Introduction
Samuel Smith was born about 1602 in England and died December 1680 in Hadley, Massachusetts. The family embarked from Ipswich, Suffolk, England on board the 'Elizabeth' in April 1634 at age 32 for Watertown, Massachusetts. Arriving with his wife and four children, he resided in Watertown a short time, and moved on to Wethersfield, Connecticut in 1635. He appears in the town records in a number of public roles and is called 'the Fellmonger' after his occupation as trader, and probably tanner, in furs. He built and was part owner of the 'TRYAL,' the first ship built in the colony. Samuel and Elizabeth moved to Hadley, Massachusetts about 1659, where Samuel also held various town and church positions, and was referred to as Lt. Smith.