James Grant Sanford Jack Speirs (1821 - abt. 1864)

Born 23 Sep 1821 in Abbey, Renfrewshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth Byard — married 16 Nov 1845 in Saint Leonards,Shoreditch,London,England

Descendants

Died about May 1864 at about age 42 in Stepney, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

James Grant Sanford Jack Speirs was born on 23 September 1821 in probably in Johnstone near Paisley in Renfrewshire, Scotland. He had at least 2 older siblings (baptismal records found , looking for records for more) and 2 younger brothers ( no birth / baptismal records found but references in Census, death records and family letters etc) . His father James Speirs, was 27 and his mother, Mary Irvin (Irvine? Irven ) , 30. He was baptised 7 Oct 1821.

There was much puzzling over where James’ three Middle names came from. “Grant, Sanford and Jack” seemed to appear only in the birth and death records for James GSJ Speirs - no where else in the family. That was until it was discovered that his father was James Radical Speirs “who” in the previous year had been one of the “leaders” in the Radical wars - a week of unrest, protests and mass strikes; protesting the Governments corruption greed and lack of concern for the people. One of the hopes was for the working man to be able to vote. James role was mainly protesting, striking, handing out pamphlets which criticised the government and encouraged his fellow weavers to strike for change.

However, James had been hunted down, incarcerated and tried for High treason for these crimes in 1820. Several others had been hung, beheaded , drawn and quartered for their crimes. James however, after a trial with high public interest, was found NOT GUILTY in August 1820. Grant and Sanford were the defence advocates in Jame’s trial. P & J Jack were the writers in the trial. So relieved and grateful to have escaped with his life, James named his next born child “ James Grant Sanford Jack Speirs”.

At this stage, research has not uncovered what happened to the family in the next 20 years though they certainly maintained their connections with Johnstone, in Renfrewshire as their daughter James GSJ Speirs’ sister married Robert Love in the Parish in 1837. In

There is a death record for a Mary Speirs (His mother?) when James was 3. If this is correct his father remarrIed and had at least 2 more children. However, this is surmising - unsure of facts and dates at this stage. I can not find Scottish census records for 1841 for any of the family. Had they moved south at this stage? Or had their mother died and the children were with other family? There are definite records and references for at least 2 younger brothers. William and David.

James moved to London and began working as a painter (house painter and/ or boat painter) in the Limehouse region He was 24 when he married Elizabeth Mary Byard (daughter of William James Byard a boat builder). on 16 November 1845. His father James (Radical) Speirs is listed as a Spirit Merchant on the Marriage Record.

They had eight children in 15 years. His youngest was only 2 when James died.

• Elizabeth Amelia Speirs ( born 5 Oct 1846 Baptised St Annes Middlesex London died 1881). [Elizabeth Amelia Speirs was born on 5 October 1846 in Middlesex London when her father, James, was 25, and her mother, Elizabeth, was 20. She married Charles Reynolds on 18 August 1868 in London, London. They had two children during their marriage. She died as a young mother in April 1881 at the age of 34.]
• James William Henry Speirs was born in October 1848 in Limehouse, Middlesex, when his father, James, was 27 and his mother, Elizabeth, was 22. He married Betsey Wilkins and they had two children together. He then married Adelaide E Speirs on 13 October 1900 in Plaistow, Essex. He died in July 1932 in West Ham, Essex, at the age of 83.
• Mary Jane Speirs was born in 1849 in Middlesex, when her father, James, was 28, and her mother, Elizabeth, was 23. She married in January 1873 in Stepney, London.
• William Grant Speirs was born in January 1852 in London, London, his father, James, was 30 and his mother, Elizabeth, was 26. He married Mary Ann Perry Hamshere on 8 July 1878 in his hometown. They had nine children in 14 years, the elder 4 children in Limehouse London and then the younger 5 after emigrating in 1880 to Tasmania . He died on 18 March 1924 in Launceston, Tasmania, at the age of 72.
• Alfred Speirs was born in 1854 in Limehouse, Middlesex, his father, James, was 33 and his mother, Elizabeth, was 28. James died when Alfred was only 10 years old.
• Sarah Speirs was born on 20 December 1857 in Limehouse, Middlesex, when her father, James, was 36, and her mother, Elizabeth, was 31. Sarah married John Finch A carpenter joiner on 15 July 1883 She died in 1929 in Essex at the age of 72.
• Edwin Robert Speirs was born in April 1860, his father, James, was 38 and his mother, Elizabeth, was 34. He married Alice Susannah White on 12 February 1882. He died in January 1927 in Romford, Essex, at the age of 66.
• Henry D Speirs (Called Harry by the family) was born on 10 March 1862 in Limehouse, Middlesex, when James, was 40 and Elizabeth, 36. His father died when Henry was only 2. Henry married Mira Louisa Willson on 28 January 1883 in Bethnal Green, Middlesex. They had eight children in 21 years. He died in December 1944 in Willesden, Middlesex, at the age of 82.

