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Note: William was born and grew up in Orangeburg District. He married Elizabeth Griffith and moved to Colleton District.
In 1810, he traded his land in Colleton to his father for land in Orangeburg Distr. not far from Cordova and took up residence there. His estate extended to the forks of the Edisto River. This is a section of the county between the North and
South Edisto Rivers, familiarly known as the Fork.
After a family dispute arose concerning the exchange of the land traded with his father, Andrew; William changed his name from Smoke to Smoak.
William and Elizabeth had 13 children; 6 sons, 2 daughters; then 3 more sons and 2 more daughters.
1850 census Orangeburg Dist., between the Santee & Edisto Rivers, north of Belleville, SC page 304 hse. #263
William Smoke, Sr. age 67 farmer , born in SC., Value:$10000
Elizabeth age 66
Maryann Syprett age 28 female
Irvin Hartzog age 18 male laborer
Margret Robinson age 11 female
At the time of his death, William had 575 direct line descendents.William is buried at Ebenezer Cemetery, Cordova, SC. Monument inscription on William's headstone:
WILLIAM SMOAK, SR.
BORN FEB. 7, 1784
DIED OCT. 2, 1882
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The father of Ebenezer
Baptist Church. He gave
the lot upon which the
church stands, did the
first work on the
building, continued a
consistent member of
the church for 54 years
and passed to his rest
in the full assurance
of hope. This is erected
by his loving posterity,
numbering 781 at his death.
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"Blessed are the dead
that die in the Lord."
Reference: There is an article on Microfilm in Caroliniana Library, USC telling a great story of the life of William Smoak and naming all of his children.
Article written for the Orangeburg Times in 1880:
1880 THE PATRIARCH OF THE FORK-WILLIAM SMOAK
To the Editor of the Orangeburg Times: .....Old Mr. William Smoak, the patriarch of the family of that name, is a native of German extraction, born early in Feb. 1784, consequently has just entered his 97 year, and since 1811 has been a
resident of that section of the county between the North and South Edisto Rivers familiarly known as the Fork.
The old man, and his wife who died a few years ago, raised thirteen children, ten now living. They had first six sons, then two daughters, then three sons and the last two daughters. The eldest is seventy-five years of age, the youngest
fifty....
...the old man has ten living children, one hundred and four grandchildren, three hundred ninety-one great gandchildren, and seventy great great grandchildren, making in all five hundred and seventy-five living descendants, and one hundred and
sixteen dead.
The most remarkable feature of this family... is the fact that both the old people lived to see their youngest and thirteenth child a grandmother.....
Notwithstanding the old man's sight and hearing are much impaired, his general health is good, and he would be quite smart for one of his age had it not been for a fall he got some years ago, which injured one thigh and hip, from which he has
never entirely recovered. He is a great talker, and has a most vivid recollection of events which transpired in his boyhood and early manhood.....
He was much of a Nimrod in his time...when he drew the trigger of that old musket on game there was sure to be "meat in the pot". He killed the last wolves that were known to be in this part of the county...He had refused to exchange his old
musket , which in his words, he would not lay down for an amateur sportsman's hundred-dollar double-barrel. The percussion principle was at that time latent in the brain of the inventor, but the old man did not feel the need of improved
firearms..
The writer has known this family sixty years a a hard-working, industrious people, and not a drunkard among them. Who can beat that?
In 1880, ten children of Mr. Smoak's thirteen children were living. Heads of families: H. L. Smoak, Daniel Smoak, Sr., Jacob Smoak, G. R. Smoak, L. W. Smoak, J. D. Smoak, S. P. Smoak, J. A. Mack, G. B. Binnicker, and W.H. Baltziger, all of
Orangeburg Post Office, and E.T.R. Smoak, Branchville. (Note: I am pretty sure that the E.T.R. Smoak referred to here is Edmond Thomas Richard Smoak, born 1831 Branchville, died 1898 Branchville, , grandson of William G. Smoak Sr. , and son of
John Samuel Smoak, who was living in Ga. in 1880.) Also, the S. P. Smoak listed above has to be the son of William John Smoak who died in 1857 as Samuel Perry Smoak, who was born in 1804 died before 1870. His widow, Martha and her son Aaron K.
are both shown on the 1870 and 1880 census. News and Courier, Charleston, SC 2-27-1880
source: article reprinted in the News and Courier, Charleston, SC April 21, 1938
LETTERS TO GENEALOGY WEEK
William Smoak's children's children numbered 575.
From John C. Grove, 5160 Whippoorwill Rd., Sebring, Fl.33872 :
It was with great interest that I read "Their children's children"
by John W. Heisey in the 3 Apr. 1989 Genealogy Week. I could not help but send you the enclosed copy of an article that was published in a Charleston, S.C. newspaper, the News & Courier, on 21 Apr. 1938. It refers to yet another article from
the same newspaper dated 2-27-1880. (the newspaper is now the Post & Courier and has microfilm records back to the 1880 era). The William Smoak referred to in the articles is my g,g,g grandfather.
From the clipping: Resting in the cemetery of Old Ebenezer Church on the outskirts of the town of Cordova, are the remains of William Smoak, who lived to reach the ripe old age of 97.
This patriarch of the Edisto Fork, back in 1880 held the distinction of being the head of the largest family in S.C., and probably the entire U.S. The story of this remarkable old gentleman was told in this newspaper 58 years ago in a Letter to
the Editor.
"In the course of three score years and ten, I have many times read of families remarkable for size, weight, number, etc., and have as often thought if honor attached to a locality producing a large family, Orangeburg County, S.C., would wear
the laurels".
Obit-Times & Democrat, Orangeburg, SC 10-5-1882
AN OLD PATRIARCH GONE....
Mr. William Smoak, the aged progenitor of the Smoak family of Orangeburg County, passed away on Mon., the 2nd of Oct., 1882 As well as we can ascertain at this writing, he was in the vicinity of the advanced age of 99 at the time of his death.
About a year or two ago, a full history of this old patriarch and his numerous offspring was published by Maj. John Jones Salley, since dead, in the County papers, and the News and Courier. It is said that the number of persons sprung from this
one head reaches five hundred or more. The family occupies principally in the Fork of the Edisto, but has extended in other parts of the county and into adjoining counties. Mr. Smoak was an old and consistent member of the Baptist Church. He
brought up his children in correct moral and religious principles and has lived to enjoy the blessed fruits of his faithful teachings in a large measure. He lived during the war of 1812, and took part in the struggles of his country against
foreign oppression. There is something full of interest in this long and exemplary life. His memory should be reverred not only by his immediate family, but by the entire community.
There is a picture of William G. Smoak, Sr. online at:
http./www.borisbrooks.com, Rembert Family Photos
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