Godfrey Spruill was born about 1650 in Stirling, Scotland and died about 1719 in Tyrrell County, North Carolina. He migrated to the United States sometime before 1684. Godfrey received a patent of land (No. 399) of 340 acres October 31, 1684 in James City County, Virginia (William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 12, series 1, p. 106). On August 1, 1689 Godfrey Spruill, aged about 39, William Lewis and Joshua Wynne testified as to the winners of a horse race at Malvern Hills (Henrico Records, Virginia Historical Magazine Vol. 2, p. 296). Godfrey purchased 100 acres of land from Robert G. Sharp on August 15, 1689 (Henrico Co., VA Record Book 5, p. 564). On page 567 of the same book, Joanna Spruill relinquishes her dower right to this land which Godfrey sold to John Lowry (State Archives, Richmond, Mar 10. 1693/94). The Henrico minute book orphans court 1677, page 332, shows that on June 2, 1690 Doctor Spruell, along with John Cannon, Philemon Childers, and Robert Sharp are appointed to appraise the estate of Herbert Powell. He moved to North Carolina about 1704. The Land Grant Office in Raleigh, North Carolina, has record of Godfrey Spruill receiving a grant of 640 acres along the Scuppernong River. Memories and Records of Eastern North Carolina by Mary Weeks Lambeth notes the following: "At a Vestry meeting of St. Paul's Parish, on the 9th day of March, 1703-4, it was ordered that "Dr. Spruill be paid 5 pounds for the cure of Eleanor Adams, and on the 2nd day of March 1713-14, 12 pounds for the cure of Ebenezer Aldridge, as soon as money can be raised," by the present Church Wardens (Col. Recs.)." Godfrey's will is dated August 5, 1718 and states that he lives in North Carolina in the Province of Albemarle. It was proved in Chowan Court July 29, 1719. 

If you have additions or corrections to Godfrey's biography above, please email me.

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The Long Journey Home

Clan MacFarlane Sets Out to Reclaim Their Past in Loch Lomond
For 559 years the Clan MacFarlane held legal sway over the Parish of Arrochar, Scotland, from Glen Luss north to the upper reaches of Loch Lomond. It’s an area of great natural beauty but very meager resources. The Macfarlanes, therefore, had to cling tenaciously to their very existence by supplementing these meager rations with ill gotten gains from their richer neighbors. That they became the best in the business at the Highland Art of Cattle Rustling is supported by the well documented local nickname for the Moon, "MacFarlanes Lantern".

With our present day outlook this type of behavior in the modern world would be totally unacceptable. However, in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries in Scotland the ritual of cattle stealing from each other was commonplace. The MacFarlanes were unfortunate in that their skill enhanced their notoriety and led to the inevitable attention of the authorities. Despite this, their pride in their skill is shown in the name of their Clan Pibroch, "Thogail nam bo theid sinn"( to Lifting the cattle we shall go) written by their 12th chief,
Andrew the Wizard.

The Macfarlanes also engaged in more cooperative activities down through these 5 centuries, such as the defense of the Scottish Crown, which is evidenced by their Coat of Arms with imperial crown and Motto of "This I’ll Defend". They had strong participation at Bannockburn in 1314, Flodden, in 1513, Pinkie in 1547, and most notably at Langside in 1568 and Bothwell Bridge in 1679, when their ferocious Highland charges won the day. Their
defense of the crown in fact led to the destruction of their Island castles in Loch Lomond at Eilean-a-Bhuth and Inveruglas. This last by Cromwellian forces led by General Monck during the Imperialist English invasions in the 1650's.  

In 1767 Walter MacFarlane, the 20th Chief, respected Antiquary, Scholar and original Friend of Loch Lomond, who planted most of the magnificent Oaks trees in the area, died leaving debt. This was made worse by his brother, William 21st chief, who in order to settle the debt had to sell the lands of Arrochar in 1784, leading to all Macfarlane people being evicted and scattered around the globe. The last known recognized Chief of Clan MacFarlane; William, 25th Chief, was born in 1813 and died, unmarried, in
1866.

