First Generation
1. John William SMITH was born on Aug 2, 1832 in
St. Helena Parish, LA.1 He
appeared in the census on Aug 3, 1850 in St. Helena Parish, LA.2 He was Blacksmith He served in the military
in May 1862 in Vicksburg, Warren Co., MS.1
Enlisted in Co. H., 27th La. Reg., Captain John T. Spencer, Commanding. Was slightly
wounded in a leg during Siege of Vicksburg. Smith replied that he was at Liberty,
Mississippi on detail at the surrender. In response to another pension application
question, Smith reported that he was at the surrender of Vicksburg, was paroled
and released to his regiment. He said that he did not take the oath of allegiance
to the US Government.
When asked how many children, and what sex they were, Smith replied that he and
his wife had one boy and four girls!
He applied for pension on Nov 16, 1901 in Clinton, East Feliciana Parish,
LA.3 He died on Nov 5, 1905
in Ponchatoula, Tangipahoa Parish, LA.4
He was buried in Nov 1905 in Ponchatoula Cemetery, Ponchatoula, Tangipahoa
Parish, LA.5
In his Soldier's Application for Pension, John stated that on July 6, 1901 he
fell from a house that he was building, and broke an arm, a leg and a hand. The
application was dated Nov. 11, 1901.
John William SMITH and Lenora E. LEE were married on Sep 2, 1853 in Liberty,
Amite Co., MS.5
The State of Mississippi
Amite County
Know all men by these Presents that we John W. Smith and Reuben Lee are held
and firmly bound unto H. S. Foot <sic> [Henry Stuart Foote], Governor of
the State aforesaid and his Successors in office in the Penal sum of Two Hundred
Dollars for which payment will and truly made we bind ourselfs our heirs Executors
and Administrators jointly and severally firmly by these presents sealed with
our seals and dated this 28 day of July A.D. 1853. the condition of the above
bond is such that if whereas there is a marriage shortly intended to be celebrated
between the above bound John W. Smith and Lenora Morgan. Now if there is no lawful
cause to obstruct said marriage then this bond shall cease else to remain in
full force and virtue.
Signed sealed and delivered in presence of J. W. Smith (seal) Reuben Lee (seal)
/s/ B.W. Smith, Clk
State of Mississippi ~ Amite County
To Any Judge Minister or Justice Lawfully authorized to celebrate the Rites of
Matrimony ~ you are hereby authorized to celebrate the Rites of Matrimony between
[omitted]
Given under my hand and the seal of my office this [omitted] day of [omitted]
AD 18 [omitted]
State of Mississippi ~ Amite County
In virtue of a licence from the clerk of the Probate court of Amite County I
have this day joined in the Holy State of Matrimony [omitted]
Given under my hand this [omitted] day of A.D. 18[omitted]
They appeared in the census in 1860 in St. Helena Parish, LA.6
There is a marriage record for Marzilla Morgan to Thomas Austin in St. Helena
Parish, LA, dated May 20, 1859.
They appeared in the census on Jun 8, 1880 in East Feliciana Parish, LA.7 They appeared in the census on
Jun 25, 1900 in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA.8
Jennie and Marzilla were likely children of Lenora by first husband Thomas Morgan.
Lenora E. LEE (daughter of James LEE and Mary (Polly)
__________) was born in Oct 1832 in Louisiana. She applied for pension
on Feb 5, 1906 in Tangipahoa Parish, LA.
File No. 3139, Reel 129, Widow's Application for Pension, Louisiana State Archives.
Witnesses to the application were Mrs. Jennie McClendon, Addie McManus (Addie
Smith), and Mrs. M. M. (Mary Melissa Smith) Chaney, wife of Levi Ratliff Chaney.
She died in 1908 in Louisiana.
Lenora applied for the remainder of John's Civil War Veteran's pension on Jan.
26, 1906. At the time she was residing in Ponchatoula, Tangipahoa Parish, LA.
John William SMITH and Lenora E. LEE had the following children:
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