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Family tree▼ Facts and Events
Children
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1736 |
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References
- ↑ Godfrey Spruill, DR 8 SmartMatches
Birth: 1650 in Scotland
Death: 5 Aug 1718 in Albermarle Province NC
Sex: M
Father:
Mother:
Spouses & Children
Joannah LNU (Wife)
Children:
1. Joseph Spruill
2. Susannah Spruill
3. Godfrey Spruill Jr.
4. Ann Margueritta Spruill
5. Mary Spruill
6. Samuel Spruill Sr. b. 1680 in Scotland
source:
http://www.gencircles.com/users/jcurtwright/1/data/2218 - ↑ Godfrey Spruill, “Connebbys creek” and “Matoromet crick” , 1699
Posted by: JSpruell (ID *****0579) Date: May 27, 2002 at 07:41:52
of 692
The earliest deeds that I can find for Godfrey Spruell in North Carolina may or may not pre-date his Roundabout Plantation located between the Scuppernong and Bull’s Bay. Abstracts of two of the entries dated 5 Mar 1699 and 6 Feb 1699 identify land that he sold along “Connebbys creek” and “Matoromet crick.” The former is of particular interest to myself because it identifies land that Godfrey “entered and settled.” Godfrey does thereafter identify himself as “Doctor Godfrey Spruell of Scopernung, Chyurgin…” in a later 26 May 1701/02 entry.
My question is does anybody know where either “Connebbys creek” or “Matoromet crick” is located? Secondly if someone lives close enough to the North Carolina archives to be able to make a copy of the original, I would love to know if there is any more information in the original entry about where this land is located, etc. I’ve already checked the family history library in SLC to see if a copy of Chowan Deed Book #1 is in their holdings…with no success.
As always, thanks ahead of time,
Jim
========================
2 July 1694
"These may certify yt at a Crt. Holden for the precinct of Chowan ye. Second of July 1694: Godfrey Spruell proved these Eight rights as followeth: Godfrey Spruell Sen., Joana Spruell, Susanah Spruell, Ana Margeritta Spruell, Saml. Spruell, Godfrey Spruell Junr., Nicholas Phelps, Sarah Walker. Attest: Nathanl. Chevin Crk."
... Book of Warrants and Surveys, 1681-1706, for land in the North Carolina county palatine of Albemarle ... presently in the North Carolina State Archives (shelf mark: Secretary of State 978.1)
… Note: this is abstracted in Old Albemarle County, North Carolina Book of Land Warrants and Surveys 1671-1706 by Weynette Parks Haun, 1984
5 Mar 1699
“Coll. Thomas Pollock of Chowan Prect., Albemarle Co. to Silvester Sandifort mariner 5 Mar. 1699 consideration 640 acres entered and settled by Dr. Godfrey Spruell and bought of him by me being on ye sowwest side of Connebbys creek all houses, gardens, orchards, etc.”
… Wit.: He. Humphreys, Jeremiah Cannon
… Reg. 2 Apr. 1700
… Deed Book W #1, Chowan County, N. C., page 4 (deed number 8)
6 Feb 1699
“Abraham Lewis of Chowan Prect., mariner with the consent of Elizabeth my now wife to Nathaniel Chevin of Chowan Prect. 6 Feb. 1699 for 15 pounds 150 arkers more or less according to the anchant bounds, at the mouth of Matoromet crick being part of a thousand arkers taken up by Thomas Horskinse and sold by him to Will Hankrock’s father ( ) and purchased by Godrey Spruell of the foresd. Hankrock and by sd. Spruell sold to us.
Wit.: James Bount, Thomas Waine, Richard Lewis.
… Reg. 2 Apr. 1700
… Deed Book W #1, Chowan County, N. C., page 6 (deed number 11)
26 May 1701/1702
“Doctor Godfrey Spruell of Scopernung, Chyurgin and Joanna my wife to John Stuard…”
… Reg. 3 Mar 1702
… Deed Book W #1, Chowan County, N. C., page 27 (deed number 49)
-JSpruell
source page:
http://genforum.genealogy.com/spruill/messages/574.html
added:
02/05/2005
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Re: Godfrey Spruill, “Connebbys creek” and “Matoromet crick” , 1699
Posted by: Joseph Spruill (ID *****8480) Date: July 30, 2002 at 20:50:43
In Reply to: Godfrey Spruill, “Connebbys creek” and “Matoromet crick” , 1699 by JSpruell of 692
In response to your query:
1. "Connebbys creek". I have a NC gazeteer that ientifies "Conaby Creek" as follows: ...rises in w. Washington County s. of the town of Plymouth and flows ne. into Roanoke River. Appears as Conalis Creek on the Collett Map, 1770, and as Conaly Creek on maps as recent as the 1932 Soil Survey map. Shown as Coneby Creek on the McRae map, 1833, and referred to as Conoby Creek in Doc. No. 259, House of Representatives, 63d Congress, lst Session, 1913.
