Hi, I went to my library and found a few things in Surry Co. NC books. Nothing earth shattering. Luckily Surry County NC has been active in getting their information in book form. I wish Ashe & Alleghany had..... Deed book F 3-1-1787 Elijah Kirkman to Aaron Moore 250 acres on waters of Beaver Creek adjoining Gilbert Keen, Thomas Spence, and Josiah Keen. Wit. David Spence & Thomas Spence. 11-26-1787 William T. Lewis, heir at law of Micajah Lewis, deceased to Laughlin McAlyea 200 acres Deep Creek adjoining David Martin. Wit. Thomas Spence and Thomas Johnson 7-22-1785 John Cain to William McAlyea 200 acres head of Cobb Creek. Wit. Richard Jacks, John Persons and David Spence. 8-30-1793 Laughlin McAlyea to David Taylor on waters of Deep Creek adj. Nathan Haines, formerly David Martins. Wit. David Spence and Hugh McAlyea. 9-26-1789 Gilbert Keen to Abraham Downey 200 acres Beaver Dam Creek adj. Josiah Keen and Zeno Baldwin. 8-1-1793 William Sparks Jr. to Hugh McAlyea 100 acres Rich Nob one of the Brushy Mountains granted Sparks 8-9-1787 adj. his survey. Wit. David Spence and Jeremiah Sparks. 5-18-1789 NC Grant David Spence 200 acres Fall Creek between Fox Knob and Brushy Mountain including Nathaniel Morrison's old improvement and adj. William T. Lewis. 1793 Deed from John Cain to William McAlyea proved by David Spence. Deed from William T. Lewis to Laughlin McAlyea proved by Thomas Spence. Deed registered 2-14-1805 Deed from Thomas Spence to Daniel Dejarnette was proved by the oath of David Cook and ordered registered. ************************************ Here let me comment that it appears that Thomas and David Spence moved with the movers and shakers of the county at the time. William T. Lewis was involved in the big Surry County court case in regards to the Ridge Tory incident. Zenos Baldwin and Gilbert Keen, I have discussed before, and let's not forget that we have a Keen family with an older lady with the surname of Spence living in Tazewell Co VA . What is confusing is the presence of the McAlyeas in relation to these Spences. I do not think this David Spence mentioned in ALL these deeds is the same person.... We know that there was a David Spence of the Paquotank line who lived in Wilkes County NC, and this IS the area of Surry County that became Wilkes County. I also think that we may be dealing with 2 Thomas Spences' also, both in the county at the same time. Surry Tax Lists 1790 Captain Benge's District Thomas Spence 400 acres 1 poll John Spence 100 acres 1 poll David Spence 200 acres 1 poll 1791 Thomas Spence 300 acres 1 poll David Spence 0 acres 1 poll John Spence 0 acres 1 poll 1792 Thomas 320 acres 1 poll John 150 acres 1 poll David 110 acres 1 poll William 0 acres 1 poll 1793 Thomas 370 acres 1 poll David 110 acres 1 poll William 0 acres 1 poll John 150 acres 1 poll 1794 Thomas 370 acres 1 poll William 0 acres 1 poll John 0 acres 1 poll 1795 Hudspeth's District John Spence 0 acres 1 poll Wilborn's District Thomas Spence 400 acres 1 poll William Spence 100 acres 1 poll 1796 Wilborn's District Thomas Spencer 400 acres 1 poll John Spencer 250 acres 1 poll 2 slaves 1797 Wilborn's Dist. John Spencer 250 acres 1 poll 3 slaves Thomas Spence 400 acres 1 poll * notice that from here on out that John was listed as a SpenceR and Thomas was a Spence. 1798 Wilborn's Dist. John Spencer 250 acres 1 poll 3 slaves Thomas Spence 418 acres 0 polls * this indicates that Thomas turned 65 yrs. and was exempt from tax. Born ca. 1733 ???? 1799 Wilborn's Dist. John Spencer 250 acres 1 poll 3 slaves Thomas Spence 378 acres 0 polls 1800 Wilborn's Dist. John Spencer 250 acres 2 polls 3 slaves Thomas Spence 354 acres 0 polls ************* These tax lists are in alpha order so they do not indicate who lived beside whom. But Wilborn's District was a rather small district. ************* Court minutes 1782 Thomas Spence ordered to serve as juror 1786 Thomas Spence ordered to serve as juror 5-19-1787 Thomas Spence on the Grand Jury 2-14-1787 Thomas Spence ordered overseer of the road from near his house to Gideon Woodruff's house. * (The Woodruff's moved from Surry to Ashe County NC.) Other neighbors near Thomas were Parsons, Hudspeth, Petty and McElmore. 5-19-1787 appointed juror . 8-16-1787 appointed juror. 5-16-1789 appointed juror to court at Richmond. * ( This isn't Richmond VA. It was a small town in Surry County NC.) John Spence was appointed a juror on 2-13-1801 At court on 5-12-1801 John was absent and fined n.i.s.i. 1791 Thomas Spence sues a neighbor Rueben Shores. no reason given in book. **************** 1781 Deposition, Thomas Spence taken before Wm. Terrell Lewis; it being Last Will and Testament. * ( I really need to turn the courthouse inside out on this one ! ) 5-14-1801 Administration on the estate of Thomas Spence deceased is granted to LUCY SPENCE widow, of said decedant, who entered into bond with William Richards security in the sum of 200 , for her faithful performance performance as administrix and qualified according to law. On motion ordered that William Cook esquire, Daniel Cockram, Moses Woodrough and David Cook be appointed to lott off for one years support to the widow agreeable to act of assembly. 11-10-1801 Agreeable to an order of court directed, we met agreeable to appointment at the house of Lucy Spence widow of Thomas Spence deceased, after being duly sworn apportioned and appoint to the said Lucy Spencer widow of the said Thomas the whole crop, a red horned cow, and calf, and speckled heifer, five two year old hoggs, and one year old, and one choice of sheep, two sides of sole leather, and two small hides or sides for upper leather, and two bushels of salt, with all wool and flax now in the house, to which agreement we have set our hands and seals this 10th day of September 1801. 5-11-1803 An amount of a settlement of the estate of Thomas Spence deceased with Lucy Spence widow of said deceased was returned signed by three commissioners and ordered to be recorded. William Cook , Esquire to see. The comr appointed to settle with the widow Spence and lott off to the widow her third of the land and other property made their report wherein they say the administrix is endebted the sum of 57:12:9 and say they proceeded to lott off to the widow the third of the land which they find to be (total) 350 acres. Ordered to be recorded. William Cook, Esquire, to see. 2/pd to J.W. An amount of a settlement of the estate of William Cook deceased made with Samuel Cook executor was returned and ordered to be recorded. * ( Same day ! ) 2-16-1803 A deed from Thomas Spence to Francis Jenkins was proved to court by oath of William Downey. 8-12-1811 Ordered by the court that PETER SPENCE, orphan boy aged 11 years the 1st day of September next, be bound unto John Spencer until he arrives at the age of 21 years the said Spencer agrees to learn the said Peter the art & mystery of a farmer and agrees to learn him to read, write and cypher as fare as the rule of three inclusive. He also agrees to give him two good suits of home made clothes and a horse worth ten pounds at his freedom. * ( This is probably the Peter Spence later found in Ashe County NC.) Peter is 11 so he was born about 1800 ???? Later, Carolyn