Simon Hudson & Sally "Polly" Trueman

Simon Hudson, my wife's 5th great grandfather and father of Margaret Hudson, was born March 19, 1772 in Chesterfield Virginia.  Chesterfield, in Chesterfield County was formed from parts of Henrico Co, VA in 1749.  Simon spent his younger days in Virginia, marrying Sally Trueman also of Virginia in Bedford County Virginia on July 22, 1797.  He was 25 years old.  She was 20.  Her birth was 1777.

By 1810 they lived in Madison County, KY, and there Sally died in 1813 at the age of 36.  She and Simon had 8 children between 1799 and 1812;  Margaret, Polly, Elizabeth, Samuel, Frances "Fannie", Catherine (also listed as Keturals), Dortha, and Simon P.

In 1825 Simon moved to Clay County, Missouri (and listed as the town of Liberty in 1850).  In 1820 Simon had begun to secure federal land grants in Clay County (There is one grant signed by Andrew Jackson).  Simon and his eldest son Samuel were original settlers in Clay County. By the time of his death he had accumulated large tracts of land.  He spent the rest of his long life in Clay county along with his sons.  He died on March 22, 1853 at the age of 81.

Simon Hudson and his son came to Missouri in 1825, and located a large body of Government land in Clay County.  The elder Mr. Hudson was now a man past middle life but full of hope, courage and ambition.  Before his death in 1853, he had prosperously accumulated fifteen hundred acres of valuable land, and was numbered among the substantial and most highly respected citizens of the county.  He lived to be eighty-one years of age, and although his wife, who passed away in 1813, died when he was a comparatively a young man, he never married again.

(Source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Clay, Ray, Carroll, Chariton and Linn Counties, Missouri, 1893. Page 281.)

Elisha Smith & Molly Hoyt

Elisha Smith Jr., my 4th great grandfather, and father of Benjamin Smith was born on July 15, 1769 in Epping, New Hampshire.   By the age of 7 he and his family were living in Sanbornton, NH, residing there for his whole life.  He became a successful farmer in that town, having been given 100 acres from his father (Elisha).

He married Mary Hoyt (also referred to as Polly).  She was born in Sanbornton on March 30, 1775.  They were married on Aug 10, 1794.

They had twelve children, Charles, Elisha (III), Polly, Samuel, Betsey, Lydia, Nancy, Bernard, Langdon, Charlotte, Benjamin, and an older son who I believe was also called Benjamin.

The eldest son, Elisha (III) was a clockmaker.  To the left is pictured a clock made by Elisha.

Here is a excerpt from a book on the history of Sanbornton:

Elisha Smith, Sr., settled in Sanbornton, N.
H., where he followed the worthy occupation of
farming. There he cleared a new farm, and be-
came a well-to-do man. He was killed in a
runaway accident when at the age of sixty-four.
His wife lived to be eighty-two years old.
Twelve children were born to them: Elisha,
Samuel, Benjamin, Betsey, Lydia, Nancy, Bar-
nard, Langdon, Polly, Charlotte, Charles, Benja-
min.

The eldest son, also named Elisha, learned to
make clocks, serving a seven years' apprentice-
ship at Concord, N. H.; he worked several years
subsequently at his trade. Later he manufac-
tured them under his own name; many of the
high, old corner clocks of that part of the State
that are running to-day are of his make, and
bear his name on their faces.

As stated above Elisha was killed at the age of 64.  The date was Jun 17, 1833.  Mary lived until the age of 79 (which is at odds with the above excerpt which states 82).  The date was Oct 29, 1854.