Michael Spessard was the son of Hans Peter Spessert and Catharina Kleinfelter, both of whom were born in Germany. He was born in Florsbach, Hessen, Germany. The family came to America when he was just a baby, on the ship "Duke of Bedford" (Richard Jefferson was the ship's master). The ship originated in Rotterdam, stopping at Portsmouth, destination Philadelphia. Oath of allegiance was taken by the Spessert/Spessard family on 14 Sept 1751. The family lived in the rich farming area of Lancaster, PA. Michael's mother died there in 1754 and his father a year later in 1755. He most likely was then raised by relatives. In about 1775, he married Christiana Waltz in Lancaster, PA. Shortly thereafter, he served as a Revolutionary war soldier, serving at Fort Frederick 1778 under Captain John Kershner. (Archives of Maryland, Vol 18, page 328, in the "Muster Rolls and other records of service of Maryland troops in the American Revolution, 1775-1783" the name Michael Spesser is mentioned as a private of Captain John Kershner's company guarding the prisoners of war at Fort Frederick, June 27, 1778. Also: Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots, Vol.4,). Michael and Christiana would have six children: David (1778); Peter (1779); Maria C (1780); Maria E. (1781); John (1791) and Chrissteanna (1796). Most of the children appear to have been born in Washington County, Maryland, where Michael continued his occupation as a farmer.
The name Spessard means "Woods of the Woodpeckers".
WILL OF MICHAEL SPESSARD:
His will is on record in the County Court house at Hagerstown, which reads as follows:
"In the name of God, Amen. I, Michael Spesart of Washington County and state of Maryland, being sick and weak, in body, but of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding; in considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof, and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs, thereby being the better prepared to leave this world when it shall please God to call me hence due, therefore make and publish this my last will and testimony in the manner and form following that is to say:
FIRST: and properly I commit my soul into the hands of Almighty God, and my body to the earth to be decently buried at the direction of my executor hereinafter named; and after my debts and funeral charges are paid, I devise and bequeath as follows:
I give and bequeath unto my wife, Christiena, during her natural life all my right claim and demands of all the rent due me and my son John, situate in Washington County and state aforesaid, the said Christiena is to have all my right and demand of my part of grain becoming due me agreeably to an agreement made between me and my son John of the 25th day of March, 1824, that one-fourth of all the grain which may be raised on the aforesaid farm, of wheat, rye, corn, oats and as much hay as is necessary for food for her cows' pasturage for two cows, fire wood halled to the dwelling of the said Christiena, and a log house situated on the aforesaid land, the stable attached to this house and the garden adjoining the said house and one-fourt of the said grain the said John may withold.
I give and devise unto my son John Spesart, his heirs and assigns forever after the death of my wife Christiena all my undivided part of land situate lying and being in Washington County and state of Maryland, bound as follows; on the north by William Fitchew, on the east by Jacob Thomas and Michael Thomas, on the south by Gabriel Billmire and Joseph Woolf, on the west by John Stotler and Joseph Biggum, containing in all 239 acres of land more or less for which the said John is to pay two thousand seven hundred dollars current money to be paid to my executor in three annual equal payments commencing one year after the death of my wife, Christiena, the first payment to be paid over unto Elizabeth Rummek (?), the second payment to be paid over unto my daughter Mariah Weaver, wife of Michael Weaver and the last to my daughter Christiena Steritt, wife of James Steritt, their heirs and assigns safe without interest. Provided the said John Spesart is not willing to pay $2,700 for all aforesaid land, the land shall be sold and the said John shall fall equal heir with my three daughters, aforesaid and sahall be divided between him and three daughters share and share alike, the said John shall be entitled to the first payment to his amount.
And lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my son Peter Spesart to be sole executor of my last will and testimony, revoking and annuling all former wills by me heretofore made, ratifying and confirming this and none other to be my last will and testimony. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my name and affixed my seal this 26th day of April, 1825.
Michael Spesart (In German) (seal)
Signed, sealed, and published and declared by Michael Spesart the above named testator as and for his last will and testimony in the presence of us who at his request, in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto: Christian Stouffer (in German), Jacob Rohrer, Joshua Williams (his mark "X" )".
The name Spessard means "Woods of the Woodpeckers".
