Spinks family genealogy
Formerly of Mount Nugent County Cavan
Collected and compiled by W. J. Simpson, Belfast.
Arms: Azure a cross mascully, argent between four eagles displayed or. Crest: A talbot passant gules, bezanteé gorged with three fusils argent.
This family is of Norman origin. At an early date we find the name spelled De Spynk. Thus, in the latter part of the 15th century, Nicholas De Spynk, was friar of the Monastery of Saint Augustine, at Warrington. Tradition states that the family came from Northamptonshire. Thomas Spincks, a trooper, who served in the Elizabethan wars, was the founder of the Irish branch of the family. He settled here in the latter end of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and obtained a grant of some land in Munster. In the calendar of Carew MSS., A.D. 1601—1603 (p. 81, No. 85), is the following letter from Lord Mountjoy to Sir G. Carew, dated June 13th, 1601, from the camp at Fagher:
“This bearer, Thomas Spincks, one of Sir Henry Daver’s troop, had his horse killed under him in service, and being not able to mount himself again, I licensed him to depart. Having some land in Munster, he desires to repair thither. I pray you give him your assistance as one that deserveth well.
“Signed,
“Mountjoy.”
During the 18th century, however, the Spinks’s are found, I may say exclusively, settled at Mountnugent, county Cavan. I have traced the family to:
1. William Spinks, who died April 3rd, 1820.
2. Ann Spinks, his wife, died Sept. 9th, 1788. Their children were:
3. Christopher Spinks, born June 30th, 1767.
4. Thomas Spinks, born Sept. 29th, 1769.
5. William Spinks, born April 19th, 1772.
6. Lucy Spinks, born October 10th, 1774.
7. Ellen Spinks, born June 5th, 1777.
8. Nugent Spinks, born Nov. 1st, 1779.
9. John Spinks, born July 13th, 1785.
10. Matthew Spinks, b. August 28th, 1788.
Christopher Spinks (No. 3 on the foregoing), m. Ellen Kellett, of a co. Cavan family, and had issue:
11. Anne.
12. Harriet.
13. Henry.
14. Charlotte.
15. Sophie.
16. Susannah.
17. Ellen.
18. William.
Ellen Spinks (No. 7 on the foregoing), m. William Young, grandson of John Young, Esquire, of Annahilla, county Tyrone (See “O’Hart’s Pedigrees,” 2nd Series, the “Vance” family, page 353), and had issue.
William Spinks (No. 18 on the foregoing), married Miss Hanbury, of a co. Meath family, and had issue:
19. Charles David Spinks.
20. Doctor Christopher Spinks, born 1822.
Charles David Spinks (No. 19 on the foregoing), settled in Dublin, and mar. Miss Lewis, of a co. Meath family, by whom he has issue; living A.D. 1887.
Doctor Christopher Spinks (No. 20 on the foregoing), settled at Warrington. He mar., A.D. 1851, Miss Forrest of Warrington. She died A.D. 1853; issue a boy who died in infancy, James Forrest Spinks, born and died A.D. 1853.
Doctor Spinks (No. 20), married, secondly, A.D. 1855, Eleanor Spence of Liverpool (b. 1835), by whom he has issue:
21. William, b. 1856, living A.D. 1887.
22. Annie-Margaret, born 1857, died 1863.
23. Rosina, b. 1859, d. 1863.
24. Eleanor, living A.D. 1887.
25. Clara-Matilda, b. 1862, died 1863.
26. Louisa, b. 1864, d. 1865.
27. Christopher, b. 1867, living A.D. 1887.
28. Henry, born 1869, living A.D. 1887.
29. Ada-Nina, living A.D. 1887.
30. Frederick Wigham, b. 1872, living A.D. 1887.
31. Arthur, born 1874, living A.D. 1887.
32. Ethel-Mary, living A.D. 1887.
We now return to Thomas Spinks (No. 4 on the foregoing). He was born Sept 29th, 1769, and died in Dublin, A.D. 1844, aged 75 years. He mar. Phoebe Speer, daughter of Henry Speer, of Tullybryan, county Tyrone. The ceremony was performed in Ballygawley by the Rev. Dr. Falls, December 24th, 1794. His wife died in Dublin on 24th Dec., 1855, aged 76 years. Their children:
33. Henry, b. in Ballygawley, d. A.D. 1809, and was buried on 27th March, in St. John’s Church, Manchester.
34. Ann Spinks, b. May 1st, 1797.
35. Thomas Spinks, born March 13th, 1800.
36. William Spinks, b. at Liverpool, 23rd Dec., 1803, baptized on 24th December, 1803, in St. Paul’s Church, by Rev. Henry Barton, M.A.
37. Phoebe Spinks, b. February 13th, 1805.
Ann Spinks (No. 34 on the foregoing), married William Young, the great-grandson of John Young, Esq., of Annahilla, county Tyrone (his mother being Ellen Spinks of Mountnugent, No. 7 on this pedigree), and left issue:
Phoebe Spinks (No. 37 on the foregoing), married George Lucy of Doogary, co. Fermanagh, who was lineally descended from “William Lucye, of Hanley, in ye shire of Oxford,” whose grandson, Anthony Lucye, was a freeholder in Magherstafanagh, co. Fermanagh, in the seventeenth century. There was issue by this marriage. (See “Lucy” pedigree.)