Where My Smith Name Began in 1579

Who is Anthony DeBland?

We begin here with the Deposition of Nathanial and Abraham Drake who were both aged in their 70's. They appeared before the Justice of the Peace and gave oath on April 27, 1691, in Hampton, New Hampshire. "That they knew John Bland who at times was called John Smith, but his name and ancestors were called Bland. He was commonly called John of Martha's Vineyard. That they also knew Isabel Bland and have known them since they were children. And, at times lived here.

Sir John Bland Smith was born in 1572 in Colchester Parish, London, England. He was actually the son of Anthony DeBland. John kept Bland as his middle name but chose to take on his stepfathers' surname, James Smyth/Smith in honor of him. This is the juncture where my Smith family began.

In 1604 he married Isabel Drake, born in Elmstead, Essex, England in 1579, the daughter of Sir William Drake and Joan Marrylis.  They sailed to Colonial America on the James, from the Winthrop fleet of 1630.

Sir John Bland and Mistress Isabell, a title which had a definite significance in those days, had at least seven children, John Jr, Thomas, Daniel, Isabel, Anabelle, Abraham and Francis.

Sir John Bland, Mistress Isabel(la), their son John Bland Jr, and George Parkhurst moved to Watertown, Massachusetts. John and George are both credited as being two of the founding fathers of this town and a plaque bears their names. 

John Bland Smith Jr meets and marries Deborah Parkhurst, daughter of George Parkhurst in Watertown They had at least four children, daughters Deborah an Abigail, and sons John (The Cooper) Smith, Samuell and Philip.

In 1642, John Bland Smith, Jr, a widower, moves to Martha's Vineyard with Thomas Mayhew, Jr. and begins using his father's surname and is now known across the island as John Bland of Martha's Vineyard.  Their mission was to convert the Wampanoags to Christianity. In turn, the natives taught them how to capture whales tow them ashore and boil out the oil.

John owned a minimum of 20 acres of land on the island. He made his will in Nantucket leaving his land to his sons Samuel and Philip. Descendants through both sons still reside on the island in the tenth generation. John Bland died on October 16, 1687 in Edgartown, Massachusetts at the age of 67.

The Captain & The Commercial Artist

Arthur Belmont Smith was my 1st cousin 1x removed. He was the first born child of Perley and Agnes Smith. Perley was brother to my grandfather Malcolm.

Arthur was born on June 12, 1919 in Bridgewater, MA. and graduated from the Normal High School. 

On July 19, 1941, at the age of 22 Arthur enlisted in the US Army Air Corp in Falmouth, MA at Camp Edwards as a radio Technician for a period of three years. He served in China, Burma, India Theatre of Operations, rec'd the distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medals.

Phyllis Belair was born on Sept 16, 1917 in Meriden, Conn. She attended Meriden High school where she played the violin in the school orchestra. Her year book described her, "Who knows most says the least". She was a graduate in the class 1935.

Phyllis received her Registered Nursing Degree at Children's Hospital in Boston.

During WW11 Phyllis, known as Phil, joined the army and earned the rank of Captain.  She was deployed in the European Theatre from Jan 1942 to Jan 1946. She was a member of the Harvard Unit, the first nursing unit to land on Normandy.

When Arthur was discharged from the Military he went back home and enrolled at the Boston Art School.  Arthur received his degree in Commercial Art. 

It seems plausible that Arthur and Phyllis met while they were both in the Army. Perhaps Arthur was injured or ill and she tended to him. Perhaps even in Boston where they went to college. Just seems like they were destined to meet.

They were married in June 1948 at the Bridgewater Congregational Church with the Rev. Mr. Coe officiating.  Phyllis at this time was the assistant to Dr. Engelbert Dumphy at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston.

Soon after the couple moved to Kirkwood, New York where Arthur had his own Commercial Artist Business.

They had three children, and six great grandchildren 

Arthur passed away at the age of 73 in Kirkwood, New York on June 1, 1993.  He was a retired commercial artist with his own business, a member of  the Mason-Fellowship Lodge and the Lions Club. He was an avid golfer and fisherman. He was cremated and laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.

