For Week 3 of Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, the prompt is “Unusual Name”.
While looking at my tree for an unusual name, “Speas” stood out. I have seen it written as Speas, Speace, Spes, Spies and Spease.
A search on Google found that Speas is usually a surname. According to the website, HouseofNames.com, the name Speas is Norman in origin. (you can read more at the above link).
Since beginning my research I have found three Speas in my tree. Mother, daughter and granddaughter. I am not sure where the name comes from or how many others may have this name as I haven’t done a lot of research on this line.
My 6x great grandmother was Speas Margery _____ (maiden name unknown). I have no other information on her at this time other than she married George Virgin sometime before 1758 and they had at least 3 children, all girls.
One of their daughters, my 5x great grandmother, was Speas Virgin. She was born about 1758 in Axminster, England and died in about 1833, aged 75. She married Hugh Champ before 1781, and they had at least 7 children.
Their daughter, my 4x great grandmother, was Speas Champ. She was born 24 December 1795 in Axminster, England and died 1882 in Weymouth, Dorset, England, aged 86. She married Luke Stagg sometime before 1822 and they had at least 5 children.
Their daughter Hope Stagg married George Chislett in 1851, and they were two of my immigrant ancestors into Australia in 1857.
