The following deed abstracts, all of which relate to members of the Speir family — either as grantor, grantee, witness, or neighbor — are just one small sampling of the wealth of information that can be found in Index and Abstracts of Deeds of Record, Pitt County, North Carolina by Judith DuPree Ellison. There are four separate volumes, but the abstracts below are only from the first two volumes.
- Volume I (1761-1785)
- Volume II (1782-1801)
- Volume III (1801-1817)
- Volume IV (1817-1832)
Since these are abstracts, they don’t contain much in the way of location information, but they can be invaluable in terms of chains of land ownership and family relationships.
If you know anything about the Speir families of Pitt or Craven Counties, please comment below. In particular, I’m trying to determine the parents of James SPEAR (aka James SPEARS) who was born about 1780 and died by 1825 in Craven County. He lived in the Swift Creek area and married Rachel BUTLER, daughter of Arthur BUTLER and Sarah “Sally” JOHNSTON.
| Book-Pg | Date | Grantor | Grantee | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-370 | 3-8-1787 | PARRAMORE, John | KNOX, Josiah | 30 A; £40. Former owners: Wm. ADAMS (1740); George LEWIS (1741); John SPEIR (1756); Apsela KENNEDY, daughter of John SPEIR and wife of John KENNEDY; Nehemiah WOOTEN (1765). Wit.: Mary KNOX, Rachel KNOX |
| B | 11-9-1761 | HOLLAND, John | SPEIR, William | 1700 A; £560. Former owners: Capt. Richard SMITH (pat. 1706); John PORTER (ALB), father of Joshua PORTER (1718); John LILLINGTON, son-in-law of John PORTER and husband of Sarah PORTER; John Alexander LILLINGTON, son of John and Sarah LILLINGTON. Mentioned: Sarah Porter PILKINGTON. Wit.: John SPEIR, Jr., Arthur Council. |
| B | 11-9-1761 | SPEIR, William (Pat. 1755) | HOLLAND, John | 150 A; £65 |
| B | 8-27-1762 | SPEIR, John Jr. (Pat. 1762) | PINKETT, William Daniel | 200 A; £20. Wit.: William MOORE, Elias BERGERON |
| B | 2-20-1761 | Earl GRANVILLE | SPEIR, Capt. William | 249 A; 10 sh. Adj.: John WHICHARD |
| B | 9-22-176? | Earl GRANVILLE | SPEIR, William (BEAU) | 98 A; 10 sh. |
| B | 6-26-1762 | Earl GRANVILLE | SPEIR, John Jr. | —A; 10 sh. |
| B | 2-24-176? | HARDEE, Robert | MOORE, William, son-in-law | Negro girl; love & aff. Wit: John SPEIR, Jr., William JONES |
| C-10 | 12-9-1763 | SALTER, Edward | PERRITT, John (EDGE) | 640 A; £200. Former owners: Lewis DEVALL (Pat. 1715); Martha DEVALL, extx., Edward SALTER (dec.). Wit.: John SPEIR, Jr., Robert SALTER |
| C-20 | 2-27-1764 | SPEIR, William (Pat. 1760) | ANDERSON, Henry | 98 A; £45. Wit.: John SPEIR, Jr., Major HARRIS |
| C-241 | 5-29-1765 | KENNEDY, John and KENEDY, Apsley, wife | WOOTEN, Nehemiah and WOOTEN, Henry | 436 A; £140. Former owners: Wm. ADAMS (Pat. 1740), George LEWIS (D-1741), John Speir, (dec.) (D-1756). Mentioned: Apsley Speir KENEDY, heir. Wit.: Richard EVANS, Peter RICHARDSON. |
