| Notes |
- John came to America prior to 1640. John "Rock" Smith moved to Stamford, CT 1644 then to Hempstead L.I. NY. He was an Inn keeper and a judge.
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From the Hempstead Town Records, p. 162, dated april 18th anno 1665:
"What as i John smith:R; of hamsteede have bargened and bouaitte of ambros sutten the seller and seller loote that was his and sum times Edmon wodes and all his writt and tittal of landes one the planes I the fors'd John Smith have sold on to my suninlaw Samuel Denton the afore saide seller and seller loote and the thurd partte of the land thatt i bouett of the a fore said ambros notte with standen I the a fore said John Smith Doo give and beecueffe to the fore Samuel his aiers and suckcesers for Ever From me my aires and suckcesers for Ever as wittness my hand the daye and datte a bove wretten. John smith (his X mark)"
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From an old publication on Long Island Antiquities, we find this interesting story of how the "Rock" became part of the Smith name: "Upon this island and especially in the central portions of it are very many families of the name of Smith. So numerous did they become that it was necessary to distinguish the various original members by some particular name. Thus we have the Rock Smiths, the Blue Smiths, the Weight Smiths, and the Tangier Smiths. Of the Rock Smiths, there are two distinct families, one who originally settled between Rockaway and Hempstead, some ten or fifteen years before the settlement of the first white inhabitant in Setauket, who derived their name from their contiguity to Rockaway; and the other located themselves in Brookhaven and obtained their appellation from their ancestor erecting his dwelling against a large rock which still remains on the highway of that town. These different appellations of the families of the Smiths became as firmly settled as if they were regular family names; so that when any inquiry was made of any person on the road, man woman or child, for any particular Smith, they would at once ask whether he was of the Rock breed, the Bull breed, etc. If the person desiring the information could say which breed, he at once was told of his residence."
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His will, written 10 May 1695, was proved 3 Apr 1706.
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JOHN ROCK SMITH in Stamford, Conn. in 1640, at Hempstead, L. I. in 1644, says that at Stamford he was called Rock John for distinction. There were several John Smiths in that settlement. He was a Judge.
[It is unlikely that John Rock Smith was a judge. In the note above it is obvious that he was not literate. He signed by entering his mark. He was not one of the most prominent land or cattle owners although he worked hard to acquire land to leave as a legacy for his children, and did well in that respect. I suspect descendants may have unduly lionized the man. It is unlikely that he emigrated from Stamford for that manner. He is also found as the spouse of Elizabeth Gildersleeve while the reality is that the name of his spouse is unknown. The Elizabeth Gildersleeve that has been given as his spouse was actually the spouse of Jeremiah Wood. 30 Jul 2001 QLE]
He was born about 1615, he d. 1706, and the Hempstead records show his long life to have been spent in an active, enterprising manner, surrounded by neighbors and friends who were ever ready to transact business with him, and hold him in good esteem.
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JOHN SMITH, SR. In the name of God, Amen. I, John Smith, Sr., of Hempstead in Queens County, yeoman, being, through God's mercy, in perfect health and memory and understanding. I leave to my well beloved grand sons, Richard and Timothy Smith, sons of my eldest son, John Smith, deceased, all that my lot of meadow on Washburns neck, in Hempstead, bounded on the east by Timothy Halstead's meadow, on the south by the creek, on the west by a creek, and on the north by Nathaniel Pearsall. Also a lot of land in the new field and adjoining to the land of my son John, and Samuel Emery, on the east. To them as tenants in common. That is, in case the said Richard shall give to his brother Timothy one half of his father's lands and meadows. Otherwise the above lands shall go to my son Timothy and his heirs and assigns. I also give to my grand son, Richard Smith, 40 shillings. I leave to my well beloved grand daughters, Sarah Pine and Mary Smith, some cows and other cattle delivered into the hands of John Tredwell, during my life, as by a covenant bearing date April 24, 1694. I leave to my well beloved son, Joseph Smith, all that my dwelling house and home lot in the town, with the appurtenances, except one half the barn, And 12 acres of meadow as laid out at Rockaway, And 13 acres of meadow upon Hicks neck, and 10 acres of meadow on Cow neck with all the upland belonging to the same ; Also 3 acres of land in the Holly, and a piece of land in the Old Field, and a piece of land at the Wind mill, adjoining to Armitages, To him and his heirs and his assigns for ever. I also give to him 20, 15s. in cattle now in his possession. I leave to my well beloved son, Jonathan Smith, all that my one half of the barn, built between him and myself, and 12 acres of meadow at Rockaway, and 5 acres of meadow in the Indian land upon Rockaway, and 14 acres of meadow upon Cow neck, with all the upland belonging to the same ; Also all those cattle in his possession, appraised at 20, 14s. I leave to my daughter Mary, wife of Samuel Denton, the cattle in her possession, valued at 20, 15s. I leave to Anne and Mary Rushmore, and to Wm. and Stephen Chappelle, the children of my daughter, Martha Chappelle, deceased, the cattle late in her possession, valued at 20, 15s. I leave to my daughter Hannah, wife of John Tredwell, the cattle now in her possession, valued at 20, 15s. All the rest of my estate, houses, and lands I leave to my two sons Joseph and Jonathan. I leave the rest of my personal estate to my daughters, Mary Denton, Hannah Tredwell, and the children of my daughter Martha Chappelle, deceased, and I make my children executors. In testimony I have hereunto subscribed my name, and affixed my seal at Hempstead, the 10 day of May, 1695.
Witnesses, William Vesey, John Tredwell, Phebe Platt, Andrew Gibb. Proved, April 3, 1706, and administration granted to Hannah Tredwell, reserving power to the rest of executors.
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1659, May 13,-John Smith Rock is licensed to keep an ordinary and to sell meat, drink and lodging for strangers with their retinue, both for horse and man, and to keep such good order that it may not be offensive unto the laws of God and this place.
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John Smith3 Rox, s. of John Smith, s. of Hen. Smith, b. at Roxbury, Mass., was an original proprietor of Hempstead, L. I.
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![SMITH, John "Rock" [1] Emigrant Progenitor Sr.,](img/male.jpg)
1615 - Bef 1706 (< 91 years)
