The Spalding Family connection to Sapelo Island began May 15 of 1756 (English Crown Grants for Islands of Georgia 1755-1775 - Surveyor General - State of Georgia). At a Royal Congress held in Savannah, a treaty between the English and the Creeks gave to Georgia the three great Sea Islands of  Ossabaw, Sapelo, and St Catherine. John Mohr Mackintosh, son William, and Mackintosh kinsmen  were given fee simple land grants on Sapelo Island for their service to the crown. (These Royal Grants, in the Office of the Georgia Surveyor, Office of the Secretary of State, begin 1755 and gave clear title to the grantees). William Mackintosh was the grandfather of Thomas Spalding of Sapelo and this William married Jane (Mary) McKay sister to  Patrick (Andrew) McKay who owned nearly all of Sapelo just 4 years later. William's father John Mohr Mackintosh who was the Clan Chief of the Borlum MacKintoshes (McIntosh) in Scotland and the chief leader representing the Colony. William’s wife Jeanine (Mary Jane) was the daughter of James and the niece to Donald, Patrick and Hugh McKay. Father and sons were given Officer Commissions under Oglethorpe, they served as vital colonial founders of Georgia.  Surveyor General of Georgia:  English Crown Grants for Islands in Georgia 1755-1775..." Mackintosh, John 434 and 350 acres in St Andrews Parish Granted April 15, 1756  Grant Book A, page 361...350 acres bounded on the Northwest by William Mackintosh on Sapelo Island.” William and his father John Mohr erected small houses on Sapelo bounded by the marshes of Newport River (Chocolate). William and brother-in-law James Spalding acted as Executors and Administrators over Sapelo when their sister-in-law became a widow.

Family papers mention that as a boy Thomas Spalding visited Sapelo on many occasions with his father James and grandfather William who raised cattle extensively as Trustees over Patrick McKay’s Sapelo holdings. A small home had been erected for William and a jucture home for James and his wife Margery Mackintosh Spalding when visiting. In addition to both of Thomas’ forefathers having strong connections to Sapelo Island, his wife's father Richard Leake purchased a large portion of Sapelo around 1798 but died before final payment had been made. Thomas Spalding completed the sale and a new century began for the Spalding Clan in America.

Sapelo Island has remained a special place for the McIntosh and Spalding descendants for well over 250 years beginning with John Mohr Mackintosh and his son William in 1756, Richard Leake then Thomas Spalding, and later grandchildren and great grandchildren. Today their direct descendants live on Sapelo.