WILL OF MICHAEL SPESSARD:
His will is on record in the County Court house at Hagerstown, which reads as follows:
"In the name of God, Amen. I, Michael Spesart of Washington County and state of Maryland, being sick and weak, in body, but of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding; in considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof, and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs, thereby being the better prepared to leave this world when it shall please God to call me hence due, therefore make and publish this my last will and testimony in the manner and form following that is to say:
FIRST: and properly I commit my soul into the hands of Almighty God, and my body to the earth to be decently buried at the direction of my executor hereinafter named; and after my debts and funeral charges are paid, I devise and bequeath as follows:
I give and bequeath unto my wife, Christiena, during her natural life all my right claim and demands of all the rent due me and my son John, situate in Washington County and state aforesaid, the said Christiena is to have all my right and demand of my part of grain becoming due me agreeably to an agreement made between me and my son John of the 25th day of March, 1824, that one-fourth of all the grain which may be raised on the aforesaid farm, of wheat, rye, corn, oats and as much hay as is necessary for food for her cows' pasturage for two cows, fire wood halled to the dwelling of the said Christiena, and a log house situated on the aforesaid land, the stable attached to this house and the garden adjoining the said house and one-fourt of the said grain the said John may withold.
I give and devise unto my son John Spesart, his heirs and assigns forever after the death of my wife Christiena all my undivided part of land situate lying and being in Washington County and state of Maryland, bound as follows; on the north by William Fitchew, on the east by Jacob Thomas and Michael Thomas, on the south by Gabriel Billmire and Joseph Woolf, on the west by John Stotler and Joseph Biggum, containing in all 239 acres of land more or less for which the said John is to pay two thousand seven hundred dollars current money to be paid to my executor in three annual equal payments commencing one year after the death of my wife, Christiena, the first payment to be paid over unto Elizabeth Rummek (?), the second payment to be paid over unto my daughter Mariah Weaver, wife of Michael Weaver and the last to my daughter Christiena Steritt, wife of James Steritt, their heirs and assigns safe without interest. Provided the said John Spesart is not willing to pay $2,700 for all aforesaid land, the land shall be sold and the said John shall fall equal heir with my three daughters, aforesaid and sahall be divided between him and three daughters share and share alike, the said John shall be entitled to the first payment to his amount.
And lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my son Peter Spesart to be sole executor of my last will and testimony, revoking and annuling all former wills by me heretofore made, ratifying and confirming this and none other to be my last will and testimony. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my name and affixed my seal this 26th day of April, 1825.
Michael Spesart (In German) (seal)
Signed, sealed, and published and declared by Michael Spesart the above named testator as and for his last will and testimony in the presence of us who at his request, in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto: Christian Stouffer (in German), Jacob Rohrer, Joshua Williams (his mark "X" )".
Michael Spessard was the son of Hans Peter Spessert and Catharina Kleinfelter, both of whom were born in Germany. He was born in Florsbach, Hessen, Germany. The family came to America when he was just a baby, on the ship "Duke of Bedford" (Richard Jefferson was the ship's master). The ship originated in Rotterdam, stopping at Portsmouth, destination Philadelphia. Oath of allegiance was taken by the Spessert/Spessard family on 14 Sept 1751. The family lived in the rich farming area of Lancaster, PA. Michael's mother died there in 1754 and his father a year later in 1755. He most likely was then raised by relatives. In about 1775, he married Christiana Waltz in Lancaster, PA. Shortly thereafter, he served as a Revolutionary war soldier, serving at Fort Frederick 1778 under Captain John Kershner. (Archives of Maryland, Vol 18, page 328, in the "Muster Rolls and other records of service of Maryland troops in the American Revolution, 1775-1783" the name Michael Spesser is mentioned as a private of Captain John Kershner's company guarding the prisoners of war at Fort Frederick, June 27, 1778. Also: Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots, Vol.4,). Michael and Christiana would have six children: David (1778); Peter (1779); Maria C (1780); Maria E. (1781); John (1791) and Chrissteanna (1796). Most of the children appear to have been born in Washington County, Maryland, where Michael continued his occupation as a farmer.
The name Spessard means "Woods of the Woodpeckers".
WILL OF MICHAEL SPESSARD:
His will is on record in the County Court house at Hagerstown, which reads as follows:
"In the name of God, Amen. I, Michael Spesart of Washington County and state of Maryland, being sick and weak, in body, but of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding; in considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof, and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs, thereby being the better prepared to leave this world when it shall please God to call me hence due, therefore make and publish this my last will and testimony in the manner and form following that is to say:
FIRST: and properly I commit my soul into the hands of Almighty God, and my body to the earth to be decently buried at the direction of my executor hereinafter named; and after my debts and funeral charges are paid, I devise and bequeath as follows:
I give and bequeath unto my wife, Christiena, during her natural life all my right claim and demands of all the rent due me and my son John, situate in Washington County and state aforesaid, the said Christiena is to have all my right and demand of my part of grain becoming due me agreeably to an agreement made between me and my son John of the 25th day of March, 1824, that one-fourth of all the grain which may be raised on the aforesaid farm, of wheat, rye, corn, oats and as much hay as is necessary for food for her cows' pasturage for two cows, fire wood halled to the dwelling of the said Christiena, and a log house situated on the aforesaid land, the stable attached to this house and the garden adjoining the said house and one-fourt of the said grain the said John may withold.
