118 Spring 20 - Speakes Family Association Editors Website

Speak
Speaks
Speake
Speakes
Family Association Bulletin
Spring 2013
Volume 34, Issue 1
Speak/e/s/es Family Association Officers
PRESIDENT
Susan Sills
637 W. Main Street
Brownsville, TN 38012-2534
(731)772.9765
[email protected]
VICE PRESIDENT
Jerry Draney
4320 Forest Hill Dr Unit 104
Fairfax, VA 22030
[email protected]
ARCHIVIST
Wolfram Hentschel
505 N. Taffee Drive
Hasings, MI 49058
[email protected]
SECRETARY
Pat Wiltfong
119 Essex Lane
Georgetown, TX 78633
(970)988.9461
[email protected]
TREASURER
Bonnie Speake Alexander
4944 Corte Playa DeCastilla
San Diego, Ca 92124-4126
(858)573.1745
[email protected]
HISTORIAN
Phyllis Speak Danner
99 Glenmoor Lane
Cherry Hills Village, CO 80113
[email protected]
PATRON MEMBERS
Draney, Jerry & Maxine
Speake, Patricia & Johnny T. Sr.
Mullins, William G. Sr.
Tibbetts, Nancy Speakes
Zeigler, Edward T.
SPONSOR MEMBERS
Alexander, Bonnie (Speake)
Alvarez, Dawn
Bannister, Bruce
Bartley, Francis & Janice
Bicknell, Edna (Speake) &
Ferrell, Ruth Ann
Brown, Virginia Speaks
Chalk, Virginia
Cobey, Dr. James C. & Janet H.
Collier, Leona Fern
Crater, Doug & Loretta S.
Danner, Paul K. III
Danner, Peter S.
Danner, Todd R.
Danner, Phyllis Speak and Dr. Paul
Eure, Laurie
Galvin, John A. & Anne A.
Gribben, Terry S. & Linda Thielen
Hall, Lola-Margaret Speak & Bill
Ham, Don & Dolores
Hentschel, Wolfram & Mary F. Speaks
Hobson, Nancy
Hunter, Pam & John
Hurst, Roger & Linda
Hurt, LaVerne
Jones, Norman E.
Love, Ruth Speak
Mahannah, Janet
Matthews, Ruby Speaks
McClanahan, Rebecca Payne
McCue, John & Susan S.
Mollway, Paul & Lin
Morey, Chris
Morris, John S. III
Payne, John H.
Payne, Reva Mae (Speak)
Rawls, Bessie L. Speake
Rote, Cindie
Savell, Alwilda Speake
Sills, Susan Speaks
Smith, Lauren Danner
Sparkman, Roy D.
Speak, Mrs. Bill
Speak, Leonard & Gail
Speak, Melinda Jane
Speak, Roscoe B. & Evelyn L.
Speake, Creede
Speake, Dale E.
Speake, Elizabeth Peck
Speake, Harold L.
Speake, Jim A. & Mary Ann & Priscilla
Speake, John D.
Speake, Linda
Speake, Melissa R.
Speake, Robert E.
Speake, Robert E. & Nancy
Speaks, Fred A.
Speaks, Glenn L.
Speaks, John C III & IV
Speaks, Laura
Speaks, Melvin P. & Pat
Speaks, Steven E.
Speaks, John C. III & IV
Speaks, Robert A
Speer, Gloria Speaks
Spillman, Jane S.
Sprague, Linda Belle
Teeter , Shauna
Waters, Margaret Speaks
Wiltfong, Patricia
The Speak/e/s/es Family Association was organized in Clayton, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, on Saturday,
August 25, 1979 (under the Name Speak/e/s/es Historical Society), for the purpose of exchanging information
with others researching Speak/e/s/es geneaolgy.
We welcome new members into our organization. Annual membership dues are as follows: Regular ~ $15;
Sponsor ~ $25 - $99; Patron ~ $100 or more. Our fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30. Please send your
dues to the Treasurer listed above. A membership in SFA is an excellent Gift for any member of your family.
Thanks to all of the Patron and Sponsor Members! We appreciate you!
If you were left off this list and should be on it, please notify the editor. The bulletin is published quarterly by the
Speak/e/s/es Family Association. Items for publication are needed and your help in meeting the deadlines is
much appreciated. The Deadlines for 2013 are Jan. 1, April 1, July 1 and Oct. 1.
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FAMILY ASSOCIATION
Speak/e/s/es Family
Association Website
A Word From
The President
By Roberta Estes, Webmaster
In an ef fort to make the SFA website ( http://
speakfamily.wordpress.com/ )more meaningful with a broader
reach and appeal, we would like to feature historic
information, photos and records relevant to the Speak(e)(s)
family. We’re beginning this month with the family roots in
the US. Where better? In Charles County, Maryland. It’s
where most of the known family lines in the US originate.
http://speakfamily.wordpress.com/us-beginnings-charlescounty-md/
By Susan Sills, President
Dear Speak/e/s Cousins,
It is with great excitement that many of us are
anticipating a journey to our ancestral home! Plans for
our Speak/e/s Family Association ancestral tour of
England are in the final stages. We will depart from
London, England. First stop is in Cambridge where we
will meet up with John Speake who has been
instrumental to our family research for many years. Next
we’re on to Gisburn, the north England village where
Doug Speak’s family (our DNA match) is from. We will
spend three days exploring Gisburn and the Lancashire
area, including the villages associated with Elizabeth
Bowling’s family. Along the way we plan to tour historic
sites, Roman ruins, castles, and the medieval manor
house Speke Hall.
Thomas Speak(e) and his wife, Elizabeth Bowling, were
the ancestors of most of the large Speak, Speake,
Speaks, and Speakes family in the US, now scattered
across the states like flower petals in the wind. Thomas
was born about 1633 near Gisburn in Lancashire,
England, a Catholic. His wife, Elizabeth Bowling was
born not far away, near Chorley, also in Lancashire.
They immigrated about 1660 to Maryland, a haven for
Catholics and settled in Charles County, Maryland
Jerry Draney has been instrumental in identifying the
original location of the Speak(e) land in Charles County.
It is located on the land of St. Peter’s Church, three
miles east of Waldorf. A second piece of land was also
owned by Bowling Speak(e), son of Thomas the
immigrant, near Bryantown, MD, 7 miles southeast of
Waldorf, MD on route 5.
Regarding other projects . . . Wolf Hentschel
and John Payne report that the digitizing of our archives
is in progress. Once the scanning has been completed
Wolf will send the boxes of archives to John Payne who
is working with Joyce Candland to house them in a
permanent location in Maryland.
Regarding updating our descendency charts,
Phyllis Danner needs your assistance. We need to update
our records and-to complete the descendency chart.
Phyllis states “(The stated purpose of the SFA is ‘to
provide a researcher's cooperative for the gathering and
exchange of genealogical data.’) The descendency chart
allows accurate references for that purpose. And the
chart also allows each of us to see exactly where we fit
into the complete lineage and how we are related to each
other.” She has provided instructions in this Bulletin.
Please send her your lineage.
Yours, Susan
During the SFA Convention in 2011, Jerry coordinated a
visit for descendants of the original Speak immigrants to
both locations. It was most inspiring to stand where our
ancestors stood, lived, loved and died.
