John Smith, Lancashire 

John Smith of Lancashire – According to M. F. Thomas, “The only known Smith to feature in connection with Brassey Green is Mr. John Smith of Wirswell, to whose home Miss Anne Walley was sent after her father’s death, and where she was brought up. John Smith’s wife, Mary, nee Richardson, was a sister-in-law of Mr. Samuel Walley of Brassey Green, Anne’s great uncle. John Smith himself was too young to have had any influence with Cornelius Gregory, but census returns show that he was born in Beeston, so it is quite likely that the two families were in contact. No documentary evidence has been found to show that any member of the Smith family preached at Brassey Green, but this does not preclude the possibility.” If Hartley can be trusted, it would appear from this letter that Smith did indeed preach at Brassey Green. Another possibility is a William Smith who ministered in the 1790s at Hag Gate in Lancashire. Numerous Walleys were involved in the Baptist churches at Brassy Green, Tattenhall, and Wrexham. John Walley (1689-1776) was instrumental in founding the work at Tattenhall, having his house licensed as the first meeting place for the congregation. He nephew at that time was the landlord for the Brassy Green church property. See Margaret F. Thomas, Brassey Green & Tarporley:  A Baptist History (n.p., 1984), 15; John Rippon, ed., Baptist Annual Register, vol. 1 (1790-93), p. 7; vol. 2 (1794-97), p. 7; vol. 3 (1798-1801), p. 21.