2. "Matoromet crick". The same gazeteer refers to a Mattacomack Creek and refers to it as Queen Anne's Creek as follows: ... rises in s. Chowan County and flows sw. into the e. side of Edenton Bay. Prior to 1712 known as Mattacomack Creek. ...
Comments: These may appear to be a stretch but from my research into Dr. Godfrey's history here in Virginia I know that he owned land in several places and have been something of a land speculator. I don't remember ever hearing any names similar to these in Tyrrell County and we know that Dr. Godfrey is mentioned in the Vestry Records of St. Paul's in Edenton around 1700 so must have been there on numerous occasions. I believe that when he initially moved from Virginia he may have lived in Edenton for a time. Further, Washington County was created out of Tyrrell County so that reference is not too far fetched.
I have pursued Dr. Godfrey for many years, along with the early history of the family and would love to communicate further with you. I live in Willamsburg, Virginia. My email is: jsprl@erols.com.
-- Joseph Spruill
source page:
http://genforum.genealogy.com/spruill/messages/581.html
added:
02/05/2005
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Dr. Godfrey Spruill's Origins
Posted by: Joseph Spruill (ID *****8480)
Date: August 16, 2002 at 21:06:30
Many of us have been searching for Dr. Godfrey's origins. We have assumed he was born in Scotland about 1650 (based on the Aug 1,1689, reference to his age). I'd like to propose two alternative possibilities. The principal reference we go back to is the land grant in James City County, VA, from 1684. But that citation says clearly "by the said Spruell's plantation." This implies that by October, 1684, he had been in Virginia long enough to have established a plantation (not just a farm or small holding), and to have acquired sufficient wealth to pay for the transportation of seven persons. This would have been a significant accomplishment for a 34-year old man, especially if his education had also included two or three years of medical education. Two alternative scenarios come to mind: (1) Maybe this reference is not to Dr. Godfrey but to his father or perhaps an uncle. Following this logic, or Dr. Godfrey could have been born in Virginia or possibly in the West Indies or Bermuda instead of Scotland. (Many early settlers in Virginia and South Carolina had previously settled in ones of these areas). Our Dr. Godfrey could have returned to the British Isles for his education (including medical), as was fairly common among the Virginia gentry. If this is the case, we should perhaps be seeking an earlier Godfrey in Scotland, born roughly some time between 1600 and 1630. On the other hand, since I have not found a single Godfrey among the hundreds of 16th and 17th century Spruells (and tewnty-odd other spellings) in Scotland I have looked at, maybe there is another possibility. (2) Perhaps the 1684 land grant was to Dr. Godfrey, already here at the age of 34, who had inherited the earlier plantation from his father or some other relative. This scenario offers the possibility that his father was not named Godfrey. It was a Scottish custom in the period to name the first son for his paternal grandfather. Unfortunately, we do not know for sure the birth order of Dr. Godfrey's sons although his will names Samuel first, implying that he was the eldest. Perhaps we should be looking for a Samuel Spruell in Scotland who could have been born any time from about 1595 to 1635; although 1600 to 1630 seems a more probable period. Dr. Godfrey, if born in the new world, might have been named in honor of someone other than a family member, possibly even for someone whose surname was Godfrey. Using surnames for first names was very common in Virginia.
Both of these scenarios open up the Scottish connection to a much wider time period and possible first names, but also make to more burdensome to try and find the ancestor. Since we seem to have hit a brick wall with Godfrey born about 1650, maybe this new approach is worth a try. I would appreciate any comments.
