| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. The book "Families of Early Hartford, Connecticut," Lucius Barnes Barbour, 1982 ed.: "Gerald Spencer, son of Michael and Elizabeth, bp. May 26, 1576 (Eng.) mar. Alice. Children:
William, bp. Oct 11, 1601 m. Agnes.
Thomas, bp. Mch 29, 1607, m/1 (), m/2 Sarah Bearding.
Michael, bp. May 5, 1611.
Gerald, bp. Apl 25, 1614, m. Hannah.
2. The book "The Thomas Spencer Family of Hartford, Connecticut in the Line of Samuel Spencer of Cromwell, Connecticut 1744-1818," comp. by Frank Farnsworth Starr for James J. Goodwin, Hartford, Conn., copy in Connecticut Historical Society Library, Hartford, CT, pp. 10-11:
"Garrard, Gerard, Garret, Gerret, Jarret, or Jarrard Spencer, as the name was variously spelled, was admitted one of the freemen of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay 'the 9th of the first mo. 1636 or 1637.' (Mass. Colonial records, vol. 1, p. 372.) He was a resident of Cambridge in 1634, and owned land on the south side of the river. (Paige's History of Cambridge, p. 659) He soon removed to Lynn, and at 'A Generall Courte, houlden at Boston, the 13th of the First Month @ 1638,' 'Garret Spencer is granted the fferry at Linn for 2 yeares, taking 2d for a single pson to the furthest place, & but a 1d for a single person to the nearest.' (Mass. Colonial Records, vol. 1, p. 253.) He was one of the Jury men from Lynn at a County Court held the 25 of the 10 month, 1638. In 1653 he was appointed administrator of the estate of his brother Michael Spencer of Lynn. In June, 1656, he was chosen Ensign of the train band of Lynn (Essex County, Mass., Court Papers, vol. 3, p. 50), and in 1659 Grand Juror for Lynn (Essex County, Mass., Court Papers, vol. 5, p. 71). He soon after removed to Haddam, Connecticut, and in March, 1660-61, Simon Lobdell sued him and his daughter Hannah for damages, because she refused to marry Lobdell as she had promised (Records of Conn. Particular Court, vol. 2, p. 146).
May 15, 1679, 'Ensigne Jerard Spencer of Haddam in Connetticot' sold to Captain George Corwin, of Salem, 'two p'cells of land in Salem afores'd containing twenty five acres, be it more of less, twenty acres whereof lyeth within fence & in a greater p'cel containing the whole forty acres & is bounded on the great pond on ye east the rocks on ye northwest. Linn bounds on ye southwest, a swamp northeast & five acres on ye west side of ye pond.' (Essex County, Mass., Land Records, vol. 5, p. 44.)
His will, which was made December 17, 1683, was presented for probate September 3, 1685. (Hartford, Conn., Probate Records, vol. 4, pp. 111 and 225.) The precise date of his death and age are unknown."
3. Garrard mentioned as administrator of his brother Michael's estate in the book "The Thomas Spencer Family of Hartford, Connecticut in the Line of Samuel Spencer of Cromwell, Connecticut 1744-1818," comp. by Frank Farnsworth Starr for James J. Goodwin, Hartford, Conn., copy in Connecticut Historical Society Library, Hartford, CT, pp. 8-10:
William "died some time prior to November, 1653, at which date is this entry on the Court Records of Essex County, Massachusetts: -
'9th month 1653, No 32. The Admininstrat'on of the estate of Mikill Spencer is grainted to Garrod Spencer of Linn & he is to bring in an inventory of his Estate the next Court.' (Essex County, Mass., Court Records, vol. 1648-55.)
'6th of 1st mo. 1653-4, No. 67. Garrard Spencer brought in into this Court an Inventory of 22-4s.-10d. of his Brother Michael Spencer & Bush... onions at sea ventured & debts 10s this Court doth Joyne Capt. Will'm Trask of Salem w'th ye the saide Garrard Spencer for the disposng of he Estate for the bringing up of the children of ye said Michaell Spencer.' (Essex County, Mass., Court Records, vol. 1648-55.)
'30th of 9th mo 1654, No. 38. Whereas there is in the hand of Thomas Robins of Salem of ye estate of Michaell Spencer deseased a bill of 52s, 6d & 2 cowes w'th ye rent of y'm for one yere & a Rugg of 18s. The Court doth order and agree w'th the Consent of Garrard Spencer Administrar'r to ye estate of ye s'd Michall... In consideration of a child of the s'd Michall put unto him to bring upp, until he be 21 yeers ould w'h child by name is Michaell Spencer of about 6 yeers ould.' (Essex County, Mass., Court Records, vol. 1648-55.)"
4. The book "Spencer Family Record of the Springfield, VT. and Evansville, Wis. Spencers. (Descendants of Garrard Spencer of Haddam, Conn. Emigrant of 1630," by William Henry Spencer, New York, Tobias A. Wright, 1907 - Gerrard Spencer:
"(Our emigrant Spencer, spelled his name in a quite original way. His father spelled his briefly Gerat. His uncle Richard in his will spelled it Gerard. It is spelled in the Court Records at Hartford, Jared or Garred. In his will, dated Dec. 17, 1683, he writes his name Garrard. As he was the father of thirteen children he may have reasoned he had a right, if not to a pension, at least to an extension to his name.) Garrard Spencer, the emigrant (son of Gerat), bap. April 25, 1614; m. Hannah ___, whose last name not recorded, by whom he had thirteen children, as follows:
John, b. 1638, at Lynn; made Freeman, 1669; settled in Haddam; m. 1665, Rebecca Howard, b. 1648, dau. of Robert of Windsor. He d. 1682; she d. 1684. Had five children, two sons: Jared, Benjamin.
Hannah, b. 1640, at Lynn; m. 1665, Daniel Brainard. Had eight children.
Mehitable, b. 1642; m. Daniel Cone of Haddam. Had ten children.
Alice, m. (1) 1662, Thomas Brooks of Haddam who d. 1668; m. (2) 1673, Thomas Shaler of Haddam, who was lost at sea 1692. She had four children by each husband.
Thomas, m. Elizabeth Bates; settled at Saybrook, Conn., where he d. 1699. Children: Jared, Thomas, Caleb.
Samuel, m. (1) 1673, Hannah Blackford (nee Willey). Had four children, sons: John, Isaac. He m. (2) 1689, Miriam Willery, widow (nee Moore); no children. He d. 1705.
William, m. Sarah Ackley of Haddam; had nine children, sons: Joseph, James, Hezekiah, William, Jonithan, Ichabod. He d. 1711.
Nathaniel, m. 1681, Lydia Smith; had nine children, sons: Nathaniel, John, Daniel, Phineas. He d. 1722.
Rebecca, m. (1) 1682, John Kennard, who d. 1689; m. (2) John Tanner of Lyme; had two children by each husband.
Elizabeth, m. Joseph Stannard of Haddam.
Sarah, m. Stephen Backus of Norwich.
Ruth, m. Joseph Clark of Haddam; had six children.
Timothy, m. ___. It is from this youngest son and the thirteenth child of Garrard Spencer that the Springfield Spencers are, in the opinion of the writer, descended. Note how scant the records! We know not the year of this ancestor's birth, when he married or whom. Our only source of information respecting his death, and that he was the father of a family, we get from the Hartford Probate Records. In Vol. VII, p. 57, under date of Aug. 4th, 1704, appears this entry: 'Thomas Spencer of Haddam presented an inventory of the intestate estate of his father, Timothy Spencer, deceased, of Haddam, and was appointed administrator.' The value of the property amounted to over $1,200, which was divided between his widow and his six children."
