New Castle County Delware Biography Board
Posted By: Helen L Smith Hoke
Date: May 14 2001
Hans Jurgen Georg Smitt/Smidt/Smyth, son of Petter Schmidt/ Smitt/Smidt
and Magdalena Hindrichdotter Huwalt, was born Nov. 3, 1696 in Delacarlia,
Fahlun, Kobbarberg, Sweden.
From "The Economist" dated 18 June, 1988, we learn a little about Stora Kopparberg, the worIds oldest company who celebrated their 700th anniversary that month. It was a copper mine which was started 16 June, 1288 in the province of Delacarlia and in the town of Falun. The mine had supplied much of the copper for the cathedral roofs of Europe & went on to do the same for the copper bottoms of its navies. in 1640 it was by far the largest industrial enterprise in Sweden and its chief source of export revenue. There is not much left of either the mountain or the copper today. In 1687, the mountain, as full of tunnels as a Gvuyere, collapsed, turning the mound into a pit 90 meters deep (almost 300 feet). An English visitor, J. F. Leopold in 1708 reported the mine was dangerous and the work hard. Surface conditions in the town of Falun were hardly better. The suiphurous fisnes and smoke from smelting were over-powering. When the west wind blew them over the town, it became so dark that torches had to be lit at midday.
The name Smitt/Smidt is not a Swedish name but German. In a letter dated 4 Dec 1990 from Leslie Smith Collier of Dallas,~Tx (Descendant of Ericus Smith), she wrote that George hanson, who lectures in the~North Texas region on Swedish genealogy, told her that the owners of the Stora Kopparberg copper mine were noted for hiring both German and Dutch miners. He also suggested that at some point in the mine's history an unidentified Mr. Smidt came to Falim from Germany to work in the mining complex. He left the mine (or was likely hurt) and turned to hatmaking to support his family.
In March 3, 1719 or 1720 in Fahlun, Kobbarberg, Sweden, he marries Maria
Stallcop after her first husband dies. Shortly after, Hans and Maria move
to New Castle Co, DE, and on Oct 1, 1720, their first son, Peter Smith
was born. New Castle Co, DE, was originally in PA. Delaware was actually
part of William Penn's PA Colony. Delaware did not become a state until
Dec 7, 1787.
July 1, 1726, Hans Smith was elected Church Warden for Old Swede's Church
and was dismissed from the office. Apparently in 1729 certain members of
the Old Sweden's Church tried to have Pastor Samuel Hessellius removed
from his position in the colony in New Castle Co, DE, for they made
accusations against him to his superiors in Sweden. In a letter dated
Sept 1, 1729, Hesselllius defended himself against these accusations. In
part he said "..Indeed, I have some suspicion too of Mr. Biork's
brother-in-law, Hans Smith the hatter, and John Stalcop, who are not the
best of men, and have made themselves my greatest enemies...they are both
very poor writers and weak men, and cannot be credited...".
On June 7, 1737, Hans Smith bought a pew room in the fifth pew in Old
Swedes Church for 50 shillings.
In 1737, the Swedes of New Castle issued a written protest to the
erection of another market house in the lower part of town. His name was
included along with Charles Springer, Philip Vandever, Morten Justis,
Timothy Stidam as Vestrymen of Holy Trinity Church. Twenty-six others
signed the protest.
Feb. 19, 1738 or 1739, Hanse (Hans) Smith of Christina Hundred in the
County of New Castle upon Delaware, Hatter, and Mary his wife, sold to
William Shipley of Wilmington in the said Hundred of Christiana, Yeoman
for 90 pounds a certain piece of Marsh situate in Christiana Hundred
which Hans bought Feb. 10, 1734 or 1735 and recorded in the Rolls office
in New Castle in Book 455. The land was described by Stalcop Gutt as
containing 2 acres and a half, Pg. 182, Deeds of New Castle Co, DE.
Sept 15, 1744, Hans Smith was elected vestryman and served in this office
until May 5, 1748,
In 1752, he is listed as Hans Smidt, Hatmaker, along with other members
of Christiana Congregation with a report as to those who understand,
speak and read Swedish and English in Hans Peterson's Ward. Also listed
were two sons, Andreas Smidt, Eric Smidt and Brigita Anderson, the
servant.
1753, he supposedly made his Will, Dec 12, 1753 and bequeathed 136 acreas
of land to his son, Eurious Smith. The Will was referred to in a deed
dated Nov. 23, 1756, wherein Eurious and his wife, Bridget, sell land to
Thomas Shipley. In the recital of the deed it was brought out that land
was surveyed and laid out unto John Stalcop, Samuel Peterson & Andrew
Stalcop which adjoined their other land in Christina Hundred. Charles
Pickering purchased one fourth part of the said tract and obtained from
the commissioners of property, a warrant of resurvey bearing date 30th 4
month (July) 1685. The tract was resurveyed and divided among the then
owners viz Charles Pickering, Christiana Stalcop (in right of her late
husband the said, John Stalcop decd), Andrew Stalcop & Samuel Peterson as
by the resurvey & division dated 20th 6 month 1685. Charles Pickering
obtained a patent of confirmation for his part of the said tract dated
14th 8 month(Nov) 1687 and recorded in Rolls Office in Lib 4 p 157d.