Phyllis retired after 30 years as a school nurse teacher. Then she moved to Venice, Florida where she was a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church .

Phyllis passed away at the age of 89 in Venice Florida. She was cremated and laid to rest with Full Military Honors at Arlington National Cemetery on December 3, 2007 at 11:00.

Divorced his family For His Wife

    Forrest was born on December 21, 1901 in Bridgewater, MA. to Joseph Hobson Smith and Laura Eunice Jones, the youngest of five children.   He was my great uncle, brother to my grandfather, Malcolm. Forrest, at the age of 18, went to work at the shoe factory in Brockton, MA. where his brother worked.

When Forrest and his wife, Marie, wanted to return home due to financial problems His mother told him, "You can come but your wife can't.  Forrest left and was never seen nor heard from again. 

If rumors are true, I suspect it may have been his mother Laura that made this comment for she was described as being a difficult woman

Laura's husband Joseph after 40 years of marrage decided to go back to the state of of  Maine, where he was initially from.  Laura chose not to go. So Joseph said to kiss his 10 year old granddaughter Eugenie goodbye, and he left.

Forrest and Marie were married in 1925 but where the wedding took place is unknown at this time. I suspect it took place in the state of New York where Marie was from.  It is unclear if they had children. I wonder if they met while Forrest was in the military.  I do see a draft card when Forrest was 40 and he was married to Marie at time. 

 I found them living at one point in Jersey City, New Jersey in the 1930 census.   He was 29 and she was 27, no children were listed.  Forrest was a service man at this time working for Frigidaire. 

Forrest was rumored to have moved somewhere out west with his wife.  For years I have been searching for my grandfather's brother. It was difficult for he lived in more than one state. Finally,  perseverance has paid off. I found they were living at 247 E. 123 St Manhattan, New York

Marie I discovered is a nickname for Lillie Marie, maiden name unknown. Forrest died of Chronic Cardiovascular Disease at the Metropolitan Hospital in New York City Manhattan, New York on July 2, 1947 at the age of 45.

His brother Malcolm died at the age of 54 of a major heart attack in Bridgewater, MA. His sister Mertie also died of a heart attack at the age of 69 according to her granddaughter. 

In 1950 we find Lillie working as a switch board operator at a hotel in New York, Kings, New York listed as a widow. 

 

William, Druzillah and Florence

William G. Smith was born on April 24, 1819 in Biddeford, Maine, son of Samuel and Sarah. In 1852 William married Druzillah J. Gray, daughter of Luther H Gray and Rebecca Jordon, born in Falmouth, Maine on May 30, 1831. She was 11 years younger than he. They had 10 plus children.

Private William G Smith served in the Civil War from Feb 8, 1864 to July 11, 1865 in the 6th Battery light artillery.

In 1881 William G Smith was living with his family at 12 Elm Street in Biddeford, Maine. The Bradbury Bridge also on Elm Street crossed over the Saco River.  Located along the river was the J G Deering  & Son Lumber Company where William worked as a saw mill operator. The Saco River powered the Mills equipment and light at the doorway to illuminate the work area. 

William died on February 22, 1902 at the of 69 of senile Gangrene - brain cancer in Brockton, MA.

Druzillah died of hepatorenal Syndrome, severe liver damage commonly associated with farming. They  are all buried together in the Hillcrest Cemetery in Hollis, Maine. William has an American Legion post 73 G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic flag on his grave.

December 7, 1881 his six year old daughter, Florence fell off the Bradbury Bridge under construction on Elm Street and to her death.

Eugenie Belle - 1918 Pandemic

 Eugenie Belle Smith was born on July 30, 1891 in Bridgewater, Massachusetts to Joseph H. Smith and Laura Eunice Jones. Eugenie was sister to my paternal grandfather, Malcolm Leroy Smith.  

Eugenie married Herbert Farley Merrey on May 27, 1913. To them three children were born. Gertrude Eunice, named for her mother, Edwin (Eddie) Leroy, named for her brother Malcom Leroy, and Joseph, named for her father.

