The Pasquotank Spences: Alexander Spence, Sr. (1669-1734)
According to the records of the State of North Carolina, Alexander Spence proved the rights for five persons imported into Perquimans in 1697, whose names include: himself (Alexander), Dorety Spence, John Spence, David Spence, and James Spence. In 1699, he is listed as a road overseer in Perquimans, and in 1713, his name appears on a list of jurors. One confusing matter I discovered concerns the importation list of 1697. The "Dorety Spence" is identified as Alexander's daughter, not his wife. The transportation record is probably in error sinceDorothy Spence was really Alexander's wife and not his daughter. Alexander Spence and Dorothy Truman may have had a daughter named Dorothy, but she was not imported into North Carolina. Dorothy Spence accompanied her husband to North Carolina, per the following record of birth: "Alexander Spence was born 8 March 1699 to Alexander and Dorothy Spence" (The North Carolina Colonial & State Records, Vol. I).
John Spence apparently accompanied his brother, Alexander, to North Carolina, for his wife, "Cathron", was "imported by her husband John Spence, also three sons, in 1697. Robert Spence was one of the sons imported. As suggested earlier, the third brother, James Spence, did not relocate to North Carolina until after his mother's death in Somerset. Some researchers have suggested that Anne Roe Spence died in 1711. James Spence obtained a patent on 640 acres in Pasquotank, but because he did not cultivate the land by 1724, he lost his patent.
Concerning the Spence family of Northeast North Carolina, Three Hundred Years Along the Pasquotank states:
To the Spence family may belong the distinction of outstanding individuals over the longest period in the annals of this county. When the area now comprising Camden territory was formed into the Parish of St. Peter in 1715, one of the vestrymen appointed was "Mr. Alexr. Spence." In the aristocratic opinion of Colonel Edward Moseley only four names of those living on the northeast side were worthy of mention on his map published in 1733, and one of those was Spence (p. 122)
Three Hundred Years... also states that "in the northern part of the county within the general area of South Mills, there dwelt those worthy settlers: Gabriel Burnham, Thomas McBride, Patrick Kelly, Alexander Spence, John Jones, William Joy, Robert Edney and Robert Taylor. They too had built a place of worship, "Forke Chappell," near the Fork Bridge on Joy's Creek. Forke Chappell would become the McBride Methodist Church by the 1790s. Thomas McBride was the son of John McBride (mentioned in the John Truman Maryland will of 1685) and as previously noted, John McBride was probably a brother-in-law of John Truman.
In May 1998, my husband and I visited South Mills, North Carolina. We drove the Old Joy's Road to the McBride Methodist Church, and I filmed it on my camcorder. Unfortunately, I did not take any still photographs (something I am still regretting). The property transferred from an Anglican house of worship to Methodist house of worship. The two denominations originally shared the property, per a lease that is posted in the church foyer between Elisha McBride and Joshua Gambling, "Members of the Methodist Society," and to Joshua McPherson and Morgan Cartwright, "Members of the American Episcopal church...
... a half acre "on the south side of Joy's Creek near the Fork Bridge...for the purpose of finishing and keeping in repair a house of worship for their joint use."
According to Three Hundred years...
This common arrangement is indicative of the close relationship existing between the two religious bodies; indeed many of the elder Methodist ministers considered themselves priests in the Established Church, as had been their leader, John Wesley.
The lease has another significance in the history of the county. The document is a link in the chain of evidence which confirms the location of McBride's Church as the oldest site on which a house of worship has been in continual use on the northeast side of the river. The Provincial Assembly of 1715 authorized the erection of "chapels of ease" by the Established Church in Pasquotank and in other precincts. "The Forke Chappell," as it was designated, is shown on Edward Moseley's map published in 1733. The date of construction is a matter of conjecture. The building was probably erected on the lands of a wealthy planter, John Jones. Certain it is that the property was owned by his son Isaac and by various transactions passed into the hands of Benjamin Jones, who in turn transferred it to Jeremiah Sexton, the man granting the lease. The original structure seems to have been destroyed around 1782, and the new edifice was incomplete in 1792 when the Methodists assumed a share of responsibity for "finishing and keeping in repair" the chapel under construction. On this site, therefore, a sanctuary has been located for more than two hundred and twenty-five years.
Just when the name Fork Chapel was discarded and that of McBride's Chapel (as the name first was) was officially substituted is not clear. In 1801 Bishop Asbury wrote of a visit in the vicinity where he "lodged at Mr. James Spence's." Then he continues, "We came to McBirde's," evidently a misspelling of McBride and a reference to the church. On the other hand, the ancient appellation seems to have been still in use in 1806 at least by the public, for in that year Gideon Lamb sold to Arthur Old forty acres "near the Fork Chapel." By the time of 1820, however, the new designation had become established. The congregation is not only the oldest Methodist organization in the county, it is the only one honoring the name of an individual--Elisha McBride. One tradition, to be sure, claims the honor for Peter McBride, Elisha's son and an influential member who died in 1820, but the facts related in this sketch appear to discredit the theory. When first organized, Camden Methodist Church was called Nash's Chapel in honor of a prominent member. When the congregation moved to a new location, however, it substituted a new cognomen for the old one (pp. 120-121).