Jerry was kind enough to provide photos and
descriptions for the website, so everyone can share in our
heritage. A big thank you to Jerry. He only joined the
SFA about three years ago and one of the first things he
did was to volunteer to host the 2011 conference,
followed by in-depth deed and land research to identify
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Continued on page 11
Treasurer’s Report
October(1,(2012(–(December(31,(2012
by(Bonnie(K.(Speake(Alexander,(SFA(Treasurer
Speak/e/s(Family(Association
Balance(as(of(October(1,(2012(
($(10,821.46
Receipts:
Membership(Dues
$175.00
Total(Receipts.................................................................................$(175.00
Expenditures:
2012(Convention(Expenses
($991.38)
Bulletin(Printing
($330.94)
Postage
($120.90)
State(of(Virginia
($35.00)
Travel(Agency(Down(Payment(England(Trip
($300.00)
Total(Expenditures..................................................................($1,778.22)
Balance(as(of(December(31,(2012
($(9,318.24
Speaks(Chapel(Church(Fund
Balance as of October 1, 2012
($3,466.95
Receipts:(
None
Expenditures:(
None
$00.00
Total(Receipts....................................................................................$(00.00
($00.00)
Total(Expenditures.......................................................................($(00.00)
Balance(as(of(December(31,(2012
Nicholas(&(Sarah(Speak(Cemetery(Fund
Balance as of October 1, 2012
($3,466,95
$1,093.76
Receipts:
Donations
$50.00
Dividends
$(((.09
SFA(Savings
$50.00
Total(Receipts.................................................................................$(100.09
Expenditures:
Mow(Lawn((1(month)
($55.00)
Bank(Service(Fees((2(months)
(
($(16.00)
Total(Expenditures(.......................................................................($71.00)
Balance(as(of(December(31,(2012
-4-
($1,122.85
Recognizing a Founding
Member John
Charles Speaks III
By Phyllis Speak Danner, Historian
We wish to thank Mr. Speaks for his contributions to this
Bulletin, as we continue to be grateful for him and all the
founding members of our SFA.
Their wisdom and commitment in exploring Speak
genealogy, as well as their efforts to create this organization is
a meaningful gift to all our members and our families. We
also applaud the research accomplished by his son, John
Charles Speaks IV, whose letter sent out to various Speaks
around the country in 1976 most certainly nudged the
curiosity and interest of many folks who shared the Speak
name. It was a unique and ambitious idea -- planning a
meeting of mostly strangers who had just one thing in
common -- the surname Speak/e/s, either past or present -- and who had a healthy curiosity regarding their "roots". The result was the founding meeting of our SFA in August
of 1979 in St. Louis.
Ancestral Chart for John C Speaks III (generation # 10)
By John C Speaks III
1 Thomas Speake 1645 - 1691 + Elizabeth Bowling 1643 ........2 John 0 Speake 1665 - 1731 + Winifred Wheeler 1663 - 1758
...................3 Richard Speake 1698 - 1749 + Theodosia Wade 1700 - 1758
.............................4 William 1 Speake 1740 - 1787 + Mary Haslip 1745 - 1787
........................................5 WILLIAM SPEAKS 1756 - 1821 + SARAH SHOEBRIDGE 1764 - 1836
..................................................6 JOHN (2) SPEAKS 1789 - 1821 +ELEANOR 1795 - 1870
.............................................................7 CHARLES W SPEAKS 1814 - 1884 + SARAH A HESSER 1827 - 1910
........................................................................8 HARRIET SPEAKS 1848 - 1890
........................................................................8 George Speaks 1851 - 1851
........................................................................8 MARY C SPEAKS 1852 - 1908
........................................................................8 FRANCIS SPEAKS 1855 ........................................................................8 IDA SPEAKS 1857 - 1936 +JOHN CHANEY JR - 1915
..................................................................................9 MADGE CHANEY 1880 - 1968+RALPH DRAKE - 1949
..................................................................................9 CHARLES CHANEY 1893 - 1949+HELEN BARTO 1898 - 1943
.............................................................................................10 HELEN CHANEY 1924 - 1943
.............................................................................................10 ELIZABETH ANNE CHANEY 1927 -+THEODORE MESMER 1923 .............................................................................................10 JANE BARTO CHANEY 1929 - +JOSEPH FINA 1918 .............................................................................................*2nd Husband of JANE BARTO CHANEY: + ALVIN DOBSEVAGE 1922 ..................................................................................9 MABEL CHANEY Unknown ........................................................................8 JOHN CHARLES SPEAKS 1859 - 1945+EDNA LAWYER 1865 - 1943
..................................................................................9 MARGARET SPEAKS 1904 - 1977+HAROLD CUNNINGHAM
..................................................................................*2nd Husband of MARGARET SPEAKS:+Leslie STEWART PEARL 1900 - 1989
.............................................................................................10 JOHN CHARLES SPEAKS III 1926 - +NATALIE PARK SULLIVAN 1925 - 2009
.............................................................................................*2nd Wife of JOHN CHARLES SPEAKS III: +Joanna De Muro Dieli 1926 ..................................................................................9 JOHN CHARLES SPEAKS JR 1896 - 1965+Winifred Willis
..................................................................................9 CHARLES SPEAKS 1890 - 1977+Charme Seeds 1889 - 1987
..................................................................................9 STANFORD SEARLE SPEAKS 1893 - 1970
........................................................................8 ALBERT S SPEAKS 1861 - 1927
........................................................................8 HARRY E SPEAKS 1869 - 1930
........................................................................8 OLEY SPEAKS 1873 - 1948
........................................................................8 ALICE SPEAKS 1884 - 1927
.............................................................7 Luciana Speaks
.............................................................7 Elizabeth Speaks
.............................................................7 Harriet Speaks
.............................................................7 John (3) Speaks 1823 - 1895+Kasiah Fry
........................................................................8 John Bunyon Speaks 1864 - 1944+Julia L. Bible 1865 - 1928
..................................................................................9 Charles G. Speaks 1891 - 1916+Hannah Lowry 1893 - 1958
.............................................................................................10 Carl Thomas Speaks 1911 - 1977
..................................................................................9 John (4) Speaks Unknown -+Ethel
..................................................6 KATHERINE SPEAKS 1792 - 1830+[1] NATHAN SPENCER 1785 - 1847
.............................................................7 Samuel (2) Spencer 1812 .............................................................7 JOSH OSBORN SPENCER 1814 .............................................................7 ALICE SPENCER 1815 .............................................................7 SARAH SPENCER 1817 -+?? young
.............................................................7 WILLIAM FLOOD SPENCER 1820 - 1880+Mary Ann Drake
........................................................................8 Joshua Osbon Spencer 1857 - 1931+Mary
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Minutes and Attendees of a
Speaks/Rosenbaum Reunion at
Rose Hill Virginia in August
1937
Founding of The
Speaks Family
Association
By John C Speaks III
Submitted By John C. Speaks III
My name is John C. Speaks III.
Born in Cleveland Ohio in August 1926. The picture
is my mother, Margaret Speaks who gained some
fame as lead soprano for the Voice of Firestone
radio program in the 1940’s, taken at BrampfordSpeke England during one of her European
concert tours in the 1940s and 1950s. BrampfordSpeke is pertinent to the history of the Speak/e/s
families.
Editor’s Note. The following account of the meeting in Rose
Hill is interesting but includes much misinformation about the
English Speke family history. How this document was made
know is revealed in the email from John C Speaks III on the
left. It does indicate that the Speaks family was taking part in
meetings and discussions about their ancestral history prior to
the founding of the Speaks Family Association that occurred
in 1979. This is apparently the first time this has come to light.
An English Speke lineage was circulated many years ago but
has nothing to do with our American Speak lineage. There has
not been a connection established between our Thomas
Speake and the very early Espec family referred to in the this
document. The Thomas Speaks mentioned in the account as
migrating to Maryland in 1639 is more commonly referred to
today as Col. Thomas Speke who settled in Virginia and lived
on the Nomini Plantation. Col. Speake had one son named
Thomas who preceded Col. Speake in death. It was
incorrectly recorded in the Speaks Bulletin Issue 2 (March
2006) that Col. Thomas Speke’s son married Elizabeth
Bowling. This was resolved and recorded in a document
written by John Morris, III, dated July 22, 2006, proving it to
be false. Following for your information is the document.
In 1976 my son John C. Speaks IV was living in New
York City where he had the excellent genealogical
reference section of the New York Public Library.
He became very interested in the family history
and sent out a letter (see page 8.) From the replies
he found quite a few Speaks interested in
exchanging information. It was decided that a
meeting would be held in St Louis in August of 1979.
All records of the minutes and attendees are in the
archives of the Family Association. At that time the
Speak/e/s Family Association was for mally
established with my son and myself as well as
others serving as co-founders. For some time the
Bulletin was published from the mimeo machine in
my office in Buffalo NY.
Since the mimeograph copy of the meeting is very hard to read
and not scannable I (John C Speak III) have attempted to type it
out so here it is.
