First Families of Orangeburgh District, South Carolina
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Speigner (Spaigner, Speigener, Speigenor, Spigener, Spignar, Spigner)
1. JOHN GEORGE SPEIGNER was born abt. 1710 in Austria and died in 1767 in Orangeburg S. C. His wife, Mary, may have also been born in Austria[2,4].
He and his wife, Gateway Ancestors, arrived at the Port of Charles Town, S. C. on March 2, 1753 coming on the Ship "Elizabeth", Captain Ross, Commanding, having made his way from Rotterdam, Holland[6]. They were among Swiss-German settlers who contracted with Nicholas Purcell, Agent, Rotterdam, Holland to bring them over to this country[1,2].
Evidence points to them being members of the Anabaptist movement. It is further evident that the original Speigner family was from Austria, moving to South Germany prior to the reformation to obtain a more favorable religious atmosphere[1,2].
They arrived with six (6) children: John Samuel 20 years old, Eva Susannah 18 years old, John George 15 years old, George Frederick 15 years old, Barbara 10, and Anna Maria 5 years old[6].
Pursuant to a precept directed by George Hunter, Esquire, his Majesty's Surveyor General dated the 23 rd day of March 1753[6], John Hamilton , Deputy Surveyor laid out a tract of land unto JOHN GEORGE SPAIGNER containing four hundred acres, situate lying and being on the South Side of Saludy [River] on a branch called Beaver Dam in Saxe Gotha Township. The Surveyor General certified his plat on May 25,1753[7] and the grant was dated July 4,1754[3,8].
The Fourth of July is celebrated by the Speigner family not only as Independence Day, but as the day the Speigners first owned land in America[3].
A map dated February 20,1999 is included showing JOHN GEORGE SPAIGNER's Kings Grant of 400 acres. It appears to be drawn over a map showing current roads and property lines[5].
Children of JOHN GEORGE SPEIGNER and wife MARY are:
a. John Samuel Speigner, b.1733 Germany[6], d.1773 S.C, m. 1753 Miss Christina Hanser, b abt. 1735, d. Sept 27, 1807, the daughter of Margaret Hanser. They settled in The Congaree Settlement which later became Richland County.
b. Eva Susannah Speigner, b 1735 in Germany[6].
c. John George Speigner, Jr, b.1738 in Germany[6]. He fought in Cherokee Indian War in 1759-60.
d. George Frederick Speigner, b.1738 in Germany[6], m. Margaret (?) Jackson. He fought in Cherokee Indian War in 1759-60.
Note: References 1 and 4 have George Frederick. as age 13 (born 1740) in his father's petition while reference 6 has both he and John George, Jr. as age 15 making them twins. We have chosen to go with reference 6 (a transcription of the petition from the Council Journals) but readers should be aware that there is disagreement among the references as to George Frederick's age.
e. Barbara Speigner, b.1743 in Germany[6].
f. Anna Maria Speigner, b.1748 in Germany[6].
REFERENCES:
1.Beiman Otis Prince, Sr. The Spigener-Haigler-Dantzler Genealogy
2. Beiman Otis Prince, Sr. The Speigner-Spigener-Spigner Family
3. J. McNary Spigner Remarks prepared for the Orangeburgh German- Swiss Genealogical Society on the occasion of Oktoberfest, October 2, 1993
4. J. McNary Spigner prepared, corrected and refined by Beimen Otis Prince, Sr. - John George Speigner Genealogical Chart [3]
5. Claude R. McMillan Jr., Map of Kings Grant of land from George 2nd to JOHN GEORGE SPAIGNER, Dated February 20,1999.
6. Brent Holcomb, Petitions for Land from the South Carolina Councul Journals, Vol. III : 1752-1753, 1997.
7. SC Archives, Colonial Plat Books, (Spraigner, John George), Ser. S213184, Vol. 0012, Pg. 00161, Itm. 01, 25 May 1753.
8. SC Archives, Colonial Land Grants, (Spaigner, John George), Ser. S213019, Vol. 0006, Pg. 00042, 4 Jul 1754.
Other references to this surname are found in OSGSG Newsletters: Vol. 1, pp. 3, 59; Vol. 2, pp. 152, 160; Vol. 3, p. 31; Vol. 4, pp. 22, 25, 28, 54; Vol. 5, p. 4; Vol. 6, pp. 51, 90, 117.
Information provided by Carolyn Haigler Black and James Benjamin Black III on October 13, 2006.