Life was wonderful, that is until the Pandemic of 1918 known as the Spanish Flu infected a estimated 500 million people around the world. In the United States, 675,000 died.

The only defense at that time was isolation quarantine, good hygiene, disinfectants and limitations of gatherings that many did not follow.

It was the second wave in the fall of 1918 that lasted three months, caused by a mutant virus that was especially brutal.  This took the life of Eugenie Belle on October 7, 1918 at the age of 27. She left behind a husband and three young children, a daughter age five, a son age two and an infant son, one month old.

Eugenie's husband, Herbert remarried to Anna Sophia Copeland. He died in 1970 and Anna died in 1933. They all rest together in Hillside Cemetery in Bridgewater.  Also in this cemetery lies her mother, her brother Malcolm and his wife, Mary Ann Pierce.

Eugenie's brother Malcolm named a daughter after his sister, Eugenie Belle born in 1921. She passed away June 10, 2020 in her 99th year.

We are at this moment in time under siege of a pandemic known as Covid-19. Many have died around the world.  At warp speed vaccines have been developed and history repeats as in 1918, many people don't follow recommendations. We are now in the grips of a mutant virus that is more contagious and deadly.  History is repeating itself and as we watch the numbers of those infected increase, more lives will be lost.

I've been vaccinated to protect not only me, but also my family and those I love.  Have you been vaccinated? 

Wherefore Art Thou Joseph - Found

Joseph H Smith, my great grandfather decided that he would leave Bridgewater, Massachusetts and move back to Maine, the state of his birth.  He asked his wife to go with him, but all her children and grandchildren were here, so her answer was no.  He told his wife Eunice, kiss baby Genie (his granddaughter) goodbye for me.  And so, in 1930,he left, never to be heard from again.

I had heard that his wife was a difficult woman.  Perhaps he had enough and that is why he left. The ironic thing is that years later, their son Forrest did the same thing.  He left was never heard from again.  (Read story Wherefore Art Thou Forrest) Thankful Thursday, Forrest Has Been Found   I finally found him after seven years of research.

Now I have found Joseph, after eight years of research.  The only thing I have not found for father and or son, is their burial site.

Puzzle solved re: Joseph H Smith and where he went when he left his wife Laura Eunice Jones in Mass and moved to Maine. I last saw Joseph living in Portland, Maine with Gardner and his wife Sarah Lovejoy. See if you can follow this winding trail. It just might give you a headache.  I find it amazing that I found this at all. Do you know how many Joseph Smith's there are?!

William G Smith, my great great grandfather had a sister Hulda who married a James Tarbox. It was, I believe, their grandson, Arnold Tarbox who married Sara Lovejoy. So Sarah married into the Smith family. (Later she married into the Jones family. (Wm G Smith son Joseph H Smith married Laura Eunice Jones. Explanation below)

Taxbox children were the children of Sarah Lovejoy Tarbox born 25th of Nov 1884, Augusta, Maine. She was married to Arnold Tarbox a farmer from Westport, Maine. She was 19 he was 31 when they married. This was Arnold's 2nd marriage, first one ended in divorce. Sarah's father was Frank Lovejoy, farmer from Augusta, Maine. Her mother was Josephine Marr of Washington, Maine. The Tarbox children all born in Maine: Edna, at age one was living with her mother and Grandfather, Frank in Salem, Mass. Sarah was 25 at that time listed as married, but Arnold was not listed in that 1920 census. Sarah and her brother Franklin who was also living in Salem was 22 years old, single living in same household 1920. Next child Arthur, two years young than Edna died in 1981 in Farmingdale, Maine. Then Mildred Marie was one year younger than Arthur. she died 2001 in Fort Fairfield, Maine.
Joseph H. Smith and the Tarbox children and a Doris Jones child were living 2 Park Street, Augusta, Maine. .

Sarah Lovejoy married Arnold Tarbox. When Arnold died she married a widower, Gardner Robinson Jones. He was the son of Warren A Jones brother-in-law to Joseph. Warren was a brother to Joseph's estranged wife, Laura Eunice Jones whom he left in Massachusetts. Therefore, Joseph was a cousin to Gardner. So Joseph moved in with his cousins wife, Sarah. Gardner had been married before to a Cora. So the child, Doris Jones was Gardner's by his first marriage.

