Re: Elizabeth Smith, wife of John Corbin

Since the topic of Elizabeth Smith, wife of John Corbin, has surfaced again, I thought that I would add my "SPECULATION" about her maternal ancestry. I provided this material some time ago to a Corbin family researcher, but I do not believe that it has been widely disseminated.

The parents of Elizabeth Smith, wife of John Corbin, are identified in several deeds in 1684 in Old Rappahannock Co., VA. The abstracts of these deeds are included below (I have copies of the originals and the abstracts are fairly accurate):

"Deed Abstracts of Old Rappahannock County, Virginia 1682-1686", Ruth and Sam Sparacio, 1990, p. 59.
(pp. 122-123) TO ALL PEOPLE to whome this prsent writing shall come I GRACE SMITH of the Freshes of Rappa. County and Ste. Maries Parish, Widow, send Greeting. Know yee that I GRACE SMITH for the love and naturall affection I beare to my two youngest Daughters, ANN and GRACE SMITH, have given freely clearly & absolutely unto my Daughters aforesaid to them and to the heires of their body forever Six head of feamall Cattle (vizt) Fower cowes and one going on three yeares old & one going on two yeares old them togeather with all their feamall increase for ever, the said Cattle five of them marked with a crop and a hole on the right ears and underkeele and a hole on the left eare, one more marked with a crop on both eares slitt on the right eare and under keeled on the left, Likewise I give and bequeath unto my said two Daughters aforesaid to each of them a young Mare branded as p margent W. S. them and their future increase for ever and in case of the mortality of either of these my said Daughters shee that shall survive shall have and enjoy what here given to them and in case of their mortality of them both, my Eldest Daughter, ELIZABETH SMITH, shall have and possess what is here given to my youngest Daughters aforesaid; And further know yee that when my Daughters here mentioned shall arrive at the age of fourteen they shall then hereby be of age to receive what is hereby given unto them both or at the day of their marriage, neither shall any of these cattle Mare or increase be disposed of by me their Mother or any other that shall be theire Guardian except they be disposed for such commodities as may turne and appeare to be for their future good. In confirmation of the aforesd prmisses, I have sett my hand and seale this 28th of Aprill 1684.
GRACEXSMITH
Witnesses prsent
JAMES TAYLER
THOMAS XKNIGHTON
Recordatr xx8 die August Ano 1684

"Deed Abstracts of Old Rappahannock County, Virginia 1682-1686", Ruth and Sam Sparacio, 1990, pp. 59-60.
(pp. 123-124) TO ALL PEOPLE to whome these prsent writing shall come I GRACE SMITH of the Freshes of Rappa: County and St. Maries Parish, Widdow, send Greeting. Know yee that I GRACE SMITH, Widdow, for the love and affection I beare to my Eldest Daughter, ELIZABETH SMITH, have given her forever a Hundred acres of land according to the Will and desire of her deced Father, WILLIAM SMITH, of the said County and Parish which said land lyeth on the South side of Rappa: River and by the lower side of GOLDEN VALE CREEKE being part of a Devidend belonging to JOHN WAIGHT of this County and by him given unto ELIZABETH, his Daughter in Law; To have and to hold the said hundred acres of land to the aforesaid ELIZABETH, my Daughter, her heirs without any claymes of me the said GRACE SMITH or persons for me and Further know yee that I the said GRACE SMITH of Rappa County and St. Maries Parish aforesaid, Widdov, that for the love and naturall affection I beare to my said Daughter, ELIZABETH SMITH, one iron gray mare about three yeares old branded on the further buttock as per margent her togeather with all her future increase both male or feamale forever and further know yee that I JOHN GOSS of Rappa County and Saint Maries Parish aforesaid out of good will and respect I beare to the abovesaid ELIZABETH, Daughter to the said GRACE SMITH, Widdow, have given unto the said ELIZABETH one Cow cropt on both eares slitt on the right eare and underkeeled on the left eare To have and to hold the said Cow togeather with all her future increase to her & the heires of her body or female for ever such said Cow here given I the said JOHN GOSS doe likewise firmly by these presents unto the said ELIZABETH SMITH togeather with all their future increase for ever and in case of the mortality of the said ELIZABETH SMITH before she shall have any heires of her own body that then the said Cattle here given shall with all their increase aforesaid decend to her two younger Sisters, ANN and GRACE SMITH, to be equally divided betwixt them and further Know yee that I GRACE SMITH within mentioned, Widdow, in case of the mortality of my Eldest Daughter, ELIZABETH, within mentioned and that she dye without heirs Male or feamale of her own body that then the said land hereby given unto my Daughter, ELIZ SMITH, as alsoe the young Mare by these prsents given shall p these prsents decend and returne unto my two youngest Daughters and their respective male or feamale and in case of the morality of either of my youngest Daughters shee as still survives shalt have the said Land, Mare and Cattle aforesaid and Further Know yee that when ELIZABETH SMITH shall arrive at the age of Fourteen shee shal then hereby be of age and capable to receive what is hereby given or at the day of Marriage neither shall any of these Cattle, Mare or increase be disposed of by me her Mother or lawfull Guardian except they be disposed of for commodities as may turne and appeare to be for her future good. In Confirmation of these prmisses we have hereunto sett or hands and seales this 28th of Aprill 1684.
GRACEXSMITH
JOHNXGOSS
Witness Prsent: JAMES TAYLOR
THOMASXKNIGHTON
Recordatr xx8 die Augusti 1684

