Welcome to another exciting update on our Speer family. The 29-page William Speer, Sr. genealogical list included here contains 70 new families! In addition there are lots of new date and name corrections in the database. Several new family history letters are published here for the first time. Be sure to see the caution about Coats of Arms; don’t fall victim to advertising. My Irish and Scottish research is just getting under way, but some things, such as surname spellings, are already evident. Some interesting comments on origins of the SPEER surname are included. Finally, additional related Speer Civil War soldiers are listed, as well as a short Civil War diary by an allied family member. As usual, superscript generation numbers at the end of Speer family member names correspond to those used in the 1998 book and the updated genealogy list contained herein.

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My initial look for Speer records in Ireland and Scotland has only involved the Internet. But several observations are already evident. While the spelling of our surname Speer has been consistent since William came to the US in 1772, it appears it may not have always been so! Our surname may have been spelled differently by our Scottish ancestors.

The surnames Spier\Speir (often with an ending ‘s’) are much more common in 16th- and 17th-century records in Scotland, than the surname Speer. Many of these families immigrated to Ireland, as we believe our family did, and apparently changed the spelling from Spier\Speir to Speer\Speere (again with or without an ending ‘s’). This change could reflect the general lack of written records at the time and the influence of regional pronunciations. Many Scottish Spier/Speir families that immigrated to England changed their spelling to Spear/Spears. However there was no consistency in the change in spelling and some people even used the various surname spellings within the same family! In addition, families with the same variant spellings also immigrated out of Germany and probably other countries.

William’s emphasis on education and the academic achievements of his family suggest that he came from a similar legacy. Hopefully our ancestors used the spelling Speer even in Scotland! It would make my job much easier!

As you can imagine, written records become less available as one goes back in time. Most of the Irish and Scottish records I am interested in date from before the 1750’s. Universal government record keeping did not develop until later, thus I am forced to rely largely on less-official church, court and land sale records. Although some of these records are available here in the US through the Internet and specialty libraries like the LDS Family History Centers, many records can only be researched in Ireland or Scotland.

While the origin of any surname is actually lost in history and is beyond the scope of my research, I have come across some research by others that bears on the question. Most references lump all of the variant spellings together and mention an occupational origin such as spearmaker, spear user (hunter), or spy (lookout).

A Dictionary of Surnames (P. Hanks and F. Hodges, 1989, Oxford Univ. Press) gives the following:

2. German cognate of Spear, from German Speer, Spear, Sper, Spare, Spere

3. German: cognate of Sparrow

4. Jewish: of unknown origin

SPEAR

English: nickname for a tall, thin person, or else for a skilled user of the hunting spear. Spere, Spear. In part it may also have been a metonymic occupational name for a maker of spears. Var: Speare, Speir, Spier (Scotland), Speer (N. Ireland).

Note that the preferred spelling in Scotland was Spier, while Speer existed in Northern Ireland and Germany and Spear in England.

In his 1988 book, The Descendants of George Spear who settled at Baintree, Massachusetts 1642-1988, Verne Raymond Spear writes of the various surname origins:

Today, the location of Speer families world wide may give a clue to the existence of ‘Mother Countries’. S-p-e-e-r families are most numerous in the following countries (from greatest to least): United States, Germany, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, Northern Ireland, Austria, New Zealand, Ireland, and Switzerland (based on survey conducted by Halbert’s Family Heritage). Eliminating the more-recently settled colonies, the numbers suggest that the spelling Speer is of ancient origin in Germany, England and Northern Ireland. Perhaps the name first appeared independently in those countries, or was carried by immigrates between these countries long before recorded history.

The vast number of Speer in Germany today suggests this may be the place of origin for many Speer lines. However, our Speer line, and apparently many others, appears to have originated in Northern Ireland in the 17th century when Scottish Spier/Speir(s) immigrants changed to the Speer spelling.

The following is a transcription of 1945 letter from Rev. Foster Pierce Speer (1874-1971) to his step-mother Frances Hines Hoyt (1866-1949), second wife of Andrew Jackson Speer (1833-1918). Frances, called Fannie, lived in Columbia, SC but after falling and breaking her hip, was moved to Charleston to be with her son Jack (Andrew Jackson Speer, II) and his wife Ruby Hawkins. Foster was one of ten children of Andrew Jackson Speer³ (William¹, William²) and his first wife Sophia Williamson Verdel (1839-1895). Foster did not like his middle name and it was never used. He married Henrietta Augusta Pooser (Hettie) in 1898 and was a Methodist minister who served in numerous places in South Carolina, before settling down in Plumb Branch where he raised two daughters. Frances Hoyt married Andrew Jackson Speer in 1901 and they had two children. In the transcription, words with uncertain spelling are shown by question marks.