| C-327 | 5-7-1766 | SALTER, Robert and SALTER, Clare, wife | NOBLES, Thomas | 190 A; £65. Wit.: Benjamin BURNEY, James JONES. Former owner: Capt. John SPEIR (Pat.) |
| C-44 | 2-20-1764 | SALTER, Edward | SALTER, Robert, son | 4 negroes; love & aff. Wit.: John SPEIR, Jr., William JONES |
| C-45 | 1-16-1764 | SPEIR, William | PARRAMORE, Matthew | 170 A; £—. Wit.: Solomon WHICHARD, Alex STEWART |
| C-483 | 7-7-1767 | SPEIR, William (Pat. 1758) | NEWTON, John | 250 A; £80. Wit.: William NEWTON, Walter NEWTON |
| D-102 | 1-4-1770 | HARRIS, Edward | SCOTT, Matthew | 290 A; £50. Adj.: Samuel BURTON; Former owner: Timothy HARRIS, Jr.; Wit.: Elizabeth SPEAR, Samuel SMITHWICK |
| D-32 | 6-27-1765 | PERRITT, John (D-1763) | SPEIR, William | 225 A; £50. Former owners: Lewis DUVALL, dec. (Pat. 1715); Martha DUVALL, dau. Of Lewis DUVALL. Wit.: John SPEIR, Isom WEBB, Abner BROWN |
| D-94 | 6-15-1769 | HOLLAND, Speir | LACY, Parker | 150 A; £45. Former owners: William SPEIR (Pat. 1755) |
| E-27 | 11-24-1770 | PERRITT, John (1763) | GRIMES, Demsie (EDGE) | 415 A; £207+. Former owners: Edward SALTER, father; Edward SALTER, son. Adj.: William SPEIR. Wit.: Alexander STEWART, William SPEIR. |
| E-286 | ?-?-1772 | BONNER, John, mariner (BEAU) | SPEIR, William | 160 A; £70. Former owners: Thomas ROPER (Pat.); William LITTLE (1721); John SNOAD, father of William SNOAD, John SNOAD, Henry SNOAD; Anne BONNER, mother of John BONNER (D-1748) |
| F-108 | 5-15-1770 | MOORE, William (D-1773) | SPEIR, William | 300 A; £100. Former owners: John WILSON (Pat.), John MOYE (D-1774), George MOYE, Sen. (dec.), John MOYE, heir of George MOYE, Sen., George MOYE, Jr., brother of John MOYE, and son of Geo. |
| F-134 | 1-1-1775 | SPEIR, William (D-1770) | MUNDEN, Stephen | 300 A; £100. Former owners: John WILSON (Pat.), John MOYE (D-1774), George MOYE, Jr., William MOORE. Wit.: John MUNDEN, Major HARRIS, Thomas PINKIT |
| F-136 | 1-31-1775 | SPEIR, William | MUNDEN, Stephen | 270 A; £50. Former: Geo. MOYE (Pat. 1761), William MOORE (D-1770) |
| F-321 | 9-?-1777 | PARRIMORE, Matthew (DOB) | JONES, John | 170 A.; £75. Former owner: Wm. SPEIR (Pat. 1761). Wit.: John BRINKLEY, James WAINWRIGHT |
| F-353 | 7-5-1773 | NEWTON, John (D-1767) | NEWTON, Walter | 100 A; £35. Former owner: Wm. SPEIR (1758) |
| F-558 | 10-12-1780 | JONES, John, blacksmith | JORDAN, John | 170 A. £10,000. Former owner: Wm. SPEIR (Pat. 1761) |
| F-84 | 5-15-1770 | MOORE, William (D-1770) | SPEIR, William | 220 A. £50. Former owner: George MOYE (Pat. 1761). Wit.: John JORDAN. |
| F-86 | 7-24-1774 | SPEIR, William | CHERRY, Eleazar, cooper | 79 A; £15. Adj.: John WHICHARD, Mathew PARAMORE. Wit.: John DOUDNA, Thomas PINKET |
| G-187 | 10-21-1782 | GRANT | SPEIR, William | 250 A. CB: Floyd HODGES, Robert HODGES |
| G-208 | 10-21-1782 | GRANT | HODGES, Henry | 500 A. CB: Michael MOSES, Henry SMITH. Mentions: Col. Wm. SPEIR, Mathew HODGES |
