The Ancestry of Joseph Smith
1638-1805
Ancestry of Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith was born in Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont, December 23,
1805. He was the third son and fourth child of Joseph and Lucy Mack
Smith, who had a family of ten children. His parents were of sturdy New
England stock, honest, godfearing, industrious, but poor in worldly
substance. Joseph Smith had descended on his paternal side from Robert
Smith, who emigrated from England in the year 1638. There is no record
to be found of the ancestry of Robert Smith, nor do we know at this
time from what part of England he came, further than that he went in
his early youth to Boston, Lincolnshire, and then to London, where he
took ship for America. He landed in Boston, Massachusetts, and moved
to that part of Rowley, in Essex County, which afterwards became the
township of Boxford. Here, later, he purchased two hundred eight acres
of land, a portion of which was in Topsfield township. He married Miss
Mary French. They were the parents of ten children. Robert was known
among his neighbors as a quiet, unassuming man, devoted to the welfare
of the settlement. Through his industry he was able to provide some
comforts for his family, who were reared in the prevailing religious
teachings of that day, but strictly in the knowledge of the scriptures.
Patriotic Service of Samuel Smith
Samuel, son of Robert and Mary, was born January 26, 1666. He married
Rebecca, daughter of John Curtis, a prominent citizen of the town of
Topsfield. After his father's death, Samuel moved to Topsfield, where
he became an influential member of that community and was honored by
the citizens with several offices of trust. He was the father of nine
children. His son Samuel, born January 26, 1714, was one of the most
prominent citizens of Topsfield. The greater part of his life was
spent in the service of the people. He passed through the stormy days
of the American Revolution and bore arms in defense of the liberties
of the people. Among the many positions he held are the following: He
was grand juryman in 1760; in 1770, road supervisor; in 1779, 1780,
1783, 1784 and 1785, on the committee of safety; from 1771 to 1777
and in 1781 and 1782, assessor and selectman in Topsfield, declining
the honor in 1783; he was moderator, in 1758-60, 1762, 1764, 1766-73,
1777-80, and 1782-83; representative to the General Court (House of
Representatives) in 1764-70, 1772, 1777-78, and 1781; town clerk in
1774, 1776 and 1777; delegate to the Provincial Congress at Concord,
October 11, 1774 and again January 19, 1775, and on the tea committee,
from Topsfield and acted as chairman, in 1773.
He was known as Captain Samuel Smith, receiving his military title
during service in the militia of Massachusetts. He married Priscilla,
daughter of Zacheus Gould of Topsfield. They had five children, two
sons and three daughters. The mother died shortly after the birth of
her youngest child, and Samuel married a cousin of his first wife who
bore the same name. He died November 22, 1785, leaving an estate valued
at more than 544 pounds sterling. The Salem Gazette of November 22,
1785, made mention of him in the following words:
"Died.--At Topsfield, on Monday, the 14th instant, Samuel Smith, Esq.
So amiable and worthy a character as he evidently appeared, both in
public and private, will render the memory of him ever precious. For a
number of years he represented the town in the General Court, where he
was esteemed a man of integrity and uprightness. His usefulness among
those with whom he was more immediately conversant was eminent. He
was a sincere friend to the liberties of his country, and a strenuous
advocate for the doctrine of Christianity."
"The memory of the Just be blessed."
Asael Smith Grandfather of Joseph Smith
Asael Smith was the second son and youngest child of (2) Samuel. He
was born in Topsfield, March 7, 1744. His mother died, as already
noted, shortly after his birth. His early life was spent in Topsfield.
February 12, 1767, he took to wife, Mary Duty, of Windham, New
Hampshire, and later moved to that place. From there he went to
Dunbarton and then to Derryfield, now the city of Manchester. During
the Revolution he followed the example of his illustrious father and
served with the Colonial forces. After the death of his father in 1785,
he returned to Topsfield and made his home on the family estate. He
lived in the old home, about one mile north of the town, where a number
of his children were born, notably Joseph, father of the Prophet Joseph
Smith.
Asael was a man of very liberal views, far in advance of his time. Some
of his children were members of the Congregational Church, but in his
religious views he leaned towards the teachings of the Universalists.
However, he held aloof from all sects, because he could not reconcile
his understanding of the scriptures with their many conflicting creeds.
He advocated the truth very strongly, that all men should have free and
equal religious liberty. In his opinions he was frank and explicit,
expressing himself without fear of the prevailing opinions of his
neighbors. He was somewhat gifted with the pen and wrote some worthy
sentiments which have been preserved and are still in possession of
members of the family. Many years before his death he wrote a charge
to his family in which the advice given could be followed with great
profit by parents and children even in our day. An excerpt from this
document will give an insight into the character of this man and depict
his remarkable faith in Jesus Christ:
Advice of Asael Smith to His Family
"And first to you, my dear wife," he wrote, "I do with all the strength
and power that is in me, thank you for your kindness and faithfulness
to me, beseeching God who is the husband of the widow, to take care
of you and not to leave you nor forsake you, or suffer you to leave
nor forsake him, nor his ways. Put your whole trust solely in him,
he never did nor never will forsake any that trust in him. . . . And
now my dear children, let me pour out my heart to you and speak first
of immortality in your souls. Trifle not in this point; the soul is
immortal; you have to deal with an infinite Majesty; you go upon
life and death, therefore in this point be serious. Do all to God in
a serious manner; when you think of him, speak of him, pray to him,
or in any way make your addresses to his great Majesty, be in good
earnest. Trifle not with his name or with his attributes, nor call
him to witness to any thing but is absolute truth, nor then, but when
sound reason or serious consideration requires it. And as to religion,
I would not wish to point out any particular way for you; but first I
would wish you to search the scriptures and consult sound reason and
see if they (which I take to be two witnesses that stand by the God of
the whole earth) are not sufficient to evince to you that religion is a
necessary theme. . . .
