Peter Henry Speers

• BIRTH 1724 Alsace, France
• DEATH 1782 (aged 57–58) Gibsonton, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, USA
• BURIAL Gibson Cemetery, North Belle Vernon, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, USA
• MEMORIAL ID 47028134 Photos by Tom Speers

Biography

Peter Henry Speers was born 1725 in Brandenburg, Germany; died November 25, 1782 in Rostraver Twp, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Peter Abraham Speers and Margaret Graefenreid (Henlopen). He married Regina Froman Abt. 1744 in Augusta Co, VA. She was the daughter of Peter Froman and Elizabeth. Peter "Henry" Speers served as Captain of Militia, Frederick Co, VA between 1755-1761 during the French and Indian War of1754-1763. Cause of Death: kicked by a horse. Gibsonton Cemetery [2]

Henry's Will was written in 1772 but 1782 was when he died (Van Voorhis was wrong when he said it was 1772). He was also wrong that the children were born in Germany. 11 of the children were born on the north end of Massanutten mountain at the South Fork of the Shenandoah River. [3] The rest were born in Hampshire County VA (now WV) on the way to PA and the last Noah Speer/Speers was born at the Monongahela River near Belle Vernon which Noah founded in 1812-1814.

Regina Froman has been shown to be the first of 8 children of Paul and Elizabeth Hite Froman by Christopher Coleman in a Spring 2019 Hite Family newsletter. Henry Speers who married Regina Froman was the next door neighbor of Mary Froman who married Abraham Kellar/Keller and Magdaline Froman who married William Overall. These families are shown on the South Shenandoah River in Cecil Odells book. I have a copy of the 1760 legal document that shows the three along with two Hite sons who testify that these families were sold the land by Jost Hite. Jost Hite's signature appears at the bottom of the document.

Elizabeth Hite's great nephew Major Isaac Hite Jr married Nellie Conway Madison, the sister of President James Madison Jr who married Dolly Payne. Dolly Payne Madison saved George Washington's portrait from being burned in the White House by the British in the War of 1812. Henry and Regina Froman Speers had 11 or more children in VA on the South Fork of the Shenandoah River north of Bentonville VA at the low water crossing, several children in Hampshire County Virginia, and 1 or two in PA.

There children were: 1)Rachel Spears 1745-1820 m William Fry and had 9 children, 2)Elizabeth Speer 1746-1773 m a Kuykendall, 3)Mary Molly Speer 1747-1805 m Peter Froman Reasoner - 14 ch, 4)Sarah Speers 1748-1810 m Nicholas Crist Sr 1st wife 5 ch was first at Columbia/Donora PA, 5)Solomon Spears 1750-1787 killed by Indians on Salt River south of Louisville KY, There was a 1786 Westmoreland County tax list showing Jacob Spears and the Reasoners, 6)Susan Spears 1750 - ? (twin ?) m Nathan Cartmell, divorced, 7)Catherine Spears 1751-1816 m Benjamin Frye, no ch, 8)Christina Speer 1752-1841 m Samuel Frey Sr had 11 ch (Cemetery on Charleroi PA Hill), 9)Jacob Spears 1754-1825 m Elizabeth Kellar had 6 ch and named Bourbon Whiskey in 1810 in Bourbon County KY.

Descendants still live there. Dottie Spears owns a restaurant on 10th street. 10)Henry Speers Jr Rev 1756-1840 m Rebecca Frye/Frey had 13 ch, 11)Nancy Spears 1759-1839 m James Frye Sr had 9 ch, 12)Regina Regannah Speers 1765-1821 (not born in KY) m Joshua Owings had 12 ch, 13)Noah Speer/Speers Sr 1769-1832 m Nancy Virginia Frye 15 ch, founder of lower Belle Vernon PA about 1813 or 14. Both spellings appear on town sign near Methodist church. Regina's first child may have been Joseph Speer born 1744 who showed up in several different records in Pittsburgh. Henry Speers shows as Peter Henry Speer in the Reasoner Book. Van Voorhis is buried in the Rehobeth Cemetery. (These notes updated Jan 6, 2020 to show Henry Speers's death.) Tom Speers, family historian born in Belle Vernon PA.

Notes

Both spellings appear on town sign near Methodist church. Regina's first child may have been Joseph Speer born 1744 who showed up in several different records in Pittsburgh. Henry Speers shows as Peter Henry Speer in the Reasoner Book. Van Voorhis is buried in the Rehobeth Cemetery. Tom Speers, family historian born in Belle Vernon PA. There was a 1786 Westmoreland County tax list showing Jacob Spears and the Reasoners. Jacob Spears 1754-1825 named Bourbon Whiskey in 1810 in Bourbon County KY. his descendants still live there. Dottie Spears owns a restaurant on 10th street.

Gravesite Details
german Henry Sr is listed as Henry Speer and Spears in Odell's book "Pioneers of Old Frederick County VA" published in 1995. There are no tombstones left for Henry and his french wife Regina Froman. Just a patio of stones.

Genealogy

Parents
Michael Christopher Spears 1709–1772
Marie Louisa DeLaNoye Spears 1709 – unknown

Spouse
Regina Froman Speers 1730–1803

Siblings
George Frederick Spears 1731–1803

Children14x
Rachel Spears 1745-1820 m William Fry and had 9 children,
Elizabeth Speer 1746-1773 m a Kuykendall,
Mary Molly Speer Reasoner 1747-1805 m Peter Froman Reasoner - 14 ch,
Sarah Speers 1748-1810 m Nicholas Crist Sr 1st wife 5 ch was first at Columbia/Donora PA,
Solomon Spears Frye 1750-1787 killed by Indians on Salt River south of Louisville KY
Susan Spears 1750 - ? (twin ?) m Nathan Cartmell, divorced,
Catherine Spears 1751-1816 m Benjamin Frye, no ch,
Christina Speer 1752-1841 m Samuel Frey Sr had 11 ch (Cemetery on Charleroi PA Hill),
Jacob Spears 1754-1825 m Elizabeth Kellar had 6 ch, named Bourbon Whiskey in 1810 in Bourbon County KY.
Henry Speers Jr Rev 1756-1840 m Rebecca Frye/Frey had 13 ch,
Nancy Spears 1759-1839 m James Frye Sr had 9 ch,
Regina Regannah Speers Owings 1765-1821 (not born in KY) m Joshua Owings had 12 ch,
Noah Speer/Speers Sr 1769-1832 m Nancy Virginia Frye 15 ch, founder of lower Belle Vernon PA 1813c

[1] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/47028134/henry-speers

[2] http://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Peter_Spears_%282%29

[3] "Pioneers of Old Frederick County Virginia" by Odell, 1995 book