John Smock

From "Feminine Power and Widowhood - Case Study of Parthenia Ennis Smock Read Morris - Colonial Women" by Katie Ross at the Nabb Research Center at Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD: "Parthenia (Ennis) married three times in her life. Her first husband was John Smock. Smock had started his life in the Chesapeake as an indentured servant to Charles Ratcliff in Accomack County, Virginia. Throughout the 1670s and 1680s, he obtained several hundred acres of land and became a constable for Boquetenorten Hundred. Holding the position of constable was a mark of high status, demonstrating that Smock was a prominent figure in his community. His marriage into the Ennis family confirmed his reputation."

The surname SMOCK stayed spelled as such, SMOCK or more infrequently early, SMOCKE. After 1800, it evolved in most modern lines to SMACK where it exists today.

John Smock was a large landowner in the early days of Somerset Co. in what would become Worcester Co., MD in 1742. He was shown as John Smock on a certificate granted to Charles Ratcliffe for 400 acres in Accomack Co., VA on Mar 12 1663/64. By 1671, he had moved to Maryland when he had the 200a tract "Bachelors Lot" surveyed for him on Nov 9 1676 He was assigned the 200a tract "Conveniency" from Col. William Stevens on Jun 15 1683 that was adjacent to "Bachelors Lot." On Jul 16 1679, he had the 300a tract "Amey Down" surveyed for him as well. These tracts are located halfway between modern day Berlin and Snow Hill along US Route 113 near Newark, MD. Also on Jul 16 1679, John Smock and Robert Cade had surveyed for them the 500a tract called "Creedwell", it located on the southern side of modern day Berlin, MD.

On Jun 11 1672, we find John Smock involved in a suit with John Parramore Jr. in Somerset Co.: "John Paramour Junr: plt: vers in A plea - The plt: & deft: appeare before the board John Smock Deft:, of Debt; The Decla: read, vizt; Sommersett Ss John Smock late of this County was Attached to Answer John Paramour Junr: in A plea of Debt &c. And whereupon the said John Paramour for himselfe saith that he the said John Smock Did upon the Second day of novembr: in the XXXXth: year of the Dominion of the Rt: honble: Caecilius &c. Annoq Domini 1671 by A Certaine specialty signed with the hand and Sealed with the Seale of him the said John Smock (which is produced by the plaintiffe here in Cort: assume upon himselfe and promise that he the said John Smock woulld
pay unto John Paramour the full and Just summe of one thousand pounds of tobacco and Caske at or upon the tenth day of november next ensueing after the Date of the said specialty in some Convenient place in Somersett County To the true performance whereof the said John Smock bindes himselfe his heires or assignes to pay the same; to the said John Paramour or to his heires or assignes; / ; But he the said John Smock Little regarding his promise an Assumpcon but fraudulently intending to Deceive him the said John Paramour of the Said one thousand pounds of tobacco with Caske allthough often Demanded Denying paymt: and Still Doth the plaintiffe saith he is Dampnified And hath Damage to the vallue of Two Thousand pounds of Tobacco And thereupon brings his Sute ; / ; ~ ~ ~ ~ The bill read, vizt; This bill bindeth me John Smock me my heires or assignes to pay or Cause to be paid unto John Paramour or his heires or assignes the full and Just of one thousand pounds of tobacco caske in Some Convenient place in Sommersett County at or upon the tenth day november next insueing the Day hereof for a valuable Consideracon in hand received as wittnes my hand the Second day of november 1671 ~ ~ Wittness
John Patrike, Mathew Dorman ---------- John Smock
The Deft: ownes the quantity of one thousand pounds of tobacco to be due upon the said bill to John Paramour Junr: ~ ~ Whereupon the Cort: ordrs: that the Deft: John Smock pay unto the plt: John Paramour Junr: or his ordr: the quantity of one thousand pounds of tobacco & Caske with Cost of Sute als execucon ~ ~" (SoJ-1671/75:132)

On Aug 7 1683, Edmund Howard and wife Mary sold 100a of "Yorkshire" to John Smock (SoLR-MA:662). On Aug 13 1683, John Smock and wife Parthenia and Robert Cade and wife Elizabeth sold "Creedwell" to William Stevens (SoLR-MA:644).

