The Mystery of Mary Smith Glasier's Origins
The identity of Mary Smith (born in Vermont, died 1869, Bedford, Ohio), the wife of our 3rd great-grandfather, Samuel Glasier (1790–1864), presented a significant genealogical challenge. Conflicting family traditions and sparse early records initially obscured her true parentage. This blog post details the journey of disproving a long-held assumption and definitively establishing her lineage through meticulous research combining traditional records and DNA analysis.
The Initial Misidentification: A False Lead
Our research initially centered on the family belief that Mary's parents were David Smith and Mary "Polly" Collins. While a plausible hypothesis, primary source evidence ultimately refuted this claim:
- Conflicting Records: The daughter of David Smith and Mary Collins, also named Mary Smith, married Ezra Glazier (a distant cousin of Samuel Glasier). Her death record contained information that directly contradicted our Mary (Smith) Glasier's headstone inscription and death date in Bedford, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, rendering the initial theory untenable.
Building the Case: Circumstantial Evidence Emerges
With the initial theory disproven, the focus shifted to a cluster of Smiths residing near the Glasiers in Bedford, Ohio. This geographical proximity sparked a new line of inquiry.
The Smith Family Lineage: Untangling the Branches
The suspected lineage leading to Mary's parents is as follows:
John Smith + Eleanor Phillips → Thomas Smith, Sr. and Samuel Smith
Thomas Smith, Sr. → Thomas Smith, Jr.
Thomas Smith, Jr. married his first cousin, Mary Smith (daughter of Samuel Smith).
Circumstantial evidence strongly suggested that Mary, wife of Samuel Glasier, was the daughter of Thomas Smith, Jr. and Mary (Smith) Smith. This conclusion was based on several key factors:
- Geographical Proximity (Bedford, Ohio): Land records revealed a close relationship. An 1874 plat map of Bedford showed that the property of her son, Johnson C. Glasier, was adjacent to the property of Loudon Smith. Loudon Smith and his brother, Sidney Smith, confirmed children of Thomas and Mary (Smith) Smith, also resided in Bedford, Ohio.
- Birthplace (Vermont): Census records consistently indicated that Mary was born in Vermont. The family of her suspected brother, Loudon Smith, originated from Monkton, Addison, Vermont. Though her daughter's affidavit incorrectly cited Granville, New York, the possibility of Granville, Addison, Vermont, remained, aligning with the general area. Mary's birth date logically fit between the known children of Thomas and Mary (Smith) Smith.
DNA Evidence: The Definitive Confirmation
In 2016, genetic genealogy provided the definitive confirmation, transforming circumstantial evidence into conclusive proof.
- Paternal DNA Matches: My father's DNA profile yielded matches with known descendants of Thomas Smith, Jr. and Mary (Smith) Smith.
- Multi-Generational Matches: Crucially, the DNA also matched descendants from the two preceding generations (Thomas Smith, Sr. and Samuel Smith).
This pattern of genetic matches across multiple descendant lines irrefutably establishes that Mary Smith, wife of Samuel Glasier, was indeed the daughter of Thomas Smith, Jr. and Mary (Smith) Smith, and therefore the sister of Loudon and Sidney Smith of Bedford, Ohio.
Addressing a Conflicting Publication: Correcting the Record
It's important to address a discrepancy found in a 1982 genealogy by Rollin C. Smith Jr. (1915–2006), a third cousin once removed, entitled, Our Smith Family : One Branch Descended from Robert Smith (1626-1693) of Kirton, England and the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
This book reportedly lists only Clamentia as a daughter of Thomas and Mary Smith, along with ten sons, leading some researchers to incorrectly conclude that Mary could not be their daughter.
The irony lies in the fact that Rollin C. Smith Jr. was a descendant of this Smith line through two branches: through Mary's brother, Hiram Smith, and through Mary herself (via her son, Johnson C. Glasier).
Conclusion: A Corrected Lineage
Based on the combined documentary and genetic evidence, it is evident that the 1982 book contains an omission and failed to identify Mary (Smith) Glasier as a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Smith) Smith, despite the author's descent from her. Researchers are now encouraged to update their records to accurately reflect this corrected lineage. The power of combining traditional research with modern DNA analysis has once again solved a complex genealogical puzzle.