| Thomas Buckingham Smith by Gil Wilson |
| Buckingham Smith Florida Memory Project |
Thomas Buckingham Smith
In 1820 Thomas Buckingham Smith moved to St. Augustine with his mother and younger sister when his
father, Josiah Smith was appointed U. S. Consul to Mexico. He was born on Cumberland Island,
Georgia. In 1836 Buckingham Smith graduated from Harvard Law School and for a short time
practiced law in Maine.
In 1839-40 served as secretary to Gov. Raymond Reid. He served on the St. Augustine City Council in
the Florida Territorial Legislature. He was in the foreign service in Mexico and Spain where he
researched Florida history. He wrote The Narrative of Alvar Nunez Cabeca de Vaca (1851), A
Grammatical sketch of the Heve language (1861), Grammar of the Pima or Névome, from ms. of
the 18th century (1862), Comparative vocabularies of the Seminole and Mikasuke tongues (1866)
and the Narratives of the Career of Hernando de Soto in the Conquest of Florida (1866). He is
buried in St. Augustine’s Huguenot Cemetery in the family plot with his mother Hannah Smith and sister
(Hannah) Anita Amelia Porter.
In the December 26Th, 1868 edition of the St. Augustine Examiner it was reported that the "Hon.
Buckingham Smith" was back in town after an absence of several months, and that he had visited the
former residence of Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles, while he was in Spain.
Smith returned to his home on 42nd Street in New York in 1870. On January 4, 1871, he suffered a
heart attack and was found unconscious on the street by a policeman who thought he was intoxicated
and locked him in a cell in the police station. The next day he was transferred to Bellevu Hospital, where
he died, still unknown, without regaining consciousness. His body was removed to the morgue and was
about to be buried in potter's field, when it was identified by an acquaintance and sent to St. Augustine
for interment in the Protestant cemetery near his mother and sister.
Buckingham Smith's will, made in St. Augustine in 1869, was not immediately found, but was later
located, it is said, in the safe of a local merchant. there were no banks or safety deposit boxes in St.
Augustine at that time.
Although he and his mother had both been slave owners, Buckingham Smith sympathized with the North
during the Civil War. He left a life interest to lands in St. Augustine to a Negro named Jack, once his
slave, and $100 each to three other former servants.
After disposing of personal effects to friends and relatives, he left the rest and residue of his property for
the use of the black people of St. Augustine and their successors in all time to come..."providing first for
the aged and invalid of those blacks which have been mine."
Dr. Oliver Bronson of St. Augustine was his executor. As soon as it was practicable, in order to make a
more permanent provision for accomplishing the purposes of the testator, Dr. Bronson determined to
create a corporate institution, which was named The Buckingham Smith Benevolent Association.
In order to carry out the intentions of Mr. Smith, and to put the institution on a permanent basis, Dr.
Bronson purchased at his own expense, had erected a commodious building completely furnished with
everything necessary to make it comfortable, which he deeded to the Directors. There were ample
piazzas on the north and south sides, a large dining room and sitting room, and an apartment for the
matron; an outbuilding for a commodious kitchen and rooms for the domestics. This was connected to
the main building by a room open on the south designed as a sitting room in pleasant weather.
Dr. Bronson donated this without cost to the Association, so that the income from Mr. Smith's estate
could be devoted to the maintenance of the inmated of the home.
A "Board of Lady Managers" was formed to aid in this benevolent work, with a membership composed
of some of the most prominent ladies in town. Miss Margaret Worth was the Secretary, her sister, Mrs.
John Sprague, and the Misses Humphreys and Benet were Vice Presidents, Miss Rebecca Perit was
Treasurer, and Miss Sarah Mather, the President.
These ladies immediately began making articles of clothing and other necessities for the home, and on
December 8, 1873, six aged colored women and two colored men took their first meal in the newly
erected Home. Others were admitted from time to time. The institution was in charge of a matron,
assisted by a cook and a house girl.
The first officers of the Association were Oliver Bronson, M.D., President, General John T. Sprague and
Oliver Bronson, Jr., Vice Presidents, Dr. Andrew Anderson, M.D., Physician and Secretary, and Mr.
James W. Allen, Treasurer.
From An Essay towards an Indian Bibliography by Thomas Warren Field
[A Rough Essay, attempt at a Provisional Geographical Description of the Province of Sonora, its limits
and boundaries: or rather, collection of materials to make it by any one knowing better. Compiled as well
from notices acquired by the collector in his journeys through most all of it, as from statements bv the
Fathers Missionaries anil domiciled in the land, for the purpose of its improvement, by a Friend of the
Commonweal.]
As I reach this title in describing the works of this collection, the journals of the day announce that an
unknown person was yesterday found in the streets "of New York in an insensible condition; was taken
by the police to a cell in the nearest station-house; was transferred to the hospital in a dying condition,
and in a few hours, without a word or sign, the active, intelligent, and learned mind of the stranger, had
ceased to animate his mortal part. The corpse was soon after death recognized as the editor of this work.
