Thomas Smith (Gloucester politician)
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Thomas Smith | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates for Gloucester County | |
| In office Dec 3, 1832 – April 13, 1841 | |
| Preceded by | William K. Perrin |
| Succeeded by | Augustine Robins |
| In office Dec 1, 1828 – Dec 5, 1830 Serving with John Billups | |
| Preceded by | James Baytop |
| Succeeded by | position eliminated |
| In office Dec 4, 1826 – Dec 2, 1827 Serving with Mann Page | |
| Preceded by | Richard G. Morris |
| Succeeded by | James Baytop |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Smith March 5, 1785 [ |
| Died | April 13, 1841 (aged 56) [ |
| Parent |
|
| Relatives | Thomas Smith Jr. (uncle) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service | Virginia Militia |
| Rank | captain |
Thomas Smith (March 5, 1785 – April 13, 1841) was an American merchant, militia captain and politician in Virginia who represented Gloucester County, Virginia in the Virginia House of Delegates for most of the years between 1826 and his death. Today, he maybe best known for acquiring and expanding Airville, now on the National Register of Historic Places or as the nephew of lawyer Thomas Smith Jr. of Mathews County (which split from Gloucester County when this man was a boy).[1] Four other men of the same name also served in the Virginia General Assembly.
The eldest son born to Martha Tabb (1757-1821) and her husband, Rev. Armistead Smith (1756-1817) was born as the American Revolutionary War ended. His Virginia born father had been educated at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg and served in the college's militia unit during the conflict. Rev. Armistead Smith then was ordained as a minister in the reorganized Episcopal Church in 1793, became rector of Kingston Parish (which became Mathews County in 1791), and continued there the rest of his life. When this boy was an infant, his father (married women lacking legal status) owned 11 adult slaves, enslaved 12 children and also was taxed for six horses, 30 cattle and a two wheeled carriage.[2] The family lived at "Toddbury", and included two younger brothers: Philip (d. 1813) and William (1796-1878). This man also had three sisters (Lucy Armistead Smith who married her cousin Thomas Todd Tabb, Elizabeth who became the second wife of Col. Christopher Tompkins and Sallie who married Mr. Todd). However, this man never married.[3] His uncle of the same name, a lawyer who represented Mathews county for many years, was the son of Col. Thomas Smith and so sometimes known as Thomas Smith Jr. (although the first man of that name to serve in the Virginia General Assembly).
