28 January 1760, James Spence receives payment from the estate of William Laws, deceased, of Dorchester County, Maryland. [V. L. Skinner, Jr.] Abstracts of the Administration Accounts of the Prerogative Court of Maryland Libers 37 through 45, 1754-1760 (Westminster, Maryland: Willow Bend Books, 1999) 168.

10 November 1761, William Taylor / Taller, of Kent County, Delaware sold to James Spance, (sic) of the same place, for £40, a tract of land on the north east side of a branch of Nanticoke River in the forest of Mispillion Hundred, on a branch of Marshyhope,  surveyed by William Killen deputy surveyor on 6 February 1752 pursuant to the the proprietors order bearing date 14 February 1750, containing 300 acres. [Irma Harper] Kent County, Delaware Land Records, Vol. 7 1756-1764 (Westminster, Maryland: Willow Bend Books, 1997) 182.

4 February 1763, William Green, of Dorchester County, Maryland sold to James Spence of the same county, a tract called Range  containing 50 acres. The land was described as being adjacent to a tract called Addams Delight on the east side of the Northwest Fork of the Nanticoke River. [James A. McAllister, Jr.] Abstracts From The Land Records Of Dorchester County, Maryland, by , Vol. E, 1756-1763  (Lewes, Delaware: Delmarva Roots) 84.

11 November 1764, James Spence receives payment from the estate of Thomas Nutter, deceased, of Dorchester County, Maryland. [V. L. Skinner, Jr.] Abstracts of the Administration Accounts of the Prerogative Court of Maryland Libers 52 through 58, 1764-1768  (Westminster, Maryland: Willow Bend Books, 1999)  8.

14 June 1765, Francis Story, of Dorchester County, Maryland, sold to James Spence of the same county, planter, a tract called Storys Gate containing 50 acres. the land was noted as being "on the borders of Dorchester County." [James A. McAllister, Jr] Abstracts From The Land Records Of Dorchester County, Maryland, Vol. F, 1763-1767 (Westminster, Maryland: Family Line Publications) 35.

14 November 1769, James Spence and Betty, his wife, of Kent on Delaware, sell to John Leadenham of the same place, for £20, part of a tract located on a branch of the Nanticoke River in the "forrest of Mispillion Hun(dre)d surveyed for William Killing on 6 February 1752 containing thirty six acres." Witnesses: Zachariah Nicols, Richard McKnatt, Francis Jester. Acknowledged 12 August 1772. [Irma Harper] Kent County, Delaware Land Records, Vol. 10, 1772-1775 (Westminster, Maryland: Willow Bend Books, 1999) 2.

25 May 1773, James Spence is granted administration of the estate of John Spence, deceased, of Kent County, Delaware and the following day is granted administration on the estate of Mary Spence, widow, and former administratrix of John Spence, deceased. James Spence was listed as their next-of-kin and evidently their son. [Leon de Valinger, Jr.]  Calendar of Kent County, Delaware Probate Records 1680-1800 (Westminster, Maryland: Family Line Publications, 1995) 278-279.

10 June 1775, Joseph Goodwin and James Spence appraise the personal belongings of Nehemiah Nicols, deceased, of Caroline County, Maryland. (V. L. Skinner, Jr.)  Abstracts of the Inventories of the Prerogative Court of Maryland 1774-1777 (Westminster, Maryland: Family Lines Publications, 1988) 22. NOTE: James Spence's son, James Spence, Jr., would later marry Jewell Nicols/Nicolls/Nichols, the daughter of Nehemiah Nicols, as his first wife.

19 October 1789, Sarah Nicolls, Nehemiah Nicolls and Comfort, his wife, Elizabeth Nicolls, William Wright and Lovey, his wife, James Spence and Jewel, his wife, Stacey Nicolls, William Nicolls and Levin Nicolls, all of Sussex County, Delaware sold to James Nicolls of the same county, for £40, 75 acres which Nehemiah Nicolls left his son John Nicolls,...he dying without issue, the land fell to the aforesaid heirs. The document was signed by, among others, James Spence, Jun'r and Jewel Spence. Sussex County Land Records, Volume 0-14: 316-317, Court House, Georgetown, Delaware.

1790, Alexander, Henry,  James and James Spence, Jun'r. are listed on the Reconstructed 1790 Census of Sussex County, Delaware in North West Fork Hundred. [Leon deValinger, Jr., etc.] Reconstructed 1790 Census of Delaware,  (Washington, DC: National Genealogical Society, 1962) 82.

8 August 1791, James Spence, of Sussex County, Delaware, writes his will, he being "sick and weak in body" and making the following bequests; to his daughter Sena Spence he left his home plantation containing 112 acres, with the caveat that "her mother, my wife Elizabeth Spence should have quiet and peaceable possession during her lifetime," also £28.4.0 of my money be (placed) in the hands of my wife and daughter Sena in order to pay the balance due for said home plantation. To his son, James Spence, he left "the plantation whereon he now live(s) called Story's Gate  containing fifty acres of land, also fifty acres of land adjoining sd tract, taken out of a tract called Anderson's Survey." To his son-in-law (i.e. step-son), "Alexander, commonly called Alexander Spence" he left the "plantation where he now lives called Range  containing fifty acres, also fifty acres of the resurvey adjoining thereto." To his son Abel Spence he left "all the remainder of my lands, being part(s) of several tracts,  one two year old colt named Dolphin,  the new (saddle) that was my son John's and a bridle, also one feather bed and furniture." The remainder of his estate was to be divided between his three children; James Spence, Jun'r (the Executor), Abel Spence and Sena Spence. James Spence, Sen'r was deceased by the 5th of September 1791 when James Spence, with William Ross his surety, signed a Testamentary Bond on the estate of James Spence, deceased, of Sussex County. James Spence Probate File, Delaware Public Archives, Dover, Delaware.