Plumb Branch, Feb 2 {1945}

Dear Miss Fannie:

Only two or three weeks ago did I learn that you had that fall and sprained or broke your hip. I think Ruby wrote me about it. Was it a break, sprain, or dislocation? I was so sorry, for I know it must have been painful, even agonizing. What doctor in Columbia did you have? Where and how did it happen, and were you taken to a hospital? Can you walk very well now? I wish it could have been otherwise. And I do hope you will get along as well as one can with a sprained or dislocated hip---How are Jack, Ruby, and the children? I’d like so much to see all of you.

Jan 25 was beautiful winter day. Hettie and I drove up to Lowndesville and spent the night and the next day, returning Friday PM. Gordon and Jessie were well. Mark, who was there also, is quite infirm (76 years old), and his daughter Kittie Kay has been sick all the past year---All the ???? children are well. Wade spent two days and three nights with us in January. His son, Robt Lee, is in the navy. Mr. Thos. Cooley and Boozer Bands were the only two persons up there whom I recognized. We all visited the old place where most of Pa’s children were born and reared. A Mr. Parnell lives in the house, and his wife showed me all over it, even carried me up stairs. The old servant’s house, and the well are easily recognizable. Mr. Fennel’s house still stands. I paid a short visit to Mr. Doty, the Presbyterian minister living next door to Gordon, and found him and his wife to be fine people. His health is very poor. All the graves in our family plot at Smyrna Cemetery have been recently thoroughly overhauled. Gordon did this. He is going to make a cement bed over the whole plot soon. How are Francine and her family? Is she still working at the Columbia Hospital? I’d certainly like to see Francine’s children again, Had a letter from them this winter. Is Betty in the 11th grade? Will she go to the College of Charleston next year? I know she must be both sweet and smart. I have a picture of her taken by the house in Washington; she was small & so cute. I keep the picture in my Bible.

Hettie and I are fairly well. We spend much of the time during this cold spell sitting around the heater. Ethel, her husband and children are well. We see them almost every day. We hear from Martha every week. She spent 2 weeks at home Christmas.

Take good care of yourself & be careful not to fall again. I hope you will have many years of health & happiness ahead. Give my love to Jack & Ruby. I think they are both the very finest of people, & you have every reason to be proud of them. I wish the world was full of such persons. Good night. Lots of love.

Foster

If Betty can keep house, can’t you & Ruby come up and spend several days with us this spring? I would be glad. If you will, fix the time yourself. F.

This is a transcription of three 1964 letters from Rev. Foster Pierce Speer (1874-1971), of Plumb Branch, SC to Estelle Vassey Speer (Mrs. Clarence Gordon Speer) of Marion, NC. Foster was one of ten children of Andrew Jackson Speer³ (William¹, William²) and his first wife Sophia Williamson Verdel (1839-1895). Clarence Gordon Speer (1920-1987) was the son of Governor Wade Speer⁴ (William¹, William², Andrew³) of Gaffney, SC. Governor and Foster were brothers. Clarence married Estelle Vassey in 1942 and they settled in McDowell Co, NC where Estelle still lives. The following letters were in response to Estelle’s request for information on the family. Foster was 90 years old when he wrote these letters.

Plumb Branch July 24, 1964

Dear Estelle;

I was delighted to receive your letter. I am sending you some family history that may help you. Wish I could furnish you more.

Our oldest grandson is in the Marines and is now flying heavy planes. Expects to be commissioned in 1965. The next oldest has finished the junior year at the University in Columbia. The youngest will enter the freshman class there in September.

Martha, our only living child, lives with us; is a great help to her aged parents.

Yes, we remember so pleasantly our visit to your home, and we were glad to get the news of your children. I wish some of you could come to see us--all of you. I love all the people in our family. Tell each of the children "heigh" for me; and to each of the whole family let me say: "The Lord bless thee, and keep thee".

Your Aunt Jessie (Gordon’s widow) is seriously ill in the hospital at Abbeville.

We are fairly well considering our age. I am 90, your Aunt Hettie is 87, and Martha is 63. We send our love to each of you. Uncle Foster

The following letter and family history manuscript are undated but obviously also from the summer of 1964.

Tuesday night

Dear Estelle;

You asked in your letter: "Were the two Clinkscales girls sisters?" I misunderstood you. I feel confident now that you meant "Were the two Clinkscales girls who married the two Speer brothers sisters". And the correct answer is "No".

Alice Clinkscales who married my brother Richard ("Dick") lived at Anderson. Jessie Clinkscales who married Gordon lived at Lowndesville. They were not sisters, not even distant relatives.

