Person:Hester Speer (1)

This individual was found on GenCircles at: http://www.gencircles.com/users/edspeer/1/data/3938This individual was found on GenCircles at: http://www.gencircles.com/users/red12767/8/data/26697This individual was found on GenCircles at: http://www.gencircles.com/users/edspeer/1/data/3938This individual was found on GenCircles at: http://www.gencircles.com/users/edspeer/1/data/3938 [Abernethy-Feb2004.ged]

Burial: Dove cem. Munger, Limestone Co., TX [Abernethy-Feb2004.ged]

Burial: Dove cem. Munger, Limestone Co., TX

[HesterAnnSpeer.FTW]

According to Della v. Dunlap Hill, "Hester Ann was born on a plantationand her family owned many slaves. She had a Negro maid who washed herfeet every night until she was 14 years old. The only members of herfamily that Alta Derryberry heard of was Aunt Puss and Uncle Dock Speer.The plantation was in Georgia near Atlanta. She was age 18 when shemarried William Robert Spruiell who was age 23 . Hester did not know howto cook or do anything. He had to hire a cook for two years to teachher, but since she was not learning Robert hired a man for the field workand proceeded to teach her himself. He had been a cook in the Civil Warafter his hand had been wounded. She never did learn how to make goodbisquits. Robert was a good cook."

She had slaves to do everything for her - even to dress her. She wastaught to spin cotton, make cloth, cut and sew, to knit and manageservants. Daughter Lola was said to look like her - especially her prettycurly hair. She loved pretty cloths and had a "Sharp tongue."

In a letter dated May 2?, 1978 to Lois Hill Blacklock, Stella Mae Wilcoxof Chickasha, Oklahoma, a granddaughter. said Hester Ann Taylor Speertaught the girls of the family all the niceties of an upperclass familysuch as - "Little ladies do not let little boys see them comb their hairor powder their faces. They sit up straight and never cross their legs."

In another letter dated January or June 22, 1978, Stella Mae Wilcox says- the Spears lost everything in the Civil War even to the clothes ontheir backs. All the young men were killed so there was no one to carryon the Speer name. She said that Hester Ann was a pretty little thing,some called her haughty. She was much higher bred, both she and GrandpaSpruiell , than those who lived around them. They resented her attitude.

Some sources say her name was Hester Jane, but her tombstone is inscribed"Hester Ann". Hester Jane may be another relative. There was a HesterJane in Georgia, near where Hester Ann was raised.

Mrs. Hester Spruiell of Hubbard City, Texas attended a reunion of theSpeers August 6th 1904?held at John Carmichael's home. She and herbrother Mint Speer of Weogufka, Alabama were the only two who attended ofthe older generation. The next reunion will be held the first Saturday ofAugust 1905. This reunion appears to have been held in Georgia. Thearticle mentions that the people came in buggies and wagons, etc. andappeared to us as if everybody in Fayette, Coweta and a large part ofFulton were Speer's or their relatives. There were Carmichaels, Youngs,Hardys, Loyds, Greer, Spruiells, Maddozs, Scotts, Ravens, Smiths, andBrowns. The reunion was held at John Carmichael's.(Information from anewspaper clipping).

A quote from the clipping - "Speer women are famous for the great numberof questions they can ask, not giving you time to answer one beforeanother is hurled at you. But there are none better than these goodwomen, we will love them as long as they live, and cherish their memorieslong after they have passed over the river to hold a grand reunion in thebright celestial realm, from which no one has ever returned... The Speer women are noted for theirgood cooking.... Uncle Mint Speer (and others, told)... reminiscences ofthe good old times before the Civil War.

"By the presence of Mint Speer, of Weogufka, Alabama and Mrs HesterSpruiell, of Hubbard City, Texas, all of the old family of Speers werepresent. Out of fourteen children only six are living, and the youngestof these is over three score. Those living are Mesdames Elizabeth Young,Nancy Speer, Hester Spruiell, S. A. Loyd and Messrs.Joseph Minton andThomas C. Speer."

Out of fourteen children only six are living, and the youngest of theseis over three score. Those living are Mesdames Elizabeth Young, NancySpeer, Hester Spruiell, S. A. Loyd and Messrs. Joseph Minton and Thomas C. Speer.

Other spellings of the her maiden name that have been found are Spear andSpier.

According to Della v. Dunlap Hill

1. ↑ Copy of abernethy.FTW.
2. ↑ Hunter, Ann, Hunter, Ann, Email to Speer, 19 Nov 2000 (Nov. 19, 2000 email from Hunter to WE Speer of Marion, NC).
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} HesterAnnSpeer.FTW.

   Date of Import: Feb 27, 2002

4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Holloway file.FTW.

   Date of Import: Mar 20, 2002