5. The book "Spencer Family Record of the Springfield, VT. and Evansville, Wis. Spencers. (Descendants of Garrard Spencer of Haddam, Conn. Emigrant of 1630," by William Henry Spencer, New York, Tobias A. Wright, 1907, children of Gerat Spencer:
"William Spencer, bapt. Oct. 11, 1601, at St. Mary's Parish, Stotfold, emigrated with his three brothers to New England, 1630. Settled in "New Town," now Cambridge, Mass., till 1638, when he moved to Hartford, Conn. Was Selectman, Deputy to Court, a Commissioner to revise the laws, etc. He d. 1640, leaving wife Agnes and three children.
Elizabeth Spencer, bap. Oct. 21, 1602; m. Tomlyers as appears in Richard's will.
John Spencer, bap. June 22, 1604, at Stotford.
Henry Spencer, bap. Aug. 11, 1605, at Stotfold; buried Oct. 20, 1607.
Thomas Spencer, bap. March 29, 1607 at Stotfold; emigrated to New England, 1630, with three brothers. Settled in Cambridge (New Town) till 1637; then moved to Hartford, Conn. Freeman 1634; in Pequoit War 1637; Sergt. Train Band, 1650; he m. (1) ___, who d. 1644; left three sons; m. (2) 1645, Sarah Reading; had six children; he d. 1687.
Richard Spencer, bap. Dec. 11, 1608, at Stotfold; d. May 6, 1614.
Michael Spencer, bap. May 5, 1611, at Stotfold; emigrated ot New England, 1630, with his three brothers. Lived at Cambridge and Lynn, Mass.; d. 1653; had two children. His first wife unknown; m. (2) widow Robbins. It is not known that any descendants of this emigrant brother are living.
Garrard Spencer, bapt. April 25, 1614, at St. Mary's Parish, Stotfold; emigrated to New England, 1630, with his three brothers, Thomas, William, and Michael. Settled in Cambridge till 1637; moved to Lynn, thence to Hartford in 1660, and to Haddam, Conn., in 1662. He was made Freeman in 1637; Ensign of Lynn Train Band, 1636; Deputy from Haddam to General Court from 1674 to 1680. His will of Sept. 17, 1683, probated in 1685, at Hartford."
6. The following partial excerpt concerning Thomas' brothers is from "The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633," Volumes I-III (see notes of Thomas Spencer for full transcript):
"Thomas Spencer
Origin: Stotfold, Bedfordshire
Migration: 1633... Birth: Baptized Stotfold, Bedfordshire, 29 March 1607, son of Gerard and Alice (Whitbread) Spencer [TAG 27:162]...
Associations: Thomas Spencer was brother of William Spencer of Cambridge and Hartford, and of Michael Spencer and Gerard Spencer of Lynn [TAG 27:79-87, 161-65]. In this article Jacobus makes the three sons by the first wife of Thomas Spencer slightly younger than we do here..."
7. Partial excerpt from the biography of William Spencer from the book "The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633," Volumes I-III (see notes of William Spencer for full citation):
"William Spencer
Origin: Stotfold, Bedfordshire
Migration: 1631... Birth: Baptized Stotfold, Bedfordshire, 11 October 1601, son of Gerrard and Alice (Whitbread) Spencer [TAG 27:162]...
Associations: William Spencer was brother of Thomas Spencer of Cambridge and Hartford, and of Michael Spencer and Gerard Spencer of Lynn [TAG 27:79-87, 161-65]..."
8. "The Great Migration," VI:419-28, by Robert Charles Anderson:
"Jared Spencer
Origin: Stotfold, Bedford.
Migration: 1634 (based on grant of land at Cambridge on 1 September 1634 [CaTR 10]).
First Residence: Cambridge.
Removes Lynn 1636, Hartford 1660, Haddam 1662.
Occupation: Ferryman. On 13 March 1638/9 "Garret Spencer is granted the ferry at Linn for 2 years taking 2d. for a single person to the furthest place & but a 1d. a person for more to the furthest place & but a 1d for a single person to the nearest place [MBCR 1:253]
Church Membership: Admission to Lynn church prior to 9 March 1636/7 implied by freemanship.
Freeman: 9 March 1636/7 (as Genet Spencer third in a sequence of three Lynn men) [MBCR 1:372].
On 26 June 1672, "Ensign Jarrad Spencer is propounded for a freeman" of Connecticut [CCCR 2:182].
Education: Signed his will.
OFFICEHOLDING: Essex petit jury, 25 December 1638, 24 September 1639, 29 June 1652, 28 November 1654, 30 June 1657, 29 June 1658 [EQC 1:10, 12, 254, 372, 2:42, 71, 109]. Grand jury, 29 November 1659 [EQC 2:182, 194].
Deputy to Connecticut General Court for Haddam, 8 October 1674, 13 May 1675, 9 July 1675, 14 October 1675,11 May 1676, 12 October 1676, 10 May 1677, 9 May 1678, 10 October 1678, 8 May 1679, 9 October 1679, 13 May 1680, 10 May 1683, 11 October 1683 (as "Ensign" on all occasions) [CCCR 2:236, 249, 261, 265, 274, 286, 300, 3:3, 17, 26, 35, 48, 115, 121].
Connecticut petit jury, 4 March 1679/80 (as "Ensign Jared Spencer") [HaCR 266].
Ensign, Lynn train band, 24 June 1656 [EQC 1:425].
Ensign, Haddam train band, 1672, 1674, 1675 [CCCR 2:182, 236, 261]. On 14 September 1675, the "inhabitants of Haddam having presented Jarrad Spencer for an ensign for their train band, affirming him to be legally chosen, the Council do accordingly commissionate him to be their ensign and to command them according to law" [CCCR 2:365].
Estate. On 1 September 1634, "Garrad Spencer" was granted four acres "on the west side the river" in Cambridge [CaTR 10]. In a damaged entry in the 1635 Cambridge land inventory, "Garad Spencere" held one parcel: "on the west side of Ch[lost] four acres" [ChBOP 18].
In the 1638 division of land at Lynn, "Jerrerd Spencer" received thirty acres [EQC 2:270].
On 1 July 1657, "Gerard Spencer of Lynn" sold to "George Roapes of Salem a parcel of meadow ground containing two acres ... lying in the common of Lynn near a pond called Dogg Pond, the which said meadow was given by the town of Lynn unto Timothy Tomlin" [ELR 3:43].
On 17 March 1667/8, "Danyell Salmon of Lynn ..., husbandman," sold to "John Hathorne of the same town ... a parcel of salt marsh or meadow lying & being in Linn, in Rumney Marsh, containing by estimation six acres ... being sold unto the aforementioned Salmon by the town of Lin, or selectmen thereof, being three two-acre lots, being given by the town to Michaell Spencer, Nathaniell Whiting & Jerard Spencer" [ELR 3:37]. On 15 May 1679, "Jerrard Spencer of Haddam" quitclaimed to "Capt. George Corwin of Salem ... two parcels of land in Salem aforesaid, containing twenty-five acres ..., twenty acres whereof lyeth within fence & in a greater parcel, containing the whole forty acres ... & five more acres on the west side of the pond" [ELR 5:44].
A parcel of swamp land at Hartford acquired as early as 1662 by William Pitkin bordered on "Jarrad Spencer his land south," and another parcel of swamp, on the east side of the great river, acquired at about the same time, had "Jarrad Spencer his land north" [HaBOP 529-30]. A parcel of land in the Neck at Hartford acquired in 1663 by the widow of Thomas Alcock was abutted by "Jarrad Spencer on the north" [HaBOP 409].
