SMITH, Mathias Sr. - (Updated 4/2019)

Dead Stream bridge on the Winthrop Road
(route 41). In the distance can be seen the
location of Mathias Smith's original
homestead - where he built a log cabin that
housed his large family when they came to
Readfield from Martha's Vineyard c1770.

Mathias Smith was born 5/22/1728 in Tisbury, Dukes, MA on Martha’s Vineyard, the fourth son of Deacon Thomas and Elizabeth (Bassett) Smith. He married Comfort Carpenter 9/28/1758 in Pomfret, CT. She was born 1739 in Rehoboth, MA a daughter of Comfort and Huldah (Bowen) Carpenter. Both died in Readfield - he on 1/12/1806 and she on 5/23/1814. Both are most likely buried in the Readfield Corner Cemetery. A family history written in 1948 by Helen T.W. Peacock titled "Captain Matthias Smith: His Ancestors and Descendants" (located at Bangor Public Library) notes on page 3 that his gravestone in Readfield Corner Cemetery was still visible at time and held a marker placed by the "Maine Daughters of the Revolution (MRSG) (RCR).

Mathias earned title of Captain in French and Indian War. Both he and son Matthias served in Revolutionary War. He came to Readfield before 1770 with his nephews Elisha and Ransford; his sister Dorcas Baker; and their families. There was also a Thomas Smith who came to Readfield at about the same time but it is not known (at this point) what his relationship was to Mathias. May be his son or brother.

Mathias settled on a 200 acre lot that ran east to west, running a distance of one mile long and 200 yards wide. The Smith property, at the time it was deeded to Mathias, was still part of Plymouth Colony. The original grant, still held by descendants of Mathias (2013), was made of parchment paper and signed by King James of England. Before he was officially granted the land Mathias had to meet terms of the land grant - clearing a certain amount of acreage, building a log cabin of specified dimensions, giving money to the church and for education, and living on the land consecutively for a period of time.

Mathias built his log cabin on the west shore of Lake Maranacook - near what we know as Dead Stream Bridge (on the same site as the old Harvey place, now gone). Smith family tradition tells us the structure was later moved to where the Smith homestead now stands, on Sturtevant Hill Road, and the current house was built around it (it was torn down in 2015 but the barn remains in 2019). The kitchen of that home was the original log cabin. In 2013 the Smith homestead was still occupied by a member of the Smith family though the land is no longer farmed. Mathias children settled in Readfield and Wayne, Maine.

Children of Mathias and Comfort (Carpenter) Smith:

1. Mathias,Jr. b.8/30/1758 Pomfret, CT. Follow the link to his name FMI
2. Rev. Carpenter b.10/10/1761 Rehoboth, Bristol, MA. Follow the link to his name FMI.
3. Charlotte Smith b. 2/27/1764 More is not known at this time
4. Cyril  b.7/16/1766 Tisbury, Dukes, MA. Follow the link to his name FMI
5. Thomas  b.5/7/1769 Tisbury, Dukes, MA. M.1797 Miss Elizabeth Carr Perkins in Readfield, ME. He d.1826 10 children born in Readfield: i) William b. 1795 ii) David b.1798 iii) Charles b.1799 iv) Comfort b.1800 v) Lucy b.1801 d.1802 vi) Lucy b.1803 vii) Gorham 1806 (twin) viii) Wyman b.1806 (twin) ix) Mathias b.1807  x) Thomas b.1809. Believe this may be the Thomas who settled in the Kents Hill section of town.
6. Captain John, Esq. b.1776 Follow the link to his name FMI
7. Charles b.8/29/1777 Winthrop, ME. He was a doctor. More is not known at this time.