Greene-Dobbs-Glasgow County NcArchives Biographies.....Speight, Sr., Capt Seth ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Cliff Darden cliffdarden@cs.com May 26, 2019, 9:17 am Source: Cliff Darden Author: Cliff Darden CAPTAIN SETH SPEIGHT, SR. Seth Speight Sr. was one of the sons of Captain William Speight (d ca 1784). The date & place of his birth are unknown, thought he was probably born in what is now Greene County, NC. William Speight Jr was likely the eldest of the brothers, as he received land by deed from his father between April 1757 & April 1758 (book 5 page 663), so he was probably born in or before 1737. Francis Speight had a son (Seth) who was born in 11/15/1773. Since Capt Seth's eldest son, William Vines Speight was not born until 1778, it is likely he was the 3rd son of Captain William & elder brother of Samuel, whose eldest child (Arthur) was born 12/17/1785. Seth was on the receiving end of a deed from Dempsey Speight between April 1771 & April 1773 (book 9, page 118). He is not mentioned in the 1769 Dobbs County tax list. Therefore, it is likely he was under 21 at that time, putting his birth year between 1749 & 1752. Between 1779 and 1798, Captain Seth received land grants for 1471 acres. He purchased and/or inherited additional acreage. In his will (below), he distributed "plantations" (600 acre parcels +/-) of 1800 acres to 3 of his 6 sons, and an additional plantation to a 4th son. By 1777, he was married to Elizabeth Vines, daughter of William Vines of Beaufort/Pitt County. William was the son of Samuel Vines and Thompson Fornes of Bath, Beaufort County. Samuel was born 1685-6 died 3/17/1741 (will 3/15/1741). William also had a brother, Samuel Vines. Elizabeth Vines Speight had the following siblings: 1. Mary, who married Thomas Smaw; 2. Samuel (named for his paternal grandfather), who married Polly Brownrigg 7/21/1811, lived on the Stantonsburg (NW) side of Speight's Bridge near the Edgecombe County border; 3. Half brother John Vines of Edgecombe County. Seth Speight followed his father and brothers as a member of the militia. The Comptroller's office in Kinston shows that "Captain Seth Speight" received 281 pounds, 12 shillings for "self and Company pay and rations" in April, 1778. Among the significant battles that the Dobbs County Militia participated in were Moore's Creek (1776), the Siege of Charleston & the battle of Camden (1780), the battle of Cowpens (1781). In addition, Capt. William (7600 pounds), William Speight Jr (5032 pounds), Samuel (940 pounds), Francis (593 pounds) & Seth (1235 pounds), (father & brothers) all paid the 1781 "provisional tax" (to provide money in support of the war of independence). There is a voucher for 45 shillings to Seth Speight for "military duty" on March 3, 1783, another for 1 pound, forty shillings, nine pence dated October 4, 1783 and a third for 19 shillings for "clothing" on the same date. The first child of Seth and Elizabeth was William Vines Speight, (1778- 10/31/1836), named for his maternal grandfather. He married Nancy Margaret (Ellis?) (ca 1777-9/15/1826). She appears to have been the daughter of Edwin Ellis (d 1806). They had the following children (uncertain of the order of births): 1. Nancy (b?-4/14/1845) married Seth Little (3/30/1807-7/22/1865) on 10/12/1821, son of Gray Little and Sylvia Thigpen. 2. Elizabeth (3/6/1802-1865), married Henry Threat Stanton (4/17/1797- 5/5/1844) of Stantonsburg, NC on 3/27/1817. They moved to Alabama. 3. Harriett (1805-1844), was the third (& last) wife of William A. Darden, Sr (7/13/1804- 1/23/1877), eldest son of Abraham Darden (2/16/1781-9/22/1829) & Sarah Westbrook (9/22/1781-ca 1834). 4. Temperance (10/11/1808-12/5/1872), married William Little (1/15/1805-9/22/1873) on 3/27/1828, son of Gray Little and Sylvia Thigpen. They moved to Alabama. 5. Richard Dobbs (b?-4/24/1816-died from "epidemic"), 6. Maria (b?-4/19/1816-died from "epidemic"), 7. Edwin Gray Speight (1818-2/15/1863), married (1) Martha Elizabeth Blount (2/2/1823-10/20/1846) (2) Mary Shepard Bryan. He was elected to the NC Senate 1842-1851 from Greene County, as was his father and his uncle Jesse before him. He moved to Alabama. William Vines Speight was one of the executors of his father's will, written in March/June, 1800. He was elected to the NC Senate each year 1808-1822 from Greene County. It appears that the second child of Capt Seth & Elizabeth was Rev. Seth Speight Jr. (10/4/1781-2/10/1854). He married Ann? (5/20/1783-10/28/1822). They had the following children: 1. Sallie (6/26/1809-?) 