Peter Henry Spears

Other Events:

• Find-A-Grave: 47028134
• Name: Henry
• Reference Number: 13256

Notes:

After arriving in America, Peter settled in Augusta, Co., Virginia until 1751-52, then moved up to Frederick Co., Virginia. Henry and George F. Spears explored the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, possibly together, where George remained and established the "Spears" family of Rockingham County. Henry went to Maryland then later established the "Speers" family in Pennsylvania.

Henry married Regina Froman and settled on farm known as Gibstoton, on the Mon River, below Belle Vernon.

Henry Speers and his wife took up residence on the east bank of the Monogahela River in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, in 1764. He called his home "Summer House." He died circa 1782, supposedly from a kick to the head by a horse. His wife, Regina was taxed in 1783 for 250 acres of land, stock and nine slaves. Regina and sons would be found later in Washington County, Pennsylvania, at Speers Borough, a small community south of Donora on the Monogahela River. It is felt that the Speers family lived in the same general area as the "colony" where the early Crist family lived.

Henry was active in community affairs - occasionally busy with one project or another for the county. He was appointed a captain of the militia in August of 1757.

Abraham Frye and family located on the opposite side of the river. He owned land from Maple Creek on the outskirts of Charleroi, to Pigeon Creek in Monongahela, from the Mon River, to where Fallowfield township school now stands, except for the Grant and Wickerham Farms, near what is now Fisher Heights. They came here from their homes in a place 18 miles south of Winchester, Virginia.

The Speers and the Fryes were intimately associated in everything that pertained to each others comfort, and this fact, in these days of trial and danger, was no small affair. In going from place to place or in the field, these settlers were compelled for personal safety to carry firearms so as to meet the attacks of the Indians.

Buried:
Gibson Cemetery

Peter married Regina Froman Abt 1744, Augusta, Virginia, USA. Regina (daughter of Peter Froman and Elizabeth Margretta Ficklesen) was born 1725, Alsace, Germany; died 1793, Rostraver, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, USA; was buried , Belle Vernon, Fayette, Pennsylvania, USA. [Group Sheet]

1. Catherine Rebecca Spears was born 1761, Frederick, Virginia, USA; died 4 Apr 1849.
2. Christina Spears was born 17 Feb 1752, Winchester, Frederick, Virginia, USA; died 9 Nov 1841, Fallowfield, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA.
3. Elizabeth Spears was born 1746, Augusta, Virginia, USA; died 1773, Pennsylvania, USA.
4. Henry Speers was born 8 Jul 1756, Winchester, Frederick, Virginia, USA; died 2 Jan 1840, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA.
5. Jacob Spears was born 2 Jan 1754, Rockingham, Virginia, USA; died 28 Sep 1825, Paris, Bourbon, Kentucky, USA.
6. Mary Spears was born Dec 1745, Augusta, Virginia, USA; died 1806, Muskingum, Ohio, USA; was buried , Guernsey, Ohio, USA.
7. Nancy Spears was born 17 Mar 1759, Virginia, USA; died 25 Mar 1839, Bourbon, Kentucky, USA.
8. Noah Speers was born 27 Mar 1769, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, USA; died 9 Jun 1832, Rostraver, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, USA; was buried , Belle Vernon, Fayette, Pennsylvania, USA.
9. Sarah Spears was born 1748, Augusta, Virginia, USA; died 1814, Kentucky, USA.
10. Solomon Spears was born 1757, Frederick, Virginia, USA; died 28 May 1788, Bullitt, Kentucky, USA.
11. Susan Spears was born 1750, Augusta, Virginia, USA.
12. Rachel Spears was born 2 Apr 1750, Winchester, Frederick, Virginia, USA; died 4 Nov 1820, Fayette, Fayette, Kentucky, USA.

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 13255

Peter married Margaret Graefenreid Henlopen Abt 1708, Germany. Margaret (daughter of Peter Henlopen) was born Abt 1688, Brandenburg, Germany; died Aft 1731, Pennsylvania, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 5407

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 13226

Notes:

As a young man, Christian Speers went to London to take ship to America where some of his cousins had migrated. While waiting for passage at the dock, he was caught by the "Press Gang" and forced into the British Army. His first opportunity to desert came when the army went into France. Being a Protestant, he was able to lose himself among the persecuted Huguenots who befriended him. Christian joined the French Huguenots and became associated with the Reasoner and Froman families in France and Germany. Later in America, descendants of the three families intermarried. Christian married a French Protestant girl in France. They had one son.

Other Events:

• Name: Peter Henlopin Graefenreid
• Occupation: Burgersmeister of Potsdam
• Reference Number: 6512
• Birth: 1665, Germany

Notes:

Peter Henlopen was a German Burgameister of Potsdam, a residential city on the Haven River 17 miles west southwest from Berlin. Both Grossburen and Potsdam are in the State of Brandenburg where many Huguenots settled following the Potsdam Edit of 1685.