Individual Details

This Jacob Speers was one of two who would move to Kentucky. He was the first, settling at Carpenter's Station in Lincoln Co. The other Jacob was son of Henry Speers, would settle in Bourbon Co. The were very close to the same age. Their military service has been confused.

It is not known if all the settlers of Carpenter’s Station traveled in one group, but if not, they must have been closely spaced. The known members of the group were: Conrad Carpenter; Adam Carpenter; John Carpenter with his wife the former Elisabeth Spears; and John Frye, also a Revolutionary War Veteran, with his wife Katherine (or Catherine) Spears and their infant daughter, Leah, who was born November 11, 1778 in Rockingham County, Virginia.
Catherine Spears Frye and Elisabeth Spears Carpenter were sisters. Undoubtedly, there were also other families. Probably Jacob Spears, brother of Catherine and Elisabeth, went along too, although he may have met the group in Kentucky. He was a member of the military at Harrodsburg during the 1770’s, and he later farmed land owned by his father in Lincoln County, Kentucky. In 1781, Jacob Spears married Elisabeth Neely, one of the first recorded marriages in Lincoln County, Ky.

Jacob's father George lived in the part of Augusta Co VA which became Rockingham Co in 1778.

There are two Jacob Speers listed on a recruiting roll of Capt. Joseph Bowman's in 1778, August Co VA. It is possible that Jacob, son of Henry was in Virginia at the time and both were in this unit, but it is more likely that this Jacob was listed twice, once as a recruit and once as being promoted to Sergeant. These men went into the Illinois country under Col. George Rogers Clark and captured Kaskaskia & Vincennes, securing the northwest for the U.S.

A German Regiment was raised by an act of the Virginia Assembly in Dec 1775, made up primarily of officers & soldiers from Frederick & August Counties. Its service culminated with the seige of Yorktown. John Spears, native of Rockingham Co, born Apr 1771, had assisted his brother George as teamster and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. John was only about 10 years old at the surrender. Numerous references claim that Jacob Spears was also there. George Spears was said to have been a driver of military provisions and was in the 8th VA Regt at the Battle of Brandywine Creek and at Yorktown. It is also said the the elder George furnished his sons, John & George Jr, with a wagon in 1781 to transport military supplies. It would seem that any Jacob present at Yorktown would indeed be this one, brother to John & George, and not his cousin Jacob who was in western PA at this time.

It is thought that Jacob may have gone to KY with the Carperters about 1775 and was recruited by Capt Joseph at Harrodsburg in 1778.

Jacob married Elizabeth Neeley in Lincoln Co on 3 Jun 1781, probably at Carpenter's Station near where the Neelys had settled. Jacob's brother George married Elizabeth's sister, Mary Neely, who was captured at the Salt Licks. He married (2) to Abigail Huston.

Was part of burial party for the casualties at Blue Licks on 26 Aug 1782. John Frye, his brother-in-law, was killed in this battle. Jacob of Lincoln Co, was among those of Captain Samuel Kirkham's Militia Company sent to bury the dead.

Lincoln Co, KY Circuit Court Cases LDS File #008686306 (img 456)
This indenture of bargain & sale made & entered into this 12th day of February in the year 1820 between Thomas Helm Commissioner on the part of George Campbell & the said Thomas Helms as Commissioners in the part of the unknown heirs of James Brooks deceased of the one part & George Spears, Jacob Spiers, Charles Holliday & Elizabeth his Wife late Elizabeth Spears, John Spears, George Carter & Polly his wife late Polly spears, Archibald Spears, David Spears, Ann Spears, William Spears, Nathan Spears, Willis Spears & Levicy Spears heirs & representatives of Jacob Spears deceased of the Second Part.
Whereas by the final Decree pronounced at the last November Term of the Lincoln Circuit Court in the suit in Chancery wherein the heirs & representatives of Jacob Spears dec'd were Complainants & the said George Campbell & the unknown heirs of James Brooks deceased were____; it was among other things decreed & ordered that the said Defendants to wit: George Campbell & the unknown heirs of James Brooks deceased, should convey to the complainants, the heirs of Jacob Spears deceased, the Tract of land herein after mentioned lying & being in the County of Lincoln on the Hanging Fork by and with a clause of ____ Warranty on or before the first Monday in December in the year 1879. & in default of the said Defendants to make to the complainants this sd deed of Conveyance.....
convey to the said George Spears, Jacob Spears, Charles Holliday & Elizabeth his wife late Elizabeth Spears, John Spears, George Carter & Polly his wife late Polly Spears & Archibald Spears, David Spears, Ann Spears, William Spears, Nathan Spears, Willis Spears & Levicy Spears, heirs & representatives of Jacob Spears, deceased...
(metes & bounds description of lands mentions corner of David Spears and his line) two hundred & ten acres.
Thomas Helm, Commissioner signed for both George Campbell and the heirs of James Brooks, dec'd.

Birth	7 Feb 1757	Augusta County, Virginia
Marriage	3 Jun 1781	Rockingham County, Virginia - Elizabeth Neeley
Death	1818

Spouse	Elizabeth Neeley (1757 - 1791)
Child	Jacob Spears (1785 - 1865)

Father	George Spears (1731 - 1803)
Mother	Christina ?Hardwin ( - )
Sibling	Elizabeth Spears (1755 - 1832)
Sibling	Catherine Spears (1760 - 1848)
Sibling	George Spears (1764 - 1838)
Sibling	Mary Agnes Spears (1766 - 1852)
Sibling	Hannah Spears (1769 - 1835)
Sibling	John F. Spears (1771 - 1866)
Sibling	David Spears (1773 - )
Sibling	Sarah Spears (1774 - )
Sibling	Daniel Spears (1777 - )
Sibling	Isaac Spears ( - )
Sibling	Rachel Spears ( - )