If I can furnish you any other information, be sure to write. Love from Uncle Foster

I--Henrietta (Hettie) Augusta Pooser, daughter of Rev. George H. Pooser (Methodist) was born January 31, 1877. Graduate of Columbia College 1896. Married Foster Speer June 14, 1898. Four children, two of them died in infancy.

II--Henry F. Marjenhoff (Martha’s husband) was born (date unknown to me or her), married Martha in a Lutheran Church at Augusta, Ga. in July 19, 1941. Died in New York in 1942. Buried in Charleston, S.C. No children.

III Oscar Lee Sturkey (Ethel’s husband), son of Marion Benjamin Sturkey and Annie Laura Collier Sturkey, was born at Plum Branch, S.C. April 10, 1900. Attended University of S.C. Served in U.S. Navy in World War I. Married Ethel Elizabeth Speer Oct. 19, 1940. Died (both of them) Oct 15, 1953 (three sons--see later).

IV--Clara Clinkscales and Jessie Clinkscales were sisters. Clara, the older of the two, married Mr. Baskins of Lowndesville. He died several years ago. Jessie, the baby sister, married my brother Gordon, in about 1909 or 1910 (see letter in this). My brother and Jessie had no children.

V--My paternal grandparents were William and Mary (or Mollie). They died about the time I was born--perhaps shortly after. My maternal grandfather was Anthony Verdel; he died about 1878 or 1879. I remember seeing him just once. He lived in Elbert County, Ga. My Speer grandparents lived in Abbeville Co, S.C. I do not know given name of grandmother Verdel. She died about 1842-1845.

VI--Lawson E. Sigmon married Ethel Speer in 1911. He was about 60, and Ethel was 33 at that time. Mr. Sigmon died in either 1935, 1936, or 1937. They had one child, which died in infnacy.

VII--Governor Wade Speer (my brother, and Clarence’s father) was born December 12, 1876. Married Dora Scott October 15, 1907. Died November 3, 1951. He began life at (moved to) Gaffney in November, 1900.

VIII--Gordon Speer (my baby brother) was born Sept. 26, 1880. He died Feb. 28, 1963. Jessie Clinkscales (his wife) died August 20, 1964. She was buried by side of Gordon Aug. 21, 1964.

All the paternal and maternal ancestors of my grandchildren were soldiers in every war waged by the United States.

Their father served in the Navy in World War I.

I Marion Foster Sturkey born Nov. 9, 1941, Graduated from high school 1960. 1/2 years at Clemson College. Now in U.S. Marine Corps. Flying air planes now. Expect to be commissioned a lieutenant in about 9 months from now.

II Oscar Lee Sturkey, Jr. born Nov. 15, 1943. Graduated high school 1961. Entered S.C. University that same year. For the past six weeks at Marine Officers’ Training School at Quantico, Virginia. Will graduate from S.C. University June 1, 1965, and at that time will be commissioned a Marine Lieutenant.

III Ralph Henry Sturkey. Born January 11, 1946. Finished high school June 1, 1964. Will enter University of S.C. next week. He has spent this summer with us, and I am so glad we have had him here. I don’t think he has any military ambition at all, I am glad to say.

Paternal grandparents of Clarence, & my parents:

Andrew Jackson Speer, M.D. b. 1833; d. 1918

Sophia Lola Verdel Speer b. 1839; d. 1895

Children of the above:

Johnnie Verdel Speer b. 12/26/1858; d. 2/11/1894

Lola Jackson Speer b. 1/30/1866; d. 8/25/1886

Wm Mark Speer b. 12/20/1868; m. Eula May Kay in 1907--three children, two are dead.

Richard Williamson Speer b. 4/17/1871; d. 12/21/1962; m Alice Clinkscales in 1899--Three children: Richard, Caroline, Fleet.

Foster Speer b. 2/15/1874; m. Hettie Pooser in 1898--four children: three are dead.

Governor Wade Speer b. 12/12/1876; d. 11/2/1951; m. Dora Scott in 1907. Dora died in ? Their three children: Wade, Robert Lee, Clarence; (Clarence knows these dates).

Ethel Speer Sigmon; b. 1/28/1878; m. L. E. Sigmon (1911)--Mr. Sigmon is dead. Ethel now with Mark in Atlanta.

Gordon Speer b. 9/26/1880; d. 2/28/1962; m. Jessie Clinkscales (about 1909) no children.

Children of A.J. Speer and Frances Hoyt Speer (second wife of A.J. Speer):

Francine (Mrs. Smith) b. 9/19/1902.

Andrew J. Speer II b. 9/13/1905.

