John Rossiter Smith (1782-1851) was a Methodist Circuit Rider Preacher, born in Hebron, Tolland County, Connecticut. He married Delight CHURCH (1783-1864) in St. Johnsbury, Caledonia County, Vermont, daughter of Samuel Church and Hannah (Polly) Rogers. JR Smith is listed in the 1810, 1820 and 1830 census for Hebron, Tolland County, Connecticut. Between 1830 and 1840, JR and many of his neighbors relocate to Bradford County, Pennsylvania, where they are listed in the 1840 census for Troy, Bradford County, PA. JR and Delight, parents of 9 children, moved to Armenia in Bradford County and are buried in the Burnham (aka Macintire or Putnam Farm) cemetery. Son Charles Norman Smith married Clarinda Ferris, daughter of Albert Ferris and Fedilia Weeks.

(Kathy: My grandmother gave me some handwritten notes back in the mid-’70s on this family. She was trying to get me interested in figuring out who these people were. Pointing to the name of John Rossiter Smith, she said, “Look, John Smith — you know, John Smith and Pocahontas — that’s where we come from.” I’ve not been able to make that connection, but she sure peaked my interest. I have located John Rossiter Smith in the Hebron, Tolland County, Connecticut census for 1810, 1820 and 1830 — but getting any further back than that has eluded me. Perhaps my John R. Smith is related to the Nathan Smith in those same census records. Perhaps Rossiter is his mother’s maiden name. Or his father’s mother’s maiden name.)