John Smith

Notes:

A genealogy at Rootsweb's Worldconnect has this John Smith as a brother of Jeremiah Smith b c1648. It also has the same surname for both of their wives.

John — Phillis Unknown. Phillis died Bef 9 Mar 1740/41, South Kingstown, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

According to his father's will, John had two sons, John & William, and five daughters.

Notes:

According to her father's will dated 1 Sept 1729, Hopestill (Smith) Northup had five children. I don't know whether she had children by both husbands.

Perhaps Joseph Northup, known as "Tailor Joe," 1700 - 1803 was a son. Or, perhaps one of the children was Sylvester Northup, who went to Exeter from North Kingstown, and was mentioned in the Exeter Town Council records on 12 Jan 1754, later being accepted as a resident on 12 Feb 1754. It is very possible that these are two of her children.

Although Hopestill is said to be the wife of Joseph Northup in the "RI Genealogical Register" Vol. 3, No. 1, p. 76, the Exeter Town Council records mention her as the widow of Henry Northup. Was this their mistake, or a transcriber's mistake? Or, she may have married Joseph, and later married Henry.

"Hopestill Northup, widow of Henry Northup late of North Kingstown dec., appeared in TC of Ex 9 Oct 1759 and swore that the last place of her lawful residence was in the town of North Kingstown; thus Ex TC declares that the town of NK is the last place of lawful residence of the said Hopestill Northup and TC therefore orders said Hopestill Northup to be forthwith sent out of the town of Ex and delivered to one of the overseers of the poor for the town of NK."

Other evidence that she may have been married to a Henry Northup is the following entry from the South Kingstown Town Council records: "13 April 1741 Henry Northup of North Kingstown petitioned TC SK that Phillis Smith late of SK died intestate . . . and that administration had not yet been granted . . . " (RIGR Vol. 17, p. 267), implying an interest in this estate.

The Henry referred to in this record may have just been a relative of her husband's, helping Hopestill with her mother's estate at this time. However, it seems that her brother-in-law had already died by then; at least, his will was recorded in 1740. But, the reference to Henry Northup of North Kingstown, who petitioned the South Kingstown Town Council, must refer either to Hopestill's brother-in-law, or to her deceased husband's nephew, also named Henry (unless there is another of the same name whom I haven't yet discovered). For the time being, I am assuming that it was the latter whom she married.

Hopestill — Joseph Northup. Joseph (son of Stephen Northup) was born Abt 1665; died Bef 1726. [Group Sheet]

Hopestill married Henry Northup Bef 13 Apr 1741. Henry (son of Stephen Northup, Jr. and Mary Thomas) was born Abt 1688; died 25 Sep 1747. [Group Sheet]