I am trying to determine the ancestry of my ggg-grandfather, John L. Springer. He was born about 1807 in Kentucky (probably Barren County). Census records have him in Smith County, Tenn.(1830 and 1840) and then Texas County, Mo (1850)and Shannon County, Mo(1880). According to the death certificate of his daughter Minerva and census records, his wife was Nancy Vaughn, also born in Kentucky. Nancy and John had 4 children, Mary (married David Cole), Louisa Jane (married Simeon Summers), James Patterson (may have died in Civil War), and Minerva (married Daniel Summers). Any information on this couple would be greatly appreciated - I've been stuck here for years!

Nancy

I believe John L.'s parents were John Springer and his wife Mary Lawrence, who moved to Barren Co., Kentucky, from Union Co., South Carolina. In Barren Co., they were members of the Mill Creek (Old Mulkey) Baptist Church, along with several other Springers and other families from Union Co. John L. had a sister Mary, a sister Elizabeth who married a Rush, and a brother named Aaron.
I have a lot of information on some of these people, if anyone is interested.

Richard Sears

I am VERY interested, Richard. Esp dates for John and Mary.

pezealogy@gmail.com

thnx!

melissa springer robards

Richard, I am very interested in the Springer family from S C,
as far back i have been able to find is Ezekiel Springer, Union County S C. I have a John in my line but do not have the L.
Would love to trade notes with you.
Lou Kincaid: lckincaid@centurytel.net

Richard,

Thank you so much for your reply. I would be interested in anything you could tell me about John and Mary Lawrence. Was John also in Smith County, Tenn? I communicated a few years ago with a descendant of Aaron Springer's, who also thought John L and Aaron were possibly brothers. Aaron settled in the same area of Missouri where John L. and Nancy lived.

Thank you again!
Nanchy

Richard,
Do you have a birth date for the brother Aaron? This is my oldest Springer relative from Union Co, SC that we have never connected to any other siblings.

David Springer

David,

Here is some of what I have about Aaron Springer:

AARON SPRINGER, son of John and Mary (Lawrence) Springer; he was born 1802/3 Union County, South Carolina [1850 census confirms birth date and state; entry for his daughter Martha on 1910 census gives his birthplace as North Carolina]; died in the 1850s in Ripley County, Missouri; married (1) BARBARA JONES, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (______) Jones; land grant on Salt Lick Creek, Smith County, Tennessee, 1829; surveyed for him, as assignee of Nathan Gass, 40 acres on Little Salt Lick Creek by Warrant #463, entered 17 September 1834, recorded 3 February 1835, grant issued 1 March 1835 [chain carriers: Henry York & John Leonard; marker: Aaron SPRINGER] (Grants South of Walker’s Line, Survey # 1377); married (2) ca. 1846? SUSANNA PRICE (b. 1819/20 Tenn.); Thomas PRICE (b. 1838/9 Tenn.) was living in the SPRINGER household in 1850; Susanna was the mother of Aaron’s Springer’s last two children.


If any of that rings a bell, please let me know how you descend from Aaron.

Richard Sears

Richard:
In your information is there any clue as to the relationship between John or Ezekiel Springer and Ruth Springer Holmes? Ruth and her husband Walter Holmes are my g-g-grandparents. Walter and Ezekiel used the same witnesses for land transactions in Union County, SC, in the late 18th century; then appear together in Barren County (now Monroe County), KY. I can't determine who Ruth's parents or siblings were.
According to the church minutes, Walter and Ruth Springer Holmes were members of Mill Creek Baptist Church from June 13, 1801, until September 1806. Other members of the church included William Holmes (joined 1805) and Polly Holmes (joined June 1812). The latter probably was the Polly Springer who was wed to James Holmes by Rev. John Mulkey on Apri1 12, 1808.
Ezekiel Springer and his wife Rebekah joined this church in January 1799. Except for Ezekiel’s dismissal in 1806 and readmission in 1810 after a doctrinal split of the membership, both remained until August 1828, when they moved to Illinois. Rachel Springer joined May 1802. A list of members in 1798-1799, posted on the interior wall of the Old Mulkey Meeting House, includes John Springer, Mary Springer and Polly Springer, listed together, and Betsy Springer, listed separately. The minutes indicate that John Sr. and Mary Springer joined February 1805 and left November 1811. It's possible that this couple had left the church earlier and then rejoined. I didn't notice Dennis Springer on the church rolls, but he and Sally Gotts were married by Rev. John Mulkey on June 27, 1813.
After Walter and Ruth Holmes withdrew from the church in 1806, they moved to Bedford County, TN, and then to Cotaco (now Morgan Countyy, AL.
-- Ted Holmes

Ted:

I found this entry in the Union Co., S.C., deed abstracts. It certainly suggests a connection between this Walter Holmes (who must be a bit older than Ruth Springer, if he is the Walter who married her) and Dennis Springer, who disappears from the deed records of the county after this one mention (to be replaced by a younger Dennis later).



DENNIS Springer, b. before 1758.

Union Co. SC Deed Abstracts, Holcomb, Vol. 1, p. 77. Original Deed Book B: 309-10.
3 Feb 1779, Walter Holmes of State of SC to Jno McCooll of same, for £100 sterling, 450 acres granted to Walter Holmes 23 June 1774 in Berkley County in the fork between Broad and Saludy Rivers on the Drafts of fairforest and Browns Creek. Walter Holmes (Seal), Wit: John McKibbin, Andrew Thompson, Dennis Springer. Proved in Union County by the oath of Andrew Thompson 17 Dec 1789 before Thos Brandon, J.P.

I have another question. What is the evidence for the presence of Walter and Ruth in Bedford County, Tennessee? That could prove to be a very important connection for the Union County Springers, given the origin and names of the Springers in Bedford County.

Richard Sears

Richard, where does the birth date (before 1758) come from for Dennis? Because he would have to be 'of age' to be a witness?? And how do we know which Dennis this is? If this is Dennis who m. Margaret Goforth, it would establish his birth year earlier than the 1768 I often see. If it's an earlier Dennis, who are the possible candidates?

This birth date of before 1758 also puts this Dennis closer in age to Ruth.

I should not be reading about multiple Dennises before I've had my morning coffee.