James Smith

Signature that reads 'Tal Smith' in cursive handwriting.
Black and white portrait of a man with curly hair, wearing a dark coat and white shirt

BORN - September 17, 1719, in Dublin, Ulster Province, Northern, Ireland.  Immigrated to America (Pennsylvania) in 1721, settling on a farm on the west side of the Susquehanna River near Lancaster, PA in 1727.  Throughout his life, he would not reveal his date of birth, because he enjoyed people guessing his age.  Parents (Scotts-Irish ancestry) – John Smith (___-d1761) and ___.  Children (Large family) – George Smith (___), James Smith (b1719-d1806, second son), ___.    

DIED - July 11, 1806 (age 86), in York, PA.  Religion - Presbyterian.  Buried – First Presbyterian Churchyard, York, PA.   

APPEARANCE – Cheerful, known for his humor, eccentric.        

FAMILY – Married - Eleanor Armor (b1739-d1818) in 1760.  Five Children (All five surviving to adulthood) – Margaret Smith Johnson (b1761-d1838), Mary Smith Kelly (b1763-d1840), Elizabeth Smith Kelly (b1765-d1795), George Smith (b1767-d1802), James Smith, Jr. (b1769-1812). 

OCCUPATION – LAWYER, SURVEYOR, SOLDIER, LEGISLATOR.  Attended the College of Philadelphia (now University of Pennsylvania).  Established law practice in the frontier town of Shippensburg, PA in 1745 and then York, PA.  Established an iron-making business on Codorus Creek in 1771, which later failed.  Member of the Continental Congress representing Pennsylvania from 1776 to 1778.  U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania in 1780.  A fire in his office destroyed his papers and records in 1805.  An ordinary man (husband, father, neighbor, businessman), living in extraordinary times, who stepped forward when duty called.     

AT SIGNING – Age 76 at signing.

AFTER SIGNING – Continued to serve in Congress in Philadelphia until 1778.  Captain in 1774, Honorary Colonel and General in 1782 in the Pennsylvania Militia.

HISTORIC SITES

Gravesite – First Presbyterian Churchyard, York PA.  Located at 225 East Market Street, York, PA 17403, Phone 717-843-8041, Website www.fpcyork.org.

York Courthouse  – York Colonial Courthouse, York, PA (1754).  Located at 205 West Market Street, York, PA 17401, Phone 717- 846-1977, Website www. yorkheritage.org.  James Smith would have practiced law here.  Congress met in the building during York’s nine-month tenure as the Capital of the U.S. from September 1777 to June 1778.  Across the street from the Golden Plough Tavern (1741) and General Horatio Gates House (1751).

Shippensburg Courthouse – Old Shippensburg Courthouse, Shippensburg, PA (1735).  Also known as the Widow Piper’s Tavern.  Located on the southwest corner of East King and North Queen Streets, Shippensburg, PA 17257.  James Smith would have visited and possibly stayed in the tavern.  Also, county court sessions were held there from 1749 to 1751.

York Furnace – Codorus Furnace, York County, PA.  Located on Codorus Furnace Road six miles southeast of Mount Wolf on the south side of the Codorus Creek near the Susquehanna River, York County, PA.  The roadside historical marker reads – “CODORUS FURNACE – Erected in 1765 by William Bennet.  Operated by James Smith, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, during the Revolutionary War.  This site is the oldest remaining landmark of the iron industry in York County.”  

White marble monument with an inscription, American flag nearby, in a cemetery with other tombstones and a brick building in the background.

Gravesite of James Smith, First Presbyterian Churchyard, York PA. 

Located at 225 East Market Street, York, PA 17403, Phone 717-843-8041, Website www.fpcyork.org.

The monument reads – “JAMES SMITH – One of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence.  Died July 11, 1806.  Aged 93 years.”  (probably closer to age 86).