Joel Smead

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"Like as the opening flower he bloom'd

With flat'ring prospects bright,

But withering faded just at noon

And clos'd his eyes in night."

Joel was the eighth of Jonathan and Rosanna (Patterson) Smead's ten children, and the youngest son. He was born in Greenfield, MA on September 26, 1779.

The Smeads were among the earliest white settlers in the area, arriving in Deerfield the late 1680s. When the Greenfield District was incorporated as its own town separate from Deerfield in 1753 several of the Smeads were elected to town offices. They remained one of the town's most prominent and influential families through the Colonial era.

Joel's father served during the Seven Year's War. The powderhorn he carried was donated to the Memorial Hall Museum in Deerfield in the 1880s. It was one of three stolen in 1949, but was found and returned to the museum in 2014 and is currently on display.

Sadly Joel passed away on September 10th, 1785 about two weeks before his 16th birthday. He is buried in the High Street Cemetery in Greenfield near several of his family members.

Joel's gravestone was likely carved by Jonathan Allen.

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In memory of Mr.

JOEL SMEAD

son of Mr. Jonathan

and Mrs. Rosana Smead

who died Sept. 10 th,

1795 in the 16 th year

of his age.

Like as the opening flower he bloom'd

With flat'ring prospects bright,

But withering faded just at noon

And clos'd his eyes in night.