In fact he was the son of Cotes' uncle, the Reverend John Smith, and had become friends with Cotes when his uncle had him live in his house as a boy.
Sa katunayan siya ay ang anak ng Cotes' tiyuhin, ang kagalang-galang John Smith, at nagkaroon na maging kaibigan sa Cotes kapag ang kanyang tiyuhin na siya nakatira sa kanyang bahay bilang isang batang lalaki.