Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 1.djvu/364

This page needs to be proofread.
328
VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

located at Fredericksburg and acquired a large fortune. He died at Port Royal, Virginia, April 25, 1798. He left his large estates to his nephew. James Somerville, who came to Virginia. and died there leaving issue.

Southcoat, Captain "Thomas," was burgess for Charles City county October, 1666. He was probably Captain Otho Southcoat, gentleman, of Westover. who was agent in 1665 for Sir John, Lord Pawlett, when he sold Westover to Theodoric Bland.

Southern, John, of Jamestown, gentleman, came to Virginia in 1621; burgess for James City in 1623 and 1629-1630. In 1627 he patented twenty-four acres on the island of Jamestown. After Edward Sharpless was removed. Southern was appointed acting secretary of the colony.

Span, Cuthbert, was burgess for Northumberland county in 1693. He was son of Richard Span, and left sons Richard and John Span, living in 1712.

Sparrow, Charles, was a burgess for Charles City county in 1645, 1649, 1652 and 1660. He was major, one of the justices of Charles City, and was buried September 11, 1660.

Speed, James, son of John Speed, of Mecklenburg county who died in 1785. was burgess for Charlotte county in 1772-1774, 1775-1776.

Speke, Thomas, born 1623. patented 1,000 acres in Northumberland county. Virginia. in 1650 and in 1651 was a burgess ; afterwards in 1655 justice of Westmoreland county, and lieutenant-colonel. He married Frances, daughter of Dr. Thomas Gerrard. and died in 1659. His widow married successively, between that time and 1676. Valentine Peyton. John Appleton and John Washington. He left a son Thomas, and a brother John living in Bath, Somersetshire, England. The son died without issue and his property in Virginia descended to Hugh Speke, Esq., of Bath, who disposed of it. The Spekes were an old Somersetshire family.

Spelman (Spilman), Henry, third son of Sir Henry Spelman, the famous antiquary. He was baptized 1595, came to Virginia in August, 1609; was taken by Captain Smith to the falls of James river and given to Powhatan in return for the site of the Indian town; escaped and returned to Jamestown; sent back to Powhatan in October, 1609, with whom he remained till March, 1610, when he ran away to the King of Potomac. With this chief he remained till September, 1610, when he was ransomed by Captain Argall ; served afterwards as interpreter and rose to the rank of captain. But in 1619 was degraded from his rank by the assembly for speaking disrespectfully of Governor Yardley. In 1623 he went up the Potomac river to trade, and was betrayed and killed by the Anacostan Indians.

Spence, Alexander, son of Patrick Spence, of Westmoreland county, Virginia. He was captain of the militia and burgess from 1696 to 1702 for Westmoreland county.

Spencer, Captain Robert, was born in 1630, was justice of Surry, and made his will March 5, 1678. He is believed to have been a brother of Nicholas Spencer, president of the council, who had a brother Robert of about the same age.