Alexander Spence died in April 1735. His will dated August 2, 1734 provides as follows:
To sons James (240 acres of land on the Eastern Shore in Maryland), Alexander, Joseph (land on Pasquotank River), Robert (land adjoining Richard Ferril, Abel Ross, John Trueblood), Truman (appointed Executor). Daughters: Jane and Catherine Sawyer. Witnesses: Jeremiah Murden, Thomas Sawyer, Evin Lurry. Clerk of the Court: Joseph Smith.
John Spence died in April 1736. His will dated March 14, 1735-1736 provides as follows:
To sons David and Alexander (lands divided between them). Daughters: Dorothy Davis, Elizabeth Spence. Granddaughter: Reachell Sawyer. Executors: Charles Sawyer and John Davis. Witnesses: George Rowe, Alexander Leflear, Elizabeth Lefleare. Clerk of the Court: Joseph Smith. Device on seal: Letters S. S., three circles and square.
Since Alexander and John make no reference to their wives Dorothy and Catherine, their wives no doubt predeceased them. Also, John Spence's will makes the first reference to a Roe/Rowe family living among them in North Carolina.
James Spence died about September 1740. His will dated March 20, 1739-1740 makes the following provisions:
Sons: Alexander, David, James. Daughters: Bridget Spence and Betty Mardrum. wife and Executrix: Sarah. Witnesses: John Jones, Berd Banger, Elizabeth Perishe. Clerk of the Court: James Craven.
James' second wife, Sarah, was still living at the time of his death. Her surname is unknown, but the possibility exists that she may have been a Roe or Rowe. His first wife, as already mentioned, was Elizabeth Booth.
Joseph Spence, Sr. (1715-1783)
Some controversy exists concerning Joseph Spence, Sr. He was born to Alexander Spence and Dorothy Truman in Pasquotank in 1715. However, his date of death, his wife, and some of his descendants have been confused with other members of the family. The information I present here is taken from documents retrieved from North Carolina, Maryland, and Virginia State Archives.
Joseph Spence's wife was Louisa Sarah Rencher, daughter of Samuel Rencher and granddaughter of John Renshae of Somerset County, Maryland. The name appears to have originally been "Ramshaw" in Virginia, where John's father William Ramshaw was ordered to fulfill his serviture. (William appears on a list of servants in 1624 in Virginia). William Ramshaw was born ca. 1600 in England, and he died after 1624 in Northampton County, Virginia. His wife's name is unknown.
John Renshae relocated to Somerset County, Maryland in 1661, where the spelling of his name changed to Renshaw. He married Frances Clarke ca. 1677 in Somerset County. The children of John Renshaw and Frances Clarke were:
1. Sarah, born 2 January 1680
2. Samuel, born 15 November 1682
3. John, born 14 March 1685
4. Thomas, born 4 April 1687
5. Frances, born 2 January 1689
6. Onderwood, born 1 April 1692
7.William, born March 1693/4 (Somerset Vital Records)
The name of their sixth child Onderwood (Underwood) suggests some family connection with the Underwoods. John Underwood patented two thousand acres of land in James City, Virginia in 1655. I do not know whether the Underwood connection exists on the Renshaw side of the family, or on the Clarke.
John Renshaw's property, originally known as Erlindy, was patented 20 May 1663 as 350 acres in Mt. Vernon Election District 5 by John Elzey. The history of the property follows, as taken from the Maryland Land records:
1693 Elzey to wife Sarah
1704 Sarah to Charles and Elenor Ballard
1706 Ballards to Joseph Austin
1711 Charles Austin and Ann Austin to John Renshaw
1666-1723 rent rolls: John Renshaw
1711 John Renshaw left to son Samuel Renshaw and to sons Thomas and Underwood, 250 acres
7 Nov 1722 Samuel Renshaw of Albermarle County of Pasquotank, apptd. Richard Chambers attorney to sell 50 acres.
1743 Resurvey by Thomas Renshaw and Underwood Renshaw for 381 acres
1753 Thomas and Alice Renshaw 23 acres to William Renshaw
19 Sept. 1769 William R. Renshaw and wife Martha to Levin Gale, 230 acres
1772 Ann Waller, 100 acres of William Renshaw, his share to John Crockett, who sold to Levin Gale
1783 - Tax - Thomas Renshaw, 149 acres
1783-Wm. Waller 252 acres
17 Feb. 1785 Levin Gale to Ann Huggins for 5 shillings, part, no acres given
1813- Town of Mt. Vernon
1813-Moses Horner purchased 100 acres
1877- Moses Horner possessed (MD & Herald Newspaper)--(From Maryland Land Records).
This record verifies that Samuel Renshaw, son of John Renshaw (Renshae), relocated to Pasquotank, North Carolina. He witnessed the will of Edward Jones in Pasquotank as follows:
Edward Jones--Pasquotank
Dated March 30, 1718. Probated July 15, 1720. Wife/Executrix: Ann. Brother: James Jones. Daughters: Priscilla Jones, Abigail Jones (land called Ferny Ridge). Wife gets land called Basteba. Brother-in-law: William Roos. Witnesses: William Phillips, Samuel Ransher. Original Will is missing: Recorded in book 1712-1722, p. 246.
