Green William Speights

Notes:

Lived with his son John in his later years. A grave marker indicates he was a Sgt. in Co. F of the 11th Texas Infantry, C.S.A.

Green married Jerusha Caroline Allen in Nov 1865 in Sabine County, Texas. Jerusha (daughter of Thompson Allen and Elizabeth Wooldridge) was born on 16 May 1845 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 10 Jul 1888 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Lola B. Speights was born about 1868 in Texas; and died.
2. Susan "Sudie" Benina Speights was born on 25 Jun 1870 in Texas; died on 29 Oct 1938 in Chireno, Nacogdoches County, Texas; was buried in Lower Chireno Cemetery, Chireno, Nacogdoches County, Texas.
3. Lillie A. Speights was born in 1873 in Texas; and died.
4. John C. Speights was born on 5 Apr 1875 in Texas; died on 22 Feb 1962 in Texas; was buried in Speights Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas.
5. Della M. Speights was born in 1878 in Texas; and died.
6. Levy H. Speights was born about 1882; and died.
7. Alvy V. Speights was born about 1885; and died.

Notes:

Might instead have been born in South Carolina.

From FindAGrave:

"William and a brother, probably Asa, signed on a note for yet another brother, when he could not pay the note, William and Asa were unwilling to pay the note so to protect their assets, they left the state in the middle of the night, crossing the Mississippi River family and slaves.

William was suffering from yellow fever, and died in the river crossing and was buried on the banks of the river. His new widow, Rebecca Hopkins Speights continued the journey to Texas and settled in Sabine County in 1843...

William married Rebecca Hopkins on 17 Dec 1817 in Virginia. Rebecca was born about 1796 in South Carolina; died on 4 Oct 1857 in Texas; was buried in Speights Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Per "1850 Census Sabine County, Texas with added Family Information and Corrections", Rebecca Hopkins Speights owned 20 slaves. She might instead have been born in North Carolina, or Virginia.

On April 27, 2013, a Historic Marker was dedicated at the Speights-Pratt Cemetery in Sabine County and reads "Rebecca Hopkins Speights (b. 1796) arrived in Sabine County in 1842 as a widow with four sons and a daughter*. She owned about 250 acres including this site, which became a cemetery with her burial in 1857. Sited near the Speights' home, the cemetery was actually on land granted to Mathew Arnold Parker, a Texas Revolutionary veteran and First Chief Justice (County Judge) of Sabine County. Joshua M. Hopkins Speights, buried here, was a State Legislator and County Judge. he and Hampton Pratt were among the first merchants in Hemphill. Of fifty-one marked graves, more than half bear the Speights surname. An unknown number of unmarked graves include Speights family slaves. The Speights-Pratt Cemetery Association manages this historic burial ground. Historic Texas Cemetery - 2010."

*Most family descendants instead have attributed four daugthers to Rebecca, the eldest Susan, dying as an infant. The other daughters generally are shown as Susan Green Speights Low, the wife of Dr. James Low; Amands Melvina Speights, who died at age 14; and Mary A. F. C. Speights Caraway, wife of Nathaniel Caraway. More work should be done to verify the exact family makeup, and ensure which children commonly attributed to William Speights and Rebecca Hopkins were actually born to them. It may also be possible that the historical marker is incorrect, though that seems less likely.

Notes:

"WM SPEIGHTS, (son of Wm and Sarah Speights) was born June 25, 1745, probably in N.C. The family Bible also listed Mary b Nov 2, 1736; John b. Sept 30, 1739; Ruth, b Mar 25, 1742; Joseph, b Nov 20, 1748; and Leah, b June 19, 1751. In this same Bible was the name only of Mary Minchew. This younger Wm Speights is believed to have m Ann Phelps in 1772 (Chowan Co N.C. Records). He fought in the American Revolution and rec'd Bounty land in Hancock Co, Georgia and according to family legend, John and Levi Speights were brothers. They also rec'd bounty grants in the same county. Levi's family did not come to Texas so far as is known."

William married Ann Phelps about 1772 in Chowan County, North Carolina. Ann was born before 1752; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married Sarah ???. Sarah was born before 1720; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]