In the 1851 England Census Name James Speirs Age28Estimated Birth Year1823 Relation HeadSpouse's NameElizabeth SpeirsGenderMaleWhere bornScotlandCivil parishLimehouseCounty/IslandMiddlesexCountryEnglandRegistration districtStepneySub-registration districtLimehouseED, institution, or vessel18NeighboursView others on pageHousehold schedule number105Piece1554Folio506Page number28 Household Members Name John SweanyAge71 Theos SmithAge46 Thos. WardellAge38 James SpeirsAge28 Elizabeth SpeirsAge26 Elizabeth SpeirsAge4 James SpeirsAge3 May SpeirsAge2

In the 1861 Census, James and his wife and Family (7 of his 8 children had been born at the time of this census.) and 3 boarders, were living in Mary Street, Limehouse, Listed on the census record are James Speirs. Head. 39 Married. House Painter. Born Scotland Elizabeth Speirs. Wife. 37 Married Born Limehouse. Elizabeth Speirs. Daughter 14 James Speirs. Son. 12 scholar Mary Speirs. Daughter 11 scholar William Speirs. Son. 9 scholar Alfred Speirs. Son. 7. scholar Sarah Speirs. Daughter 3. Scholar Edwin Speirs. Son. 10 months. William Speirs. Brother 31. Single Merchant Seaman. Scotland Burfannis Cock. Boarder 27 Single. Merchant Seaman. Somerset. William Ager Lodger. 47 Widower Cooper in several. Essex

James Grant Sanford Jack Speirs died in April 1864 in London, London, at the age of 42, and was buried in Tower Hamlets as James Grant Sanford Jack Speirs.

His widow was surrounded by a supportive family who lived close by and supported the children into work etc. eg William Grant Speirs was offered an apprenticeship with his uncle.

Sources

• Birth entry full name matches with death record in London except surname of child is misspelt Spiers whilst father is spelt SPEIRS in same document. On all London records,his name is spelt SPEIRS rather than ie.

• 07/10/1821 SPIERS, JAMES GRANT SAN (Old Parish Registers Births 559/ 60 55 Abbey) Page 55 of 351 SPIERS JAMES GRANT SAN JAMES SPIERS/MARY IRVIN FR2018 (FR2018) M 07/10/1821 559/ 60 55 Abbey [1]

• Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1861. Data imaged from The National Archives, London, England. Class: RG 9; Piece: 289; Folio: 113; Page: 5; GSU roll: 542607. James is listed as a house painter in the 1861 census

• Title London, England, City of London and Tower Hamlets Cemetery Registers, 1841-1966.
• NameJas Grant Sanford Jack SpiersAge42Birth Date1822Burial Date31/05/1864Burial PlaceLondon EnglandReference NumberCTHC/01/047
• NameJames Grant Sanford Jack SpeirsAge42Birth Date1822Burial Date01/06/1864Burial PlaceLondon EnglandReference NumberCTHC/01/013