Ruth Smith's Birthplace

Ruth Smith wife of Robert Graham was born 5 Dec 1813 in - and that is the question.

Where was Ruth Smith born? 

We don't have a lot of information about Ruth prior to her marriage to Robert Graham.  We don't know who her parents were.  Family tradition says that her father was a trapper, but with a common last name it is going to be a problem to discover her parents.

The first order of business is to determine where Ruth was born, and then perhaps we can narrow down possible Smith families to discover which one she came from.   In looking over the available documents that list Ruth's possible birthplaces we discover that there is no agreement and several possibilities.

The 1850 (Jackson Parish, Louisiana) and 1860 (Rapides Parish, Louisiana) censuses both show Ruth as being born in Kentucky.  This is significant because these are the only 2 records of her birth that were created when she was still alive.

The 1870 Mortality Schedule for Rapides Parish, Louisiana states that she was born in Mississippi. We don't know who gave this information, but it couldn't have been Ruth, herself.

The only other documents listing possible birthplaces are the death certificates of some of her children.  The informants in some cases were her grandchildren, and in other instances the relationship of the informant is unclear, at this time.  Of the 5 death certificates examined (William Jackson Graham 1940; Julia Ann Willis, 1936; Emily Butter, 1933; Mary Ann (Maggie) Willis, 1940; and Annie Willis, 1936) Alabama (3), Louisiana (1), and Mississippi (1) were listed.

Looking back at the history of the Mississippi Territory at the time of Ruth's birth in 1813, we find that it encompassed both of what we know as Mississippi and Alabama.  If Ruth were born in part of Mississippi that is now Alabama, that could account for some confusion on the part of her grandchildren.  But other than Kentucky having once been part of Virginal (before Ruth's birth), there shouldn't be any confusion with Kentucky and Alabama or Mississippi.   

My best "guess", at this time, is that Ruth Smith was probably born in Kentucky as this is the only state listed on the censuses during her lifetime.  Perhaps this will change once more records and more of Ruth's family is found.