"Deed Abstracts of Old Rappahannock County, Virginia 1682-1686", Ruth and Sam Sparacio, 1990, p. 60.
(p. 124) KNOW ALL MEN by these prsents that I GRACE SMITH of Rappa County, Widdow, and Ste. Maries Parish doe by these prsents appoint my loveing freind, JAMES TAYLOR, of said County and Parish my true and lawfull Attorney for me to acknowledge two Deeds of Gift made to my Daughter, ELIZABETH, my Daughters ANN and GRACE, which Deed of Gift there is a parcell of land given to my Eldest Daughter lying on the North side of Rappa River by GOLDEN VALE CREEKE, giving my said Attorney full power to acknowledge said Deed of Gift in the County Court and that be as authentick in Law as if I myselfe were prsonally prsent In confirmation whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale this 9th of June 1684.
GRACEXSMITH
Witness Prsent: MOSES HUBBERT
WILLIAM BROWNE
Recordatr xx8 die Augusti Anno 1684


That the Elizabeth Smith mentioned in these deeds is identified as the one who married John Corbin is evident from the following deed:

"Deed and Will Abstracts of Essex County, Virginia 1695-1697", Ruth and Sam Sparacio, 1991, pp. 44-45.
(p. 55) KNOW ALL MEN by these presents that I ROBERT WAIGHT do for me my heirs sell unto JOHN CORBIN and ELIZABETH CORBIN, his Wife, of RICHMOND County, their heirs & assignes forever, a parcell of Land being in the abovesd. County containeing One hundred acres bounded as followeth (vizt.) on the Maine Run of GOLDEN VALE CREEK begining at a red Oake near the same and extending thence into the woods, S. W. to a Stake near tvo red Oakes, thence N. W. to an Hickory, thence N. to a small Willov by the said Main Run side; thence down the sd. Main Run its severall courses to the first menconed stacon, wch sd. land was given by my deced. Father, JOHN WAIGHT, to my Sister, ELIZABETH VICKERS, and by her sold to WILLIAM SMITH, Father of the abovesd. ELIZABETH CORBIN; To have and to hold the abovesd. One hundred acres of Land wth all woods waters and all other appurtenances to them ye abovesd. JOHN CORBIN & ELIZABETH his Wife, their heirs & assignes for ever, varranting the same from me my heirs forever; In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seale this Tenth day of August 1696.
ROBERT WAIGHT
Signed sealed & delivered in the presence of us
JOHN PEATLE [sic],
RICHD. LONG
Acknowledged at a Court held for Essex County ye 10th day of Augt. 1696
Test FRANCIS MERIWETHER, Cl Cur

Several things can be established from these deeds:

1. William Smith, father of Elizabeth Smith, was dead before April 28, 1684.
2. The three daughters of William Smith and wife Grace, namely, Elizabeth, Ann, and Grace, were all less than 14 when the deeds were written in 1684.
3. Elizabeth Smith was married to John Corbin by August 10, 1696. How much earlier isn't established by the deeds. However, if the deeds followed the custom of the time, it is likely that she was married to John Corbin shortly before the deed in August 1696. In any event, the property left to her by her father and mother was to be hers at the age of fourteen or the date of her marriage as stated above:

"Know yee that when ELIZABETH SMITH shall arrive at the age of Fourteen shee shal then hereby be of age and capable to receive what is hereby given or at the day of Marriage"

It is my best guess that all three daughters were less than seven (probably four or less) when their father died. That would place Elizabeth Smith's birth circa 1677-1680. She would then have been 16-19 in 1696 when she was clearly married to John Corbin.

4. All three deeds in 1684 mention a James Taylor/Tayler, who was clearly a close friend of the widow, Grace Smith.


From the existing court records that I have looked at in 17th century Virginia, the Christian name "Grace" seems to have been popular at different times in different counties. However, circa 1680 in Old Rappahannock Co., VA, it was a fairly unusual name based upon the extant court records. The name may have been very common among indentured servants, however, since people of that socioeconomic status show up in court documents less frequently, I can't comment on the frequency of the name in the entire population.

On December 26, 1676, John Butler "of Westmoreland County" wrote his will. This will was witnessed by James Taylor, aged "28 years or thereabouts," of Old Rappahannock Co., VA and John Thomas of Stafford Co., VA. The will of John Butler was proved in Old Rappahannock Co., VA on June 6, 1677. There are no estate documents for this man in Westmoreland Co., VA. John Butler mentioned his two children, Thomas and Grace, in his will. This John Butler wasn't particularly wealthy as he left only 150 acres of land to his son Thomas and various cattle and horses to his two children.

Circa 1680, there were only three men of record named James Taylor living in this area of Virginia. There was a James Taylor living in Westmoreland Co., VA, who I have not researched. There was also a James Taylor of Old Rappahannock Co., VA and a James Taylor of New Kent Co., VA, both of whom I have researched. It is my opinion that the James Taylor who witnessed the will of John Butler was the same James Taylor who was either a witness or an attorney for Grace Smith, widow, in 1684. It is my "SPECULATION" that Grace Butler married William Smith after 1676 (although her marital status was not specified in the will of John Butler, it is likely that she was single, since a spouse was not mentioned) and that Elizabeth Smith, wife of John Corbin, was her daughter.