Spalding, Thomas, 1774-1851

James Spalding (1735-1794) was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He moved to America circa 1760, first arriving in Charleston, South Carolina. He moved to St. Simons Island, Georgia, in 1763 and established the mercantile firms of James Spalding and Co. in East Florida, McKay and Spalding on St. Simons Island, and Spalding and Kelsall at Sunbury, Georgia. He was also a planted. In 1772, he married Margery McIntosh, daughter of Col. William McIntosh, with whom he had one son. Thomas Spalding (1774-1851) was commonly known as Thomas Spalding of Sapelo (noted as Thomas Spalding I). In 1795, he married Sara Leake (1778-1843), daughter of Richard Leake. He was a planter, architect, builder, and politician. He was the largest producer of sea island cotton in Georgia and introduced the growing of sugar cane and making of sugar to Georgia. He wrote a number of articles on agricultural subjects. Thomas revived the old method of constructing buildings of tabby and used it on many of his buildings. He was a member of the Georgia Senate, a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1798, and a Representative form Georgia in Congress. He was also a member of the commission to run the Georgia-Florida boundary, 1826-1827. He was a founder of the Bank of Darien. Charles Harris Spalding (1808-1887) was a son of Thomas and Sarah Leake Spalding. He married Evelyn Kell in 1839. He lived as Ashantilly, his father's house near Darien. He was a Senator from McIntosh County for three terms, and an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1844. Randolph Spalding (1822-1862), herein referred to as Randolph Spalding I, was a son of Thomas and Sarah Leake Spalding. He married Mary Dorothea Bass (1823-1898) in 1843. He was a very successful planter on the mainland and on Sapelo Island. In addition, he was a Representative from McIntosh County for several terms. At the outbreak of the Civil War he was Colonel of the 29th Georgia Regiment and later served on the staff of General William H.C. Walker. He died in camp in Savannah in March of 1862. Thomas Spalding (1847-1885; noted as Thomas Spalding II) was the son of Randolph and Mary Bass Spalding. He was in business with his brother in operating a store that sold goods brought in on various vessels. He had a license as a special pilot. Thomas Bourke Spalding (1851-1884) was a brother of Thomas Spalding II; he was known as Bourke Spalding. In 1874 he married Ella Patience Barrow (1849-1929), daughter of David Crenshaw Barrow (1815-1889). They lived on Sapelo Island where he operated a store selling commodities, cattle, beef, pigs, pork, etc., brought in on various vessels. After his death, Ella moved to Savannah with their only child. Randolph Spalding (1879-1954; noted as Randolph Spalding II) was active in the timber and lumber business and the real estate business in Savannah. He never married.