Rebecca Smith (maiden name unknown) was born around 1812 in Georgia. She got married, and she had at least ten children: Patsey, born around 1831; William, born around 1833; Ephraim, born around 1835; R. A., born around 1836; Lucinda, born around 1838; Vesta, born around 1840; James, born around 1843; Nancy Melinda, born around 1844; Sarah, born around 1846; and Mary, born around 1848. Her husband died in the late 1840s. She lived in Habersham County, Georgia, and by 1850, she owned $500 of real estate. Her daughter Melinda was blind, and she attended the Georgia Academy for the Blind from 1858 until 1868.
Smith moved to White County, Georgia, in the 1850s, and she earned a living as a farmer. By 1860, she owned $1,000 of real estate and $485 of personal property. A decade later, her wealth had fallen to $500 of real estate and $251 of personal property. She died sometime after 1880.