Lydia (Wright) Harris (abt. 1633 - 1689)

Born about 1633 in South Weald, Essex, England

Ancestors

Wife of Joseph Smith — married 1653 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut

Descendants

Died 13 Feb 1689 at about age 56 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut

Problems/Questions Profile manager: John Auborn [send private message]

Biography

Lydia (Wright) Harris immigrated to New England as a child during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640).

LYDIA WRIGHT, b. 1633, South Weald, Essex, England; d. February 13, 1689/90, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut; m. 1) JOSEPH SMITH, and 2) William Harris.

Born 1632/3, 1 JUL 1633 England

Buried Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut

Lydia Huit and Lydia Wright are often confused. They married different men named Joseph Smith in different towns. Lydia Huit m Joe of Hartford. Lydia Wright m Joe of Wethersfield.

It is easy to see how these Smith families got confused. On page 2349 of Families of MA, there is a good article about a Richard Smith family, but even this fine reference has these Smiths mixed up. It is only with yDNA testing that we have been able to unscramble some of the mis-connections.

On page 2349 of Families of MA, the Richard Smith line incorrectly goes to Sergeant Joseph, son of Joseph and Lydia Wright, when yDNA has shown us that Sergeant Joseph was the son of Joseph Smith and Lydia Huit (or Hewett) Smith of Hartford. I am looking for more published records to support this. I expect that the two family lines will look like this:

1 Richard Smith (b___ poss Beccles, Suff. Co. ENG - dpost 1669 Wethersfield CT) m Rebecca Buswell/ Boswell/ Bushwell = 3 Sons (his 3 Sons were Immigrants as well)
-2 Richard Smith (c1617 ENG - 1690 CT) m Mary Weed = 3 Sons
-2 Susannah Smith
-2 Anne Smith
-2 Joseph Smith (c1629 ENG - 1673 CT) m Lydia Wright = 3 Sons
-2 Mary Smith
-2 Abigail Smith
-2 Jonathan Smith (c1635 ENG-post 1711)m Hannah Adams &Martha Bushnell = 6 Sons

The other family has Joseph that was one of the four Smith brothers that came to New England around 1635 with their sister Mary and possibly their Uncle Arther. Their 8 descendant yDNA tests match and confirm brothers William, Simon and Joseph.
1 William Smith (c1615 ENG -pre Jan 1670 CT) m Elizabeth Standley (3 YDNA tests)
1 Simon Smith (c1619 ENG - 1688 CT) m Elizabeth Bateman (2 YDNA tests)
1 Joseph Smith (c1630 ENG – 1690 CT) m Lydia Huit = 7 Sons (3 YDNA tests)
-2 Joseph Smith (1657-1733) m Rebecca Dickinson = 5 Sons
-2 Samuel Smith (1658-1660) infant NO poss. yDNA
-2 Ephraim Smith (1659 -1751) m Rachel Cole = 3 Sons
-2 Lydia Smith
-2 Simon Smith (1662-post 1715) m Hannah Bliss Haley = 3 Sons
-2 Nathaniel Smith (1664-1711) m Ester Dickinson = 3 Sons
-2 Lydia Smith
-2 Susannah Smith
-2 Mary Smith
-2 Martha Smith
-2 Benjamin Smith (1671-1689) age 18 NO poss. yDNA
-2 Elizabeth Smith
-2 Sarah Smith
-2 Edward Smith (1677 –1726) m Mercy Mowatt
-2 Mercy Smith

Sources

• Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of the ..., Volume 4 page 2349 edited by William Richard Cutter, William Frederick Adams

• History of Ancient Wethersfield, CT Vol I
  

• History of Ancient Wethersfield, CT Vol II
  

• Donald-R-Dickenson webpage

• Harris, Gale Ion. The Brothers William² and Daniel² Harris of Middletown, Connecticut, The New England Historical & Genealogical Register (NEHGS, Boston, Mass., 2010) Vol. 164, WN 655, Page 167.

• Jacobus, Donald Lines. Richard Smith of Wethersfield, The American Genealogist (New Haven, Conn., 1949) Vol. 25, Page 128