2. Miriam (10/5/1810-12/13/1826)-has a stone in the family cemetery. 3. John H. (8/12/1812-4/30/1830) 4. James Pell (6/14/1814-4/4/1891)-has a stone in the family cemetery, along with his wife, Mary Jane Wooten (1/25/1829-6/13/1893). 5. Mary H. (10/26/1818-2/1/1886) 6. Elizabeth Ann (1/10/1822-3/3/1872)-has a stone in the family cemetery. Seth Speight Jr. must have been the second eldest of Capt. Seth's children, as he is also appointed an executor of his father's 1800 will. His 1820/21 house still stands on Sand Pit Road (between Stantonsburg and Appie Road) on the land he inherited from his father. Rev Seth and his family are buried in the family cemetery behind the house. They had no grandchildren, so part of the Speight line died out. As of the time of this writing, it has been restored & occupied by Ellen and Sargent Russell. Due to the way in which the will was written, and the dates of birth that are available, it appears that the third child of Capt Seth & Elizabeth was Henry Speight. It is not known when he was born, but Henry is likely to have been born ca 1782, as Capt Seth's will requested that "SETH and HENRY whom I wish both also jointly to live on and occupy for their use my said plantation provided they take care of and raise my two youngest sons during the space of seven years or longer." This implies that he is the 3rd eldest. Henry is only mentioned in his father's will and in the legal papers of his uncle, William Speight Esq, so it appears he died before 1810 and that Rev. Seth acquired the land left to Henry by their father "lying on the north side of the 600 acres more or less bequeathed to my son SETH" - likely containing the house of Capt. James Pell Speight (now occupied by William Bynum) that was built sometime after 1864, lying north of Rev. Seth's plantations. The Grand Forks (North Dakota) Daily Herald of December 19, 1883 (and several other contemporary newspapers) contained the following article: "An interesting old relic is in the possession of Dr. John Speight of Cuthbert, Ga. It is a beautifully carved priming horn, made in 1777 by a revolutionary soldier, while in camp and presented to Mr. Seth Speight, grandfather of John in 1783-just 100 years ago-and has been in the family ever since. The horn was from a North Carolina ox, and though not wonderful in shape, size or quality, it is artistically engraved and shows that great patience and skill were necessary for its execution." (It appears that Dr. John Speight was the grandson of Rev. Thomas Speight below.) A similar article was published in the Clarksville (Tennessee) Chronicle on February 2, 1884, entitled "An Old Powder Horn" copied from the Cuthbart, GA Enterprise: "We have lately been shown a powder horn that was used during the war of the revolution. The horn is large, and has much elaborate carving on it. In clear characters are found these inscriptions: "Isaac Hay," "1777" "Liberty or Death." During the war o '76, a Mr. Seth Speight, a Methodist minister, who was not required to go to the war, but who did his part by taking care of the families of some who did go, took the family of Mr. Isaac Hay to his own house and provided for them until Mr. Hay's return from the army. As a memento Mr. Hay gave the preacher this horn in 1783. It has been kept in the Speight family ever since until last year, 1883. Just a hundred years from the original gift it was given to Master Seth Speight, son of our townsman, Mr. John Speight. As a memento from his great-great- great grand-father. It will be highly prized through his life." (actually it should have said great great grandfather.) It appears that Polly Vines Speight (because of the listing in his will) was the eldest daughter of Capt Seth and Elizabeth Speight and possible their fourth child. She is also known as Mary Vines Speight. It is probable that she was born between Henry and Thomas (1787). She may have died 12/24/1827. She was the second wife of Rev John Wesley Gibbons (5/25/1774-1839), a Methodist minister. They had the following children: 1. Elizabeth (11/28/1808-) She married Ormond Harper (1797-), son of John Harper (1760-11/7/1827) and Ann Ormond (10/14/1764-4/6/1832). They had James Ormond (1832-?), Thomas Ormond (1834-?). 