Over last Christmas I received a letter addressed to
my son from a thoughtful lady named Pam Daniell
of Wheksburg GA who was cleaning out her attic
prior to moving and found a copy of my son’s 1976
letter in a bible along with an unidentified picture
plus the minutes and attendees of a Speaks/
Rosenbaum reunion at Rose Hill, Va in August 1937.
The report refers to the reunion as the second and
says the fourth will be held in 1939. Ms Daniell
knows nothing of a Speaks connection to her
family and in my fairly extensive records I have no
information on Rosaenbaum.
SPEAKS*ROSENBAUM REUNION EMPHASIZES
FAMILY HISTORY
The second annual reunion of the Speaks and
Rosenbaum families of Southwestern Virginia and
Eastern Kentucky, was held recently at Rose Hill. It
brought to attention several facts of family history of
wider interest than to only the immediate families in
relationship to the early settlement of this
mountainous district now designated by some as
the Great Cumberland Empire.
H.N. Speak, with the help and information given by
a relative in Florida, who collected considerable
data on the family history, supplied information
relative to the early Speak ancestry as far back as
the Norman conquest of 1066. According to him,
the first ancestor of which knowledge is available
was William Espec, a Norman Baron, who held of
the conquerters (sic) the honor of Warden of
I hope this information will be of interest to our
members and any information that anyone has on
this I would be very appreciative of receiving.
I can be reached online at [email protected] on at
home address of 33 Heathwood Rd., Williamsville
NY 14221
Continued on page 7
-6-
Minutes and Attendees Continued From page 6
Major John Washington, the great grandfather of
George Washington.
Bedfordshire (England) a Barony of some 7500 acres.
Available records show that the Speaks are directly
descended from Richard Espec, Lord of Bramford,
which is now known as Bramford-Speke in Deonshire
England. He had a seat at Hayward, near
Wentworthy in the same shire or county.
About 1660 there came into the province of
Maryland another Thomas Speaks who had two sons
and from them descended almost all of those of the
name Spek in this country. The spelling of the name
has no bearing on the kinship. By several changes it
was transformed in England from the original
Norman-French Espec to Speke. In America there
have been several corruptions, some even spelling it
Speaken.
The connection between Richard and William is not
known, but Richard was probably a grandson or
great-grandson in Junior line for the Bedfordshire
estates, descended to Walter Espec of Yorkshire. The
latter was a conspicuous figure in the history of his
time. He was the leader of the Scottish forces under
King David, who was defeated at the battle of
Standard at North Alerton in 1137.
Down to the revolutionary war there is a good
sketch of the family, despite the paucity of the
Maryland records. They were residents in Charles
county, Maryland, until that time, but with the
splitting of the farms through inheritance, into
smaller parcels, with depletion of the soil and in view
of the acquisition by new nations of fertile lands
south and west which could be had for the asking,
there came a strong urge to move to these sections.
For this reason, as well as a lack of facilities for
communication, there is an almost complete lack
of identity of the Maryland forebears of these
pioneers. In a number of instances the rupture
seems absolute. Later removals to the more distant
west still further obscured their derivation .
The account of his noble name, his life and deeds
and the legends concerning him have held the
interest of English historians for many years. He was
possessed of vast domains, the gift of the King for
signal services.
Walter Espec established the Priority of Kirkham in
1121, the Abbeys of Riebvaux in 1132, as well as the
Wardon in 1137. The ruins of Riveaux in Yorkshire are
considered among the most beautiful in England,
while little is left of Kirkham and not a trace of
Wardon.
In the present branch of the family, the Rev.
Nicholas Speak, a great great grandfather of M.H.
Speak who furnishes this history, was born in Charles
county, Maryland, and moved to Washington
county where he lived a number of years and then
moved to Lee county. He bought 520 acres from
Robert Cummings November 29, 1926 on “Glad
French” now known as Speak’s Branch. About the
year 1853, the Rosenbalms or Rosenbaums came
into this section from Smith county, Virginia and
intermarried with the Speaks. The Rosenbaums are
German-Dutch.
He was Lord of Helmsley and Wark and Carham. The
castle of Helmsley descended through his sister
Adeline, who married Peter de Ros to an heiress of
that family and marriage to the family of Manners,
Earl of Rutland .
The main line of descent of Richard Espec to the
present date is well established, indicating that the
family was one of distinction.
Historian references are made to the “Ancient and
Honorable House of Speak”. In the 15th century Sir
John Speak of the Devonshire family married an
heiress of Somersetshire which was the Wake and
Beauchamp line. The Wake’s trace their ancestry to
Hereward le Wake, the sole Saxton chieften whom
William The Conqueror did not subdue, and with
whom he made peace and allowed to keep his
possessions. The Beauchamp ancestor was Hugo de
Belcamp and was one of the powerful barons who
held lands adjoining those of William Espec in
Bedfordshire.
They proved a sober, provident, industrious and
thrifty stock, who stood with the Speaks for law,
order, and justice and served as a bulwark to the
home, church, school and community life.
On August 1 (apparently 1935/6) nearly 100 of the
descendants of these worthy citizens met at the
home of the late Alfred Rosenbaum. The morning
was spent in knowing each other better, meeting
with new friends and kin.
In 1639 Thomas Speaks, one of the junior scions of
the Somerset branch emigrated to Maryland and
later moved into Westmoreland county, VA where
he held the highest judicial and military offices. By
his marriage, he had one son Thomas who died
without issue. His second wife and widow, by whom
there were no children, was later the fourth wife of
Prof. R.L. Rosenbaum, Jonesville gave the welcome
address, with Mrs. Emma N. Edda, Rose Hill,
responding. All joined in singing “Blest be the tie
that binds”. Prayer was offered by Rev. Frye of
Jonesville. A bountiful lunch was served.
Continued on page 8
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Letter by John Speaks,
Son of John C Speaks III,
Overview of Know Speaks
Branches and Requesting
Information on Speaks
Family History
Minutes and Attendees Continued From page 7
An organization was perfected to continue the
annual meetings.
Those who enjoyed the event were: Mrs M. R. Wolfe,
Mrs Clara Wolfe, Mrs. R.AS. Barrett, Mrs. Florence
Whitehead, Miss Pauline Rosenbaum, Billy Earl
Rosenbaum, Miss Mae Rosenbaum, Mr & Mrs Glen
Wolfe, Mr & Mrs John Wolfe, Docia Kirby, Loyall KY,
Mrs Flora Rosenbaum and son, J.A. Chilhowie, VA,
A.H. Gregory, Mrs H.J. Kinser, Harlan KY, Mr & Mrs
Cecil Cusley, Mr & Mrs John Cusley, Hiddlesboro KY,
Samuel Janeway, Bill Chadwell, Ewing, Mr & Mrs
Fred Rosenbaum, Mr & Mrs James Rosenbaum and
children, Ruth ,Reba, and James Jr., Highglint KY, Mr
& Mrs Huscue Thompson, Pennington Gap, VA, Mr &
Mrs Albert Taylor and daughter Marlie, Glen St.
Mary, FL, Mr & Mrs Harold Rosenbaum and children
Pauline, Winifred and Earl, Loyal KY, Mr & Mrs Elaine
Rosenbaum and child, Rev. and Mrs Frye, Miss Bess
Rosenbaum, Susan and Joan Rosenbaum and R.L.
Rosenbaum, Jonesville VA, Mrs Mary Sloane and
James Sloane, Miss Lillie Cheek, H.M. Speak, Roy
Speak, Ruth Barnett, Lucille Rosenbaum, Sheffie
Rosenbaum, Mr & Mrs Hobart Rosenbaum and son
Kyle, Mr & Mrs Lynn Rosenbaum and two children,
Rosco Evans, Mr & Mrs T.E. Lovens, Mrs Rhoda
Shipley, Birdie Lou Corbett, Mr & Mrs P.L. Evans, Mrs
Emma Edds, Caleb Seale, Mr & Mrs Elliot Robinson
and daughter, Mr & Mrs Robert Debusk, Mrs Sarah
King, Mr & Mrs Ben King and children Velma Jean
King, Lawie Kieth King, Audrey Glen King. Mrs Nova
Nelson, Mrs Martha Rosenbaum and Charlie
Rosenbaum, Mrs Smith King and son, R.L. Edward
Evans, Charles Snavely, Dr. Harry Kelma, Miss Myrtle
Rosenbaum and the gracious Mrs Amanda
Rosenbaum, all of Rose Hill.
