Patience Spier

John Spears Married to

1. Patience Cotton in 1723, had Clare and Patience Cotton Spears
2. Elizabeth Warren, had William, Apsele and John Spears.

From https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cotten-18

Patience Cotten was born c1691 the sixth child of John Cotten and his first wife. In his will written and proved in May Court 1728 JohnCotten gives his son-in-law Capt John Spears one puter dish. In the General Court Records of North Carolina is found the following: October 1726 - - Speir et Uxor v Cotton et Uxor.> James Speir and Ann his Wife of Bertie precinct complain against John Cotton of the sayd precinct planter and Martha his Wife in Custody of the Marchall etc, of a plea Videlicet. Whereas the aforesayd Anne the Wife of the afforesayd James now is a true and faithfull leige Subject etc. .. . hitherto from the time of her Nativity hath always been deem'dand reputed without any Suspition of theft, Murder, and from any other kindof hurtfull Crime unaccused and unsuspected hitherto hath been Nevertheless the sayd Defendants not being ignorant of the premisses but of their meer wicked malice afoethought malitiously contriving and intending the sayd Ann of her good name and fame to deprive and her the sayd Ann to bring into perill of her life the sayd Defendant Martha the Wife of the sayd John Cotton on or about the nineteenth day of February One thousand seven hundred and twenty five at Bertie precinct in this Colony of North Carolina these following false Malitious and Scandalous Words the sayd Martha of the sayd Ann in presence andin hearing of many of his Majestys faithfull Subjects openly and publickly did Say and with a Loud Voyce did publish Videlicet, "Your Wife (meaning Ann one of the Plaintiff's the Wife of James Speir the other plaintiff) did murder my Daughter meaning Patience late Wife of John Speir Gentleman and daughterof the Defendants who was then dead." And the sayd John Cotten then and there sayd "wee will Stand to it" (Meaning they the sayd Defendants would provethe Murder aforesayd); And further they the aforesayd John and Martha of their meer wicked malice aforesayd afterwards Videlicet at a General Court Of Oyer and Terminer and Goale Delivery held at the Court house in Edenton begun on Tuesday the twenty Sixth day of July One thousand seven hundred and twenty Six and continued by several Adjourements to the third day of August following before Christopher Gale Esqr. Cheif Justice and his Assistants the sayd Ann one of the plaintiffs' falsely Devilishly and malitiously caused and procured to be indicited in these Words Videlicet To the court etc. .. . The Jurors for Our sovereign Lord the King on their Oath do present That Ann Speir the Wife of James Speir of Bertie precinct not having the fear of God before her Eyes but being moved by the instigation of the Devil and her own wickedheart of Malice aforethought Videlicet in Bertie precinct aforesayd on or about the twelfth day of November One thousand seven hundred and twenty five by force and Armes feloniously and voluntarily with her hand did tear out anddestroy the body and womb of Patience Speir Wife of John Speir of the Sayd precinct So that thereof She languish't for Some time Videlicet untill the last day of the sayd Month and then and thereof dyed; And So the Jurors. .. . dosay. .. . that Ann. .. .the sayd Patience did kill and murder. .. . By reason of this Indictment the sayd Ann. .. .on the thirtieth day of July. . was taken and imprison'd and arraign'd- was tried and acquitted. By means of all. .. . Ann was not only brought into perill of her life but also much hurt in her Credit and good name. and Ann and James are suing for damage 200,. William Little Attorney for the Defendants asked