Smith and Young Families of northern Rhode Island
Smith and Young Families of northern Rhode Island
Young Family
Thanks to my late cousin Mary, "Aunt" Sally, my late great Uncle George, and my late grandmother for providing
information, research, and leads into my Young Family. Thanks to Ted Hopkins of Scituate, R.I. for the
tour of the old Junia Young Farm property and Scituate Historic Cemetery SC212.
***Colonel Junia1 Young
b. April 17, 1773 Smithfield, R.I.?
m1. bef. 1793 Martha Irons b. September 3, 1772 in Glocester, Rhode Island d. March 22, 1810 in Scituate, R.I.
m2. bef. 1820 Betsey Arnold? b. 1769 in Rhode Island? d. January 24, 1861 in Rhode Island?
d. December 25, 1847 in Scituate, R.I.
burial: The original burial location was the Col. Junia Young Lot (SC212) in Scituate. The burials in this
lot were removed to Chepachet Cemetery, Acotes Hill, Glocester (GL023), Putnam Pike (Rt. 44) about the time of the
construction of the Scituate Reservoir. Betsey (Arnold?) Young is buried in the Greene Anthony Lot (WW012)
in West Warwick, R.I. (grave located using RIHCTP).
Junia was a house carpenter, a farmer, a state militia officer, and a Justice of the Peace in Scituate, R.I.
He achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel in the R.I. state militia, commanding the 7th Regiment, 2nd Brigade
of Providence County Militia (see Joseph J. Smith, "Civil & Military List of R.I. (1647-1850)"). It is
likely he was born in Smithfield, R.I., but his father remains problematic.
His mother is Ruth ( ? ) Brown, the wife of Capt. Benjamin Brown, a Providence sea captain from Cumberland,
R.I., who was born in Smithfield on March 29, 1751 and died on March 13, 1787 in Providence, R.I. A
Benjamin Brown is listed in Smithfield with no children in the 1774 R.I. state census. Benjamin probably
learned the mariner's trade as a privateer during the Revolutionary War, as he came from a family of farmers.
His father was Benjamin5 Brown of Attleboro, Mass. and Cumberland, R.I., a descendant of John Browne of
Wannamoisett (see page 39 of "Mr. John Browne, Gentleman, of Wannamoisett," in "Brown Families of Bristol
Counties, Mass. and R.I., from the Immigrants to the early 19th Century" compiled by Carl Boyer, 3rd, 1981,
part of "New England Colonial Familes," Vol. 1, by Carl Boyer, 3rd). Benjamin Brown the mariner may be
the "Benj Brown" who signed his name to a Power of Attorney as a crew member of the privateer Sloop-of-war
"General Greene," John Garzie (Garzia) of East Greenwich, R.I. commanding, on September 21, 1776 ("Naval Documents
of the American Revolution," Vol. 6., William J. Morgan, editor, page 923). Capt. Benjamin Brown's will is
recorded in Providence Probate in 1787, but Junia is not mentioned in the will. Benjamin did not have any
children with Ruth, but he left all of his property in Providence and half of his property in Cumberland to
her "for and during the time she remains my widow." The Providence Town Probate Records indicate that Ruth
was residing in Glocester, R.I. by July 1787; perhaps she had relatives in Glocester.
From a Young Family Record document and her gravestone, Ruth ( ? ) Brown was born on May 13, 1753 and died
September 20, 1829 (aged 77 years). Ruth Brown "of Providence, widow woman" bought one acre of land with
a dwelling house on it in Glocester, R.I. next to the land of Resolved Irons from Nathaniel Blackmar for
75 pounds on May 10, 1792. Ruth sold this land and house to her son Junia Young for 90 pounds on
February 20, 1795 (Glocester Deeds). One year later, Junia bought farm land and a house from William Seamans
in Scituate on August 4, 1796 (Scituate Deeds). On December 2, 1796, Junia sold his house and land in
Glocester thus completing his move to Scituate, R.I. where he remained the rest of his life.