Samuel Renshaw married Ann Hunter, daughter of William Hunter of Nansemond, Virginia. (William Hunter was the father of Isaac Hunter, whose daughter, Joan, married Phillip Perry II, and whose other daughter, Elizabeth, married Phillip Perry III. Isaac Hunter's wife was Elizabeth Parker, the daughter of Richard Parker.--remember the Parker connection with the Spence family earlier in Virginia--in 1649 Robert Parker transported John Spence(s) to Northampton County, Virginia. The marriage between Phillip Perry III and Elizabeth Hunter caused a rift in his family between himself and his sons by his first wife because he had married an aunt! Phillip Perry III and his second wife, Elizabeth, were the parents of Judah Perry, who married William Spence, son of Joseph Spence, Sr.). William Hunter's will, dated 29 April 1720 and recorded 25 July 1720 in Nansemond lists his wife, Elizabeth; his daughters Mary, Ann, and Martha, his brother James Hunter (who married Marianna Spence. Her relation to the Spences of Pasquotank has yet to be determined. She was a member of the Southampton Spences. These Spences may descend from John Spence, David Spence of Somerset's half brother, who was originally transported to Dorchester, Maryland by the Hoopers). This Hunter family also intermarried with the Taliaferros (see later discussion). Robert Smith, who witnessed William Hunter's will, was a member of the Smith-Taliaferro alliance. William Hunter's wife was Elizabeth Whitmell. And as already stated, Louisa Sarah Renshaw/Rencher, daughter of Samuel Renshaw and Ann Hunter, became the wife of Joseph Spence, Sr.
The children of Joseph Spence, Sr. and Louisa Sarah Rencher are disputed. I will present the information that I have:
1. Rencher, b. ca. 1739; d. ca. 1769; married twice. His first wife was Barschel Williams and his second wife was Perry (surname unknown). Rencher's children were David, James, Newton, Tamer, Nancy, Peggy, Jane, Daniel, and Samuel.
2. Joseph, Jr., who married Sarah Murden, daughter of Jeremiah Murden, per the following deed:
Jeremiah Murden of North Carolina in Pasquotank County, gentleman. For the love, good will and affection which I do bear towards my loving Grandson Jeremiah Spence do .. give...tract of land called by the name of Mabson's Ridge...80 acres...Middle Swamp...Joseph Spence my son in law and his wife Sarah Spence to have their life time in it as long as Joseph Spence lives and his wife during her widowhood...4 March and in the Eighteenth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King George the Second...1745.
Joseph Spence, Jr. was probably the eldest son of Joseph Spence, Sr. Joseph Sr., and he could have married by 1744. Jeremiah Spence, the son of Joseph Jr. and Sarah Murden would have been born in 1745 and, therefore, the reason for the deed from Jeremiah Murden.
3. Samuel, who died in 1804. Samuel had two wives: (1) Ann; (2) Lucy Williams. His second wife was first married to Joseph Temple. Their children were Brittain, Rencher, Joseph, Jean, Elizabeth, Newton E. and Ann.
4. Sarah Spence, who married a Sawyer. She is sometimes listed as a daughter of Joseph Spence, Jr. More than likely, this entry is correct.
5. David Spence (who held land adjacent to his brother, William Spence, and whose signature appears on William's Land Grant for service in the Revolutionary War).
6. Mark, who died in 1804 in Camden County, North Carolina. His daughters Polly, Viley, Cara, and Viney or Vina were first placed under the guardianship of Samuel Spence and in 1806, the guardianship was transferred to James Pearce.
7. James, who relocated to Randolph County, North Carolina. James Spence's wife's name is unknown. He was married before 1769, the year when his son, Malachi, was born. Three known children of James Spence were Cary, Esther and Malachi. Cary Spence died after being kicked by a horse. Malachi Spence married Courtney Ann Hubbard, and their children were Sadie, Salley, James, Polly, Rebecca, Keziah, Cary, and Williamson (Stuckey, Erma D., Darnall, Spence, Steers, Spangler, Stuckey, Sill...p. 539) James' wife may have been Lucy Upton, per the entry below:
9 Oct 1760 James Spence and Lucy his wife heir of William Upton deceased. William Upton departed this life in possession of said land and left four daughters behind, viz: Ruth, who is since supposed to be dead; Mary, Keziah and Lucy Upton, having one male heir and Lucy being of full age intermarried with the aforsaid James Spence. Sold to Joshua Gambling 214 acres for 30 pounds proclamation money and feathers enough to fill a bed.
