Notes for: Watters Smith

Watters Smith moved with the Green family through Pennsylvania and settled on George's Creek in what is now Fayette Co, PA, but was claimed by Virginia. He served as a militiaman during the Whiskey Insurrection to retain order for the new Federal government. He was a neighbor and acquaintance of Baron von Steuben, the Prussian officer who trained the American troops. In Spring 1796, he and his wife moved to Harrison County, (W)VA, where he bought a 200-acre farm from John Prunty. The original deed, dated 1/21/1792, was on display at the Watters Smith State Park (www.watterssmithstatepark.com), Harrison Co, as of June 1993. The land adjoined Thomas Smith's land, also purchased from Prunty on 9/18/1787, which farm was later purchased by William Davisson and settled on by heirs of John Gaston, who married Watters Smith's sister-in-law Anna Davisson. Watters Smith is the ancestor of almost all the Harrison County Smiths. He was one of four neighbors who founded the Broad Run Baptist Church in 1804. Originally located at Duck Creek and known as Good Hope Church, in 1817 it was moved to its present location with the new name Broad Run, in honor of the old Broad Run Church in Fauquier County, Virginia. Watter Smith is believed to have been the church's first deacon, and Job West was the first clerk.
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