I give and devise unto my son John Spesart, his heirs and assigns forever after the death of my wife Christiena all my undivided part of land situate lying and being in Washington County and state of Maryland, bound as follows; on the north by William Fitchew, on the east by Jacob Thomas and Michael Thomas, on the south by Gabriel Billmire and Joseph Woolf, on the west by John Stotler and Joseph Biggum, containing in all 239 acres of land more or less for which the said John is to pay two thousand seven hundred dollars current money to be paid to my executor in three annual equal payments commencing one year after the death of my wife, Christiena, the first payment to be paid over unto Elizabeth Rummek (?), the second payment to be paid over unto my daughter Mariah Weaver, wife of Michael Weaver and the last to my daughter Christiena Steritt, wife of James Steritt, their heirs and assigns safe without interest. Provided the said John Spesart is not willing to pay $2,700 for all aforesaid land, the land shall be sold and the said John shall fall equal heir with my three daughters, aforesaid and sahall be divided between him and three daughters share and share alike, the said John shall be entitled to the first payment to his amount.
And lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my son Peter Spesart to be sole executor of my last will and testimony, revoking and annuling all former wills by me heretofore made, ratifying and confirming this and none other to be my last will and testimony. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my name and affixed my seal this 26th day of April, 1825.
Michael Spesart (In German) (seal)
Signed, sealed, and published and declared by Michael Spesart the above named testator as and for his last will and testimony in the presence of us who at his request, in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto: Christian Stouffer (in German), Jacob Rohrer, Joshua Williams (his mark "X" )".
The name Spessard means "Woods of the Woodpeckers".
WILL OF MICHAEL SPESSARD:
His will is on record in the County Court house at Hagerstown, which reads as follows:
"In the name of God, Amen. I, Michael Spesart of Washington County and state of Maryland, being sick and weak, in body, but of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding; in considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof, and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs, thereby being the better prepared to leave this world when it shall please God to call me hence due, therefore make and publish this my last will and testimony in the manner and form following that is to say:
FIRST: and properly I commit my soul into the hands of Almighty God, and my body to the earth to be decently buried at the direction of my executor hereinafter named; and after my debts and funeral charges are paid, I devise and bequeath as follows:
I give and bequeath unto my wife, Christiena, during her natural life all my right claim and demands of all the rent due me and my son John, situate in Washington County and state aforesaid, the said Christiena is to have all my right and demand of my part of grain becoming due me agreeably to an agreement made between me and my son John of the 25th day of March, 1824, that one-fourth of all the grain which may be raised on the aforesaid farm, of wheat, rye, corn, oats and as much hay as is necessary for food for her cows' pasturage for two cows, fire wood halled to the dwelling of the said Christiena, and a log house situated on the aforesaid land, the stable attached to this house and the garden adjoining the said house and one-fourt of the said grain the said John may withold.
I give and devise unto my son John Spesart, his heirs and assigns forever after the death of my wife Christiena all my undivided part of land situate lying and being in Washington County and state of Maryland, bound as follows; on the north by William Fitchew, on the east by Jacob Thomas and Michael Thomas, on the south by Gabriel Billmire and Joseph Woolf, on the west by John Stotler and Joseph Biggum, containing in all 239 acres of land more or less for which the said John is to pay two thousand seven hundred dollars current money to be paid to my executor in three annual equal payments commencing one year after the death of my wife, Christiena, the first payment to be paid over unto Elizabeth Rummek (?), the second payment to be paid over unto my daughter Mariah Weaver, wife of Michael Weaver and the last to my daughter Christiena Steritt, wife of James Steritt, their heirs and assigns safe without interest. Provided the said John Spesart is not willing to pay $2,700 for all aforesaid land, the land shall be sold and the said John shall fall equal heir with my three daughters, aforesaid and sahall be divided between him and three daughters share and share alike, the said John shall be entitled to the first payment to his amount.
And lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my son Peter Spesart to be sole executor of my last will and testimony, revoking and annuling all former wills by me heretofore made, ratifying and confirming this and none other to be my last will and testimony. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my name and affixed my seal this 26th day of April, 1825.
Michael Spesart (In German) (seal)
Signed, sealed, and published and declared by Michael Spesart the above named testator as and for his last will and testimony in the presence of us who at his request, in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto: Christian Stouffer (in German), Jacob Rohrer, Joshua Williams (his mark "X" )".
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