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JOHN SMITH immigrated to America in 1630. He married, June 13, 1643, SUSANNA HINCKLEY, daughter of SAMUEL HINCKLEY, and sister of Gov. Thomas Hinckley of Plymouth Colony. They had thirteen children. In a depostion given in 1651, he states he is the son of Thomas Smith of Brinspittell, Dorsetshire, England. "History of Martha's Vineyard" by Charles Edward Banks, shows that Rev. JOHN SMITH is the ancestor of the second line of the Smith family on Martha's Vineyard. He was a resident of Barnstable, Barnstable, MA, before 1643 and was prominent in church affairs and controversy. In September, 1661, he led in organizing a church which a council refused to approve. The refusal was probably because of his tolerance of the Quakers. In 1659 he had asked for a repeal of the "Law against Quakers." JOHN left Sandwich because of a controversy with Rev. John Lathrop and lived in Woodbridge, NJ, in the early 1670's. He was a "mill wright" or "meal man", with no record of being a preacher there. He was called to return to Barnstable and preach. He did so, serving from 1673. In 1688, at his own request, his pastorate was terminated. Presidential Descent JOHN SMITH and SUSANNA HINCKLEY are ancestors of President Barack Obama through their son Samuel who married Elizabeth Peirce. Old Town Cemetery
JOHN and SARAH were buried at the Old Town Cemetery in Sandwich, MA. It is also known as the Old Burying Ground. The first burial there was in 1639. It is located on the current Grove Street near Main Street. The exact burial location of these ancestors is unknown. Gravestones for dates in the 1600's are rare. The existing plot maps of the cemetery show few grave sites going back that far. According to "The Old Town Cemetery, Sandwich, Massachusetts," by Mrs. Jerome R. Holway, 1908, Rev. John Smith is buried under a large tablestone near the grave of Elder John Chipman. The inscribed inset plate was lost before an 1875 cemetery survey. |
