Patti Smith

Smith in 2014, photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: Patricia Lee Smith

Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Date of Birth: December 30, 1946

Ethnicity: Irish, English, Welsh, Cornish

Patti Smith is an American singer, songwriter, musician, author, and poet. She is particularly known for her album “Horses” (1975) and her song “Because the Night” (1977).

Patti is the daughter of Beverly (Williams), a jazz singer and waitress, and Grant Harrison Smith, a machinist at Honeywell. She was raised in Germantown, Philadelphia, and then Pitman, and The Woodbury Gardens section of Deptford Township, in New Jersey.

Patti was married to guitarist Fred “Sonic” Smith, until his death. The couple has two children, including guitarist Jackson Smith.

Patti’s paternal grandfather was William Walter Harrison Smith (the son of Robert Smith and Annie Jane McKellin/McCullen). William was born in New Jersey, to Irish parents.

Patti’s paternal grandmother was Jessie Pollard (the daughter of Alfred James Pollard and Ellen Mason). Jessie was English, from Liverpool, Lancashire. Alfred was the son of Servaties/Servilus Henry Pollard, from Falmouth, Cornwall, and of Susanna Edwards.

Patti’s maternal grandfather was Franklin Milton “Frank” Williams (the son of Joseph Lee Williams and Olive Lily Hart). Franklin was born in Massachusetts. Joseph was the son of John L. Williams and Dolly/Delia Frances Roles. Olive was the daughter of George Hart, who was born in Larling, Norfolk, England, and of Balinda/Belinda/Malinda Evans.

Patti’s maternal grandmother was Marguerite Hanscom Smith (the daughter of Frank/Franklin Bertram/Bert/Burt Smith and Florence Marguerite/Margaret Hanscom). Patti’s grandmother Marguerite was born in New Hampshire. Frank was the son of Charles F. Smith and Charlotte Jennie Gibson. Florence was the daughter of Frank D. Hanscom, who was born in Maine, and of Marie Antoinette “Nettie” Fuller.

Sources: Genealogies of Patti Smith – https://www.geni.com
https://gw.geneanet.org

Patti’s father on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Marriage record of Patti’s maternal great-grandparents, Frank/Franklin Bertram/Bert/Burt Smith and Florence Marguerite/Margaret Hanscom – https://www.familysearch.org