Searching for a Stapleton Farm in the area. Dates back to 1880’s – 1930’s
Can any one help ? William Henry Stapleton 1846 married Elsie Bledsoe1870. Thier 6 children also lived and cared for this farm.
Is your smith line from that area of Virginia as well ?
My Great grandfather William Harvey Smith (1866-1962) was from around that area.
His father William B Smith (1826-1910) also was from Scott County.
My Grandfather Thomas Jefferson Smith was born in 1892
William B. Smith was my great great grandfather. His daughter Edna Smith Hood was my great grandmother. Her daughter Elvia Hood Sloan married my grandfather O.H. Sloan. The Smiths are buried in what we refer to as The Kingdom area of Duffield.
My grandfather’s family were the Head’s in Speers Ferry. His name was Worley Head and he moved to Idaho when young to herd sheep and help support his widowed mother. His father was James Patton Head and grandfather was Levi Head.
They lived on Copper Ridge near the Clinch river. The family moved to Kingsport later. Some of the family was buried on the land on the ridge and later moved to Kingsport Oak hill Cemetery. We visited family last year and there are a lot of Head’s buried in that cemetery. Haven’t found a Head cemetery in the area but Gilliam was a family name and there is a Gilliam cemetery. There are also gravestones on the old property but since its private land we did not walk there to investigate further. Did find an old rock chimney where there cabin was in the late 1800’s. Fascinating stuff.
Hi Lynne, I just saw this, I am looking for a James “SONNY’ Monroe Head who was the son of James and Elizabeth Ann lewis Head. he was suppose to have died in 1934 in Va. but so far have not found his burial place. I have all the info on the family, just curious where and when he died for sure. Cant find a death record for certain folks just keep telling me he died there. I do know the names you mention in your post, but they are not in my direct line of Heads.
I’m looking for the Speer’s Ferry area associated with Sarah sally Speer 1785-1864 and Silas Ingram-descendants of Joshua Speer 1755-1842 and Ruth Vandeveere. There was supposedly an Inn there ran from 1804-1842
Hello Kimberley,
I am also a descendant of Joshua. My maternal grandmother was born Julia Cloud Speer in 1894-6 (no birth certificate)She was the second daughter (Lou was the first child) of Robert Speer, Clinchport VA and Anis Calhoun.
I understand that the Civil War depleted the Speer family, financially. By the time my great grandfather was born there was little left. My grandmother’s mother died either with birthing her of a short time after. Robert Speer remarried quickly and had five more children. In the early 1900’s he moved the family to Montevilla district of Portland, OR.
I live south of Portland Oregon and would love to connect with someone with more info. I plan on traveling to Charlotte NC late summer and hoping on this trip to get to Virginia.
Shari,
Thank you for reaching out! I would love to hear what information you may have. I know there are half siblings of my grandmother Julia Speer somewhere in the Portland area.
Gregory,
Thank you for reaching out. The last Robert Speer was my great grandfather who moved his family from Clinchport to Portland Oregon in the early 1900’s.
May I ask what state your cemetery would be located? Definitely would like to share more should you believe we have this connection.
I am in Charlotte since three weeks ago having moved here from the Pacific NW. I sincerely hope to get to Virginia and see your area in the future. I will end some more info about our branch in due time.
Joshua Speer that started the Speers Ferry business was my great great great great grandfather. His son Asberry was my x3 great grandfather. Asberry’s son Hiram was my x2 great grandfather. Hiram’s son Claude was my great grandfather. Claude’s son Burley was my grandfather. There was a falling out within the Speer family in the late 1800’s and some changed their last name from Speer to Spear, and even a few to Spier. Later each of these names had an S placed at the end. Alot of the Speers ended up in Blackwater VA to farm, and the Spears mainly ended up in Wise County VA outside of Big Stone Gap VA in a community called Crackers Neck to farm. Some of those left Crackers Neck later to work in the coal mines and lived in the coal camps around Appalachia VA. Some of the Spears also went to the Nickelsville VA area. The roadside exhibit on US23 that is across from the Clinch River at the Copper Creek trestle or viaduct states Joshua’s name as Speers, but that is incorrect. It should only be Speer, no S. The only reason it has an S at the end is because it was a family business making it plural. Thus noting it as Speers Ferry, VA. It would be like making Smith to Smiths. Also, whoever created the roadside exhibit, whether it be Scott County or whoever, got it wrong. It should be changed from Speers on the exhibit information to Speer. Joshua’s name did not have an S at the end.
Just to clarify what I said about the roadside exhibit in the previous comment. The community is indeed Speers Ferry (with an S at the end). That part of the exhibit is absolutely correct. But there shouldn’t be an S at the end of Joshua’s last name when it speaks of him in the historical information. It is Speer, not Speers. Scott County should correct this and update the roadside exhibit with this correction.
I remember Preach Ervin Burke, he was pastor at Speers Ferry Church and was a Barber in the Town of Clinchport. His daughter Opal married Johnny Duncan from Robinette Valley.
Searching for a Stapleton Farm in the area. Dates back to 1880’s – 1930’s
Can any one help ? William Henry Stapleton 1846 married Elsie Bledsoe1870. Thier 6 children also lived and cared for this farm.
My grandm
Is your smith line from that area of Virginia as well ?
My Great grandfather William Harvey Smith (1866-1962) was from around that area.
