Margaret;

I'm not familiar with the New Canaan Settlement of which you speak, so I cannot help you with that. However, with regard to your Smiths, here's what I found in the 1861 census:

Essex County, Colchester, page 45

SMITH, David, 47, farmer, b. US, mulatto, religion = Episcopal Methodist
... Mrs. 38, b. US, mu, same religion
... Mary 20, b. US, same, same
... Marion 14, b. US, same, same
... Martha 13, b. US, same, same
... Eliza 11, b. US, same, same
... Laura 9, b. US, same, same
... Evangelin 7, b. US, same, same
... Anna 5, b. CW (Canada West), mu, Epis Meth
... David 3, b. CW, same, same

Please keep in mind that this is a TRANSCRIPTION and may/may not reflect the actual census. You still need to refer to the actual census page.

It's kind of unfortunate that they had so many daughters (harder to trace) I

I'm sure you have already found him listed in the 1871 census (on Archivia.net through the Canadian Archivies online), living in Colchester, 50 years old, religion Christian Brethren. I also notice a Mary Smith (schoolteacher) living nearby who I SUSPECT is his daughter

In 1881 I did find a Daniel Smith who MAY be yours:
Essex County, N. Colchester, Dist 181, Sub-Dist D, page 13
SMITH, Daniel, 69, widower, of African descent, b. US, Carpenter, religion = Methodist

He was living with a John Allen (86) and Thoedosia Allen (72) who were both also black and also b. US.

It's also too bad that the rest of the Canadian census hasn't been indexed (1881, 1891, and 1901), but I hope this helps you somewhat.

Good luck in your research, my dear, and let me know if I can be of further assistance.

- Lisa B. Lee
Oakland, CA