'Spens2'Index links to: Lead / Letter
Families covered: Spens of Lathallan

                               
Alexander Spens - EITHER 3rd of Lathallan (d 1466) OR of Wormiston
As shown by the fact that we offer 2 alternative links, there is doubt as to the exact ancestry of this Alexander. If he was son of Stephen Spens of Wormiston rather than of John Spens 2nd of Lathallan, as does seem likely, then it has still to be explained how and when Lathallan came into this line.
m. Katharine Wood (dau of William Wood)
Suggestions that Katharine was daughter of the famous Admiral Sir Andrew Wood of Largo must surely be wrong as he was not born until about 1460. Some BLG editions, www.spens.info& 'East Neuk of Fife' show her as the Admiral's sister but we show her a generation earlier.
1. Robert Spens (4th) of Lathallan (d c1474)
  A. John Spens (5th) of Lathallan (d 1494)
  m. (1489) Margaret Dunbar (dau of Patrick Dunbar, 2nd of Kilconquhar)
  i. John Spens (6th) of Lathallan (d 1520 or 1530)
  m. Helen Arnot (dau of Sir John Arnot of that ilk)
  a. Alexander Spens (7th) of Lathallan (d c1548)
  m. ?? Durie (dau of Durie of that ilk)
(1) James Spens (8th) of Lathallan (d 1595)
  m. Elizabeth Seton (dau of John Seton of Lathrisk)
  (A) Archibald Spens (dvp unm 1564)
  (B) Arthur Spens (9th) of Lathallan (d c10.1606)
  m. (before 1565) Janet Duddingston (dau of William (sb Stephen?) Duddingston of St. Ford)
  (i) Alexander Spens (10th) of Lathallan (dsp by 10.1609)
  m. Isabel Bethune (posisbly dau of Robert Bethune of Creich)
  (C) Alexander Spens (11th) of Lathallan (d c1635)
  m. Catherine Alexander (dau of David Alexander of Skeddoway (Scaddoway))
  (i) Thomas Spens (12th) of Lathallan (d before 1662)
m. Margaret Moncrief (dau of Nathaniel Moncrief of Randerston)
  (a) Nathaniel Spens (13th) of Lathallan (b 1645 (sb 1635?), 2nd son)
  m. (28.12.1665) Margaret Gourlay (dau of Sir Thomas Gourlay of Kincraig)
  ((1)) Thomas Spens (14th) of Lathallan (b 1666, d before 1700)
m. Margaret Gourlay (daughter of Thomas Gourlay, younger of Kincraig, m2. Rev. Hew Kemp)
  ((A)) Thomas Spens (15th) of Lathallan (d 1769)
  m. (1721) Janet Douglas (d 1774, dau of Sir Robert Douglas, 4th Bart of Ardit & Glenbervie)
  ((i)) Thomas Spens (16th) of Lathallan (d 1783)
  m. Margaret Hope (d 1781, dau of Archibald Hope (Bart?) of Craighall)
  ((a)) Thomas Spens, 17th/last of Lathallan (b 09.05.1758, d unm 1800)
  ((b)) Archibald Spens of Manor House, Inveresk (b 22.06.1765, d 05.1845) had issue
  m. (07.12.1797) Charlotte Philip (dau of Arundel Philip of Exeter)
  ((c)) Catherine Spens
  m. (1807) Alexander Wood of Grangehill
  ((d)) Janet Spens
  m. Dr. Andrew Inglis
  ((e))+ other issue - Nathaniel (b 1767, d 1794 or 1801, Commamder?), Elizabeth (d unm)
  ((ii)) Nathaniel Spens of Craigsanquhar (b 17.04.1728, d 21.06.1815, 4th son)
  m. Mary Milliken (d 1773, dau of James Milliken of Milliken)
  ((a)) James Spens of Craigsanquhar (b 1761, d 1840) had issue
  m1. Isabella Elizabeth Macleod (dsp, dau of John Macleod, younger of Macleod)
  m2. Frances Stuart (dsp, dau of Sir John Steuart, Bart of Allanton)
m3. Elizabeth Joanna Davidson (dau of John Davidson of Ravilrig)
  ((b)) Thomas Spens (b 1763, d 1842) had issue
  m. Bethia Wood (dau of Andrew Wood)
  ((c))+ other issue (d unm) - Nathaniel, Grahame, Janet
  ((iii)) Janet Spens
  m. John Halket of Mayne
  ((iv)) Margaret Spens (d 1796)
  m. Wiliam Inglis in Edinburgh (surgeon)
  ((v) Elizabeth Spens
m. John Macpherson
  ((vi))+ other issue (d unm) - Robert (d young), William, Alexander (d 1755, architect)
  ((B)) Nathaniel Spens (b c1694, d 1772, cleric)
  ((2))+ other issue - Helen, Margaret
  (c) David Spens in Ireland (youngest son?)
  ((1))+ 3 sons (d unm) and 1 daughter
  (d) Catharine Spens (b 1639, d 1667) --
  m. (1656) James Duddingston of Sandford (d before 1684) --
  (e) Helen Spens
  m. (1664) Robert Lentron of Kincaple
  (f)+ other issue - Alexander (dvpsp 1665), William (b 1640), Arthur (b 1644), Thomas (b 1648), Anna
  (ii) Lilias Spens possiby of this generation
  m. (1624) John Arnot, younger of Balcormo
  (iii)+ other issue - James in Edinburgh (a 1672, WS), Alexander
  (D) Patrick Spens
  (2) Andrew Spens
  (3) daughter
  A daughter of this generation is sometimes shown as the wife of John Arnot, younger of Balcormo, but she must surely be a generation later.
  b. Michael Spens (d 1530)
  ii. David Spens (a 1513, rector of Flisk)
2. Elizabeth Spens (d by 1532) possiby fits here
  m. Sir David Lindsay of Edzell (d by 1529)

Main source(s): BLG1952 (Spens formerly of Lathallan and Craigsanquhar), BLG1999 (Spens of Lathallan), BP1999 (Spens) with input/support from 'East Neuk of Fife' (Walter Wood, 1887, p146+)
[It is understood that the early generations are based on 'The Baronage of Scotland' by Sir Robert Douglas.]
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