Simon Smith Sr. was born on 1 January 1628 to Christopher Smith of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. He married Elizabeth Bateman 1 October 1656 in Hartford, Connecticut. They had the following children: John, Simon, Joseph, Benjamin, Elizabeth, Susannah and Mary. Source: Ancestry of Hannah Smith, 20 Jan 2017, p. 6-9, Research by Elise Godfrey and Tristan Tolman, AG (Board members of the Utah Genealogical Association, for John Hedman: https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/32605492?p=50416125&returnLabel=Simon%20Smith%20II%20(LVQG-1WV)&returnUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.familysearch.org%2Ftree%2Fperson%2Fmemories%2FLVQG-1WV
Simon was the son of Christopher Smith and Alice Gibbes. He was born in 1627 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. He married Elizabeth Bateman and had at least four children: Christopher, Simon, Joseph and William (Simon's will names seven children: John, Simon, Joseph, Benjamin, Elizabeth, Susannah and Mary). Source: Genealogical and family history Southern New York, William Richard Cutter vol. 1 page 64
Simon Smith married Elizabeth Wells and had seven children: John, Elizabeth, Joseph, Benjamin, Mary Simon and Susannah. Source: Haddam Historical Society, Haddam, CT (This is incorrect, it was his son Simon who was married to Alice Elizabeth Wells.)
Simon and Elizabeth (Bateman) Smith were the first settlers in the Plantation at Thirty Mile Island, now called Haddam, CT. In 1660 the Connecticut Colonial Legislature sent Matthew Allyn and Samuel Willys down the Connecticut River from Hartford to purchase land from the Wangunk Indian Tribe at the place the English called 'Land of Thirty Mile Island'. There are two schools of thought on how "Thirty Mile(s) Island got its name. Early historians write that the earliest settlers thought the island was thirty miles from the mouth of the "Grate River" at Long Island Sound (it is only 17 miles from the mouth of river). It is also plausible that the Island got its name because it is 30 miles down river from Hartford and the town was settled by men from the Hartford area.
In May 1662 the Englishmen finally purchased land comprising approximately 104 square miles and extending in six miles on each side of the river from the straits at "Pattyquonck" (now Chester) to the Mattabeseck-Mill River (now Middletown) across to the line of Chatham (now East Hampton). The English paid 30 coats (worth approximately $100) for the land from four Native American chiefs, two queens and others. The Native Americans did set aside some property for their own use including 40 acres at Cove Meadow (Chester) and Haddam Island as well reserving the right to hunt and fish where they pleased.
The first settlers were twenty-eight men and their families from Hartford, Wethersfield and Windsor. (Simon Smith being one of them.) Source: http://www.haddamhistory.org/history_haddam.htm
Will of Simon Smith: I Simon Smith senior of Haddam, being aged and being sensible of my mortality, and at this time being visited with sickness, do give my body to the dust in hopes of a glorious resurrection, and my spirit to God that gave it. Do make this my last will and testament, being sound in memories: I give to my loving wife The use of my dwelling house and two rows of apple trees in my orchard, she taking her choice, and five pounds per year during her widowhood, to be paid by my sons according to their proportions that they shall have of my estate, and one cow to be kept yearly by my sons, and four sheep to be kept yearly for her use, and four pounds in good marchantabell (sic) corn, rye and Indian, to be paid her the next spring, and as much of the household stores as she hath need of.
I give to my son John my lot by his in the upper meadow. I give to my son Joseph by cow, meadow lot and my swamp on the east side of the great river, and my lot in the equal division and all my rights at Machamoodas. I give to my son Benjamin my house and barn and all my homestead and my meadow lot in the home meadow, swamp and upland.
I give to my daughter Elizabeth eighteen pounds and to my daughter Susannah sixteen pounds and to my daughter Mary sixteen pounds. And my will is that my two lots in the upper meadow be left for part of their portions. And if any of my sons will take the above said lots as they shall be inventories and pay my daughters, they shall have liberty and the rest of their portions shall be paid out of my estate as it shall be inventoried.
And if there be any over plus, it shall be equally disposed of amongst them. Also my will is that my son Benjamin be my executor to see this my will fulfilled. Will dated 11 November, 1687, Source: Probate Records, Volume V, 1687 To 1695, Haddam Historical Society, Haddam, CT
Simon and his wife Elizabeth, death date unknown, may have been buried in the Old Burying Ground at the Thirty Mile Planation Cemetery in Haddam, CT. Or possibly on private land nearby. According to Rev. David D. Field in his History of the Towns of Haddam and East Haddam, the "Town yard in Haddam" was first laid out in 1662 but was not formally laid out until 1699. He also states that some "persons were buried on a knoll east of the dwelling of Mr. Joseph Clark, before any graveyard was laid out in the lower part of Haddam (Tylerville). Source: Haddam Historical Society, Haddam, CT