Another local history story.
William Speer believed born 1717 died 1805 (Gentleman's magazine) described as a senior clerk in the Treasury. Owned property in Fulham/Hammersmith. Married Katherine nee Wilson in 1759. She inherited property at Prospect Place, Westminster (later Old Queen St). That became their London home. She died 1780 & is buried at Thames Ditton. On the strength of his Prospect Park property he voted (Tory) in Westminster in St Margaret, estminster, and St John the Evangelist
In 1778 he began acquiring land in Thames Ditton, initially in Weston Green in the NW corner of the parish. There's a large amount of material at Surrey History Centre of which I'm aware.
For William Speer b. abt 1717
Q1: detailed dpob / dpod for William?
Q2: any fuller details on him esp. his work at the Treasury?
In about 1765 William x Katheriine had a son, also William. I know that they had at least three daughters, the third of which was Frances died 1861.
Q3: dates for offspring of William Speer x Katherine?
Q4: definitive address for the property they lived in as their country home in Weston Greem, Thames Ditton? (Not the many farms and other houses William bought to let out). Its not totally clear when William the younger b abt 1760 died: ancestry records give buried Thames Ditton St Nicholas 19 April 1844 in his 79th year curate Henry S Pollard, but Surrey History Centre's Speer papers give May 1846 as the date of his decease in connection with the will, and his descendant in the 1960s in private correspondence with a local historian gave 1845). I am particularly interested in William the younger. He bought the Lordship of the Manor of Weston from the Crown Estate in 1801 (I have photos of the full deeds) and ruthlessly added to the Speer land portfolio here and in Esher and Epsom, winding up with 660 acres - almost a quarter - of the parish of Thames Ditton. His descendants maintain that he sired 19 children but many died in childhood. I don't yet have the name of his wife nor the marriage details, but I know that she died before 1841. His eldest surviving son was Wilfred b. 1800, on whom I have some detail (studied at Trinity Cambridge, ordained around 1831, he was suspended from his position as incumbent of Thames Ditton for persistent drunkenness). Another son was Capt Wilhelm Speer of the 71st Highlanders died 1857. Daughters included Maria and Cecilia or Cecelia. Cecilia married Hannibal Sandys 05/12/1825
William the younger also gave his town address as Park Prospect Westminster (and also voted Tory), while his address in Weston Green was probably either (or both of) Weston Grove or Weston Grange. His occupation (if other than landowner and property speculator) is unclear.
for William Speer b. abt 1765:
Q5: definitive dpob / dod?
Q6: marriage and spouse?
Q7: occupation ? (there may be clues in parliamentary records of the secret vote, where he is mentioned in passing: I wonder if he followed his father into the Treasury?). For one year he was Sherriff of Surrey.
Q8: definitive list of children dob/dod?
Anything this wonderful forum can hunt down would be really useful. Thanks.