His father William B Smith (1826-1910) also was from Scott County.
My Grandfather Thomas Jefferson Smith was born in 1892
William B. Smith was my great great grandfather. His daughter Edna Smith Hood was my great grandmother. Her daughter Elvia Hood Sloan married my grandfather O.H. Sloan. The Smiths are buried in what we refer to as The Kingdom area of Duffield.
Looking for a cemetery in Speers ferry by the name of Head. anyone know this cemetery.
Thanks
Sue
My grandfather’s family were the Head’s in Speers Ferry. His name was Worley Head and he moved to Idaho when young to herd sheep and help support his widowed mother. His father was James Patton Head and grandfather was Levi Head.
They lived on Copper Ridge near the Clinch river. The family moved to Kingsport later. Some of the family was buried on the land on the ridge and later moved to Kingsport Oak hill Cemetery. We visited family last year and there are a lot of Head’s buried in that cemetery. Haven’t found a Head cemetery in the area but Gilliam was a family name and there is a Gilliam cemetery. There are also gravestones on the old property but since its private land we did not walk there to investigate further. Did find an old rock chimney where there cabin was in the late 1800’s. Fascinating stuff.
Hi Lynne, I just saw this, I am looking for a James “SONNY’ Monroe Head who was the son of James and Elizabeth Ann lewis Head. he was suppose to have died in 1934 in Va. but so far have not found his burial place. I have all the info on the family, just curious where and when he died for sure. Cant find a death record for certain folks just keep telling me he died there. I do know the names you mention in your post, but they are not in my direct line of Heads.
Sue
geismt@msn.com
I’m looking for the Speer’s Ferry area associated with Sarah sally Speer 1785-1864 and Silas Ingram-descendants of Joshua Speer 1755-1842 and Ruth Vandeveere. There was supposedly an Inn there ran from 1804-1842
I am a Descendant of Joshua Speer too! Let me know what you find please! Thanks in Advance!
Hello Kimberley,
I am also a descendant of Joshua. My maternal grandmother was born Julia Cloud Speer in 1894-6 (no birth certificate)She was the second daughter (Lou was the first child) of Robert Speer, Clinchport VA and Anis Calhoun.
I understand that the Civil War depleted the Speer family, financially. By the time my great grandfather was born there was little left. My grandmother’s mother died either with birthing her of a short time after. Robert Speer remarried quickly and had five more children. In the early 1900’s he moved the family to Montevilla district of Portland, OR.
I live south of Portland Oregon and would love to connect with someone with more info. I plan on traveling to Charlotte NC late summer and hoping on this trip to get to Virginia.
Best,
Denise Molendyk
Hello I am 9f the Michael Speer- father of Silas Speer. I have information on that line. I am in Hermiston, Oregon.
Shari,
Thank you for reaching out! I would love to hear what information you may have. I know there are half siblings of my grandmother Julia Speer somewhere in the Portland area.
Love to chat more!!!
Denise
There is a Robert Speer buried in our family cemetery. Born 1787 and died 1890
Gregory,
Thank you for reaching out. The last Robert Speer was my great grandfather who moved his family from Clinchport to Portland Oregon in the early 1900’s.
May I ask what state your cemetery would be located? Definitely would like to share more should you believe we have this connection.
I am in Virginia about 3 miles from Speers Ferry.
I am in Charlotte since three weeks ago having moved here from the Pacific NW. I sincerely hope to get to Virginia and see your area in the future. I will end some more info about our branch in due time.
Thanks again, so much!
Denise
Joshua Speer that started the Speers Ferry business was my great great great great grandfather. His son Asberry was my x3 great grandfather. Asberry’s son Hiram was my x2 great grandfather. Hiram’s son Claude was my great grandfather. Claude’s son Burley was my grandfather. There was a falling out within the Speer family in the late 1800’s and some changed their last name from Speer to Spear, and even a few to Spier. Later each of these names had an S placed at the end. Alot of the Speers ended up in Blackwater VA to farm, and the Spears mainly ended up in Wise County VA outside of Big Stone Gap VA in a community called Crackers Neck to farm. Some of those left Crackers Neck later to work in the coal mines and lived in the coal camps around Appalachia VA. Some of the Spears also went to the Nickelsville VA area. The roadside exhibit on US23 that is across from the Clinch River at the Copper Creek trestle or viaduct states Joshua’s name as Speers, but that is incorrect. It should only be Speer, no S. The only reason it has an S at the end is because it was a family business making it plural. Thus noting it as Speers Ferry, VA. It would be like making Smith to Smiths. Also, whoever created the roadside exhibit, whether it be Scott County or whoever, got it wrong. It should be changed from Speers on the exhibit information to Speer. Joshua’s name did not have an S at the end.
Just to clarify what I said about the roadside exhibit in the previous comment. The community is indeed Speers Ferry (with an S at the end). That part of the exhibit is absolutely correct. But there shouldn’t be an S at the end of Joshua’s last name when it speaks of him in the historical information. It is Speer, not Speers. Scott County should correct this and update the roadside exhibit with this correction.
My daddy was from here. He was a Burk/Burke, Clarence. Does anyone from that Burk/Burke family still live here?
I remember Preach Ervin Burke, he was pastor at Speers Ferry Church and was a Barber in the Town of Clinchport. His daughter Opal married Johnny Duncan from Robinette Valley.