Today however fortunes are looking up for the Clan. Under their creative and imaginative leadership, the international Clan MacFarlane Society, Inc. (Originally founded in 1911 in Glasgow and London and re-established at Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina, USA in 1973) were granted Arms by The Lord Lyon King of Arms, making them the only chiefless Armigerous Society and they are thriving and striving to take the descendants of MacFarlane back where they belong. They are currently fund-raising to set up the Clan MacFarlane Heritage Centre and Museum of Highland Life in Tarbet, Loch Lomond. The target they require is $400,000 US, and they have in a few weeks collected $50,000 US. They are well on their way to their goal.  

The Heritage Centre will be located on the Main road between Tarbet and Arrochar in the old Free Church at Ballyhennan. This building is currently known as the "Black sheep" and houses a viable Craft Shop and Licensed Restaurant. There is an upper level that will house the Museum and Archive. The Churchyard holds mainly MacFarlane Graves, including certainly one MacFarlane Chief. The Clan MacFarlane Society seeks to create a focal point
for all Macfarlanes worldwide and create a permanent institution so that future generations will be able to know and enjoy their heritage. The Society is also working on re-gaining Islands of Inveruglas and Eilean-a-Bhuth (I Vow) in Loch Lomond that house the ruins of their ancestral Castles with a view to future restoration. The Museum will include not only information and artifacts from the Clan Macfarlane but will also tell the story of how life was for people throughout the West Highlands. Local Schools will enjoy free access to the Museum and future excavations, with the hope that children in Scotland will be able learn more about their heritage. It will also include a genealogical database on the Clan Macfarlane and will support Archaeological surveys and excavations and restorations of Historical MacFarlane sites such as the castles in Loch Lomond. The Clan MacFarlane Society urgently needs the Support of all Macfarlanes and the Scottish Community worldwide to bring this to fruition. To find out how you can help or join CMSI, please visit: http://www.macfarlane.org.

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MacFarlane Family  History

"Of the clan Macfarlane, Mr Skene gives the best account, and we shall therefore take the liberty of availing ourselves of his researches. According to him, with the exception of the clan Donnachie, the clan Parlan or Pharlan is the only one, the descent of which from the ancient earls of the district where their possessions were situated, may be established by the authority of a charter. It appears, indeed, that the ancestor of this clan was Gilchrist, the brother of Maldowen or Malduin, the third Earl of Lennox. This is proved by a charter of Maldowen, still extant, by which he gives to his brother Gilchrist a grant "de terris de superiori Arrochar de Luss"; and these lands, which continued in possession of the clan until the death of the last chief, have at all times constituted their principle inheritance.

But although the descent of the clan from the Earls of Lennox be thus established, the origin of their ancestors is by no means so easily settled. Of all the native earls of Scotland, those of this district alone have had a foreign origin assigned to them, though, apparently, without any sufficient reason. The first Earl of Lennox who appears on record is Aluin comes de Levenox, who lived in the early part of the 13th century; and there is some reason to believe that from this Aluin the later Earls of Lennox were descended. It is, no doubt, impossible to determine now who this Aluin really was; but, in the absence of direct authority, we gather from tradition that the heads of the family of Lennox, before being raised to the peerage, were hereditary seneschals of Strathearn, and bailies of the Abthanery of Dull, in Athole. Aluin was succeeded by a son of the same name, who is frequently mentioned in the chartularies of Lennox and Paisley, and who died before the year 1225. In Donald, the sixth earl, the male branch of the family became extict. Margaret, the daughter of Donald, married Walter de Fassalane, the heir male of the family; but this alliance failed to accomplish the objects intended by it, or, in other words, to preserve the honours and power of the house of Lennox. Their son Duncan, the eighth earl, had no male issue; and his eldest daughter Isabella, having married Sir Murdoch Stuart, the eldest son of the Regent, he and his family became involved in the ruin which overwhelmed the unfortunate house of Albany. At the death of Isabella, in 1460, the earldom was claimed by three families; but that of Stewart of Darnley eventually overcame all opposition, and acquired the title and estates of Lennox. Their accession took place in the year 1488; upon which the clans that had been formerly united with the earls of the old stock separated themselves, and became independent.

