Smith Family Places of Significance
Atlanta, Georgia |
Atlanta is a prominent city in the Smith family. It is the birthplace of me, my father, and my father's parents.
My grandfather and great-grandfather, DeFord Smith, Jr. and DeFord Smith, Sr., were architects in Atlanta. My paternal grandmother, Margaret "Margie" Beutell was a third generation Atlantan through all four of her grandparents. Huss Melanthon Beutell (her paternal grandfather), married Clara Eola Andrews in Atlanta in 1888. George Irving Walker (her maternal grandfather) lived the entirety of his life in Atlanta, though his family was originally from Augusta, Georgia. Her maternal grandmother, Susan Paralee Brotherton was the daughter of William H. Brotherton and Melvina Paralee Williams. Both were originally from Tennessee, but immediately following the Civil War, they moved to Atlanta, where he invested in dry goods and opened a store that later competed with Rich's, a large department store. In 1868 he was elected a member of the city council and served one term. Subsequently, in 1873, 1882 and 1883, he was re-elected. He also served several terms as police commissioner. He was active in many public ways and it was through his efforts that in Atlanta, in Fulton County and in the State of Georgia, the Australian ballot system was adopted. As a token of honor and appreciation, the avenue known as Brotherton Street perpetuates his name. Ref: A Standard History of Georgia and Georgians, Vol.4, pp. 2034-2036 |
The Walker line of my paternal grandmother's heritage lived in Augusta, Georgia for several generations. Matthew Talbot Walker, her maternal great-grandfather, spent the entirety of his life in Augusta (1822-1895), and his parents, George Minge Walker and Mary Tyler Walker (first cousins) were both from Augusta.
Mary Tyler's father, George Walker, "was distinguished for being the most polished gentleman at the Augusta bar." He was a member of the first city council of Augusta and he owned the Bellevue tract of land in Summerville section. He and his wife, Eliza Talbot, lived in Bellevue Cottage, which is currently on the Augusta State University Campus. Many of the Walkers are buried in the Walker family cemetery, which is connected to Bellevue. George Walker, who died in 1804, was the first of the family to be interred here. More information about the Walker family can be found at the Walker Family Cemetery Site |
Augusta, Georgia |
France |
I can originally trace my family to France through my paternal grandmother, Margaret Beutell. Her paternal grandmother, Clara Eola Andrews, was daughter to Celia Jane Reneau, a descendant of Louis Reneau Reno, also spelled Lewis Reno and Renault. He and his wife, Anne de la Croix, came to the colonies in 1688 with their children.
A bounty award from the English crown dated September 8, 1687 reads "To severall ye intended for ye West Indies" ... "To Lewis Reynaud of Angoumois, his wife and eight children for tools and others necessaries things to go to Virginia" granted 8 pounds; and "To Nichlos Hayward notary for ye passage to Virginia of Lewis Reynaud, Anne his wife, Francis, Lewis, Mary and Sara Reynaud their children, and Benjamin Reynaud, Mary his wife, Marianne and Mary their children, and John de la Chaumette" granted 33 pounds. And "To Lewis Reynaud and his family for supply" granted 2 pounds. On March 25, 1688, effective March 31, 1688, denization was granted to Lewis Reynaud, Ann his wife, and Lewis and Sara their children, and also to Benjamin Reynaud and Mary his wife. (http://www.genealogy.com/users/r/e/n/Gregg-A-Reno/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0069.html) |
Also through my paternal grandmother, Margaret Beutell, my family can be traced to England. Her maternal grandfather, George Irving Walker, was descended from Mary Williston, daughter of James Williston and Mary Belgrave, who was a member of a prominent family of that name in Leischestershire, England. Mary Williston (died 1736) married Matthew Talbot, who was born 1699 in Wiltshire, England. His paternal grandfather, John Talbot (1601-1653/4), was the 10th Earl of Shrewsbury and married Frances Arundell. Her great grandfather, Sir Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour (died 1639), was created a count of the Holy Roman Empire by Rudolph II in December 1595. Sir Thomas' grandfather, whose name was also Sir Thomas Arundell of Wardour Castle (c.1502 - 26 February 1552), married Margaret Howard, sister to Katherine Howard and 1st cousin to Anne Boleyn (5th and 2nd wifes of Henry VIII, respectively; both were executed). Sir Thomas was executed in 1552 for treason, as he was suspected of involvement in an uprising in Cornwall.
Sir Thomas' great-grandmother was Elizabeth Woodville, Queen Consort to Edward IV. One final known tie to England is through the marriage of John Reno (1715-1808), son of Lewis Reno, to Sussanah Thorn. Sussanah's father, William Thorn, was born in Dorsetshire, England in 1685. |
England |