Benjamin Spann Family History

Benjamin Span/Spanne Family
England and Ireland

Rev. Benjamin Span/Spanne
b. 20 Jan 1658 Bromborough, Cheshire Co., England
christened: 24 Jan 1658
d. before 1718 county Longford, Ireland

m. Catherine Smyth before 1689
b.
d.
father: ? mother:

his father - Richard Spann(Spanne)
his mother- Dorcas Broster

Children
Captain John Spann	b. about 1689 County Cavan, Ireland	d. about 1769 Dobbs Co., NC	m. Mary ?
Samuel Span	b. about 1690 Chester Co., England	d.

There are several Spann families who come to the colonies. There is a strain from England and this one from Ireland. It is conceivable that they are related to one another at some point. This particular strain is the original research of Joe Spann who is in the process of writing a book on the Spann families. He has completed the first three chapters. According to his research, Rev. Benjamin Spann was a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. A couple of his sons, including Capt. John Spann, attended the college. Apparently John Spann didn't complete his studies which may have cause a split with his father.

1674, May 16 - Benjamin Span(Spanne) is listed as an alumni of Trinity College in Dublin who entered the school at age 17. The following statement gives his birth place as Bromborough, Cheshire and his father being Richard Span, "a private gentleman" and comes from the "Alumni Dublinenses" by Burtchaell and Sadleir, Dublin 1935 in the collection of the Trinity College Library. It is a register of graduates of Trinity College from 1593-1862. It was provided to me by Caoimhe Ní Ghormáin, Assistant Librarian, Manuscripts Department, Trinity College Library, Dublin.

"Span (Spanne), Benjamin, a Pensioner (fee-paying student), entered the college on 16 May 1674, aged 17. Prior to that he was educated by a Mr Golburne in Cheshire, England. He was born in Bromborough, Cheshire. He became a scholar in 1675. A scholar was a student awarded special privileges for high achievement in examinations. He graduated a Bachelor of Arts in the spring of 1678 and was awarded a Masters degree in the summer of 1681. Benjamin was the son of Richard, a private gentleman."
[Burtchaell and Sadleir, Alumni Dublinenses]

Benjamin had "the cure of a parish" in County Longford, Ireland. [Joe Spann, "Captain John Spann (1689-1769)", Rootsweb.com. 15 Jun 2005]

Benjamin Spann's brother was Jonathan Spann commander of the British Navy in the Caribbean. [Joe Spann, "Ancestor of Capt John Spann", GenForum.com - January 06, 2003]

The following records come from the "Alumni Dublinenses" by Burtchaell and Sadleir, Dublin 1935 in the collection of the Trinity College Library.

1704, April 19 - Samuel Span, entered Trinity College in Dublin at age 14.
Span, Samuel, a Pensioner (ie. a fee-paying student), entered the college 19 April 1704, aged 14. Also previously educated by a Mr Griffin in co Longford, Samuel was the son of Benjamin, a cleric, and was born in Chester, England. He graduated a Bachelor of Arts in the spring of 1708 and received his Masters degreee in the summer of 1711.

1705, May 30 - John Span, a Pensioner, entered the college 30 May 1705, aged 16. Prior to tht he was educated by a Mr Griffin in co Longford. John was the son of Benjamin Span, a cleric, and was born in co Cavan. He does not appear to have proceeded to degree level. [Burtchaell and Sadleir, Alumni Dublinenses]

It's interesting that the younger son, Samuel, enters Trinity College almost a year before his older brother, John. They also were born in different places. That indicates to me that Benjamin must have kept his English contacts active or that he had family in England. Cavan and Longford counties are next to one another in what is referred to as the Midlands, almost in the dead center of Ireland.

"Captain John Spann was born 1689 in County Cavan, Ireland. He was a son of Rev. Benjamin Spann. John came to Mount Royal, North Carolina from Dublin, Ireland about 1723." [Joe Spann - Genforum email April 24, 2001]

It is quite feasible that the following records are for the Benjamin Span our relative. Place proximity and time period make this much more likely.
1707, Aug. 19 - A will is created for Rebecca Cuppaidge and witnessed Rev. Benjamin Span, clerk. apparently near or in Langer, Co., Cavan. The will is filed in Dublin.

Cuppaidge, Rebecca, Died 5 Jan 1711. created 19 Aug 1707. Préces, 1/2 p. 17 March 1711.
"Her estates" to Sir Francis Hamilton of Castle Hamilton, Co. Cavan, Bar., and Dame Anne Hamilton his wife.
Witnesses: Rev. Benjamin Span, clerk. Rev. Maurice Neliga, Clerk, Alexander Brock, Gortnashamer, Co., Longford, Gent.
Memorial witnessed by: Richard Young, Lagher, Co. Cavan. gent., W. R. Rankin.
7.399, 2752

Sir Francis Hamilton (seal)
Dame Anne Hamilton (seal)
[Registry of Deeds, Abstracts of Wills, Vol. 1, 1708-1745, p. 24]

1708, July 21 - A registry of Deeds, records the estate of

Edgeworth, Francis, Edgeworthstown, Co., Longford,
Esq. 21 JULY 1708. Narrate, 1/2 p., 17 July 1722.
Wife mary Edgeworth, extx. Son Richd. Edgeworth (heir). "His own brother." Rev. Benjamin Span guardian of son.
Real and personal estate in Co., of Longford, or elsewhere, house in Dublin and "all his pretentions in world."
Witnesses: James Darby, John Forester, Dorothy Bradston.
Memorial witnessed by: John Forester, James Nugent lives at Carpenterstons, Co. Westmeath.
35 111, 21251, Richd. Edgeworth (seal)

[Registry of Deeds, Abstracts of Wills, Vol. 1, 1708-1745, p. 107]

1718 - A will is filed for rev. Benjamin Span, Temple-michael, co. Longford, clk.

[Index to Prerogative Wills of Ireland p. 434]

Although there are other Span/Spann wills listed in this book, they are a good deal later and mostly in Dublin.

Sources:

Burtchaell and Sadleir, Alumni Dublinenses, Dublin 1935
Caoimhe Ní Ghormáin , Assistant Librarian, Manuscripts Department, Trinity College Library, Dublin.
Eustace, Beryl. Registry of Deeds, Abstracts of Wills, Vol. 1, 1708-1745, Irish Mauscripts Commission, Dublin Stationary Office, 1956.
Index of Prerogative Wills of Ireland, 1536 - 1810. ancestry.com
Spann, Joe - records as given in emails on Genforum, various dates. 1999-2005 - jspann@pclc.lib.fl.us http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.spann/560/mb.ashx
The registers of baptisms, marriages and burials in the parish of Bromborough in the county of Chester, 1600-1726 - Church of England. Parish Church of Bromborough (Cheshire)

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