An undated Haddam land inventory records "Land in Thirty Mile Island belonging to Gerrard Spencer": "one parcel of land in the townplot for a house lot with the housing, yards and fencing thereon containing four acres"; "one parcel being an addition to the former containing three acres"; "one parcel of land lying in the Home Meadow containing four acres and a rood ... besides the swamp and upland adjoining to it"; "one parcel lying in the upper division of the Upper Meadow containing seven acres ... besides swamp adjoining to it"; "one parcel lying in the lower division of the Upper Meadow containing four acres and a rood"; "one parcel in the Cove Meadow containing three acres & an half ... besides the swamp adjoining to it"; "one parcel of upland on the northeast side of the river in the Equal Division containing three acres"; "one parcel given him in the swamp joining to the Upper Meadow behind Daniel Cone's lot containing six acres"; "one parcel of land given him in the town place by the committee & town containing one acre and twenty rods"; "one parcel of land in the townplot bought of Tho[mas] Smith and is recorded to him in the 19th page of this book"; "one parcel of land in the townplot containing three acres ... which he bought of Steven Luxford and is recorded to him in the 17th page of this book"; "one parcel of land lying upon James Welles Brook containing forty-eight acres"; and "one parcel of land lying in the upper division of the Upper Meadow which he bought of Thomas Smith and is recorded to him in the 19th page of this book containing one acre and three roods" [Haddam LR 1:7]. .
On 13 February 1683[/4?], "Garrard Spencer in the Colony of Conecticot" deeded to "John Spencer of Haddam ... a parcel of land in the cow meadow containing by estimation four acres" [Haddam LR 1:60]. (This deed was executed after the death of John Spencer, the son of the immigrant, and when the only living grandson of the immigrant named John Spencer was about seven years old.)
In his will, dated 17 September 1683 and proved 3 September 1685, "Ensign Jarrad Spencer of Haddam" ordered that "my sons have after the rate of twenty & my daughters fifteen" and bequeathed to "my son William that land which I bought of Steven Luxford's estate how I come by it the court records will show, likewise ..: the third part of forty-eight acres ... lying by that which is called Wells his brook, likewise ... an acre of swamp mowing land adjoining to my home meadow"; to "my son Nathaniel & to his heirs my now dwelling house with the lot that was proper the houselot with an addition lying by the side of it granted by the committee, likewise ... one third part of that lot formerly mentioned lying by Wells his brook, likewise ... an acre of swamp lying at the end of my meadow lot and joining to his brother William's formerly given, likewise ... forty acres which is a third part of one of my lots of six score acres"; to "my daughter Rebeckah that houselot I bought of Thomas Smith, likewise ... one third part of that lot by Wells his brook"; to "my son Thomas forty acres on Matchamodus side being part of that lot whereof his brother Nathaniel hath a share"; to "my son Thomas his son Jerrard Spencer by name my rapier"; to "my son Timothy Spencer the remainder of that six score acre lot whereof his two brothers had their share before which six score acres are those my Sons shall choose, the other six score acre lot I dispose of as followeth to Grace Spencer the daughter of my son John Spencer forty acres, to Alice Brookes the daughter of my daughter Brookes forty acres, to Grace Spencer the daughter of my son Samuel Spencer I give the other forty acres"; to "Jared Cone the son of my daughter Cone my carbine"; "a pewter flagon and urim basin I give unto the church at Hadam if there be one within five years after the date hereof"; "my son John Spencer his children & my son-in-law Daniel Cone his children [to] have an equal proportion of my estate with my other children"; "however my estate falls out for portions to my children that my daughter Ruth Clarke's portion shall be fifteen pounds which was my covenant with her father at her marriage which fifteen pounds she hath received some part of it as my book will testify"; "Major John Tallcot & Captain John Allyn" to be overseers; "my two sons Daniel Braynard & W[illia]m Spencer" to be executors [HaPR 4 (probate):225-26 Manwaring 1:363-64; HaCR 406-7].
In an undated codicil, "Jarrad Spencer" bequeathed to "my son Samuel two acres of swamp joining to Dan[ie]ll Cone of the east side of the great river"; to "my son Timothy two acres of swamp joining to Samuel's"; to "my grandchild Jarrad Spencer one acre joining to Sam[ue]ll & Timothy & what there is remaining of the swamp I give to my son Thomas Spencer"; to "my son Joseph Clark forty acres of land at Machamodus out of the first division & a forty-pound right in the undivided land there"; to "my son Timothy & my son Thomas a forty-pound right apiece in the undivided land at Machamodus"; to "my son Nathaniel Spencer my meadow lot in the upper meadow that formerly was Thomas Smith's"; to "my son Nathaniel Spencer a thirty-pound right on the west side of the great river"; "the rest of my freehold on both sides of the great river which is not disposed of I leave to the dispose of the administrators" [HaPR 4 (probate):226].
The inventory of the estate of "Gerrad Spencer of Haddam deceased which is not given & bestowed by him in his will," taken 29 June 1685, totalled £124 12s., of which £100 was real estate: "4 acres of land in the homestead with the old barn," £30; "4 acres of land in the home meadow," £20; "7 acres of land in the upper division in the upper meadow," £20; "4 acres 1 rood of land in the lower division in the upper meadow," £8; "3 acres of land in the equal division," £2; "one hundred pounds right of the undivided land of Machamotus," £10; "£220 right of land called the Plain," £7; and "£190 right of undivided land on the west side of the great river," £3 [HaPR 4 (probate) 226-27]
In his nuncupative will of 3 August 1682, "John Spencer of Haddam," son of the subject of this sketch, provided useful information about his siblings He declared that it was his will that his eldest son Gerrard Spencer & his eldest daughter Rebecka should be at the dispose of his brother-in-law Daniel Braynard & his own sister Hannah Brainard the wife of the said Daniel Braynwood" that "his son Benjamin should be with Nicholas Noyse of Haddam till the age of twenty-one years"; that
"his father Howard should have his daughter Lidia which, he had formerly given to him"; that "his brother-in-law John Kennor & his own sister Rebeccah Kennor should have his youngest daughter Grace Spencer"; that "Thomas Brookes whom his sister Brookes had committed to his care & whom he had brought up from about the age of four year old to the age of eighteen years of age should show all duty & respect to his mother the present wife of Thomas Shaylor" [HaPR 4 (probate):99 Manwaring 1:364-65].
Birth: Baptized Stotfold, Bedford, 25 April 1614, son of Gerard and Alice (Whitbread) Spencer [TAG 27:84, 164].
Death: By 29 June 1685 (date of inventory).
Marriage:
(1) By about 1638 ___ [TAG 27:165]. (See Comments below.)
(perhaps) (2) Rebecca (Porter) Clark, daughter of John Porter {1639, Windsor} and widow of John Clark [TAG 27:164-65].
Children:
With first wife
i. John Spencer, b. say 1638; m. by 1666 Rebecca Hayward (on 3 August 1682 eldest known child Rebeckah Spencer aged 16 years next March [HaPR 4 (probate) 100]) daughter of Robert Hayward (in his nuncupative will of 3 August 1682 John Spencer requested that his father Howard should have his daughter Lydia [HaPR 4 (probate) 99; Manwaring 1:364; Dawes Gates 24:17-19; Ackley-Bosworth 14-15]).
ii. MEHITABEL Spencer. b. say 1640; m. by 1662 Daniel Cone (eldest known child b. Haddam 7 January 1662[/3] [Haddam VR Barbour 35, citing "LR 1:125"]).
iii. MARAH Spencer, b. say 1642; m. (1) by 1662 Thomas Brooks (eldest known child b. [blank] December 1662 [Manwaring 1:186]); m. (2) by 1670 Thomas Shaler (eldest known child b. Haddam 2 December 1670 [Haddam VR Barbour 65, citing "LR 1:125"]).
iv. Hannah Spencer, b. say 1644; m. by 1665 Daniel Brainerd (eldest known child b. Haddam 2 March 166[5?] [Haddam VR Barbour 15, citing "LR 1:123"; Brainerd Anc 72]).
v. Sarah Spencer, b. say 1646; m. Norwich [blank] December 1666 Stephen Backus [NoVR 4]. (In an undated deed, "Steven Backus, with my wife Sarah, of the town of Norwich," sold to "Danuell Brainerd of Haddam one acre of meadow ... that fell to us by portion of the estate of our father Garrard Spencer" [Haddam LR 1:49].)
