Samuel Smith (Connecticut politician)

Samuel Smith (c. 1646—c. 1735) was an early settler of Norwalk, Connecticut. He was a deputy of the General Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut from Norwalk in the May 1691 session.

Samuel Smith
Deputy of the General Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut from Norwalk[1]
In office May 1691 – October 1691 Serving with Andrew Messenger
Preceded by	Christopher Comstock, Thomas Seamer
Succeeded by	John Belding, James Olmsted
Personal details
Born	c. 1646
Died	c. 1735 New Canaan, Connecticut Colony
Resting place	East Norwalk Historical Cemetery, Norwalk, Connecticut
Spouse(s)	Rachael Marvin, daughter of Matthew Marvin Sr. (m. 1670)[2]
Children	Rachel Smith Benedict, Sarah Smith, Lydia Smith Lockwood (m. James Lockwood), Hannah Smith, Nehemiah Smith, Ruth Smith, Samuel Smith, Jr. [2]
Residence	Norwalk, Connecticut Colony

Due to the commonality of the name, and conflicting records, it is difficult to determine the exact origins of Samuel Smith. He was, perhaps, the son of Captain William Smith, a magistrate in Weymouth, Massachusetts Bay Colony. He moved to Norwalk as a young man, and he listed among its earliest settlers.[3] His father-in-law, Matthew Marvin Sr. gave Smith half of his home lot and orchard. [3]

In 1672, he owned "a parcel of land in Indian Field," not far from the Norwalk-Westport boundary.

He was named a freeman in 1674. In 1679, he served as town treasurer. He was on a committee, along with Matthew Marvin Sr., and John Bowton to obtain a minister for the settlement, which appointed Reverend Thomas Hanford. He served as a deputy of the Connecticut General Court in 1691. He was a townsman in 1698, 1702, 1706, and 1712. In 1702, he was selectman.

In 1680 or 1681 he owned a home-lot of four acres adjacent to Strawberry Hill.

References

1. An Historical Discourse in Commemoration of the Two-hundredth Anniversary of Norwalk
2. Norwalk v.1
3. Norwalk, Fairfield County, Connecticut: Historical Records, 1847.