Captain Robert Smith (1735-1800)

Marian and Agnes Wilder were the daughters of

James Lewellyn Wilder, the son of

Francis L. Wilder ( grandfather)the son of

Hadassah Thompson Wilder (great grandmother) the daughter of

Mary “Polly” Wood Thompson (great great grandmother) the daughter of

Sibel Smith Wood ( great great great grandmother) the daughter of

Captain Robert Smith

Robert Smith was born in 1735 at Needham, Massachusetts to James and Mary Smith.

His parents had immigrated to America from Ireland around 1725. At present, nothing is known about his childhood. It would appear that he attained an education of sorts, as over the course of his adult life, he was called upon to fill many positions of responsibility in the community and state. In 1758, at the age of 23, he married Rachel Smith, the daughter of an old Puritan family from nearby Dedham.

In 1757 he was appointed field driver for Needham. This was a minor position in New England towns that entailed the responsibility of driving stray cattle to the village pound enclosure.

In 1758 he was appointed Assessor for Needham but declined to serve.

Robert and Rachel apparently lived in a home situated on land purchased by his father at the “Great Playne” of Needham. (This home apparently stood on Great Plain Avenue and was occupied by a Deacon George Gay Stevens until the 1870’s) . Into the 20^th century, a row of old elm trees that tradition said were planted by Robert, survived in front of a modern house on the site of his earlier homestead. With his wife Rachel he raised six children, our ancestor, Sibel, being the oldest. Robert’s sons appear to have been involved in Needham government, as well. It is believed that Robert’s son Joel died in service during the War of 1812.

In 1766, Robert was apparently one of the town constables, as it is recorded that he was paid over two pounds for transporting an Indian woman named Deborah Brand or “Deborah Jack” from Needham to “Bridewater”. Deborah Jack is one of very few Indians who were seen in Needham in pre revolution days, There was apparently a small colony of black people there, which survives to this day.

In 1768 he was appointed Warden of Needham was excused from service.

In 1773 he was appointed fence viewer for Needham.

It appears that he had a close relationship with his brother William for much of his life, as they worked as colleagues on several occasions.

Robert Smith was captain of a militia company of approximately seventy five men from the town of Needham. One of three companies for the town, his was known as the East Company of Needham Militia. The History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, 1622-1918 describes these units and the events that led up to their action during the Battle of Lexington and Concord in April, 1775;

“In Needham three companies of minute men had been organized prior to the battle of Lexington. They were respectively commanded by Capt. Caleb Kingsbury, Capt. Aaron Smith and Capt. Robert Smith. [Robert Smith’s company] numbered seventy five. About eight o’clock in the morning of April 19, 1775, a messenger (tradition says that he was bareheaded ) rode through Needham on his way to Dover and Dedham, carrying the news of the battle of Lexington. Ephrain Bullard, who kept a tavern on the Sherborn road, went to the top of a hill near by and fired his musket three times as a signal for the minute men to assemble. Fires were made in the house, women assisted in moulding bullets and preparing rations for the men, and as fast as they could be supplied they started for the scene of the conflict. The Needham companies encountered the British at West Cambridge, and lost no time in getting into action…Capt. Robert Smith’s company lost Sergt. Elisha Mills and Jonathan Parker killed, and John Tolman wounded.”

Samuel West, minister of Needham’s church in 1775, described the turmoil in town as news of the British march on Lexington and Concord turned into action:

”…The news reached us about nine o’clock A.M. The East Company in Needham met at my house, as part of the military stores were deposited with me…”

According to the memories of those present, “Mr. West addressed them earnestly, then gave his blessing.”

Reverend West continued: “ …they then supplied themselves, and by ten o’clock all marched for the place of action, with as much spirit and resolution as the most zealous friend to the cause could have wished for. We could easily trace the march of the troops from the smoke which arose over them, and could hear from my house the report of the cannon and the platoons fired by the British.

The company stopped at Watertown for refreshments, but “…reached West Cambridge in time to join in time to join in harassing the King’s troops on their retreat.” The East Company was apparently engaged with the British at the town of Menotomy, which was the site of a British atrocity—townspeople were arbitrarily shot in their own homes during the chaos of the British retreat through the village.

According to West: “…The [East] Needham company was soon on the ground, but, unhappily, being ignorant of what are called flank guards, they inserted themselves between them and the main body of the British troops. In consequence of which they suffered more severely than their neighbors, who kept at a greater distance.”

In 1775, a month after the battle had ended, Robert and his brother, Capt. William Smith were appointed to the Needham Committee of Correspondence, Inspection and Safety. As the “History of Needham, Massachusetts, 1711- 1911 states: “There is but little record of the doings of these committees, although the opposition to the British rule largely centered in them”.

In March of 1776, Robert Smith led his company as part of an American capture of Dorchester Heights in Boston.. This occupation of high ground made the British defense of Boston untenable, and was a cause of their removal from the city.

In May of 1776, Robert was commissioned captain of the 4^th company of the First Suffolk Regiment of Militia, under the command of General McIntosh.

In 1776 he was appointed Assessor for Needham.

In 1778 Captain Robert Smith was paid for guard duty at Boston and Dorchester Hill.

In August, 1779, he was elected a delegate to a convention held in Cambridge, MA for deciding on a form of government for the state, but he didn’t go.

In 1780 Robert Smith was hired by Needham to perform military service in Rhode Island. He hired a substitute, but asked the town for more money than he’d been provided. This apparently generated some hostility towards him from other townspeople.

Robert Smith was a Selectman for Needham, elected 1793-95.

Robert Smith died October 18, 1800 and is buried at the old graveyard in Needham.

Grave of Captain Robert Smith in Needham Cemetery

James Smith House which his son Robert Smith live in after his death