"For the public.--Bless God that you live in a land of liberty and
bear yourselves dutifully and conscionably towards the authority under
which you live. See God's providence in the appointment of the Federal
Constitution and hold union and order precious jewels."
Prediction of Asael Smith
In the spring of 1791 he moved from Topsfield to Tunbridge, Vermont,
where he made his home for several years. As old age came on and his
health became impaired he removed to Stockholm, St. Lawrence County,
New York, and made his home with his son Silas. Here he died, October
31, 1830, at the advanced age of more than 86 years. In stature he was
tall, his body was well proportioned and possessed of unusual strength.
At times the spirit of inspiration rested upon him. One one occasion
he said: "It has been borne in upon my soul that one of my descendants
will promulgate a work to revolutionize the world of religious faith."
Perhaps he did not expect to live to see that day, but such proved to
be the case. The first summer after the organization of the Church, his
son Joseph and grandson Don Carlos Smith paid him a visit and presented
him with a copy of the Book of Mormon. At the time he was in feeble
health, but he diligently read the book, or most of it, and said he was
convinced that the work of his grandson, Joseph Smith, was of divine
origin. He was not baptized, due to his weakened physical condition,
and died shortly after this visit. His wife, Mary Duty Smith, later
moved to Kirtland where she died in 1836, firm in the faith of the
restored Gospel.
John Mack of Connecticut
On his maternal side, Joseph Smith was descended from John Mack, who
was born in Inverness, Scotland, March 6, 1653. John Mack came to
America about 1669, and resided, first in Salisbury, Massachusetts. He
married Sarah, daughter of Orlando and Sarah Bagley, and moved to Lyme,
Connecticut, where eight or more of their twelve children were born.
He was the founder of the Mack family of Connecticut. He died Feb. 24,
1721.
Ebenezer, son of John Mack, was born in Lyme, Conn., Dec. 8, 1697.
He was a man of thrift and was well respected by the people of Lyme,
where he served for many years as minister of the Second Congregational
Church. He married Hannah, daughter of Aaron Huntly, an honored citizen
of Lyme. At one time Ebenezer Mack possessed considerable property and
"lived in good style commanding all the attention and respect which
are ever shown to those who live in fine circumstances, and habits of
strict morality."[1] Reverses came, however, and he was reduced, in his
declining years, to poverty. He was the father of nine children.
Maternal Grandparents of Joseph Smith
Solomon, son of Ebenezer Mack, was born in Lyme, Conn., Sept. 26,
1735. At the age of twenty-one years he enlisted in the services of
his country under the command of Captain Henry, and the regiment of
Col. Whiting. He was engaged in the king's service with two teams
carrying supplies to Fort Edwards. In 1748 he enlisted under Major
Spenser and was engaged in several bloody engagements in which his
life was spared miraculously. He served until the spring of 1759, when
he received his honorable discharge at Crown Point. That same year he
met a young school teacher, Lydia Gates, daughter of Nathan Gates, a
wealthy citizen of East Haddam, Connecticut. The friendship of these
young people ripened and they were married after a short acquaintance.
In 1761 Solomon and his young wife moved to Marlow where they took
up their residence in a wilderness. Only four other families resided
within forty miles of them. It was while here he learned to fully
appreciate the excellent virtues of his wife, "For," he writes, "as
our children were deprived of schools she assumed charge of their
education, and performed the duties of instructoress as none, save a
mother, is capable of. Precepts, accompanied with examples such as
theirs, were calculated to make impressions on the minds of the young,
never to be forgotten. She, besides instructing them in the various
branches of an ordinary education, was in the habit of calling them
together both morning and evening, and teaching them to pray, meanwhile
urging upon them the necessity of love towards each other as well as
devotional feelings towards Him who made them."
In this manner their children became confirmed in the virtues and were
established in faith in their Redeemer.
Patriotic Service of Solomon Mack
In 1776, Solomon Mack enlisted in the American army. For some time
he served in the land forces and later was transferred to the navy.
With his two sons, Jason and Stephen, he was engaged in a privateering
expedition commanded by Captain Havens. In this service they passed
through some thrilling experiences, but escaped without great harm.
His service in the war covered a period of about four years. After his
discharge he went to Gilsum, New Hampshire, to make his home. Owing to
the rigorous campaigns through two wars, he became broken in health and
suffered considerably in his declining years. His son Stephen moved to
Vermont and later to Detroit, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits
and was one of the founders of Detroit. During the war of 1812 Stephen
again entered the services of his country. He held the commission of
a captain at the time of the siege of Detroit and was ordered by his
superior officer to surrender, which he boldly refused to do. Breaking
his sword across his knee he threw the parts into the lake and said he
would not submit to such a disgraceful compromise while the blood of an
American ran in his veins.
Such is the character of the forebears of Joseph Smith.
Notes
1. _History of the Prophet Joseph_, by Lucy Mack Smith.