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James Strudwick Smith

James Strudwick Smith (1787–1852) was an Orange County-born physician who practiced in Hillsborough, represented its district in Congress from 1817 to 1821, and later served in the legislature and the 1835 constitutional convention. His granddaughter Cornelia was the grandmother of Pauli Murray.

Source: NCpedia (Dictionary of North Carolina Biography): Smith, James Strudwick

Also found in catalogs as James S. (James Strudwick) Smith.

1787–1852 as the Library of Congress records it · Library of Congress authority record ↗

2 indexed works are connected with this person, and the index includes one work by James Strudwick Smith. 1 held at OCPL →

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Indexed works

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By James Strudwick Smith

James S. Smith account books, 1822-1839.

Smith, James S. (James Strudwick), 1787-1852 · 1822

Five account books kept by the physician James Strudwick Smith, 1787 to 1852, between 1822 and 1839, in the Southern Historical Collection at UNC, collection 2930-z. Topics include medical practice and its accounting in nineteenth century North Carolina, along with Hillsborough history and social life, so the volumes track a Hillsborough doctor's charges over nearly two decades.

UNC

About James Strudwick Smith

Miss Mary's Money

Jones, H. G. · 2014 · McFarland & Co.

H. G. Jones follows the fortune of Mary Ruffin Smith (1814-1885), the unmarried heiress whose Orange and Chatham County lands passed at her death to the University of North Carolina and the Episcopal Church. Chapters profile her grandfather Francis Jones, then trace the bequest through a quarrel among Episcopalians over Price Creek, the Chapel of the Cross and the university's buildings. A December 1885 New York Times report called the gift money; Jones shows it was land. Published by McFarland in 2014, 231 pages.

Why this is here: Their name appears in the record.

✓ Held at OCPL NC Cardinal UNC Duke NC State NCCU Durham Library of Congress Wake Forest Davidson Methodist CH Historical Society

Life and Orange County connections

Dated events connected with this person, earliest first. See these 42 dated events in the chronology →

