Found our Irish Roots in Time for St. Patrick's Day

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Just heard from my sister Pamela, who is our family historian/genealogist, on this St. Patrick's Day, to establish our Irish roots.

On my mother's (Harriet Louise Speer Jewell) side, we can trace the lineage back to Thomas Speer, Irish, born 1681 Stewartstown, Co., Tyrone, Ulster, Northern Ireland; died 1779 in Stewartstown, Co., Tyrone, Ulster, Northern Ireland.

Two generations later, James Black Speer was born, married Frances Metzgar and came to America. James Black Speer was a blacksmith! Their son, James Metzgar Speer (married Mary Kirker--whose parents were Scottish, living in Ireland) had James Kirker Speer (my maternal grandfather) (married Alice Fulmer--Scottish) (my maternal grandmother).

And now 2 generations later, as Pamela puts it: "the Irish blood is thin, but the green eyes, a touch of red hair, and a fair bit of fiestiness still remains . . ."

--Jim Jewell