THE SPOFFORD PAGE

JOHN SPOFFORD came to this country with a company of Yorkshiremen before 1643, as his name appears under that date on the record of the first division of lands in Rowley into homestead lots. He and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Scott of Ipswich, lived in Rowley for about thirty years, and in 1669 removed to Spofford's hill.

An anecdote of John Spofford has been preserved for us by Miss Aphia Spofford in her Spofford genealogy: "During his residence at Rowley, a severe drought was followed by a great scarcity of food, and he repaired to Salem to purchase corn for his family and neighbors. The merchant to whom he applied, forseeing a greater scarcity and higher prices, refused to open his store to supply his want. Having pleaded the necessities of himself and others in vain, he cursed the merchant to his face. He was immediately taken before a magistrate, and charged with profane swearing. He replied that he had not cursed profanely but as a religious duty, and quoted Prov. 11:26, as his authority. The words are, 'He that with-holdeth corn from the hungry, the people shall curse him.' John Spofford was immediately acquitted and by the summary power of the courts in those days, the merchant was ordered to deliver him as much corn as he could pay for."

email: Dee Alexander

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Last Updated: January 11, 1998