8. William, from whom I descend. (See below)
9. Robert, who first settled in Tyrrell County and who later relocated to Davidson County, North Carolina. Robert died in Davidson County. His will dated 24 August 1825, and probated in September 1825 follows:
I have given to my son Joseph Spence to the amount of $40.00. And to my son Willis Spence I give one boy colt at $30.00 and I give him $10.00 in something else. All my sons to be made equal with them when they come of age or marry, that is my sons--Jeremiah Spence, Robert Spence, Daniel Spence, John Spence, Mark Spence and Thornton Spence. My son Alston Spence to have but 50 cents of my property. My wife, Lovey Spence, all my property, real and personal, during her life or widowhood to be used to support and raise my small children and to give them moderate learning. Further at the death or marriage of my wife, all shall be sold and equally divided among my children (after having been made equal with Joseph Spence and Willis Spence,--that is Jeremiah Spence, Willis Spence, Robert, Spence, John Spence, Daniel Spence, Mark Spence, and Thornton Spence. Exec--William Hannah. Wit: Henry Stewart, Joseph Spence, Alphasmy Reley.
Robert's son, John, was the father of Capt. James Spence, who settled in Jasper County, Missouri shortly after the Civil War. Capt. James Spence became a leading figure in Jasper County. More will be discussed about him in Volume II.
There has been some controversy concerning the parentage of Lemuel Spence. I believe this controversy lies in the similarity between the handwritten "Lemuel" and the handwritten "Samuel". Notice the following deeds, which have been transcribed from the original:
Joseph Spence, Sr., Pasquotank Co., 12 June 1778. Joseph Spence Sr. sold to Joseph Spence Jr., 40 acres for 100 pounds bounded by temple and Relfe. wit: Rencher Spence, Lemuel Spence. Proved 24 December 1781
Joseph Spence Sr. Pasquotank Co., 3 March 1778 Joseph Spence Sr. sold to Rencher Spence for 50 pounds 500 acres land on the SW side of the Pasquotank River bounded by Robert Relfe and Solom Sawyer to the main road. Wit: Joseph Spence, Samuel Spence. Proved 22 December 1781.
The first deed concerning a sale of land from Joseph Sr. to Joseph Jr. indicates that Rencher and "Lemuel" witnessed the transaction. The second deed (dated several months earlier), indicates that Samuel Spence witnessed the transaction between Joseph Sr. and Rencher. If you look at the original documents, the name in the first deed was really "Samuel"; the "S" and "a" can easily be mistaken for "L" and "e".
In another document, transcribers indicate that on 21 January 1804, "Lemuel" Spence is named guardian to the orphans of Mark Spence deceased. In 1806, James Pearce is substituted as guardian. Samuel Spence would be the appropriate name because Samuel had died by 1806. Irma Stuckey made the same error in her book about the Malachi Spence family when she said that Malachi's uncle was "Lemuel" Spence. Although she doesn't identify the record about which she was speaking, she probably mistook the name "Samuel" for "Lemuel". The strongest argument favoring "Samuel" over "Lemuel" stems from the name itself. The name "Samuel" is repeatedly continually among the descendants of Joseph Spence, Sr., while the name "Lemuel" is not. Samuel and Rencher, both sons of Joseph Spence, Sr., were named for their grandfather, Samuel Rencher.
There was a Lemuel Spence, but little is known about him. In 1788, Lemuel Spence married Elizabeth Jones. He appears on the 1790 Census for Pasquotank. Lemuel Spence is listed as a taxpayer in Pasquotank in 1769 and in Camden in 1782. In 1795, he is shown with 94 acres of land, 1 white poles, 2 black poles. Lemuel Spence may have been a son of James Spence of Randolph (and therefore his son and not his brother, as suggested by Stuckey). There is a body of evidence supports my contention: In 1769, Lemuel Spence appears on the same tax records with James Spence. He also appears on the 1782 tax list with Malachi Spence (who was a son of James of Randolph). In 1800, Lemuel appears on the Census for Camden County. Malachi Spence's children by Courtney Ann Massa Hubbard were James Spence II (b. 1 Aug. 1797, Randolph County, North Carolina, m. Susannah Callahan); Mary Spence (b. ca. 1800; m. James Rayburn); Rebecca Spence (b. 15 July 1802, m. Nathan Oldham); Keziah Spence (b. 11 Dec. 1805; d. 11 Aug 1893; m. John Darnall); Sarah Spence (m. Nathaniel Oldham); Cary Spence (b. 15 June 1811, m. Abagail Cunningham); Williamson D. Spence (b. 12 July 1814; m. Mary Darnall); Lacada Esther Spence (b. ca. 1816; d. 1832). An infant and the mother Courtney died in Kentucky. It is possible that if a male, this infant may have been named Lemuel.
A considerable amount of discussion has also centered upon Greaves Spence, who was a son of James Spence, Jr., son of James Spence Sr. On 8 January 1751, Greaves (spelled Graves) took out a land grant for 185 acres in a place called Joys fork. Greaves was the grandson of James Spence, Sr. (son of David and Anne of Somerset). His father was James Spence, Jr. Greaves did not leave a will, but he deeded his land to his children and grandchildren viz: son Edward (1768); son Noah (1794); son Mark (1794); grandson Abner (1802); daughter Rhoda (1803); and brother James (1765). Edward Spence, who is mentioned here, had a son named Jourdan Spence, b. 1792 in North Carolina. Jourdan eventually relocated to Tennessee and lived in the same areas with Elisha Spence's family members, until his final removal first to Kentucky and then to Texas. The names Mark, Abner and Noah Spence also appear on Tennessee records with Jourdan--they were his brothers and therefore, sons of Edward Spence.