 Of these clans the principal was that of the Macfarlanes, the descendants, as has already been stated, of Gilchrist, a younger brother of Maldowen, Earl of Lennox. In the Lennox charters, several of which he appears to have subscribed as a witness, this Gilchrist is generally designated as frater comitis, or brother of the earl. His son Duncan also obtained a charter of his lands from the Earl of Lennox, and appears in the Ragman's roll under the title of "Duncan Macgilchrist de Levenaghes". From a grandson of this Duncan, who was called in Gaelic Parlan, or Bartholomew, the clan appears to have taken the surname Macfarlane; indeed the connection of Parlan both with Duncan and with Gilchrist is clearly established by a charter granted to Malcolm Macfarlane, the son of Parlan, confirming to him the lands of Arrochar and others; and hence Malcolm may be considered as the real founder of the clan. He was succeeded by his son Duncan, who obtained from the Earl of Lennox a charter of the lands of Arrochar as ample in its provisions as any that had been granted to his predecessors; and married a daughter of Sir Colin Campbell of Lochow, as appears from a charter of confirmation granted in his favour by Duncan, Earl of Lennox. Not long after his death, however, the ancient line of the Earls of Lennox became extinct; and the Macfarlanes having claimed the earldom as heirs male, offered a strenuous opposition to the superior pretensions of the feudal heirs. Their resistance, however, provided alike unsuccessful and disastrous. The family of the chief perished in defence of what they believed to be their just rights; the clan also suffered severely, and of those who survived the struggle, the greater part took refuge in remote parts of the country. Their destruction, indeed, would have been inevitable, but for the opportune support given by a gentleman of the clan to the Darnley family. This was Andrew Macfarlane, who, having married the daughter of John Stewart, Lord Darnley and Earl of Lennox, to whom his assistance had been of great moment at a time of difficulty, saved the rest of the clan, and recovered the greater part of their hereditary possessions. The fortunate individual in question, however, though the good genius of the race, does not appear to have possessed any other title to the chiefship than what he derived from his position, and the circumstances of his being the only person in a condition to afford them protection; in fact, the clan refused him the title of chief, which they appear to have considered as incommunicable, except in the right line; and his son, Sir John Macfarlane, accordingly contented himself with assuming the secondary or subordinate designation of captain of the clan.
From this time, the Macfarlanes appear to have on all occassions supported the Earls of Lennox of the Stewart race, and to have also followed their banner in the field. For several generations, however, their history as a clan is almost an entire blank; indeed, they appear to have merged into mere retainers of the powerful family, under whose protection they enjoyed undistirbed possession of their hereditary domains. But in the sixteenth century Duncan Macfarlane of Macfarlane appears as a steady supporter of Matthew, Earl of Lennox. At the head of three hundred men of his own name, he joined Lennox and Glencairn in 1544, and was present with his followers at the battle of Glasgow-Muir, where he shared the defeat of the party he supported. He was also involved in the forgeiture which followed, but having powerful friends, his property was, through their intercession, restored, and he obtained a remission under the privy seal. The loss of this battle forced Lennox to retire to England; whence, having married a niece of Henry VIII, he soon afterwards returned with a considerable force which the English monarch had placed under his command. The chief of Macfarlane durst not venture to join Lennox in person, being probably restrained by the terror of another forfeiture; but, acting on the usual Scottish policy of that time, he sent his relative, Walter Macfarlane of Tarbet, with four hundred men, to reinforce his friend and patron; and this body, according to Holinshed, did most excellent service, acting at once as light troops and as guides to the main body. Duncan, however, did not always conduct himself with equal caution; for he is said to have fallen in the fatal battle of Pinkie, in 1547, on which occasion also a great number of his clan perished.