Based on naming patterns and the Young Section in the genealogy "The Ancestors of Emily Jane Angell,"
by Dean Crawford Smith (1992), I speculate that the father of Junia may have been Zebedee Young, a son of
James Young of Smithfield, R.I. Zebedee, who would have been 16, had not married by the time Junia was
born on April 17, 1773 (conceived July 1772), and it is likely that Ruth ( ? ) had not married
Benjamin Brown by this time. Zebedee had married Jemima Whipple by 1774, and had one child by 1774 with
Jemima (Angell genealogy). Interestingly, one of Zebedee's daughters by Jemima is named Ruth.
children1:
***James2 Young
Amey2 Young
Charlotte2 Young
Martha2 Maria Young
View of the Col. Junia Young house in Scituate, R.I. at the corner
of Chopmist Hill Road and Central Pike. The house dates from at least
1796 when Junia Young bought the house and farm from William Seamans.
Thanks to Ted Hopkins of Scituate, R.I. for a tour of the property.
Close up view of the Col. Junia Young house.
Barn building on the old Junia Young farm property in Scituate, R.I.
Summer 2007 view of the Col. Junia Young Lot, Scituate Historic Cemetery No. 212.
The cemetery is located in the woods about 500 yards northeast of the Junia Young
house. There are two original gravestones remaining in SC 212, one of Col. Junia Young
and the other his wife, Martha (Irons) Young. However, all of the remains of the
family were removed to Acotes Hill Cemetery in Chepachet (Glocester, R.I.) in the
early 1900's. The current cemetery location was within the boundaries of the original
farm plot indicating how large the original farm was. Thanks to Ted Hopkins of
Scituate, R.I. for showing my cousin and I the Col. Junia Young Lot.
Original gravestone of Col. Junia Young in SC212.
Original gravestone of Martha (Irons) Young in SC212.
Gravestone of Ruth ( ? ) Brown (1753 - 1829), mother of Col. Junia Young, in
Chepachet Cemetery (GL023) in Glocester, R.I. The gravestone is encrusted with
lichens and is difficult to read. Partial inscription reads "In Memory of Mrs. Ruth Brown
relict of Capt. Benjamin Brown who died September 20, 1829........"
View of Col. Junia Young gravestone in Chepachet Cemetery (GL023) in Glocester, R.I. during October 2004;
marble gravestone cleaned by unknown persons. The gravestone has suffered moderate weathering from acid rain.
Partial inscription reads: "Col. Junia Young, died December 25, 1847, aged 74 years 8 mos. & 8 days."
Gravestone of Betsey (Arnold?) Young in the Greene Anthony Lot (WW012) in West Warwick, R.I.
***James2 Young (Junia1)
b. July 6, 1793 Glocester, R.I.?
m. February 18, 1821 in Scituate, R.I. Susan Rebecca Seamans b. Abt. 1801 d. June 5, 1865 in Greenfield Township, Pennsylvania
d. August 27, 1849 in Greenfield Township, Luzerne Co. [now Lackawanna County], Pennsylvania
burial: Finch Cemetery just southwest of Spencers Corners, Greenfield Township, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
GPS Coordinates: N 41 deg. 36 min. 12.78 sec. W 75 deg. 34 min. 7.56 sec.
James was a farmer in Scituate, R.I. and later moved with most of his family to Pennsylvania in the early 1830's.
This part of Pennsylvania is now part of Lackawanna County. James is buried in the old Finch Cemetery in
Lackawanna County, PA. The Young Family Records were probably recorded by James' sister
Charlotte Young, who made a decorative border with human hair around the original document containing
the names and vital dates of her generation of Youngs. This document is currently in the possession of a
Young relative of mine. James' wife Susan Rebecca came from the relatively well-known Seamans Family
who resided in Foster and Scituate, R.I. The Seamans Family were originally from Swansea, Massachusetts.
children:
***George3 Nelson Young
James3 R. Young (Abt. 1823 - 1854) (moved to Greenfield Township, PA)
Stephen3 D. Young (Abt. 1825 - 1864) (moved to Greenfield Township, PA)
Andrew3 J. Young (Abt. 1829 - 1860) (moved to Greenfield Township, PA)
Charlotte3 M. Young (Abt. 1830 - 1850) (moved to Greenfield Township, PA)
Emeline3 J. Young (1832 - 1861) (married Olney Rounds in 1851 in Greenfield Township, PA)
Lucinda3 Young (Abt. 1838 - 1859) (born in Greenfield Township, PA)
This is an unidentified picture of a boy that was in the collection of my great-grandfather. On the back,
it states "Johnson [Studios?], Scranton, PA." The town of Greenfield, PA was just north of Scranton, so I
believe this child may be one of James Young's descendants (perhaps Charles H. Young (1860 - 1918)).
