John Goldsmith Documents

The documents are currently arranged in sections. The first section lists documents
that include John Goldsmith or his wife Lovie Caswell. They may also include
information about the children. Each entry gives a physical description of
the document. For some documents, an annotation follows.

The following sections deal with documents related to their children and then
non-family documents of relevance.

DOCUMENTS
1. Revolutionary War Service Record of John Goldsmith: Number 882861

2. Pension Application for John Goldsmith: 971087, Pension File Number S31699.
*NEW* See text of the pension application by clicking here
This is a very important document because John gives his own date of birth, place (even
specifying Kershaw County, South Carolina. This clears up confusion as to his birth date.

3. Mortality Schedule, Chambers County, Alabama, 1850. Showing death of Lovie Caswell.

4. Obituary for Lovie Caswell Goldsmith. Christian Index newspaper.

5. United States Census 1820, Putnam County, Georgia. pg 91. Family of John Goldsmith.
Shows Males: 2 age under 10, 1 age 10-16, 1 age 45+. Females: 1 under 10,
1 age 10-16, 1 age 16-26, 1 aged 45+. Four people involved in agriculture.

6. United States Census 1830, Monroe County, Georgia. pg 218. Family of John
Goldsmith. William H. Goldsmith listed next door. Census shows Males: 2 age 15-20,
1 age 70-80. Females: 1 age 20-30, 1 age 60-70. Also a Wiley S. Huggins(?) family
appears on the same page. William H. Goldsmith's family appears this way:
Males: 3 under age 5, 1 age 5-10, and 1 age 30-40. Females: 1 age 20-30.

Wiley Huggins could be related to Elizabeth Huggins, first wife of
Matthew Caswell Goldsmith (b. ca. 1815). Also, some question as to whether
this is truly the Montgomery County Census. The pages themselves don't say, but
about 15 pages later there appears, in the middle of the page, "Montgomery County,"
suggesting perhaps that the earlier pages were from some other county.

7. United States Census 1840, Chambers County, Alabama. pg 193. Family of John
Goldsmith. Shows John Goldsmith, age 80-90, and 1 Female, age 70-80. His son,
Allen Goldsmith, is found on the same page. Allen's family appears this way:
Males: 1 under age 5, 1 age 5-10, 1 age 10-15, 1 age 30-40. Females: 2 under
age 5, 1 age 5-10, 1 age 10-15, 1 age 30-40

8. Goldsmith, John Robert. 1990. Family History. A family history
written about John Goldsmith and his descendants.

9. Letter written 1968 by Goldsmith researcher Sadie Calvert Allen to Jeanette Jones.

The lengthy letter gives a lot of detail about the family of John Goldsmith from
her research. Mrs. Allen researched the Goldsmith family for about 50 years.

10. 1813 Tax Roll Putnam County Georgia. Found in Capt. William E. Adams Dist.
Available online here

John Goldsmith, also, two places away is listed William Presley. (William Presley
married Elizabeth Goldsmith on 28 Feb 1808, Putnam County). Also, next door to
John is listed John Campbell. Allen Goldsmith married Emily Campbell on 7 May 1826
in neighboring Butts County, Georgia. Have never found a good candidate for her
parents. Perhaps he is her father??

11. Crooked Creek Primative Baptist Church, Putnam County, Georgia. Contributed by
Margie Glover-Daniels. Source
This document indicates that "Lovell Goldsmith" joined this church by experience
on June 27, 1807.

"Lovell" is obviously Lovie Goldsmith, wife of John Goldsmith. This gives excellent
proof of where the Goldsmiths were residing from at least as early as 1807,
through 1820 when they appear on the Putnam County Census. Also appearing
on the list as original members in 1807 are John and Elizabeth Pressley. Possibly the
parents of William Presley who married Elizabeth Goldsmith in 1808?

12. Georgia Pension Roll of 1835. Copy available online here
or go USGenWeb, select Georgia, type Goldsmith, and search. The document will appear
in the list it brings up.