vi. Thomas Spencer, b. say 1648; m. (1) by 1673 Elizabeth Bate (eldest known child b. Haddam 8 October 1673 [Haddam LR 1:124]), daughter of James Bate (on 16 February 1691/2, the "Articles of agreement between the children of James and Hanah Bate late of Haddam deceased" included a portion of the estate granted to "Mary and Margritt," they "paying forty shillings to their sister Elizabeth," and the document was signed by Thomas Spencer and William Spencer [Haddam LR 1:21; NEHGR 75:144, 76:26]); m. (2) by 1695 Elizabeth ___ [TAG 19:218], possibly Elizabeth Waller, daughter of William Waller [TAG 27:169].
vii. Samuel Spencer, b. say 1650; m. (1) by 1674 Hannah (Willey) (Hungerford) Blatchford (eldest known child b. Haddam 27 July 1674 [Haddam LR 1:124]), daughter of Isaac Willey and widow of Thomas Hungerford and Peter Blatchford [Goodwin Notes 201; TAG 27:170; Dawes-Gates 2:479; Manwaring 1:185, 211]; m. (2) by about 1690 Miriam (Moore) Willey, daughter of Miles Moore and widow of John Willey [Milford Fam 456; Manwaring 2:116-17; McCormick-Hamilton 1099-1100].
viii. Timothy Spencer, b. say 1652; m. by about 1677 Sarah ___ (eldest known Child, son Thomas, m. in September 1702 [Dawes-Gates 2:776-78]). (In 1997 Raeola Ford Cooke argued that Timothy's wife was not daughter of William Clark {1639, Hartford} [Nutmegger 30:188-90].)
ix. RUTH Spencer, b. about 1654 ("Mrs. Ruth Clark" d. Haddam 28 November 1744, aged 90 years [Haddam VR Barbour 32, citing "LR 2:8"]); m. by an unknown date Joseph Clark, son of William Clark {1639, Hartford} [Dawes-Gates 2:207-9; Nutmegger 30:190].
x. William Spencer, b. say 1656; m. (1) by 1680 ___ Clark (only known child b. Haddam 23 March 1680[/l?] [Haddam LR 1:124]), daughter of William Clark {1639, Hartford} [TAG 27:171; Nutmegger 30:188-90]; m. (2) by 1685 Margaret Bate, daughter of James Bate (eldest known child b. Haddam 5 September 1685 [Haddam LR 1:124]); on 16 February 1691/2, the "Articles of agreement between the children of James and Hanah Bate late of Haddam deceased" included a portion of the estate granted to "Mary and Margritt," they "paying forty shillings to their sister Elizabeth," and the document was signed by Thomas Spencer and William Spencer [Haddam LR 1:21; NEHGR 75:144, 76:26]).
xi. Nathaniel Spencer, b. say 1658; m. (1) by 1682 Lydia Bailey (eldest known child b. Haddam 20 August 1682 [Haddam VR Barbour 74, citing "LR 2:23"]), daughter of John Bailey [TAG 28:56]; m. (2) by an unknown date Hannah [TAG 27:171].
xii. Rebecca Spencer, b. say 1660; m. (1) by 1681 John Kennor (eldest known child aged 6 on 5 February 1687/8 [Manwaring 1:477]); m. (2) by 1690 John Tanner [Manwaring 1:477, 511].
Associations: Jared Spencer was brother of William Spencer {1631, Cambridge} [GMB 3:1721-25], Thomas Spencer {1633, Cambridge} [GMB 3:1718-21], and Michael Spencer {1634, Cambridge} [TAG 27:84].
Elizabeth, the wife of Timothy Tomlins {1632, Cambridge}, was probably sister of Jared Spencer [TAG 41:109-18; GMB 3:1828-30].
Comments: In his will of 17 March 1645[/6?], "Richard Spencer of London, gent., included bequests to "Jarrard Spencer, Thomas Spencer, Michaell Spencer, sons of my brother Jarrard Spencer deceased, the sum of fifty pounds apiece, and unto the children of William Spencer, son of my said brother deceased, to be divided between them equally, the sum of fifty pounds" [Waters 514-15, abstracting PCC 79 Twisse; TAG 27:81-83]. On 8 January 1648/9, "Garrard Spencer did constitute &c. Thomas Broughton of Watertown ..., merchant, & Samuel King of London, woollendraper, his true & lawful attorneys, ... to ask, levy, recover, &c. of the executors of the last will and testament of Richard Spencer late of London, linendraper, deceased, a certain legacy bequeath unto him the said Gerrard Spencer" [Aspinwall 182-83].
Jacobus observed that "Since the publication of Goodwin's Genealogical Notes in 1856, the early wife of Gerard who was the mother of his children has always been named as Hannah. The present compiler follows these authorities, though confessing that he has not seen an original source or quoted contemporary record so naming her" [TAG 27:165]. We suggest that the given name of his first wife may have been Grace. Two of the sons of Jared Spencer named daughters Grace [TAG 27:169, 170], and Jared made a special point of making small bequests to these two grandchildren when many other grandchildren went unmentioned.
Nathaniel Goodwin, the first to publish a compiled account of this family, did not include Sarah and Elizabeth in the list of children [Goodwin Notes 197]. Jacobus pointed out the document that demonstrated that Sarah, wife of Stephen Backus, was a daughter of this immigrant [TAG 27:164]. The earliest known reference to a daughter Elizabeth, who married John Stannard, was published in 1907, without supporting evidence, by William Henry Spencer ["Spencer Family Record" (New York 1907), 21]. Most later treatments of the family include this daughter, also without evidence, and so we do not include her in the list of children above [Dawes-Gates 2:775; TAG 27:165; McCormick-Hamilton 909]; the birth-order chronology is crowded enough with twelve children.
On 7 March 1660/1, "Simon Lobdell" sued "Jared and Hannah Spencer in an action of the case she refusing to marry with him according to promise and Jared for breach of promise to the value of £150 damage" [RPCC 222, 227]. At the same court, "the magistrates and jury in Simon Lobdel's case do return this as a special verdict. That they find not any positive engagement broken by her respecting conjugal relation or absolutely binding her to consummate such a relation. Nevertheless we find upon evidence that Simon hath sustained much damage by their occasion and therefore do find it just and meet that all expenses that he hath been at in reference to these proceedings &c. Jared shall repay to the said Simon and to return any goods or money received by Jared or any of his family from the said Simon. And further that the said Simon shall have paid unto him as recompense for his damage ten pounds within the space of six months" [RPCC 232]. At a General Court on 14 March 1660/1, "in answer to Simon Lobdells' petition:1. This court admits not a further hearing of the case. 2. It's ordered that the special verdict drawn up by the Particular Court, respecting Simon's case against Jared and Hannah Spencer, shall stand firm to issue in that business. 3. In reference to the just expenses mentioned in the verdict, it's ordered that Jared Spencer shall pay unto Simon Lobdell, five pounds, besides the ten pounds mentioned in the verdict. All which sum of fifteen pounds shall be paid in wheat and pease or other estate equivalent, five pounds to be paid by the 10th of April, the other ten pounds according as is specified in the special verdict. And this is to be a final issue" [CCCR 1:360-61; RPCC 232].
On 8 July 1645, "Jos[eph] Armetage" sued "Garet Spencer" in a "case of a cow. Plaintiff to have the benefit of the dead beast" [EQC 1:77]. On the same day, "W[illia]m Hughes" sued "Joseph Armetag" in a "case of a cow. With consent of Joseph Armetage and Gerret Spencer, defendant shall have three pounds and the benefit of the dead beast" [EQC 1:78]. On 9 July 1645, "Mr. Daniell King, Mr. Georg[e] Burrill Sr. and Willia[m] Ivorie ... [were] presented for putting cattle into the general field before the corn was gathered, to pay damages to Gerrard Spencer, Franc[i]s Ingolls and Edward Burt" [EQC 1:81].
On 31 December 1646, "Garrard Spencer deposed that on artillery training day, coming from Salem with others, Edward Richards overtook them, and that he was distempered with drink, stumbled in his going and faltered in his speech" [EQC 1:108].
