Elisha Smith & Lydia Norris

Depiction of the oldest Tavern in Sanbornton

Elisha Smith, my 5th great grandfather and father of Elisha Smith (Jr), was born October 3, 1726 in Stratham, NH.  He married Lydia Norris, also of Stratham in 1750.  She was born in 1729.  Elisha's father, Joseph, was an original grantee of land in Sanbornton.  About 1750-1760 many of the family moved to Sanborton as the original settlers.  Elisha settled on part of the land grant.  Here is an except from the "History of Sanbornton, New Hampshire" by M. T. Runnels:

.... Elisha Smith, who married Lydia Norris of Stratham, N. H. As tradition, Elisha Smith came into possession from his father of 700 acres of land that extended from the Samuel Calef land up to the Meredith line, and while living in Epping he used to walk back and forth with a willow cane while he was clearing land and building a loghouse to live in. On one of these trips up to Sanbornton from Epping he broke his cane in four pieces and stuck them in the ground. The one he stuck down near the corner entrance to his home grew and made a mammoth tree, and some of the old roots and sprouts still stand at the entrance to the present N. Davis house. Elisha Smith signed the "Association Test" in Sanbornton, so he was a resident there in 1776. He gave each of his sons 100 acres of land for a home out of the 700 acres he inherited. He built later a sawmill and gristmill on "Black Cat Brook." His numerous descendants have proved an honor and credit to their ancestors. He is buried with other Smiths in the old yard, back of the Parsonage, at Sanbornton Bay Church.

And from, "Meredith, NH: Annals and Genealogies" by Mary Elizabeth Neal Hanaford:

Elisha Smith, who married Lydia Norris, settled in Epping and
the lot fell to him. "He used to walk back and forth from
Epping by spotted trees, to clear the land, and built a log house."
In 1774, on one of his trips, he broke a willow cane in four parts,
and stuck them in the ground in front of his log house. One of
them grew and became the famous "willow tree" which blew over
in 1880, but the outside of the tree remained and sprouted again,
and is a pretty tree today. The State Forestry marked the tree,
"Under protection of Philip W. Ayers, N. H. State Forester,"
and it stands a historic landmark. Elisha Smith bought more and
more land until he had 700 acres, which extended to the Meredith
line. He gave each son 100 acres and kept 100 for himself.

Elisha signed a document, the Association Test, with the 82 other settlers which expressed their conviction to take up arms against the British.  This signing was July 3rd, 1776 (a day before the Declaration of Independence).  Here is the text of the document:

"In CONGRESS, March 14, 1776. Resolved, That is be recommened to the several Assemblies, Conventions, and Councils, or Committees of Safty of the UNITED COLONIES immediately to cause all Persons to be disarmed within their respective Colonies, who are notoriously disaffected to the cause of AMERICA, or who have not associated and refuse to associate to defend by arms the United Colonies against the hostile attempts of the British Rleets and Armies. "(COPY). Extract from the Minutes. "Charles Thompson, Secretary."

"In consequence of the above Resolution of the Hon. Continental CONGRESS, and to shew or determination in joining our American Brethren, and in defending the Lives, Liberties, and Properties of the Inhabitants of the UNITED COLONIES, We, the subscribers, do hereby solemnly engage, and promise that we will ti the utmost of our Power, at the Risque of our Lives and Fortunes, with ARMS oppose the Hostile Proceedings of the British Fleets and Armies against the United American Colonies"  [this is followed by 83 signatures]

Elisha was a private in the Revolutionary War.  He was in Nathan Hale's Regiment, Caleb Robinson's Company.  He was listed as being in a Scouting Party in 1779 as well.

Elisha and Lydia had several children.  I believe he had 6 sons and possibly up to 5 daughters.  They were: Elisha (Jr), Benjamin, Zebulon, Josiah, Nathaniel, Joseph, Abigail, Mercy, Lydia, Mary, and Mehitable.  Some of these children are documented, others are by other researchers report (undocumented).

Elisha died on March 12, 1811.  Lydia died November 12, 1819.  They are buried at the Bay Cemetery in Sanbornton Bays, NH.