APPENDIX A
Appendix A1869 & 1874 Letters
WILLIAM SPEER (1747-1830)
ABBEVILLE COUNTY
SOUTH CAROLINA
HIS LIFE, FAMILY AND
DESCENDANTS
Compiled and Written By
Wade Edward Speer
With Special Help From
George William Whitmire, Sr., Jacksonville, Florida
William Arthur Speer, Jr., Atlanta, Georgia
Portraits By Edward Shanon Wood, Asheville, North Carolina
Published By
Wade Edward Speer
Marion, North Carolina
1998
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NOTES FOR ONLINE BOOK VERSION
Original page numbers did not survive the file conversion to the Internet-ready html format.
Some editing of the original text has been done, such as correcting typos and eliminating unnecessary line spaces.
All images, including portraits, tombstone sketches, house sketches, and signature tracings have been omitted; however the text accompanying the images is retained.
The William Speer Descendent report (Chapter 1) has been omitted. A greatly updated version can be found at:
http://www.familytreemaker.com/ftm/s/p/e/Wade-E-Speer/index.html
http://hometown.aol.com/wspeer1161/myhomepage/heritage.html
{Wade E Speer July 20, 2000}
APPENDIX A
WILLIAM SPEER, JR.
LETTERS 1869 & 1874
Family Letter of 1869
William Speer, Jr.2 (William1) of Monterey, Abbeville County, South Carolina sent the following historic letter concerning his father's family to John Andrew Speer4 (William1, John2, William3) of LaGrange, Troup County, Georgia in 1869. John was a great grandson of William Speer, Sr1. and was a Georgia State Senator at the time. Although the location of the original hand-written letter is unknown, typed versions of the letter have been published several times and data from the letter has been quoted in many publications. The copy of the letter given below was taken from published transcripts in the LaGrange Reporter (Troupe County, Georgia) and the Gaffney Ledger (Cherokee County, South Carolina). An original copy of the LaGrange Reporter article was provided by George William Whitmire6 of Jacksonville, Florida. Alexander Speer2 (William1) was an editor of the LaGrange Reporter in 1833 (CHAPTER 6).
Monterey P.O., Abbeville District, S. C., Dec 9, 1869.
John A. Speer, Esq.:
Dear John:
I received your letter of August last, and, for several reasons, have not answered until now. You ask me to give you some particulars of my Father's (your Great Grand Father's) history, which you mention in several interrogatories, and which I will do, but altogether from recollection.
My Father was born in Ireland in 1747, in the county Antrim, near the town of Stebaul; his name was William. His mother died at his birth; she was the daughter of William Houston, and her name, Margaret; his Grand Father, William Houston, took him and raised him; his Father married again and had four sons, named, Joseph, John, James and Alexander. At about twenty-five years of age he came to America; landed at Christian Bridge, Delaware River, on the 3rd of September, 1772. He lived in the State of Pennsylvania in the year of 1773; he came to Charleston, S.C., in the year 1774. In the year 1775 the Revolutionary war began.
He remained in Charleston until after Sir Peter Parker's attack on Charleston, 28th of June, 1776, was in Drayton's, or "Snowy Camps", came to the Long Cane settlement, Abbeville District, and lived in the family of General Pickens for three years, when he was not in the service. He served in the calvary company of Capt. Hugh McCall, but when the State was over run by the British (after the fall of CHARLESTON) and many took protection; he with others went as refugees to North Carolina, until Gen. Green took command in South Carolina. Previous to this time he was in a campaign under Gen. Williamson in the first expedition against the Cherokee Indians. During the war a rising of the Tories commenced in Spartanburg District, under command of Col. Boyd, who was making a circuitous route to join Colonel Brown, who was commanding the British post at Augusta, Ga. Col. Pickens had command of the Block House at the Cherokee Ford, on Savannah river, in Abbeville District; who hearing that Boyd was approaching with 700 men, joined by the notorious Bill Cunningham, left Capt. Anderson in command at the Block House whilst he was absent raising the Whig Militia in his own District. Boyd advanced and burned "Fort Independence', which stood on the plantation now owned by the estate of the late Wm. Young, in this District. Boyd advanced and sent forward a party under Cunningham to attack the Block House, and thereby open his way across Savannah river at Cherokee Ford. Capt. Anderson having a four pounder in the Fort that the Tories were not aware of, opened fire on them. The Tories fled at the first fire, and made good their retreat, crossing the river near the mouth of Van's creek. After Boyd had crossed into Georgia, Pickens having collected 300 Whigs, commenced pursuit and overtook Boyd at Kettle creek, in Wilkes county, Ga., where my Father, under Pickens, participated in a severe battle, Boyd was killed early in that engagement, his forces defeated and dispersed. After the battle was over, Pickens sent my Father on an express to White Hall, S. C. The Whigs and Tories distinguished themselves-the Whigs by wearing a white paper in the hat-the Tories by wearing in the hat a pine top. He again joined Pickens at "Fort Charlotte." My Father was with Gen. Pickens at the "siege of 96;" he was also engaged with South Carolina forces when at the "siege of Augusta" it surrendered to Gen. Pickens and Col. Lee. Soon after this the war closed. My Father was under Col. Pickens in the second expedition against the Cherokee Indians, in which they marched to "Hightower" and "Highwassee," burnt the Indian town, destroyed their corn by cutting it and throwing in into their huts and burning them; also, by throwing their corn into the river, which destruction obliged the Indians to sue for peace. After the siege of Augusta he returned to Long Cane S.C., and commenced merchandising, near where Abbeville Court House now stands, and married in the year 1784. He married a widow - Mrs. Eleaner Norris whose maiden name was Little. He moved to Cherokee Ford, on Savannah river in 1785, where he continued to merchandise while he lived.
