GED4WEB version 4.41 Spiers Adam [Male] b. 1750 Prince George Co, Virginia, USA - d. 1810 Prince George Co, Virginia, USA
He helped his father farm and became a farmer himself.
It is thought that he served in the Revolution, but proof has not been found.
Dr. J.B.S. states, "Adam and his brother Frederick were both in the war of
1776. Adam, my grandfather, was married before the war and when the war was
over, he returned to his family in Prince George County, where he remained to
the time of his death".
From "The Colonies" by Thwaites: "Religion was at a low ebb, especially in
the established church. Bishop Meade says, 'There was not only defective
preaching but, as might be expected, most evil living among the clergy'."
The Methodist Society had a great influence over the dissatisfied members of
the established church. At first it was The Methodist Society. Later, after
John Wesley's death, it became the Methodist Church.
From the "Library of Original Sources" by Thacher, Vol. V1: "The Episcopal
clergy began to discourage the new movement, so the evangelists began
addressing the crowds in the open fields. In 1739 the societies first joined
under the direct charge of Wesley, although all this time and until after
Wesley's death Methodism considered itself only a society within the Episcopal
Church.
In 1740 the churches mostly refused the sacrement to the members of the
society and the Wesleys administered it themselves. In 1741, lay preachers
were called out to help them, and the next year leaders of the classes were
appointed. The whole organization was under the charge of Wesley and continued
so until his death. The first conference after Wesley's death was ready to
assume the control of the church.
In 1784 the American socities were organized as a church, independent of the
Episcopal and of English Methodism."
From the "Blue Ridge Parkway Guide" by W.G. Lord:
"Religion became the great binding force of the region. During the 1820's, the
entire nation experienced a religious revival, sparked by the Baptist,
Methodist, and to a lesser degree by the Presbyterians. The more dedicated of
their ministers braved every travel hardship to bring the gospel to the
isolated areas. The roughest weather hindered them not. As an old saying
goes, "Thars nothing about in this weather but crows and Methodist ministers."'
It is not known if Adam changed his religion from Episcopalian to Methodist,
but according to Dr. J.B.S., Adam's son Jesse joined the Methodist Church when
he was about 12 years old (1797). Later he became the Class leader and held
that position for twenty years or more.
It is not known how many children Adam and Nancy had, records have been
found for four of them: Jesse born February 19, 1785, Clarissa born 1793, and
Adam, Jr. born 1797. Daughter Willey M. Brantly.
Adam was a thrifty man and acquired a fortune. He was reputed to have been
a miser and to have died in 1810 with his arms around a chest of money which he had kept under his bed.
Prince George County Deed Book #1
1788-4th April, Adam Spiers paid to John Travis 29 pounds currency for 25
acres of land
Prince George County Deed Book #2, page 376
Adams Spiers land on boundary line of Peter Harwells land, etc.
Virginia Tax Payers 1782-1787
by Augusta B. Fothergill and John Mark Naugle
Poll Slave County Year
Spiers, Adam 1 1 Prince George 1782
Collateral line contributed by Alice Spiers Sechrist.
Adam Spiers, one of the first that came over, make whiskey and other things, they said he made vinegar that did not spoil. Anyway people came to his house to buy these things, and Adam kept his money on the beams on top of the house, room, and he would reach up and get change if people needed it.
Grandpa Spiers took a double header to Buckroe and the first engine missed the signal and the train all went in the water. Grandpa was the second train and he managed to stop it just before it got to the bridge. He said he looked down and he could see black people all in the water. But he had stopped his engine so they were all safe.
All of my people were Railroad people even my husband and I both worked in the office. So we know what its all about. Thanks for listening, Marian Spiers Lane
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