On 20 August 1660, "the town by their vote gave Jarrad Spencer liberty to dwell amongst us as an inhabitant with us at Hartford" [HaTR 132; Dawes-Gates 2:771].
On 3 September 1668, "Rob[er]t Reeve" sued "Jarrad Spencer in an action of debt ... to the value of nine pounds ten shillings." The jury found "for the defendant cost of court & the plaintiff to have the corn that was tendered which is six bushels 3 peck of wheat, nine bushels of pease & ten bushels & 1/2 of Indian corn" [HaCR 90, 93]. On 7 March 1671/2, "Ensign Jarrad Spencer plaintiff contra Mr. James Bates defendant in an action of the case for nondelivery of a bag of the said Spencer's he had in his custody, & some corn you have neglected to deliver him at the mill. In this case the court find for the plaintiff seven shillings & six pence & cost of the court" [HaCR 149].
Bibliographic Note: In 1856 Nathaniel Goodwin compiled summary accounts of this immigrant and his children [Goodwin Notes 197-204]. In 1931 Mary Walton Ferris prepared an account of this immigrant and a line of descent through his son John [Dawes-Gates 2:769-78].
In 1951 Donald Lines Jacobus prepared an account of three generations of agnate ancestry of the four Spencer brothers [TAG 27:79-87] and then compiled genealogical summaries of the families of the four brothers, their sons and grandsons [TAG 27:161-65]. On two other occasions, Jacobus produced briefer accounts of this immigrant [Brainerd Anc 273-76; Ackley-Bosworth 11-13]."
9. "The American Genealogist," Vol. 27 "The Four Spencer Brothers: Their Ancestors and Descendants," compiled by Donald Lines Jacobus, M. A., pp. 164-65:
"Ensign Gerard1 Spencer, baptized. at Stotfold, Beds, England, 25 Apr. 1615, died at Haddam, Conn., in 1685 (will 17 Sept. 1683, proved 3 Sept. 1685); married first, Hannah ___, who died before her husband made his will in 1683 and perhaps much earlier; perhaps married second, after 1677, Rebecca (Porter) Clark, baptized at Felsted, co. Essex, England, 16 Sept. 1630, died 9 Jan. 1682/3 (recorded at Saybrook), daughter of John and Anne (White) Porter of Windsor, and widow of John Clark of Saybrook.
Gerard settled in Lynn, Mass., later came to Hartford and thence to Haddam, Conn. There are several good accounts of him and his family in print, but some of them omit the daughter Sarah, proved by an undated deed in Haddam Deeds [1:49] given by "Steuen Backas with my wief Sarah of Norwich" to Daniel Brainerd of Haddam of one acre "that fell to us by portion of the estat of our father Garrard Spencer."
The second marriage is suggested for Gerard because there was, by elimination, no other adult Spencer in Connecticut of proper age to be the widow Clark's husband (and unencumbered with a wife known to be living) except his brother Thomas, who was an older man and resident at a greater distance from Saybrook. Nevertheless, she may have been a third wife of Sergt. Thomas Spencer. All that the records disclose is that she died under the name of Spencer, and the loss of the early New London probate records where her estate was settled may leave it forever a matter of conjecture who her Spencer husband was. Gerard's will does not even name all his children, and lack of reference to a wife may be explained in either of two ways. A second wife may have been provided for by prenuptial agreement; or such a marriage may have occurred after the will was made.
Since the Publication of Goodwin's "Genealogical Notes" in 1856, the early wife of Gerard who was mother of his children has always been named as Hannah. The present compiler follows these authorities, though confessing that he has not seen an original or quoted contemporary record so naming her. Still, such a record may exist. The birth dates assigned to the children below are mostly guesses.
Children:
i. John2, b. ca. 1636; d. 3 Aug. 1682.
ii. Mehitabel, b. ca. 1638; d. 1691; m. by 1661, Daniel Cone of Haddam, b. ca. 1627, d. 24 Oct. 1706 in 80th yr.; ten children.
iii. Hannah, b. ca. 1640; d. by 1691; m. ca. 1664, Daniel Brainerd of Haddam, b. ca. 1641, d. 1 Apr. 1715 ae. 74. He m. (2) 29 Nov. 1698, Hannah (Spencer) Sexton (No. 7, vii).
iv. Marah, b. ca. 1642; d. before 22 Dec. 1714; m. (1) in 1662, Thomas Brooks, who d. at Haddam, 18 Oct. 1668; four children; m. (2) in 1669, Thomas Shaylor of Haddam, who d. ca. 1692; five children.
v. Sarah, b. ca. 1644; living 1707; m. Dec. 1666, Stephen Backus of Norwich, b. ca. 1642, d. at Canterbury, in 1695, son of William; eight children.
vi. Elizabeth, b. ca. 1646; m. ca. 1666, Joseph Stannard of Saybrook, who d. 20 Aug. 1688.
vii. Thomas, b. ca. 1648; d. Feb. 1698/9.
viii. Samuel, b. ca. 1650; d. 7 Aug. 1705.
ix. Timothy, b. ca. 1652;d. 1704.
x. Ruth, b. ca. 1654; d. at Haddam, 28 Nov. 1744 ae. 90; m. Joseph Clark, whose will dated 24 Oct. 1716 is recorded in Haddam Deeds (2:255), son of William.
xi. William, b. ca. 1656; d. 1731.
xii. Nathaniel, b. ca. 1658; d. before 1722.
xiii. Rebecca, b. ca. 1660; d. before 1706; m. (1) ca. 1682, John Kennard of Haddam, who d. 1688; m. (2) after Feb. 1689, John Tanner."
10. "The American Genealogist," 27:161: "The Four Spencer Brothers: Their Ancestors and Descendants," by Donald Lines Jacobus:
"The New England Spencers made efforts to obtain payment of the £50 apiece bequeathed to them by their uncle, Richard Spencer of London, whose chief heir and executor was their cousin, Daniel Spencer of London. On 8 (11) 1648, i.e. 8 Jan. 1648/9, Garrard [Gerard] Spencer appointed Thomas Broughton of Watertown, Mass., and Samuel King of London, England, his attorneys to collect his legacy under the last will of Richard Spencer, late of London, linen draper, deceased and the same date, "Michaell Spencer of Linne" did likewise ["Aspinwall Notarial Records" (1903), 182, 190]. On 19 Jan. 1648, i.e. 1648/9, Michaell Spenser (as he signed his name) signed in Boston a bill of exchange to Mr. Thomas Ruck, "haberdasher att the Seauen starres on London bridge," for £30, "part of the Legacy gyuen mee by my Unckle Richard Spencer," and directed to "my Louinge Cousen, Mr Danyell Spenser Grocer in Friday Streete in London." This bill of exchange was protested, 5 Apr. 1650, by a London notary, who swore that upon presentation "the said Danyell Spencer answered, that hee will pay noe monneyes nor haue to doe with the sayd bill of exchange." [Quarterly Courts of Essex County," 4:385; quoted also in Waters, op. cit., 515.]
The cousin Daniel Spencer was at death of Cony Hatch, Co. Middlesex, citizen and grocer of London, and left a will dated 26 July 1665, proved 6 Nov. 1668 [Waters, op. cit., 913]. He evidently died a wealthy man, mentioning messuages or lands in Lothbury, near Greene's Court, London; in Hitchin, Hippoletts and Preston, co. Hertford, including the Red Lion Inn in Hitchin; in Gravesend and Rochester, Kent, and in Tilbery, Essex. He named wife Sarah; eldest son Samuel; son Daniel; daughters Rebecca and Hannah Spencer; daughters Mary wife of Thomas Thatch and Anne wife of William Tilsley; and kinsman William Carter. The son Samuel died by 1674, leaving a widow Rebecca and daughter Mary Spencer. No mention was made of the American cousins.