A.J. Speer’s first marriage was in 1858. His second was in 1901.

Francine Smith has three children: Her husband died, about one or two years ago.

Wilbur M., Jr.

Paul S.

Peggy Jean.

Andrew Jackson Speer, II, my half brother, and Ruby Hawkins were married about 38 years ago. They now live in Charleston. They had two children: 1) Betty Jacqueline who married A.J. Welborn, & now lives with their two children in Columbia, and 2) A.J., III, who was killed in an air crash in 1962, leaving four orphans.

My four children were:

1) George Andrew. Born in 1899, lived four months.

2) Martha Lola. Born Oct. 22, 1900. Married Henry Marjenhoff (1941), who died in 1942. She now lives with us.

3) John Verdel. Born in 1903. Lived about one year.

4) Ethel Elizabeth. Born in 1907. Died 10/15/1953.

Ethel’s three children:

1) Marion Foster Sturkey, born 11/9/1941

2) Oscar Lee Sturkey, born 11/15/1943

3) Ralph Henry Sturkey, born 1/11/1946

Plumb Branch, S.C., Aug. 25, 1964

Dear Estelle:

How glad I was to receive your letter, and how glad I would be to see you, Clarence, and the three children. Just think, Clarissa is a young lady by now. I know she must be a real fine girl. Tell all three Uncle Foster sends them his sincerest love.

Jessie, Uncle Gordon’s widow, died last week, after a protracted heart ailment. Martha drove me to the funeral at Lowndesville last Friday P.M. She made Gordon a good wife, and he made her a good husband. I believe both are in Heaven to-day.

The Speers at Anderson are as usual. I am told Fleet is expecting his first grandchild this winter.

I (now 90) am doing well for one of my age. I walk 1/2 mile or a whole mile daily with the aid of a walking stick. Hettie (87) grunts a great deal, but is in fairly good shape. She and Martha (63) both live very largely on medicine. Martha is a great help to us.

My thoughts often dwell on Wade, Dora and their three boys. I loved all my father’s children, but I looked on Wade as my favorite brother. God bless his memory, and God bless each of his sons, and their families.

Write us again, Estelle. Hope Clarence is OK after surgery. And again I send my love to each member of your family circle.

Devotedly, Uncle Foster

This is a transcription of a 1986 letter from Dr. John Fleetwood Speer (1902-1994) of Anderson, SC to Barry Wayne Speer of Williamston, SC. John Fleetwood was the son of Richard Williamson Speer⁴ (William¹, William², Andrew³) and Barry Speer is the son of Eugene W. Speer⁶ (William¹, William², Elijah³, Lawrence⁴, Lawrence⁵). Fleetwood preferred being called by his middle name, or simply Fleet; John was not used.

William Speer was born in Ireland in 1747, near the town of Strebaul in Antrim County. He arrived in America when he was about 25 years old at Christian Bridge on the Delaware River on Sept. 5, 1772 and went to Charleston, S.C. in 1772 (his mother died at his birth--her name was Margaret Houston--his father married again & had 4 sons-Joseph-John-James & Alexander).

William Speer for his service in the Revolutionary War was granted 1,400 acres of land located at Cherokee Ford on Savannah River, 3 miles west of Calhoun Falls.

William Speer, 2nd son of William & Eleanor Speer was born May 7, 1788 in Abbeville County & died there Jan 10, 1877. He lived his entire life on the plantation on the Savannah River. He is buried in Rocky River Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Four of his older children & families moved to Alabama & settled near Wetumpka. The 3 youngest sons remained in S.C.--Elijah Hunt Speer-Andrew Jackson Speer, Dr. (lived in Lowndesville), & George Washington Speer (lived in Monterey Section). Elijah married Miss Sarah Robertson & lived in Abbeville County not far from where he was born & reared. He died in 1908 in his 80th year. Buried in Rocky River Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Elijah Hunt Speer, son of William & Mary (Gill) Speer was born Feb. 14, 1828 & was twin of Mary Elinor Speer. Five children:

1. Lawrence Speer--married a Miss Baker--died 1922.

2. James Speer

3. Alice Speer--married a Mr. McCaslen

4. Carrie Speer--married a Mr. Chapman

5. Wade Hampton Speer

In 1924 I worked at Mahon’s Drug Store in Calhoun Falls, S.C. & met a Mr. Baker Speer who said he was my cousin because his father was Lawrence Speer & lived at Lowndesville. I was him many times during the year but never saw him again after I left C.F.

Mrs. Alice Speer McCaslen & Mr. McCaslen lived in Anderson, S.C. about 1916 & they had a son named Edward. I remember him well because I played with him times & I never did meet his mother or father. A few years ago he passed away in C. Falls, & has a son still living in C.F.