As I close the mimeographing of this very fine history
of the Speaks and Rosenbaum families, I feel greatly
indebted to my cousin H.M Speaks for his untiring
efforts in compiling this information. I trust it will be
possible to get an account of this first meeting and
all those present which met at my mother’s, Mrs
Martha Rosenbaum for the first meeting and also a
list and account of the third meeting at the home of
my very esteemed friends, Mrs Many & James
Sloans. The fourth reunion will be held August 1939
at the home of Mrs Rhoda Shipley and I trust that
every one of us may live to enjoy it. I am also
running off 150 copies so that each one will have a
copy, and I trust you will keep it and that this will
become an interesting family tradition. Thanks are in
order to my cousin Hobart Rosenbaum who was
very influential in starting these reunions.
R.L. Rosenbaum
Pearisburg, Virginia.
July 19, 1976
Dear Mr.(Ms.) Speaks (Speke, Speake, Speak,
Speakes),
This is a rather general letter requesting information
on the Speaks family history, as the spelling of the
name has descended to myself. Our family is of
English ancestry. Thomas Speke, who emigrated to
America in 1660, settled in Charles County,
Maryland. He had two sons from whom our family is
descended. Apparently, until the Revolutionary War,
most of the family remained in Charles County.
Shortly thereafter they scattered throughout the
country, at first to Virginia and Kentucky but then
further South and West. My father and I are
attempting to piece them together again. Any
information you might have would be helpful.
For purposes of identification, I am a law student at
George Washington University and my father is a
businessman in Buffalo, New York. Our name can be
traced through my father's mother, Margaret Speaks
Pearl. She has three brothers, only one of whom is
still living. Her father and my great grandfather was
General John C. Speaks(1859-45), a Congressman
from the state of Ohio. He had six brothers and four
sisters. One of his brothers, Oley, was a songwriter.
My Great Grandfather, father of General Speaks,
was Charles W. Speaks (1814-84). He was born in
Coshocton County, Ohio and had two brothers and
three sisters. Little is known of this family, except that
one of the brothers' name was John. Charles' father
was also named John (b1789). He had two brothers
and five sisters, all of whom were born in Jefferson
County, Virginia (now West Virginia), near Harpers
Ferry. The names of his brothers were William(b1797)
and Aaron (b1803). His sisters' names were Katherine
(b1792), Elizabeth (b1794), Mary (b1795), Margaret
(b1799) and Maria (1801-59), who wed the same
Nathan Spencer as her sister, Katherine, in 1830.
The father of this family was William (1756-1831). He
wed Sarah Shoebridge in 1788 and served three
years in Capt. Heabred Smallwood's Company of
the I6th Virginia Regiment commanded by William
Continued on page 9
-8-
Letter by John Speaks Continued from page 8
Grayson during the Revolutionary War. He named
Bethlehem Township, Cochocton County, Ohio in
1826, having migrated there from Jefferson County
Virginia in 1818. It is probable that his father was
either John, Hezekiah or William. They are part of a
family including eight brothers and five sisters. Little
else is known for certain.
There are several other branches of interest. One is
headed by Hezekiah(1757-37) and his sister
Elizabeth(1754-21). They intermarried with the
Tuckers and Robertsons and moved to Bourbon
County, Kentucky in 1785 and 1787 respectively.
Hezekiah served for Maryland in the Revolutionary
War. He should not be confused with the Hezekiah
who served in Capt. Heabred Smallwood's
Company and enlisted the same day as William.
George also served in Capt. Smallwood's
Company. There is a good chance that these three
men are brothers, or cousins at the very least.
had a sister by the name of Ann and a brother,
George(b=1738). If this is the same George who
served in Capt. Smallwood's Company it is probable
that he is William and Hezekiah’s cousin and not
brother.
Other names of interest include Lewis Speak(b1815),
who wed Fancis Medcalf. He was the son of John
Speak, an early settler of Nelson County, Kentucky.
There is also the Reverend John W. Speak,- President
of Lauder College, Greenwood, South Carolina and
great great grandson of Capt. Thomas Speak, eldest
brother or William's father.
If you think that you are related at all, no matter how
remote, please forward any information whatsoever
to the address below. Of course if you would like any
more information, including more specific dates or
hypotheses, we would be more than happy to share it
with you. Thank you very much.
John Speaks IV
Another branch is headed by Capt. William Tate
Speaks, who was killed in the Civil War. He married
Rebecca Goethe and had eleven children. Those
who lived to maturity were named William Henry,
Clarence, Thomas Tate(1847-17), Mary Ann(b1852),
Washington Wylie(b1856), John and Archie. William
Tate's father was Sam and his grandfather was
Franklin. His brothers' names were Robert(d1909)
and John. He also had two sisters.
33 Heathwood Road
Nicholas (b1782) heads a branch of the family that
settled in Rose Hill, Virginia. He had seven sons and
four daughters. One of his sons was Samuel, the
grandfather of Mitchell M. Speaks(b1864), a
surveyor. Apparently there is a small stream in Rose
Hill known as Speak’s Branch, a tributary of Powell's
River.
Reprint from December 2003 Bulletin.
There is also a Speak Chapel there. This family
intermingled with the Rosenbaums and
corresponded with my great grandfather, General
John C. Speaks.
Other branches include a group of judges in
Mississippi and a Benjamin Speak (b1800) who
migrated from Kentucky to Livonia, Missouri and
started a family, including four sons and two
daughters. Little else is known besides the dates of
several wills in the 18th century and some isolated
names.
Other Revolutionary War soldiers include Joseph
(1797), who migrated from Charles County,
Maryland to Alexandria, Virginia wheres he joined
the navy, and Leonard, also a veteran of the navy.
Robert was in the war too. He wed Lucretia Mason
and appears in the census reports for Fairfax
County, Virginia in 1782 and 1785. Apparently he
Williamsville, New York 14221
My Mother—Margaret
Speaks
By John C Speaks III
Charles W. Speaks was born in Harpers Ferry, VA in
November 1814. It was said that he was not a man to
cross. He stood 6' 6"--a giant in those days--and he
could carry a hogshead of beer on each shoulder
and probably often did as he worked on the Ohio
canals before the Civil War. The picture of him with his
stovepipe hat towering above a group of his cronies is
a picture of physical power and strong personality. It
would have been quite interesting to have asked him
about his future granddaughter, a tall slim and lovely
blond who would send her voice to millions of people
over some contraption called radio. She would sing in
states and countries that Charles would never ever
hear about.
Charles would marry Sarah Hesser in Jan of 1848.
Sarah was born in Little York, PA on August 10, 1827
and lived until December of 1910. Charles died in
Canal Winchester, Ohio in June of 1884. Sarah and
Charles had 11 children--9 whom survived to
adulthood. Having 11 children in 26 years kept Sarah
around the house quite a bit.
Continued on page 10
-9-
My Mother Mary Continued from page 9
The fourth of Charles and Sarah's children was John
C Speaks (my grandfather) bor n in Canal
Winchester, Ohio in 1859. I remember him telling me
of his memories of Abe Lincoln's death which I came
to believe were quite embellished. He grew up in
the turbulent period following the Civil War; a tall,
taciturn man emitting the sense of power and
responsibility that was the mark of this early Speaks
Family. He entered the Ohio National Guard and
served with Pershing on the Mexican border and
rose to the rank of Brig. General earning the respect
of all who served under him. (A personal note here I
was stationed in Sacramento CA just prior to going
to Japan in early 1946 for the army of occupation. I
was hitchhiking to San Francisco for a weekend and
the two officers who picked me up asked my name
and hearing it was John Speaks asked if I was
related to the General. On hearing that I was, they
insisted that I send him their regards and tell him
how privileged they felt for having previously served
under him.)
After WW I the General became a major figure in
Ohio politics, serving several terms in congress as a
prohibitionist, God fearing Republican. He was head
of the Ohio National Guard and later Ohio Fish and
Game Commissioner. In his later years He would sit
on the front porch of the family home in Columbus,
waving to all who passed by. Right up to his death
in November 1946 he would discuss current events,
politics and religion with the many friends who
stopped in to visit.