The Finch Cemetery is just north of the Painted Acres Horse Farm on State Route 247 in northeast
Greenfield Township in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. Follow the white fence line to the next
undeveloped farmland to the north. Look for a square-shaped copse of trees. Click on the picture
for a larger view.
This view is to the north up State Route 247. Follow the white fencing of the Painted Acres
Horse Farm to the end and proceed on the "ATV" path to the left near the square copse of trees.
August 2015 view of the copse of trees (to the left of the "ATV" path) which is in actuality
the Finch Cemetery. This mid-nineteenth century cemetery which has a stone wall around it has
been overgrown with trees and is in rough condition.
August 2015 view of the interior of the Finch Cemetery. Note the perimeter stone wall and
scattered gravestones. Most of the Families buried here were immigrants from Connecticut
and Rhode Island.
August 2015 view of gravestone of James Young in Finch Cemetery, Greenfield Township, Pennsylvania.
Note the "broken tree" motif on the top of the gravestone.
August 2015 view of gravestone of [Susan] Rebecca (Seamans) Young in Finch Cemetery, Greenfield
Township, Pennsylvania.
Amey2 Young (Junia1)
b. March 21, 1797 in Scituate, R.I.
d. May 12, 1843 in Scituate, R.I.
burial: Chepachet Cemetery, Acotes Hill (GL023), Glocester, R.I. (originally SC212)
Amey apparently did not marry. Her gravestone states "Miss Amey."
Gravestone of Amey Young (1797 - 1843) in Chepachet Cemetery, Glocester, R.I.
Charlotte2 Young (Junia1)
b. April 28, 1806 in Scituate, R.I.
d. February 13, 1892 in Glocester, R.I.
burial: Chepachet Cemetery, Acotes Hill (GL023), Glocester, R.I. (originally SC212)
Charlotte Young was the apparent recorder of the vital dates of her generation
in the Young Family Record document. She did not marry. She was the administrator
of her father Col. Junia Young's estate in 1847. She raised her great-great nephew
George N. Young (1879-1957) in the 1880's (1880 Federal Census). Charlotte was a
member of the North Scituate Baptist Church.
Charlotte Young (1806 - 1892) circa 1870's (picture from George N. Young collection).
Gravestone of Charlotte Young in Chepachet Cemetery, Glocester, R.I.
Martha2 Maria Young (Junia1)
b. February 5, 1810 in Scituate, R.I.
m. bef. 1860 Jeremiah Sweet b. Abt. 1806 d. August 7, 1874 in Scituate, R.I.?
d. April 13, 1888 in Scituate, R.I.
burial: Chepachet Cemetery, Acotes Hill (GL023), Glocester, R.I. (originally SC212)
Martha was the second wife of Jeremiah Sweet. She did not have any children with Jeremiah. Martha
lived with her sister Charlotte after her husband died in 1874.
Gravestone of Martha Maria (Young) Sweet (1810 - 1888) in Chepachet Cemetery, Glocester, R.I.
***George3 Nelson Young (James2, Junia1)
b. Abt. August 1821 in Scituate, R.I.
m. bef. 1850 Nancy Holden Knight b. Abt. 1827 in Coventry, R.I.? d. March 14, 1909 in Smithfield, R.I.
d. December 16, 1866 in Greenville (Smithfield), R.I.
burial: Smith Lot (SM049), Smith Ave., Greenville, R.I.
George N. Young was a machinist and resided for a time in Providence, R.I. He was born in Scituate, R.I.
about 1821 and had moved to Smithfield, R.I. by at least 1860.
children:
Melissa4 Louise Young
***Junia4 Young
Gravestone of George N. Young (1821 - 1866) in Smith Lot (SM049) in Greenville, R.I.
James3 R. Young (James2, Junia1)
b. Abt. July 1823 in Scituate, R.I.
d. August 7, 1854 in Greenfield Township, Pennsylvania
burial: Finch Cemetery, Greenfield Township, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
August 2015 view of James R. Young gravestone in Finch Cemetery, Greenfield Township, Lackawanna
County, Pennsylvania.