His brother John came to this country in 1785 or 1786, and settled in Georgia. My Father had four children: the oldest, John, (your Grand Father) was born on the 5th day of November, 1784. He was accidently drowned in Rocky River, Abbeville, District, S. C. on the 20th day of April, 1866. William now living (the writer) born 9th of May, 1788. Alexander, born August 23rd 1790, died at LaGrange, Ga. April 26th, 1856. Margaret born December 1st, 1792 (married Joseph Rucker, of Ruckersville, Ga.) died at Ruckersville September 26th, 1864. My Mother died at the age of 46 years, on October 26th, 1795. My Father married a second time in January, 1799, to Mrs. Martha McBride; she died 6th of May, 1834-they had no children by this marriage. My Father, William Speer, lived on his Cherokee plantation until his death, which occurred April 17th, 1830. He is buried beside my Mother, at old "Rocky River Church," in Abbeville District, S.C., where their tomb stones still stand. My Father gave his children the best educational advantages South Carolina afforded. He rarely ever owed any man. He was of the Presbyterian denomination. My oldest brother, John Speer, married Elizabeth Caldwell on November 6th, 1807 and raised seven children-your Father, William Alexander Speer, only, of said children, removed to Troup county, Ga.; the other children remained here or removed to Florida and Mississippi. The writer (William Speer) married Mary S. Gill, 1st Dec. 1811, and raised eight children, some of whom live here, the others removed to Alabama, near Wetumpka. My younger brother, Alexander Speer, married Elizabeth Middleton in 1813, and raised six children by his first wife. Married a second wife, Mrs. Mary Grant, and had two other children. Married his third wife, Miss Carrie Day. Brother Alexander was distinguished as a politician in South Carolina in 1830, and in the year 1833 removed to Georgia. His children survive him and reside in Middle Georgia. My Father, William Speer, lived to be 83 years of age.
Thus, Dear John, I have given you a brief history of my Father and his family from recollection. My health has been bad this fall, and writing has become a task. Your friends are all well. I would be glad to hear from you and your brother, Daniel N., and to known how you are all doing, and let me know about Eugenia Winship and about any of the connection.
Yours affectionately,
William Speer
Note: The only incorrect data known in this letter is the date of Margaret Houston Speer's death. It is September 5, 1864, not September 26, 1864 as given above. William also got this date wrong in his Family Bible and his 1874 manuscript (see below).
A short introductory letter from Daniel Norwood Speer4 of LaGrange, Troup County, Georgia accompanied the above letter. Daniel was a brother of John Andrew Speer and the letter was sent to their second cousin Alexander Middleton Speer3 (William1, Alexander2) of Griffin, Spalding County, Georgia. Daniel Norwood and John Andrew were lawyers and Alexander Middleton was a Circuit Court Judge at the time.
Daniel’s introductory letter is transcribed below.
LaGrange, Ga., February 19, 1872
Hon. Alex M. Speer, Griffin, Ga.:
Dear Cousin: Thinking that it would be interesting to yourself and children, I enclose a letter (copy) received from Uncle William, recently; he was well and his mind bright; his body feeble with the weight and cares of 84 years. Even at this advanced age, he writes a beautiful letter; he is the best read in all history of any one I ever knew, and, altogether, a remarkable man. If you know of any fact, in addition or correction of the enclosed letter, we would be glad to know it. I think I have heard my Grand Father tell my Father that one of his Father's half brothers settled in Pennsylvania soon after the close of the Revolutionary war. There is, both in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, a distinguished family of Speers of the "Presbyterian denomination."
We are all well. My kindest regards to your wife.
