Webb Genealogy - Person Sheet
Webb Genealogy - Person Sheet
NameLieutenant James Smith 
Birth18 Feb 1758, Essex County, VA, USA592
Death3 Feb 1823, Oak Hill, Granville County, NC, USA592
BurialFeb 1823, Granville County, NC, USA592
FlagsDeceased
FatherJohn Smith (1727-1759)
MotherMary (~1730-)
Spouses
Birth1759, King William County, VA, USA592
Deathaft 1834, Oak Hill, Granville County, NC, USA592
BurialGranville County, NC, USA592
FatherJohn Pomfret (1720-1814)
MotherAnn Hunt (1723-1794)
Common LawEssex County, VA, USA592
ChildrenAnn Hunt (1784-1846)
Notes for Lieutenant James Smith
James Smith joined the 7th Virginia Regiment at its inception early in 1776 as a Sargeant in the Company of Capt. John Webb. This company was led by Lt. Col. Alexander McClenahan under Gen. William Woodford. On Jan. 9, 1777 James Smith was promoted to Ensign and transferred to Capt. William Mosby's Co. By July 1777 he was transferred to Capt. Thomas Hill's Co. of the same regiment.
He spent the winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge. Almost all of the officers of the 7th Regiment went on furlough to Virginia in late March, "To bring up recruits." He was listed as present on the muster roll for the month of June. From June to Sept., 1778, he was in the Major's Co. of the 3rd and 7th Virginia Regiment, combined. At the Rearrangement at White Plains, Sept. 14, 1778, the 7th Virginia Regiment was renumbered the 5th Regiment.
On Sept. 30, 1778, James was promoted to the rank of Supernumerary Lieutenant. The last surviving record concerning James Smith is a payroll for the month of May, 1779. He is on a list (National Archives) of veterans who served until the end of the war. For his service, he received a total of 3480 1/3 acres of bounty land by Feb. 12, 1807. This land was probably in Ohio.
Several reputable sources list this James Smith as having been a 2nd Lt.. This has been shown to be incorrect by this writer's research at the National Archives. This James Smith has also been stated to have been taken prisoner at the battle at Germantown, Oct. 4, 1777. Muster rolls clearly indicate that James Smith was present at this time. The service record at the Archives states that he was taken prisoner sometime in late August, 1778. This, also, has been disproven by the August Muster Roll, dated Sept. 4, 1778, signed by James Smith, and the Muster Roll for Sept., listing him as present. The confusion regarding James Smith's service record can by attributed to his last name. Another Lt. James Smith, of Col. Proctor's Pennsylvania Militia, was listed as prisoner (Abstract of Payments Made by Jos. Nourse, Paymaster to the Board of War and Ordnance, Sept. 1778). Also, a 2nd Lt. Smith of the 7th Virginia Regiment was listed a prisoner at the Rearrangement at Middle Brook, March, 1779. This cannot be our James Smith as he was in the 5th Virginia Regiment in 1779.592
He spent the winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge. Almost all of the officers of the 7th Regiment went on furlough to Virginia in late March, "To bring up recruits." He was listed as present on the muster roll for the month of June. From June to Sept., 1778, he was in the Major's Co. of the 3rd and 7th Virginia Regiment, combined. At the Rearrangement at White Plains, Sept. 14, 1778, the 7th Virginia Regiment was renumbered the 5th Regiment.
On Sept. 30, 1778, James was promoted to the rank of Supernumerary Lieutenant. The last surviving record concerning James Smith is a payroll for the month of May, 1779. He is on a list (National Archives) of veterans who served until the end of the war. For his service, he received a total of 3480 1/3 acres of bounty land by Feb. 12, 1807. This land was probably in Ohio.
Several reputable sources list this James Smith as having been a 2nd Lt.. This has been shown to be incorrect by this writer's research at the National Archives. This James Smith has also been stated to have been taken prisoner at the battle at Germantown, Oct. 4, 1777. Muster rolls clearly indicate that James Smith was present at this time. The service record at the Archives states that he was taken prisoner sometime in late August, 1778. This, also, has been disproven by the August Muster Roll, dated Sept. 4, 1778, signed by James Smith, and the Muster Roll for Sept., listing him as present. The confusion regarding James Smith's service record can by attributed to his last name. Another Lt. James Smith, of Col. Proctor's Pennsylvania Militia, was listed as prisoner (Abstract of Payments Made by Jos. Nourse, Paymaster to the Board of War and Ordnance, Sept. 1778). Also, a 2nd Lt. Smith of the 7th Virginia Regiment was listed a prisoner at the Rearrangement at Middle Brook, March, 1779. This cannot be our James Smith as he was in the 5th Virginia Regiment in 1779.592