Thomas Spalding (1774 - 1851)

Born 24 Mar 1774 in Saint Simons Island, Glynn, Province of Georgia

Husband of Sarah (Leake) Spalding — married 5 Nov 1795 in Georgia, United States

Descendants

Died 4 Jan 1851 at age 76 in Darien, McIntosh, Georgia, United States

Biography

Thomas Spalding was born on March 24, 1774 in Saint Simons Island, Glynn, Province of Georgia. He was the only child of James Spalding and Majory McIntosh.

Thomas served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1794–1795. He also served as a member of the United States House of Representatives representing Georgia from December 24, 1805 – November 1806.^[1]

Thomas (21) married Sarah Leake (16) (born in 1778 in Georgia) on November 5, 1795 in Georgia.

In 1802, Thomas sold his plantation on St. Simons Island that he had inherited after the death of his father. He then purchased land on Sapelo Island to develop a plantation on the island. His mansion on the south end of the island was known as the South End House, and it was completed in 1810. Thomas cultivated a wide variety of crops on his plantation in Sapelo Island, and was one of the largest producers of Sea Island Cotton. He was also responsible for introducing sugarcane cultivation to Georgia in 1805. ^[2] Thomas thought that agricultural pursuits "held the secret to the happy and the useful life." He believed that the "task of working improvement on the earth, is much more delightful to an undebauched mind than all the vain glory which can be acquired by ravaging it by the most uninterrupted career of conquest."^[3]

Thomas had a large number of slaves on his Sapelo Island Plantation. An enslaved man, Bilali Muhammad, was the overseer of all of Thomas's land holdings, and was considered "second-in-command". Thomas also put Bilali in charge of protecting his property during the War of 1812.^[4][5] In 1820, he was recorded as having 350 slaves.^[6] In 1830, the number of slaves increased to 400.^[7] By 1840, he had 348 slaves^[8], and 293 by 1850.^[9]

Thomas died on January 4, 1851 in Darien, McIntosh, Georgia, United States, aged 76.^[10] His will, written on June 25, 1848, states that he owns 250 slaves, and mentions three by name: Sandy, Gibbs, and Lee.^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Spalding
2. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Spalding
3. ↑ Coulter, E. Melton. Thomas Spalding of Sapelo. Louisiana State University Press, 1940, page 54.
4. ↑ http://www.glynngen.com/history/sapelo/enslaved.html
5. ↑ https://www.clanspalding.org/new-page-1
6. ↑ * 1820 Census: "1820 United States Federal Census"
   Fourth Census of the United States, 1820; Census Place: McIntosh, Georgia; Page: 31; NARA Roll: M33_9; Image: 53
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7734 #1480113 (accessed 17 March 2024)
   Thomas Spaulding in McIntosh, Georgia, USA.
7. ↑ * 1830 Census: "1830 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1830; Census Place: District 21, McIntosh, Georgia; Series: M19; Roll: 19; Page: 126; Family History Library Film: 0007039
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8058 #1851803 (accessed 17 March 2024)
   Thomas Spalding in District 21, McIntosh, Georgia.
8. ↑ * 1840 Census: "1840 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1840; Census Place: Davison, Mcintosh, Georgia; Roll: 46; Page: 86; Family History Library Film: 0007045
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8057 #3649122 (accessed 17 March 2024)
   Thomas Spalding in Davison, Mcintosh, Georgia.
9. ↑ * Slave Schedule: "1850 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules"
   The National Archive in Washington Dc; Washington, DC; NARA Microform Publication: M432; Title: Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8055 #92540557 (accessed 17 March 2024)
   Thomas Spalding, slave owner of 293 enslaved people, in 1850 in District 271, McIntosh, Georgia, USA.
10. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10876554/thomas-spalding
11. ↑ * Will: "Georgia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1742-1992"
    Wills of McIntosh County (Georgia) 1873-1915; Author: Georgia. Court of Ordinary (McIntosh County); Probate Place: McIntosh, Georgia
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8635 #331497 (accessed 17 March 2024)
    Will of Thomas Spaulding of Sapelo Island, Georgia, granted probate on 22 Feb 1888.

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 12 January 2023, 07:07), entry for Thomas Spalding (PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:KHXH-4YC ); contributed by various users.