line Abigail Smith, was a daughter of Col. Will- iam S. Smith, who served with distinction under Washington. She edited her mother's letters un- der the title of " The Correspondence of Miss Ad- ams, daughter of John Adams " (New York and London, 1847). The greater number of these let- ters were written during Miss Adams's travels abroad before her marriage with Col. Smith, which took place in London, 12 June, 1786. Mrs. Smith died in Quincy, Mass., on 14 Aug., 1813, and in 1814 her daughter Caroline married Mr. De Wint.
DE WITT, Benjamin, scientist, b. in 1774: d.
in New York city in 1819. He was a practising
physician in New York, and published a treatise
on '"Oxygen" (New York, 1707); "An Oration"
(1808) ; "and " Minerals in New York," in trans-
actions of the American association of science.
DE WITT, Charles, member of the Continental
congress, b. in 1728; cl. in Kingston, N. Y., in Sep-
tember, 1787. He was a delegate from New York
to the old congress during its sessions in Philadel-
phia, Princeton, and Annapolis in 1783, at Tren-
ton, N. J., in 1784, and the first session in New
York citv in 1785.
DE WITT, John, clergyman, b. in Catskill,
N. Y., in August, 178'J ; d. iii'New Brunswick, N. J.,
11 Oct., 1831. lie studied for a time at Union,
but was graduated at Princeton in 1809, studied
theology "with Dr. Porter in Catskill, was licensed
to preach in 1811, and held pastorates in the Re-
formed Dutch church at Lanesborough, Mass., and
Albany, N. Y.. till 1823, when he became professor
of ecclesiastical history in the theological seminary
at New Brunswick, N, J. In 1825 Dr. De Witt
assumed also the professorship of belles-lettres,
criticism, and logic in Rutgers college. The three
chairs he filled until his death. His publications
were confined to occasional discourses. — His son,
John, b. in Albany, N. Y., 19 Oct., 1821, was
graduated at Rutgers in 1838, and at the New
Brunswick seminary in 1842. He was ordained in
the Reformed church and was pastor at Ridgeway,
N. Y., in 1842-4, at Ghent in 1845-8, at Canajb-
harie in 1848-'9, and at Millstone, N. J., from 1850
till 1803, when he became professor of sacred lit-
erature in the theological seminary at New Bruns-
wick. He was a member of the Bible revision
committee, and is the author of " The Sure Foun-
dation and How to Build on it " (New York, 1860),
and a new translation of the Psalms (1885).
DE WITT, Simeon, surveyor, b. in Ulster
county, N. Y., 25 Dec, 1756 ; d. in Ithaca, N. Y.,
3 Dec, 1834. He was graduated at Queen's (after-
ward Rutgers) college in 1776, being the only
graduate in that year. He joined the army of Gen.
Gates, was present at the surrender of Burgoyne,
and from 1778 till 1780 was assistant topographer
to the Continental army, and then chief of the
topographical stafE of Gen. Washington until the
close of the war in 1783. In 1784 he became sur-
veyor-general of the state of New York, in which
post he remained until he died. He performed
valuable services in locating lands and laying out
roads, and was one of the chief promoters of the
Erie canal. To Mr. De Witt it was long believed
we were indebted for the extraordinary classical
names of Carthage, Pompey, Sempronius, etc.,
given to various townships of the state. His sup-
posed pedantry and folly afforded a fine theme for
one of Drake and Halieek's " Croakers." But it is
now known that the real culprit was the deputy-
secretary of state of that period. In 1796 De Witt
was nominated surveyor-general of the United
States, but declined. He was for many years a
resident of Albany, and was active in advancing
its literary and material interests. He became a
regent of the state university in 1798, vice-chan-
cellor in 1817, and chancellor in 1829. He pub-
lished a map of New York (1804), and a treatise
on the " Elements of Perspective " (Albany, 1813).
Dr. T. Romeyn Beck published a " Eulogium " on
his life and services (Albany, 1835). — His wife,
Snsan Linn (1778-1824), wrote " Justinea," a nov-
el, and " The Pleasures of Religion," a poem.
DE WITT, Thomas, clergyman, b. in Kings-
ton, N. Y., 13 Sept., 1791 ; d. in New York city, 18
May, 1874. He was graduated at Union in 1808, and
studied theology in the seminary at New Brunswick,
where he was graduated in 1812. The same year
he was ordained
pastor of the
combined con-
gregations of
New Placken-
sack and Hope-
well, Dutchess
CO., N. Y., where
he remained un-
til 1827, when he
accepted a call
to the Collegiate
Dutch church
of New York
city, of which he
was the senior
clergyman from
1858 until his"
death. He was
vice - president
for many yc-irs
of the New York
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historical society, and its president in 1872-'4 ; also an active director of the Bible, Colonization, Tract, and Sunday-school societies, as well as the boards of his church. He published very little, even his ser- mons being generally unwritten. He was one of the last of" the ministers of the Reformed Dutch church who could preach in the Dutch language.
DE WITT, William Radcliffe, clergyman, b.
in Clinton, Dutchess co., N. Y., 25 Feb., 1792 ; d. in
Harrisburg, Pa., 23 Dec, 1867. He was trained to
mercantile life, but studied theology with Dr. Alex-
ander Proudfit. Leaving his studies to volunteer
in the war of 1812-5, he fought under Com.
McDonough on Lake Champlain. After the war
he completed his theological course with the Rev.
Dr. John M. Mason, of New York city, and became,
in 1818, pastor of the church in Harrisburg, over
which he presided until his death. From 1854 till
1867 he filled the office of state librarian, and in-
terested himself in the public-school system of the
state. — His son, John, clergyman, b. in Harris-
burg, Pa., 10 Oct., 1842, was graduated at Prince-
ton'in 1861, studied law, then theology, in Prince-
ton seminary and the Union theological seminary
in New York city, and was ordained, 9 June, 1865.
From 1865 till 1869 he was pastor at Irvington,
N. Y., then till 1876 of the Central Presbyterian
church in Boston, Mass., and of the 10th Presby-
terian church in Philadelphia from the latter year
till 1882, when he became professor of ecclesiastical
history in Lane seminary, Cincinnati, Ohio. He
has published " Sermons on the Christian Life "
(New York, 1885).
D'WOLFE, James, senator, b. in Bristol, R. I., in 1763 ; d. in New York city, 21 Dec, 1837. He was elected U. S. senator from Rhode Island, but served only from 3 Dec, 1821, till December, 1825, when he resigned the office.
