Eliza Keys's Forebears

The Spaulding Line


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The Spaulding line in America begins with Edward Spaulding, born in London, who is one of the very few of our direct ancestors who immigrated south of the Mason-Dixon line.  The Spauldings (or, in some spellings, "Spalding") are another of those founding families that received book-length treatment, in this case Spalding Memorial -- Genealogical History Edward Spalding Of Massachusetts Bay And His Descendants, by Samuel Jones Spalding, 1872.  From there and other sources:

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  • Edward Spaulding came to Virginia in 1619 with Sir George Yeardley -- his brother Edmund Spaulding came, too. Edmund later moved to Maryland and founded a branch of the family there. Edward moved to Braintree, Massachusetts, probably between 1630-33 and married Margaret Elliot. He was declared a freeman on May 13, 1640.  (The Spalding Memorial, does not mention the 1619 arrival in Virginia, but instead places Edward's original New World arrival in Massachusetts -- I have not tried to sort out the discrepancy.  See also this source.) 

    Since we have records of two arrivals in Virginia, the second being in 1623, and his marriage to Margaret is alternatively recorded as having taken place in England, did he return there briefly between 1619 and 1623? 
     

  • He signed a petition to the Massachusetts Assembly asking for the founding of the town of Chelmsford which was granted May18, 1653 and died in that city on February 26, 1670.

Another online source tells us:

  • Edward arrived in the Colonies with Sir Yeardley, resided in Virginia about 1619, Braintree, MA, about 1630, and Chelmsford, MA, about 1654.

    In 1618, Lord De La Warr (Thomas West -- after whom the state of Delaware derives its name) was returning to Virginia aboard the Neptune, to resume his office as Governor of the colony. Unfortunately, he died on the way, in Nova Scotia.  Sir George Yeardley, was appointed in Lord De La Warr's place. He sailed for Virginia, January 19, 1619, in a fleet of ships bearing several families immigrating to the Virginia Colony, induced by a promise of prosperity from the company; prior to this time, the colony consisted mostly of males. Edward Spaulding, from Lincolnshire, England, traveled with this group as an indentured servant.

    After a "sore voyage" they arrived at Jamestown on April 19, 1619.

    On March 22, 1622, following an Indian massacre which devastated the colony, a census was ordered. The census records of February 16, 1623 include in a "List of the Living," both an Edward Spalding (at "James Citie") and an Edmund Spalden (at "Elizabeth Cittie"). Edward is listed in 1623 in a household that includes his wife, son and daughter; Capt Hartt, Mr. Cann; John Helin, wife and two children. His brother, Edmund, is listed as living alone.

    ....

    Edward and his family left Jamestown VA and sailed to New England where they settled at Braintree, Massachusetts. His name appears on the list of proprietors of the town in 1640.

    He was admitted a freeman, May 13, 1640.

    He removed to Wenham, Massachusetts, and afterward was one of the petitioners for the Chelmsford grant, October 1, 1645, and an early settler in that town.

    He became a leading citizen. He was selected juryman in 1648.
     

  • We have his will:


  • An entire website is devoted to Edward Spalding and his descendants.

Edward's descendants in our line are John Spaulding (1633-1721), Edward Spaulding II (1663-1725), Edward Spaulding III (1684-1750), Stephen Spaulding (1709-1786), Davis Spaulding (1740-1817), and Alma Spaulding (1785-1814), who married Ezra Hutchins Keys.

John Spaulding was Edward's eldest son, but we know little about his relatively long life, except that he served as a soldier under Captain Manning in King Philip's War (1675-78).

Edward Spaulding II was born in John's 30th year and eventually moved to Plainfield, Connecticut.  He is named in one source as "Sergeant," in another as "Lieutenant," although those titles may be spurious; no documentation for the ranks is given (the "Lieutenant" rank may refer to a cousin Edward Spaulding (1672-1740), through whom we're related to Katherine Hepburn).  His first child, Edward Spaulding III, was born in Chelmsford, Massachusetts.  Again, we know nothing other than the bare biographical facts.

Stephen Spaulding is the first of the line that might have served in the Revolutionary War, but if he did we have no record.  His son Davis Spaulding might also have served, but again there's no record.  Stephen's son who did serve was Nathaniel, as recorded in an application to the Sons of the American Revolution.

Alma Spaulding, Davis's daughter, is our final link in the Spaulding line, and again we have no information.  So, as may be seen, the Spaulding line tells us little of substance -- the most exciting member appears to be the first generation in America, in the person of Edward.

A footnote:  from Alma Spaulding's mother lies the Keys line back to the Mayflower:  Sarah Denison to Thomas Denison, to Robert Denison, to Mercy Gorham, to Desire Howland, to John Howland and his wife Elizabeth Tilley, both of them original settlers at Plymouth.

Finally, see the map at "The Allure of Western New York" for a record of the concentration of my families' ancestors in the 19th century.

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