I discovered an interesting item concerning William Joy (for whom Joys forke was named. This is from Thrree Hundred Years...
William Joy (1670-1725)....a restless individual named William Joy who seemed to have difficulty in deciding upon a place for a permanent abode. before 1700, he obtained a patent for 216 acres, title to which lapsed because he had failed to seat it properly--(he did not erect a dwelling place). He met the requirements on another tract of 364 acres called "The Poplar tables" and which he soon sold to Joseph Monck. In 1716, he received grants aggregating up to 1,000 acres lysing within the Fork between the Creek and upper reaches of the Pasquotank River--and he spent his days there. This became Joy's Fork....He would have kept wndering, but he became blind. He made two transactions to Cornelius Forehand and James Jones. In 1717 he was blind, and he petitioned the court to exempt him from taxation. He died December 1725. His wife's name was Margery and in 1733, Margery Joy removed to Virginia and authorized her attorney to sell all of her possessions (pp. 24-25).
Joseph Spence, Sr. died in 1783. Part of the confusion between Joseph Sr. and Joseph Jr. stems from the fact that Joseph Sr. does not mention all of his family in his will, which is dated 15 Mar 1783 and entered of record September 1783. He names his wife, Louisa Sarah, his daughter, Sarah Spence Sawyer, and two of his sons, Samuel and Mark. His will follows: [Note: the copy I have is of very poor quality and, therefore, very difficult to read]
..I give and bequeath to Louisa Sarah Spence wife all the ???? part of my estate during her living and natural life and att her desease, for it to be equaly divided between my two sons Samuel and Mark Spence to them and their heirs forever excepting ??? shiling apeace to be paid to each of my children as mentioned. I do hereby ... revoke all and every other testament....
Samuel Spence named executor with Ebenezer Sawyer
A reason for Joseph's omission of his other children can be found in many of the land records in Pasquotank and Camden Counties. Joseph Sr. had already provided for the rest of his children. At the time of Joseph's death, some of his sons had been fighting in the Revolutionary War. It is entirely possible that while they were away, Joseph Sr. had already provided for their families.
William Spence (1745-1785)
William Spence was born in 1745 in Pasquotank, North Carolina to Joseph Spence, Sr. and Louisa Sarah Rencher. His parentage is sometimes disputed and some researchers believe that he was a son of James Spence. However, because of his close association with Joseph Spence's children, because he had no sons named James and because his oldest son was named Joseph, I believe that Joseph Spence was his father. The Joseph Spence/Sarah Rencher argument is further strengthened by William's own name. He was named for his great grandfather, William Hunter, and he is the first of his generation to bear the name of William.
The date of William's birth has been calculated from the first appearance of his name on a 1766 militia list, from the birth dates of his children in 1770, 1774, 1776, 1779 and 1785, respectively. William married Judah Perry, daughter of Phillip Perry III and his second wife, Elizabeth Hunter (daughter of Isaac Hunter). The children of William Spence and Judah Perry follow:
1. Sarah, born 1770. By the time of William's death in 1785, Sarah had married a Leake. The first name of her husband is unknown. However, a number of Leakes appear on the records with Joseph Spence, Sr: in a deed dated 1782 witnessed by a Thomas and Jack Leak; in a second deed dated 1784 witnessed by Thomas Leak. Thomas Leak may have been Sarah's father-in-law; Jack Leak may have been her husband. She appears on her father's estate inventory as Sarah Leak.
2. Joseph, born 1774. Joseph had three marriages and is the only one of William and Judha's children who can establish an exact date of birth. The following is from The Spence Bible in possession of Marshall Burgess Brothers, Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Joseph Spence, the son of William and Judah Spence his wife was born 10 March 1774. His first wife was Lydia Sawyer, and their children were Peggy, born 11 June 1796, William, b. 25 February 1802, Sarah, born 12 Nov 18??, Olly, b. 29 April 1807, Elisha, b. 29 March 1810, Evan, b. 26 October 1812, Elizabeth, b. 30 Dec 1815. Their daughter Peggy had a son, whom she named Kelly, b. 14 December 1820; she was apparently unmarried. Lydia Sawyer Spence died 28 September 1825, and Joseph married Mary Brite 27 January 1827. Elisha Spence died 9 November 1827 aged 27 years and eight months, wanting one day. William Spence, son of Joseph, died 27 December 1831. I do not see a date of death for Mary Brite; however, 24 December 1843, Joseph Spence married a Susan Spence. Joseph Spence died 8 February 1841. Joseph remained in the Pasquotank/Camden area.
3. Elisha, born 1776 (from whom I descend)--see below.
4. Thornton, born 1779/1780. Thornton's wife's name was Hannah. Their children were Parthenia Spence, born about 1807, who first married James Temple, and whose second husband was James White; and Judha Spence, who married Edwin Davis. Thornton remained in the Pasquotank/Camden area. He died about 1829 in Pasquotank County, and appears on the 1810 Census for Pasquotank.
