MARTHA AND THOMAS SPAIN

Researchers suggest Martha is the daughter of William Haskins and his Traylor spouse; but, it seems only reasonable that Haskins would have identified her as daughter instead of as "wife of Thomas Spain." She is somehow related to Haskins, but the question is how? As with all females in the colonial period, one has to trace the husbands to learn about the wives.

Thomas is likely the son of John Spain who patented land on the West side of Mawhipponock Creek in 1720. The survey was run in 1712, and the tract today lies in Dinwiddie County. Neighbors included the Fords, Mayes, and eventually Edward Traylor, son of Edward and grandson of Martha.

Based on the birth date of their first known child, we estimate the marriage of Martha (surname unknown) and Thomas Spain as about 1728. The three children whose births were registered by the Bristol Parish clerk were: Frances (born December 9, 1729); Prisilla (born September 7, 1731) and David (born March 1, 1732/3). Two other children are identified in Amelia County deeds: Frederick and Francis. Both of these latter two sons appear to be "of age" when the land was deeded to them; thus, both were born before 1734. Although researchers link other children to Martha and Thomas, these are the only ones that can be documented at this time.

Thomas served as Clerk at the Nemussens Chappel (Bristol Parish) from February 1730 until 1742, the year the parish was divided. Martha died sometime between 1733 (birth of David) and January 1755 when Elizabeth, as Thomas' subsequent wife, relinquished her dower rights to land he sold.

Thomas was identified as "of Prince George Co." in the Amelia County grantor deeds (January 1755) to sons David, Frederick and Francis. Although no extant records mention his death, some researchers believe he died about 1760. However, an as yet unidentified Thomas Spain witnessed the November 1762 Amelia County grantor deed from his son David (and wife Abigail Spain) to John Gray.