2. James Gibbons (b 1810-1815) 3. Marinda (b ca 1812-ca 1860) She married Matthew Moseley (1801-ca 1870). They had the following children; John (1830-?), Louiza (1835-?), William (1837-?), Nancy (1839-?), Amanda (1840-?), Martha (1842-?) and moved to Starkville, Mississippi ca 1841. 4. Polly Vines Speight (10/26/1818-?) She married Stephen Lassiter. 5. Rev. Henry Hardy Gibbons(10/1/1818-7/14/1887). He was a Methodist minister who married Elizabeth Hardy (2/15/1819-8/15/1885), daughter of Martha Patsy Mewborn & Lemuel Hardy III. 6. Seth Gibbons (b 1820-1825). 7. Nancy (b 1825-1827) She married John Harper, son of John Harper (1760-11/7/1827) and Ann Ormond (10/14/1764-4/6/1832). Capt. Seth is credited with founding at least three Methodist churches in the 1780's & 1790's, including Lebanon Methodist (west of Speight's Bridge near the Wayne County line), Rainbow Methodist (near Hookerton), Jerusalem Methodist (west of Snow Hill) and possibly Tabernacle Methodist (near Speight's Bridge). The online history of Rainbow United Methodist Church states "Although there is little information to be found about the early beginning of Rainbow United Methodist Church, it is believed that the Church was evangelized by Methodist preacher Seth Speight the Elder of Speight's Bridge, some time before 1787." Another related story comes from excerpts in Some Methodist History Along the Lower Neuse and Contentnea by Yancey T. Ormond (1925), pages 6-7: "Sometime prior to 1735, with two of his brothers, William Ormond came to North Carolina from England and settled in Beaufort County. He had only one son who lived to attain manhood, and he was born in 1738, just a little more than one year before his father died, and was also named William. He remained in Beaufort County until 1768 when he moved to Dobbs County, now Greene, and settled three miles north of the present town of Hookerton and seventeen miles north of Kinston, being one mile south of the present site of Ormond's Chapel, and became a large land owner in the community. The thoroughfare referred to as passing near Rainbow passed near William Ormond's home, which was early known to travelers as the "Ormond House" and in those early days was one of the few places where the passing stranger was entertained. Just when the first Methodist itinerant passed this way is not known. But this family was brought under the influence of Methodism quite early and this home became the stopping and preaching place of its itinerant preachers. William Ormond, the oldest son, was born in 1769 and was converted in 1787 at the age of 18 years. He joined the Virginia Conference in 1791 and continued therein as an itinerant preacher until 1803, when he died at Norfolk while serving the Norfolk Circuit. Carolina Circuit was formed in 1776 and was divided in 1778 into Roanoke, New Hope and Tar River Circuits. Dobbs County must have been embraced in Tar River Circuit, and it must have been under the preaching of the pioneers of Carolina or of Tar River Circuits that Methodism was first introduced into this community, and it is not improbable that William Ormond, Sr., was brought under its influence before he moved from Beaufort County. We know that long before Ormond's Chapel was built and before Contentnea Circuit was formed there was preaching at William Ormond's home and there was an organized society. In 1796 Bishop Asbury preached at "Father Ormond's," and left feeling that "the Lord would yet do wonders among these people." It has always been understood that the organization at Rainbow was older than that at Ormond's. If so, the log meeting house at Rainbow must antedate 1787, the date of the conversion of William Ormond." Given the two similar accounts above, it appears possible that Rev. Seth Speight may have been the "itenerant" responsible for the conversion of William Ormond. According to "Historical Papers of the North Carolina Conference Historical Society and the Western North Carolina Historical Society," published in 1925, page 8 "There has been an organization at Tabernacle (Methodist Church) for more than one hundred years." This would date the founding