Baby Richard

Richard Wyman Smith was the infant child of Malcolm and Mary Ann.  Little Richard was born on October 30, 1929 and left this earth due to pneumonia on August 26, 1930. 

My father, told me he was seven years old when his baby brother died.  He remembers going into the bedroom and kissing him good-bye.  He is buried next to his parents in Hillside Cemetery, Bridgewater, MA.

Friend to King Philip

Cole's River in Swansea, MA is named after my 8th great grandfather, Hugh Cole. Hugh was a friend of King Philip. During the King Philip's War, two of his sons were captured. King Philip released his friends sons. However, the chief warned his friend that he could no longer control his warriors and told Hugh to leave his home and set sail for Rhode Island. He did as he was told and as he was sailing away watched his house burn to the ground. 

http://youtu.be/seVE1zM60m8  Link to Cole's River.

Hugh and his wife, Mary Foxwell are buried in Tyler Point Cemetery Barrington, Bristol, Rhode Island.

I descend as follows:

Hugh Cole (1627 - 1699)

is my 8th great grandfather

John Cole (1660 - 1724)

Son of Hugh

Mary Cole (1697 - 1759)

Daughter of John

Mary Wright (1726 - 1804)

Daughter of Mary

Mary Tomson (1757 - 1846)

Daughter of Mary

Erastus Hayward (1790 - 1844)

Son of Mary

Eunice Soule Hayward (1829 - 1911)

Daughter of Erastus

Laura Eunice Jones (1864 - 1943)

Daughter of Eunice Soule

Malcolm LeRoy Smith (1898 - 1953)

Son of Laura Eunice

Robert Franklin Smith (1923 - 2008)

Son of Malcolm LeRoy

Kathryn Marie Smith

Mother's Day

Written by my mother, Elsie Louise Roesch Smith.    

To My Daughters On Mother's Day

Dedicated to Kathy, Sharon, Janine & Robin

Mother's Day 1989 

What better time than Mother's Day 

To express some thoughts I seldom say.

Four precious little girls, like peas in a pod,

Sent straight from heaven a gift from God

Rearing children is a lifetime process

But so rewarding is each small success.

Sometimes the end never seems in sight,

Then suddenly there you were, grown overnight.

Years of time and money spent, more than worth every cent.

"I wonder where that fanny-whacker went?"

Curls bouncing on little heads, secrets shared at night,

Nicknames given in love, Gram and Nannie's delight. 

A picnic, a trip to Cape Cod to see the ships,

A walk in the woods brought smiles to your lips.

I'd like to keep you forever but know that I can't,

Because for such a short time you were only lent.
The men that you married are wonderful as well,

I love them all dearly, Jeff, Tony, Victor and Mel.

How proud I am of you

In everything you say and do.

When your children are grown and you can see,

That they are everything you wanted them to be.

Good mates and parents loving and caring,

With wonderful memories for sharing,

The cycle us complete.

My grandchildren are surely blessed,

But I might as well confess,

That the luckiest person in the world is me,

Because I am your mother.

Love you Mom

History Carried Forward

Passing on family names gives one a feeling of belonging, a sense of history and pride.  This picture is of my three sisters and me.  I happen to be the first born, about age 13 here.  I remember the dress, lavender and white.  A new dress my mother purchased for a junior high dance I went to.

My younger siblings never let me forget that I am the oldest for they make the announcement whenever we meet someone new, "She's the oldest".    We were always known as the Smith Girls, definition:  good girls, nice girls, and polite girls, never in trouble girls.  

Mom always told us not once but many times, be a lady and always smile. We were her pride and joy.

Left to right:
Kathryn, Robin, Janine and Sharon

My middle name is Marie.  I was named for my paternal grandmother.  Her name was Mary, but so was her mother and grandmother, so she was always called Marie.

