Edward Smith & Sarah Clarke

Newport's oldest Producer of Rum

Edward Smith, my wife's 5th great grandfather and father of Elizabeth Smith was born January 7, 1730 in Newport, Rhode Island Colony.  Newport was a center of naval trade in the 1700's, including Pirate activity.  Several pirates (at least 26) were arrested, hung and buried on Goat Island (part of Newport).

Regretfully, Newport at that time was a leader in the slave trade.  Rum was distilled locally, shipped to West Africa, exchanged for slaves, then the slaves were sold to sugar plantations in the Caribbean who used them to produce sugar for more rum production in Rhode Island (aka Triangle Trade).

I have no indication that Edward was directly involved in any of these activities, but then again I have no evidence of any of his activities.  I do know he married a woman also from Newport, Sarah Clarke, on October 21, 1750.  Sarah was born July 7, 1734.

The only child they had was Elizabeth.

I have not found any data on their death dates or ages.  Other researchers feel they died early and I tend to believe that since one child is unusual in that time and because they don't seem to appear on any other records.  I'll keep looking for further facts.