First of all let me say that I admire the work you have done. I am a Smith a direct descendant of Christoph Schmidt and Helena Grundling, Peter Smith (The Rev War Pension Peter) whom I believe wife's name is Maria Magdalena born Feb 9th 1764 at Bethbara died Aug 17th 1810 buried at God's Acre Moravian Cemetery, Jacob Smith and Nancy Pinegar, John Smith and Elizabeth Bettie Brown, Peter Smith and Ann Slaughter, Jacob Smith and Elizabeth Manuel, Thomas Lee Lafayette Smith and Betty Manuel, Chris George Smith (My Grandfather whom was originally named Christopher Columbus but changed it) and Carrie Lee Duggins (Originally spelt Dugans "Irish", Bobby Lewis Smith and Mary Ann Glover (My parents), and myself Bobby Jay Smith and Cheryl Annette Arrington. Our fourth son we named Jacob, my Cousin named his first born Christopher. All of above except for dad where born and raised in Stokes County NC. Forsyth did not become a county until 1849. I can not disreguard Peter Smith's pension as I believe it is the strongest evidence of the line just mentioned. The pension gives so much detail as Peter explains in it how he and his parents moved to Rowan which was divided into Surry Co which was divided into Stokes Co. The Moravian records show that 10 homes where completed in April of 1760 and Christoph Schmidt and Helena moved to what was then Rowan Co, Peters pension says they arrived in May of 1768 I believe the 1768 was an error on Peters memory or William Hill who took down his information. In the 1790 census there is only one of each Christoph, Christian, Peter and John all mentioned in his (Christophs will of 1799-1800) Since his pension states that he lived in Stokes County in 1790 and the 1790 Stokes Co census only shows one Peter Smith to me this means it has to be him. Also the 1790 Stokes Co Census has Peter Smith living in and beside or near the witnesses for his Pension, land records and family, Pinegars (Peniker) whom Jacob (Peters son) who would married their daughter Nancy Pinegar. Peter's pension states that he guarded the magazines at Salem. I could go on and on showing how this comes about, this being that there is a Christop Schmidt and a Christian Smith his son, who had a brother named Peter whose father was Christoph Schmidt. I understand where you are coming from as 90 percent of the information on the internet has Christoph and Christian the same person and Peter and Rev War Peter two diferent people as if Rev War Peter just wonders up one day and is not related to anybody. It's sad because what I am purposing does not change anyones research it only adds one generation. If we choose to ignore Rev War Peter Smith and that all the land records, the Wills, the Census where Peter is mentioned are not of him, then where are his records, he states he lived there (Rowan divided into Surry divided into Stokes)for 80 years and no records??? He died before Forsyth became a county. Once again I admire the research that you have done and do not question your ability. The reason why what you see on the internet rejects Rev War Peter is because his pension puts a hole in their research. They'll have excuses such as he doesn't mention family members in the pension and he doesn't have a will. His wife would have died 22 years before his pension why would he mention her, and his children were in their 40's. I admit there is not a Will, his pension states that he had cancer and was poor. I purpose that he had long gave what he had to his children when he had become aware of his cancer. I believe I can prove this with land records. Once again my purposal does not change anything except that it adds a generation making Christoph and Christian two different people and Peter and Rev War Peter the same. I am willing to continue sharing ideas about this line. Forgive any typos as it's late.

Sincerely

Jay Smith