  1. Hillsborough physician James S. Smith serves in Congress James Strudwick Smith, an Orange County-born physician who had studied medicine with Dr. James Webb of Hillsborough, represented the Hillsborough district in the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Congresses from March 4, 1817, to March 3, 1821. He was defeated when he sought a third term. People: James WebbSearch the index · NCpedia (Dictionary of North Carolina Biography): Smith, James Strudwick
  2. Eagle Lodge runs a lottery to pay for its Masonic Hall Eagle Lodge held a lottery over eleven years and used the proceeds to build the Masonic Hall in Hillsborough, still in use in 1953. People: James Strudwick SmithSearch the index · Lefler and Wager, Orange County, 1752-1952 (1953), p. 319
  3. Hillsborough elects Dr. James S. Smith its member of the House of Commons The borough of Hillsborough returned Dr. James S. Smith, the town physician and former congressman, as its member of the House of Commons.Search the index · Hillsborough Recorder, August 22, 1821, p. 2
  4. James Mebane of Orange is elected Speaker of the House of Commons On the fifth ballot, after Alfred Moore of Brunswick withdrew, the House of Commons chose James Mebane of Orange as its Speaker over James S. Smith of Hillsborough. People: James Strudwick Smith, Alfred MooreSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, November 28, 1821, p. 2
  5. The Orange County Agricultural Society is organized at Hillsborough A meeting at Hillsborough during superior court week organized an agricultural society for Orange County, with William Kirkland in the chair and John Taylor Jr. as secretary, adopted a constitution and offered premiums for the largest yields of corn, cotton, turnips and potatoes on reclaimed land; Duncan Cameron, James Mebane, William Norwood and Dr. James S. Smith formed its corresponding committee. People: William Kirkland, Duncan Cameron, James Mebane, William Norwood, James Strudwick SmithSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, March 27, 1822, p. 3
  6. An Orange County meeting declares the state constitution defective and names four delegates for the reform convention Delegates from the county's militia captains' districts met at the Hillsborough court house, resolved that the state constitution was defective and ought to be amended, and endorsed the Raleigh convention movement. They recommended Thomas Ruffin, Willie P. Mangum, James S. Smith and Michael Holt as Orange's delegates to the November meeting at Raleigh and asked the sheriff to open a poll for delegates at the next election. People: Thomas Ruffin, Willie P. Mangum, James Strudwick Smith, Duncan CameronSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, June 11, 1823, p. 3
  7. James S. Smith's building commission starts Hillsborough's brick Masonic Hall In July 1823 commissioners James S. Smith, Thomas Clancy and J. P. Sneed advertised in the Hillsborough Recorder for proposals to build a brick Masonic Hall in the town. The cornerstone was laid on November 23, 1823, for the Greek Revival hall designed by William Nichols and built by local brickmasons John Berry and Samuel Hancock. People: John Berry, William Nichols, Samuel HancockSearch the index · DigitalNC: The Hillsborough Recorder, July 23, 1823, page 3 (To Bricklayers and Carpenters)
  8. Orange County voters elect Ruffin, Holt, Mangum and Smith delegates to the reform convention At the August election Orange County voters chose Thomas Ruffin, Michael Holt, Willie P. Mangum and James S. Smith as the county's delegates to the November convention meeting at Raleigh on amending the state constitution. The sheriff also took a separate vote for and against a convention. People: Thomas Ruffin, Willie P. Mangum, James Strudwick SmithSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, September 10, 1823, p. 3
  9. Orange citizens resolve to stop candidates from treating voters with liquor A meeting of Orange County citizens at the court house, with Dr. James S. Smith in the chair, declared that candidates' custom of treating voters with liquor was injurious to morality. It asked each militia captain to call his company together to choose two delegates to a convention at Hillsborough during the next county court to devise a plan against the practice. A first meeting on May 24 under Gen. Jehu Byrd had called it. People: James Strudwick Smith, John Wall NorwoodSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, May 25, 1825, p. 3 · Also: Hillsborough Recorder, June 15, 1825, p. 3
  10. The Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina holds its convention in Hillsborough for the first time Bishop John Stark Ravenscroft, eight clergy and lay delegates from ten parishes met in Hillsborough in May 1826, gathering in the newly finished St. Matthew's Church, which was consecrated on the Sunday of the session. St. Matthew's sent Thomas Ruffin, William Norwood, Francis L. Hawks and James S. Smith as its delegates. People: John Stark Ravenscroft, William Mercer Green, Thomas Ruffin, William Norwood, Francis L. Hawks, James Strudwick SmithSearch the index · Joseph W. Murphy, A Sermon-Sketch of the History of St. Matthew's Parish, Hillsboro, N.C. (1900), scan p. 25
  11. An Orange County meeting at the court house condemns nullification A county meeting that filled the Hillsborough court room, by one estimate three to four hundred people, adopted with one dissenting voice a resolution against nullification and for the Union. A second resolution calling the tariff unjust set off a debate among Patrick H. Winston, Willie P. Mangum, Dr. James S. Smith and Congressman Daniel L. Barringer that ended in a disputed count. People: Patrick Henry Winston, Willie P. Mangum, James Strudwick SmithSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, September 26, 1832, p. 3