Sitting in my lap is my baby sister Robin.  It was rather apparent at this juncture that my dad, Robert, would never see a son, she was named for him.  (Her middle name, Doreen, suggested by my sister sitting on my right, came from the Disney TV show " The Mouseketeers". I guess you could call this a little piece of history, lol)

My sister, Janine, has the middle name of Lovina.  She was named for a special lady, our maternal great grandmother, Elsie Lovina Eldridge Sterling.

My sister Sharon, with the nautical blouse, received our maternal grandmother's middle name, Eloise.  

So there you have it, History In The Making.  Hopefully this will help our descendants follow and find their lineage.

1943 Banana River Naval Air Station

 


1943, Banana River Naval Air Station, Cocoa Beach, Florida

My dad was first stationed here.  He is standing front row center,

just to the left of the Beachmaster

Base now known as Patrick Airforce Base



 


Air view of the base sitting between
Cocoa Beach and the Banana River

 

Easter

1955
Mother Elsie Loise Roesch Smith in the back.
children left to right daughter Kathryn, family friend, Virginia Luther, in front daughter Robin,
on her right is daughter Sharon

Bob and Elsie Wedding Day





Bob and Elsie with best man
April 22, 1943 Florida

The First Time I Experienced Death



Malcolm Leroy Smith
1898-1953

 I was a little girl when my grandfather, Malcolm Leroy Smith, died of a heart attack on August 17, 1953.  The only thing I remember about that day is my father coming home early from work.  I sat beside him on the couch and noticed his face was red.  He had been crying, but he didn't let me see that.  I was only upset because I knew he was.

 I didn't know or understand what death was; I was just turning eight.  It was the first time that I had experienced that word. Anything other than that it was an uneventful day.  I never heard or saw anything else related to my grandfather's passing.  I just went about my business of playing and being a child.

There are only a few things about my grandfather that I remember.  In my mind's eye I see him standing on the front porch with his cap on.  I remember the story of his dog, Brownie, who was hit by a car and my grandfather had to shoot him to put him out of his misery.  I remember sleeping over at my grandparents home.  I would sleep on the couch in the living room.  My grandparents would sit in the dark, smoking their non-filtered camels, until I fell asleep.  I can still see it today, not them, but the red tip of their cigarettes dancing about in the dark. 

A few days before my grandfather's death, the company my father worked for, the Geo. O. Jenkins Co., held their annual outing for their employee's.  It eventually became a family event and I too would attend.  There was barbecued chicken, hot dogs, corn on the cob and watermelon.  A band would play and I would dance the polka with my dad.  And games, lots of games and door prizes.  But this outing in 1953 when I was nine was only for employees.  My dad caught the greased pig. My mom won the women's 50 yard dash and the cracker eating contest.  My mom and dad won the egg passing contest.  My Aunt Bertha and Uncle Tony were there too, Tony worked with my dad.  They won the needle and thread race.

So what does an outing have to do with my grandfather's death?   On this day, August 20, 1953 not only this story about the outing appeared, but also my grandfathers obituary, both on the same page. Read more about my grandfather:  Heartbreaking Misfortunes

Only one error in this notice, his father's name was Joseph, not James.

Robert Franklin Smith, The Rest of My Dad's Story

In June of 2000, Robert was invited to attend a special graduation ceremony. Here is a picture of Bob in his cap and gown with his daughter Kathryn during "The Greatest Generation, Operation Recognition" program in which World War II veterans are awarded High School Diplomas they never got a chance to receive because they went off to war.

Also, pictured in The Enterprise newspaper dated Weds., May 31, 2000 is a picture of Bob signing a copy of Tom Brokaw's book "The Greatest Generation being held by Robert McKean, the state coordinator the the Operation Recognition progam.

Bob received a certificate of recognition for the sacrifices he made for serving in World War II, along with a copy of NBC news achor Tom Brokaw's best-selling book, "The Greatest Generation." The news article states how Smith served in World War II and in the Korean War as a Navy petty officer first class.

Bob, along with other veterans, were honored by the town fathers.

The medals Bob recevied

Asiatic Pacific

Good Conduct

American Campaign

Victory

Rest In Peace dad, love you.

