QUILT HISTORY STORIES
ELGIN, ILLINOIS
BECKET, MASSACHUSETTS
Berkshire and Becket Silk Story
Book 3
Susan Wildemuth, Atkinson, IL
Smith Lineage (America)
1. Richard Smith
Born: July 1827 (est.)
Place of Birth: England
Death: No Information
Place of Death: No Information
Occupation: Tailor
Additional History: Richard Smith first generation of this family to come to America. He came alone on the Jamestown which departed from Liverpool, England and arrived in New York, New York on July 8, 1848. His occupation was listed as tailor and he was 21 years old.
Wife: Matilda (No Information) Smith. Place of Birth
England. Born: September 1827 (est.) The 1900
Census states Matilda arrived in the United States in 1847, about 1 year ahead of Richard. It is not known whether they married in England or the United States.
Children:
(Born in New York)
Samuel K. 1849 (est.)
Mark B. 1852 (est.)
Emily 1854 (est.)
Elizabeth 1857 (est.)
(Born In Connecticut)
Agnes J. May 1862 (est.) - 1900 Census - Postmistress
Harriet E. September 1866 (est.) – 1900 Census- Postal Clerk
2. Samuel K. Smith
Born: December 1849 (est.)
Place of Birth: New York
Death: No Information
Place of Death: No Information
Occupation Silk Mill Operator
Silk Manufacturer
Wife: Anna M. (Whatley) Smith. Place of Birth
England. Born: April 1850 (est.)
Children:
(Born in Rockville, Connecticut)
Gertrude M. 1873 (est.) (Joseph C. Ballou)
(Born In Massachusetts)
Maude 1876 (est.) (??? Deacon)
Anna June 1878 (est.)
Oliver K. June 1880 (est.)
Thomas W. September 1882 (est.)
Howard F. October 1884 (est.)
Roy W. June 22, 1886 (Ruth B.)
Ruth J. 1889 (est.) (Herman Mitchell)
Marion L. August 1896 (est.) (Harry Parker)
3. Roy Winfield Scott Smith
Born: June 22, 1886
Place of Birth: Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Death: No Information
Place of Death: No Information
Occupation Silk Manufacturer – Berkshire and Becket Silk Company
Later in life Carpenter
Wife: Ruth B. (Becket Athenaeum - Becket Town Library)
Children: No Information
**Special Note: The notation (est.) stands for estimate. The reason for this notation is because the birth year figures come from the census records which are a secondary source and not verified with primary source birth documents. Still, this researcher felt it was important to include them as reference points.
**Special Note: Many vital records from Becket, Massachusetts in Berkshire County were destroyed in the Flood of 1927.
Source for Lineage Information
Ancestry.com. “1850 Census. Brooklyn Ward 10, Kings, New
York. Richard Smith.” http://www.ancestry.com..
Ancestry.com. “1860 Census. Smithtown, Suffolk, New York. Samuel K. Smith.”
Ancestry.com. “1870 Census. Vernon, Tolland, Connecticut. Samuel K. Smith.”
Ancestry.com. “1880 Census. Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts.
Samuel Smith.” http://www.ancestry.com..
Ancestry.com. “1880 Census. Stockbridge, Berkshire, Massachusetts. Richard Smith.”
Ancestry.com. “1900 Census. Becket, Berkshire, Massachusetts.
Samuel Smith.” http://www.ancestry.com..
Ancestry.com. “1900 Census. Stockbridge, Berkshire,
Massachusetts. Richard Smith.” http://www.ancestry.com..
Ancestry.com. “1910 Census. Becket, Berkshire, Massachusetts.
Samuel K. Smith.” http://www.ancestry.com..
Ancestry.com. “1920 Census. Becket, Berkshire, Massachusetts. Anna M.
Smith.”http://www.ancestry.com..
Ancestry.com.“1920 Census. Becket, Berkshire, Massachusetts – Roy W.S.
Smith.”http://www.ancestry.com..
Ancestry.com. “1930 Census. Becket, Berkshire, Massachusetts.
Roy W. Smith.” http://www.ancestry.com..
Ancestry.com. “New York Passenger Lists: 1820-1957. Richard
Smith.” http://www.ancestry.com..
Ancestry.com. “World War I Draft Card Registration Cards 1917-
1918. Roy Winfield Scott Smith.” http://www.ancestry.com..
Archer, Cathaline Alford, Mitchell J. Mulholland, and et al, A
Bicentennial History of Becket: Berkshire County,
Massachusetts, Massachusetts: Becket Historical Society, 1964.
Archer, Cathaline Alford, Mitchell J. Mulholland, and et al. A
Bicentennial History of Becket: Berkshire County,
Massachusetts. Massachusetts: Becket Historical Society, 1964.
Reprint: 1992.
Berkshire Evening Eagle (Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts).
“Mrs. J.C. Ballou Dies at 75.” January 12, 1949.
Berkshire Evening Eagle (Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts).
“S.K. Smith.” January 7, 1946.
Berkshire Evening Eagle (Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts). “Stockbridge Church
Willed Smith Place.” July 18, 1945.
Collingbourne, Richard. E-mail message to Author. April 22,
2006. 2:01 p.m.
Courier-News (Elgin, Illinois). "Collingbourne Salesmen Here." December 29, 1926.
Courier-News (Elgin, Illinois). "Oldest Thread Mill Bought By Collingbourne." March 1,
1927.
Daily Courier News (Elgin, Illinois). "Four Spools of Thread Turned Out Each Second
at Collingbourne Mills." June 221, 1926.
Joslyn, R. Waite. Elgin Past and Present. Elgin: T.H. Kennell &
Company. n.d., (1927).
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