  12. Hillsborough elects John Scott magistrate of police and seven town commissioners Hillsborough's annual town election chose John Scott magistrate of police and James S. Smith, John U. Kirkland, William H. Phillips, Hugh Waddell, William Nelson, George M. Johnston and Samuel Child commissioners for the year. People: James Strudwick Smith, John U. Kirkland, Hugh Waddell, William Nelson, George JohnstonSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, February 8, 1833, p. 3
Show all 42 dated events
  1. Commissioners open a subscription book for the Bank of North Carolina in Hillsborough Commissioners named by the governor under the act establishing the Bank of North Carolina opened a book for stock subscriptions at William F. Strudwick & Co.'s store in Hillsborough, to stay open sixty days. The commissioners were James S. Smith, Frederick Nash, Alfred Moore, James Webb and William A. Graham. People: James Strudwick Smith, Frederick Nash, James Webb, William A. GrahamSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, February 8, 1833, p. 3
  2. James Strudwick Smith buys Harriet, aged fifteen, as Mary Ruffin Smith's maid James Strudwick Smith bought Harriet, fifteen years old by the deed, from William Kell of Orange County to be his daughter Mary Ruffin Smith's maid. The family then lived in Hillsborough and enslaved about thirty people at a time. People: James Strudwick SmithSearch the index · UNC Libraries: Pauli Murray and UNC, Smith family and early UNC connections
  3. Fire destroys Dr. James S. Smith's stable in Hillsborough Early on the morning of November 5, 1834, fire destroyed Dr. James S. Smith's stable in Hillsborough and some hay; a wind blowing the other way saved his house. The paper judged it the work of an arsonist and noted that George Laws's stable in town had burned in the same way one or two weeks before while his family was away. People: George LawsSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, November 5, 1834, p. 3
  4. A Hawfields muster meeting nominates convention candidates and demands their views on the religious test After a militia muster at David Mebane's in the Hawfields, a meeting chaired by Dr. James A. Craig nominated William Montgomery, James S. Smith and James Mebane for the constitutional convention, added Joseph Allison, and resolved to support no candidate who would not state his views on the 32nd article (the religious test for office) and on judges' salaries. People: William Montgomery, James Strudwick Smith, James MebaneSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, May 15, 1835, p. 3
  5. Convention candidates James S. Smith and William Montgomery publish their platforms Dr. James S. Smith published an address to Orange voters favoring the end of borough representation, election of the governor by the people and biennial sessions, while opposing any change to the 32nd article; Dr. William Montgomery published his own opposition to striking out the 32nd article and to protecting judges' salaries. Both were elected delegates on May 21. People: James Strudwick Smith, William MontgomerySearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, May 15, 1835, p. 3
  6. Orange County sends physicians William Montgomery and James S. Smith to the 1835 convention Ten men were put forward at meetings around the county, and the voters chose two physicians, William Montgomery and James S. Smith. Each sided with the majority that abolished borough seats, which cost Hillsborough its own member in the House of Commons. People: Thomas Ruffin, Frederick Nash, William MontgomerySearch the index · Lefler and Wager, Orange County, 1752-1952 (1953), p. 86 · Also: Hillsborough Recorder, May 29, 1835, p. 3
  7. James S. Smith of Orange moves to abolish borough seats at the 1835 convention At the state constitutional convention in Raleigh, James S. Smith, one of Orange County's two delegates with William Montgomery, moved on June 11, 1835, to abolish borough representation entirely; the motion failed 61 to 67. The convention's committee later recommended taking the House seat from Hillsborough, Halifax and Salisbury while keeping it for four other towns. People: William MontgomerySearch the index · Documenting the American South: Journal of the Convention ... Which Assembled in the City of Raleigh, on the 4th of June, 1835
  8. Orange County supporters of Hugh L. White meet at the court house More than a hundred Orange County opponents of Martin Van Buren met at the Hillsborough court house during county court week, endorsed Hugh L. White for president, John Tyler for vice president and Edward B. Dudley for governor, and named James Mebane, Dr. Edmund Strudwick and Harrison Parker to meet Granville and Person delegates and choose a district elector. James S. Smith, Hugh Waddell and James Mebane spoke, and the meeting adjourned to the Wednesday of superior court week to name candidates for the legislature. People: James Strudwick Smith, Hugh Waddell, James Mebane, Edmund Strudwick, Dennis HearttSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, February 26, 1836, p. 3
  9. Commissioners call for bids to build a stone jail at Hillsborough James S. Smith, Cadwallader Jones and James Webb, acting as commissioners, asked builders for proposals for a two-story stone jail 45 feet long, showing the plan and specifications on request and taking bids until mid-March. People: James Strudwick Smith, Cadwallader Jones, James WebbSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, February 26, 1836, p. 3