(J.F.S. 1986)

The following is a transcription of a 1992 family history manuscript by Carey Speer (1898-1994), who was 94 years old at the time. Carey was one of nine children born to George Leard Speer (1853-1911) and Sara Evaline Jones (1867-1918). George Leard Speer⁴ (William¹, William², John³) married Sara Evaline in 1887 and they lived in Chilton County, Alabama. In the transcription, words with uncertain spelling are shown by question marks. Minor editorial comments, shown in italics, have been added to enhance readability.

The G. L. Speer Family

Father, Geo. Leard 1853--Aug 1, 1911 Brights disease.

Mother, Sarah Evieline 1867--Apr 1918 Asthma, awful cough for years. Dr. on death certificate said tuberculosis. I don’t believe this, it could have been cancer.

Edgar (may have been Edward) Jerome 1888-July 1910 Typhoid fever.

Grady Briggs 1891--1918 Oct 20 Flu & Pneumonia army hospital I think on Long Island, anyway in N.Y. area.

Wilbur Leard 1892-1961 accident date?

Sula Mae dates I am not sure Cancer.

Geo. Curtis July ‘96 (I think not sure) cancer.

Carey March 26, 1898.

Gladys 1900--1929 (Apr or May) child birth.

S. A. 1902--1918 Dec Flu & Pneumonia.

Era 1903--July 1918 Typhoid fever.

Jack Speer (Wilbur’s son) results of earlier rheumatic fever 1920-1938.

The man in the Picture with the bow tie is Jermone--the man in the other picture is Briggs. I am not quite sure of some dates. Era was never normal. Doctors in Montgomery & Selma told my father it could have been meningitis.

Both of my Grandfathers were named Alexander. My Grandfather Speer, I thought moved to Ala. in late 1830’s but not sure. The story I remember is that they came through what is now B’ham (Birmingham, AL), didn’t like the water so went on to Coosa County. Ala. & Miss. were Indian territory long after Ga was a state.

The only time I saw my father’s parents was with him and Sula Mae one Christmas, we crossed the Coosa River at flood stage on a ferry, and I was scared to death (I was about 6 years old). I don’t remember but very little about them but both lived into their 90’s.

His (my father’s) bros. & sisters by age I think as follows, Jimmie at a place called Titus no. of Wetumpka. Mary Bradford near Vincent on Coosa River about 30 mi S.W. B’ham. Then my father helped run county lines of Chilton County taken from 3 or 4 other counties, that is how he met my mother. Julia Christie in B’ham East Lake. You may have seen her, she was tiny and Sula Mae resembled her a bit. Than a bro. Willie; all I know is that he was so small men’s shoes were to large for him, he sold patent medicine out of Chattanooga, lived in Mobile some time, had two daughters, but wife left him, he didn’t talk about them to family. The youngest girl was Annie, married a Dr. Hunter at Ecletric and had a daughter Sula Mae’s age and a son about my age who I think became a dentist. Sula Mae & Curtis knew more about them than I did.

One of U. Jimmie’s boys, Ernest, lived just over the Mt. from Highland Ave., B’ham, he lost part of one leg working for R.R. Curtis & Wilbur knew him but I never saw him.

Uncle Jimmie had a country store 12 or 13 miles N.E. of Wetumpka. He had a daughter about Sula Mae’s age, they corresponded with each other for some time. Aunt Mary Bradford also had a daughter Sula Mae kept in touch with.

Uncle Jimmie was sort of a ?????. He had a son in La. I don’t know of others.

The only thing I remember about Aunt Mary is she came just before my father died and told me my upper lip was too short and I should keep pulling down on it, but this made me mad, but I don’t know if I ever pulled down on it.

Briggs and me were about same height, all others shorter including my father. My hair was a bit reddish when I was younger. Curtis called me "Vernon, an ugly cousin on the Jones side of the family".

At the time my Grandfather moved to Ala., a cousin moved to Griffin, GA. Some are still in Griffin & other parts of Ga.

When I lived in Orlando, we lived in part of an orange grove that once belonged to a Speer, I am sure he was one of the group who came over together, because they stated one went to Fla.

Yes there is a SPEER Coat of Arms! But neither you nor I can correctly use or display it. The use of family Coats of Arms is poorly understood today in the US and numerous bootleg companies have sprung up in recent years offering "official" Coats of Arms for small fees. These are all rip-offs unless you, the buyer, can establish a right to the Coat of Arms. Just having the same surname is not enough!