Charles Pickering sold on May 26, 1693 to Christiana Stalcop & her son
John Stalcop (son and heir of the said John Stalcop decd) all of his part
of the said tract of land recorded in Lib. B pg 103. John Stalcop (after
his mother's decease sold on Sept 29, 1699 to Charles Springer all of the
said tract of land surveyed & laid out to his mother the said Christiana
Stalcop together with part of the said patent as to make the whole 272
acres. On 18 May 1703 John Stalcop did further grant & assure the said
two pieces or parcels of land unto Charles Springer by indenture recorded
in Lib G pg 576d. Johas Stalcop (son and heir of the said John Stalcop)
and Elena his wife released unto Charles Springer on 11 Jan 1729 their
claim of the said two pieces of land. Charles Springer sold unto Hanse
Smith a certain piece or part of the said two pieces or parcels of land
containing 136 acres on 4 Nov 1732 recorded in Lib G pg 657U. The land
was described as being by a corner of Samuel Milner's land and by Andrew
Stalcop's tract. Hanse Smith by his Last Will and Testament bearing date
Dec 12, 1753, amongst other things there in contained did give & bequeath
the same tract of land and plantation with all the improvements thereon
to his son Eurious Smith and the said will duly proven & remaining in the
General Registers office in New Castle. The land was sold to Thomas
Shipley for 306 pounds and the deed recorded 5 Dec 1788. It was proven by
John Stalcop.
When Hans Smidt died in 1753, the church record carried this, Dec 27,
1753, Hans Smidt, born in Sweden, in Fahlun Town. Came here to this land
in the year 1720. Was the first ancestor of the Swedish family of Smidt
on the Christiana, Hatmaker, died of consumption.
The following is the first Will of Hans Smidt, "On the same day The
Hatmaker, Hans Georg Smidt handed in the Will which he has written to his
Sister Magdalena Smidt, with the request that it be entered into the
minutes, of the following wording.
Whereas my late father, the former hatmaker, Master Petter Schmidt, has
departed this life, and whereas no assessment or valuation has yet been
drawn up among the heirs regarding his property and whereas I, in the
name of the Lord, have made up my mind to betake myself together with my
dear wife Maria Stallkop from this borough to America to further try my
fortune there; consequently, I have deliberately and with my dear wife's
affirmative and consent hereby wished to bequeathe and present to my
Sister, Magdalena Schmidt, my share of the inheritance from my late
father that has already become due, my firm wish moreover being, if it
would please God mercifully to prolong my lifetime after that of my still
living dear Mother, Magdalena Huwalt, and if any share in the inheritance
from her might be due to me, that my said dear Sister accepts that share
as well and keeps it for herself, so that she, in total, is and will be
lawful heiress on my behalf both to the paternal and the maternal
inheritance in movable and real estate, and that she employs and uses
same as her possession in perpetuity, at her own discretion and pleasure,
and all this in consideration of the fact that my said Sister not only
still is incompetent and unprovided for, but also has promised to stay at
home with our dear Mother, helping her with all due daughterly duty and
deference, and letting her remain until her dying hour in undisturbed
possession of the small property left from our late Father; but should,
contrary to expectation, this my venturesome journey prove unsuccessful,
which God mercifully may turn to my own good, so that I, after some time
from now, come home; in which case I would need my inheritance myself,
then I reserve to myself the right to have it wholly returned, whereupon,
in the meantime and when opportunity arises a proper Specification should
be drawn up for my future security; In faith whereof and in order that
none other than my sister, Magdalena should get the benefit of the
present will, I affix my own signature hereunder and request these worthy
men as witnesses, which took place in Fahlun on the 15th of March Ano
1720.
As witnesses: I. Hellman David Swan
Which upon request was registered and entered pursuant to the law and the
Royal Ordinance on Wills of Ano 1686."
Children:
1. Peter Smith b: 12 OCT 1720 New Castle Co, DE
2. John Smith b: 28 DEC 1722 Christiana, New Castle Co, DE
3. Tobias Smith b: 16 MAR 1723/24 New Castle Co, DE
4. Frederic Smith b: Sept 19, 1727 New Castle Co, DE d. 1806, married
Margaret Sayers, March 2, 1754, Augusta Co, VA. She was born 1737 PA d.
MAY 1811
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