Francis Spry (1685 - bef. 1741)

Born 1685 in Talbot, Maryland

Husband of Rebecca (Unknown) Wharton — married before 1713 in Talbot, Maryland

Descendants

Died before 20 Nov 1741 before age 56 in Queen Anne's, Maryland

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Biography

Francis was born about 1685 in Talbot County, Maryland. He was the son of Christopher Spry and Mary Brinson.^[1]

He married Rebecca (N) about 1712. They had eleven children. They were:^[1]

1. Elizabeth, b. 1713 and m. John Hartshorne 19 Nov 1733 (St. Luke's Parish, Queen Anne's County, p. 39). Hartshorne was b. 1704 and d. after 1750.
2. Christopher, b. 1715, m. Mary Wells 17 Apr 1735.^[2]
3. Rebecca, b 1716, m. James Sutton 9 Feb 1734 (St. Luke's Parish, Queen Anne's County, p. 40).
4. Francis, b. 1717, m. Elizabeth Hacket 30 Dec 1736, d. by May 1767.
5. Joseph b. 1718, alive in 1759.
6. William, b. 1719, m. Ruth McConniken 17 Dec 1743.
7. John, b. 1720, m. Mary Massey 11 Oct 1744, daughter of James and Rachel. She was named as daughter Mary wife of John Spry in the will, made 16 May 1755, of James Massey of Queen Anne's County.^[3]
8. Jane, b. 1722; m. James Massey 27 Aug 1743, son of James and Rachel.
9. Thomas, b. 1724, m. Catherine Wells 24 Dec 1747.^[4]
10. Sarah, b. 1726, m. James Knotts, Jr. 1 Aug 1745.
11. Elizabeth, b. 1728, m. Benjamin Harris by 1756

On 23 November 1716 Richard Tilghman conveyed 170 acres part Friendship to Francis Spry.^[1][5] Spry patented two tracts of land in Queen Anne's County for himself: 150 acres called Srpy's Adventure, patented 1 May 1724,^[1][6] and 200 acres, Friendship, patented on 11 September1728.^[1][7]

Francis died and was buried 20 November 1741 in Queen Anne's County, Maryland.^[8] He left a will dated 17 January 1740, proved 23 November 1741. He named his wife Rebecca, sons Francis and Joseph (to have Spry's Adventure), sons John and Thomas (to have 140 acres of Friendship), son Christopher (to have 70 acres of Friendship), son William, daughters Elizabeth Hartshorne, Rebecca Sutton, Jane, Sarah, and Elizabeth. The will names two daughters Elizabeth: one Hartshorne and one Spry. James Massy, Benjamin Coventon, and Davenport Wells witnessed the will.^[1][9]

His personal estate was appraised on 3 February 1741 by James Brown and William Scott at a value of 261.8.8 pounds. Caleb Esgatte and Francis Rochester signed as creditors, while Francis Spry and Elizabeth Hartshorne signed as next of kin. Rebecca, John and William Spry filed the inventory on 6 May 1741.^[1][10]

After his death, his wife Rebecca married Robert Wharton. She died by 4 August 1755 when her estate was inventoried by William Pryor and Benjamin Gould and appraised at 49.3.7 pounds. Joseph Sprey (sic) and C. Comegys signed as creditors and Frances Spry and William Spry signed as next of kin. Christopher Spry filed the inventory on 23 October 1755.^[1][11]

On 29 August 1759 her estate was distributed by Christopher Spry, administrator. Equal shares were paid to her six sons and five daughters: Elizabeth Hartshorne, Christopher the accountant, Francis Spry, Rebecca Sutton, John Spry, Thomas Spry, William Spry, Joseph Spry, Jane Massey, Sarah Knotts, and Elizabeth Harris. The distribution names two daughters Elizabeth: one Hartshorne and one Harris.^[1][12]

Research Notes

Removed Mary (Scotten) Spry as daughter of Francis Spry. She was not named in Francis Spry's will in 1741, but was named in her husband Richard Scotten's will in 1747. Christopher Spry (Francis' father) named a daughter Mary in his will dated 4 Aug 1706. It is more likely she was the daughter Mary named in Christopher's will. She would have married at about age 28, later than typical, and she would have been married almost 20 years by the time her husband died in 1747. And yet she and Richard had only three children named in the will. This could be explained by her marrying at an older age.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8} "Maryland Genealogical Society Bulletin," Volume 37, Number 2, Spring 1996, entry for Francis Spry, reference ID 2, pp. 188-189.
2. ↑ "Delaware Vital Records, 1650-1974," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q215-FP68 : 18 May 2021), Francis in entry for Christopher Spry, 17 Apr 1735; citing Marriage, Delaware, British Colonial America, Delaware Public Archives, Dover; FHL microfilm .
3. ↑ "Maryland Will Book," 30:743.
4. ↑ "St. Luke's Parish Register, Queen Anne's County," page 53, last line.
5. ↑ "Queen Anne's County Land Records," RTA:517.
6. ↑ "Maryland Patent Liber," PL#6:49; IL#A:233.
7. ↑ Maryland Patent Liber," PL#7:189; IL#B:154.
8. ↑ "Maryland Deaths, 1666-1970," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3G-9QGB-M), entry for Francis Spry, 20 Nov 1741; citing Burial, Queen Anne's, Maryland, file 007836326, image 162, bottom of page 62.
9. ↑ "Maryland Register of Wills Records, 1629-1999," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YMC-1H4 : 20 May 2014), entry for Francis Spry, 23 Nov 1741; citing Wills, Queen Anne's, Maryland, Wills 1734-1751 vol 1, image 98 of 237; Hall of Records, Annapolis.
10. ↑ "Maryland Register of Wills Records, 1629-1999," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYMC-46N : 20 May 2014), entry for Francis Spry, 3 Feb 1741; citing Inventories, Queen Anne's, Maryland, Inventories 1739-1747 vol 1, image 113 of 271; Hall of Records, Annapolis.
11. ↑ "Maryland Inventories," 61:74.
12. ↑ "Maryland Balances of Final Distributions," 2:131.