Profile Text
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: * biological father – Ashkenazi Jewish * mother – English, Welsh
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 was raised the daughter of Beverly (Williams), a jazz singer and waitress, and Grant Harrison Smith, a machinist at Honeywell and WWII veteran. She was raised in Germantown, Philadelphia, and then Pitman, and The Woodbury Gardens section of Deptford Township, in New Jersey. At the age of 70, through a DNA test, she discovered that her biological father was named Sidney, another WWII soldier, “a handsome gunner from the 766th Bombardment Squadron.” She described her biological father’s heritage as “100 percent Ashkenazi Jewish.”
Patti was married to guitarist Fred “Sonic” Smith, until his death. The couple has two children, including guitarist Jackson Smith.
Patti’s legal 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 legal 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, who was 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 Wakefield, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Joseph was born in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, the son of John L. Williams and Dolly/Delia Frances Roles. Patti’s great-grandmother Olive was born in Morris, Grundy County, Illinois, 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 Manchester, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. Frank was born in Manchester, the son of Charles F. Smith and Charlotte Jennie Gibson. Florence was born in Manchester, the daughter of Frank D. Hanscom, who was born in Maine; and of Marie Antoinette “Nettie” Fuller.
Sources: https://parade.com https://www.wcsy.com
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