Individual Details

John is said to have accompanied his father into service during the Revolution as early as age 5 or 6 - his father was a teamster on a military supply wageon. John is said to have served as a drummer boy at the Battle of Brandywine in 1777, at age six. In August of 1781, at the age of 10, he and his brother George Jr who was 17 hauled a load of government-owned hemp from Rickfish Gap, VA to Philadelphia - about 230 miles - and returned with military supplies for the Yorktown campaign. John, his father, and brothers George & Jacob are believed to have been at the Battle of Yorktown and witnessed the surrender of Lord Conwallis. John did receive a pension.

John married Margaret Chrisman on 30 Aug 1793. She was a great-granddaughter of Jost Hite, a granddaughter of Magdalena. They moved to Carpenter's Station in KY about two years after their marriage - eventually his siblings would all migrate. John settled on land in the southern part of Fayette Co KY.

1850 Census. Fayette Co KY, Dist 2, p.248, Dwelling 775:
John Spears age 80, born VA; Margaret age 73, also b. VA.
They were enumerated next to Leo W. Spears, age 46, his wife Frances G. age 33, and eight children - one of the sons named Chrisman Spears. Living in the same area were Jefferson Chrisman age 45 and Joseph Chrisman age 50 and their families.

1860 Census. Boyle Co KY, Danville. John Spears was enumerated in the household of Joseph A. Brown, age 37 and his wife Lucinda, age 40. John was listed as "retired", age 92, born Virginia. Living next door to Joseph Brown was George C. Spears, age 62 and Ann, age 60; both born in Kentucky.

Birth	14 Apr 1771
Death	14 Jan 1866

Father	George Spears (1731 - 1803)
Mother	Christina ?Hardwin ( - )
Sibling	Jacob Spears (1757 - 1818)
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	David Spears (1773 - )
Sibling	Sarah Spears (1774 - )
Sibling	Daniel Spears (1777 - )
Sibling	Isaac Spears ( - )
Sibling	Rachel Spears ( - )