Whether the legacies were ever collected, we are not prepared to state. The amount at stake was sufficient to have made it worth the trouble and cost of suing through an attorney in England. Possibly a search of Chancery records would reveal something of interest. An action of this nature, naming the parties at interest, would be of immense value if brought after the death of Michael Spencer in 1653, for it should name his surviving Children. We have full records of the families of the other three brothers, but, as we shall presently see, the New England records are very defective with respect to the children of Michael Spencer.
Before concluding this chapter, it seems advisable to dispose of an error which occurs in many printed sources to the effect that the four Spencer brothers were accompanied to New England by a fifth brother, the John who was baptized at Stotfold, 22 Jan. 1603/4.
It has already been pointed out that neither John nor his heirs were named in the will of his uncle Richard and that he consequently had probably died without issue prior to 1645-6. Nevertheless, he has often been identified with a Mr. John Spencer, who came on the "Mary and John," 1634, settled at Newbury, Mass., which he represented in the General Court, 1635; was made Captain in 1637; was a follower of Wainwright and accused of heresy and returned to England in 1638. His will, made 1 Aug. 1637, "before Mr. Spencer's going to England," was proved 29 Mar. 1649. He made his chief heir his nephew John Spencer, with remainder to the testator's brother Thomas Spencer and his children, and children of his brother Nicholas Kidwel and sister Rachel Kidwel and mentioned also the children of his cousin Anne Knight of Newbury, and of his cousin Gardner.
Austin in his "Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island" (p. 186) suggests that John Spencer, head of the Rhode Island family, may have been son of Michael [of Stotfold and Lynn] and also may have been identical with the nephew John named in the will of John of Newbury. With the first of these suggestions we are in accord, since there is evidence for placing John of Rhode Island as son of Michael, but he was not the nephew of John of Newbury. The records have been so long available in print that we consider it unnecessary here to repeat the full details, which may be found by consulting "The Probate Records of Essex County, 1:107-8; Waters, "Genealogical Gleanings in England," 467-8, 553; and "Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire," 650-1. The following pedigree of the family of John Spencer of Newbury is based on these sources. There were two brothers and one sister:
i. Thomas Spencer, gent., b. ca. 1593 by age stated in marriage license; bur. at Kingston-upon-Thames, Co. Surrey, 29 June 1648; m. at St. Peter's, Paul's Wharf, 25 Sept. 1623, Penelope (Jernegan) Fillioll, bapt. at Shalford, Essex, 24 Oct. 1591, widow of Western Fillioll, by whom she had a daughter Anne Fillioll who was living unmarried in 1656. The will of Thomas, dated 22 June 1648, was proved 23 Aug. 1648. Children, bapt. at Chertley, Surrey (dates not given in sources consulted):
1. John, eldest son; heir of his uncle John of Newbury, Mass.; apparently came to New England, but d. in Jamaica, W. I., unm., before Dec. 1656 when adm'n on his estate was granted to his half-sister Anne Filliol, his mother Penelope, brother Thomas and sister Rachel Spencer having renounced.
2. Thomas, a physician, of Plymouth, co. Devon.
3. Penelope, m. at Newbury, Mass., 15 Jan. 164-, John Treworgye and left descendants in New England. It is of interest that their son James named a daughter Penelope and had a grandson named Spencer Treworgye.
4. Rachel, living unm. in 1656.
ii. John, of Newbury, Mass.; dignified in the records by the prefix of respect (Mr.); returned to England, and bur. at Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, 23 June 1648, six days before his brother Thomas. His will was proved in Essex County, Mass. (supra).
iii. Rachel, m. Nicholas Kydwell of Kingston-upon-Thames, whose will, dated 25 July 1676, was proved 16 Sept. 1679. Only surviving Child:
1. Rachel, m. John Gatton."
11. FHL book 929.273 Sp33 "The Spencers of the Great Migration," by Jack Taif Spencer and Edith Woolley Spencer (Gateway Press, Baltimore; 1997) vol. 1, pp. 79-114, provides a long article on "Why and How did the Spencer Siblings of Bedfordshire Come to America," "The First Generation of the Spencer Siblings in America," and "The Five Spencer Siblings of Bedfordshire, the Role of the Braintree Company, and the Beginnings of Cambridge, Massachusetts." I have fully transcribed all three of these chapters within the notes of Thomas Spencer, the immigrant, who is my direct ancestor. Rather than include the same lengthy article in all four of the other immigrant Spencers, I include this reference only to the notes of Thomas Spencer. The same author does include many (but not all) of the important facts from the three chapters in later chapters which focus on the individual siblings and which I fully transcribe in their individual notes.
12. FHL book 929.273 Sp33 "The Spencers of the Great Migration," by Jack Taif Spencer and Edith Woolley Spencer (Gateway Press, Baltimore; 1997) vol. 1, pp. 105-106:
"Since the achievement of "Freemanship" was so important a designation, how was such a distinction attained in the Puritan society? First of all, Freemanship was entirely dependent upon membership in the Church, which in turn was dependent on a "Confession of Faith". This latter step constituted an important hurdle to overcome before attaining the desired goal. In its essentials, the Confession required each candidate to recount step by step how he or she had arrived at a "saving grace".
Fortunately, the MBC maintained full records of the names and dates of those persons who attained the status of Freemen in the various communities under the jurisdiction of the General Court. These dates give important clues as to the presence of individuals in each community. It does not necessarily indicate time of arrival, because "Confession of Faith" often required months and even years to be attained.
In the following tabulation for attainment of "Freeman", we will list only the names of the Spencer siblings or individuals possibly related in future generations as collateral families. The other names are included because they were prominent in the affairs of the MBC.
16 May 1631 - a total of 18, including William Spencer, Timothy Tomlyns (husband of Elizabeth Spencer).
1 April 1633 - a total of 78, including Rev. Thomas Hooker, Thomas Spencer, James Parker
4 March 1634 - many, including Mr. William Andrews Robert Parker.
6 March 1635 - many, including Joseph Andrews
6 May 1635 - many, including Robert Andrews, George Phelpes.
26 May 1636 - many, including Barnaby Deryfall (Derifield) brother to Ann Deryfall first wife of Sgt. Thomas1 Spencer. Also Mr. William Coddington for whom Ann Deryfall worked as a maid servant.
9 March 1637 - Gerrett (Gerard1) Spencer.
17 May 1637 - John Hanchet.
March, 1638 - Michael Spencer
3 May 1638 - Thomas Sweetman, whose daughter Rebecca married Michael Spencer, son of Michael. Michael's son owned the land on which the famous Harvard yard is now located.
13 March 1638 - Mr. Joseph Peck, Mr. Robert Peck.
13 May 1640 - William Andrews. There were two Freemen in Cambridge bearing this name, one being a ship captain.
2 June 1641 - William Parker."
13. FHL book 929.273 Sp33 "The Spencers of the Great Migration," by Jack Taif Spencer and Edith Woolley Spencer (Gateway Press, Baltimore; 1997) vol. 1, pp.159-160:
"THE EARLY DAYS IN NEWE TOWNE (CAMBRIDGE)...
In 1630 or 1631, when the Spencer siblings made their arrival in New England (Elizabeth perhaps in 1629), they were all very young adults and all of the males were unmarried. William1 Spencer, the oldest, was about age 30. The second sibling, Elizabeth, was about 27 years of age and most likely already married to Timothy Tomlins of Gloucestershire. Elizabeth1 Spencer very likely came to the New World at least one or two years in advance of her four brothers, settling first at Salem and later at Lynn. Thomas1 Spencer, the subject of this article, was 23 years of age in 1630 and came to New England as a young bachelor. Michael1 Spencer was 19 and Gerard1 was was only 16 years of age. We believe that all four brothers probably came at the same time (1630?) in the first vessels of the Winthrop Fleet. All of their names appear in the very early records of Newe Towne (Cambridge), Massachusetts.