In the Somerset court records, we find the following from 1688: "Somerset County Ss. John: Smock of Somerset County Planter was attached to answer unto John: Vigorus Admr. of all and singular the goods and Chattels of Ann: Smith deced who was Execcutrx of the last will and Testament of Edward Smith deceased in a plea of Trespass upon the Case &c. ------- And Whereupon the said John Vigorous by Peter Dent his Attorney sayth that whereas the said Edward Smith in his life time (that is to say the 14th day of in the yeare of our Lord 1686. at Monocan within ye Jurisdiction of this Court was posessed of one Steare of the value of One thousand pounds of Tobacco as of his owne steare and being thereof posessed, which said steare afterwards to the house and posession of the said as Executrx of the said Edward came after whose death ye right of the said Steare did descend to the said John: Vigerous, as Admr of all and singular the goods and Chattels of the said Ann. and the said John. of the steare afd being posessed y said steare afterwards the 10th . day of May in the yeare of our Lord 1688 out of the hands and posession did causually loose which said steare afterwards to the hands and posession of the said John: Smock by finding came. Nevertheless the said John: Smock by finding came well knowing the said steare to be the propper steare of him the said John. Vigorous and to him the said John: Vigorous of Right to belong and appertaine ----------------- contriveing him the sd John: Vigorus of the steare, afd. Craftily and subtilly to deceive and defraud. the said steare to ye said John: Vigorous although often requested did not restore but the said steare afterwards to the propper use and behoof of himself said John: Smock did convert and dispose to ye damage of the said John:Vigorus of 1600lb tobacco and thereupon Bringeth his suit &c. Pledg et Jo: Doe" (SoJ-1689/90:12)

On Oct 2 1691, John Smock was deposed in Somerset which clues us to his age (46) and so suggests he was born in late 1644 or 1645: "The Deposition of John: Smock Aged fourty Six years and John Emmett Aged about fourty four Saith that about Sixteen years Since we with mr ffrancis Jenckins who was then Surveyor of Somerset County, and him did assist in Laying out a prcell of Land then Called Parsons Island then laid out for 400 Acres, but Since in the Pattent Called ffishing harbour lying and being a litle to the Northward of St. Martins River mouth, the first bounder thereof was on a Small Oyster shell bank at y mouth of a Creek called Parsons Creek, Northwest from a point on the Bayside, from thence runing Northwest for length and for breadth Southwest in wittness whereof we have hereunto Sett our hands June the 12th. 1691. John: Smocke Sworne to in Open Court by the Deponents this. 2d. day of 8ber 1691 John: Emmett." (SoJ-1690/91:173)

On Nov 10 1691, we find another court case involving John Smock: "To the worll. Court of Somerset County that whereas a Maid Servant who formerly belonged to my predecessour Samll. Innis, whom he Sold to his Brother in Law John: Smock with all her run away time desireing that you would be pleased to give us a hearing Concerning her, who is here prest to attend the Court, as to the dayes of her runaway she has already owned before mr James Round, she has been brought home three severall times by 3 Severall men being above ten miles from her Masters habitation, which has amounted to the value of Six hundred pounds of tobacco which yr Petioner desires Satisfaction in So doing yr petioner Shall ever pray Tho: Morris -- Elizabeth: Miller now Servant to Samuel. Innis hath at divers times Runaway from her Master at one time 4 dayes, 6 dayes. 3 dayes. 2 dayes. 2 dayes. 1 day. 3 dayes. 3 dayes. in all 24 dayes. -- Petion Continued & Ordered by this Court that Elizabeth Miller remaine with John: Smock till next Court or that mr James Round Send a Certificate to Court to Certifie Concerning ye premises" (SoJ-1691/92:121)

John Smock's will was written Jan 13 1692/3 and probated Mar 23 1692/3. In it he mentions son Henry to get 200 acres part of "Batchelors Lott," 100 acres part of "Yorkshire" bought of Colonel Stevens between Robert Cade and me and 200a acres of "Conveniency." He also mentions daughters Mary and Elizabeth would have the first two that she bring and, his wife Parthenia. In an inventory of his estate, we find 3 Bibles and eight small books.

[Compiler's Note: on Jun 4 2013: Stephanie Mervine to Mike Hitch: I've collected a few good books on early life on the Eastern Shore and I was able to find a book listing John Smock starting his life on the Eastern Shore of VA as an indentured servant to a Mr. Charles Radcliffe 1663 coming over from England with 8 people total only. Stephanie Smack-Mervine]

John married Parthenia Ennis, daughter of William Ennis Sr. and Pervis (Percy, Percie) Scott, about 1667. (Parthenia Ennis was born about 1655 in Northampton Co., VA and died between 04 Jan 1721 and 02 Jun 1721 in Somerset Co., MD ¹.)