General Notes

[spelman.FTW]

REFN: 671
STEPHEN SPILMAN  is said, in Sir Henry Spelman's chart, to have live d in
the reigns of Edward I and Edward II.
About 1320 he is recorded as of B ekerton Manor in Stow, County Norfolk.
This Manor was not held by the Spelman s at this time, although it passed
into their possession early in the Fifteen th Century, but they seem to
have been tenant-holders of the Manor or some pa rt of it.
The church at Stow, dedicated to Saint Botolph, still stands, its ol d
roofing of thatch changed to modern slating. It is stated in Blomefield's
Norfolk that Spelmans were buried in this church, but no memorials of
them r emain. Weever's Inscriptions (Page 821) mentions "a fair tomb" of
William Spe lman, who died in 1547, as having been here.
Stephen Spilman's wife is not kno wn, but they had two sons, John and
Robert. These two sons head two lines of descent, Robert being the
ancestor of the American Spelmans. John's descendan ts had an interesting
history in County Norfolk, an account of which will be given before the
chronicle of Robert's line is taken up.