 Andrew, the son of Duncan, as bold, active and adventurous as his sire, engaged in the civil wars of the period, and, what is more remarkable, took a prominent part on the side of the Regent Murray; thus acting in opposition to almost all the other Highland chiefs, who were warmly attached to the cause of the queen. He was present at the battle of Langside with a body of his followers, and there "stood the Regent's part in great stead"; for, in the hottest of the fight, he came up with three hundred of his friends and countrymen, and falling fiercly on the flank of the queen's army, threw them into irretrieveable disorder, and thus mainly contributed to decide the fortune of the day. The clan boast of having taken at this battle three of Queen Mary's standards, which, they say, were preserved for a long time in the family. Macfarlane's reward was not such as afforded any great cause for admiring the munificence of the Regent; but that his vanity at least might be conciliated, Murray bestowed upon him the crest of a demi-savage proper, holding in his dexter hand a sheaf of arrows, and pointing with his sinister to an imperial crown, or, with the motto, This I'll defend". Of the son of this chief nothing is known; but his grandson, Walter Macfarlane, returning to the natural feelings of a Highlander, proved himself as sturdy a champion of the royal party as his grandfather had been an uncompromising opponet and enemy. During Comwell's time, he was twice besieged in his own house, and his castle of Inveruglas was afterwards burned down by the English. But nothing could shake his fidelity to his party. Though his personal losses in adhering to the royal cause were of a much more substantial kind than his grandfather's reward in opposing it, yet his zeal was not cooled by adversity, nor his ardour abated by the vengeance which it drew down on his head.

 Although a small clan, the Macfarlanes were as turbulent and predatory in their way as their neighbours the Macgregors. By the Act of the Estates of 1587 they were declared to be one of the clans for whom the chief was made responsible; by another act passed in 1594, they were denounced as being in the habit of committing theft, robbery, and opression; and in July 1624 many of the clan were tried and convicted of theft and robbery. Some of them were punished, some pardoned; while others were removed to the highlands of Aberdeenshire, and to Strathaven in Banffshire, where they assumed the names of Stewart, M'Caudy, Greisock, M'James, and M'Innes.

 Of one eminet member of the clan, the following notice is taken by in his work on the Highland of Scotland. He says, "It is impossible to conclude this sketch without alluding to the eminent antiquary, Walter Macfarlane of that ilk, who is as celebrated among historians as the indefatigable collector of the ancient records of the country, as his ancestors had been among the other Highland chiefs for their prowess in the field. The family itself, however, is now nearly extict, after having held their original lands for a period of six hundred years.

 Of the lairds of Macfarlane there have been no fewer than twenty-three. The last of them went to North America in the early part of the 18th century. A branch of the family settled in Ireland in the reign of James VII, and the headship of the clan is claimed by its representative, Macfarlane of Hunstown House, in the county of Dublin. The descendants of the ancient chiefs cannot now be traced, and the lands once possessed by them have passed into other hands.

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 Another account of the clan...

The war-like clan, Macfarlane claim descent from Giolchrist brother of the 13th Earl of Lennox, who held territories at the head of Loch Lomond. The clan takes its name from Parlan, grandson of Gilchrist. Duncan, 6th chief obtained the lands of Arrochar from the Earl of Lennox and in 1395 he acquired many of the ajoining lands by marriage. On the death of the last of the old Earls of Lennox without male issue, Macfarlane claimed the title and lands. This was rejected and the title was conferred on Sir John Stewart of Darnley which led to a long emnity between the contesting families. During the 16th century the clan found an outlet for their war-like spirit in supporting the Earls of Lennox. The Macfarlanes distinguished themselves at the Battle of Langside in 1568 fighting against Queen Mary. Later many of the clan fell at the Battle of Pinkie in 1547. During this time the Macfarlanes embarked upon a feud with the Colquhouns and in 1592 were responsible for the murder of Sir Humphrey Colquhoun and later a further feud developed with the Buchanans. These and many other acts of lawlessness committed by the Macfarlanes resulted in the clan being made landless and their name proscribed through an Act of Estates in 1642. The clan scattered and many clansmen adopted aliases. In 1785 the lands of Arrochar had to be sold for debt and the chief emigrated to America. The daughter of the last chief made a nomination in favour of the Macfarlane of Keithton and a claim is now pending with the Lyon Court."

Above history from ElectricScotland.Com  Web Page

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