Vanden Bempde, John

James Spelman was born around 1682 in St. Clements Danes Parish, England (now part of London). He joined the Royal Navy on May 12, 1701, as a volunteer onboard the HMS Ruby and served with the ship along the English coast and in the Caribbean until at least September 1703. Spelman was promoted to midshipman on July 1, 1702, and was a lieutenant on the HMS Monmouth in 1709. Spelman was related to John Vanden Bempde, a native of the Netherlands who lived in St. Martin's Parish, London. Vanden Bempde and his wife, Temperance Packer, had one daughter, Charlotte.

From the guide to the James Spelman collection, Spelman, James collection, 1701-[1724], (William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan)