6 February is the birthday of my ancestor, William Spo, born in 1590 at Fitzhead England. He immigrated to Massachusetts in 1630. He was a deacon in the Puritan church. He was also in charge of ‘the three cowes’ for the colony. Spos of the “William line” pause this day and wonder what brought him to New England in the first place. My great-aunt taught me he was escaping from persecution with desire for liberty and religious freedom. My bet is he was on the lamb. Whatever his motives, twelve generations later “Urs Truly” is here in America rather than in a provincial English town.
I’ve always had a fascination with the Puritans. The Puritans are integral part of The American Psyche. The ‘Protestant work ethic” and the Pilgrims of Thanksgiving are in our roots and in our blood. The myths and legends around the Puritans are often in contrast to who and what they were. They were a remarkable bunch.
William F. of Designerblog can help me out: they were religious zealots who saw themselves as special in the eyes of God. They set out to North America to make a new Jeruselem mostly because they couldn’t take over and England run it they way they wanted it to be. They saw themselves like the Old Testament Israelites arriving in the Promised Land. The people already there were to be converted or ejected – in the name of the Lord. They saw themselves as saviors to the godless. ‘We are here to make things better”.
The seal of the Massachusetts Bay Colony sums up their philosophy :
The native American is saying “Come over and help us”
As Hanuman would say : “Can you imagine?”
Tonight Someone and I are going to the encore performance of “Maria Stuarda”, an opera about Mary, Queen of Scots. MQS was executed just a few years before William Spo was born. The later part of the 16th century must have been a trying and tedious time what with everyone fighting and killing each other over religious beliefs.
Her story and The Puritans are history lessons which warn us ‘what happens’ when religious zealots run around unchecked.
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February 5, 2013 at 9:40 PM
David Jeffreys
Well, I understand they have dug up in Leicester and proved by DNA that the remains are King Richard III, who died in 1485. Perhaps the descendants of William Spo — that is, your relatives could enlightened us a little more about Richard III.
So was Richard III the criminal king, say you?
http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/03/world/europe/richard-iii-search-announcement/index.html?hpt=hp_bn8
February 5, 2013 at 9:48 PM
Urspo
Put it in context – for nearly 100 years the government of England was unstable as two family branches went back and forth as to who would rule. Edward V was a mere boy when he became king. They all knew from experience (RichardII) a boy king doesn’t do well – and oh what bad timing! Richard was ‘no worse’ as the Yorks and Lancasters were quite busy killing each other. To put away his king nephew to assure the York’s position on the throne has sense. And what happened to the boys? Probably RIII had a hand in it. Hard to say as Henry VII and his boys were the winners over RIII, and made sure to make him bad and wrong to justify his own tenuous claim. Whatever, the bones in the car park is a thumping good story!!!
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February 6, 2013 at 1:51 AM
Raybeard
A relatively recent spanner has been thrown into the works. It now seems more than probable that Edward IV, Richard’s elder brother, was actually NOT his father’s legitimate offspring (though he was the child of the queen) and that Richard, being his father eldest true legitimate son was, in fact, the rightful heir. Henry VIII’s right was assumed through HIS father (are you following all this?), who had claimed his own succession through marriage with the daughter of the said, probably illegitimate, Edward IV. All of which throws up the possibility that from Henry VIII through Elizabeth I, right up to James II’s ignominious departure in 1685 in the so-called ‘Glorious Revolution’, all those monarchs’ claims to the crown was based on shaky ground at best, and falsity at worst.
The anti-Richard III propaganda carried out by the Tudors – and reflected by Shakespeare – is now well-documented, and there is suddenly now a revitalising of attempts to clear him, or at least, be more truthful about that monarch’s reputation – though it is unlikely that he had nothing at all to do with the murder of the ‘princes in the tower’.
February 6, 2013 at 1:59 AM
Raybeard
Many happy returns of the day, Bill!
February 6, 2013 at 5:01 AM
Buddy Bear
I think it’s amazing that you know so much about your ancestors. I know more about my dog’s family tree than I do my own …. my own fault, of course.
