Another family of Smiley's was located in the
area of Ellery and Ellicott, Chautauqua Co., NY on the northern side of
the lake. This family does not appear to be connected to the family
of John B. Smiley in the US. However, one might wonder if they
are somehow connected in Ireland since both seemed to settle in the same
small remote area at the same time.
That Smiley family is that of William Smiley, born
in 1753 in Connecticut, son of William Smiley of Ireland.
I'm posting the information on that family only
due to their proximity, and possibly to help anyone who finds this page
searching for their ancestors to distinguish between the families.
From HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA CO. written 1875 by Andrew Young
William Smiley [born 1753 CT], an early settler in
Ellery, was a son of Wm. Smiley who, in Ireland, was presed into the British
naval service. After about seven years, the vessel anchored in Long Island
sound, and Smiley, with two cousins, companions in misfortune, "escaped
from service" by swimming ashore in Conn.
Within a year he married and afte many years, removed
with his wife and son William, Jr. to Savannah, Ga. where he did within
a year. Soon after, the mother also died; and the son returned to Farmington,
Conn. the place of his nativity. He apprenticed to the tanner and currier's
trade. The war came on; and he and his master were called into the field.
After the war, he married Hannah Wilcox, of Exeter,
RI. After several years' residence in Vermont, and about a year's sojourne
in Broome Co. NY, he removed with his family to Chengo county and in 1810
to Ellery.
He had previously (1808) divided his property among his children,
Joseph, the eldest assuming the care and support of his parents. Wm. Smallet
died Jan 1825, his wife March 1831.
His son Joseph had 11 children, of whom John, the
oldest resides on the premises bought by his grandfather, Wm Smiley in
1810.
Joseph and William, the sons of William served in the war of
1812, in Capt. John Sisby's company, and participated in the battle of
Black Rock, in which William was killed.
John Smiley, the eldest of Joseph's children,
was born April 2, 1808, and resides on the old homestead.
William J. son of James and grandson of William
who was killed at Black Rock, was a soldier in the late war, and killed
in the battle of the Wilderness.
William Smiley, son of the above [Wm of Ireland],
was born in CT and was married to Hannah Wilcox in RI. He removed to VT;
thence in 1778, to Broome Co. NY and in 1779 to Chenango Co; and 1810 to
Ellery. He had 11 children [as numbered following];
1 Joseph, who married Sarah Lewis in Chenango Co and had a son John
who married Eliza M. Briggs and has a daughter Rose Belle. [+ Daniel son
of Joseph]
2 Asel [also listed elsewhere as Abel] who married Charlotte Johnson
and had 6 children who attained maturity; Freeman L, who married Ann Brown;
Edwin, in Michigan; Laura Jane, wife of Willard T. Denslow, of Jamestown;
George W; Marion who married Georgia Brightman, of Mass. Asel married second,
Mehetabel Currier and is deceased; she resides in Fluvanna.
3 Hannah who married Arnot B. Hopkins whose children were; Lewis, Charles,
Sarah, wife of David W. Perrigo, Wisconsin. Hannah married second, Jonas
Cloys, deceased, she resides in Busti.
4 David, who married Ellen Bemus and removed to Wisconsin.
5 Lydia, wife of Asa Comstock, in Wisconsin.
6 Lucy who was married , first to --McNaught; second to Wm. Dunn; they
reside in Wisconsin
7 Mary wife of Joseph Bert and is deceased.
8 Martha wife of Samuel Robb, in Kanasas
9 Sarah wife of Freeborn Lewis who died in Wisconsin
10 Harriet wife of Joh Griffith who has 3 children, Carrie V., Sarah
J. Leonard E.
11 Jane who died in 1847, age 16.
Wm Smiley, b. in CT May 25, 1753 d Jan 1825
Pentagon records- served in Capt. Stanley's Co from Farmington CT,
in Gay's Regt
c=Joseph b. Nov 12, 1781, William b May 25, 1783, Lucy b apr 7, 1785
town of Ellicott
Another listing=Methitable Smiley was widow of Asel S.
Civil War Vets of this county--
George Washington Smiley of Ellicott
Jcob W of Ellery
Theodore of Ellery
Wilcox C. of Ellicott
FLUVANNA CEMETERY
Smiley, Asel b. 1809 d. 1873 age
Smiley, Charlotte b. 1811 d. 1865 age
Smiley, Electa b. 1780 d. 1851 age
Smiley, Electa b. 20 Nov 1827 d. Jul 1831 age
Smiley, Edith W. Died feb. 18, 1939, age 73-11-23
Smiley, Estelle b. 1858 d. 1929 age
Smiley, Francis S. b. 1836 d. 1850 age
Smiley, George W. b. 1843 d. 1922 age
Smiley, Hannah b. 1760 d. 1832 age wife
Smiley, J.W. b. 1864 d. 1864 age
Smiley, Jane b. 1831 d. 1847 age
Smiley, Jeannette b. 1832 d. 1909 age
Smiley, John b. 1808 d. 1893 age
Smiley, Joseph b. 1781 d. 1862 age
Smiley, Minerva b. 1829 d. 1898 age wife
Smiley, Sarah b. 1790 d. 1860 age wife
Smiley, Simon b. 1826 d. 1895 age
Smiley, William b. 1753 d. 1825 age
McNitt, Lucy Smiley b. d. 25 May 1821 age 46-1-18 wife
I have no other information in this family. I am not presently researching this family nor am I able to answer questions about this family. However, I eventually hope to assemble their data in gedcom format in order to be able to distinguish between the families in my research, and in the possibility that at some time a connection is found between them and my own John Smiley lineage.