The scholarlv curiosity of this learned man, was absolutely insatiable; and his research stretched over an
area of documentary evidence and historical data, which is scarcely less than appalling to contemplate.
The vast storehouses of manuscripts by the early writers of the history of America, which Spain has so
jealously guarded, were, page by page, assiduously examined by him, for new revelations regarding the
country, whose half-told story constantly fired his brain with the desire to complete. This homage of an
humble admirer of his patience, zeal, and learning, I could not resist the desire to leave on record here.
Mr. Buckingham Smith was the translator and annotator of many works on American history. In 1851,
Mr. Riggs printed at Washington his translation of the narrative of Cabcca de Vaca.
Negro Year Book
The Tuskegee Institute in the 1920's updated this information in its Negro year book: The Buckingham
Smith Fund.—The Buckingham Smith Benevolent Association is a charitable corporation under the laws
of Florida, incorporated to dispense the proceeds of a fund established by Buckingham Smith, former
resident of St. Augustine, and at one time Secretary to the legation from the United States to Spain.
The fund had its foundation in the will of Buckingham Smith who died in 1871. By his will he left his
estate to his executor, in trust "for the benefit of the black people of St. Augustine." The executor, Dr.
Oliver Bronson of St. Augustine, formerly of New York, a philanthropist, took measures to transfer the
property to the corporation formed.
The amount of the property divided by Buckingham Smith probably did not exceed $20,000. Dr.
Bronson gave a lot on which a building was constructed, intended to be used as home for aged people of
color. After some years of trial it was found that the old people were unwilling to enter the home and the
building was then used for a training school for girls of the Negro race. This was later abandoned, and the
proceeds of the fund used for the support and care of the indigent and the aged people of color.
The trustees have liberally construed their powers and use the funds controlled by them in a broad way
for the benefit of people of color, young as well as old. Aid is given the industrial school established near
St. Augustine; a hall for social meetings rented; a district nurse employed, beside other welfare work paid
for out of the fund.
The aid given stands out a striking example of the good which may be done with a small fund
administered wisely.
By wise management the trustees increased the principal of the sum so that the present income is
approximately $4,000 a year, which is expended for the care and support of the people belonging to the
Negro race.
The trustees of the fund are: Dr. Andrew Anderson, President; St. Augustine, Florida; John T. Dismukes,
Vice-President, St. Augustine, Florida; J. D. Puller, St. Augustine, Florida; J. C. Heartt, Secretary, St.
Augustine, Florida; C. M. Fuller, St. Augustine, Florida; Grosvenor A. Parker, St. Augustine, Florida;
and William Whitwell Dewhurst, Treasurer, St. Augustine, Florida.
In 1820 Thomas Buckingham Smith moved to St. Augustine with his mother and younger sister when his
father, Josiah Smith was appointed U. S. Consul to Mexico. He was born on Cumberland Island,
Georgia. In 1836 Buckingham Smith graduated from Harvard Law School and for a short time
practiced law in Maine.
In 1839-40 served as secretary to Gov. Raymond Reid. He served on the St. Augustine City Council in
the Florida Territorial Legislature. He was in the foreign service in Mexico and Spain where he
researched Florida history. He wrote The Narrative of Alvar Nunez Cabeca de Vaca (1851), A
Grammatical sketch of the Heve language (1861), Grammar of the Pima or Névome, from ms. of
the 18th century (1862), Comparative vocabularies of the Seminole and Mikasuke tongues (1866)
and the Narratives of the Career of Hernando de Soto in the Conquest of Florida (1866). He is
buried in St. Augustine’s Huguenot Cemetery in the family plot with his mother Hannah Smith and sister
(Hannah) Anita Amelia Porter.
In the December 26Th, 1868 edition of the St. Augustine Examiner it was reported that the "Hon.
Buckingham Smith" was back in town after an absence of several months, and that he had visited the
former residence of Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles, while he was in Spain.
Smith returned to his home on 42nd Street in New York in 1870. On January 4, 1871, he suffered a
heart attack and was found unconscious on the street by a policeman who thought he was intoxicated
and locked him in a cell in the police station. The next day he was transferred to Bellevu Hospital, where
he died, still unknown, without regaining consciousness. His body was removed to the morgue and was
about to be buried in potter's field, when it was identified by an acquaintance and sent to St. Augustine
for interment in the Protestant cemetery near his mother and sister.
Buckingham Smith's will, made in St. Augustine in 1869, was not immediately found, but was later
located, it is said, in the safe of a local merchant. there were no banks or safety deposit boxes in St.
Augustine at that time.
Although he and his mother had both been slave owners, Buckingham Smith sympathized with the North
during the Civil War. He left a life interest to lands in St. Augustine to a Negro named Jack, once his
slave, and $100 each to three other former servants.
After disposing of personal effects to friends and relatives, he left the rest and residue of his property for
the use of the black people of St. Augustine and their successors in all time to come..."providing first for
the aged and invalid of those blacks which have been mine."
Dr. Oliver Bronson of St. Augustine was his executor. As soon as it was practicable, in order to make a
more permanent provision for accomplishing the purposes of the testator, Dr. Bronson determined to
create a corporate institution, which was named The Buckingham Smith Benevolent Association.
