Alexander R. Smith

Notes:

Chandler Holmes Smith was born February 23, 1831, in Pawtuxet, Rhode Island. He was the son of Remington Smith and Martha Patty Holmes. He was named for his mother's father, Chandler Holmes, from Woodstock, Windham County, Connecticut. He joined his uncle and brothers in the North Florida/South Georgia area when he was 16 years old or about 1848. He married his second cousin, Susan Parramore Smith, the daughter of James Wolf and Lodoiska Parramore, on February 21, 1856. Chandler was a merchant and entrepreneur with holdings in plantations, small farming interests, business and personal loans, banking, railroad stocks, cotton and commodity futures, land speculation and much more. He was also a member of the Florida House of Representatives and Commissioner of Madison County. During reconstruction he loaned the city governments of Tallahassee, FL, and Savannah, GA, money to rebuild. Chandler purchased the Goza/Smith/Wardlaw mansion for $5,000 at a sheriff's sale. He died on June 29, 1899 in Madison, Florida and is buried in the Oak Ridge Cemetery in that town. (notes from Chandler Smith Cheek, great-grandson)

In the 1870 Federal Census, the family is living at Madison, FL. Chandler H. is age 39, a dry goods merchant; Susan P. is 32; children in the family are: James W. 13, Audry R. 11, and Chandler H. 7; the children are all born FL. They are next door to the family of Cornelius Remington, which includes black/mulatto family members, including one young boy named Chandler H. Remington.

Chandler married Susan Parramore Smith 21 Feb 1856, Shell Point, Wakulla Co., FL. Susan (daughter of James Wolf Smith and Lodoiska Parramore) was born 21 Nov 1837, Thomasville, GA; died 3 Oct 1905, Pavo, GA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

When Susan was of college age, she went to Warren, RI, for her education. (source: obit)

Notes:

Chandler & Susan were second cousins.

Notes:

Remington Smith is the great great grandfather of Chandler Smith Cheek.

Another genealogy has his date of death as 11 May 1874. (see Mary E. Rice Collection)

On 16 Nov 1842, Remington Smith was one of three men who represented the Pawtuxet Baptist Church at a Council of the RI Baptist State Convention, held at the Old Warwick Baptist Meeting House. This meeting considered and approved the establishment of the Shawomet Baptist Church, now located on West Shore Rd., Warwick (sometimes called "Old Warwick").

Remington married Martha "Patty" Holmes 29 May 1808, Pawtuxet, RI. Martha (daughter of Chandler Holmes and Amelia Potter) was born 28 Nov 1789, Woodstock, Windham Co., CT; died 15 Aug 1860, Pawtuxet, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Another genealogy has Patty's birth as 20 Nov 1789. (see Mary E. Rice Collection)

Notes:

James went to Irwin Co., GA, in 1828. After marrying, James & Lodoiska moved to Thomasville, GA, "where he was a postmaster and junior partner in a mercantile firm with his father, whom he . . . had come with from Pawtucket [Pawtuxet] to the South, and a Col. E. Remington. The business was known as Simon Smith Jr. and Sons." (source: obit, reprinted in the Magnolia Monthly, Jan 1964)

The family moved to Flordia about 1848. James W. Smith was a Representative in the Florida Legislature from 1850 to 1860.

His gravestone contains this inscription:
I've safely passed the billows' roar
Upon life's stormy sea
And here upon the shining shore
I'm waiting now for thee.

James married Lodoiska Parramore 22 Dec 1833, Thomas Co., GA. Lodoiska was born 5 Feb 1817, Jacksonville, Telfair Co., GA; died 4 Jun 1886, Madison, FL; was buried , Smith Cemetery, Wakulla Co., FL. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Simeon Smith was a Charter Member of the Pawtuxet Rangers (Oct 1774).

He was Master of Providence-based privateer brig, Hope, 1781. (source: Field, Edward; State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at the End of the Century: A History. Boston, Mason Publishing Co. 1902, Vol II, pp424-430 List of Privateersmen from Providence)

He was a Revolutionary War Pensioner (File # S21492).

Simeon's will was dated 3 February 1836, and proved 27 May 1843 at Cranston, RI. In it he mentions sons Simeon Jr., Nicholas, Moses, Aaron, & Remington. He speaks of his daughters, but not by name. Also mentioned are grandchildren Nathaniel P. Smith, John R. Harris, & Charlotte P. Thomas.

Simeon died at age 97, the oldest resident of Pawtuxet at the time. A veteran of the Revolution, he was loyal to the cause of liberty and took his civic privileges seriously. It was reported that in the last election, he traveled 5 miles to vote.

A death notice was printed in the Brooklyn Eagle, 9 March 1843.

He may have married first to Freelove Fenner, b. 13 July 1743. She married Capt. Simon Smith on 23 March 1766 at Providence, RI. However, that may have been another individual with a similar name born around the same time. He was generally referred to as Capt. Simeon Smith. (Is he the Simeon Smith who also married Freelove Fenner? Probably; but this needs more research; there was another Simeon Smith of Burrillville/Glocester; both were Rev. War pensioners.)

Simeon married Martha Peck 12 Dec 1773, Warwick, RI. Martha (daughter of Elisha Peck and Mary Arnold) was born 24 Aug 1756, Warwick, RI; died 6 Jan 1833, Warwick, RI. [Group Sheet]

Chandler — Amelia Potter. Amelia was born Abt 1767. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The first recorded meeting of Masons in Pawtuxet Village was 12 Apr 1805 at the home of Anthony Aborn, Esq. There were seven present. It was decided to establish a Lodge at Pawtuxet. The third meeting was 26 April at Col. Bowen's house, where they drew up a petition for a Lodge. Eight additional people signed, including Peleg Remington & Simeon Smith, Jr.

After Simeon moved to Thomasville, GA, he and his son-in-law, Edward Remington, joined together in establishing a mercantile store (from notes by Mrs. Doris Davies).

Simeon married Mary "Polly" Sheldon 26 Dec 1802, Pawtuxet, RI. Mary (daughter of Remington Sheldon and Huldah Greene) was born 3 May 1782, Pawtuxet Village, Warwick, Kent Co., RI; died 2 Mar 1862, Thomasville, GA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Mary is identified as a daughter of Remington Sheldon in the following excerpt (notes from Chandler Smith Cheek):

"Sheldon, Israel et. als. vs Sheldon, Gilbert et. als., The Supreme Court of State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Providence, SC, In Equity for Partition, No 2078, October Term 1882.
(1) George Sheldon of Pawtucket, Rhode Island died December 13, 1879, intestate, unmarried and left no children. He was the son of Remington Sheldon, now deceased, who was the father of nine children, as follows:
Polly (Mary) who married Simeon Smith and died leaving issue."
(and so on)