The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-12
mo. 224D
sPoTswooD FAMILY.

j. u y :
OF the many early colonial fanilie,
given. we have yet to produce one Of
tho most distinguished which Virginia
fortunately had at a time when she
required a Governor moro In accord
with the settlers, and who became
at once one OF their most popular
leaders and promoters In the advance
| rnent OF education. religion and COM
inercial developments.
The family OF Governor Spotswood
has been so fully written as to leave
little which can be added; yet we give
the arms and descent, which. In some
points IL not clearly understood, and
thus In tracing the several connections
made with other Virginia families
equally as prominent. we can show to
the living descendants claim they
have. which they may we'll be proud
OF as being connected with one OF the
most brilliant, spirited, bold and 70.
mantle knights which ever graced tho
soil OF the New World.
The name is given among the old
Scottish barons as "Spottiswoode," or
rather. spots woode," a local place
IN Scotland where they originated.
le4e. In England the name became
spottswood. and upon reaching Amer
lea, simply Spotswood, though fire.
The family Is directly traced from
Robert-de- spottiswoodc. time OF Alex
ander III. OF Scotland, 1249. Seventh
in descent from him was John Spottis-
woode. born 1910. who was great
Protestant divine. whose son, John
Spottiswoode. born 1895. became Arch.
bishop of Glasgow. Scotland, and died
In London. 1899. Els second son. Sir
hobert Spottis%oode. was put to death
by the Coyenantsrs for adhering to
the Marquis of aIok:rose. January IL
1876. Hlr son Robert. who died 1888,
married widow. Catherine Elliott
whose son by her first marriage was
General Elliott, progenitor OF another
noted Virginia family. The only child
OF Robert and Catherine (Elliott)
Spottswood was Alexander Spotts-
wood. born 1876. at Tangier. Africa,
then an English colony. Upon return.
Ing to England, though comparatively
young man. Alexander Spottswood
was sent to the Virginia colony MS its
Governor to succeed Governor Mott,
though Colonel Robert Hunter had
been commissioned Governor, but never
reached Virginia. having been made a
prisoner by the French.
Governor Alexander spottswood
reached the colony and assumed COM
mand In 1710, and was welcomed by
the settlers generally, as now being
made more like citizens OF the home
government under the provision OF
the habeas corpus act.
We will not attempt to 20 into a
minute detail OF the many Interesting
events in the life OF Governor Spots
wood, for they are already part of
Virginia history. Being man of
immense wealth. he could easily in
dulge his ambition as a leader OF ex.
plorations. developments and general
throughout the colony,
which raised the dropping spirits OF
the colonists and made him very pop
ular; but 1t is with his interesting
family we Wish to deal and to bring
forth the family connections as clearly
as possible.
The English family OF spottiswoode
was well established in London by
William Spottiswoode. son Of Andrew
spottiswoode, who represented Col
chister In Parliament in 1881. This
William. born 1925. died 1888. became
mighty educated, and as a scientist and
nathe matician was made president OF
the London Mathematical Society, and
IN 1873 was elected president of the
Royal Society and British Association.
He Travelled a great deal and wrote
many valuable scientific treatlses. An
1reW Spottiswoode. his father. was the
junior partner of the great London
printing firm OF A. g. A., 5Spottis. |
woode. OF New Street Square,, sLondon.
one OF whose publications. In s1S31 |
'Maunders Biographical Treasury" ia
now before us. which was reprinted In |
IN eighth edition by Longman, Brown,
Green & Co. In 1851, These were also
descendants of John Spottiswood. Of |
Scotland, already mentioned who left
two sons. John and Sir Robert Spots
wood, the latter OF whom was grand
father of Alexander, his father being
Or. Robert spottswood. OF the English
navy. The arms as given by Governor
spotswood. OF Virginia, are those Of
his grandfather, Sir Robert, which
are thus described:
Argent. chevron gules. between
three oak trees eradlcated, vert. Crest
An eagle rising, gules, looking at
me sun in Its splendorI Motto-Patior|
Ut potlar Il suffer so as to succeed)."
The arms OF the Scottish family
originally bore on the chevron a boar's
head, as one Of the Gordon family had
ntermarrled with them and thus added
: part Of the Gordon arms, but the
English never retained It,
upon coming to America Governor
spotswood continued to use these arms
70 here given, and which appear In
book plates and on the silver OF the
family, and can be right
'ully used by the descendants now liy-
ng.
Governor Alexander spotswood mar
lied. some say, Jane Butler, sister OF
he Duke Of ormand; others say she
vas Butler Bryan. or Brain, OF West.
England, and others still as
'ert that she was the daughter OF
Richard Brayne. The last, says DR.,
slaughter, seems to be the true solu-
ion. Her Christian name was Butler,
Ter godfather being the Duke Of Or
nand. "rhs Richard Brayne and his
Wife had four ughters-Anne. Diana,
Dorothy and Butler. The last. Butler,
married. Mat,-GenI Alexander Spots
wood; Dorothea marrled Elliott Benz
;er, an English gentleman; the two
lthaCs.a AnQe and Diana remaluad inl