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John Vance Smith Born: 13 February
1758 Died: 28 October 1851 Rank: Officer Great-great-great-great-grandfather of Tom Searles
General John Smythe, British Army, served in the American Colonies during the French and Indian War. He returned to England in 1757 leaving behind a young woman with whom he had relations. They may have been married. This young woman’s name is unknown today, but she traveled to Vermont and became employed in the Vance household. When her son was born, she named him John Smith and later changed it to John Vance.
John Vance grew up in New Hampshire and served in the Revolutionary War. At one point, he was an officer in Reed’s Company, of Stark’s Regiment, at the Battle of Bunker Hill where his hat was shot from his head. This may sound a little wild, but it is documented in the History of Newbury Vermont. The distant relative who provided some of this information also has held the sword John Vance carried during the Revolutionary War.
Sometime between 1800 and 1806, his father, General John Smythe, returned to the United States. It was at this time that John Vance learned the truth about his father—it had been a family secret up to that point. General John Smythe wished everyone to return to England with him.
While John Vance’s mother did forgive General John Smythe for leaving her, and they did live together after that, none of them went to England. John Vance wanted little to do with the General and wanted no part of his estate. John Vance, however, did have his name legally changed to John Vance Smith in 1806.
John Vance Smith served again in the War of 1812, and retired at the rank of Colonel.
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