Transcription of a handwritten document written in ink by Mary Spinks Stephens

Transcribed by Albert H. Spinks April 2000

[Notes by AHS: Aunt Mary is a little off in some of the dates. The way the document is written, I beleive Aunt Mary wrote it for her neice, Mary Frances Wilkerson, married to Robert A. Kettle.]

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Facts to Establish

History of Spinks Family, U. S. A.

by Mrs. Brice Stephens “Aunt Mary”

Lineage:

Mary Frances Wilkerson (Mrs. Robert Arthur Kettle), daughter of:

Margaret Spinks Wilkerson (1893) and Vernon C. Wilkerson (1892)

Margaret Spinks Wilkerson, daughter of

Albert Hunter Spinks I (1857- ) and Undine Brame Spinks (1863-1934)

Albert Hunter Spinks I son of

Peter E. Spinks (1820-1904), and Elizabeth Lloyd Spinks

[Note by AHS: Gravestone for Peter E. Spinks states that he was born June 19, 1821; died May 3, 1906]

Peter E. Spinks, son of

John Spinks (1785-1861) and Margaret Kelly (1796-1853) (daughter of Peter Kelly)

John Spinks, son of

John Presley Spinks, “who in the first Federal Census of 1790 had in family in Edgecombe County, N. C. one son over 16 three under 16, six white females, and possessed 4 slaves--above the average in his county. John’s wife, Margaret, born 1796, was daughter of Peter Kelly who in 1790 census was listed as head of family in Robeson County N. C., but with no wife nor children, four slaves completing the household. He was evidently making ready for the mother of Margaret at the time. It is likely that both John Presley and Peter did service in the Revolution” (This is copied from the record in library at Mississippi State College by Mr. Albert Love “Aunt Helen’s” relative who lives there.)

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The following is types on the back of the front page:

John Spinks born in NC., 1785, carpenter, planter, Baptist, 9 children, Married Margaret Kelly, (1796-1853) born S. C.

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The following record was found by Miss Emily Dickens, a personal friend of mine who lives in Meridian, Miss. She says:

1.

The earliest record I found of the Spinks family was in Gloucester County, Va. where the ?? Rent Rolls showed John Spinks as owner of 300 acres of land in that county. It appears that the Spinks family settled first in Va. then moved to N. C. about 1750 to 1760. (in pencil: Glaucester Co. formed in 1651 from York Co., county seat, Gloucester)

2.

Edgecombe County N. C. Order Book:

A deed of sale from Presley Spinks to Johathan Joiner acknowledged at Court May 27, 1794.

Presley Spinks, guardian of Sally Stewert returned an account of his stewardship which was acknwledged Court 27 Nov. 1794.

In the Loyal Militia of N. C. in Randolph Co. John Spinks Vol. 14, pp. 519. A Report signed, “Yours from Spinks”. [Note by AHS: The Randolph Co. Spinkses and the Edgecomb Co. Spinkses were kin, but this John Spinks is not of the Presley Spinks line. There are similar names in the two lines; easy to confuse.]

3.

In N. C.. Revolutionary Acct. book Vol. 6, page 3, Folio 1, John Spinks was paid 10 pounds for sundries furnished the militia.

In Vol. 10 p. 108 Folio I, Rawleigh Spinks

The above shows John + Rawleigh either furnished supplies for the Revolutionary Army, or were soldiers.

4.

Owen’s history of Alabama p. 936 states that John Spinks (1785-1861) was one of a committee appointed by the legislature, Dec. 6, 1820 to fix upon a site for a permanent seat of justice. Linden was chosen the Co. site (?) of Marengo Co., Ala.

(Miss Emma gave me the above.)

5.

Memoirs of Mississippi Vol. 2, p. 813 is a sketch concerning Dr. John C. Spinks of Shubuta, Miss., who is referred to as “Son of John Spinks of N.C., son of Presley Spinks”. In the same book is a sketch of his brother, Dr. Enoch E. Spinks of Meridian, Miss. (I remember both of these as Uncle John, and Uncle Enoch who used to visit “grandpa” (Peter) (their brother) when I was a child.)

6.

Following is a list of the children in the family of John Spinks (1785-1861), Edgecombe Co. N. C. and Margaret Kelly (1796-1853) (Five of these I remember quite well, including my grandfather, Peter, who lived with us when I was a child.)

Copied from the Family Bible:

Mary E. Spinks-born Nov. 7, 1819-married twice- (1) Stephen Jones; (2) Geo. Gardener.

Peter E. Spinks-born June 11, 1821-married Elizabeth Lloyd

Presley N. Spinks-born Mch 17, 1823-married Ann Mosley-2 sons, Mose, Wallace.

Jane C. Spinks-born Sep. 30, 1824-married (1) Dr. Jones, (2) Moseley

Margaret A. Spinks-born Aug. 10, 1826-married Chas. Hale

Sarah M. Spinks-born Sep. 7, 1828--married Jones

John C. Spinks-born Aug. 29, 1831-married Laura Hand (settled in Shubuta)

Raleigh W. Spinks-born May 11, 1833-married ??

Enoch Ephriam Spinks-born Oct. 7, 1855--married (1) Hall; (2) Garner

[Note by AHS: First wife is not Hall but is Charlotte Ball]

John and Margaret married in Alabama about 1818, and lived in Marengo Co. until 1834, according to record in genealogy in Library at Miss. State College. They eventually came to Mississippi as is described in enclosed clipping by Col. Jim Walton.

