Captian Henry Smith, b.1607, d. 1681

Captain Henry Smith b. 1607, Buckingham, Norfolk, England
m. 1638, Dorchester, England to Ann Pynchon
d. 1 Aug 1681, Wraysbury, Buckingham, England

Will: 01 Aug 1681, proved 10-24-1682

"My body to be buried in a decent manner. I do give unto my daughter Martha CAMOCK five shillings. To my daughter Mary LORD in New England five shillings. To my daughter Rebecca LEE, five shillings. To my son Elisha SMITH five shillings. To my daughter Elizabeth SMITH, not yet disposed of in marriage, I do give fifty pounds, to be paid at the time of her marriage, if she survive after her mother. I do, out of that dear and tender love I bear unto my belowed wife Mrs. Anna SMITH, give and bequeath all and singular my goods, chattels, leases, debts, ready money, plate, rings, household stuff, apparel, brass, pewter, bedding, and all other my substance whatsoever, movable or immovable, quick and dead, of what nature, quality or condition the same are or be, as well in my own possession as in the hands and possession of any other person whatsoever, to her own proper use and behoof, whom I do hereby ordain and appoint to be my executrix."Notes:Henry was an early settler of Dorchester, MA where he was a selectman in 1634. He soon decided to move westward to what is now known as Springfield, MA. At that time the area was under the jurisdiction of Connecticut. "In … [1635], Mr. Pynchon, Henry Smith, Jehu Burr, and probably, some others, came to this place, called by the Indians Aggawam, and began to build a house on the west side of the [Connecticut] river, on the Aggawam, in the meadow, called from that fact Housemeadow. The Indians, seeing this, and being perfectly friendly, informed them that the house would be exposed to the flood, and they abandoned it, and came and built a house on the east side of the river… It is supposed they returned to Roxbury in the fall."In the spring of 1636 William Pynchon led a small group of eight families to settle at Aggawam. The members of this company of "adventurers" were: William Pynchon, Matthew Mitchell, Henry Smith, Jehu Burr, William Blake, Edmund Wood, Thomas Ufford, and John Cable. These men purchased Aggawam from the Indians for "18 fathoms of wampum, 18 coats, 18 hatchets, 18 hoes, and 18 knives." The settlement was founded, in large part, to take advantage of fur-trading opportunities along the Connecticut River.Henry and Ann, daughter of his step-father William Pynchon, married at about that same time. They lived there until deciding to move back to England along with her father, in about 1652. Henry was described as "a Godly, wise young man."
Footnotes
New England Historic Genealogical Society, Vol 12, April 1858, p. 173, "Original Distribution of the Town of Hartford (Ct.) among the Settlers, 1639."
Quality: 3.
Mary LORD alias HOOKER died May 17th Sabeth day being 58 years and 2 months old 1702.
Ibid., Vol 12, April 1858, p. 173, "Original Distribution of the Town of Hartford (Ct.) among the Settlers, 1639."
Quality: 3.
Mary LORD alias HOOKER died May 17th Sabeth day being 58 years and 2 months old 1702.
[http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~jdevlin/source_files/hartford.htm.]