of the church prior to 1825. The current church site (along Appie Road), is on the north side of Tabernacle Run, which was the northern border of the home plantation of Capt. Seth Speight. The current building is shown on Gilmer's 1864 map of Eastern NC. There is an old story that the church building was formerly on the opposite side of the road (which is higher ground). At some time prior to 1864, it was torn down, because a fiddle was played in the building, (which was considered blasphemy at that time) and rebuilt on the present site. Rev Thomas Speight (2/15/1787-4/5/1859) was possibly the fifth child of Capt. Seth & Elizabeth Speight. He also became a Methodist minister, who began his ministry in North Carolina & moved to Georgia where he completed his ministry and his life. He married Leurany Pope (8/23/1791-11/10/1857), daughter of John & Mary Pope on 5/4/1809. The had the following children: 1. Rev. Thomas Leroy Speight (3/12/1811-12/13/1883) began his ministry in North Carolina in 1834 by being admitted to the Virginia Conference as a "trial" member, assigned to serve "Currituck and Mattamuskeet." 2. Julius Howe Speight (10/13/1812-9/26/1826) 3. Eliza Ann Speight (12/7/1814-1/7/1870) 4. John Seth Speight (11/16/1816-?) 5. Cicero Coke Speight (11/15/1820-7/31/1867) 6. Leurany Pope Speight (ca1822-6/17/1824) 7. Mary Elizabeth Speight (9/18/1824-ca1846) 8. Julius Leurany Speight (3/18/1829-8/10/1884) Fanny Speight (Harper) (ca 1789-?) was probably the sixth child of Seth and Elizabeth. She married ? Harper & had the following children: 1. William Harper 2. Martha Harper 3. Harriett Harper 4. John J. Harper The 1790 census shows the following in Dobbs County, NC: (Capt) Seth Speight; (location 2B-063) Number of males 16+ including heads of families-1 (Capt Seth) Number of males under 16-3 (William Vines, Rev Seth, Rev Thomas) Henry? Number of females including heads of families-3 (Elizabeth Vines, Mary, Fanny) Number of other free persons-0 Number of slaves-11 Lemon Speight (2/20/1791-6/1/1830) would have been the seventh child of Capt. Seth and Elizabeth. He married Charity Cook (d 11/19/1830, NC Free Press, Tarboro, 11/30/1830), daughter of Jacob Cook (ca 1769-10/23/1830) of Wayne County and Celia Horn (d 9/29/1829). Their children were: 1. Nancy Howe (9/29/1821-3/24/1887) married Dr. John H. Dering (12/14/1812-4/28/1861) on 9/12/1837 (family Bible). None of their 6 children ever married. 2. Celia Eveline (10/10/1824-1850) married Rev George Joyner. She is buried near her sister, Mary. 3. Mary Cook (9/29/1829-12/7/1880) married Rufus Cicero Decatur Beaman (5/14/1829-6/15/1884). They are buried on the old Seth Speight plantation, about ¼ mile northeast of Speight's Bridge. Lemon served in the War of 1812 & deserted (Carolina Federal Republican, New Bern, 8/14/1813) along with 33 others, probably to harvest crops @ home. He was appointed the first postmaster of Speight's Bridge, effective 10/24/1829. He served less that a year before he died. Nancy Howe Speight (1793-2/7/1812-N C Star 2/21/1812 age 19), the eighth child of Capt Seth & Elizabeth, (8/1/1793-2/7/1812) married John Pope (1/16/1779-8/21/1827), son of John & Mary Pope on May 9, 1811. They had no children before her death. Jesse Speight (9/22/1795-5/1/1847) was the last of Capt. Seth & Elizabeth's children. He was born @ Speight's Bridge. He lived in that area most of his life. He was raised by his eldest brother William Vines Speight (1778- 1836), after the death of their mother (d 12/1798), father (d 6/1800) & uncle, William Speight, Esq (d 1802). As his eldest brother was both a farmer & a lawyer, Jesse was trained in both and followed his brother into politics. He married (1) Mary (Polly) May (d 9/22/1826), daughter of Benjamin May Jr (1768-1815) and Penelope Grimes (1771-1832). They had the following children: 1. Maria Grimes Speight (12/23/1817-6/22/1896), married Col. John Holliday (8/10/1803-3/16/1881), son of Col. William Holliday and Nancy Carr on 10/25/1837. 2. Penelope Speight (1820-5/9/1848) married Col. Thomas Cannon (4/24/1811-2/15/1896) in 1838. 