(The Following was told to me by my father, A. H. Spinks, grandson of John & Margaret}

They settled in Southwest beat of Kemper County, and built the first 2-story house in Kemper Co., in Township 9, Range 15, about 20 miles (more or less) north of Meridian on a stage-coach road. The place is known now (1941) as the Wilkerson place (house of W. H. Wilkerson). The house was 1 1/2 stories high, with hewn sills” and wooden “draw pegs”. Peter, his oldest son, stood on his head on the comb of the house when it was finished to celebrate its completion. John & Margaret planted the 1st orchard that was in the surrounding country. The place was noted for a big “boiling spring” down the hill in front of house.

John Spinks (26 DEC 1785-28 AUG 1861) was English, weighted about 170 pounds, had gray whiskers, blue eyes, full of fun and jokes. He owned several slaves, a lot of cattle, horses, and mules. One day his horses were out, and went to a neighbor’s house. The neighbor tied dry-cow-hides to their tails to frighten them away. Of course the horses wnet home in an owful hurry, “scared to death”. John kept the cow hides and said nothing. When his neighbor’s horses came to his house he tied them on their tails, and sent them back home. When he saw the neighbor, he asked, “Did you get your cow hides?”

John and Margaret were members of Blackwater Baptist Church at first, then later joined at Liberty where they are buried.

7.

Peter Early Spinks (1821-1904) was the son of John and Margaret Spinks (above). He married Elizabeth (“Lizzie”) Lloyd, daughter of John Emery Lloyd and Olive Spinks Lloyd, who lived 4 miles north of John and Margaret, above the Joe Ross home, west of Liberty Church, and who also were members of Liberty Church. (John Emery Lloyd and one of his 2 wives are buried at Liberty).

[Note by AHS: Olive Spinks Lloyd is buried at Liberty]

To Peter and “Lizzie” were born 9 children:

John Presley, who married Emma Granberry.

William, who died in infancy.

Raleigh (Your “Aunt Ollie Mae’s” father) and Mary Olive, twins; Raleigh married Barbara Davis and Mary Olive married Mr. Hudson.

Margaret (“Mag”) who married G. G. Gay.

Albert Hunter (“Ab”) and Sara Ann (“Tad”), twins. Albert Hunter married Undine Brame. “Tad” married J. Cobb Temple.

Ida, who married John Henry Brame, brother to Undine.

Carrie, who married Lee H. Hamilton.

(My grandmother Spinks had 2 sets of twins, 5 children in 4 years!!)

Ages of Peter’s and “Lizzie’s” children:

John Presley Spinks born 1848

William Spinks born 1850 died 1852

Raeigh Spinks born 1853 married about 1879 died June 1901

Mary Olive Spinks born 1853 married about 1892 died in childbirth

Margaret “Mag” Spinks born 1855 (?) married g. g. gay died about 1893 in childbirth.

Albert Hunter Spinks I--March 6, 1857 married Undine Brame 8-15-1882 (He is 90 years old now, Nov. 1947.)

[Note by AHS: Sarah Ann Spinks “Tad” who was twin to Albert Hunter Spinks I should have been included here.]

Ida Spinks born July 1859 (?) married John Henry Brame

Carrie Spinks born 1863, married Lee Hamilton, died 1945 (?)

Peter and “Lizzie” built their first home “in the hills”, a 1 1/2 story house, made of logs, located about 1 mile south of John (the father). When the house was in construction (winter), Peter sent a darkey (slave) over to build a fire to “warm up”. A pack of wolves chased the negro and his dog. They “fled for their lives”. The negro climbed the framing of the house for refuge, and yelled for help. Peter, and the others came and ran the wolves away.

Down a steep hill nearby the house was a big “gum” tree at the foot of which was a waterspring which furnished the household water.

Peter owned about 4 slaves, two of which were named “Clark” and “Lila”. These were bought before the Civil War (of course), with gold borrowed from Ham Ratcliff, a bachelor north of Lockhart who loaned money at about 10% interest. When Peter was in the Confederate Army, Lizzie & the negroes made the living for her family on their small farm. The “colored folks loved Miss Lizzie and dem chilluns”, and stood ready to protect the family through any difficulty. They buried their lard-cans & their hams out in the back yard, and “fed the chickens over it” to keep Yankee soldiers from taking it away from them.

Lizzie carried on all the business while Peter was away. She even rode horse-back all the way to Lockhart to pay Mr. Ratcliff for the borrowed gold. But it was Confederate money she had, and he refused to accept it. After The War was over and the negros were set free, Albert Hunter I (“Ab”), Peter’s son, carried the money in “Federal Greenback” and paid Mr. Ratcliff.

Peter called the Civil War the Un-Civil War. He was a member of the Cavalry. At the surrender he was “somewhere” in N. C., and made his way home on “old Hogan”, his war horse.

Reconstruction days were hard times to Peter, Lizzie, and their family of small children. Peter told of many experiences of hardship and privation, among which was making saucers and plates from gourds, and of beating corn into meal by the “pestle-mortor” method. The pestle was operated by being fastened to a water wheel in the creek. One morning the boys went to get the meal and found a coon beaten to pieces in their meal.