| G-23 | 7-1-1779 | GRANT | STOKES, Samuel | 350 A. CB: George MOYE, James SPEIR |
| G-385 | 10-13-1783 | GRANT | YOUBANKS, George | 200 A. CB: John YOUBANK, Moses MOORE. Mentions: James GORHAM, William SPEIR |
| G-395 | 10-13-1783 | GRANT | GORHAM, James | 300 A. Men.: John SIMPSON, James SPEIR |
| H-112 | 11-2-1779 | SHEPHERD, Elizabeth, extrx. And SPEIR, William, exr. And BLOUNT, Reading, exr. And GRIMES, Dempsie, exr. | PERKINS, David | 100 A; £15. Former owner: Col. Alex STEWART, dec. |
| H-161 | 8-8-1781 | ALLEN, Dempsey Rite (1764 & 1779) | EDWARDS, John | 106 A; £50. Former owners: Samuel STOKES, Richard WILLIAMS (D-1763 & G-1779). Wit.: Jesse PROCTOR, James SPIER, Betsey ALLEN. |
| H-24 | 3-24-1779 | WILLIAMS, Edmund | MOORING, William, tailor | 1/2 A. lott #85; £100. Wit.: John SPEIR, Jacob LITTLE |
| H-64 | 10-24-1780 | NEWTON, Sarah, widow | SHUTE, Giles | 150 A; £300. Former owners: William SPEIR (Pat. 1758); John NEWTON, dec., former husband of Sarah NEWTON, grantor. Wit.: Thomas ANGEL, Anney SMITH, Jacob SHUTE |
| I-170 | MUNDINE, John and MUNDINE, Isaac | SPEIR, John Jr. | 50 A; £50 | |
| I-225 | 1-27-1784 | MAY, James (1782) | TRUSS, Samuel | 100 A; £10. Adj.: James WILLIAMS. Wit.: William ELLIS, Joel TRUSS, James SPEIR |
| I-272 | ?-?-1784 | ALBRITTAIN, John | SPEIR, James | 216 A; £50. Former owners: John BROOKS (1757), Richard ALBRITTAIN (1783) |
| I-33 | 4-4-1782 | MUNDIN, John (Pat. 1762) | SPEIR, James | 53 A; £53. Wit.: John JONES, Isaac MUNDIN. |
| I-441 | 1-23-1785 | SPEIR, James (D-1784) | SMITH, William | 216 A; £60. Adj.: Nesby MILLS. Former owners: John BROOKS (Pat. 1757); John MORSE (D-1779); Richard ALBRITTAIN (D-1783) |
| I-49 | 9-4-1781 | MUNDIN, Isaac | SPEARS, James | 100 A; £100. Adj. Col. James GORHAM, Stephen MUNDIN, John HARRELL. |
| I-76 | 1-27-1783 | MUNDIN, John (Pat. 1762) | SPEIR, John Jr. | 50 A; £25 |
| L-155 | ||||
| L-20 | 2-24-1785 | PUMPHREY, Silvanus (NASH) | ATKINSON, Ephraim | 50 A; £50. Former owners: Wm. SPEIR, Stephen MUNDINE. Wit.: Thomas MORRISS, Thomas ATKINSON, Jacob HARRIS |
| L-256 | 4-15-1787 | WHITEHEAD, John | BROWN, Charles | 50 A; £40. Adj.: Henry CASON, James SPEIR, John MUNDINE, James GORHAM. Wit.: Luke OSBORN, James Sampson CLARK |
| L-37 | 6-24-1785 | LATHAM, James, Sr. (Pat. 1784) and LATHAM, Agnus, wife | KEEL, James | 100 A; £30. Adj.: Wm. CRAWFORD, William SPEIR. Wit.: Josiah LITTLE, Sr., Edmund McKEEL |
| L-99 | 7-19-1786 | SMITH, William (D-1785) | QUATERMUS, James | 216 A; £30. Adj.: Nesby MILLS. Former owners: John BROOOKS (Pat. 1757); John MORSE (D-1779); Richard ALBRITTON (D-1783); James SPEIR (D-1784). Wit.: George WILLIAMS, Samuel WILLIAMS |
| M-032 | 1-9-1788 | MUNDIN, John and MUNDIN, Ann, wife | BARBER, John, Sr. | 675 A; £600. Former owners: George MOYE, Sr. (Pat. 1761); Wm. MOORE (D-1770); Stephen MUNDIN, father of John MUNDIN, grantor (D-1775); Wm. SPEIR, John WILLSON (Pat.), John MOYE (1741). Wit.: Aaron Dudley |
| M-034 | 7-14-1787 | KNOX, Josiah | BARBER, John, Sr. | 40 A. £40. Former owners: Wm. ADAMS (Pat. 1740); George LEWIS (D-1741); John SPEIR (D-1750); Apsley KENNEDY, daughter of John SPEIR, by will; John KENNEDY, husband of Apsley Speir KENNEDY, by will; Nehemiah WOOTEN (D-1765) and Henry WOOTEN (D-1765). Wit.: Jacob LITTLE, Wm. BARBER. |
| M-045 | 1-18-1788 | MUNDINE, John | WHITEHEAD, John | 94 A; £400. Adj.: Charles BROWN, Joseph DANIEL, William HARRIS, John SPEIR. Wit.: Charles Brown, Henry CASON |
| M-050 | 10-25-1788 | SHERIFF David PERKINS | SIMPSON, John | 300 A. £35. Former owner: Richard BLACKLEDGE. Adj.: William SPEIR. Wit.: George EVANS |
| M-073 | 2-25-1789 | KNOX, Josiah and KNOX, Jemima, wife | MORING, William | 100 A; £120. Adj. Jacob LITTLE, John PAREMORE. Former owners: William ADAMS (Pat. 1740), George LEWIS, John SPEIR, John KENNEDY, Nehemiah WOOTEN. Wit.: Thomas Nelms, James MORING, William BALFOW |
| M-079 | 3-24-1787 | KNOX, Josiah | LITTLE, Jacob | 40 A. £40. Adj.: John PARREMORE. Former owners: William ADAMS (Pat. 1740); George LEWIS, John SPEIR; Apsley KENNEDY, daughter of John SPEIR, and her husband, John KENNEDY; Nehemiah WOOTEN (D-1765), Henry WOOTEN. Wit.: Pleasant LITTLE, Rachel KNOX. |
| M-086 | 1-22-1788 | SPEIR, James (D-1784) | DANIEL, Joseph | 100 A; £100. Adj. Stephen MUNDINE, Coll. James GORHAM. Wit.: Charles BROWN, John WHITEHEAD |
| M-232 | 7-24-1787 | KNOX, Josiah | LITTLE, Jacob | 25 A; £25. Former owners: William ADAMS (Pat. 1740); George LEWIS (D-1741); John SPEAR (D-1756); Apsley KENNEDY (will) and husband, John KENNEDY; Nehemiah WROTTEN. Wit.: Rachel KNOX, Fanny ROBSON |
| M-330 | 11-20-1789 | DANIEL, Enoch | WILLIAMS, Godfrey | 161 A; £170. Former owner: George MOYE, Sr., Adj.: Richard MOORE. Wit.: Willie DANIEL, James SPIER |
| M-458 | 10-25-1791 | PUMPHREY, Silvanus (FRANK) | SPEIR, William | 100 A; £100. Wit.: Shad. PERRY, Adam ALBRITON |
| M-464 | 10-24-1791 | HARRIS, Major, Sr. | PUMPHREY, Silvanus (FRANK) | 100 A; £50. Wit.: Jesse MOORE, William SPEIR |
| M-540 | 2-25-1792 | SPIER, John | PERKINS, David | 500 A; $400. Former owner: William SPIER, dec. (Pat. 1758), grandfather of John SPIER, grantor. Wit.: Wm. RICKART, James STEWART |
| M-560 | 1-20-1789 | KENNEDY, John, Jr. (BEAU) | HOLLAND, John | Negro; £70. Wit.: John SPIER |
| M-590 | 1-6-1785 | SMITH, Daniel (Cheraw Dist., S.C.) | SMITH, William | 100 A; £10. Former owners: Seth PILKINGTON (Pat. 1739), Neel SMITH, dec. Adj.: John WALLICE, William SPEIR. Wit.: James LITTLE, Josiah LITTLE, Sr. |
| M-648 | 3-15-1792 | PERRY, Shadrich | SPIER, John | 37 A; £21. Wit.: Keley TUCKER, Susana TUCKER |
| M-671 | 10-25-1792 | BARBER, John | BARBER, John, son; BARBER, Whichard, son; BARBER, Noah, son; SPEAR, Penelope, daughter; BRILEY, Rachel; BARBER, Mary, daughter | 6 negroes; love & aff. Mentioned: Kesiah BARBER, wife of John BARBER, grantor. Wit.: William BLACKLEDGE. |
| M-821 | 9-10-1793 | NEWTON, John, Jr. | GRIMES, William | 100 A; £175. Former owners: William SPIER (Pat. 1758); John NEWTON, Sr. (D-1767); Walter NEWTON, father of John NEWTON, Jr., grantor, (D-1773). Wit.: Thos. JONES, John TAYLOR |
| N-043 | 8-22-1794 | JORDAN, Joseph | JORDAN, Esther | 60 A; £20. Former owner: Jesse JORDAN, father of Joseph JORDAN, grantor. Wit.: Edmund RICKS, Wm. SPEIR |
| N-061 | ?-?-1793 | GORHAM, James, mariner | SPEIR, James | 50 A; £25. Former owner: Stephen MUNDIN |
| N-080 | 12-20-1794 | BLOUNT, John Gray (BEAU) | SPEIR, John Jr. | 182 A; £400. Former owners: William SPEIR; John NEWTON; Walter NEWTON, brother of John; Sarah NEWTON, wife of Walter. Wit.: Titus CARR |
| N-125 | 4-10-1796 | GRIMES, William (1793) | SPEIR, John | 162 A; £400. Former owners: William SPEIR (1758); John NEWTON, Sr. (1767); Walter NEWTON (1773), brother of John NEWTON, Sr., John NEWTON, son of Walter NEWTON |
| N-126 | 4-20-1796 | SPIER, John (1794) | GRIMES, William | 182 A; £300. Former owners: John NEWTON; Walter NEWTON, brother of John; Sarah NEWTON, wife of Walter NEWTON; Giles SHUTE (1780); John G. BLOUNT (1787) |
| N-135 | 4-17-1795 | SPEIR, John Jr. (Pat. 1762) | CLEMENTS, William, exr.; GAINER, Joseph, exr.; GAINER, Susanah, extx., for orphans CARREWAY, Gainer and CARREWAY, Barsheba | Negro; $25. Mentions.: William CLEMENTS, Joseph GAINER, Susannah GAINER, exrs. for Joseph GAINER, Sr. Wit.: David PERKINS |
| N-137 | 4-17-1795 | SPEIR, John | CLEMENTS, Wm. | Negro; £92+. Wit.: David PERKINS |
| N-219 | 1-13-1796 | DANIEL, Joseph | KENNEDY, William (BEAU) | 162 A; £300. Adj.: Richard MOORE. Wit.: John SPEIR, Wm. JORDAN. |
| N-253 | 12-27-1794 | SPEIR, John | TUCKER, Keely | Negro; £120. Wit.: Hans PATTEN, Joshua TUCKER |
| N-316 | 7-27-1796 | STEWART, James | FLEMONS, John | Negro; £100. Wit.: John SPEIR |
| N-364 | 10-2-1795 | SPEIR, John | HIGHSMITH, Jno. | Negro; £100. Wit.: Shadk PERRY, David HATTON |
| N-404 | 6-27-1791 | SALTER, Claria | SALTER, John, Jr., son | 191 A + 320 A; love & aff. Former owners: John HARDEE (Pat.); Robert SALTER; Richard HARRIS (Pat. 1738); John SPEAR. Wit.: James ARMSTRONG, Thos. BLACKLEDGE |
| N-409 | 12-16-1791 | CASON, John | ADAMS, Colson | 75 A; £75. Adj.: John SPEAR, Richard MOORE. Wit.: John JAMES, Samuel JAMES |
| N-435 | 9-25-1797 | HODGES, Floyd | LITTLE, William | Negro; £62. Wit.: John SPEIR, Josiah LITTEL |
| N-450 | 8-14-1792 | CASON, James and BARBER, John, Sr. | BRILEY, Solomon | 72 A; £45. Adj.: John SPEAR. Wit.: John LESSLIE, John WHITEHEAD |
| O-018 | 2-1-1797 | ARNOLD, James | BOYD, Isaac | 100 A; £100. Former owner: Thomas ARNOLD, dec., father of James ARNOLD, grantor. Wit.: John SPEIR, James STEWART |
| O-158 | 1-12-1798 | DANIEL, Willie | DANIEL, Lanier | 50 A; £75. Wit.: Jas. STEWART, John SPEIR |
| O-196 | 5-1-1795 | HARRIS, William | MOORE, Obediah | 82 A; £100. Former owner: Thomas GIDDINGS (1743). Adj.: Benjamin RIDGERS (RODGERS?). Wit.: William SPEIR, Jacob HARRIS |
| O-344 | ?-?-1799 | BARBER, Manoah, dec. | BRAILEY (BRILEY), John, grandson; BRAILEY, Lydia, granddaughter; SPEIRS, John, son-in-law; SPEIRS, Penelope, daughter; PUMPHREY, Jesse, grandson; PUMPHREY, Sylvanus, grandson; BARBER, Sarah, daughter of John; BARBER, John W., son of John; JONES, William, son-in-law; JONES, Mary, daughter | Division of lands of Manoah BARBER, dec., 80 A. to John and Lydia BRAILEY; 110 A. to Penelope SPEIRS, 102 A to Jesse PUMPHREY; 100 A to Sarah, Lydia, and John W. BARBER; 110 A. to Mary JONES. Mentioned: Sarah PUMPHREY, dec., John BARBER, dec., Rachel BRAILEY, dec. |
| O-477 | 8-23-1800 | SALTER, John | BALDWIN, Wm. | 27 A; £20. Former owner: John SPEIR (1757);. Wit.: Disey HOLLINGSWORTH |
| P-236 | ?-?-1802 | GORHAM, William and GORHAM, Sophia | BOYD, Isaac | 100 A; £130. Former owner: Lewis DEVALL (G-1715). Wit.: John SPEIR, Samuel RALSTON. |
| P-350 | 12-31-1799 | HARRIS, Jacob | SPEAR, John | 65 A; £100. Adj.: Obediah MOORE. Wit.: Benja. ROGERS, William SPEIR |
| P-358 | 2-19-1803 | TRUSS, Samuel | TRUSS, Warren, son | 200 A; love and aff. Adj.: Samuel TRUSS, Jr. Mentioned: Mary TRUSS, dec., wife of Samuel TRUSS, grantor. Wit.: Nathan HATHWAY, Wille SPEIR |
| P-389 | 11-17-1802 | CLARK, John (G-1790) | SPEAR, James | 150 A; £200. Adj.: Benjamin ATKINSON. Wit.: Sherw. HINES, Hardee HANDCOCK |
| P-446 | 6-30-1778 | SALTER, Robert and SALTER, Clare, wife | SALTER, John, son | 623 A + 150 A + 429 A + 320 A; love and aff. Former owners: Israel JOYNER, Sr. (Pat.); John SPEIR, Silvanus PUMPHREY (Pat. 1738); Richard HARRIS (Pat. 1738). Wit.: John SIMPSON, Edward SALTER |
| Q-014 | 2-15-1805 | ROGERS, Benjamin | MORRIS, James | 50 A; $250. Adj.: James SPEAR, Obediah MOORE. Wit.: Crandal LITTLE |
Wonderful work Ms Whitford!. I am researching my Spear family using a DNA match With the George Speir who has posted in your forum as a reference. As you well know, we’re lost in researching Spears in Pitt County without deed information. I am slowly putting together the deed information piece by piece in an attempt to build family relationships. My Ancestry tree is under user name gspearg with a tree titled “Pitt County N.C. Speirs” I’ll be happy to share the information I have. Again, thanks! George Spear
I’m so sorry for the slow response again! Seems like life has my genealogy work on a backburner at present. I would like very much to see your tree. If you wouldn’t mind, please send an invitation to my username, eastcarolinaroots. Thank you! In time, God willing, we’ll get all of these Spear/Speir/Speirs branches sorted out!
Sarah: I just sent the Ancestry invitation. If you have a question, please don’t hesitate to ask. Meanwhile, it’s back to Pitt and Beaufort deeds!