                                        

Robert Franklin Smith - Nickname, A Right of Passage

Photo 2006 Dad holding Jillian, Allyson, Brendan 

My father was known as papa to his 14 grandchildren and great papa to his 10 great grandchildren.  The name papa was assigned to him by his firstborn grandchild, Tracey Ann, who couldn't pronounce the word grandpa.

Dad adored them all, especially holding the babies.  When they were about two months old, dad would hold a piece of a Hershey candy bar between his fingers and touch their lips with the chocolate. He would just laugh watching their little faces as they reacted with excitement with the sweet taste. By the time the candy was gone it was all over their little chin and cheeks.   But, if the toddler's mother would dare give them a cracker he would cringe in fear they would choke.

Dad would give most babies a nickname shortly after birth.  Parents never asked, just eagerly waited to hear the name he would assign.  He never announced it, only said the name in passing when speaking to his grandchild, or asking about them.  It was then that you smiled and knew all was right with the world.  It became one of importance, a right of passage.  

Here is a sampling of the names Papa gave in love: Sweetie, Little Bob, Kimipoo, Buddy, Little Girl, Tykie, Pebbles, Dunkie, Twinks, Little Man and Little Lady and I'm sure I'm missing a few.

Papa's face would always light up with such joy and his eyes would always sparkle with such great love when his family was present.  There was never any question that indeed you were loved by this gentle and caring man.  He taught us that family was the most important thing in the world.  That lesson has not been forgotten by any of us.  We all truly loved this man who left us in 2008, but, we all still feel his love today.

Suffer The Little Children

It was very difficult so many years ago to bring healthy babies into the world.  Childbirth  was a dangerous risk for women and many lost their lives.  We are so blessed and fortunate today that we have the medical resources and equipment to monitor the health of our unborn children and to ensure the safe delivery for baby and mother.

Florence E. Smith was born in 1875 and was the daughter of my 2nd great grandparents. She died on December 7, 1881 when she fell off the Bradbury Bridge, in Biddeford, Maine and drowned at the age of seven. She is buried in the Hillcrest Cemetery in Hollis, Maine. She was found there resting beside her parents, William G. Smith and Druzillah J. Gray.

My great grandparents, William Russell Roesch and Ada Louise Houston had six children.  Their first child, Mary, was born December 22, 1885 and died May 2, 1887.  Their second child, a newborn son, born on April 2, 1887, died the very next day.  On January 15, 1888 a daughter was stillborn, and then on August 22, 1889 they suffered through yet another loss of a stillborn daughter.

Their fifth baby, a son brought joy for he survived, they called him Willy.  He became my grandfather.  One last child, a son they named Leroy, born on October 7, 1895 left this earth on October 25, 1895. 

All five babies are buried in the Pioneer Houston Family Cemetery in Eau Gallie, Florida.  I find it difficult to comprehend the pain that parents suffered when they lost their children. 









Heartbreaking Misfortunes

House and Contents Destroyed by FIRE
Middleboro Gazette, September 4, 1931

A fire that started from an overheated chimney destroyed the home and furnishings of Malcolm Smith, Plymouth Street in the North Middleboro section Sunday night while Mr. and Mrs. Smith were only a quarter of a mile away with their children watching traffic roll by on the new state highway.  It is the climax of a series of misfortunes that have visited the Smith family in a short time.  About two weeks ago Mr. Smith who had been employed in a tea room near his home, was put on part-time and then followed the death of Richard, their 10 month old son last week. (pneumonia)

Sunday night after supper the family went for a walk to the new road to see the automobiles and when they left their home everything seemed to be all right.  It seemed but a short time after when a neighbor discovered heavy smoke coming from the house.   He sent a telephone call to the central fire station and tried to get in to save some of the furniture but was driven back by the flames which spread with great rapidity from around the chimney to all parts of the house.

When Engine 1 with Deputy Chief Owens and crew arrived after the five mile run, the house was enveloped in flames and it was readily seen that nothing could be done to save it.  The water supply from a well near the house was soon exhausted and the Chief directed the attention of the firemen to prevent the spreading of the fire to other nearby property.  The furniture in a nearby home was removed but later as the danger subsided was replaced in the house by neighbors.  Sparks from this fire communicated to the roof of another house but it was quckly extinguished by a formed bucket brigade from a nearby well.

