George SMIRL was in Westmoreland Co., PA as early as 1775.1  He served there in
the Revolutionary War.29  He sold his land in 1788,2 and appeared in the 1789 Bourbon Co., KY
tax list, and continued to appear through 1793.3 He later owned land in Pendleton Co., KY,
which he sold in 1803.4 

The 1794 Bourbon tax list is missing, and he does not appear in later Bourbon County lists.
In 1793 Harrison County was formed from  Bourbon and Scott Counties, and George perhaps lived
in that part of Bourbon County that became Harrison County.  His daughter Martha was married
in 1794 in Harrison County to James Stuart, but George is not found in any Harrison County
tax lists.

In 1797 and 1798 he appeared in Campbell County with 75 acres of land on South Licking as
George Smirrel.14  This became part of Pendleton County where he appeared in 1799 as
George Smyrl. In 1800 he was listed as William Smirl, Senr., along with William Smirl, Junr.
In 1801-1803 he appeared in Pendleton County as George Smyrl, Smerl and Smurn with George Smyrl, Jun.
who also appeared in the 1801 list.15 

On an 1804 delinquint tax list it was stated he had moved to "Spain"5 [Missouri],
where he lived in St. Louis Co., and what was later Jefferson Co., MO. He received two grants,
the first of which was surveyed 11 Jan. 1806 for 320 arpens. The chain carriers were George
Smith, Junr. [sic, probably Smirl] and John Smirl.31 The second was surveyed 13 Jan. 1806 
for George Smirl, assingnee of Gabriel Dodur assignee of Wm. Drinen, assignee of James
Smirl for 847 acres.32 George was living in 1813.6

George was living as 1814 when from a court case by John Symons agianst him, it was ordered
that all his right in 847 acres be sold to satisfy a debt.35

Biographical information on George SMIRL.

He married Mary who was living in 1820.7
Children:
1. Jane28/Jean34 SMIRL b. say 1771;8 m.bond John STUARD [STUART/STEWART]
   19 Dec. 1791;9 m.2. (Israel?) GABLE;10 living in 182610
2. Martha28 SMIRL b. say 1774; m.bond James STEWART [STUART] 2 Sep. 179411
3. William6,28 SMIRL b. say 1777;3 m. 29 May 1800 Abigail ALEXANDER;12 living
   182636
4. George28 SMIRL b. say 1780;15 living 180616
5. John28 SMIRL b. say 1783; d. ca. 1826 Jefferson Co., MO17
6. James7,28 C. SMIRL b. say 1785; m. Louisa J. JOHNSTON;30 d. between 28 July13
   and 11 Sep. 1821 Knox Co., IN18
7. Elizabeth28,33 SMIRL b. ca. 1787; m. George ATCHISON, Jr. 22 Nov. 1807;19
   ?(d. 2 Sep. 187320 St. Clair Co., IL)?
8. Thomas28 SMIRL b. say 1788; living 181221
9. Nancy28,33 SMIRL b. ca. 1790 KY;22 m. John HERRINGTON23,33 1808;33 d. between 1 June 
   186024 and 19 Feb. 186325 Jefferson Co., MO

