Giles Smith, Hartford Founder

Compiled by Timothy Lester Jacobs, SDFH Genealogist

GILES¹ SMITH, HARTFORD FOUNDER was born abt. 1603 in England, and died bef. 05 Jan 1669/70 in Fairfield, CT (inventory). He married (1) ______ ______ bef. 1634, who died bef 1669. He married (2) EUNICE ____, WIDOW OF JONATHAN PORTER OF L.I._ bef. 1669 in Fairfield, CT. She died sft. 05 Jan 1669/70 in poss Fairfield, CT (alive at time of husband GILES SMITH’s inventory).

The origin and ancestry of Giles Smith is unknown, as is the date when he originally came to the American colonies, but he was in Hartford by probably 1638, as he bought his house lot from George Wyllys, who arrived in Hartford in that year. He was an inhabitant of Hartford “onley at The Townes Courtesie”. His house lot was the smallest in Hartford: two roods (one half acre), located on the northwest corner of George Wyllys’ estate, on the corner of the road from Founder George Steele’s to the South Meadow and the road to Wethersfield. He did own three other properties: six acres of land on the road from George Steele’s to the Great Swamp; three acres of swamp on the east side of the Great River; and three acres near Hockanum.

His occupation is unknown, and he seems to have held no public offices. He removed from Hartford to become one of the earliest settlers at New London in 1647, but left in 1651 to go to Fairfield, where his inventory was taken 5 January 1669/70.

Genealogy: none known