Coats of Arms and Crests were and still are issued to specific individuals, not families. They are the property of that individual, and can be inherited only by his male descendants. Use of the Arms or Crest by other individuals, even other family members, or others with the same surname, is a serious violation of history, culture, and tradition. At least in Scotland, it is punishable by fines and/or imprisonment. Thousands of Coats of Arms and family Crests have been issued over time and are on file at the various offices in England, Scotland and Ireland. Today these "official" Coats of Arms and Crests are being copied by numerous bootleg companies and sold to unsuspecting people. These companies take the position that they are providing a much-needed service to their customers and that it is the customer’s responsibility to correctly use the Coats of Arms and Crests. However the sellers conveniently fail to explain the proper use to the customer.

The tradition of Coats of Arms, called Armorial bearings, dates from before the 13th century in the English empire. Since the 16th century, the issuance & recording of Armorial bearings has been regulated by specific government offices, called heraldic authorities, which still operate today. It is possible, for a fee, to have a new Coat of Arms and family Crest issued by one of the heraldic offices; however the procedure is extremely involved and is available only to certain worthy applicants.

At least two SPEER Coats of Arms are known to exist. One occurs on the "Speer vault at Ballyclog, County Tyrone, Ireland" and is on file in the Lyon Office (heraldic office) in Edinburgh, Scotland (apparently it was issued in Scotland!). The Coat of Arms and Crest were issued in 1871 to Hannibal Speer, Esq., of Fulham, Middlesex; the crest was previously used by Captain Saville Speer, 1st Royal Regiment of Foot (commanded by H.R.H. the Duke of Kent). A description of these Armorial bearings is given in John O’Hart’s 1923 book: IRISH PEDIGREES; or The Origin and Stem of THE IRISH NATION, vol. II (Murphy & McCarthy, NY). Although this large Speer family lived in the same area of Ireland as our Speer ancestors, no direct connection is known, at least not yet! (I am working on it).

Another SPEER Coat of Arms, which is used by some bootleg companies (I know, I bought one!), is recorded in the official BURKE’S GENERAL ARMORY. It is not known who it was issued to (more research is needed).

A Scottish SPEAR Coat of Arms is described in Burke’s Encyclopedia of Heraldry. There may well be others.

Chapter 19 of the 1998 Speer book, William Speer (1747-1830) His Life, Family and Descendants, listed 21 of William’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren who served in the Confederate States Army during the Civil War. The following list gives 9 descendant soldiers of William’s half brother John Speer who also served in the CSA. John Speer (1748-1842) was born in Ireland and came to America in 1785 or 1786. He married Mercy Harris and settled in Jasper County, GA where they had 10 children. John is listed as the first generation (John¹) in the following table. This information comes from other researchers and has not been verified by me; however there is no reason to doubt it.

William M. Speer³ (1830-1867) (John¹, Joseph²) Co. F, 2nd Reg GA Cavalry, Army of TN.

Wiley Adam Clark Speer³ (1846-1862) (John¹, Joseph²) Co. F, 13th Ga Reg. Died at Antietam battlefield, MD.

John Wesley Speer³ (1828-1863) (John¹, Joseph²) Pvt. Co. F, 2nd Regiment, GA Cavalry, Army of TN. Died during battle in Morristown, TN.

Joseph Minton Speer³ (1834-1923) (John¹, Joseph²) Pvt., Co. B, 34th AL Regiment Inf. Captured at Missionary Ridge, TN in 1863. POW at Rock Island Barracks, IL until release in 1865.

Thomas Colquit Speer³ (1835-1915) (John¹, Joseph²) Pvt, Co. F, 13th GA Regiment. In hospital with face injury in 1864.

Simeon Speer³ (1811-1864) (John¹, John²) 5th Sergeant, Gibson’s Battery, GA Light Artillery. Died of disease in TN.

Larking W. Speer⁴ (1843-1862) (John¹, John², Simeon³) CSA. Killed while serving in TN.

John H. P. Speer⁴ (1844-1865) (John¹, John², Simeon³) CSA, Co C, 4th Battalion GA Sharpshooters. Captured at Nashville in 1864. Died as POW at Camp Chase, OH.

George Washington Speer⁴ (1839-1870) (John¹, John², Simeon³) Major under Gen Henry Wayne.

Note that John’s son Joseph Speer² (John¹) had five sons that served in the CSA; two were killed in action. John’s grandson Simeon Speer³ (John¹, John²) and two of his three soldier sons also died from war-related injuries.

The following transcription is from an 1898 hand-written manuscript of Dr. Henry M. Holmes concerning his Civil War history. Dr. Holmes lived in Florida and was the father of Alester G. Holmes, who married Lila Templeton Speer⁴ (1891-1977) (William¹, William², George³). The manuscript is housed at the South Caroliniana Library, Columbia, SC.

