Spear | Speer

Spear/Speer Lineage

John William Speer 1654-1764, father of John Speer 1693-1764, father of  John William Speer 1723-1771, father of  John Speer 1748-1842, father of  John M Speer 1795-1863, father of  Charity Elizabeth Spear 1826-1909

Spear Migration
Ochiltree, Ayrshire, Scotland > Antrim, Ireland > Pine Mountain, Harris, Georgia > Florida > Georgia 

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Charity Elizabeth Spear, 3rd Great-Grandmother
29 October 1826 - 25 April 1909 (82)
b. Florida
d. Pine Mountain, Harris, Georgia 

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Parents:
John M Spear 1795-1863
Mary Smith 1798-1872

Maternal Lineage:
Mary Kates 1798-1872, mother of Charity Elizabeth Spear 1826-1909

Spouse: William Henry Crawford Sr 1817-1899
Married: 7 Nov 1850

Children:

1. John Joseph Crawford 1851-1920
2. William Henry Crawford 1853-1936
3. Robert Newton Crawford 1855-1930
4. Elizabeth Adeline Crawford 1857-1935
5. James Andrews Crawford 1860-1920
6. Charity Sewell Crawford 1862-1945
7. Harriet Cornelia Crawford 1864-1926

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John M Spear, 4th Great-Grandfather
1795-1863
b. Harris County, Georgia

d. Harris County, Georgia

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Parents:

John Speer 1748-1842

Mercy Harris 1770-1834

Maternal Lineage:
Mercy Harris, mother of John M Spear

Spouse: Mary Kates 1798-1872

Married: 12 Jul 1814

Children:

1. Simeon Franklin Speer 1818-1876
2. Henry S Spear 1818-1876
3. Charity Elizabeth Spear 1826-1909
4. Joseph F Spear 1828-
5. Joshua R Spear 1830-
6. James A Spear 1833-
7. Elizabeth Jane Spear 1837-1899
8. Jesse H Spear 1840-1863

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John Speer, 5th Great-Grandfather
1748-1842
b. Stawbul Strabane, Antrim, Ireland

d. Harris, Georgia

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Parents:

John Speer 1723-1771

Elinor Carlton 1733-1833

Maternal Lineage:
Elinor Carlton, mother of John Speer

Spouse:   Mercy Harris 1770-1834

Married:  1794

Children:  5

1. John M Spear 1795-1863
2. Joseph Speer 1796-1867
3. William Speer 1800-1849
4. James Murphy Madison Speer 1804-1852
5. Thomas William Melbourne Speer 1804-1874

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John William Speer, 6th Great-Grandfather
1723-1771
b. Antrim, Ireland
d. Ireland

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Parents:

John Speer 1693-1764

Mother & Maternal Lineage Unknown

Spouse:   Elinor Carlton 1733-1833

Married:   1747

Children:  1

1. John Speer 1748-1842

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John William Speer, 7th Great-Grandfather
15 September 1693-1764
b. Down, Down, Ireland
d. Talbot County, Georgia

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Parents:

John William Speer 1654-1764

Mary Houston 1660-1747

Maternal Lineage:
Mary Houston, mother of John Speer

Spouse:   

Married:   

Children:  1

1. John William Speer 1723-1771

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John William Speer, 8th Great-Grandfather

3 June 1652 - 10 September 1744 (92)
b. Ochiltree, Ayrshire, Scotland
d. Antrim, Antrim, Ireland

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Parents:
John William Speer 1623-1705
Marion Agnes Sumner 1627-1687

Maternal Lineage:
Marion Agnes Sumner

Spouse: Mary Houston 1660-1747
Married: 
Children: 

1. John William Speer 1693-1764
2. Others TBD

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John William Speer, 9th Great-Grandfather
21 December 1623 - 10 February 1705
b. Drumbanaway, Ballyclog, Ireland
d. Tyrone, Ulster, Ireland

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Parents & Maternal Lineage TBD

Spouse: Marion Agnes Sumner 1627-1687
Married: 14 January 1646
Children:

1. John William Speer 1654-1764
2. Others TBD

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Narrative

 

John William Speer 1654-1764 was born in Ayrshire, Scotland and died in Antrim, Ireland. Three generations later, John Speer 1748-1842 immigrated to Pine Mountain, Harris County, Georgia. His son apparently retained the Speer surname spelling, and changed it to Spear for the children. The family moved to Florida after the birth of their first son. Charity Elizabeth Spear was among the children born in Florida before the family returned to Georgia, where she remained for the rest of her life. 

Miscellanea
The original date of this post: 4 September 2025

Most recently updated: 5 October 2025

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