Smith, George

George Smith

Marlborough, NH

Written by Gail Golec, 2024

Early records for a man named George Smith living in Marlborough, NH, come from the 1870 federal census, where he is list a 22-year old Black man, born in Virginia around 1848, is working in a blanket mill and living in the household of Edwin and Ellen Dodge,who also boarded two other workers employed at the blanket mill.

George Smith passed away in Marlborough on October 17,1871. His death record indicates Smith was a 22 year old, single, Black male laborer and that his parents were both from Virginia. What little is known about George Smith’s life (in Virginia or New Hampshire) come from his 1871 probate records and were reported by a Marlborough, NH man, Nelson Converse.  Converse stated that Smith: had moved to New Hampshire from a town along the eastern shore of Virginia as early as 1863; had for most of his time in New Hampshire, resided with Converse and; that at the time of his death, Smith had no parents or siblings that he [Converse] was aware of. 

George Smith’s probate records further indicate that, at the time of his death, he had $5.05 in personal estate, $47.00 in the bank and that the sale of his personal inventory (which included a trunk with clothing, shaving kit, hair brush and combs and a watch chain) did not pay for the funeral expenses or other debts he owed.

Just how George Smith, a then 15-year old Black boy, made his way to New Hampshire from Virginia in 1863 during the Civil War, is unclear at this time; as is the nature of Smith’s connection to Nelson Converse or the circumstances by which he came to live within the Converse household in Marlborough, NH.

GENEALOGICAL SUMMARY

GEORGE SMITH was born around 1848 in Virginia. He died in Marlborough, NH, on October 17, 1871.

SOURCE MATERIALS

New Hampshire Vital Records, Deaths, Marlborough, 1871- Ancestry.com

New Hampshire Wills and Probate, Cheshire County, 1871- Ancestry.com

U.S. Federal Census Records, 1870- Ancestry.com