February 6, 2013 at 5:40 AM
Ron
Dr. Spo,
Of course you know you have my rapt interest on this subject. I find your family history fascinating. I would love to know where your ancestor was in relation to my direct Tipton ancestor. I may or may not of told you that my direct ancestor immigrated to this country from Jamaica to Baltimore County Maryland in the 1690′s I am a ninth generation American (you have be beat by three generations!) My ancestor was born in (or immigrated) to Jamaica and left Port Royale after his barrel stave business was destroyed in the Great Earthquake of 1692. My ancestor was in Jamaica as part of the earlier Venables Expedition. See below for a partial description from Wikipedia:
The Protectorate and the West Indies expedition see also Anglo-Spanish War (1654–1660) In May 1654 Venables left Ireland, and on 9 December following he was appointed general of the forces sent by the Protector Oliver Cromwell to attack the Spaniards in the West Indies.[16] The instructions of the Protector and his council gave Venables the full latitude of choice as to the point to attack, suggesting various places, but declining to tie his hands, and ordering him simply “to gain an interest in that part of the West Indies in possession of the Spaniards”.[17] He was, however, to consult with Sir William Penn, the admiral commanding the fleet employed in the expedition, and with two commissioners, Edward Winslow and Gregory Butler, on the method of carrying out his instructions.[8]
The expedition set sail in December 1654, reached Barbados at the end of January, where additional forces were embarked, and arrived at Hispaniola on 13 April. A landing was effected with about eight thousand men some forty miles west of the capital, and the army marched through the woods to attack it. After suffering two disastrous defeats from the Spaniards on 17 and 25 April, Venables, complaining loudly of the cowardice of his men, decided to give up the attempt, and sailed for Jamaica. That island was reached on 10 May, the chief town occupied with very little fighting, and the governor forced to capitulate on 17 May. The Spaniards retired into the woods and hills, whence they continued their resistance; the expedition was badly equipped with provisions and other necessaries, and sickness decimated the ranks of the army. Penn with part of the fleet sailed home on 25 June, and Venables himself followed in the Marston Moor on 4 July.[8]
Every one of us does indeed have a fascinating family history. Those of us who know it are indeed fortunate. Thanks for sharing yours.
February 6, 2013 at 11:22 AM
David Jeffreys
Your Tipton ancestors may have known my Moore ancestors, many of whom were involved in Jamaica. See my blog for more details.
February 6, 2013 at 4:13 PM
Ron
That’s very interesting David. I will check your blog.
February 6, 2013 at 10:06 AM
Old Lurker
Although I am sure it rankles you, I sense that you have a touch of the Puritan in you, Dr. Spo. Certainly you have the Protestant work ethic down.
February 6, 2013 at 10:16 AM
Urspo
Indeed – one can not escape from ones roots; and the archaic is never too deep, just stratch the surface. Both in myself and in the Nation. (look at our national loathing to take time off from work!)
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February 6, 2013 at 10:59 AM
David Jeffreys
Since I am descended from noble heritage as well, I must not let this opportunity to slip by, by not mentioning my genealogy. My 6-great grandfather emigrated from England to be the Secretary of the Province of Carolina in Charles Town. Because of disputes with the Lord Proprietor, he moved on to Philadelphia to join Penn’s Colony and be one of the founders of Christ Church, where he is buried in the aisle. His son, also named John, moved to New York City and was in charge of Customs and was a part owner of a fleet of ships crossing the Atlantic. He bought land on the Hudson River to the north which was considered worthless and was called Moore’s Folly. Col John Moore is buried in the Trinity Churchyard. His son, Stephen, the 17th issue of the family inherited the worthless Moore’s Folly, which became West Point. Find out more on my illustrious family in my genealogical blog: http://stephenmoore-mounttirzah.blogspot.com/.
February 6, 2013 at 11:08 AM
Urspo
Cool beans! I love stories like this !
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February 6, 2013 at 4:14 PM
Ron
I do too David! I will check your information. Thanks!
February 6, 2013 at 12:36 PM
Sluggy
Ah yes, those darned Puritans. They just happened to arrive at the perfect time, just as a massive plaque had decimated a large percentage of the coastal native peoples on the North American continent. And the smallpox blankets they brought with them took care of another generous portion of native humanity. Then we get King Philip’s War and shortly after, the first slaves come to MA Bay Colony and the slave trade starts enriching the pockets of all those nice white Europeans.
Having said that, among the European ancestors we have documented is John Vasser, who brought he, his wife and servant to VA in 1635. His parents were Huguenots, who fled France due to religious persecution. They were living in England as Eliz.I was sympathetic to their plight. John was born in Gravesend, Kent and obtained permission to leave for the New World in 1634. John’s wife, Elizabeth Dowe(or Dew) has been traced back to the Plantagenet line(Edward III and his son, John of Gaunt).
On the non-religious zealot side, I’ve got Samuel Matthews who arrived in 1619(he became a Colonial Gov. of VA and the town of Matthews VA is named for him). My quirky ancestor is Salvatore Muscoe, a stone cutter from Italy who emigrated to London after the Great Fire of 1666 and helped rebuild the city and worked under Christopher Wren to create St. Paul’s Cathedral. He left for American in 1685. We also have a possible ancestor back to the Bakers of PA who were commissioned to make rifles for the colonies by the King. Once the revolution hit, the Baker boys supplied arms against the crown. We are debating the cost of the DNA test that would confirm our connection with this line once and for all..
But the most interesting ancestor I’ve come across is Eglin Hatherly. She was the sister of Timothy Hatherly, the founder of Scituate MA. At age 46, the widow Eglin brought her 2 unmarried daughters to New England in 1635. I guess a widow might have had an easier time finding men for her girls in the colonies. She also married 3 times and out lived them all. I think she was a tough old bird and someone I would have liked to have known.