Henry Spelman, Kt., of Congham

Sir William SPILMAN or SPELMAN, from whom the greater part of the SPILMAN families of the name are descended, was Lord of Brokenhurst, in Hampshire, England in the twelfth Century. He also held lands in Wiltshire in the year 1156 by knight's service. His son, another Sir William SPILMAN or SPELMAN, was Lord of Brokenhurst, Hampshire, and of Cowsfield, in Wiltshire, as early as 1167. The younger Sir William married Matilda, dau. of Sir William SARUM, and was the father by her of William, Peter, and Henry, of whom the first was the father of Peter SPELMAN, who died between the years 1272 and 1307, leaving a son named William, who was the father of Peter, Catharine, and Matilda, of whom the first died without issue. Henry SPILMAN or SPELMAN, the youngest of the three sons of Sir William and Matilda (nee SARUM), resided in Hampshire and left issue there of two sons, Robert and David, of whom the latter settled in the County of Norfolk and left issue there by his wife Aveline of a son named John, who is thought to have died without issue. The elder son, Robert, was the father of at least one son, named Stephen, who made his home at Bekerton Manor, in Stow, County Norfolk. This Stephen SPILMAN or SPELMAN had two sons, John and Robert, of whom the first died about 1392, leaving issue by his wife Johanna of Henry, William, John, and Stephen, of whom the last became an Alderman of London and died without issue in 1419. Henry, the eldest of the last mentioned brothers, was the father by his wife Isabella of Robert and John SPELMAN, of whom the latter became Lord of Crowis, Bekerton, and other manors in Norfolk. He first married Catherine, daughter of Thomas STYWARD, and was the father by her of Anna, Elizabeth, Katherine, Robert (died young), and Henry. By a second wife, Mariana, John SPELMAN had further issue of John and William. Henry SPELMAN, son of John by his wife Catherine succeeded to the family estates in 1460 and added numerous other possessions to them during his lifetime. He married the Widow Ela (nee NARBOROUGH) SHOULDHAM and had issue by her of William, Henry, Sir John, and others. Of these, William is said to have been the father by his wife, Ann COO, of Elizabeth, Anna, Christopher, and Francis; while Sir John married Elizabeth, daughter of Henry FROWICK, of County Middlesex, and died in 1545, leaving issue of a son named Henry, who married Frances SANDERS, of Surrey, and was the father of, among other children, Sir Henry and John, of whom the former married Eleanor, daughter of John L'ESTRANGE, of Norfolk. This Sir Henry had, among other sons, Henry and Clement. Clement, son of Sir Henry, had three sons, one of whom is said by family historians to have been the progenitor of the Virginia families of the name. THE NAME AND FAMILY OF SPILMAN Mss. (Media Research Bureau, 1110 F Street, Washington D.C.)

---

Clement SPILMAN, of the county of Westmoreland, Va., was a neighbor of John WASHINGTON (father of Pres. Geo. WASHINGTON), and an interesting incident occurred. It seems that both Clement SPILMAN and John WASHINGTON were in love with the widow, Ann BROADHURST-BRETT and John WASHINGTON was successful and married her. In his anger at losing his beloved, Clement SPILMAN uttered a libelous statement against WASHINGTON. Clement was arrested and forced to make a public apology which is recorded in the Westmoreland Court Records for 26 August 1669. - Westmoreland County Deeds, Depositions, etc. 1665-1677, p.45d; Charles Arthur Hoppin's WASHINGTON ANCESTRY, v.I, p.179; Melville, Malcolm L. THE SPILMAN PAPERS (Forestville, California 1965), p.11; WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY, "Washington and His Neighbors", v. , pp.31-32,41-42.

---

Clement SPILMAN, brother of James and Robert SPILMAN, was mentioned as a Justice of the Peace in Westmoreland Co., Virginia in 1677, and a neighbor of Col. John WASHINGTON (father of Pres. George Washington). In his will dated 4 Dec. 1677 (proved 10 January), Clement SPELMAN of Westmoreland County leaves his property to his minor brother Robert in England, for whom he appointed James SPELMAN, another brother, guardian. Both Robert and James resided in England. Witnesses to the will were Robert BLAKE (?) and Thomas YOWELL. Presumably this Clement SPILMAN left no wife or children, since his will mentioned none. - Dixon, Ben F., VIRGINIA SPILMAN MISCELLANY, VIRGINIA SPILMANS; WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY, v.14, p.178-179. ---6 Clement SPILMAN is thought to have married to Martha MASON (ca.1719-1680) who had at least one child James SPILMAN, born ca.1655 at Westmoreland Co., VA. - W.L.DeCoursey

Clement SPILMAN appears in the records of Westmoreland Co., Virginia in 1712 as suing Francis KENNER for a negro slave given to the plaintiff's wife, Hannah (FOX) KENNER SPILMAN by her former husband Rodham KENNER. - WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY, v. 9, p.185; v.14, p.178-179; v.17 (info by William DeCoursey)