Spanswick One Name Study

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Barbados Records 1657 - 1680

I have found a few scattered references to the Spanwick surname in Barbados all dating from the C17th. There is documentary evidence from 1657, when Richard Spainswicke acts as a witness for the will of Robert Davisson (see Wills Witnessed below), and a Court Case in London, also from 1657, has reference on the docuement wrapper to a Capt Samuell Spensewicke, linking to the Barbados Tobacco trade. Interestingly Mr. Richard Spanswick first appears in 1649, in "A Volume relating to the Early History of Boston", by William Aspinwall. There is also a reference to a signatory to a will from St. Christopher (St.Kitts) from 1641, so its possible the surname may have earlier connections than I've discovered so far. However early the surname appears on Barbados the references are sparse, with the last reference being to Mrs Spenswick in 1680. After which I presume the holders of the surname died out on the Island, or migrated.


Marriages at St.Michael's

Baptism at St.Philp's

Abstract of Court Case 1657

Wills Witnessed 1657 - 1660

Abstract from List of Owners of Land, Slaves, etc 1680




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St. Michael's Parish Marriages

4 Oct 1666Mr. Richard Spenswick married Mrs. Joane Minor
11 Mar 1668Mr Ricd. Nusam married Mrs Dorothy Spainswick





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St. Philip's Parish Baptism - from Ancestry
(Possible Spanswick ?)

27 Dec 1651John son of Henry Spamwas (or Spamevas)





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List of Barbados Wills Witnessed by Richard Spainswick
* 1647 Will details sourced from Ancestry

From Barbados Records Wills and Administrations Vol.1. Sanders 1639 - 1680
4 Feb 1647*Richard Sphenswick mentioned in the Will of Henry Murray
31 May 1657Richard Spainswicke is a witness to the Will of Robert Davisson
2 Dec 1658Richard Spainswicke is a witness to the Will of Owen Williams
12 Dec 1660Richard Spainswicke is a witness to the Will of Capt John Dixon





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A List of Owners and possessors of Land Hired Seruants & Negroes in ye Parish of St Michaells
Anno 1680

Mrs Spenswick land 30 acres , hired Servant 1 , bought servant 0 , Negroes 22
Richd Nusom & Wife Children 1 bought servant 1 Slaves 4

From The Original Lists of Persons of Quality; Emigrants; Religious Exiles; Political Rebels; Serving Men Sold for a Term of Years; Apprentices; Children Stolen; Maidens Pressed; and Others Who Went from Great Britain to the American Plantations, 1600-1700. by John Camden Hotten




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John Hawkins and Mary his wife, defendants vs John Dymond (Diamond) plaintiff. 1657/8
Source National Archive C24/821 Pt.2/109

Selected Interrogatories

1 Do you know the parties , did you know the defendant Mary Hawkins before her marriage to John Hawkins, did not Mary Hawkins used to buy and sekk divers merchantable commodities before her marriage.
2 Do you know of any speech that Mary had with one Mr Gobell and Mr Boucher concerning the buying of tabacco from Barbados and did not the defendant agree with them for the said goods , what were the said goods.
6. What parcels of canes and cashia fistula and paper did the plaintiff and defendants buy of any persons and what did the same amount to, who sold it and to whom.
17 Do you know of a parcel of tobacco which the plaintiff bought of one Capt.Spainsweeke, did not the plaintiff deny that the defendant Mary should be his partner in the same
19 Do you know of a parcel of currants bought of Mr Blackwell or sold to Mr Blackwell

Answers - Witnesses Only
25th November 1657 William Odeon of Ratcliffe , Stepney , mariner aged 41
25th November 1657 John Harrison of Ratcliffe , Stepney , mariner , aged 27
16th September 1657 Samuel Pensax of Limehouse, mariner, aged 32
29th January 1657/8 John Hare of Ratcliffe , Labourer, aged 54
19th January 1657/8 John Hurlestone, Ratcliffe , Middlesex, Labourer aged 40
28th January 1657/8 Thomas Hughes of Shadwell , Stepney , waterman , aged 38

And from the Document Wrapper :
Capt Wm Odwin 2:8:11
Capt Samuell Spensewicke [?] 1:18:23
Capt Harris 11:8:11:23
Samuel Gampton 18:11




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