Michael Peter Spessard

D: I65722 Name: Michael SPESSARD Sex: M Birth: DEC 1750 in Florsbach, Hessen, Germany Burial: Spessard family cem., Chewsville, MD-Bethel UB church cem. Religion: Brethren Residence: York, PA Event: Ethnicity/Relig. German Reformed Event: Ship 14 SEP 1751 "Duke of Bedford" Richard Jefferson, mstr. Event: Military Revolutionary War Patriot Death: APR 1825 in Chewsville, MD Note:

MICHAEL SPESSARD came to America on the ship "Duke of Bedford", Richard Jefferson master. Originating in Rotterdam stopping at Portsmouth, destination Philadelphia.

Oath of allegiance taken 14 Sept 1751.
- This needs to be verified. Since Michael would have been 10 months old, at this time

Michael was a Revolutionary war soldier, served at Fort Frederick 1778 under Captain John Kershner.

   For more information on Fort Frederick; http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/fortfrederick.html

Archives of Maryland, Vol 18, page 328, in the "Muster Rolls and other records of service of Maryland troops in the American Revolution, 1775-1783" the name Michl. Spesser is mentioned as a private of Captain John Kershner's company guarding the prisoners of war at Fort Frederick, June 27, 1778. Also: Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots, Vol.4,
The name Spessard means "Woods of the Woodpeckers" on the 1779 tax tables, Codorus twsp, York co PA, Michael (Michael Spossart) owned 100 acres, 1 horse, 2 cattle, - tax 20 pounds.
The 1781 tax table, (Michael Spiesert) 150 acres, 2 horses, 2 cattle and no negroes. tax., one pound.

   Michael is buried in the Bethel Unit of the Brethren Church cemetery, Chewsville, MD. Michael's headstone reads: "In Memory of Michael Spesard who was born December 1750 and departed this life April 1825 Aged 75 years".

The 1783 tax report - Codorus (Last name, first name, acres, # of inhabitants)

   Spiesart Michael 190 7

Executor of the will for his friend; James Damewood, 7 Nov 1859, Craig's Creek, Craig, VA. Michael's son, John was mentioned as a witness.
Spessert, Michael NORTH CODORUS TOWNSHIP - COMPLETE COLONIAL FAMILY NAME INDEX + PAGE NUMBERS. pgs. 68, 69 http://www.innernet.net/hively/newpage13.htm
For more SPESSARD information, visit Larry Spessert's website at; http://home.att.net/~lspessert

   or Donald Bodwell's website at; http://rampages.onramp.net/~durbin/Spessard/Spessard_home.htm

The following is from the book: "A brief history of the Spessard family" : a complete genealogical family register, with a few brief biographical sketches from early records and other available sources - by H. L. Spessard -

   Hagerstown, Md.: Hagerstown Bookbinding & Print. Co., 1930, 117 pgs.

"Very little is known concerning Michael Spessard, the progenitor of this branch, except court records where his handwriting is in German. As to whether he is the son of Michael Spessert of York County, PA., or he himself came from Germany, has not been ascertained. (*In fact, he is not the son of Michael Spessard) The place of his birth is not known nor the maiden name of his wife. (*Luckily, time and much effort has answered both those questions.) Mos of his land purchases were made in what is now Rohrersville district, Washington County, where possibly all his children were born. He was apparently quite prosperous as the distribution of his estate indicates.
His will is on record in the County Court house at Hagerstown, which reads as follows:

   "In the name of God, Amen. I, Michael Spesart of Washington County and state of Maryland, being sick and weak, in body, but of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding; in considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof, and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs, thereby being the better prepared to leave this world when it shall please God to call me hence due, therefore make and publish this my last will and testimony in the manner and form following that is to say:

   FIRST: and properly I commit my soul into the hands of Almighty God, and my body to the earth to be decently buried at the direction of my executor hereinafter named; and after my debts and funeral charges are paid, I devise and bequeath as follows:

   I give and bequeath unto my wife, Christiena, during her natural life all my right claim and demands of all the rent due me and my son John, situate in Washington County and state aforesaid, the said Christiena is to have all my right and demand of my part of grain becoming due me agreeably to an agreement made between me and my son John of the 25th day of March, 1824, that one-fourth of all the grain which may be raised on the aforesaid farm, of wheat, rye, corn, oats and as much hay as is necessary for food for her cows' pasturage for two cows, fire wood halled to the dwelling of the said Christiena, and a log house situated on the aforesaid land, the stable attached to this house and the garden adjoining the said house and one-fourt of the said grain the said John may withold.

   I give and devise unto my son John Spesart, his heirs and assigns forever after the death of my wife Christiena all my undivided part of land situate lying and being in Washington County and state of Maryland, bound as follows; on the north by William Fitchew, on the east by Jacob Thomas and Michael Thomas, on the south by Gabriel Billmire and Joseph Woolf, on the west by John Stotler and Joseph Biggum, containing in all 239 acres of land more or less for which the said John is to pay two thousand seven hundred dollars current money to be paid to my executor in three annual equal payments commencing one year after the death of my wife, Christiena, the first payment to be paid over unto Elizabeth Rummek (?), the second payment to be paid over unto my daughter Mariah Weaver, wife of Michael Weaver and the last to my daughter Christiena Steritt, wife of James Steritt, their heirs and assigns safe without interest. Provided the said John Spesart is not willing to pay $2,700 for all aforesaid land, the land shall be sold and the said John shall fall equal heir with my three daughters, aforesaid and sahall be divided between him and three daughters share and share alike, the said John shall be entitled to the first payment to his amount.

   And lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my son Peter Spesart to be sole executor of my last will and testimony, revoking and annuling all former wills by me heretofore made, ratifying and confirming this and none other to be my last will and testimony. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my name and affixed my seal this 26th day of April, 1825.

   Michael Spesart (In German) (seal)

   Signed, sealed, and published and declared by Michael Spesart the above named testator as and for his last will and testimony in the presence of us who at his request, in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto: Christian Stouffer (in German), Jacob Rohrer, Joshua Williams (his mark "X" )".

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Father: Hans Peter SPESSERT b: 1714 in Florsbach, Lorshaupten, Hessen, GY Mother: Catharina KLEINFELTER b: 1721 in Prob. GY

Marriage 1 Christienna WALTZ b: 1755 in Pennsylvania

   Married: ABT 1775 in Chewsville, MD

Children

   Has Children Christeanna Jane SPESSARD b: 02 OCT 1796 in Brownsburg, Washington co., MD

   Has Children David SPESSARD b: ABT 1778 in Chewsville, MD

   Has Children John SPESSARD b: 27 MAR 1791 in Chewsville, Washington co., MD

   Has Children Maria Catharina SPESSARD b: 18 OCT 1780 in Chewsville, Washington co., MD

   Has Children Maria Elizabeth SPESSARD b: 15 MAR 1781 in Chewsville, Washington co., MD c: 15 MAR 1781 in Washington co., MD

   Has Children Peter SPESSARD b: 01 SEP 1779 in Chewsville, MD