-- Joseph Spruiell
sourc page:
http://genforum.genealogy.com/spruill/messages/584.html
added:
02/05/2005
================================================
Re: Dr. Godfrey Spruill's Origins
Posted by: D. Harold Davenport (ID *****9365) Date: August 24, 2003 at 19:36:02
In Reply to: Dr. Godfrey Spruill's Origins by Joseph Spruill of 692
Joseph and James: I am related to Godfrey Spruill through my great grandmother Celia Ann Spruill who married James Madison Davenport in 1852 in Washington County NC. In looking for Godfrey's origins have you considered DNA testing? We have a Davenport DNA site and now have over 30 participants. What has been the biggest suprise to Albemarle Davenports is the complete 25/25 marker match with the decendents of Rev. John Davenport b. 1597 in Coventry England and died in New Haven Ct. in 1670. Rev. John Davenport came to Boston in 1637. Our Albemarle patriarch, Richard R. Davenport was born abt. 1642 and died in 1713. We now know that he could have been born in either New England or the Coventry area of England. This is far more than we have ever known before. Also the lineage of Rev. John Davenport is well documented back to Edward Davenport b. 1504 in Coventry. The DNA testing is not expensive and will certainly direct us all in either the direction of Scotland or England and may have some direct matches with data already in the database.
-- D. Harold Davenport - An Albemarle Davenport
source page:
http://genforum.genealogy.com/spruill/messages/625.html
added:
02/05/2005
====================================================
Re: Dr. Godfrey Spruill's Origins
Posted by: James Spruell (ID *****0579)
Date: August 24, 2002 at 10:09:02
In Reply to: Dr. Godfrey Spruill's Origins by Joseph Spruill
Joe,
In a recent email you asked for my opinion on your scenarios posted above. I've thought about your genforum posting for the past week, and went over some of the Godfrey Spruill documents. Your thought about the possibility that Godfrey actually returned to England to attend Medical school would actually explain several items. Godfrey is mentioned in quite a few documents in at least 3 counties prior to 1694 when he sold his land in Henrico county. Not one time is he listed as Dr. or "Chururgion". From 1694/5 to 1699 his name is noticably absent, and I'm not aware of any entries for that period. After 1699, Godfrey proudly announces himself as a physician in most of the 68 + entries that I've found... quite a change. On-the-other-hand, in the pre-1694 entries, Godfrey describes himself as Gentleman... a very important distinction. Of course, this may be just coincidence, but is consistent with your scenario.
The July 1694 warrants that Godfrey received is for 8 rights of which 7 are members of his family. Comparing this to the earlier 1684 entry one has to ask who was on that list, i.e., 10 years had passed which is enough time to actually have as many as 5 children to go with any that were born in Scotland...
I also think that quite possibly Godfrey was in America prior to 1684, and would not be surprised to find other Spruell's (parents or otherwise) that came over with him. Maybe yes, maybe no. I also beleive that somewhere in Godfrey's maternal line was the last name Godfrey... and likely wasn't Scottish. Scottish Origens contains the official records of Scotland from 1500+(?) and is searchable. A search on the last name Godfrey for that period came up quite empty...two names if I recall. I suspect that it is an English name. I also would not be surprized if Godfrey Spruell wasn't at least distantly related to the very prominent Godfrey's of Albemarle. I've seen no evidence that they are... just that for example one of Godfrey's trials was held at the home of Mrs. Godfrey, etc.
Lastly some of the closest spelling of this period to the Spruill/Spruell entries found in Virginia come from the 1659 Donegal Rapho Barony which listed:
Tituladoes / Townland / Parish
Archibald Spruell & John / Boggagh /& Raphoe
Spruell gents / Stranorlaghan / "
In the 1665 Heath roles of Donegal (SLC Film #100181) we find:
John Spruel ... of Glanree
Jennett Spruel, widow ... of Glanree
Archibald Sproule ...of Lismontigly
John Sproull ...of Stranorlaghan
Which also brings up the etta of Henrietta/Anna Margareita children names... as is Jennett... just a curiosity. In the above entries I am also curious as to who the gents were...
-- Jim
source page:
http://genforum.genealogy.com/spruill/messages/586.html
added:
02/05/2005
=============================
Re: Dr. Godfrey Spruill's Origins Typo
Posted by: James Spruell (ID *****0579)
Date: August 24, 2002 at 10:12:26
In Reply to: Re: Dr. Godfrey Spruill's Origins by James Spruell
6 not 7 of the 1694 Warrant entry are members of Godfrey's family (Godfrey Spruell Sen., Joana Spruell, Susanah Spruell, Ana Margeritta Spruell, Saml. Spruell, Godfrey Spruell Junr.,)
- James
http://genforum.genealogy.com/spruill/messages/587.html
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