The General married Edna Lawyer in 1889 and that
marriage produced four children: John Jr.
1890-1965, Charles 1890-1977, Stanford 1893-1973
and Margaret 1904-1977.
The General was proud of his family and proud of
his own service to his state and country. One son,
John Jr., flew in WW I with Eddie Rickenbacher. Pilots
in those days would lean out of the open cockpit
and drop bombs by hand on the enemy. He was
awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. After the
war he worked in various positions before going to
Hollywood and picking up an Oscar nomination for
his direction of the movie "Last Days of Pompeii”.
The second son, Stanford, served in both WW I and
WW II and wound up his military career in
Regensberg Germany as the military governor
under the command of Patton's 3rd Army. The third
son, Charles, served in the navy in WW I and after
the war he married Charme Seeds of Columbus.
Charles must have been quite an attractive young
man as his competition for Miss Steeds consisted of
Wilbur Wright of Dayton, Ohio and writer James
Thurber of Columbus.
The General could also boast of his brother, Oley,
composer of "Road to Mandalay” and many other
church and classical pieces. The General would
often indulge in his favorite pastime—talking about
and remembering the musical success of his
daughter, Margaret.
Margaret Speaks was born in Columbus, Ohio in
October 1904. Her musical heritage was full. At one
point a Canal Winchester production of "HMS
Pinafore” counted 15 Speaks in its cast. Her
composer uncle, Oley, and her mother, Edna, a
pianist and church organist, both helped to
influence her early interest in music. Stepping on the
stage of the Majestic Theater in Columbus at the
age of 8, dressed in a blue dress with a huge bow in
her hair marked the start of a professional career
that spanned over 45 years.
She entered Ohio State University in 1921 and
graduated 4 years later with honors in music and
recognition by her peers as a leading woman on
campus. Marriage to the Captain of the OSU
football team quickly ended but produced a son,
John C Speaks III in 1926. From her graduation in
1925 until the end of 1926 Margaret sang in many
halls and theaters in the Central Ohio area. She built
a reputation of style and excellence. She always
made it a point to sing at least one of her uncle's
songs at every performance--a practice she carried
on throughout her entire concert career.
After Christmas in 1926, Margaret left her new son in
the care of the General and his son, Stanford, and
went to New York City to start the foundation of her
long professional life. In New York were her uncle
Oley and her older brother, Charles. They both
helped her as best they could, but it was on her
own initiative that she landed her first job--in the
chorus line of Sigmund Romberg's show, "Cherry
Blossoms". Her first paycheck for $40.00 was
presented to her at the Schubert Theater in Newark,
New Jersey on February 28, 1927.
Margaret was always ambitious and impatient for
new opportunities. In the summer of 1927 she
answered a want ad that stated 'Prima Donna
Wanted'. She got the job and her career was on its
way. Her first show as a Prima Donna was called the
Greenwich Villagers. Several other Broadway, and
off Broadway, shows followed. In several of the
shows she toured around the New York and
Connecticut area. As her fame grew from these
various shows she was able to find new
opportunities in both concerts and radio. From 1929
through 1935 she appeared in 27 concerts
throughout the New York metropolitan area.
-10-
Continued on page 11
My Mother Mary Continued from page 10
Additionally, Margaret was a paid soloist in 4 different
churches almost continuously from April of 1929 to
June of 1934. (A personal remembrance of mine was
of being hidden in the choir loft when my mother
could not find anyone to stay with me. She had
brought me to live with her in her walk-up fiat in
Greenwich Village sometime in 1933.)
Her radio career began with several solo
appearances and several appearances on different
shows with a trio called "The Hummingbirds". Many
solo appearances on the Hoffman Beverage Hour on
CBS gave her the opportunity to sing with the Cliquot
Club Eskimos.
The major break on radio came for her in the spring
of 1935 when she was invited to be the summer
soloist on the 'Summer Voice of Firestone' series. Her
co-soloists during this period were often Richard
Crooks or Nelson Eddy, both of whom became
leading male singers of those times. In the fall of that
year she was hired as soloist for the regular Voice of
Firestone starting a continuity of programs that lasted
until May of 1943, produced 280 broadcasts and
twice won the award as 'Most Popular Female
Classical Singer' over such competition as Lily Pons,
Gladys Swartout and Jeanette McDonald. During the
same period she managed to appear in 129 solo
concerts all over the country.
Margaret decided that after Firestone she would
work on a somewhat diminished schedule in order to
spend more time with her second husband, Mr. Leslie
Pearl, an advertising executive, whom she married in
1933. This diminished schedule produced an
additional 140 concerts ending in Columbus Ohio at
the Ohio State University.
After all was over she had sung in all but seven of the
United States as well as in many foreign countries
and had been heard by millions of people worldwide
on the radio--a truly distinguished career, Margaret
Speaks died suddenly and unexpectedly in Maine in
the summer of 1977. Her family has established a
major vocal scholarship at Ohio State University so
both undergraduates and graduates will be assisted
in carrying on her fine musical tradition.
Congratulations
Eva Davis
C. Jemal Horton from the Southern Charlotte Weekly
named her “Best of the Best”. She was named an
All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches
Association, one of 100 players from 32 states. She
was named North Carolina’s Gatorade Player of the
Year. She signed to play at N.C. State after also
considering Duke, North Carolina and Clemson. And
she led Charlotte Latin to its ninth consecutive N.C.
Independent Schools Athletic Association 3A
championship. Davis finished her senior campaign
with astounding statistics from her outside hitter
position: 654 kills, 379 digs and 76 aces and 47 blocks.
According to C. Jemal Horton, excelling in sports is a
family tradition. Her father, Jim, stands 6-8 and
played college basketball at St. Andrews in
Laurinburg before transferring to N.C. State to focus
solely on academics. It was in Raleigh that Jim Davis
met his future wife and Eve’s mother, Lynn, who was
a player on the nearby Meredith College tennis team
at the time. Eve has a twin brother, Vic, who is 6-6
and played on the Charlotte Latin football team.
Their elder sister, Leah, was a strong player on
previous Hawks volleyball squads. According to
Horton “Eve Davis has been a force in Charlotte –
and North Carolina and United States volleyball
circles for quite some time now. She received her first
letter of interest from college recruiters when she was
just a ninth-grader, went on to become a first-team
All-American, and closed her career as a legend of
sorts in one of the state’s pre-eminent volleyball
programs.
We wish Eva the best of everything and much
success in her future endeavors.
Speak/e/s/es Website from page 3
the locations to make our visit truly unforgettable. Indeed
he succeeded.
I hope that other descendants will look through their
records and offer similar resources. I’d love to have several
historical pages on the website. Don’t forget, we also have
a Heritage Photos section as well.
http://speakfamily.wordpress.com/heritage-photos/
If anyone has something for the website, please send to me
at [email protected]
Note from the Editor:
High School Volleyball All American
Submitted by LaVerne Hurt
Eva Davis, from Charlotte, NC, a descendant of
Nicholas and Sarah-Fares Speak, lauded in press for
her accomplishments as a high school volleyball
player with Charlotte Latin School.
-11-
The Fall
2012 Speak/e/s Bulletin on page 15 omitted The 2002 SFA
Meeting held in Waldorf, MD from the list of Annual
Meetings.
Rebecca Speak Rosenbaum
by Lola Margaret Hall - Reprinted from June 1995 Bulletin
The marriage of the youngest daughter of Nicholas
and Sarah Fares Speak to William Henderson
Rosenbaum established the beginning link of the
Speak and Rosenbaum families. For the past 150
years the lives of these two families have been
interwoven. From before this marriage until at least
throughout the 1930's these families have been
close, holding several combined Speak-Rosenbaum
family reunions in Rose Hill in the 1930's. Because of
these ties, the background of the Rosenbaum
family is important in telling the story of Rebecca
Speak Rosenbaum.