In order to carry out the intentions of Mr. Smith, and to put the institution on a permanent basis, Dr.
Bronson purchased at his own expense, had erected a commodious building completely furnished with
everything necessary to make it comfortable, which he deeded to the Directors. There were ample
piazzas on the north and south sides, a large dining room and sitting room, and an apartment for the
matron; an outbuilding for a commodious kitchen and rooms for the domestics. This was connected to
the main building by a room open on the south designed as a sitting room in pleasant weather.
Dr. Bronson donated this without cost to the Association, so that the income from Mr. Smith's estate
could be devoted to the maintenance of the inmated of the home.
A "Board of Lady Managers" was formed to aid in this benevolent work, with a membership composed
of some of the most prominent ladies in town. Miss Margaret Worth was the Secretary, her sister, Mrs.
John Sprague, and the Misses Humphreys and Benet were Vice Presidents, Miss Rebecca Perit was
Treasurer, and Miss Sarah Mather, the President.
These ladies immediately began making articles of clothing and other necessities for the home, and on
December 8, 1873, six aged colored women and two colored men took their first meal in the newly
erected Home. Others were admitted from time to time. The institution was in charge of a matron,
assisted by a cook and a house girl.
The first officers of the Association were Oliver Bronson, M.D., President, General John T. Sprague and
Oliver Bronson, Jr., Vice Presidents, Dr. Andrew Anderson, M.D., Physician and Secretary, and Mr.
James W. Allen, Treasurer.
From An Essay towards an Indian Bibliography by Thomas Warren Field
[A Rough Essay, attempt at a Provisional Geographical Description of the Province of Sonora, its limits
and boundaries: or rather, collection of materials to make it by any one knowing better. Compiled as well
from notices acquired by the collector in his journeys through most all of it, as from statements bv the
Fathers Missionaries anil domiciled in the land, for the purpose of its improvement, by a Friend of the
Commonweal.]
As I reach this title in describing the works of this collection, the journals of the day announce that an
unknown person was yesterday found in the streets "of New York in an insensible condition; was taken
by the police to a cell in the nearest station-house; was transferred to the hospital in a dying condition,
and in a few hours, without a word or sign, the active, intelligent, and learned mind of the stranger, had
ceased to animate his mortal part. The corpse was soon after death recognized as the editor of this work.
The scholarlv curiosity of this learned man, was absolutely insatiable; and his research stretched over an
area of documentary evidence and historical data, which is scarcely less than appalling to contemplate.
The vast storehouses of manuscripts by the early writers of the history of America, which Spain has so
jealously guarded, were, page by page, assiduously examined by him, for new revelations regarding the
country, whose half-told story constantly fired his brain with the desire to complete. This homage of an
humble admirer of his patience, zeal, and learning, I could not resist the desire to leave on record here.
Mr. Buckingham Smith was the translator and annotator of many works on American history. In 1851,
Mr. Riggs printed at Washington his translation of the narrative of Cabcca de Vaca.
Negro Year Book
The Tuskegee Institute in the 1920's updated this information in its Negro year book: The Buckingham
Smith Fund.—The Buckingham Smith Benevolent Association is a charitable corporation under the laws
of Florida, incorporated to dispense the proceeds of a fund established by Buckingham Smith, former
resident of St. Augustine, and at one time Secretary to the legation from the United States to Spain.
The fund had its foundation in the will of Buckingham Smith who died in 1871. By his will he left his
estate to his executor, in trust "for the benefit of the black people of St. Augustine." The executor, Dr.
Oliver Bronson of St. Augustine, formerly of New York, a philanthropist, took measures to transfer the
property to the corporation formed.
The amount of the property divided by Buckingham Smith probably did not exceed $20,000. Dr.
Bronson gave a lot on which a building was constructed, intended to be used as home for aged people of
color. After some years of trial it was found that the old people were unwilling to enter the home and the
building was then used for a training school for girls of the Negro race. This was later abandoned, and the
proceeds of the fund used for the support and care of the indigent and the aged people of color.
The trustees have liberally construed their powers and use the funds controlled by them in a broad way
for the benefit of people of color, young as well as old. Aid is given the industrial school established near
St. Augustine; a hall for social meetings rented; a district nurse employed, beside other welfare work paid
for out of the fund.
The aid given stands out a striking example of the good which may be done with a small fund
administered wisely.
By wise management the trustees increased the principal of the sum so that the present income is
approximately $4,000 a year, which is expended for the care and support of the people belonging to the
Negro race.
The trustees of the fund are: Dr. Andrew Anderson, President; St. Augustine, Florida; John T. Dismukes,
Vice-President, St. Augustine, Florida; J. D. Puller, St. Augustine, Florida; J. C. Heartt, Secretary, St.
Augustine, Florida; C. M. Fuller, St. Augustine, Florida; Grosvenor A. Parker, St. Augustine, Florida;
and William Whitwell Dewhurst, Treasurer, St. Augustine, Florida.