Old land deed reveals forgotten bit of history
A forgotten bit of history came to light when a Mt. Sterling land owner decided to trace his property deed as far back as he could.
In 1911, Robin H. White owned a house that sat on a hill at the intersection of Richmond and Main Street, in the eastern part of Mt. Sterling.
Through his search, White discovered his property was once called Pochantas Heights and was built around 1811 by William Smith, a pioneer from Virginia.
After Robin White bought the land from a James R. Megawon he began a thorough investigation of the title knowing the house was one of the oldest in the area.
The tracing of the title developed the fact that the site was at one time the home of William Smith, a pioneer from Virginia, and a descendant of John Smith, whose name was made famous from the Pochantas stories.
Records show that over 100 years ago, William Smith was given a grant for a large tract of land lying beyond the Cumberland mountains, and included all or a large part of the site of Mt. Sterling.
Smith settled on the vast domain which was given to him and built a house on a hill that adjoined the property owned by Dr. J. Frank Reynolds and lived there until his death.
An article written by an unknown correspondent for a Lexington newspaper revealed the following:
“The house which was erected by Smith still stands, in excellent preservations, the only change made in almost a decade, being that the outside has been weather boarded.
It was built of huge logs, with large rock chimneys, there being no brick in those days, and the floors of the house are of genuine walnut timber, and in fine state of preservation.
The huge chimney has been used during all these years and is one of the most immense ever seen.
It stands fourteen feet six inches wide, and has in it four fire places, all showing that they had been used and proving that when first built the residence was four stories high. In those days, wooden blocks were used, and Mr. White secured one which was in fine shape and has sent it to the State Historical Institute where it will be preserved with other relics of ancient days
Adjoining the house in the yard stands a settler’s cabin with sound logs.
The tracing of the title also brought to light the fact that the William Smith had named the site Pochantas Heights in honor of his noted ancestor and the new owners want the place to be known to future generations.
After the death of the Smith’s, the property went into the hands of the Botts family.
And this bit of forgotten history came to light purely through the curiosity of one of the owners who wanted to trace the title as far back as he could.
Miss Lucy Smith and Mrs. L.E. Griggs of Mt. Sterling are decedents of the pioneer William Smith and through their veins runs the blood of Captain John Smith, whose history is known in every schoolhouse and hamlet under the shining sun.
The old house will soon be a thing of the past, as it will shortly be replaced by a modern home which Mr. White will erect in the coming spring.
The remains of Smith and his family are buried in the family graveyard on a hill at the rear of the home of Commander Sneff. Where now rest the bones of a pioneer family, cattle and horses graze in the waving bluegrass”.
William Smith was born Oct. 28, 1742 in Stafford Va., to Henry and Sarah Crosby Smith.
He died Sept. 17, 1840 in Montgomery County, Ky.
Williams first wife was Joice Humphrey their children were Enoch, William, Jr., Daniel and George. She died as a young mother Sept. 20, 1774 at the age of 30.
William then married Mary E. Holley with whom he had seven children
His son Elkanah married Frances Botts.
Had it not been for the inquiring mind of Robin R. White and the ability to research old articles one-hundred years from his own discovery, Pochantas Heights would still be a forgotten piece of local history.