17 July 1805, The minor children of James Spence, deceased, of Northwest Fork Hundred  appear in the Orphans Court Records of Sussex County, Delaware. Betsey & Henry Spence, minors with their guardian Francis Wright, petition for a valuation of their lands. Also on this date Charlotte Spence is appointed guardian of Peter, William and Anna Spence, minors under the age of 14, children of James Spence deceased. Francis Wright is listed as Charlotte Spence's security on each of the $3,000 bonds for the three Spence children. The records state that the children are entitled to "landed property worth about $20 pr yr to each..." Sussex County Orphans Court Records, Volume IJ: 301-302, Court House, Georgetown, Delaware.

14 February 1810, A petition for division of James Spence's land is presented to the Orphans Court of Sussex County, Delaware in which it is stated that James Spence, deceased, of Northwest Fork Hundred, died intestate and seized of 400 acres, leaving a widow, Charlotte, and 6 children; Betsey, Henry (the petitioner), Levin, Peter, Ann and William Spence. Curtis Jacobs, James Adams, Ennalls Adams, John Richards & Peter Parker were appointed to divide said lands. On this same day Charlotte Spence appeared in Court and asked for removal of guardianship stating that Francis Wright, her surety, "is now insolvent and that the security given by sd Charlotte Spence (is now) insufficient." The Court ordered that "the person and estate of Anna & William Spence be put in the hands of Henry Spence" who was appointed their guardian, with Ralph Robinson his surety. Sussex County Orphans Court Records, Volume  K: 300, 302, 333-334, Court House, Georgetown, Delaware.

20 March 1811, Charlotte Spence, formerly widow of Levin Bevins, deceased, of Sussex County, Delaware sells to Levin Pepper, of Sussex County, for $40, all her right of dower in Levin Bevins' land in Broadkiln Hundred, near Georgetown and adjoining lands of Peter Robinson and others. Sussex County Land Records, Volume AF-29:  255, Court House, Georgetown, Delaware.

7 January 1814, Henry Spence, of Sussex County, sold to Ralph Robinson, of the same county, for $200, a tract of land containing 350 acres, stating that "whereas the said Henry Spence (has) by the law of this state become the only heir  of all the lands that did belong to his father James Spence, by the paying the other brothers and sisters their lawfull part of the valuation..." The land was described as being near Double Fork Branch on the Northwest Fork of the Nanticoke River and adjoining land belonging to Andrew Stafford. Sussex County Land Records, Volume AL-34:  482-483, Court House, Georgetown, Delaware.

8 March 1814, Peter Spence, minor son of James Spence, deceased, aged about 18, petitioned the Sussex County Orphans Court to choose William Todd as guardian. Guardianship was granted and William Todd with Ralph Robinson, his surety, gave bond for $2,000. Sussex County Orphans Court Records, Volume L: 233.Court House, Georgetown, Sussex County, Delaware.

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A Brief Out-line Of James Spence's Descendants

James Spence, Sr. (died 1791 Northwest Fork Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware)
married Elizabeth "Betty" (Holt?) before 14 November 1769.
issue:

• Alexander commonly called Spence (Elizabeth's son)
  On 12 August 1805 Alexander Holt, but commonly called Alexander Spence, of
  Sussex County, Delaware, Yeoman, and Easter, his wife sell part of a tract called
  "Partnership" to Robert Stapleford for $636. The land record mentions Alexander's
  father-in-law James Spence (i.e. step-father) and 6 acres of "Partnership" which he
  (Alexander) had purchased from his half-brother Abel Spence. Sussex County Land
  Records, Volume AB-25:  189-191, Court House, Georgetown, Delaware.
  married Easter, before 12 August 1805

• John Spence (died before 8 August 1791)

• James Spence, Jr. (d. 1804 Northwest Fork Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware)
  married first Jewel Nicolls, daughter of Nehemiah & Sarah Nicolls, before
  19 October 1789
  married second Charlotte, widow of Levin Bevins (d. 1801 Sussex Co., DE), after
  18 November 1802. Levin Bevins / Bevans had been married previously (his first
  wife was Martha Dodd) and had 1 surviving daughter by that marriage, Matilda.
  Levin and Charlotte had two children; Chaney and Findly (or Tindly) Bevins.
  Aaron Dodd was appointed guardian to Matilda Bevins on 28 April 1801 and
  Charlotte Bevins, with Francis Wright her surety, was appointed guardian of
  Chaney & Findly Bevins on 21 July 1802. Sussex County Orphans Court Records, Volume H:
  69-70 & 261, Volume IJ: 1.Court House, Georgetown, Sussex County, Delaware.
  issue: 1st marriage, by Jewell Nicolls

  • Betsey Spence (married William Wright before 6 March 1820)

  • Henry Spence

  • Levin Spence

  • Peter Spence (born ca 1796)

  • Anna/Ann Spence (born ca 1799/1800 married Priestly Chaffinch in
    December of 1820 in Kent County, DE)

  • William Spence

• Abel Spence

• Sena Spence (married a Mr. Nicolls by the time her father's estate was settled)