This document shows:

JOHN GOLDSMITH
COWETA COUNTY
PRIVATE
SOUTH CAROLINA MILITIA
$46.66 ANNUAL ALLOWANCE
$139.98 AMOUNT RECEIVED APRIL 15, 1833
PENSION STARTED AGE 73

It appears that this is the source of the incorrect birth date of John Goldsmith.
Previous researchers have looked at this document, seen it was prepared in 1835,
and subtracted 73 years from that to come up with birth date of 1761/2 for John
Goldsmith. But the document says very clearly, that he received money in 1833,
and [at that time, in 1833 he was ] age 73! This indicates that he was born in
1759/60. This also agrees with the 1820, 1830, and 1840 Census records which do
not support a birthdate of 1761, but do support a birth date of 1759/60. In
1820, he appears in the 60-70 age, in 1830 he is in the 70-80 range, and in
1840, he is in the 80-90 range. They are remarkably consistent in this.
Conclusion: this document would indicate that he was born between April 16, 1759
and April 16, 1760. Likely born in 1759.

Residence: this also puts him in Coweta County Georgia in 1833/35.

13. Moss, Bobby Gilmer. 1985. Roster of South Carolina Patriots in
the American Revolution. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.

This book contains a brief summary of John's Revolutionary War
service. It says, "After entering service during July 1779, he served
under Capt. Thomas Baker and Col. Cooper. He was in the battles at
Mobley's Meeting House and Walker's Plantation. After being
transferred to Capt. Willoughly Barton and Col. McCoy, he was in the
skirmish at Wallahorn's Ferry. (Moved to Ga.)"

Gives an ID of S31699. Also gives birth date of 1761. Don't know what
that is based on.

Needed document: Get actual service record and pension application.

**********************************

DOCUMENTS THAT DEAL WITH JOHN AND LOVIE'S CHILDREN

1. U.S. Census, Autauga County, Alabama. 1850. Page 10.

This document shows:
Nancy Staton, 44, no occupation, b. Ga, worth 4500
Rebecca, 17, Ga, 800
Caroline, 15, Ga, 1400
Martha J., 11, Ala, 900
Wm. T., 18, Ga, 1000(?)

Also in the same house hold, different family(ies):
Garrett Patten, 27, Meth E Clergyman, Tenn
Mary J., 23, Al
Alexander F. E., 1(? torn page), Al
Sarah D.(?), 4/12 (?), Al
Cassandra Edwards, 44, NC

Next Door:
Henry Staton, 23, Farmer, Ga, 2200
____________________________

In 1816, Nancy Goldsmith married Pleasant "Statum" in Putnam County,
Georgia. Except for the fact that the age here for Nancy is 44,
(making her 12/13 in 1816), it seems like a good fit. She was
born in Georgia, as were all of her children until she moved to
Alabama between 1835 and 1839, when her last child, Martha J. was
born. Her age on the census doesn't worry me. A census is hardly
a strong source, and an age difference of just a few years could
make it work well. The wealth of the family is also unusual, and
that each child is shown to have substantial wealth.

The Patten family seems to be simply boarding with them, as well
as Cassandra Edwards. Probably not unusual for a clergyman to
board with a wealthy family. Could speculate that his wife is her
daughter, except that Mary J.'s birth place is Alabama, which doesn't
fit the pattern of the other children (if it is accurate).

Probable son, Henry, living next door. Age, wealth, and birth place
all fit the family pattern.

This document would also support an approximate birth date of 1800-1801
for Nancy (in spite of her census-recorded age).

To do: Find her on more census records.

Pension Application for John Goldsmith located in March 2000.

As of April 7, 1999
Determined that John Goldsmith was in MONROE County, Georgia, 1830
There is new information and a document for Nancy Goldsmith
There is more info on John Goldsmith's Revolutionary War service
Return to Top of Page