| Creator |
Smith, John, marshal |
| Contributor |
Lawrence, James, 1781-1813, correspondent |
|
Mason, John, 1766-1849 correspondent., |
|
Duvall, Gabriel, 1752-1844 correspondent., |
|
Steele, John, 1764-1815, correspondent. |
|
Anderson, Joseph, 1757-1837, correspondent. |
|
Monroe, James, 1758-1831, correspondent. |
|
Pleasonton, Stephen, d. 1855 correspondent., |
|
United States. Army. Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment, 1st. |
|
United States. Marshal (Pennsylvania). |
|
United States. Comptroller of the Treasury. |
| Title |
John Smith Papers, 1802-1819. |
| Physical Description |
1 box .42 linear ft. |
| Description |
The collection contains correspondence and documents covering the government and military careers of John Smith; they primarily
related to his career as the United States marshal for the district of Pennsylvania during the War of 1812.
|
| Biographical / historical note |
John Smith was appointed United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by Thomas Jefferson on March 28, 1801,
replacing John Hall. He was reappointed by James Monroe on November 27, 1818, for a four-year term, but in January 1819 he
was removed from office and replaced by Samuel D. Ingram. Smith was listed in the Philadelphia city directories as “late marshal”
from 1819 to 1822, and was not listed thereafter. He married Elizabeth Turner on October 15, 1795, at St Michael and Zion
Lutheran Church, Philadelphia. No date of death is known. Smith also had a long military career, serving almost continuously
from 1776 until 1814, when the 1st Regiment of the Pennsylvania Cavalry, which he commanded, was disbanded.
|
|
United States Marshals were public servants appointed by the President; their primary function was to provide local support
for the operation of federal courts. The post involved a wide range of duties including procuring witnesses, serving subpoenas
and warrants, and paying the fees and expenses of court clerks, judges, federal attorneys, and jurors. Marshals advertised
seized property and oversaw its sale. In addition, until 1870, marshals conducted the federal census, and collected a variety
of statistical information on behalf of the federal government.
|
|
In time of war, such as the War of 1812, the marshal's duties expanded to include keeping track of enemy aliens living in
the U.S., issuing passports for their domestic travel, and guarding and providing for British prisoners of war.
|
| Subject |
Prisoners of war -- Pennsylvania. |
|
Aliens -- Pennsylvania. |
|
Ships -- Passenger lists. |
|
Safe-conducts. |
|
Seizure of vessels and cargoes. |
|
United States marshals -- Pennsylvania -- Archives. |
|
Evans, Oliver, 1755-1819 -- Trials, litigation, etc. |
| Geographic subject |
United States -- History -- War of 1812 -- Prisoners and prisons. |
|
Pennsylvania -- Politics and government. |
| Genre |
Bonds (legal records). |2 aat |
|
Letters. |
|
Passenger lists. |
|
Inventories. |
|
Receipts (financial records). |
|
Passports. |
| Provenance |
McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, former owner. |
| Location |
Library Company of Philadelphia| MSS | McA MSS 026 |
| Accession number |
(McAllister) |
