Smyrl Family, A Tapestry
Spanning the History of the US
The first
Smyrl of our line in America about which I know was Thomas Smyrl,
Sr. He appears in the 1790 Census of Kershaw District, South
Carolina. As to whether he arrived before or after the American
Revolution I can not say. We do know that Robert Dunlap, uncle of
his son Thomas Smyrl, Jr. arrived America about 1772 with Rev. William
Martin and his five ship loads of emigrants.
The wills of both Thomas Smyrl, Sr.
and his wife Elizabeth show Elizabeth had been married to a Mr. Burge
before she married Thomas.
Thomas had two known children which he
mentioned in his will: Thomas Smyrl, Jr. and a daughter who married
James Dunlap. It appears the Mother of these children was the sister
of Robert Dunlap.
Elizabeth Burge Smyrl had Littleberry Burge, John N. Burge, William Burge
and a daughter Mary who married John Parker. Some claim Mary was the
daughter of Thomas. The following information puts that idea to
rest.
The following is information sent to me by a fellow researcher.
I am requesting information on Elizabeth that married Thomas Smyrl, Sr.
In a posting, someone states that Elizabeth had been previously married to
a Burge before she married Thomas Smyrl.
Because of the names mentioned, I think this was Elizabeth Buckner Sorsby,
daughter of Samuel Sorsby. On Nov. 24, 1781, Nash Co., NC, Elizabeth
married Jeremiah Burge, who was born around 1755, probably the son of
Richard Burge, Jr., and Frances (Raines). On Jan. 5, 1788, Samuel Sorsby
deeded a slave to his daughter -- (Slave Conveyance, Nash Co., NC, DB 1,
Page 379): Samuel Sorsby to daughter Elizabeth Buckner Burge, both of Nash
Co., NC, one negro Girl....."
Jeremiah died around 1801, Fairfield District, SC. On Nov. 28, 1804,
Fairfield District, SC, Joseph Mickle was voluntarily chosen as guardian
of the four children of the deceased Jeremiah: "Whereas Littleberry Birge,
John Birge, William Birge and Mary Birge, Orphans within the age of
twenty-one years, has Appeared in Court and Voluntarily chosen Joseph
Mickle, as and for their guardian....." These four children are the ones
mentioned in the "Smryl.US - Memories of All Things Smyrl." It states that
in "the wills of both Thomas Smyrl, Sr., and his wife Elizabeth, it shows
that Elizabeth had been married to a Mr. Burge before she married Thomas."
On
the 1800 Census of Kershaw County, SC we find Robert Dunlap, James
Dunlap, Thomas Smyrl, Sr., Thomas Smyrl, Jr. and John Robinson who married
one of the daughters of Thomas Smyrl, Jr.
It appears Thomas Smyrl, Jr. had a
large family. Among the children were: John Parker Smyrl, Thomas
Smyrl III, Robert Smyrl, Hugh T. Smyrl, William Smyrl, a daughter
who married a Mr. Horn and a daughter who married John Robinson.
John Parker Smyrl married Rebecca
Kirkly in Kershaw Count, South Carolina Between 1830 and 1840
they left South Carolina. At the time of the 1840 Census they were
living in Muscogee, County. Georgia.
Also leaving South Carolina were John
Robinson and Robert Smyrl. I believe they left after John Parker Smyrl
left for Robert Smyrl married Nancy Love in South Carolina in 1840.
John Robinson and Robert Smyrl also went to Georgia but both Returned to
South Carolina probably due to the death of Thomas Smyrl, Jr.
This death occurred on or before 1855. John Robinson helped build
the Robert Smyrl homeplace there in South Carolina mid 1850.
At some subsequent time he left South Carolina and ultimately arrived
Texas where John Robinson, his descendant, currently lives.
By 1850 the John Parker Smyrl family
had moved into Russell County, Alabama where they established their home.
To be continued.
Other Smyrl Pages:
B.G. Piper's Pages,
B.G.'s GEDCOM,
Tribal Pages
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