Was Brian Kelley Related to John Smith?

While building a family tree for a friend of ours, I came across a gold nugget. He was related to John Smith, THE John Smith, the founder of Virginia Colony and one of America’s first families. 

Brian had heard from various elders in his family that he was a direct decendent of Smith, but there never was any proof that he was. This discovery of the link provides some closure to the myth.

John Smith (Jan 2 1579 – Jun 21 1631) was an English soldier, explorer, colonial governor, Admiral of New England, and author. He played an important role in the establishment of the colony at Jamestown, Virginia, the first permanent English settlement in America, in the early 17th century. He was a leader of the Virginia Colony between September 1608 and August 1609, and he led an exploration along the rivers of Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay, during which he became the first English explorer to map the Chesapeake Bay area. Later, he explored and mapped the coast of New England.  

Jamestown was established in 1607. Smith trained the first settlers to work at farming and fishing, thus saving the colony from early devastation. He publicly stated, "He that will not work, shall not eat", alluding to 2 Thessalonians 3:10. Harsh weather, lack of food and water, the surrounding swampy wilderness, and attacks from Native Americans almost destroyed the colony.

Smith's books and maps were important in encouraging and supporting English colonization of the New World. Having named the region of New England, he stated: "Here every man may be master and owner of his owne labour and land. ... If he have nothing but his hands, he may...by industries quickly grow rich”.  

Smith was severely injured by a gunpowder explosion in his canoe, and he sailed to England for treatment in mid-October 1609. He never returned to Virginia. 

Colonists continued to die from various illnesses and disease, with an estimated 150 surviving that winter out of 500 residents. 

John Smith died on 21 June 1631 in London. He was buried in 1633 in the south aisle of Saint Sepulchre-without-Newgate Church, Holborn Viaduct, London. The church is the largest parish church in the City of London, dating from 1137. Captain Smith is commemorated in the south wall of the church by a stained-glass window. 

I was able to demonstrate direct linkage between the Kelleys and John Smith through 14 generations of relatives.  Smith is the 11th great grandfather of Brian.