| Notes |
Notes on Chileab Smith
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mcstayfamily/chileab.htm
Freeman 1673 at Wethersfield, Connecticut.
One source states that he was married in Springfield, Massachusetts.
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"Chileab Smith, the third son of Lieut. Samuel and Elisabeth Smith was born inWethersfield, Conn. about 1635 and died March 7, 1731 at age of 95; m. Oct. 2, 1661,Hannah Hitchcock, b. in Wethersfield about 1645; d. in Hadley, Mass., Aug. 31, 1733. Shewas a daughter of Luke and Elizabeth (Gibbons) Hitchcock who, according to"Savage" arrived in Wethersfield from New Haven Conn. about 1644. Luke Hitchcockwas born in England and died in Wethersfield Nov. 1, 1659. He was a Townsman (Selectman)in 1653 and 1656 and was one of the 59 who met at Goodman Ward's house April 18, 1659 inHartford and agreed to move to the new plantation in Massachusetts, that later becameHadley. He seems never to have moved to Hadley, however. He married Elizabeth Gibbons asister of the prominent and wealthy William Gibbons of Hartford. She was born at FennyCompton, Warwickshire, England. Elizabeth (Gibbons) Hitchcock married secondly Oct. 2,1661, (the same day, apparently, their daughter Hannah married Chileab Smith), Mr. WilliamWarriner of Springfield, Mass., survived him and married, as her third husband, JosephBaldwin of Hadley, Mass. who had removed from Milford, Conn. to Hadley about 1663. ChileabSmith was too young while living in Wethersfield to come into the records there. He islisted as a new proprietor in Hadley in 1663. His lot of 8 acres is shown on the town mapof that year. (Judds "Hadley" page24). The value of his lot was stated at 100pounds against 150 pounds for the lot of his brother Philip and 200 pounds for the lot ofhis father Samuel. He was appointed, Jan. 27, 1663, Surveyor of Highways together withEdward Church. Some of the present day roads in and near Hadley owe their location to hisearly work, He signed the petition, Feb. 19, 1669, to the Governor which opposed impostsand customs on goods imported into the Colony after March 1, 1669. His father and brotherPhilip signed also. Together with his brothers Philip and John and 35 others he signed apetition to the Oct. 1672 session of the General Court that requested an addition to theplantation sufficient to make it equal a total of 8 miles square. The court granted aportion, only, of both requests. When tithingmen were ordered in Massachusetts by theGeneral Court in March of 1678 he was one of the first four appointed for Hadley.Tithingmen were peace officers or constables and were required to watch over the conductof Sabbath breakers, liquor sellers, night walkers and tipplers and present the names ofoffenders to the magistrates
"Chileab Smith seems to have prospered and it is regrettable that so little isknown or what his business was. It is probable that, like his father and brothers, he wasengaged in fur and shipping pursuits and in buying and preparing farm and meat productsfor the markets farther down the river. At any rate he was Hadley's highest singletax-payer in 1686 as his father who died in 1680 and his brother Philip who died in 1685had been before him.
"He strongly upheld the General Court in its decision Sept. 28, 1686 that requiredthe new grammar school, (Hopkins), to remain as a grammar school and not be expanded intoan "English" school separate from the grammar school. He was already a"Feofee" or Trustee of the school having been appointed June 8, 1686. (See JuddsHadley p. 53)
"In 1687 Chileab Smith succeeded his late brother, Philip, as Philip had succeededtheir father Lieut. Samuel, as a member of the "Hadley School Committee for 50Years". In 1675, 1681, 1690 and 1696 he served as a townsman (selectman) of Hadley.In 1692 he was made an Ensign in the Hadley Militia. In 1714 Chileab Smith and his nephewDeacon John Smith, son of Philip, with 5 others were chosen to perform the then importantand delicate job, considering the social implications involved, of "seating personsin the new meeting house" which was nearing completion. This church replaced the onebuilt in 1667 and remained in use until late in October of 1808.
"On the 25th of January 1720 the town of Hadley voted to lay out the Hadley landon the south side of Holyoke. This was the beginning of South Hadley. Ensign Chileab Smithbeing of great age let his sons draw his share and for that reason his name does notappear on the original list of proprietors. His sons Corporal Chileab, Lieut. John, Luke,Sergeant Samuel and Ebenezer all took up their land. So did Philip's sons, Deacon John,Jonathan, Icabod and Joseph. So did John's sons, Orphan John and probably his sons Josephand Benjamin. Thus did the descendants of Lieutenant Samuel Smith get a head start inSouth Hadley right at the beginning.
"Judd on page 242 of his "History of Hadley" says that only 5gravestones of the original settlers, before 1663, in Hadley were found by L. M. Boltwoodwho copied the inscriptions in 1849. One of these marks the grave of Chileab Smith whichis still legible in 1952. Near by are the stones of his wife Hannah and of his sonsChileab, Jr. And Samuel and Chileab Jr's son Chileab who d. at age 22."
Sources: Smith genealogy quoted above; LDS Ancestral File
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1636 - 1731 (94 years)
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