In the past, some historians have believed that the Spencer brothers were members of the famous "Braintree Company" of County Essex, England, whose members first settled at Wollaston (Quincy) south of Boston. There is clear evidence now (records of the General Court at Newe Towne) that William1 Spencer already was at Cambridge at least one year before the Braintree Company came to that town in the late summer of 1632. Hence, the Spencer siblings did not have a close affiliation with the Rev. Thomas Hooker, the leader of the Braintree Company. Indeed, both William1 and Thomas1 seem not to have been in the first and second contingents (or perhaps a third) of Hooker's congregation which went to Hartford in 1635 and 1636. Thomas, nevertheless, was a member from Hartford of Major JohnMASON's army which fought the Pequot War of 1637. William Spencer, a leading figure in Cambridge, does not appear among the Hartford residents until about 1638 (or more likely 1639), perhaps attracted by the presence of his brother Thomas who apparently had become an "inhabitant" by virtue of his service in the Pequot War."
13. FHL book 929.273 Sp33 "The Spencers of the Great Migration," by Jack Taif Spencer and Edith Woolley Spencer (Gateway Press, Baltimore; 1997) vol. 1, pp. 107-108:
"L.R. Paige in the History of Cambridge provided a map showing the general pattern of land distribution prior to 1635, about four years after the arrival of the first settlers in 1631. There was also a second map showing the location of lots in the town itself in 1635 and a list of names for the new owners in 1642. The change between the two years was nearly one hundred percent because of the departure of the Hooker Company from Cambridge in 1635 and 1636. Actually, the turnover in the population of Newe Towne in 1635 and 1636 was almost complete. On the lot plan for 1635 there were 63 names. If each name is compared with the same lots in 1642, there is scarcely a repeat owner in the same location. Nearly all had emigrated to Hartford.
The street map of Cambridge in 1635 identifies the location of William Spencer's property as No. 31 at the intersection of Mt. Auburn St. and Creek Lane. The house of Sgt. Thomas Spencer was at No. 32 on Creek Lane. The Rev. Thomas Hooker was at No.4. Others were Matthew Allen No. 38, 56, 60; William Andrews No. 41. We note that neither Michael Spencer or Gerard Spencer are shown on this map, but it is a certainty they were in Newe Towne at this time (1635) because of land grants which had been made to each in 1634. Perhaps both of the younger brothers were living with one or the other of their older brothers."
14. FHL book 929.273 Sp33 "The Spencers of the Great Migration," by Jack Taif Spencer and Edith Woolley Spencer (Gateway Press, Baltimore; 1997) vol. 1, pp. 115-133:
"THE FOUR Spencer BROTHERS of Bedfordshire IN The EARLIEST Records of NEW England.
I. THE BEGINNINGS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY COMPANY.
The voluminous records of the Massachusetts Bay Company (six volumes) were commenced in England in 1628. After the arrival at Boston of the first six ships of the Winthrop Fleet in the summer of 1630, the records were maintained either at Boston or at Newe Towne (Cambridge). Weshall review all the entries for the decade from 1630 to 1640 because this is the period in which the Four Spencer Brothers (William, Thomas, Michael, and Gerard) first lived at Newe Towne in Massachusetts. Their sister Elizabeth, who was married to Timothy Tomlins, probably also spent some early years at Newe Towne since we believe Timothy was a resident there when he first went to New England.
William spent most of his early years at Newe Towne, but removed to Hartford late in the 1630s. His younger brother Thomas had emigrated to Hartford earlier, probably in 1635. Michael arid Gerard also lived in Newe Towne for several years, but emigrated to Lynn about 1637.
In a later chapter we will review the history of Timothy Tomlins and Eizabeth Spencer Tomlins at Lynn. Timothy's brother Edward also was a prominent citizen of Lynn.
There is another Spencer in the early records of MBC who did not appear to be a direct relative of the Four Spencer Brothers. John Spencer of Newbury represented that town for several years in the meetings of the General Court of the MBC. John of Newbury apparently was a native of Kingston-on-the-Thames, county Surrey. Actually, the Four Spencer Brothers also had a brother John who was born in 1604 and was the third child after William (b. 1601) and Elizabeth (b. 1602). D.L. Jacobus in his extensive publications on the Spencer siblings could not say exactly what happened to John of Bedfordshire other than that he probably died before 1646. On the other hand, there was a John Spencer on the same ship with William when he made his second voyage back to New England in the spring of 1633. C.E. Banks lists this passenger as John Spencer of Kingston-on-the-Thames and a settler at Newbury.
The first Court of Assistants of the Massachusetts Bay Company met at Charlestowne on 23 August 1630, the same year of the arrival of the first ships in the Winthrop Fleet Only the names of the Governor Deputy Governor, and seven Assistants were listed at this initial meeting. They met again on 7 September with ten Assistants present. An important meeting was held 19 October when the names of 77 men were considered for election as Freemen. None of the Spencer siblings or relatives were on this list. Several meetings were held in 1631 with still no mention of any of the Spencer family in the Bay records.
The records of Newe Towne itself give us the very first proof of the presence of William Spencer in the initial group of eight men who settled in the town early in 1631. The other settlers were Thomas Dudley (Deputy Governor), Symon Bradstreet, Edmund Lockwood, Daniell Patrike, John Poole, John Kirman, and Symon Sackett. There was no mention of the other Spencer siblings.
The next mention of William Spencer was on 7 Jan 1632 when the "paling" (fence) list was completed for Newe Towne. This list gave the number of rods assigned for each settler, including 12 for William and two for Thomas. Here we have the first mention of Thomas Spencer which seems ample proof that he (like William) was in New England at least by 1631 (which does not preclude the possibility that both came with the first Winthrop arrivals in 1630).
The next notation for William1 Spencer was 4 March 1632 on which date he was elevated to Freeman. Timothy Tomlins, husband of Elizabeth1 Spencer, also became a Freeman this date, just a year after his brother Edward achieved the same title. These dates probably indicate that the Tomlins siblings as well as the Spencer siblings all had reached New England at least by 1631, and very likely a year earlier.
II. THE CHRONOLOGICAL RECORDS
The entire data found in the records of the General Court of the MBC as well as those kept for Newe Towne (and the Proprietors' Records) will be given in chronological order. The following abbreviations will be used:
MBC: Records of the General Court of the MBC.
NR: Newe Towne (Cambridge) Records, including those known as the "Proprietors' Records".
HL: The History of Lynn (generally by Lewis & Newhall).
Before listing the actions and dates from 1629 to 1640, we will include a page from the Newe Towne records showing entries made in the handwriting of William Spencer who served as Town Clerk from 1632 to 1635. The record shows land grants to certain individuals ranging from two to six acres or less.
1632
Early 1632-NR: There were eight inhabitants at Newe Towne, including William Spencer.
7 January 1632-NR:"Palings" (fences) were ordered for all property owners. William Spencer was assigned 12 rods; Thomas Spencer assigned 2 rods.
9 May 1632-MBC: Mr. William Spencer and Mr. Lockwood represented Newe Towne at the General Court meeting. In all, eight "plantations" were represented by two delegates each.
1633
2 March 1633-NR: Granted William Spencer the swamp on the other side of the creek.
5 August 1633-NR: Lots granted for "cowyards". William Spencer given 3 "roods", or about 3/4 acre. Thomas Spencer given 1 rood (1/4 acre).
1634
5 February 1634-NR: An order to survey the townlands by a committee of five, including William Spencer, who was to maintain a book of records.
4 March 1634-MBC: General Court meets at Boston. William Spencer (Newe Towne), John Spencer (Ipswich), and Timothy Tomlins (Lynn). John Spencer legally elected as "Deputy" from Ipswich. Capt. Mason present (probably the leader of the militia in the Pequot War of 1637).
14 May 1634-MBC: General Court meets at Boston. Mr. Spencer and Mr. Edward Tomlins in attendance (probably representing Lynn).
