I am looking for my early Spence ancestors from the Orkneys. They are as follows: 1. William Spence b say 1720, m Janet Alleine b say 1725, prob. Orkney Isl 2. Magnus Spence, Sr, b 1755 Birsey, Pomona, Orkney Isl, d 1845 Red River Settlement, Hudson Bay Co, Canada, m Christiana (fullblood Cree) b abt 1770 3. John Spence b 1793 Canada m Jane Taite A professional researcher examined the Old Parish Records located in Edinburgh in 1980 and came up with an 8 generation genealogy of the early Spences of the Orkneys. The earliest of these were as follows: 1. Magnus Spence b pos. 1640, lived in Orkney Isl. 2. John Spence I b 1669 Stromness, Pomona, m Jean Clouston 3. Peter Spence b 1700 Stromness, m 12/7/1725 Helen Moar 4. William Spence b pos abt 1725 Orkney Isl - He had brothers Thomas and Magnus (or Magness). There is a James Spence b abt 1753 in Birsey who also joined the Hudson Bay Co, and could be a brother of my Magnus Spence. I am wondering if the two William Spences above could be the same. Does anyone know more about these early Spences. Gordon W. Pace siriuspace@aol.com