Smith - Largely Attended By Relatives And Friends - Special Accommodations Made By Railroad
One of the largest funerals which has taken place in this village in some time was that of Chester H Smith, which took place yesterday afternoon. The services were held at the Mehtodist Church and were conducted by the Rev Mr Wyans. There were many floral tributes surrounding the casket, while a host of friends crowded the church to its capacity.  The bearers were John Witbeck, Henry Arolek, Clark Sicate, William Van Buren, Harry Golden and James Walradt. To accommodate the large number of friends of Mr Clarke [sic] from this city, who desires to attend, the New York Central Railroad direct that the fast train leaving Albany at 945 am to stop at Castleton.