Smith (Schmidt) Family History

Brian D. Smith Feb 2008

Johan HENRICH Schmidt was born 1656 in Rhenish Palatinate, Germany. His wife Anna Elizabeth (Schmidt) Lehman was also born ca 1656 in Germany. They emigrated to America prior to 1710 as he is listed on the Palatine Subs List that year, age 54. The family was living in Newtown, N.Y. 1713-1717. Anna had a son by previous marriage named Clement Lehman, born ca 1686. Henrich and Anna had five children all of whom were born in Germany. Their first child a daughter, Anna (Elizabeth) married in London England in 1709 to Johan Henrich Leich. Their fourth child a son, Johan GEORGE born 1697 baptized 25 July 1697 is our line. I can’t tell you details of their specific voyage and trials but read Palatines to America and Mohawk – Discovering the Valley of the Crystals to find some fascinating insights to their world.

Basically, in the early 1700s, as a result of religious wars of Europe, refugees escaped from the Lower Palatinate area of Germany and fled to England where they were left destitute. Many were sent on to the colonies. The first of these groups came as early as 1707, although the greater numbers arrived in 1710 (3,000 of them), and were located on the Hudson river. They were later sent off farther up the state by the English to be a barrier between the French and Indians and themselves. The area they settled was known as the Mohawk valley and these immigrants were known as the the Mohawk Valley Dutch, in the same manner as the Pennsylvania Dutch.

Johan GEORGE Schmidt married Catherine Haas (born between 1696-1700 in Germany) around 1719. He had first communion at Newton, NY, 1713. George and Catherine sponsored the baptism of Catherine Lehman (step-niece of George) in Loonenburg NY, March 1720. George and Catherine had eight children, the third a son named Johan Heinrich born about 1720 in Greene County NY. George died about 1743 in Catskill, Greene County, NY. Catherine later married Philip Launhard. Her parents were Nicholas Haas b ca 1675 in Germany and Maria Sabina (Haas) b ca 1680 also in Germany.

Johan Henrich Schmidt was baptized at the Zion Lutheran Church, Athens, Greene County NY 1720. His spouse was Christina May, born 14 Jun 1725. They married at Looneburg Lutheran Church, Athens Greene County NY, 13 Aug 1745. They had ten children. Catherine, Wilhelm, Nicholas, and Balthasar were baptized at Loonenburg. Balthasar is our line. It’s believed they moved to Dilleburg, Montgomery County NY around 1763. Christina died there 24 Jan 1779.. Her parents were Peter May b ca 1695 and Johanna Catherine Kieffer b ca 1700.

Balthasar was born 11 Nov 1757 and baptized 6 Dec 1757 in Loonenburg, Greene County NY. He married Christina Steenberg in Athens NY about 1780. They had 11 children. The spelling of “Smit” is listed on 10 of the 11 baptism records I found from Trinity Lutheran Church. The parents last names Schmidt and Steinberg are written for son Heinrich on the Reformed Church of Stone Arabia records. Balthasar’s name varies from Baltas, Balth., Balthas, and Baltus. On Daughters of American Revolution patriot lookup he is recorded as Baltus Smith with a rank of sergeant, wife listed as Christina Steenburgh. Neither he, his wife, or heirs sought to claim his pension. Pension records for his brothers Henry and George, and Fulton County in the revolution writings about brother William state they enlisted with Captain Nicholas Rechtor’s Company. Baltus is listed on the 1799 Assessment Roll of the Real and Personal Estates in the Town of Palatine as owning a house and farm worth 300 dollars and personal estate valued at 59 dollars. He was assessed a .35 cent tax. He died after 1810. Son Nicholas was baptized 13 Jul 1798 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Stone Arabia, NY. Sponsors at his baptism were Henry and Anna Smit.

Nicholas married Catherine Frickey. I found baptism records for 5 of their children in the Trinity Lutheran Church, Stone Arabia. The last name is recorded as Schmidt. I found a child born to Nicholas and Catherine on the same date as our ancestor Fulton however his name is recorded as Volcart.

It’s important to note that Montgomery County NY was at one time the largest county in NY. It was divided no less than 37 times between 1789 and 1854. Herkimer County was erected from it in 1791 and Fulton County in 1838. The town of Dilleburg is also known as Tillebourgh and is now present day Ephrata.