Wm. D Smith Census Records

1850 US Federal Census (Wm. Dandridge Smith)

1880- US Federal Census (Smith)

1900- US Federal Census (Smith)

1850 US Federal Census (Wm. Dandridge Smith)

The 1850 US Federal Census is the first census in which Dandridge Smith appears. At this time, he is 10 years of age (image incorrectly states 11).

1880- US Federal Census (Smith)

Dandridge Smith also appears in the 1880. IN this year, Dandridge is 40 years old.

1900- US Federal Census (Smith)

The 1900 US Federal Census is the lasty census that Dandridge Smith appears in. Dandridge dies 6 years later in 1906.

The first census in which William Dandridge Smith appeared in was the 1850 United States Federal Census. Dandridge Smith was also found in the 1880 and 1900 US Federal Censuses. The earlier census (1850) does not give very much information compared to later censuses but is still useful in uncovering his story.

Based on the census, Dandridge Smith was a male resident of Mount Vernon, Fairfax, Virginia. He is first listed as mixed race in the 1850 and 1880 censuses but interestingly is then listed as black in the 1900 census. It can be inferred that Dandridge Smith is in fact of mixed race because both of his parents are listed as being mixed race in their census data. This is another reason why research and multiple sources are important because over a period of time, information can get lost in translation. Dandridge also had 4 siblings, two older (Priscilla and Porter) and two younger (West and Caroline). Dandridge and his siblings all grew up free because their parents Porter and Jane Smith were free.

In 1874, Wm. Dandridge Smith married Annie. M. Smith. As of 1900, they had been married for 26 years. There is no evidence that they had any children. Wm. Dandridge Smith could not read or write but his wife was able to both read and write. His occupation was listed as “Farmer” and Annie was a schoolteacher at Gum Springs School. Annie is documented to of been the first African American school teacher in the Gum Springs/Mount Vernon area.

Dandridge passed away in 1906, at the age of 66. Annie followed just a year later in 1907, at the age of 53. Both Dandridge and Annie were buried at the Peake Family cemetery.