Rachel Kerr Colleen
All have one thing in common,the Spence in their names. Together they
are establishing links that will provide others an opportunity to join
them in researching Spence Family History Worldwide.
Rachel
"I live in Rosneath in Scotland.I'm a retired primary school headteacher. My interest in family history has been an on-going passion for almost twenty years.Together with my mum, another Rachel, I have been researching 'the family' in Ireland, the birthplace of Rachel Spence, the grannie who I was named after.Following a visit to Markethill in 2004, with only a birth certificate as reference, much was gleaned. That visit inspired diligent searching via the internet and connections were made with first Kerr and then Colleen. From that point, a whole family of Spences was uncovered, and the idea of a Spence website was born."
Kerr
"I was born in Northern Ireland and spent my childhood there in the village of Rostrevor. My parents emigrated to Melbourne Australia with my sister and I in 1952. Seven years later I met a girl from Western Australia who was in Melbourne on a working holiday. We married and after a few years in Melbourne we moved to Perth,Western Australia with three children, where we had three more. We moved to Albany,Western Australia in 1980. I am a retired Australian civil servant pottering about on a few acres doing the tree change lifestyle. Family history and maintaining family links has been a long term interest, Clannish we are."
Colleen
"I was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I now reside just outside Calgary in a small town called DeWinton. I have two sons and two grandsons. My brother first started researching the Spences some 20 years ago. At that time I had no interest, but after he lost interest, I became interested in researching both my father’s and mother’s ancestors. I got so involved in genealogy, I decided to take a genealogy course from the University of Toronto, online. When I am finished I will have my degree in Irish and English genealogy. It really has been a life changing experience. We have travelled many a time to the UK to do research and what a wonderful experience last year to have met more Spences - Laura and her parents, Rachel and her mother, Rachel. It really is amazing to have three Spences; Rachel, Kerr and myself corresponding and we are from three different countries, so far apart. Next year I am looking forward to the Spence get together to meet many more Spences."