In the early 1700's England promised land and
religious freedom to German families who would
agree to help colonize land in present day
Pennsylvania. About 1710 Bernard and Catharine
Rosenbaum immigrated from Germany, settling
along the Hudson River near New York City for a
short period of time These immigrant families were
under the jurisdiction of the New York government. It
is from subsistence and ration lists we find their
names at this period of time. After 1714 Bernard and
Catharine moved to a more permanent settlement
near the mouth of the Susquehanna River to an
area known as the Swatara Region, the present day
site of Middletown, Pennsylvania.
Anthony Rosenbaum is believed to be the son of
Bernard and Catharine, It is here in the Swatara
Region that we find first mention of Anthony when
he married Barbara Bauman, 15 Dec 1737
Barbara's family had also immigrated from
Germany about the same time as the Rosenbaum&
Barbara's im migrant father was a butcher and his
family ancestry is clearly traceable to Barbara's
great great grandfather who was born in 1559. The
Bauman name means "builder" and the family
records were from the archives of the Reformed
Church of Bacharach on the Rhine River in West
German
Anthony Rosenbaum owned 200 acres of land in
1750 in what is now Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
He died in February or March of 1776 and is
probably buried there. Alexander Rosenbaum was
born 1742 or 1743 and was the son of Anthony and
Barbara Rosenbaum. He married in the early 1760's.
All we know of his wife is that her name was Charity.
Soon after his father's death in 1776, following
settlement of the estate, Alexander sold his share of
the land and left Pennsylvania. We next find him
listed on Rowan County, North Carolina tax lists in
1778. In that same year his name also appears on a
record minded, "LIST OF PERSONS IN CAPTAIN DAVIS'
DISTRICT WHO HAVE NOT SIGNED THE OATH OF
ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
1778." He again appears on Rowan County tax
records in 1787 and 1790. Rowan County Deed
Book, October 1791 records a grant of 600 acres
from the state of North Carolina to Alexander
Rosenbaum. The sale of that same 600 acres is
recorded later the same year and he apparently
moved his family to Washington County, Virginia.
Tax records indicate some moving back and forth
to Wythe County, Virginia. By 1798 he seems to
have settled back in Washington County on 100
acres along the Holston River. He died in 1806. His
will was written in German, leading me to believe
they must still have been using the German
language rather regularly.
John Rosenbaum, born about 1765 was the son of
Alexander and Charity Rosenbaum. He married
Catherine Spraker in about 1787. Her family had
immigrated from Switzerland. They may have been
Swiss, however there were many Germans living in
Switzerland during that period of time, so they could
also have been German. Catherine was born
March 27, 1765. In 1791 John Rosenbaum
purchased 400 acres of land in Washington County,
Virginia and another 85 acres on a branch of Laurel
Fork called Beaver Pond Fork in 1797. He and
Catherine built a home on a site near Damascus,
Washington County. John died in 1821 while living
on that home place and is buried at Zion Methodist
Church, about four miles from Damascus near the
highway to Abingdon. He did not leave a will,
however the inventory of his estate was quite
extensive. Caterine lived on at the home she and
John had share until her death in 1830. She is buried
beside her husband.
Adam Rosenbaum was the son of John and
Catherine Rosenbaum. He was born August 16,
1802 on the South Fork of the Holston River in
Washington County, Virginia Adam married Barbara
Copenhaver in about 1823 in Washington County,
Virginia. Barbara was born prior to 1808 in Wythe
County, Virginia, the daughter of Frederick and Eva
Phillippi Copenhaver. Her great great grandfather
had immigrated from Germany in 1732. Her
grandfather, Thomas Koppenheffer (original
German spelling); born 1739 and died 1802, was a
captain in the Revolutionary War, He signed the
"HANOVER RESOLUTIONS OF 1774." He was a
captain of militia in Colonel Timothy Green's
Battalion, Aug 1776-Feb 1777, Captain of 1st
Continued on page 13
-12-
Rebecca Speak Rosenbaum Continued from page 12
Company of Colonel John Rogers 6th Battalion,
I777, he was stationed at Chester, Pennsylvania
under Alexander Lowery, 3 Aug 1777, and Captain
of 3rd Company of 6th Battalion, 1779.
Barbara and Adam Rosenbaum had four children
before she died 1830. After Barbara's death, Adam
married her sister Christina. One of those four
children of Adam and Barbara Rosenbaum was
William Henderson Rosenbaum. (In the last issue of
the Bulletin, in the article on Frances Speak
Rosenbaum, William Henderson Rosenbaum was
said to be the son of Adam and Christina
Rosenbaum. Adam was married to Christina
Coperthaver. She was his second wife and William
Henderson is the son of her sister, Barbara, Adam's
first wife.)
In 1831 Adam bought 135 acres in present day
Smythe County, Virginia, west of Marion and north
of U. S. Highway 11 in the old Chilhowee area.
Adam lived to be 91 years old and was still on this
land when he died at home December 27, 1893. He
is buried at the Ebenezer Church west of Marion,
Virginia. (The land on which the Ebenezer Church
was built was once owned by Adam. He had
donated it to the congregation for the purpose of
building the church.) An article appearing in the
Wythe County, Virginia newspaper in January 1894
acknowledged the death of Adam Rosenbaum. It
stated, ''the previous summer he was still able to
mount his horse and ride to church and throughout
the neighborhood. He had fallen and dislocated his
hip and gradually weakened to his death." The
article described him as an "honest, Christian man
who put his religion into every day life. By patient
toil he had accumulated an abundance of all
comforts around him. He voted at every election as
an ardent Democrat. He was a member of the
Lutheran Church for about 75 years." He was the
father of 14 children, 78 grandchildren, and 74
great grandchildren (one of who was my great
grandmother, Rebecca Rosenbaum Speak, not to
be confused with her mother, and my great great
grandmother, Rebecca Speak Rosenbaum.) This
made Adam Rosenbaum the paternal head of 166
children to the time of his death.
William Henderson Rosenbaum was born in
Washingon County, Virginia December 29, 1827, the
son of Adam and Barbara Coperthaver
Rosenbaum. He married Rebecca Speak, the
youngest child of Nicholas and Sarah Faires Speak,
on 9 Feb 1854 at Rose Hill, VA. Rebecca Speak was
born at Rose Hill 26 Jul 1826. William Henderson and
Rebecca lived on a farm near Rose Hill. They had
-13-
four children, three sons and one daughter.
Rebecca died five days after giving birth to her
youngest child and only daughter, Frances Reecca.
Her death occurred on her fifth wedding
anniversary. She is buried above Speaks Chapel.
After the death of Rebecca, William Henderson
Rosenbaurn married her older sister, Frances Jane
(Fanny) Speak. He served in the Civil War, enlisting
as a Conederate soldier from Lee County on April
18, 1863. He was captured and imprisoned 17 Jun
1864 at Camp Douglas, a Union Army Prison, Rock
Island, Illinois. He died 26 Sep 1864 while in prison
and is buried at Oakwood Cemetery, Chicago,
Illinois. Prison papers list his death as a result of fever,
however family tradition states that "THE DAMN
YANKEES STARVED HIM TO DEATH!"
Frances Rebecca Rosenbaum, the youngest child
of William Henderson and Rebecca Speak
Rosenbaum, was born on 4 Feb 1859 at Rose Hill,
Virginia. She married Joseph Hardy Speak on
February 24, 1876 in Speaks Chapel. Joseph Hardy
Speak was born 12 Jun 1853 at Rose Hill, the son of
Wm Hardy and Sarah Jane Kelly Speak. Joseph
Hardy was the grandson of his wife's mother's older
brother, making me a descendant of Nicholas
Speak through both his older son (Samuel) and
youngest daughter (Rebecca). Hardy and
Rebecca lived at Rose Hill where he farmed until
around 1900 when he took his family west. They
settled at Granby, Missouri. Hardy died there 11 Apr
1935 and Rebecca died 4 Dec 1938. They are
buried at the Wanda Cemetery near Granby.
Joseph Hardy and Rebecca Rosenbaum Speak
had 11 children.
William Milton Speak was the fourth child of Hardy
and Rebecca Speak. He was born February 1884 at
Rose Hill, Virginia, He married Margaret Swift
December 24, 1906 at Neosho, Missouri. They had
two boys and two girls. Milton died October 21,
1921. Margaret died in 1976. Their oldest child was
Chester Speak born February 19, 1908. He married
Billie Atchley on December 31, 1939. She preceded
him in death, November 2, 1991. Chester died at his
home at Mt. Juliet, Tennessee September 22, 1992.
Chester and Billie Speak were ray parents.
References:
Canfield, Clifford, The Rosenbaum-Rosenbalm
Family of Southwest Virginia
Laningham, Betty, Jonesville, VA, "Personal records
and papers"
Hall, Lola Margaret Speak, Mt. Juliet, TN, "Personal
records and information"
THE JOY OF THE JOURNEY
Year Two
As you can see from the pictures above, the journey started a bit sloppy this year. And
these were just the pictures we could take from the car! Within a week of arriving, the
cyclone, “Nilam,” came out of the Bay of Bengal and hit the shores of Andhra
Pradesh, sending heavy rains inland. Rains this time of year are very uncommon, so it
took everyone by surprise. The three rivers that run through the city of Eluru caused
flooding in many areas. Water did not get to the home or to the India School of
Evangelism, and there were no casualties, so we had much to be thankful for.
However, we did have church members who were evacuated to safer places and
some people who were trapped by surrounding water. To add to the mess, these
rivers are very polluted. There was quite a bit of concern about widespread disease
because of the pollution, but thankfully that did not happen either. The Eluru church
helped many who were affected by the loss of homes and possessions.
Our arrival, however, is always met
with a different kind of flood. One of
precious children, calling out,
“Welcome, Maam, welcome, Sir!”
And then Bill always brings
out the bag of candy! Even
a few adults get in on the
candy!
Nothing stopped us from being able to get to services we had
planned for two primitive villages. The first, Chinthalavilli, was
celebrating the eleventh anniversary of the beginning of very
their small congregation. Located in an isolated area, they have
remained small in numbers. We do our best to encourage them
to keep their faith strong. The other, Thochalaka, though also
small, is doing an impressive job in teaching their young children.
In the picture you may be able to see a great Biblical Timeline
that they are using to a good advantage. In this backward,
jungle Hindu village one little boy recited all 66 books of the Bible.
-14-
Diwali, India’s “Festival of Lights,” is always a fun day
for the children, and a favorite of ours, as well. It is a
school holiday and we spent the morning playing
games, many very much like some of the games
enjoyed by children in America. (Musical Chairs)
Afternoon brought the ice cream wagon and the kids
lined up to pick their choice of cool treats. This was
one of several ice cream parties, compliments of a
special man in our home congregation in Columbia.
Diwali is always finished off with a big display of
lighted candles, sparklers and fireworks displays.
Two of our Wednesday night services were held at homes of the members. One
of these prayer meetings was held on the rooftop. It seemed a lot like the setting
of a worship of the first century Christians.
Bill continues to teach at the India School
of Evangelism four days a week. Each
new class of students prepares 8 to 10
new native preachers to take the gospel
to their villages. There are also always
several who have gone through the
school, but eager to strengthen their
knowledge of God’s Word.
Salome works at the
school cooking and
making tea for the
students. It was
wonderful to witness
her baptism, after
working and studying
with her for two years.
-15-
Instructions for Writing Your Own Speak
Lineage to be Included in Our Official
Descendency Chart
By Phyllis Speak Danner, Historian (EKA# 12)
!
1. Write your own lineage, using the traditional form. For a sample of this form, refer to the
existing descendency chart which can be accessed on our web site http://speakfamily.wordpress.com . That will put you on the SFA web site. Then click on “Files”. Then click on the link just below where it says:
"Files available for download can be seen at:" https://www.dropbox.com/sh/yq40i7l4neulp3v/-8DS3l-voF
Then click on the file that says "Speaks Descendency Chart". The existing chart is a sample of how you should make your own.
It is in PDF format and it would be a good idea to download the file to your hard drive for
viewing, printing and future reference.
2. Note that each generation is numbered, beginning with our original Thomas as #1 and
sons John and Bowling each #2 and so on. if you cannot take your lineage back to
Thomas, then use your earliest known ancestor as #1.
3. Don't forget to include yourself, your children, grandchildren, etc.
4. Include the dates of birth, marriage, and death. Use ?? if unknown. Add counties, if
known.
5. In your communication with me, please tell me the EKA# which has been assigned to
you. If you currently have no EKA#, your lineage information will help us provide one for
you --hopefully!
6. Please send your lineage charts to me, Phyllis Speak Danner at 99 Glenmoor Lane Cherry Hills Village CO 80113 and also to my email [email protected]
-16-
Archaeological Projects
of Interest to Speaks
Family Association
will stated “that my loving brother-in-law, James
Bowling hath the disposal of my children to be
brought up in the Roman Catholic faith.” Bowling
Speak obviously had a relationship with James
Bowling at this time and may have been living at his
house.
The fort was built and occupied in the early 1680’s
and abandoned by the Indians in the 1690’s. The
house James Bowling occupied was not far from
the Zekiah Fort. It is probable Bowling Speak as a
teenager encountered Indians in his daily life. The
current route 5 that leads from Waldor f to
Bryantown and passes in that area was an indian
trail. Articles and video about the Zekiah Fort are
available on the SFA website under “Files”.
By Jerry Draney
The projects we are following include the Zekiah
Fort Study and the Archaeological Study of Nomini
Plantation.
Dr. Julia King’s talk at the SFA conference at La
Plata, MD in October, 2011 covered the search for
and finding of the lost Zekiah Fort. The study
objective was to discover a 17th-century
Piscataway Indian fort known as the Zekiah Fort
where the Piscataway Indians moved in 1680 for
protection from raids by northern indian groups and
English encroachment on their land.
We have the final report, a detailed historical 325
page report that contains information of interest to
the SFA.
The archeological search included four properties in
Charles, County, Maryland one identified in the
study as “St. Peter’s Catholic Church properties”
and identified the land as once known as “The
Mistake” that was purchased by Bowling Speak in
1704. This report contains very detailed early
historical information and the archaeological finds.
All of the archaeological sites identified are eligible
for listing in the National Register of Historic Places
under Criterion D, sites that have yielded, or may be
likely to yield, information important in prehistoric or
history. The Mistake site has been called a “Satellite
Indian Hamlet”. It is unclear from the study whether
or not the site was occupied by Indians when
Speaks lived on the land.
The report has locational information and we have
been warned to be careful in further sharing of this
document to avoid giving out information to
unscrupulous people who might be tempted to
gather artifacts that could hinder future research.
The study report includes historical data of interest
to the SFA in understanding the times our early
ancestors lived through. An example is an event in
August 1681 when a dispute between Iroquois and
Piscataway indians was going on in a particularly
tense period among the Indians and the English.
On the night of 25 August two armed Piscataway
Indians arrived at the home of James Bowling’s
called the Zekiah House located near the Zekiah
Swamp and demanded to speak with two
“Senniquos”. The house was apparently being used
as a place to negotiate a settlement.
At this time Bowling Speak was approximately 7
years old. His father Thomas Speake died in 1681. His
Archeology Study of Nomini
Plantation in Westmoreland County,
Virginia, once belonging to Col.
Thomas Speke
Brad Hatch and Lauren McMillan, both PhD
Students at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, are
reanalyzing archaeological materials from Nomini
Plantation in Westmoreland County Virginia. The
materials were originally collected in the 1970’s and
have been in storage for more than 30 years.
Nomini Plantation was the home of Col. Thomas
Speke who migrated to Virginia from Maryland.
Col. Thomas Speke is not a relative of our Speak line
as we all should know but this study may provide a
better understand of the society, immigration
patterns and connections that existed in 17th
century, between Maryland and Virginia.
In 1647 Thomas Speke left Maryland to travel across
the Potomac River and establish a new home in
Virginia. Speke lived in Maryland for at least five
years prior to this move. Rather than being
motivated to migrate across the Potomac by
increased opportunity in Virginia, Speke likely left
Maryland because of his participation in Ingle’s
Rebellion in 1645-1646.
Speke, like several
prominent Marylanders, left Maryland in 1647 after
Lord Baltimore regained control of the colony from
the rebels. All of these men, and their families,
settled in the area then known as Appamattucks,
an approximately 15 mile stretch of Potomac
shoreline running from Mattox Creek to Nomini Bay
in present-day Westmoreland County, Virginia.