3. Elizabeth Speight (1821-) married Samuel Dixon (1821-) on 12/4/1839 4. Col. Joseph Warren Speight (5/31/1825-4/26/1888), Married (1) Josephine S. Prewitt (1829-1867) on 7/28/1846 and Mary A. Bolton (1841-1886) 5. Benjamin Speight (1826-5/25/1846 in Washington, DC) 6. Moriah G Speight married John Holliday After the death of Mary, General Speight married her sister (2) Louisa May on May 3, 1827. Jesse first served in the House of Commons during the last year his eldest brother served in the senate (1822), became a militia brigadier general in 1823, became president of the senate in 1828, was elected to Congress from 1829-1837. As his brother died in 1836, Jesse moved his family to Mississippi, where he was subsequently elected president of the senate and a US senator in 1845. He was replaced in the US Senate by Jefferson Davis. Elizabeth Vines Speight died in December, 1798, leaving her husband with a family that included at least 5 children under the age of 12. The following is an entry from the journal of Methodist Bishop Francis Asbury February, 1799, as he traveled through the county from Rainbow church: "Wednesday, 27. I was comforted in administering the sacrament; after which, as the day was damp, I left brother Lee to finish, and rode along 16 miles to Seth Spaight's (sic); a deeply distressed man for the loss of his dear wife, who lately departed this life." Bishop Asbury implies the depth of the relationship of Seth & Elizabeth, as well has his personal respect for Seth. It is also possible that grief of his lost spouse contributed to his death, only 6-8 months after the death of his wife. The 1800 census of Greene County is dated May 3, 1801. Apparently, Capt. Seth is NOT included in that census, as he apparently died in June, 1800. The Seth Speight listed is his nephew (son of Francis Speight) who was born in 1773. In addition, both of his remaining brothers, William & Samuel have 2 boys under 10 (Lemon & Jesse), 2 boys 10-16 (Henry & Thomas), 2 boys 17-26 (Seth & Samuel's son Arthur). Samuel has 2 girls under 10 (Fanny & Nancy), & 3 girls 17-26 (would include Polly). Capt Seth Speight died in 1800, sometime (probably shortly) after the date of the codicil to his will (below). IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN I, SETH SPEIGHT, SR. being weak in body, but thank God enjoying the full use of my mental faculties, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in the manner and form following, to wit: Item. I give and bequeath unto my son SETH SPEIGHT the following tract of land, viz: beginning at the mouth of Watry Branch on the North side of Great Contentnea Creek and running with WILLIAM SPEIGHT's line to his corner a post oak, then with his other line to his corner a hickory, then with LANGSTON'S line to his corner a post oak, then with his said LANGSTON's other line to JOHN GAINY's beginning corner, a pine then WILLIAM SPEIGHT's line to his corner, then with his other line to a point opposite the head of Pig Pen Branch, then down the various courses of said branch to the place where said branch, Swift's Branch, and a small branch making into dry swamp part, then down the various courses of the said small branch to the dry swamp then down the various courses of dry swamp to the Polly Causy Branch, then along the various courses of said branch to the head of Dry Marsh, then down the various courses of the Dry Marsh to SAMUEL VINE's Line, then with the several courses and distances of said VINE's line to Contentnea Creek at a place called the Old hedge, then down the various courses of said creek to the beginning, containing 600 acres more or less in two plantations. I also give unto my son SETH one negro man, Peter, a yellow sorrell mare called Blaze, one half of the stock of cattle now on the aforesaid two plantations, one gun, one bed and furniture to him the said SETH, his heirs and assigns forever. I give and bequeath unto my son HENRY SPEIGHT that tract of land lying on the north side of the 600 acres more or less bequeathed to my son SETH bounded by THOS. HALL's, JOSEPH WINSLOW's, DELIJAH DANIELS and WILLIAM SPEIGHT's lands containing two plantations and also containing 600 acres more or less. I also give unto my said son HENRY one negro girl named Sarah, one bay mare had of DAVID PEAL, the remaining half of my stock of cattle on my upper plantations not given to my son SETH, one gun and bed and furniture to him, the said HENRY, his heirs and assigns forever. Item. I give and bequeath to my son THOMAS SPEIGHT 600 acres, more