Stephen3 D. Young (James2, Junia1)
b. Abt. 1825 in Scituate, R.I.
m1. ? Ann Eliza ( ? ); d. May 1, 1862 (buried in Burdick Cemetery, Clifford Township, Pennsylvania)
m2. Before January 26, 1864 Ann Rebecca Davis; b. February 5, 1836 in Sterling Hill, Connecticut; m2. Olney Rounds d. ? (buried in Burdick Cemetery,
Clifford Township, Pennsylvania)
d. January 26, 1864 in Clifford Township, Pennsylvania
burial: Burdick Cemetery, County Route 2023 south of Union Dale, Clifford Township, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania
GPS Coordinates: N 41 deg. 41 min. 30.36 sec. W 75 deg. 29 min. 33.66 sec.
children 1:
possibly Charles4 H. Young (1860 - 1918) [buried in Burdick Cemetery]
August 2015 view of Stephen D. Young grave in Burdick Cemetery, Clifford Township.
August 2015 view of Ann Eliza ( ? ) Young (first wife of Stephen Young) grave in
Burdick Cemetery, Clifford Township.
Andrew3 J. Young (James2, Junia1)
b. Abt. 1829 in Scituate, R.I.
m. ? Phoebe J. Rounds; b. Abt. 1840 in Rhode Island; d. May 28, 1861 in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania?
d. Between November 10 and December 6, 1860 in Greenfield Township, Pennsylvania
burial: Burdick Cemetery, County Route 2023 south of Union Dale, Clifford Township, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania
August 2015 view of gravestone of Andrew J. Young in Burdick Cemetery, Clifford Township.
August 2015 view of gravestone of Phoebe J. (Rounds) Young in Burdick Cemetery, Clifford Township.
Charlotte3 M. Young (James2, Junia1)
b. Abt. October 1830 in Scituate, R.I.?
d. May 8, 1850 in Greenfield Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, aged 19 years old
burial: Finch Cemetery, Greenfield Township, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
August 2015 view of gravestone of Charlotte M. Young in the Finch Cemetery, Greenfield Township, Pennsylvania.
Emeline3 J. Young (James2, Junia1)
b. May 5, 1832 in Greenfield Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
m. January 9, 1851 in Greenfield Township, Pennsylvania Olney Rounds b. February 10, 1828 in Foster, Rhode Island; m2. Ann Rebecca Davis
Olney Rounds died July 25, 1899 in Clifford Township, Pennsylvania
d. April 26, 1861 in Clifford Township, Pennsylvania
burial: Burdick Cemetery, Clifford Township, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania
Emeline died the same day her daughter Mary Elizabeth Rounds was born.
children:
Frank4 Rounds (1853 - 1933) (married Alice Gray Crandall (1858 - 1930))
Elnora4 Rounds (married Charles A. Davis)
Stephen4 Rounds (died very young on February 24, 1860)
William4 Rounds (died very young on February 24, 1860)
Mary4 Elizabeth Rounds (1861 - 1952) (married Morgan D. Daniels (1852 - 1934))
August 2015 view of grave of Emeline J. (Young) Rounds in Burdick Cemetery, Clifford Township.
Lucinda3 Young (James2, Junia1)
b. April 15, 1838 in Greenfield Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
m. May 17, 1854 in Greenfield Township Charles Avery b. February 7, 1823 in Waterford, Connecticut
Charles died August 26, 1897 in Carbondale, Pennsyvlania
d. December 26, 1859 in Greenfield Township, Pennsylvania
burial: unknown
children:
Maria4 Eveline Avery (1855 - ?) (married Theron Eugene Moon)
Hannah4 Rebecca Avery (1856 - 1881) (married George Jones Davis)
Melissa4 Louise Young (George3 Nelson, James2, Junia1)
b. Abt. February 5, 1850 in Smithfield, R.I.?
d. October 27, 1865 in Smithfield, R.I.
burial: Smith Lot (SM049), Smith Ave., Greenville, R.I.
Gravestone of Melissa L. Young (1850 - 1865) in Smith Lot (SM049) in Greenville, R.I.