5 & 6 Twins--David and William Spence, who were born after their father's death in 1785. David never married and died in 1814 during the War of 1812, while in camp. His estate was administered in Davidson County, Tennessee by John Jones. More will be explained about this later. William removed to Davidson County, Tennessee by 1829, where he appears on the same census record with his brother, Elisha. He lived to be 86 years of age and died 16 September 1873 in Rutherford, Tennessee, where he was living with his son, Richard. The record is silent concerning his whereabouts until 1829.
William Spence first appears on a militia list for 1766, the muster roll of Capt. Jarvis Jones, Pasquotank County, commanded by Col. Thos. Taylor. Also appearing on the list are his brothers, Joseph Spence, Jr. and James Spence. He may have spent some time in Gates and Perquimans Counties with his Hunter cousins, where he no doubt became acquainted with his future wife. He married Judha Perry ca. 1769, and their first child, a daughter--Sarah-- was born in 1770.
William and Judha settled in Pasquotank County, where several land deeds appear of record bearing their names:
14 June 1775, William Spence of Pasquotank County, from William Spence and Juda his wife to Peter Cartwright 100 acres for 100 pounds lawful money.
14 June 1775, William Spence of Pasquotank County from William Spence and Judia his wife to Peter Cartwright 90 acres of land for 150 pounds proclamation money, and a negro girl named Lydia with all her increases for 999 years.
Their son, Elisha, was born about the time the Revolutionary War broke out. The following account was written by me via e-mail dated 11 March 1999 called "William Spence of Pasquotank, the 3rd NC, a Roster List, a Used Book Sale, a Trip to the Library, and Sheppard's Additional Continental Regiment, Parts I-V". This was originally published on the Spence discussion list at Rootsweb. I set it out verbatim here:
As most of you know, I've been finalizing William Spence's DAR application and intend to send it off next week. I confess that I've been dragging my feet a little because a number of matters puzzled me, and I wanted to make sure that I had everything right before shipping.
One thing really puzzling me was William Spence's service record. I knew that he was in the 3rd North Carolina Continental and that he served under Capt. John McNees. I obtained that information from Roster of North Carolina Soldiers in the Revolutionary War. But according to that book, William Spence, along with several thousand other men, served 84 months in the Revolutionary War, were privates, and they each received 640 acres of land. I wondered how someone could serve five years in the army without a promotion (especially in those days when there we so many 90-day wonders).
Then another question arose. While shuffling through the North Carolina Army Accounts in a Maryland library one summer, I stumbled across a record testifying that William Spence received payment for something during the Revolution. I jotted down the information, put it in a notebook, and then rediscovered it several months ago. So I wrote the North Carolina Archives for a copy of that record and received it. William Spence received $30 for his gun (they had to furnish their own weapons back then). The list was an original roster of soldiers in the Revolution; however, it was undated. No commanding officer or company name appeared on the form. While I was pleased to have it in my possession, I had decided to omit it from the application in process because it really didn't tell me anything. So I put it in a file in my file cabinet and forgot about it until my great cataloging endeavor last weekend. I rediscovered the roster.
For approximately five or ten minutes, I sat staring at the sheet, weighing the possibilities of whether to include it. Then I noticed one name appearing at the top of the roster: Kinston. I didn't know whether this was a person, place or thing at the time.
Enter the used book sale.
My husband is a yard sale, used book store, flea market shopper. He even goes to the library used book sales. And that's where I think he found this little gem: The Continental Army by Robert K. Wright, Jr., published by the center of Military History, United States Army, Washington DC, 1983. (The book is part of the Army Lineage Series). While leafing through the North Carolina Section and marking the pages I planned to copy for my application, I stumbled across an item that took my break away:
SHEPPARD'S ADDITIONAL CONTINENTAL REGIMENT (10th North Carolina regiment) p. 303:
Authorized 17 April 1777 in the North Carolina State Troops as Sheppard's Regiment. Organized 19 April-1 July 1777 at KINSTON to consist of eight companies from the northeastern part of the state.
Adopted 17 June 1777 into the Continental Army as Sheppard's Additional Continental Regiment and assigned to the Main Army. Disbanded 1 June 1778 at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
Engagements: Philadelphia-Monmouth.
I immediately hauled out a map and discovered that Kinston was located in Craven County. And the next day found me "off to the library" once again...I checked out Rankin's North Carolina Continentals once again and spent the evening reading about the 10th. This is the story.
Abraham Sheppard commanded a battalion in South Carolina. There was just one problem: he HATED South Carolina. He hated the climate, he hated the mosquitoes, he hated the people. There was not one good thing he could say about the state. So he started pleading with the North Carolina Legislature to please, please, please get him out of that state. He wanted to create another North Carolina regiment.
At first, the Legislature denied his request. North Carolina already had nine regiments; the Legislature said that the state didn't need any more. Sheppard continued pleading, and then his pleading turned into promising. If North Carolina would let him create a tenth regiment, he would recruit 300 men, march them North and help Washington pound the British. If the Legislature would just give him the chance, the war would be over much sooner, he told them.
