Born about 1792 in Sampson, North Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died before 1870 before about age 78 in Sampson, North Carolina, United States

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Biography

David Spell 1792–1870

• BIRTH 1792 • Sampson County, North Carolina
• DEATH BEF 1870 • Little Coharie Township, Sampson, North Carolina

David SPELL was born about 1792 in Sampson, North Carolina, United States. His date of birth is based on the 1850 Census. He is listed in the Will and probate papers of his father, Lewis Spell.

Parents

David Spell was the second of eight children of:

Lewis Spell Sr 1757–1811

• BIRTH 1757 • Edgecombe County, North Carolina
• DEATH BEF 30 MAR 1811 • Sampson County, North Carolina

and:

Moriah (Faircloth) Spell 1770–1807

• BIRTH 1770 • Sampson County, North Carolina
• DEATH 1807 • Sampson County, North Carolina

His mother died when he was 15 and his father died when he was 19. They are confirmed as his parents because he was listed in his father's Will and probate estate. His mother's maiden name has not been confirmed as her parents have not been identified.

Grandparents

Maternal Grandparents

His maternal grandparents have not been identified.

Many Family Trees incorrectly claim that his mother's parents were:

• John D Faircloth 1759–1820

and

• Catherina Holton 1760–1830

This is obviously not correct as her mother would have been age 10 and her father age 11 when she was born.

Paternal Grandparents

The paternal grandparents of David Spell were:

John Spell Sr 1734–1784

• BIRTH 1734 • North Carolina, North Carolina
• DEATH 7 OCT 1784 • Edgecombe County, North Carolina

and

Elizabeth (Benbo) Spell 1735–1784

• BIRTH 1735 • North Carolina
• DEATH AFTER 7 OCT 1784 • Edgecombe County, North Carolina

They died some six years before David Spell was born so he did not get the opportunity to meet them.

Spouse

David Spell married

Elizabeth "Betsy" (Dodd) Spell 1790–1870

• BIRTH ABT 1790 • Sampson County, North Carolina
• DEATH AFT 13 JUL 1870 • Little Coharie, Sampson, North Carolina

They were married before 7 August 1813 which was the date of the Will of her father, David Dodd. The Will refers to her as Elizabeth Spell so she was married when he wrote the Will.

Her parents were:

David Dodd 1754–1813

• BIRTH 1754 • Duplin County, North Carolina
• DEATH AFT 7 AUG 1813 • Sampson County, North Carolina

and

Elizabeth (Boykin) Dodd

• BIRTH Unknown
• DEATH North Carolina

David Dodd is a well documented Revolutionary War patriot and his descendants qualify for DAR and SAR membership.

Siblings

Census Reports

1840 Census

The 1840 Census for Sampson County,North Carolina lists the family of David and Betsey Spell and their four sons. They did not have any daughters.

• Name David Spell
• Home in 1840 Sampson, North Carolina

• One Male - 10 thru 14 [son - Wiley Dodd Spell b. 1826]
• Two Male - 15 thru 19 [sons - George Hardy Spell b. 1822 and Rev. Owen Spell b.1824]
• One Male - 20 thru 29 [son - James Spell b.1818]
• One Male - 40 thru 49 [David Spell]
• One Female - 40 thru 49 [Elizabeth "Betsy" (Dodd) Spell]

David Spell Family on the 1850 Census for Coharie Township, Sampson County North Carolina

The 1850 Census is being used to document his sons names who were living in dwellings near him. All four sons wereliving with their parents on the 1840 Census above. Three of his sons have their own households on the 1850 Census and the second oldest son was living with his parents.

Son - Owen Spell Dwelling #11

His third son, Owen Spell, was living in dwelling #11. He was age 26 and a farmer with Land valued at $500.

