John Speed
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John Speed (abt. 1750 - 1806)

Lt. Col. John Speed
Born about in Salem, Salem County, Virginia Colonymap
Ancestors ancestors
Husband of — married Jul 1774 (to 1789) in Cheraws District, North and South Carolinamap
Husband of — married about 1789 [location unknown]
Descendants descendants
Died at about age 56 in Richmond County, North Carolina, USAmap
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Profile last modified | Created 13 Sep 2010
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John Speed was a Virginia colonist.
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1776 Project
Captain John Speed served with Richmond County Regiment, North Carolina Militia during the American Revolution.
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John Speed is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A108097.
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Contents

Biography

He was born about 1750 in Salem County, Virginia and his parents were Mary Elizabeth (Wages) and William Terrell Speed.

During the American Revolutionary War he served as an officer (Captain & Lieutenant Colonel) in North Carolina militia. [1] He was wounded at the Battle of Stono Ferry on 20 June 1779 at James Island in the Stono River (about eight miles west of Charleston, South Carolina). [2]

About 1780 his father was captured and held as a prisoner of war in Camden, South Carolina where his death occurred. On 28 March 1782 the Probate Court of Richmond County, North Carolina ruled that he had died intestate, and assigned his widow Elizabeth and her then husband, Zack Martin, as the executors of his estate.

John SPEED first married in July 1774 in Cheraws District, Carolinas to Mrs. Catherine (STEWART) LITTLE (c1748-c1789), daughter of Elizabeth (MENZIES) and Patrick STEWART.

In 1778 he was listed as a vestryman of St.David’s Parish in Cheraw District, South Carolina (which was twenty miles south of Rockingham, Richmond County, North Carolina, USA).

In 1779 that part of Anson County east of the Pee Dee River was renamed Richmond County, North Carolina, USA. He was listed in numerous deeds in both those counties.

In 1786 John Speed was mentioned as having an unidentified debt in the probate records for the estate of Col. Thomas Wade (d: 10 Dec 1786). [3]

John SPEED married secondly married about 1789 to Elizabeth Vosburg.

On 21 April 1784, John Speed took a seat in the North Carolina General Assembly representing Richmond County.

He died of smallpox on 18 Feb 1806 [4] and was buried in Richmond County, North Carolina, USA.

His estate was administered by his son, James Stewart Speed. [5] [6]

m1 Children

  1. James Stuart=Stewart Speed, b: 16 Mar 1775 [7]
  2. Sarah "Sally" Speed, b: c1777; m: William Pegues
  3. Catherine Speed, b: c1779
  4. Martha Speed, b: c1781; m: Elihue Winborn.

m2 Children

  1. John Mack Speed, b: c1789
  2. Rebecca Speed, b: c1793
  3. Mary "Polly" Speed, b: c1796
  4. Elizabeth Speed, b: c1799
  5. Wages Ormand Speed, b: 05 Aug 1803
  6. Edward Bryant Speed, b: c1806.

Research Notes

The different spelling of the Stewart or Stuart name from time to time was the result of different political feelings toward Britain during this period.

Researchers have made 2 separate claims that his daughter, Sarah "Sally" Speed, either married William Pegues or John Granger Nix. Since both women were having children during the same years, one of them has to be wrong. Both property and estate records for John Speed mention William Pegues, indicating that his wife is the correct daughter of John Speed. Therefore the wrong profile was detached on 2023/03/14 ...

- Sarah (Speed) Pegues correct daughter
- Sarah (Speed) Nix wrong daughter.

Sources

  1. Revolutionary War Soldiers for NC & SC; on Carolana website
  2. “Return of the Killed, Wounded, and Missing in the Action of Stono Ferry, 20th June 1779” at North Carolina Archives; which mentioned Capt. Speed of the North Carolina Militia was listed as wounded; he served under Col. Thomas Crawford
  3. North Carolina, U.S., Wills and Probate Records 1665-1998 on ancestry.com citing North Carolina. Division of Archives and History in Raleigh, NC; Wills 1663-1978; Estate Papers 1772-1933; probate: Richmond County, NC; p88-90 estate & probate documents for Col. Thomas Wade, deceased
  4. Obituary published in "Raleigh Register" newspaper of North Carolina; Text: "Died in Richmond County, on the 18th ult. of the smallpox, Colonel John Speed, a respectable citizen, who has frequently represented that county in the General Assembly of this State."
  5. Probate records of Richmond County. North Carolina at North Carolina Archives
  6. Pleas and Quarter Sessions Court in October 1808 Richmond County, NC mentioned heirs of Colonel John Speed, deceased ...
    "James S. Speed,
    William Peques, in right of his wife Sarah (Sally),
    Elihue Winbourn, in right of his wife Catherine,
    William Michael in right of his wife Martha, who are of full age, and
    John M. Speed, Rebecca Speed, Polly Speed, Elizabeth Speed, Wages Speed,
    who are infant children, and of whom Elizabeth is guardian."
  7. Family bible with birth & death
  • 1790 USA Census of Fayette District, Richmond County, North Carolina
  • "Call of a Distant Drum" by Charles S. Speed; p15 cites Mrs.Catherine (Stewart) Little as John's first wife; p16 cites Elizabeth Vosberg as John's second wife.
  • Descendants of William & Col. John & William Terrel & Robert Wages Speed

* Ancestry.com Family Tree





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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with John by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. Y-chromosome DNA test-takers in his direct paternal line on WikiTree: It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with John:

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Comments: 3

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Please consider a merge of Speed-1238 and Speed-15. They have the same name, same spouse and same dates.
Please consider a merge of Speed-1238 and Speed-15. They have the same name, same spouse and same dates.
posted on Speed-1238 (merged) by Erin (English) English Bailey