Either George, John, or Thomas married Elizabeth LINDSEY26 by ca. 1814.27


1. "Westmoreland Co., PA Civil Court Docket, Jan. Term 1775," Old Westmoreland, Vol. II, (No. 3, Feb. 1982), 23. 2. Westmoreland Co., PA deeds D:39-40. 3. Bourbon Co., KY tax lists. George Smerl 1789, p. 8. George Smirl 1789, p. 9. George Smirl 1790, p. 7. George Smerl 1791, p. 7. George Smyrl 1792, p. 13. George Smirl 1793, p. 18. George SMIRL had male 16-21 in addition to male over 21 in 1793. 4. Pendleton Co., KY deeds B:26-27. 5. Pendleton Co., KY 1799-1805 order book, p. 261. 6. St. Louis Co., MO deed book D:423. William obligated himself to maintain George Smirl, Sr. and wife Mary decently as becomes a son. 7. James C. Smirl will, Knox Co., Ind. wills A:127-129. James left $200 to his mother Mary lving in Jefferson Co., MO. 8. Estimate from marriage date. 9. Bourbon Co., KY marriage bonds. John Stuard-Jane Smirl. Bondsman: Georg Smirl 10. John Stuart probate file, 1820, Washington Co., MO probate file #12, Washington Co., MO courthouse. 11. Harrison Co., KY marriage bonds. #43 James Stewart-Martha Smirl. Bondsman: Georg Smirl. 12. Pendleton Co., KY 1799-1849 marriage record, p. 1. William Smirl-Abigal Alexander 13. Jefferson Co., MO deeds A:692-697. 14. Campbell Co., KY tax lists. George Smirrel 1797, p. 7. George Smirrel 1798, p. 12. 15. Pendleton Co., KY tax lists. George Smyrl, 1799, p. 7. William Smirl, Senr, and William Smirl, Junr., 1800, p. 7. George Smyrl and George Smyrl, Jur. 1801, pp.7-8. George Smerl, 1802, p. 6. George Smurn, 1803, p. 10. 16. U.S. Congress, American State Papers, Public Lands, Volume II, (Washington: Duff Green, 1834), p. 471. 17. John Smirl probate file #451, Jefferson Co., MO courthouse. 18. Knox Co., Ind. deeds C:252-253. Louisa alone purchased land. Her husband's will was probated one month later. 19. St. Clair Co., IL marriage record A:unpaginated, marriage 12, FHL microfilm 1,689,026, item 2. 20. Letter 4 June 1985 from Lucina Denman of Salt Lake City, UT to Fredric Z. Saunders, held by Saunders. Denman quotes an obituary notice from the 5 Sep. 1873 issue of Weekly Advocate, Belleview, IL of Mrs. Elizabeth Atchison, nee Smothers, born in Kentucky, age 86 died 2 Sep. 1873 at the home of her son Uen. It is uncertain if this is Elizabeth (Smirl) Atchison with the incorrect maiden name given in the obituary, or perhaps a second wife of George Atchison. If so, Elizabeth Smirl died before about 1820 when Uen was born. 21. St. Louis Co., MO deeds D:94. Thomas Smirl sold his rights in 160 acres "obtained from my father in the year 1809 by virtue of his will." Thomas acknowledged the deed as his voluntary act, and "George Smirl Esqr. father of the above named Thomas Smirl" appeared and acknowldged he had willed the land to his son. No record of the will has been found. 22. 1850 Jefferson Co., MO census, John Herrington household, p. 420B. 23. Letter 18 Apr. 1980 from Ruth McColloch (1906- ) of Potosi, MO to Fredric Z. Saunders, held by Saunders. Information was given to Ruth by her aunt Rosetta "Rosie" McColloch (1890-1964) that Ruth believed was from the family Bible (location unknown) of Perlina (Herrington) McColloch that Perlina's father Joshua was the son of John Herrington and Nancy "Smearles." 24. 1860 Jefferson Co., MO census, Jno. Herrington household, p. 523. 25. John Herrington original will, probate file #711, Jefferson Co., MO courthouse. 26. James Lindsey will, Pulaski Co. Ark. wills A:37-39. 27. Lawrence Co., Ark. Circuit Ct. Bk. 2, p. 40, pp. 63-64. George L. and Perry G. M. Smirls inherited their mother's share of James Lindsey's estate. From 1850 Franklin Co. MO census Perry was born about 1815. 