Col. James Smith and Mary Rogers

---

---

Husband Col. James Smith ^{1 2}

---

           Born: 1737 - Chester Co, PA 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 1812 - Bourbon Co, KY 2
         Buried: 

---

         Father: Robert Smith (      -1748) 3
         Mother: Jean [Unk] (      -      ) 3

---

       Marriage: 

---

   Other Spouse: Anna Wilson (      -      ) 4

---

---

Wife Mary Rogers ⁴

---

           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

---

Children

---

---

General Notes: Husband - Col. James Smith

---

He was one of the first captives of the French and Indian War in 1755. The story of his captivity, written by himself for Loudon's "Narratives," was reprinted in "Border Life" and in part in "Our Western Border." It is by far the best account of the daily life of the American Indian ever written and earned for its author the name of "the untutored Defoe." His style was remarkable for quaintness, simplicity and directness, and his narrative was replete with the results of acute observation and illuminated by flashes of vivid description. He escaped from his captors in 1760, and returned to Conococheague after an absence of nearly five years. Soon after his return he organized a company of Indian fighters, who were dressed in the Indian fashion and trained according to Indian methods. To these men was given the name of the "Black Boys," because they painted their faces in the Indian colors, red and black. This company did excellent service in the defense of the frontier. Later he turned his company over to his lieutenant, and in 1764, received a lieutenant's commission and went out with Bouquet's expedition on the Muskingum. In 1765, when the Indian traders were carrying arms and ammunition to the western savages, who were then threatening hostilities, Captain Smith determined to prevent the trade. Hastily gathering a number of his old "Black Boys," he met the traders at Sideling Hill, and after routing them, destroyed their goods. Another exploit of his at this time was a siege of the English garrison at Fort Loudon, which he brought to terms. He subsequently surprised Fort Bedford and released some of his "Black Boys " who were prisoners in the fort. In 1769, he was tried on a charge of murder at Carlisle, but it was shown that he could not possibly have fired the fatal shot, and he was acquitted. After his acquittal he removed to Bedford County, an area later in Westmoreland County, and was captain of a ranging company in Dunmore's War in 1774. He was active in the Westmoreland county militia in 1775-76, and became major of the second battalion, Westmoreland County Associators. Major Smith was a member of the Pennsylvania Convention of 1776, and of the Assembly, 1776-77. While he was in the Assembly, he organized a scouting party, and went in aid of General Washington's army in the Jerseys. After the Revolution, he removed to Kentucky, where he served as a member of the Legislature.

1 Editor, Biographical Annals of Franklin County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905), Pg 84.

2 G. O. Seilhamer, Esq, The Bard Family (Chambersburg, PA: Kittochtinny Press, 1908), Pg 454.

3 G. O. Seilhamer, Esq, The Bard Family (Chambersburg, PA: Kittochtinny Press, 1908), Pg 452.

4 G. O. Seilhamer, Esq, The Bard Family (Chambersburg, PA: Kittochtinny Press, 1908), Pg 455.