Descendants of Hendrick Jansen Spier have been extensively spread across northeastern New Jersey throughout Essex, Bergen, Passaic, Hudson and Morris counties. Early forms of the name were Spier, Spiering, Spieringh, Speir and Spyr with Spier being used the most. Later Speer was used with Spear as a frequent alternative.

The first record we have of this immigrant ancestor is the record of his marriage in 1652 to Magdaleen Helena Jans Van Swol at the Dutch Church in New Amsterdam. The baptisms of all of their children except Barent are also recorded in the Dutch Church of New Amsterdam. There are also records of land grants and other transactions. He and his family evidently returned to the Netherlands at some point as they are listed on the ship De Trouw 23 Dec 1660, wife and 2 children, Captain Jan Jansz Bestevaer from the Netherlands. He was a carpenter by trade and lived in a house on Heere Gracht Straet, in New Amsterdam which he purchased from Pieter Pietersen Menist on 14 February 1660. (see map from back of Legend of New Amsterdam) He resided in Communipaw around 1662. In 1674 he and a group of other men petitioned for land on Staten Island along the Kill van Kull. This property was finally granted to his sons, Jans and Hans on 4 September 1674. Hendrick may have died prior to this date since the land was granted to the sons. It is for certain he died before 1679 when his wife was described as a widow in burial records for one of their sons.

Reformed Dutch Church, New Amsterdam, New York/NewYork Marriages
1652
Eodem. (14 sep) Hendrick Janszen, [SPIER] Van Aschwaerde in't Stift Bremen, en Magdaleen Jans Van Swol.