SMART ROOTS - Our Family Origins

Rutherford County (1720 - 1780)

John Smart Jr.

John married again late in life to a younger woman. She was probably in the society that John and Joseph frequented in Philadelphia. They had a child named William when John was 57. John died at their Philadelphia home seven years later, leaving little William in the hands of his young mother and within the bosom of the Reed family.

Other Smart Families in the Area

There were other Scottish Smarts who settled in Rutherford County. See an analysis of this area in the 1700s for more information

William Smart (1720 - abt. 1790)

At some point, his mother moved to Rutherford County where William grew up running the Reed business with success as well as seeing to the adjacent Smart family lands. The Reed family was his family. As the Reed family expanded, they began to farm some of the Rutherford land while other parcels were sold off. The two families grew very close together over those many years.

When of marrying age, William took Isabella McGaughey, a young Scottish girl, as his bride. Many of their offspring remained in Rutherford County their entire lives, involved with their land and the southern lifestyle. One son, John Smart (b. 1745) married a local girl, Mary and they began raising children--two boys and two girls.

William's son John Smart (1745 - 1780)

But Mary was going to be called on to sacrifice her husband for the American Revolution. In 1780, John was killed while fighting for Major Ferguson of the Overmountain soldiers in the Battle of Kings Mountain. These Americans won the battle considered to be the turning point of the Revolution and John Smart gave his life in the battle.

Rutherford County History

Rutherford County was named after Brigadier General Griffith Rutherford, a famous Revolutionary War soldier. It was formed from Tryon County in April 1779. Early settlers were of Scotch-Irish origin. They traveled down the Great Wagon Road from Pennsylvania. It is assumed that the community of Westminster was the first area of the county settled since the Brittain Presbyterian Church was formed there in 1768.

The area was rich, fertile land with plenty of virgin forest pine and hardwood. There was plenty of wild game.

Among the Southern States, Rutherford County was one of the lowest slave-holding areas. There were few slaves used by the Scotsmen because of their hard work ethics and abhorrence for slavery. They were able to do much of the work necessary to make their endeavors successful.

During the Revolutionary War the citizens were attacked both by Indians and Torys.

The first census was 1790 showing 1136 heads of household. In the next 10 years, Rutherford County had a 2,945 increase.

Conditions in Rutherford County, following the War of 1812, were far from inspiring. Land values were high. Prices were high due to transportation costs.

More: Rutherford County's history site