  10. Maria L. Spear heads the Hillsborough Female Seminary When the Hillsborough Female Academy's session opened on January 14, 1839, it was under its principal, Miss Maria L. Spear, whose work over several years past, the trustees said, had met their highest expectations. Her sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, taught music, drawing and painting. William M. Green's last announcement for the school had run in 1838. People: James Strudwick Smith, Cadwallader Jones, Hugh Waddell, William Mercer GreenLefler and Wager, Orange County, 1752-1952 (1953), p. 136 · Also: Hillsborough Recorder, February 14, 1839, p. 3
  11. Hillsborough counts about 787 people, 333 of them enslaved Reading the 1840 census against William Bailey's sketch map of the town in 1839, the Task Force counted about 787 people in the mapped households: 434 white, 333 enslaved and 20 free people of color. Dr. James Webb's household was the largest, and Dr. James S. Smith held the most people, 41. People: James Webb, James Strudwick SmithBurwell School Historic Site Task Force: Antebellum Hillsborough, Slavery, and Enslaved and Free People of Color who Worked at the Burwell School, 1837-1857 (2019), p. 43
  12. Whig district convention at Red Mountain nominates Dr. James S. Smith as Harrison elector Whig delegates from Orange, Person and Granville met at Red Mountain and nominated Dr. James S. Smith of Hillsborough, who had served in Congress with Harrison and Tyler, as the district's elector for Harrison and Tyler, and asked him to canvass the whole district. Harrison Parker and Willie P. Mangum represented Orange; Dr. James L. Wortham of Granville chaired. People: James Strudwick Smith, Willie P. MangumSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, May 14, 1840, p. 3
  13. Orange Whig convention nominates Willie P. Mangum and William A. Graham for the legislature Delegates from every captain's district met at the Masonic Hall in Hillsborough and nominated Willie P. Mangum for the state Senate and William A. Graham, Nathaniel I. King, Col. James Graham and Dr. Michael W. Holt for the House of Commons. The nominating committee also named Sheriff James C. Turrentine, but withdrew him after Hugh Waddell argued that ministerial officers should not depend on party politics. People: Willie P. Mangum, William A. Graham, Hugh Waddell, James Strudwick Smith, James C. TurrentineSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, May 28, 1840, p. 3
  14. Willie P. Mangum and Bedford Brown debate for two days at the Masonic Hall in Hillsborough A Whig meeting at the Masonic Hall in Hillsborough turned into a two-day political debate when Senator Bedford Brown, a Democrat, asked to address the crowd. After Dr. James S. Smith opened, Brown and Willie P. Mangum spoke until dark on Tuesday and again through Wednesday, with Mangum closing a little before sundown. People: James Strudwick SmithSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, September 17, 1840, p. 3
  15. Whigs hold a log cabin festival at Chapel Hill A large crowd of all parties gathered at the Whigs' log cabin in Chapel Hill to hear Dr. James S. Smith, the Harrison elector, speak for nearly two hours, then sat down to a dinner given by Whigs of the neighborhood, among them the Rev. William H. Merritt and William Barbee. Speaking resumed after dinner and went on until night, with former Governor Owen, Hugh McQueen, Maurice Waddell and William Albright. People: James Strudwick Smith, William BarbeeSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, September 24, 1840, p. 3
  16. Whig district convention at Hillsborough nominates Dr. James S. Smith for Congress, then waits for Wake Whig delegates from Orange and Person met in Hillsborough on March 12, 1841, with Michael Holt in the chair and Edwin A. Heartt as secretary, and nominated Dr. James S. Smith for Congress. Because Wake County had sent no delegates, Smith asked them to hold off, and the convention adjourned to March 27 and named a committee from Orange and Person to bring Wake in.Search the index · Hillsborough Recorder, March 11, 1841, p. 3
  17. Congressional candidates Romulus M. Saunders and James S. Smith debate at Hillsborough The two candidates for Congress, Democrat Romulus M. Saunders and Whig James S. Smith, met at Hillsborough and addressed the voters. Saunders defended the subtreasury, attacked the banks and opposed dividing the public-land money among the states. People: James Strudwick SmithSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, April 22, 1841, p. 3
  18. Romulus M. Saunders wins the district's seat in Congress though Orange County favors James S. Smith In the special election for the Twenty-seventh Congress, Orange County gave the Whig James S. Smith 1,210 votes to 1,180 for the Democrat Romulus M. Saunders, with Smith carrying Hillsborough about 300 to 121 and Chapel Hill 130 to 60. Saunders won the Orange, Wake and Person district by 402 votes. People: James Strudwick SmithSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, May 20, 1841, p. 2
  19. Hillsborough's female seminary engages Moses Ashley Curtis as superintendent The trustees of the Hillsborough female seminary, among them James S. Smith, Cadwallader Jones, William Cain, Hugh Waddell, Stephen Moore, Nathan Hooker and P. H. Mangum, engaged the Rev. M. A. Curtis as superintendent, kept the same women teachers, and set the next session to open on July 15. People: Moses Ashley Curtis, James Strudwick Smith, Cadwallader Jones, Hugh Waddell, Stephen MooreHillsborough Recorder, June 24, 1841, p. 3
  20. Orange County Whigs meet at the Masonic Hall and nominate Henry Clay for president A Whig meeting at the Masonic Hall in Hillsborough, chaired by Dr. James S. Smith and addressed by Senators Willie P. Mangum and William A. Graham, nominated Henry Clay for president and Governor John M. Morehead for re-election. It refused to recognize President Tyler as a Whig and called for delegates from every captain's district to meet at Hillsborough at the May court to name the party's ticket for the General Assembly. People: James Strudwick Smith, Edmund Strudwick, Giles Mebane, Willie P. Mangum, William A. GrahamSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, November 25, 1841, p. 3