28. Direct evidence is found for only three of the children of George and Mary, those being William in #6, and James C. in #7, and Thomas in 21. Evidence connecting the other children to George are: a) Georg Smirl signed as bondsman for marriage of Jane Smirl in #9. b) Georg Smirl signed as bondsman for marriage of Martha Smirl in #11. c) George Smyrl Junr. appeared in Pendleton Co., KY with George Sr. in #15. d) George Smirl Junr. testified to land claim of James Stewart (probably his brother-in-law) in #16. e) Clarence Edwin Carter, The Territorial Papers of the Unites States, (Washington: U. S. Government Printing Office, 1948), XIII: 342-344. [image 354 of 652]. Among a group of 81 men (neighbors) signing section 16 of the Wilkinson Memorial in 1805 were James (x) Stuert, Georg Smirl, thomas Smirl, John Smirl, John Stewart, John (x) herington. f) George Smirl court case number 1825, (1811), St. Clair Co., IL, Illinois State Archives, Springfield, IL. Note due to George placed him in St. Clair Co. on 30 Mar. 1808, where Elizabeth married 4 months earlier. g) John Herrington was administrator for John Smirl in #17, and purchased most of the few items from his estate. h) Jefferson Co. MO 1822-1838 probate book, p. 49. John Herrington, adm. of John Smirl charged for two months care of the deceased before his death, implying John Smirl was living with him. Property of John Smirl included a note of $100.00 payable to George Smirl from Ephraim Connor and assigned by said George to John. 29. Pennsylvania Archives 3rd Ser., Vol. 23, p. 335 [image 340 of 834]. 30. Jefferson Co., MO chancery records 1:69. 8 Mar. 1836, Louisa, wife of William Rice is an heir of Benjamin Johnston. JoDaviess Co., IL marriages 1830-1840 book, FHL microfilm 1,602,649, item 4. 13 Dec. 1832 Enoch Duncan m. Louisa J. Holmes [p. 57] 24 Dec. 1834 William Rice m. Mrs. Louisa Duncan [p. 67] Knox Co., Ind., Deeds C:177. 4 June 1823 "Rowland R. Holmes and Louisa his wife (formerly Louisa Smirl), widow of James C. Smirl, decd." sold land. 31. Territory of Louisiana Record of Titles kept at St. Louis, Record Book B:222. 32. Territory of Louisiana Record of Titles kept at St. Louis, Record Book B:351. Louisiana Ceritificates and Claims, Tray 7 Group A, No. 39. 33. Missouri State Archives, St. Louis County, Record/Folder 62, Box 9, Reel C 50414, Elizabeth Brindley by her father and next friend Matthias Brindley vs. John Herrington and Nancy Herrington his wife for slander. District of St. Louis, 13 June 1808 "Elizabeth Brindley who is under the age of twenty one years, by her father & next friend Matthias Brindly, complains of John Herrington & Nancy Herrinton his wife who was formerly Nancy Smirls....did on the twenty fifth of February eighteen hundred & eight at the district aforesaid & in the presence & hearing of many of the good citizens of this territory, falsely, maliciously & wickedly, the following false, feigned & scandalous words of and concerning the said Elizabeth Brindely, in the English language with a loud voice proclaim & publish to wit Betsey Brindley (meaning the said Elizabeth) hath had several children & made way with or destroyed them (meaning that she the said Elizabeth had feloniously committed murder by killing children which she had some) & I (meaning the said Nancy Smirl now Nancy Herrington) can prove it.... "and that Polly Patton, Betsey McDaniel and her (the said Nancy Herrington's) sister would swear it...." In a deposition on 20 August 1808 Henry Cook said "that on the Eighth or ninth day of February last past or near that time he was at Mr. Smirlses & Nancy Herington told him this deponant that Miss Elizabeth Brindly had lost one or two Little ones as she heard or understood this deponant further saith that he askit who told her so she this informant said Nancy Lunceford told it to Isaac Herington's wife & she told it to her sister Jinney Herington & she told it Either to her this informant or to her sister Betcy Smurls this informant don't Recollect which." On 2 December 1808 arbitrators of John Coons, John Conner, and James Rankin met at the home of Benj. Johnson, Esqr. in Joachim Township, District of St. Louis. Both parties appeared and they found for the plaintiff $500 in damages 34. St. Louis Co., MO deed book E:88. John Stewart and wife Jean deed to Jaduthan Kendal. 35. St. Louis Co., MO deed book E:107. 36. 1826 petition for removing the county seat from Hurculaneum, page 5, right column.

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