That sounded like an excellent proposition to the North Carolina Legislature. Could he really recruit 300 men? Yes, he could, he told them; just please get him out of South Carolina and give him a chance! So they did.
Enter William Spence of Pasquotank.
The 10th North Carolina Regiment was authorized 17 April 1777 and organized 19 April - 1 July 1777. Sheppard put out handbills all over the northeastern part of the state, promising a great bonus to any man who would enlist. When William Spence first saw the handbill, his eyes focused upon that bonus. That much money and land to join the army! he thought. He could certainly use that money for his family. He had a wife and three young children, Sarah, Joseph and infant Elisha. Times were hard. And besides, he supported the patriots. England had never been all that kind to his family. With all those men fighting together, why they could send the English back to England, and he would be home by planting time. A little danger was involved, he told his wife. But then, danger existed everywhere. So William went off to Craven, gun in hand, and joined the 10th North Carolina Regiment. It didn't take him long to realize that he was in for more than he bargained.
Despite promises made on the handbill, not many men took advantage of the opportunity. William was among the few Edenton men who walked to Craven. The majority of the respondents were sick, tattered, back country men. Sheppard should have known that to march these men anywhere would be asking them to commit suicide. However, he was free of South Carolina. He was back in civilization. So he reported to the North Carolina Legislature that he had his men, who promptly sent the message on to Washington.
"Good!" said Washington. "Tell them to go to Richmond, Virginia and await further orders. In June 1777, Sheppard marched his men into Virginia, but stopped only a few miles from Halifax, North Carolina, where he parked his men. Then he returned to his home in Dobbs County, North Carolina--and the 10th did not advance.
Washington became quite irritated when he did not see those 300 men of the 10th anywhere in sight. When Sheppard was discovered enjoyed home life in Dobbs county, he was ordered to immediately rejoin his men and march them on to Maryland--no ifs, ands, or buts about it! This was a war--not a Sunday picnic. Reluctantly, Sheppard joined his men, and they began the long march northward. Several problems arose immediately, however:
1. His men didn't have any shoes
2. His men didn't have any breeches
3. His men didn't have any food.
4. And the bonuses promised the men for joining the army were put on hold. They weren't going to get the money until after they had fulfilled their mission of combat.
All of these problems, plus the rotten weather, made the men of the 10th rather grumpy. The lack of clothing and food made them rather ill. Many of them came down with various ailments and many of them died while en route. One reason for the slowness of the march was because the 10th had to stop every few miles to bury someone. Desertions were out of sight. By the time they reached Maryland, the desertion rate was one man for every mile.
Washington really became angry when he discovered that those promised 300 men had not yet reached the Valley Forge encampment. Where were they, anyway? Winter was setting in; he was planning a huge campaign in a few months. He needed those men! They were so slow in arriving at Valley Forge that he finally sent out an officer to hurry them on in.
Sheppard's Additional Continental Regiment (the 10th North Carolina) did not arrive at Valley Forge until February! When they finally straggled in, only a few of them remained--one of them, William Spence. They were so late in arriving, they missed the smallpox inoculation. And so few of them remained, that Washington disbanded the 10th altogether. The survivors were disbursed among the other existing unites, primarily the 1st North Carolina and the 2nd North Carolina. William Spence was assigned to the 3rd North Carolina, where he would serve under Capt. John McNees.
Rankin said the main problem with the 10th North Carolina Regiment was its inept leader, Abraham Sheppard. While he appeared enthusiastic, he really was a BIG PROCRASTINATOR. His records were in such chaos that no one could really tell who was assigned to his unit. The list I obtained from the North Carolina Archives showing William's payment for his gun was actually issued in 1780. He had to wait three years for that payment, and then that was the only money he received for his efforts with the 10th. Abraham Sheppard's brother, Benjamin Sheppard, handled the money for the unit, and a great deal of corruption was going on at the top--something many of the enlistees paid for dearly with their lives. It wasn't that the 10th did not receive shoes or breeches or food. The 10th received more than the other nine. The "sticky fingers" in action at the top of the unit quickly consumed what the unit was actually given.
The survivors of the 10th suffered further through the remaining winter at Valley Forge. A blizzard set in in March, a few weeks to a month after their arrival. It wasn't one of those quick in-and-out blizzards like some of the spring blizzards we have here in Colorado. It howled and it howled and it howled, and it lasted what seemed like forever.
The survivors of the 10th fought at Philadelphia-Monmouth. William Spence, now a member of the 3rd North Carolina, saw quite a bit of action. The Wright book says that the 3rd North Carolina was reduced to a cadre 1 June 1778 at Valley Forge and was concurrently relieved from the North Carolina Brigade. The winter at Valley Forge and subsequent battles had taken such a toll on the 3rd that it was sent home so the officers could recruit, and also, so that the men could recuperate. William Spence began the long march south and returned to his family in Pasquotank.
Facts concerning Sheppard's Additional North Carolina Regiment and the 3rd North Carolina Regiment certainly agree with the information I have on William Spence. His daughter was born in 1770. Joseph, his oldest son, was born in 1774. Elisha was born in 1776. And then William joined the Army in 1777. He returned home by summer 1778, and his son, Thornton, was born ca. 1779/80. Also in 1779, according to the Pasquotank/Camden records, William Spence appears of record as having petitioned for a road to go through Dismal Swamp.
The Wright book says that the 3rd North Carolina was reorganized 9 July 1778 at Halifax to consist of nine companies. It was relieved 7 November 1778 from the Main Army and assigned to the Highlands Department. It was relieved 19 December 1778 from the Highlands Department and was assigned to the Middle department. It was reduced to a cadre 17 April 1779 at Philadelphia; concurrently relieved from the Middle Department and assigned to the Southern department.
So much for William Spence's recuperation. The 3rd North Carolina was reorganized 5 November 1779 at Halifax to consist of nine companies. It was assigned 14 February 1780 to Parker's Brigade, an element of the Southern Department. It was relieved 6 March 1780 from Parker's Brigade and assigned to the North Carolina Brigade, an element of the Southern Department. The situation around Charleston South Carolina was growing tense, so it was time to round up the 3rd and head them south.
William Spence marched with the 3rd to Charleston. On 12 May 1780, the 3rd was captured in the fall of Charleston to the British. William Spence was among those captured. He and the other continentals were placed aboard prison ships in Charleston Harbor, where they were left to "rot" for approximately 13 months. At first, these ships were "standing room only", but as comrades began to die, more room was allowed for movement. Each night the death boats left the ships to bury the dead somewhere in the darkness. Conditions aboard these ships were unbearable. Finally in June 1781, the prison ships were taken to Jamestown, and William Spence and the other continentals were released. The 3rd North Carolina reorganized while William was a prisoner in Charleston, but William Spence's days with the Army were over. He was too sick to continue the fight, and he returned to his home in Pasquotank, where he died in 1785.
According to Rankin, North Carolina was the most liberal among the state to award land grants to its men who served in the army during the Revolutionary War. Because its soldiers had suffered so much, the state credited especially those who had been taken prisoner, with 84 months of service, even though they didn't actually serve that long. It was the only state to give so many privates 640 acres of land apiece. William Spence joined the Sheppard Regiment in summer 1777 and in February 1778, he was transferred to the 3rd North Carolina. Then he went home to recuperate in summer 1778. He returned to duty in 1779 for the long march to Charleston, where he was taken prisoner in 1780. He spent approximately 13 months on a prison ship. And that was the end of his service. He may have served a little more than a year of active duty and he did serve 13 months while confined to a prison ship. That was probably the true length of his service.
What he originally regarded as a golden opportunity turned into a terrible nightmare. His immediate family possibly failed to receive any benefit of his land grant. William made out his will in February 1785 and was dead by June of that year. His brother, James Spence and his wife Jude, were appointed co-executors. Jude was pregnant with twins at the time of William's death, however. She married David Jones in Gates County, so the family left Pasquotank. The land grant was not issued until October 1785. It should have gone through William's estate-but it didn't. David Spence, William's brother (whose property bordered William's plantation), signed over the land grant "for value received" to John McNees, under whom William served in the 3rd. McNees then sold it to John Nichols; Nichols then sold it to James Malloy. I suppose that David Spence was the only person around when the original grant was delivered. Since he was one of William's brothers and since Jude and the children were gone, David was able to accept the grant and sign it over to McNees "for value received". It is quite possible that none of William's heirs, or even his Executor-brother James, ever knew anything about the land grant's existence concerning that "worthless old piece of property somewhere in the wilds of Tennessee". Many of those land grants were transferred for the hefty sum of $5.00 each!
And so we have the story. I have a copy of William Spence's land grant. A huge hospital complex in Nashville sits on part of it today. For the longest time I had thought that Elisha Spence perhaps took advantage of part of the grant by moving to Davidson County. He lived nowhere near it and probably knew nothing about its existence.
From time to time I have speculated about the irony of so many Spences espousing causes and then losing personally in the end: David Spens, the Laird of Wormiston, supported Queen Mary of Scots--and lost his life. David Spence o.f Somerset patented 1,000 acres in Somerset County, Maryland, only to die at a rather young age, while his children were still young. Elisha Spence's grandson, Newton Jasper Spence, would fight for the Confederacy and spend two years in Federal prisons--Alton and Fort Delaware. And now William Spence of Pasquotank (1745-1785), who thought that his service in the Revolutionary Army might benefit his family--
--first joined a "slip-shod outfit" headed by an inept leader..
--next survived an unspeakable march from North Carolina to Valley Forge,
--then survived the terrible winter at Valley Forge,
--next survived the battles at Philadelphia and Monmouth,
--only to be taken prisoner after the fall of Charleston, South Carolina,
--and only to be housed under unspeakable conditions aboard a prisoner of war ship for over a year,
--and then, finally, lose his one monetary reward for all of his difficulties: the 640 acres of land.
I don't know about Sarah, Joseph, Thornton and William, but Elisha and David were very poor when they died. Their estate files look rather bleak.
The "winner-loser" motif runs throughout this Spence family history, and it is a theme that is constantly repeated. So many people seem trapped inside a revolving wheel!
I wonder how far back we can trace it?
(to be continued)