Rev. Owen Spell 1824–1907

• BIRTH 23 APR 1824 • Sampson County, North CarolinaH
• DEATH 11 FEB 1907 • Little Coharie Township, Sampson County, North Carolina

Owen married on 16 April 1846:

Rachel (Faircloth) Spell 1830–1878

• BIRTH 1 JUL 1830 • Little Coharie Township, Sampson County, North Carolina
• DEATH 31 AUG 1878 • Little Cohaire Township, Sampson County, North Carolina

She was the daughter of:

Arthur Faircloth 1796–1870

• BIRTH AFT 1796 • Sampson County, North Carolina
• DEATH BEF 1870 • Little Coharie Township, Sampson County, North Carolina

and:

Catherine (Hall) Faircloth 1794–1842

• BIRTH ABT 1794 • North Carolina
• DEATH AFT 30 JUL 1842 • Northern District, Sampson County, North Carolina

Rachel's mother died when she was 12 so her mother did not witness her marriage. Rachel was only 15 when she married almost 22 year old Owen Spell (she became 16 a month and a half later on 1 Jul 1846)

Rachael Faircloth's Father and Siblings lived nearby

Rachel's father, Arthur Faircloth 1796-1870, was living a few houses away from Owen and Rachel Spell (they were in dwelling #11) with Rachel's broher, Barnabus Faircloth and his second spouse in dwelling #22. Her brother, Jacob Faircloth, was living in dwelling #21. Her brother,Lillington Faircloth, was living in dwelling #23 and her brother, Isaiah Faircloth, was in dwelling #24.

Living so close to each other, the Spell and Faircloth Families were likely a tight knit community and could easily have maintained contact with each other. Their family Cemeteries were also nearby.

The 1850 household of Owen and Rachel Spell consisted of:

• Owen Spell 26
• Rachel Spell 20
• Lovi Spell 2 [son Love Spell]
• Wiley Spell 1 [son Wiley Dodd Spell named after his uncle who was living in dwelling #13]
• Margaret Faircloth 11 [Rachel's younger sister]

Son - James Spell Dwelling #12

Son - Wiley Dodd Spell Dwelling #13

David Spell Dwelling #14

1870 Census of spouse Betsey Spell

He passed away before 1870 in Sampson, North Carolina, as he is not listed on the 1870 Census, but his spouse, Betsy Spell is listed as living in the household of their son George Hardy Spell and his spouse, Molcy Mariah (McPhail) Spell

• Betsey Spell 84 [Mother of Hardy Spell]
• Hardy Spell 48 [son]
• Molcy Spell 45 [spouse of son]
• Moses Williams 45 [African-American - laborer on the farm]
• Franklin Spell 16 [son of Hardy and Molcy]
• Amma Spell 14 [daughter of Hardy and Molcy]
• Anna Spell 12 [daughter of Hardy and Molcy]
• Lott Spell 10 [son of Hardy and Molcy]

SPELL FAMLY CEMETERY

David Spell is the patriarch of all of the Spells buried at the Spell Family Cemetery at 5146 Dunn Road in Sampson County, North Carolina. The Cemetery is north of Autryville road on Dunn Road about halfway between Salemburg to the east and Autryville to the west. The Cemetery is likely on land that was once owned by David Spell.

The first Spell buried a the Cemetery was:

Mary "Polly" (Lucas) Spell 1825–1861

• BIRTH 1825 • Sampson County, North Carolina
• DEATH 1861 • Owensville, Little Coharie, Sampson County, North Carolina

She was the first spouse of David Spell's son:

Wiley Dodd Spell 1826–1893

• BIRTH 1826 • Sampson County, North Carolina
• DEATH BEF 22 APR 1893 • Little Coharie Township, Sampson County, North Carolina

David Spell was likely the second person buried in the cemetery: Find-a-Grave incorrectly lists his death as 5 Sep 1871. He was not on the 1870 Census and his spouse was living with their son Hardy Spell on the 1870 Census.

The third person buried at the cemetery was David Spell's spouse:

Elizabeth "Betsy" (Dodd) Spell 1790–1870

• BIRTH ABT 1790 • Sampson County, North Carolina
• DEATH AFT 13 JUL 1870 • Little Coharie, Sampson, North Carolina

Find-a-Grave does not have a photo of their graves so it is not known if there is a marker.

Sources

See also:

• "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHYJ-HYD : 17 August 2017), David Spells, Sampson, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 26, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 371; FHL microfilm 18,098.
• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4BJ-2K9 : 12 April 2016), David Spell, Sampson county, Sampson, North Carolina, United States; citing family 14, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD6Q-BH1 : 12 December 2017), David Spell, 1860.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Greg Rose for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Greg and others.