All the belongings of the Smith family and furniture stored in the house were destroyed and it is understood that the property was not fully insured.  The Smiths are now living with the family of Walter Savard.

Autoists driving on the new state highway (route 18) were attracted by the fire and many left their cars on that road and walked to the fire creating one of the worst traffic jams ever seen on this new highway.

Mary Ann Pierce and Malcolm Leroy Smith
My Grandparents

Robert Franklin Smith, Military and Family - My Dad's Story

Robert Franklin Smith

Robert Franklin Smith, my dad, was born in Bridgewater, MA, July 10, 1923, the son of Malcolm Leroy Smith and Mary Ann Pierce.  On December 7, 1941 about 7:55 AM, the Japanese attacked Peal Harbor in Hawaii.  It was sometime after the United States declared war on December 8, 1941, that Bob, like so many other young men, left school to enlist in the military.  At the age of 18, Robert was described as having brown hair, hazel eyes and light complexion.  He tried to enlist in the Navy; but did not meet the height requirements, so Bob joined the Massachusetts State Guard, 78th Company.  As the war progressed more men were needed. At the age of 19, Private Robert F. Smith, on September 17, 1942, was discharged from the Guard and was enlisted for active duty in the U.S. Navy. 

He was stationed at the new Banana River Naval Air Station in Cocoa Beach, Florida.  In 1948 this base became Patrick Air Force Base.  Shortly after Bob's arrival he met his future wife, Elsie Louise Roesch, at a local dance hall where her mother was one of the chaperones for the evening. They married on April 22, 1943 after dating for six months.

Their first child, a daughter, was born September 7, 1944. In February of 1945 the Navy sent Bob, known as Smitty to his buddies, to Oak Harbor, Washington.  His wife and daughter traveled with him. Six months later they were off to Seaside, Oregon. Several months later, he was assigned to National City, California.

His next port was China. The military advised Elsie that it would not be a safe place for them so they returned home to Florida to wait. Bob was on the U.S.S. LST 9 (Landing Ship Tank), which is an amphibious vessel designed to unload tanks, troops and supplies. Robert F. Smith held the rank of Damage Controlman First Class (Carpenter).  

While passing by Okinawa on its way to China, some Japanese, who didn't know the war was over, fired upon the ship. In January 1946, the ship pulled into port at the Whangpoo River in Shanghai, China, which flows into the Yangtze River. Bob was assigned to build stables on the American ship for Chiang Kai-shek so he could transport his horses. This was during the pre-communist era when the U.S. supported General Chiang against the Communist's People's Liberation Army led by Mao Zedong in the civil war for control of China. The communist party did assume control after two decades of war and the People's Republic of China was established on October 1, 1949.

 Bob sadly recalled, "Baby girls in China during this period were not valued, and were thrown into the Yangtze River to drown. It was horrible seeing dead babies floating the water." Bob called his wife and told her what was happening and that there was this baby girl he wanted to adopt. Elsie agreed, but the military wouldn't allow it.   

In 1947, Bob was sent to England for a year. His wife and daughter joined him there in Plymouth, England. Bob was discharged in 1948 after five years 11 months and 26 days of service. He and his family moved to his hometown in Massachusetts. He obtained a job working nights at George O. Jenkins Co., a leather mill, and he joined the Reserves.

On December 19, 1950, Bob was called back into active service and assigned to the ship, USS Proserpine, ARL 21, for one final tour of active duty during the Korean War. He was discharged on December 18, 1954 as Damage Controlman First Class/Carpenter.  He had now completed 8 honorable years of service in the Navy.   He received the following medals: WW11 Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, National Defense Medal, Occupation Service Medal and four bars, and two pins.

 Bob and Elsie had four daughters: Kathryn Marie, Sharon Eloise, Janine Lovina and Robin Doreen. Bob retired from the leather mill holding the position of General Manager.  He quietly passed away on the first day of spring, March 20, 2008 with his wife and family by his side.