Yours truly,
D.N. SPEER
Narrative of 1874
William Speer, Jr.2 (William1) wrote the following manuscript on September 3, 1874 when he was 84 years old. The location of the original hand-written manuscript is unknown. However, at least two typed versions of the original have been found. Transcription problems with both versions resulted in some obvious errors that have been corrected in the copy below. My first version came from Lila Templeton Speer4 (William1, William2, George3) of Calhoun Road, Clemson, South Carolina. She sent a copy of her version to Elizabeth Jane Speer6 Williams (William1, William2, Andrew3, Governor4, Governor5) of Pinopolis, Berkley County, South Carolina after a chance meeting between the two at the Summerville Presbyterian Home in Dorchester County, South Carolina in 1974. Elizabeth Jane kindly provided her copy to me. A second typed version is in the possession of Marion Foster Sturkey6 (William1, William2, Andrew3, Foster4, Ethel5) of Plumb Branch, McCormick County, South Carolina. Marion also provided his copy.This manuscript, which gives data not in the earlier letter, has never been published. The question marks occur in the copies provided to me and probably refer to illegible words in the original manuscript.
Biography of the life of William Speer, Sr. and his Family
by
William Speer, Jr.
On the third day of September 1772 one hundred and two years ago, this day the third of September, 1874, my father landed at Christian Bridge in the River Delaware. He was a native of Ireland, born in the year 1747 in the County Antrim near the town of Strebaul. His mothers madin name was Margaret Houston. She died at his birth. His grandfather, William Houston raised him. His father married again, had four sons: John, Joseph, James, and Alexander. John came to America in the year 1786, raised a large family, scattered through Georgia and Alabama. My father removed (?) in Pennsylvania in 1773. In 1774 he came to Charleston. In 1775 the Revolutionary War began. He remained Charleston till after Sir Peter Parker's attack on Charleston in June 1776. He then came to what was called the Long Cane Settlement in Abbeville. At that time the Cherokee Indians occupied the lands now Greenville, Anderson, Pickens and Oconee (?) Counties and made frequent errands (?) into the White Settlements.
In the winter of 1776 and 1777 an expedition was filed out under the command of a Col. Richardson. My father was in that campaign of war called the Snowy Camps or Drayton's Camps. The army was snowed up. The snow was deep as the forewheel of a wagon. He was in two expeditions against the Cherokee Indians in Georgia; one under Gen. Williamson and one under Col. Pickens. They went as far as the Highwassee and Hightower Rivers, burnt their towns, destroyed their corn, and brot them to Armis of peace. My father served in the army in the Cavalry under the command of Capt. Hugh McCall.
After the fall of Charleston the British over-ran the state. Many of the inhabitants took protection under the British Government. My father and others went to North Carolina as refugees and remained there until Genl. Greene took command of the Army in So. Carolina. He was in the battle of Kettle Creek where Col. Pickens with 300 men defeated Boyd with 700 men. Boyd was killed. He was at the battle of Keowee where Salvadore the owner of the Jews (?) land was killed. He was at the Siege of Ninety-six. He was at the siege of Augusta where Pickens and Lee took the place which ended his military service. My father was a member of Gen. Pickens family three years when they were not out in service. He lived in a block house at what is now called Fort Pickens near the Depot at Abbeville C.H.
After the war he commenced merchandising about two miles below Abbeville. Early in the year 1784 he married Eleanor Norris, a widow lady whose maiden name was Little. She was the mother of four children before her second marriage; Robert, Eleanor, Mary, and Elizabeth. My oldest brother John was born the sixth November, 1784. My father moved to a plantation near the Cherokee Ford, Savannah River where he continued to merchandise till near the close of his life. On the 9th May, 1788, I, the writer of this narrative, was born. In 1790, the 23rd of August, my brother Alexander was born. On the first day of December 1792, my sister Margaret was born. In the year 1793, my father shipped to London forty-five (45) Hogsheads of tobacco. Others also shipped at the same time with a view of buying goods. They employed a man to go as super cargo, who was thought to be capable and trustworthy. He betrayed his trust and gambled. My father lost all, about five thousand dollars. On the 26th October, 1795 my mother died. In 1796 my father employed an overseer named Moses Cheyne. He remained a few months and robbed his share of fifteen hundred dollars. My father in January, 1799 married a second time, a widow lady named Martha McBride. She was the grandmother of James and William McBride. Their mother was my half sister, Elizabeth Norris. My brother John married the 6th November, 1807, Elizabeth Caldwell and died the 20th April, 1866, leaving five surviving children: Eliza, Jane, Martha, James, and John. I, the writer of this narrative, was married on 1st December 1811 to Mary S. Gill and have eight surviving children: William, Alexander, Milton, Margaret, Mary, Elizabeth, Andrew J., and George W.
My sister was married 5th March to Joseph Rucker and died 6th Sept. 1864, leaving two surviving children named Elbert and Alexander. My brother Alexander was married in August 1812 and died 27th April, 1856. His children: Sidney, Alexander, Eustice, Alfred, Eleanor, Mary and Eugenia.
My father died on the 17 April 1830, aged 83 years. My stepmother died the 6th May, 1834, aged 82 years.
W. Speer
Note: The only incorrect data known in this manuscript is the date of Margaret Houston Speer's death. It is September 5, 1864, not September 6, 1864 as stated above. William also got this date wrong in his Family Bible and his 1869 letter (see above).