Ahnentafel #433 - Margaret Cloyd

Margaret Cloyd

Born: ca. 1760 Virginia or North Carolina
Died: between 1812 and 1820 Oldham County, Kentucky

Buried: probably in the Speer family graveyard behind her son's home, Floydsburg, Kentucky

Married: ca. 1784 John Speer probably in North Carolina

Her grandson Dr. John Grove Speer wrote the following about Margaret Cloyd:

Grand-mother Speer's maiden name was Margaret Cloyd; where born I do not know. She had a brother named Solomon Cloyd, who came from Virginia in early times and settled in the then Green County, Ky, on Little Pitman creek, where he died, leaving a family of six children (four sons and two daughters), of whom I shall say something later. Gen. Joseph McDowell, of Revolutionary war fame, was her uncle, whose life and service in freedom's cause is made  honorable mention of in our country's history of that struggle. (See Irving's Life of Washington.)  

The Catawba river runs through Burke County, and McDowell County joins Burke on the west, and Marion is the county seat. After her marriage she visited her uncle Joseph McDowell, and it seems he thought very highly of her, for when her visit was out and she was ready to return home, he gave her a negro girl and boy to take home with her. I have thought her mother was a sister of Joseph McDowell - if not, McDowell's wife was a Cloyd.  I am inclined to the first view, for I always heard it said that he was her uncle. It was said that he was wealthy and owned a good many negroes. My grand-mother either hired these colored servants, or they were a present to her her from her uncle McDowell.  I take it that the McDowells are of Scotch decent. 

Grandfather John Speer died during the winter of 1811 or 1812, and father [John Speer Jr.] wnet back and brought his mother to Kentucky, where he had moved the fall before.  He was born August 20, 1785, and had lived with his father and mother until about twenty-four years of age. I recollect her very well.  I have seen her many times sitting by the fire with her nice bright coffee-pot on some live coals, and a nice turkey wing in hand with which to heat them up to the boiling point. From this you conclude she was fond of good coffee, and so she was.  No matter about the price, she got it. She was one of those women so useful in society; intelligent and kind, and ready day or night to render whatever assistance was in her power to relieve others of suffering and pain.  She was often called to attend the sick, and especially sick women, in which service she had very few superiors. She was of medium height, slender, and as straight as an arrow, very fair skin, eyes a beautiful blue, hair dark, and movements graceful. I love to think of her, and can fancy that I can see the beloved going to church to hear the heralds of the Cross proclaim Christ and Him crucified, who, for our sake, became poor, that through his poverty we might be made rich. 

A thrilling incident once occurred on her return while she was attending church. It frightened a congregation attending and enjoying religious services almost out of their wits, and the whole country in that section. this was during the great war in 1781. She was a Presbyterian and one of the number who left there in double quick, as all who were listening to the preacher were advised by him to do. Talk about perilous times will you; those there had a right to think perilous times had come, for not many lives might be at stake, but all they had accumulated upon this green earth swept away, consumed, or destroyed in short order. This took place on Sunday and they were not looking for so great an army of visitors, and then, too, they were not prepared to give them such a reception as they could wish. No doubt many of them thought they were caught in the middle of a bad fix, for when the preacher was about half through his sermon a messenger rushed in much frightened and said the British were landing an army of soldiers on the Yadkin river and would soon be scouring the country for something on which to live. Your cattle and stock they will take and rob you of all your valuables. Now, said the preacher, "hasten to your homes, hide away what you can not take, drive all the stock you can to some safer place; save all your precious things and silverware, and may the Lord bless you."  This was one thing she never could forget. So today memory calls back to us many things that transpired in early youth and we seem to see them as they were then taking place with the persons and places and attendant joys and sorrows. How wonderful constructed is man!

You ask, why so much about Grand-mother Speer? Because she was the first person who saw and dressed me, and watched over and did so many kind things for me in my childhood days. Because I was with her nearly all the time until her death, and loved her, and how could I say less?

I was taught to honor grand-father and grand-mother, which, in the nature of things was, and ever shall be praiseworthy.  It is also right, because the Lord commanded it, adding a promise of a long life to those who do so. 

I am writing this sketch as my thoughts lead me, without any prearranging plan, not desiring to speak more highly of one than another. I esteem all alike, worthy of my love and gratitude, for they were all honorable and worthy of respect and esteem and due attention will be given each one bye and bye. 

Records: 

1790 - Burke County, NC census - a Jno. Spears family

• 2 males under 16 John Jr. & ? 
• 2 males over 16 John Sr. and ? 
• 1 female Margaret 

1800 - Burke County, North Carolina census - a John Spear family

• 2 males under 10
• 1 male 10-16 John Jr. 
• 1 male 26-45 John Sr. 
• 2 females under 10 
• 1 female 10-16
• 1 female 26-45 Margaret
• 9 slaves

1810 - Burke County, NC census - John Spear family in Morganton

• 2 males under 10 - grandsons Samuel & John Grove
• 3 males 16-26 John Jr. and unknown 
• 1 male 45+ John Sr. 
• 1 woman 16-26 daughter-in-law Mary Barbary
• 1 woman 45+ Margaret
• 3 slaves

1812 -  moved to Oldham County, Kentucky after the death of her husband

1820 - Margaret does not appear on the 1820 census with her son John. 

Children: 
unnamed daughter b. 1784-1790 ? 
unnamed son b. 1784-1790 ? 
John
unnamed daughter b. 1790-1800 ?
unnamed daughter b. 1790-1800 ? 
unnamed son b. 1790-1800 ?