After reading through Andrew Smith’s blog “Blackmore Area Local History
A record of history & heritage: buildings, people & landscape in this corner of Essex” I saw an individual post a query regarding Customer Smythe, John Smyth, Esq. of Rivenhall, Essex, and Capt John Smith of Jamestown, VA fame. I thought I would take a moment to discuss Capt John Smith and his Smith lineage.

Firstly, no one in North America is likely descended from either Customer or Capt. John Smith. From the wills of Capt John Smith himself, we find that he had no children. I have seen a 19th century transcription of these documents at my local library and I believe I have photos of the pages, but I will have to dig for them in my digital archives. He bequeaths all of his possessions to the children of his brothers. He had two brothers (and possibly a sister I believe) and their lines stayed in England.

Next, Captain John Smith is well documented as having been born in Willoughby, Linconshire, England. His father was a George Smith and his mother an Alice Rickard. George’s father was a “Master John Smith” who appears to have lived in Louth around 1552. Here’s my source, and it appears very credible.

The above referenced document does appear to link a Nicholas Smyth of Theddlethorpe, a man who referred to himself as a first cousin of Captain John Smith, to a John Smyth of Epping, Essex. PLEASE note that the author makes no connection, (or even a suggestion of a connection, mind you), to John (Carrington) Smyth, Esq. of Rivenhall, Essex. There is definitely not a connection to Kent.

Finally, to further distance these two Smith lines, I wish to present a visitiation record I found on Google Books entitled “The Smyths of Theddlethorpe“. It describes these Smyth’s coat of arms thusly: “Sable, on a chevron engrailed, between six crosses pate’s fitche’e or, three fleurs-de-lis azure, each charged with a plate.” Even without showing you a picture of what this looks like, we can see that the description is completely different from any previously documented coat of arms I have detailed within my blog.

I hope you have found my blog page and the pages I linked to useful in differentiating Capt John Smith of Jamestown, VA fame from the Smith line of John (Carrington) Smyth, Esq. of Rivenhall and the line of Sir Thomas “Customer” Smythe of Westenhanger in Kent.

Thank you for reading.

Chris Smith