During the archaeological excavation a trash pit
was discovered that appears extremely likely to be
associated with Thomas Speke’s occupation of
Nominy plantation. Brad and Lauren plan on
reanalyzing this collection to confirm and to help
illuminate aspects of the early history of
thePotomac Valley that have been long-forgotten.
Continued on page 18
-17-
Archaeological Projects Continued from page 17
Judging from the preliminary results, Nomini will
prove to be a site that greatly increases our
understanding of the everyday lives of people in the
17th-century Potomac River Valley. We will stay in
contact with Brad and Lauren as they continue to
examine the archaeological materials and publish
their findings.
The picture on the right is of Mary Hentschel at the gravesite
of William Hunter her great, great grandfather and her
mother's paternal line. William Hunter was a Master mariner
and had an anchor on top of his headstone. The picture was
taken in in Louth, Lincolnshire England.
Our Condolences
ROSE HILL, Va. — Margaret
Ruth Bacon, 80, of Rose Hill
Va., passed away Saturday
(Feb. 9, 2013) at the Holston Valley
Medical Center in Kingsport. Ruth lived
most of her life in Lee County, Va. and
was a member of Morley Memorial
United Methodist Church. She was a
Sunday school teacher and former president of
Flatwoods Ruritan Club. She was preceded in death
by her parents James Butler and Dora Mae
Hounshell Greever; and two infant sisters. She is
survived by her husband of 55 years, Morton C.
Bacon; one brother, James Henry Greever; nephews
Douglas and George Greever ; and one great
nephew, Chance Greever, all of California; three
sisters-in-law; and three brothers-in-law; several
cousins, friends and very special friends, Mike and
Becky Day. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5 to 7
p.m. at the Arney-Mullins Funeral Home Chapel in
Rose Hill, Va. The funeral will follow with the Rev.
Norman Clark officiating. Burial will be Wednesday
at 11 a.m. in the Meador Cemetery in Harrogate,
Tenn. Those wishing to go to the cemetery are asked
to meet at Arney-Mullins Funeral Home in Rose Hill,
Va. at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may
be made to Morley Memorial United Methodist
Church.
For online condolences to the Bacon
family,
please
visit
www.arneyullinsfuneralhomes.comArney-Mullins Funeral Home
of Rose Hill is in charge of arrangements
Lineage:
Margaret Ruth Greever – Morton Clifford Bacon
James Butler Greever – Dora Mae Houndshell
John Clinton Houndshell – Lillie Florence Seale
Robert Napier Seale – Susan E. Speak
Nicholas Speak – Rachel Rhoda Callahan
Charles Speak – Ann McKee
Nicholas Speak – Sarah Faires
Mrs. Nina Mae Speak,
age 84, of Bean Station,
TN. was born Dec. 18, 1927, went to be
with the Lord on Oct. 20, 2012. She had
lived most of her adult life in Annapolis,
Md. where she was a 45 year avid
faithful member of the South Shore
Baptist Church in Crownsville, Md. She
and her husband retired from Armstrong and
returned to Tennessee where she became an active
member of Barnard's Grove Baptist Church in Bean
Station, TN. She was preceded in death by her
parents, Rev. Isaac and Quinnie Seal King; husband,
Warren Speak; brother and sister-in-law, Felder and
Betty King; sisters: Ada(Henry) Wilder and
Orgalene(Jack) Eads. She is survived by her sister:
Macel Buchanan of Bellview, Oh.; brother, Delmer
King of Bean Station, TN.; sisters, Minnie
(Billy)Craddock of Louisville, Ky. And Mayme (Jerry)
Owens of Bean Station, TN; nephews, Gary
Buchanan, Jeff Owens and John Craddock; nieces,
Diana Steiner, Debbie Ely, Sherry Jarnagin and Jan
Craddock and a host of other relatives and friends.
The family will receive friends from 6-8pm Tuesday,
Oct. 23, 2012 at Barnard's Grove Baptist Church with
funeral service to follow at 8:00PM. Rev. Dwight
Wolfe and Rev. Jeff Cinnamon will officiate and the
Church choir will provide music. Graveside service
will be at 1:00PM Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012 at the
Harrogate-Meador Cemetery. Pallbearers: Jeff
Owens, Cory Ely, Edwin Jarnagin, Keith Ely, Kurt
Steiner and Will Jarnagin.
Margaret Ruth Bacon
April 2, 1932 - February 9, 2013
NINA MAE SPEAK
December 18, 1927 - October 20, 2012
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Our Condolences
It is with great sadness and
Estelle Speake White
May 14, 1919.-March 20, 2013 r e g r e t t h a t t h e f a m i l y
survived by 4 grandchildren: Tonia (Tim) Hines of
Wilmington, NC, David (Jennifer) Venable of Raleigh,
NC, and Eli and William White of Cary, NC. Also
surviving are 4 great grandchildren: Adeline and
Ashton Hines and Estelle and Will Venable. In
addition, extended family members include: Becky
(Duane) Beckner; Wendy, Matthew Rhodes; Heather
(Jason) and Kyndall Faircloth; Collin and Hannah
Joyce; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation with the family will be at Brown-Wynne
Funeral Home, 200 SE Maynard Road, Cary, NC at
1:30pm on Saturday, March 23, 2013. The funeral
service will be held immediately afterwards at
3:00pm. Burial will follow at Apex Cemetery.
T h e f a m i l y w i s h e s t o e x p re s s t h e i r s i n c e re
appreciation, gratitude and love to Lisa Willets for
her exceptional care and support of both Estelle
and Ted during the last years of Estelle’s life. The
family also wishes to thank Hospice of Wake County
for their outstanding care and support. To honor
Estelle, the family requests that any donations be
made to Hospice of Wake County.
The family wishes to thank everyone who has
expressed their love and admiration for Estelle over
the years by repeatedly saying “You have the
announces that Sarah
Estelle Speake White left this world to
be with her Maker on Wednesday,
March 20, 2013. She passed away
peacefully at home at the age of 93.
She was married to James (Ted) Clifton
White for over 67 years.
Estelle was born in the Speake
Community of Lawrence County, Alabama on May
14, 1919. She grew up in Moulton, Alabama,
graduated from Lawrence Co. High School,
attended State Teachers College in Florence,
Alabama and completed her education and
obtained her degree and a NC teaching
certification from North Carolina State University at
the age of 48. Estelle retired from teaching English at
Cary High School in 1983. Estelle continued to be
active in the community through volunteer work well
into her 80’s.
Estelle was active in her church in Alabama and was
an active member of Cary First Baptist Church since
1961. During WWII, Estelle and Ted both served in the
Navy. Estelle served 3 years as a member of the
WAVES while Ted served 4 years of active duty in the
South Pacific.
Estelle White is survived by her loving husband Ted
White; her daughter, Vicky (Marvin) Thompson of
Cary, NC; sons, Jim (Elizabeth) White of Cary, NC
and Bill (Ann) White of Liberty, NC. She is also
sweetest Mom”
Lineage
Basil Speake, Sr., 1773-1840
James Beckham Speake, 1803-1890
James Tucker Speake, Sr., 1842-1901
James Tucker Speake, Jr., 1880-1938
Sarah Estelle Speake, 1919-2013
EDITOR’S NOTES
This year the issues deadline for the year will be:
January 1, 2013
April 1, 2013
July 1, 2013
Oct 1, 2013
We have set up an email address especially for the newsletter [email protected]. We want to
encourage you to send us genealogy, articles, pictures, obituaries, interviews, comments and suggestions. It
is preferred that you send photos as JPG files.
You can also mail materials to our the editor at the address below:
Jerry Draney - 4320 Forest Hill Rd Unit 104, Fairfax, VA 22030
Please, we request that you send copies of documents or photos and not the originals - we would not want
anything to happen to those items in transport.
When sending articles please include your name as the submitter with your family traced back to the original
Speak/e/s/es connection. This will allow the rest of us to get acquainted with you.
When sending an obituary please include the name, location and it is important that you also include date
and name of the newspaper in which the obituary appeared. It would also be helpful if you would trace the
family back to the Speak/e/s/ family connection.
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