or less, of land on the South side of THOMPSON's swamp, including the plantation where ISAAC HAYES formerly lived, one negro boy named Ben, one small horse called Mark, one small gun, two cows and calves out of my stock at home, one bed and furniture, to him the said THOMAS SPEIGHT his heirs and assigns forever. I give and bequeath unto my son LEMON SPEIGHT the plantation whereon I now live and all the lands and several tracts of land to me belonging adjoining thereto, only reserve to my brother WILLIAM SPEIGHT that part which he lives on and has occupied during the term of his natural life. I also give to my said son LEMON a negro boy named Simon, two cows and calves, one gray horse called Traveller, one bed and furniture, to him my said son LEMON SPEIGHT his heirs and assigns forever. Furthermore, my will and desire is that if either of my three sons, SETH, HENRY or LEMON before they come to full age should die, the tract of land given to each of them shall be the property of my son THOMAS, his heirs and assigns forever and the tract of land before given to the said THOMAS be the property of my three daughters POLLY VINES SPEIGHT, NANCY HOWE SPEIGHT and FANNY SPEIGHT. Item. I give unto my daughter POLLY VINES SPEIGHT one negro girl named Peggy, one negro child named Nelly with their increase, one bed and furniture, two cows and calves, one mare colt, to her my said daughter POLLY VINES and her heirs forever. Item. I give to my daughter NANCY HOWE SPEIGHT a negro girl named Cherry, one half of a negro woman named Cressy, one bed and furniture, two cows and calves, to her, my said daughter NANCY HOWE SPEIGHT her heirs and assigns forever. Item. I give unto my daughter FANNY SPEIGHT the other half of the young negro woman named Cressy and also one other negro girl named Patience, one bed and furniture, if it can be made out of the house and if not the value thereof out of what may be sold of my personal property, two cows and calves to her, my said daughter FANNY her heirs and assigns forever. Further my will and desire is that deceased wife's clothes be divided among my three above named daughters, also that six barrels of brandy and one riding mare be sold, my money in hand and what is due me either by note or otherwise and all said moneys be applied to the schooling of my children. I give and bequeath unto my son THOMAS SPEIGHT that tract of land called the Cross Rock Neck to him and his heirs forever. I furthermore will and desire that all my stock of hogs, sheep and remaining cattle my blacksmith tools, coopers and carpenters tools all my plantation utensils and what of my house hold and kitchen furniture is not before willed away may remain on my home plantation and be for the joint use of my two sons SETH and HENRY whom I wish both also jointly to live on and occupy for their use my said plantation provided they take care of and raise my two youngest sons during the space of seven years or longer, if my executors think fit. Item. I also give to my daughter FANNY SPEIGHT one negro woman named Hanna with her increase to her my said daughter and her heirs forever. It is further my will and desire that my part or share of all the negroes not before willed away shall be equally divided among my four sons. It likewise is my will and desire that my half of the still and all my casks and my apple mill be the property of my son LEMON SPEIGHT reserving to my son SETH SPEIGHT the apple mill and casks at the upper plantation. I hereby nominate constitute and appoint my brother WILLIAM SPEIGHT and my two sons WILLIAM VINES SPEIGHT and SETH SPEIGHT executors of this my last will and testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 12th day of March in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred. Signed, sealed and acknowledged in the presence of WILLIAM CLEMENTS W.V. SPEIGHT, ABSALOM PRICE SETH SPEIGHT, SEN'R (seal) [Note: A codicil was made 8 June 1800 which revokes the appointment of his brother, WILLIAM SPEIGHT, as an executor, and "my friend" BENJAMIN MAY JUNIOR of Pitt County, N.C., substituted. Also, a legacy was given to NANNIE MAGEE "in consideration of her kindness to me during my illness..." Witnesses to the codicil: SAMUEL SPEIGHT,Sr, WILLIAM CLEMENTS, SILAS WALSTON.] Comments on the will: 1. The 2 plantations bordering