The name
which is the equivalent to Spence means custodian or dispenser, of
the larder. Believed to be derived from the old French "despense."
This may have originally been an office within the monastic
system, but from the thirteenth century onwards the name Spensa is
used to describe royal officials.
Henry Spens
witnessed a charter by Robert, Earl to Fife in 1390 and in that
earldom the Spens prospered. Henry de Spens of Lathallan swore
fealty to Edward I of England. After his death Thomas succeeded
and was notee in two of the charteers of Robert the Bruce.
By the 1500's
the family had some prominence with John Spens of Lathallan
sitting in parliament of James I of Perth. He married Isabel
Wemyss and had three sons. Patric, the youngest son, was a member
of the Guard of Scots Archers sent to France where he settled and
his family is the Spens-Destinot de Lanere. The Garde Ecossaise,
as they were known remained the bodyguards of the King until the
1789 revolt in France. Thomas, the second son, entered the Church
and rose to high office. He was appointed Bishop of Galloway and
Lord Privy Seal until 1470, then translated to Bishopric of
Aberdeen where he was regularly employed on states business as a
shrewd negotiator. He negotiated a treaty with England. He died in
Edinburgh in 1480 and his tomb is in the Chapel of Roslin.
Alexander Spens, first born heir to Lathallan married the sister
of Admiral Sir Andrew Woods, received a charter from James II
creating him constable of Crail Harbour.
During the
reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, the family was divided. Sir John
Spence of Condie was Lord Advocate but adheared to the reformed
Church. When commanded by the Queen to prosecute John Knox for
treason, he did so with reluctance and Knox was acquitted. David
Spens of Wormieston, however was a loyal subject of Mary and was
denounced by Parliament and summoned to the Regent Lennox 1571.
David was one of the ringleaders of the attempt to seize Lennox at
Stirling. He was given the task taking the Regent personally to
hold a hostage. When some of his conspirators decided to kill the
Regent, David stopped the pistol shot by placing himself in front
of his prisoner. Tragically, when supporters of Lennox rescued him
they killed David on the spot, despite the Regents attempts to
save him.
The Spens
family was later reconciled to James VI who sent Sir James Spens
of Wormieston as Ambassador to Sweden where a branch of the family
settled, rising to Swedish nobility as Counts Spens. Dr. Nathaniel
Spens (1728-1815,) second son of the 15th Laird of Lathallan
bought back Craigsanquhr. He was President of the Royal College of
Physicians (1794.) In 1792 his descendant, Sir Patrick Spens
(1885-1973,) was created 1st Lord Spens of Blairsanquhar, Fife in
1959.
Source:
"Collins Scottish Clans and Family Encyclopedia, " Harper-Collins
Publishers, 1994.
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