Clarissa (Coldwater) Smith (1804 - bef. 1880)

Born 24 Jan 1804 in Kentucky

Wife of James Smith — married 1 Oct 1824 in Jefferson County, IN

Descendants

Died before 1880 before age 75 in Indiana

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Barry Smith [send private message] and Weldon Smith [send private message]

Biography

Clarissa’s origins are not yet proved. We show a John Coldwater as her father, based on circumstantial evidence. Her mother is not yet known.

John Coldwater was in KY in 1800^[1]. Clarissa Coldwater was born 1804 in KY^[2].

In 1820, John was in Jefferson, IN, shown as head of agricultural household with probable daughters, one under age 10, another aged 16-25, and another possible daughter or spouse, age 26-45^[3].

Clarissa was 16 in 1820 and so matches one of the three females living with John Coldwater in 1820. Clarissa married at Jefferson, IN, in 1824, a further confirmation that she was likely in the John Coldwater household in 1820 in Jefferson County^[4].

Her name, as it appeared in the handwritten marriage record, appears to be Claricia, her first mention in a public record. It was subsequently spelled Clarisa, Clarrissa, and finally Clarissa in subsequent Federal Census Records. The final 1870 spelling is adopted here. Clarissa could not read or write^[5].

The Coldwater name is unusual at this time; these are the only records for Coldwater yet uncovered in SE IN.

Clarissa's life is still publicly documented in 1870^[6], but she is no longer found in records by 1880. No death record has yet been discovered.

Sources

1. ↑ FTM CD 312: Census Index, U.S. Selected Counties, 1800; cites 1800 Tax List, Jefferson, KY; Address for Courthouse is: Jefferson County Courthouse, 527 West Jefferson Street, Louisville, KY 40202-2814 Phone: 502.574.5700
2. ↑ Family records shared by Clarissa's g-g-grandaughter Cheryl Ann; this record passed from Clarissa to her daughter Susan and was known to, or re-discovered by, Susan's grandsons, Charles and Marvin Black.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-25135-1667-15?cc=1803955 : 16 July 2015), Indiana > Jefferson > Not Stated > image 47 of 51, John Coldwater, 1820; citing NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); GS Film Number 0205607
4. ↑ "Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-18269-64961-63?cc=1410397 : 21 January 2016), Jefferson > 1811-1836 > image 58 of 356; County clerk offices, Indiana; cite Book 1, pg. 5, Jefferson County Marriage Records, Indiana State Library
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHJ2-3H1 : 9 November 2014), James Smith, Shelby, Jefferson, Indiana, United States; citing family 7, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
6. ↑ United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXF3-SXZ : accessed 1 June 2016), Clarissa Smith in household of James Smith, Indiana, United States; citing p. 30, family 214, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,827

• See spouse James Smith for further details of Clarissa's family life.

Acknowledgement

• Family researcher, Weldon Smith (g-g-grandson), with the help of a few distant cousins.
• Family genealogist, Louis Stark