Copied from his own handwritting in 1898 at Laurens, SC

Henry M. Holmes Conf’d Soldier history:

Entered state of Florida 15 Nov 1861 in Co. Marion Artillery as Pvt.

Entered Conf’d service Dec 1861, Company Marion Artillery as Sergeant

Promoted to Asst. Surgeon 1862, was assigned to First Reg. Cavalry Dismounted

Went into Kentucky with Florida Brigade under Gen. Kirby-Smith

Returned to Knoxville, Tennessee

Joined Army of Tennessee, Gen Bragg, just before battle of Chickamouga.

After battle of Missionary Ridge, sent into enemies lines at Chattanooga.

On return was assigned to duty as Asst. Senior Surgeon of Brigade:

Acting Surgeon of 6th Florida Reg., Winley’s Brigade.

Continued with that command til end at Bentonville, N.C.

The relationship chart included in this newsletter can help you determine your relationship (consanguinity) to others in our family. Degree (of kinship) is a measure of the distance on the chart between two individuals who are related by blood. It is a confusing legal term under two codes of law--civil law and canon law.

In civil law, degree is the number of steps on the chart to get from one individual to another by going through their common ancestor (your first cousin is 4th degree from you--it is two steps up from you to your grandfather and two steps down to your first cousin). In canon law, the degree is the number of steps in the shortest direct line between two individuals (your first cousin is 2nd degree from you--it is only two steps on the chart between the two of you). Half relationships result when two individuals in collateral lines have only one ancestor in common due to multiple marriages. "Removed" refers to the difference in generation number between two individuals, i.e. someone who is a third generation descendant is "once removed" from someone who is a second generation descendant.

Using my computer genealogy program, which is much easier, I’ve found the following relationships between myself and some other family members who are actively compiling our family history:

2nd Cousins: Oscar Lee Sturkey, Jr. (SC), Marion Foster Sturkey (SC).

2nd Cousin, Once Removed: John Shillinglaw (SC).

Half 2nd Cousin: Andrew Jackson Speer, IV (TX).

3rd Cousins: George William Whitmire, Sr. (FL), William Arthur Speer, Jr. (GA), Dorothy Speer Mears ( MD), Gordon Erwin Speer (SC)

3rd Cousin, Once Removed: Barry Wayne Speer (SC)

4th Cousins, Once Removed: Thomas Algernon Speer (FL), Jack Speer Crowell (FL), Dorothy Demange (CA), George Wallace Kennedy (GA).

1-Rev. William Speer (1652-??) 347 years old!! b Aryshire, Scotland; one child:

2----John Speer (1693-1764) b Ireland; m Mary (surname unknown); several conflicting sets of b. & d. dates; one child:

3------John (William?) Speer (1723-1771) name sometimes given as John, sometimes as William; b Ireland, m1 1744 Margaret Houston {(1725-1745) may be related to Gen Sam Houston?; died at birth of William Speer, Sr (1745-1830)}; went to Canada & then settled in GA, USA where he died. John (William?) Speer & Margaret Houston had one child: (see children of 2nd marriage below)

4---------William Speer, Sr. (1745-1830) b. Strabane, County Antrim, Ireland; at death of his mother, he remained in Houston household & was raised by his grandfather William Houston; came to America in 1772, first to PA & then settled in Abbeville Co, SC, fought in American Revolution as Aid to Gen Andrew Pickens; m1 1784 Eleanor Little Norris (1749-1795)(widow of Mr. ?? Norris); both buried Old Rocky River Cemetery, Abbeville Co, SC; m2 1799 Martha McBride (c1753-1834)(widow of William McBride). The William Speer, Sr. genealogy list, presented elsewhere in this newsletter, contains 439 descendant families, primarily in SC, GA, AL, & FL. William Speer, Sr. & Eleanor had 4 children:

5--John Speer (1784-1866) Abbeville Co, SC; m1 1807 Elizabeth Ann Harris Caldwell (c1789-1851); m2 c1855? Mary L. (unknown surname) (c1798-??); John & Elizabeth had 9 children.

5--William Speer, Jr. (1788-1877) Abbeville Co, SC; m 1811 Mary Sue Gill (1793-1879); 13 children.

5--Alexander Speer (1790-1856) Abbeville Co, SC & Monroe Co, GA; m1 1813 Elizabeth Middleton (??-1838); m2 1839 Mary Baird Grant (??-1846); m3 1848 Caroline G. Day (1822-1860); Alexander & Elizabeth had 6 children. Alexander & Mary had 2 children.

