David Spinney

• General Notes
  • Capt. David Spinney, was born in Kittery, ME 14 Sep 1768, on what is known as "Commodore Hill". The house formerly stood near the road, it was burned a number of years ago, but is yet marked by the cellar hole. I am told it was known as the "Cole" house, proberly the home of Robert Cole, the father of Poebe mother of David, who was called "Commodore Cole". Directly back of the house near the water is the monument erected to Nicholas Spinney, who married a Cole.
    On the north west side of the house, on the slope of the hill, besided the road and in the corner of the lot, is evidently the family burial spot, where probably Commodore Robert Cole with his four wives are at rest, and very likely the body of Pheobe (Cole) Spinney, mother of Capt David lies here also. Field stones mark the resting places, but without inscriptions.
    David was a Mariner, a master of many vessels-trading with the West Indies and South America, following the sea from the early age of twelve years, beginning soon after the death of father Ebenezer (who was lost at sea in 1779) and continueing until about 1823.
    Tiring of the sea and his home in Kittery, in March of 1808, sold his farm there for $2,500, and with a man named Andrew Libby, moved away from the coast to Wakefield, NH where he purchased a new home for $2,400.
    He lived there until his death July 19, 1848, except the time spent on his voyages. Eugene Nathaniel Spinney, original author of this note, has in his possession the "Brace" of Flint-lock Pistols carried by Capt. David on these voyages.
    David was a very devout man, active in church affair both in Kittery and Wakefield, in the latter place there is a church now standing, called the "Spinney Meeting house, built through his efforts where his son Elder Joseph Spinney Preached for a period of Fifty years.