***Junia4 Young (George3 Nelson, James2, Junia1)
b. February 3, 1856 in Greenville (Smithfield), R.I.
m1. Abt. 1878 Georgianna Lomas (Loomis) b. September 16, 1860 in Smithfield, R.I. d. September 23, 1879 in Smithfield, R.I.
m2. Abt. June 1888 Mary Congdon Watson b. October 8, 1854 in South Kingstown, R.I. d. January 4, 1937 in Smithfield, R.I.
d. October 9, 1889 in Scituate, R.I.
burial: Greenville Cemetery (SM045), Greenville, R.I.
Junia was a farmer in Smithfield and Scituate. He died fairly young (33) on the same day that his
daughter Bessie W. Young was born. A story told in the Young family relates that Junia's son
George N. Young was banned from the Young household by his stepmother Mary C. Watson after Junia died.
children1:
***George5 Nelson Young
children2:
Bessie5 W. Young
Gravestone of Junia Young (1856 - 1889) and his second wife Mary Watson (1854 - 1937) in
Greenville Cemetery (SM045).
***George5 Nelson Young (Junia4, George3 Nelson, James2, Junia1)
b. March 22, 1879 in Providence, R.I.
m1. December 25, 1899 in Smithfield, R.I. Mary J. Martin b. June 1882 in Rhode Island? d. March 19, 1902 in Smithfield, R.I.
m2. November 11, 1904 in Smithfield, R.I. Sarah Jeanne Madeline Larmie (Laramee) b. July 26, 1885 in St. Louis de Bonsecours, Quebec, Canada d. January 29, 1961 in Smithfield, R.I.
d. December 27, 1957 in Smithfield, R.I.
burial: Highland Memorial Park (JN008), Johnston, R.I.
George N. Young was a farmer and later a textile worker at Stillwater Worsted Mills in Harrisville, R.I.
He also worked in T.K. Winsor's apple orchards in Greenville, R.I. George was raised by his great-great-
Aunt Charlotte in the 1880's (1880 Federal Census). A story in the Young Family relates that George
was banned from his father Junia's house by his stepmother Mary Congdon Watson after Junia died in
1889. George's half-sister Bessie W. Young was born the same day that Junia died, October 9, 1889.
George lived on a farm on Pleasant View Ave. in Smithfield, R.I.; this farm was apparently the same farm
that his grandfather George N. Young and grandmother Nancy Knight lived on. George also lived in
Burrillville (Lackey Hill area) for a short time (by 1915). He was a member of the Greenville Baptist
Church and was made an honorary deacon of the church.
children1:
Mary J. Martin died in 1902 during childbirth. The child did not survive.
children2:
Male 6 Young
Female 6 Young
Female 6 Young
***Female 6 Young
Female 6 Young
Male 6 Young
Male 6 Young
George N. Young (1879 - 1957) with second wife Sarah M. Larmie (Laramee) (1885 - 1961)
and their family in 1918.
Bessie5 W. Young (Junia4, George3 Nelson, James2, Junia1)
b. October 9, 1889 in Scituate, R.I.?
m. February 10, 1912 Joseph A. Fallows b. July 23, 1887 d. August 25, 1979 in Smithfield, R.I.
d. February 4, 1952 in Smithfield, R.I.?
burial: Greenville Cemetery (SM045), Greenville, R.I.
children:
Female6 Fallows
This is a picture from the collection of my great-grandfather. On the back it states
"Mrs. Brown and Jenny Glock (or Clock?) mother and daughter." Modern day
Pleasant View Ave. would be just past the fence row in the picture. From census data,
Mrs. Brown was originally from Ireland. As a child, I remember the small cemetery plot
on a hill top next to my great-grandfather's house in Spragueville, R.I. with about 3
gravestones. The gravestones were of the Brown family and I believe the older lady in
this picture is one of those buried there. This cemetery is Smithfield Historic Cem. 110
of the Rhode Island Cemetery Database. If you are a descendant or relative of this Brown
Family and can provide additional information, I would appreciate it. I can direct you to
the cemetery plot. I believe there is only one gravestone remaining now. It's yet another
example of what happens when historical cemeteries are neglected.
These web pages are currently under construction, so please be patient.
If you are a relative or are interested in obtaining or providing additional information
on these families, then please send me an email.