5--Margaret Houston Speer (1792-1864) Abbeville Co, SC & Elbert Co, GA; m 1812 Joseph Rucker (1788-1864); 9 children.

Before leaving Ireland, John (William?) Speer m2 Elinor Carlton (??-1833) & had 5 more children:

4---------John Speer (1748-1842) b Strabane, County Antrim, Ireland; m Mercy Harris (she d 6May1834); came to America in 1785 or 1786 & settled in Jasper Co, GA; Methodist; m2 Mrs. Cates or Kates. The John Speer genealogy list (in WE Speer Family History Newsletter, vol. 1 Dec 1998) contains 450 descendants in 250 families primarily in GA, TX & AL. John & Mercy had 10 children:

5--Rachael Speer

5--Joseph Speer (1796-1867) m Elizabeth Ann Riggans (1803-1868); 15 children.

5--Thomas William Speer (1804-1852) twin to James Murphy (Madison?) Speer; Monroe & Henry Cos, GA; m Nancy Edwards; 7 children

5--James Murphy (Madison?) Speer (1804-1852) twin to Thomas William Speer; GA, AL & TX; m 1827 Margaret Beaver Everitt (1811-1847), 6 children; m2 1847 Sarah Wyche; 2 children. The James Murphy Speer genealogy list (in WE Speer Family History Newsletter, vol. 2, Jul 1999) contains 30 descendants in 20 families.

5--William Speer

5--John Speer; 6 children.

4---------Rev. Alexander Speer b Ireland; went to Canada and m1 Jane Fletcher (she died 7Jan1852); The Alexander Speer genealogy list in WE Speer Family History Newsletter, vol.2, Jul 1999; it contains 49 direct descendants in 29 families. Alexander & Jane had 4 children:

5--John Wesley Speer (1843-??) d St. Joseph, MO; 5 children.

5--Edward Fletcher Speer (1845-??) d Belleville, Canada.

5--Thomas Speer (1847-??) 2 children.

5--Sarah Anne Speer (1849-1936) d Port Carling, Canada.

Rev. Alexander Speer went to GA, USA and became a Methodist Circuit Minister; m2 Elizabeth (or Rebecca) Wilson & had 9 more children:

5--Alexander H. Speer (1857-??) 1 child.

5--William Wilson Speer (1853-1927) 6 children.

5--Jane Speer (1855-1893)

5--Elizabeth Speer (1858-??)

5--Fannie M. Speer (1860-??)

5--Rebecca Speer (1863-1914) 1 child.

5--Mary A. Speer (1865-1910) 1 child.

5--Martha Speer (1868-1906)

5--Margaret M. Speer (1872-??)

4---------Joseph Speer b Ireland; went to Canada & then settled in GA; James C. Speer may have been his son; no additional information.

4---------James Speer b Ireland; went to Canada & then settled in GA; James C. Speer may have been his son; no additional information.

4---------Rebecca Speer b Ireland; no additional information.

{Note that the 1979 Sally Speer Signor Goldsmith letter (in WE Speer Family History Newsletter, vol. 2 Jul 1999), suggests the father and mother of Rev. William Speer (1652-??) was John Speer (1595-??) and Miss ?? Maxwell. They married in 1614 and apparently followed her father from Scotland to County Tyrone, Ireland in 1614. However, this info is still too uncertain to add to the above list yet}.

This family descendant list is an update to the one given in Chapter 1 of my 1989 book: William Speer (1747-1830) His Life, Family and Descendants. As of July 26, 1999, this list contains 439 Speer families and 1,300 individuals; that’s 70 new families and 100 new people! In addition, many names and dates have been added or corrected. Due to my computer’s memory limitations, the descendants of William’s half brothers are kept in separate files and have been presented elsewhere in these newsletters. Likewise, William’s ancestors are omitted from this list, but are presented elsewhere in this newsletter.

A particularly exciting new addition to this genealogy list is Margaret Eliza Speer³ (1825-1864), another daughter of William Speer, Jr.² and Mary Sue Gill! Margaret Eliza was listed in her father’s family bible, but I did not add her to my database because it was not clear who her parents were. But now I have confirmation from the 1942 Rollo C. Speer genealogy report (mentioned in the last newsletter). Margaret Eliza has now taken her rightful place in our family history.

NOTE: All genealogy lists originally included in this newsletter have been significantly updated and therefore have been omitted from this online version. The latest genealogy list for our family can be found in the latest hardcopy of the newsletters, or can be accessed online at one of the following Web Sites:

1. http://www.MyFamily.com
2. http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/s/p/e/Wade-E-Speer/index.html
3. http://hometown.aol.com/wspeer1161/myhomepage/heritage.html