on "Watry Branch" (600 acres) now contain the house constructed for Rev. Seth Speight ca 1821 that went to his son, James P. Speight. As Capt. James P & his wife had no children, the land was purchased by Appie Wooten Bynum (sister of James P's wife) & Peter Bynum at a court house sale. In 1864-70, James P. built a large house on a fine hill on what was likely the 2 plantations (also 600 acres) left to Henry Speight "lying on the north side of the 600 acres more or less bequeathed to my son SETH" 2. The reference to "SAMUEL VINE'S line" is to the west of the 600 acres left to Rev. Seth & contained the "old Vines place." Samuel was the brother of Elizabeth Vines Speight. There was a cemetery on that property that was plowed under in 1974 that was to the northwest of the house location. 3. The 600 acres left to Thomas Speight was apparently part of a land grant to Capt. Seth's brother, William, 2/2/1762. 4. The "plantation whereon I now live" was eventually inherited by Lemon's daughter, Mary Cook Speight, who married Rufus Cicero Decatur Beaman. They are buried in the cemetery directly behind where their old many-gabled house stood near the triangle that was the location of the Speight's Bridge community in the 19th century. 5. The naming of "my two sons SETH and HENRY whom I wish both also jointly to live on and occupy for their use my said plantation provided they take care of and raise my two youngest sons during the space of seven years or longer, if my executors think fit" implies that they were the eldest of Capt Seth's remaining males, (as William Vines had moved out on his own) and his remaining children were not old enough to care for themselves. 6. Seth disposed of 10 slaves by name (plus unnamed slaves mentioned) and 7 (feather) beds & furniture, implying his wealth. It is MOST unusual that Capt Seth named his eldest son, William Vines, as an executor (he was also a witness) of his will, but left nothing to either him or his youngest son, Jesse Speight. The answer to that conundrum is found in the NC Supreme Court case "N.C., Greene County - Equity Docket, Oct. term 1814 JAMES G. SHEPPARD & Others vs JAMES GLASGOW & Others. Original Bill 1811." The key is found in these words of the lawsuit (Case #79, SHEPPARD vs. GLASGOW, 1814) "WILLIAM SPEIGHT died intestate sometime in 1802 & adm. of his estate was granted to SAMUEL SPEIGHT (his last remaining brother) who afterwards died (1803) & no administration de bonus non of the estate of the sd. WILLIAM SPEIGHT has since been granted, but the whole of his estate has gone into the hands & possession of WILLIAM VINES SPEIGHT & JESSE SPEIGHT, under the following circumstances, to wit. SETH SPEIGHT, their father being about to make his will & divide his property among his children, the sd. WILLIAM his brother, advised him to give his property to his other children for that he, WILLIAM, intended to leave his estate to the sd WM VINES & JESSE SPEIGHT, & to induce him to do so promised him that if he would give his property to his other children that he WILLIAM would leave all his estate to the sd. WILLIAM VINES & JESSE his sons, upon which he the sd. SETH did by his will give his property to his other children, whereupon the sd WILLIAM V. SPEIGHT & JESSE SPEIGHT after the death of the sd WILLIAM (Speight) commenced action agst the administrators of the sd WILLIAM & recovered judgments to the full amount of his estate & his estate accordingly all sold under execution to satisfy said judgments & all purchased in by the said WILLIAM V. & JESSE, whereby the said WM V. & JESSE, as your orators are advised, are liable to the debts of the said WILLIAM as aforesaid. Your orators further charge that the sd JAMES (Glasgow) & MARTHA admrs took into their possession the whole personal estate of their intestate to a very great amount & more than sufficient to have paid all his debts but which has been so mismanaged that the real estate has been sold under executions agst the estate at a great under value." Therefore; William Vines Speight had to sue James Glasgow (the illegitimate administrator) in order to recover for himself & his baby brother, Jesse. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/greene/bios/speights138gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ncfiles/ File size: 31.2 Kb