James Smith

James Smith (1745-1826) was the seventh child of Samuel Smith and Elizabeth Drown. In 1767, he married Phebe Wardwell. James and Phebe had three children: Martha, Phebe, and Elizabeth. James and his family were members of the Congregational Church. In 1774, as part of a town-wide effort, James sent a sum of six shillings to support the people of Boston (that city’s port having been recently closed by the British). At the beginning of the war, he served in Bristol’s militia company, commanded by Jeremiah Ingraham. In 1776, he enlisted in Loring Peck‘s Company of Christopher Lippitt’s Regiment. When his unit was deployed outside of Bristol, James was discharged. To escape the threat of British attack, Phebe and the Children relocated to Dighton. In 1777, James enlisted in Archibald Crary’s Regiment. For some of his time in service, he worked as a baker for his regiment. He was involved in the 1778 Rhode Island Campaign. In 1836, Phebe applied for a pension for James’s service, receiving $30 per year.