1 Sept. 1634-NR: William Spencer's page of notes made for this date has been used to illustrate his handwriting. Also, on this date, William and "George St" were to measure out the lots granted by the Towne. This is the first indication of many of the surveys undertaken by William, not only in Newe Towne, but also to establish boundaries for many of the adjacent towns such as Watertowne and Charlestowne.
The date of 1 September 1634 is most important for another reason. Under the Heading of Lots granted on the west side of the river we find Michael1 Spencer for four acres and Garrard1 Spencer for four acres. This is the first mention of the two younger Spencer brothers in New England. Michael was 23 years old and Garrard 20. Usually we associate their names with Lynn. Now we can feel confident that Newe Towne was the focus for all four brothers at least during the first few years after their arrival in New England. Actually, the history of Lynn (Paige) states that "Jarrett" Spencer came to Lynn in 1637 and was granted the privilege by the General Court of operating a ferry in 1639.
1635
4 January 1635-NR: Eight "Townsmen" attended a meeting in Newe Towne, including William Spencer. It was ordered that there shall be a foot bridge made over the creek at the end of Spring street and a causeway... Thomas Hosmer and William Spencer to see it is done at public charge.
8. February 1635-NR: Meeting of Townsmen. Nine present, including William Spencer and Mr. Andrews. William Spencer and John Bridge were to hire men to fence one acre for the dry cattell to lye in nights. Included in the record this date is a list of men who had houses in the town and in other sections. The term "house" probably included a dwelling or any other type of structure on the same property. For example, the Governor, John Haynes, had six "houses" in town. William Spencer had two houses in town, while Thomas Spencer had only one. W ill i a m also had two houses in the "Westend", which perhaps meant "West Field". It may significant that there is no mention of the Tomlins brothers or of the younger Spencer siblings (Michael and Garrard).
4 March 1635-MBC: Mr. Spencer and Ephraim Childe named to assist a committee of three in determining the boundary between Watertowne and Newe Towne. Also, William Spencer was on a committee of nine to go aboard any friendly ship at anchor after 24 hours, "take notice of what commodities she has to sell, confer about the prices ... to buy all such commodities as they shall judge to be useful for the country ... which goods being so bought, shall be laid up by the said merchants in some maggasen (warehouse?) near to where the said ship anchors; and the said merchants shall at any time during the space of 20 days after the said goods are landed ... sell to any inhabitant within this jurisdiction such commodities as he needs, after profit, and not above..." (This is the only instance in which we see William Spencer in a completely different role than was customary for him under the General Court. There is no indication in later records as to whether he actually participated in this commercial arrangement).
21 April 1635-NR: William Spencer and George Steele were directed to measure all the meadow ground undivided belonging to the Newe Towne. After measuring and deciding on each man's proportion, Spencer and Steele were to see that stakes were set to mark the boundaries. William was allotted 2 1/2 acres of the meadow. His brother Thomas received one acre.
1 May 1635-NR: This record included a description of property owned by each propietor in Newe Towne. William Spencer "in the town one dwelling house with other outhouses and a garden and backside about one roode" (one quarter acre, or about 11,000 square feet). "John Pratt southeast Spring street on the southwest Creek Lane northwest." (See town map of 1635 for Newe Towne). Thomas Spencer in the Towne one house with a garden plot and backside about one roode John Haynes Esqr on the southeast Long southwest Creek Lane northwest Spring street southeast.
6 May 1635-MBC: Mr. Spencer and Timothy Tomlins on a committee of thirteen (Jury?) "to consider the act of Mr. Endicott, in defacing the col's (colony?) and to report to the Court how far they consider it censureable." (It seems likely that Mr. Endicott had sent an unfavorable letter to England regarding the governance of the MBC).
20 August 1635-NR: Townsmen ordered that William Spencer and George Steele "should measure all the meadow ground belonging to Newe Towne. And when it is measured and decided to every man his proportion, they are to measure every man's generally and cause stakes to be set at each end and to have three pence the acre for same." There follows a list of 71 names with the acres specified for each. The range is from 6 acres down to one-half acre, with most getting one or two acres. William Spencer had 2 1/2 acres and Thomas one acre. William Andrews had 2 1/2 acres.
2 September 1635-MBC: General Court meets at Newe Towne. There were 28 Deputies (Townsmen) present, including Mr. John Spencer (Ipswich) and Edward Tomlins (Lynn).
5 October 1635-NR: Record shows William Spencer owns land in the "Old Field".
10 October 1635-NR: Record shows Michael Spencer "on the south side the river about four acres." (This is the second reference to Michael in the Newe Towne records). Also, the record shows a list of owners in several areas, including "the Great Marsh, 55 acres more or less, William Spencer northwest, Charles River southwest, and John Steele northeast." (The Great Marsh or Swamp lay just north of the "Fresh Pond" which is still on modern maps in what is now part of West and North Cambridge. It was approximately two miles from the center of old Newe Towne).
October 1635-NR: (exact date not given). "Edmond Anger bought of Thomas Spencer one house with garden plot and backside, about one roode. Mrs. Clover southeast ... southwest, Creek Jane northwest, Spring street northeast." (This is a significant entry. Possibly it indicates that Thomas may have had a connection with the first group of Hooker's congregation which went to Hartford late in 1635. In Love's History of Hartford, he states that Thomas Spencer "probably" removed from Newe Towne in 1637. However, Love further states "who were the brave pioneers of Hartford in 1635? When did they remove to Sukiaug (Hartford) and where did they build their huts? No attempt ever has been made to answer these questions in detail. Love adds that many houses were empty at Newe Towne on 5 October 1635."
In Winthrop's journal under the date of 15 October 1635 he said: "About sixty men, women and little children went by land toward Connecticut with their cows, horses, and swine." (Although a group from Dorchester went to Windsor that year, Love believes Winthrop was making reference to the Hartford emigrants).
23 November 1635-NR: The records states "at a general meeting of the whole was then chosen to order business of the whole Towne for the year following..." (Nine members were chosen, including William Spencer and William Andrews, the latter also designated Constable). "It is further ordered that the Towne book shall be at William Spencer's house."
7 December 1635-NR: William Spencer and four others met in the Towne session. It appears in this instance that William was acting as one of the five Townsmen to conduct the business of Newe Towne. William Spencer and Mr. Bambrigg were ordered to view the fence at Pyne Swamp and judge if its height meets the required standard.
December 1635-NR: Garard Spencer on the west side of four acres. (This is the second reference to Gerard in the Newe Towne records, the first having been in September of 1634. However, his brother Michael Spencer is not mentioned at this time.).
1636
3 March 1636-MBC: The General Court was held at Newe Towne. There were 27 representatives, including Mr. William Spencer (Newe Towne) and Mr. John Spencer (Ipswich).
Mr. Hutchingson and Mr. William Spencer are deputed to take the accounts of Mr. Simkins and to return the same into the next Court.
Also, William Spencer and two others "deputed to set out the bounds of the new plantation above Charles River, against all other townes that join upon it al... so, they are to view the meadows about Blue Hills to in form the next General Court to what townes it may most conveniently be laid (assigned?)."
Also, a plantation was authorized at Wenicummett (now Hampton, NH, ten miles south of Portsmouth). Mr. Dumer and Mr. John Spencer "shall have power to press men to build a house forthwith, in some convenient place..." (This order authorized a settlement much farther north than the Bay Company had reached up to this time. It was more than 40 miles from Newe Towne "as the crow flies" and probably at least 50 miles over the primitive roads of that day).
At the meeting of 3 March 1636, the General Court issued an important policy declaration regarding the governance of the new towns on the Connecticut River, but seemingly aimed at Hartford. The Court named seven "overseers" for Connecticut who were to act like the General Court of MBC in legislative, judicial, and executive functions. One of the seven was William Phelpes, an ancestor of Eunice Phelps, who was to marry John5 Spencer (1758-1832) of Suffield, Connecticut.
13 April 1636-MBC: William Spencer and two others issued a s
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Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
1614 - 1685 (~ 69 years)