  21. Hillsborough Literary Association forms with Dennis Heartt as secretary A Literary Association was formed at a meeting in the Presbyterian session house in Hillsborough on the evening of January 20, 1842, after a preliminary meeting the night before, with Frederick Nash as president; James S. Smith, Cadwallader Jones and Robert Burwell as vice presidents; Dennis Heartt as secretary; and Walter A. Norwood as treasurer. Heartt, a charter member, had helped organize it. People: Frederick Nash, Cadwallader Jones, Robert Armistead Burwell, James Strudwick Smith, Walter A. NorwoodSearch the index · DigitalNC: Wilmington Chronicle, February 9, 1842, page 2 · Also: Hillsborough Recorder, January 27, 1842, p. 3
  22. Hillsborough citizens adopt an address urging voters to reject a central division of Orange County A meeting of Hillsborough citizens chaired by Thomas Clancy adopted an address 'To the Voters of Orange County' written by a committee of six Democrats and seven Whigs. It argued that a central division would still leave western voters across the Haw River from a court house, would double county taxes and require new court houses, jails, poorhouses, bridges and roads, and would cost the eastern half a senator. People: James Webb, James Strudwick Smith, Edmund Strudwick, John Wall NorwoodHillsborough Recorder, July 28, 1842, p. 3
  23. Harriet, enslaved by the Smith family in Hillsborough, gives birth to Cornelia after Sidney Smith rapes her Harriet, bought by James Strudwick Smith in 1834 as a maid for his daughter Mary Ruffin Smith, was raped by his son Sidney and gave birth to Cornelia in 1844, while the family's home was in Hillsborough. Cornelia's granddaughter Pauli Murray told the story in Proud Shoes. People: James Strudwick Smith, Mary Ruffin Smith, Pauli Murray, Cornelia Smith FitzgeraldSearch the index · UNC Libraries: Pauli Murray and UNC, Smith family and early UNC connections
  24. Courthouse commissioners let the contract to John Berry The commissioners named by the county court to build the new courthouse, James S. Smith, Cadwallader Jones sen., Osmond F. Long, John U. Kirkland, Harrison Parker, William Murray, Edwin M. Holt and Michael W. Holt, let the contract privately to John Berry of Hillsborough without public notice. Western critics attacked the bargain in the paper through the spring. People: James Strudwick Smith, Cadwallader Jones, John U. KirklandSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, May 30, 1844, p. 3
  25. Eagle Lodge Masons lay the cornerstone of the new Orange County courthouse Masons of Eagle Lodge, with brethren from University Lodge, laid the cornerstone of the new courthouse in Hillsborough, with Dr. James S. Smith acting as deputy grand master. The Rev. William M. Green gave the oration in the old courthouse nearby. People: James Strudwick Smith, William Mercer GreenSearch the index · DigitalNC: Hillsborough Recorder, September 12, 1844, p. 3 · Also: Chapel Hill Weekly, July 3, 1953, p. 3
  26. James Strudwick Smith sells Harriet, Julius and Cornelia to Mary Ruffin Smith Shielding his property from creditors, James Strudwick Smith passed most of the family's holdings to his daughter Mary Ruffin Smith, including Harriet and her children Julius and Cornelia, whom he sold to her in 1845. Cornelia had been born in 1844 after Sidney Smith raped Harriet. People: James Strudwick Smith, Cornelia Smith FitzgeraldSearch the index · UNC Libraries: Pauli Murray and UNC, Smith family and early UNC connections
  27. The Smiths leave Hillsborough for Price Creek Plantation near Chapel Hill After Cornelia's birth the Smiths sold their Hillsborough house and moved to the more remote Price Creek Plantation, about 1,500 acres southwest of Chapel Hill, where building of the main house, Oakland, began in 1845. Harriet and her children moved with them. People: James Strudwick SmithSearch the index · UNC Libraries: Pauli Murray and UNC, Smith family and early UNC connections
  28. James S. Smith offers his estate for sale to pay his debts In a notice dated August 19, 1845, in the Hillsborough Recorder, James S. Smith offered property he valued at not less than $35,000 to cover debts of $15,000 or $16,000, saying he would act as his own trustee and salesman. NCpedia says he went bankrupt that year and probably then moved from Hillsborough to a house on Smith Level Road outside Chapel Hill.Search the index · DigitalNC: The Hillsborough Recorder, August 21, 1845, page 3
  29. James Strudwick Smith dies James Strudwick Smith died on December 7, 1852. His family lived out their lives at the Smith Level Road house outside Chapel Hill, and his daughter Mary Ruffin Smith later gave land to the University of North Carolina. People: Mary Ruffin SmithSearch the index · NCpedia (Dictionary of North Carolina Biography): Smith, James Strudwick
  30. Mary Ruffin Smith dies and leaves the university a Chatham County plantation Smith, daughter of the Orange County doctor and congressman James S. Smith, left about 1,500 acres in Chatham County to the university to educate poor students, the Francis Jones Smith Fund. She left small bequests to people formerly enslaved in her household and most of her estate to the Episcopal Church, with Kemp Battle as executor. People: Kemp Plummer Battle, Mary Ruffin SmithSearch the index · Documenting the American South: Kemp P. Battle, History of the University of North Carolina, vol. II (1912), p. 344 · Also: Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), November 21, 1885, p. 3

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