| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. Citation Information: "The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633," Vol. III, pp. 1721-25, by Robert Charles Anderson:
"William Spencer
Origin: Stotfold, Bedfordshire
Migration: 1631
First Residence: Cambridge
Removes: Hartford 1639
Church Membership: Admission to a Massachusetts Bay church (probably Watertown) prior to 4 March 1632/3 implied by freemanship.
Freeman: 4 March 1632/3 [MBCR 1:367]. Education: Cambridge town clerk, 1632-1635 [CaTR vi (with facsimile of a page of records in his hand facing CaTR 9)]. Wrote a well-reasoned and well-spelled letter to Winthrop in 1638 [WP 4:74-75]. Offices: Deputy from Cambridge to the General Court, 9 May 1632, 4 March 1634/5, 3 March 1635/6, 8 September 1636, 18 April 1637 (as "Lieut. Spencer"), 17 May 1637, 26 September 1637, 12 March 1637/8 [MBCR 1:95, 135, 164, 178, 191, 194, 204, 220]. Observer to committee on bounds between Cambridge & Watertown, 4 March 1634/5 [MBCR 1:139]. Committee on bounds between Boston & Charlestown, 28 March 1636 [MBCR 1:162]. Committee to "set out bounds of the new plantation above Charles Ryver," 3 March 1635/6 [MBCR 1:166]; report of above committee rendered on 13 April 1636 [MBCR 1:173]. Committee on colony debts, 8 September 1636 [MBCR 1:179, 184]. Committee on compensation of soldiers who made the expedition to Block Island, 9 March 1636/7 [MBCR1:188]. Committee to "view Shaushin, & to consider whether it be fit for a plantation," 1 August 1637 [MBCR 1:200]. Committee on "plantation upon the river which runs to Concord," 20 November 1637 [MBCR 1:210]. Committee on codification of laws, 12 March 1637/8 [MBCR 1:222]. Cambridge town clerk, 1632-1635 [CaTR vi]. Committee to "survey the town lands and enter [mutilated] a book appointed for that purpose," 3 February 1634/5 [CaTR 12]. On 27 October 1636 "Newe Towne presented a book of their records under the hands of Will[iam] Andrews, constable, John Beniamin, & Will[iam] Spencer" [MBCR 1:182]. A Cambridge general meeting ordered that "William Spencer and Georg[e] Steele should measure all the meadow ground undivided belonging to the Newtowne" and allot "to every man his proportion," 20 August 1635 [CaTR 12]. Cambridge selectman, 23 November 1635 [CaTR 13]. Lieutenant of the Cambridge train band, 9 March 1636/7 [MBCR 1:190]. Charter member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company [HAHAC 1:40; MBCR 1:250-51]. Deputy for Hartford to Connecticut General Court, 11 April 1639, 8 August 1639, 10 September 1639, 16 January 1639/40, 9 April 1640 [CCCR 1:27, 29, 34, 41, 46]. Surveyor of "armor and other military provisions" for Hartford, 8 August 1639 [CCCR 1:30]. Estate: Granted three roods for a cowyard in Cambridge, 5 August 1633 [CaTR 5]. Granted "the swamp on the other side the creek," 2 March 1633/4 [CaTR 7]. Granted "that corner of ground by Joseph Myat's between the swamps," 1 December 1634 [CaTR 10]. Received a proportion of 2½ in the undivided meadow, 20 August 1635 [CaTR 13]. In the list of ho uses in Cambridge, William Spencer was credited with two in the Westend, 8 February 1635/6 [CaTR 18]. In the Cambridge land inventory on 1 May 1635 William Spencer held at least eleven parcels (entry partially mutilated): "one dwelling house with other outhouses and a garden and backside, about one rood"; "more in old field about five acres and a half"; "more on small lot hill about three acres"; "more in the neck about seven acres"; "more in Long Marsh about fifteen acres"; "more in Great Marsh about nine acres"; "more in the Great Marsh about two acres"; "more in the Great Marsh about two acres"; "[mutilated] west end one house with other [mutilated] houses garden backside and other [mutilated] about three acres"; "more by the pine swamp about six acres"; and "more in Cowyard Row about one rood" [CaBOP 5-6]. On 1 April 1636 William Spencer of New Towne acknowledged that he had sold to Nicholas Danforth his right in three and a half acres [CaBOP 38]. In an undated record, Symon Crosby purchased from William Spencer one house with three acres of ground [CaBOP 58]. On 20 November 1637 "[t]hose that are to view the new plantation of Watertowne are to view the place which Mr. Spencer desireth, & if it be convenient, to certify the Court" [MBCR 1:211]. On 2 May 1638 "Mr. Willi[am] Spencer is granted 300 acres of ground beyond Concord, by the Alewife Ryver" [MBCR 1:228]. In the Hartford land inventory in 1640 William Spencer held six parcels: two acres "on which his dwelling house now standeth with other outhouses, yards & gardens ... which he bought of John Halles"; sixty-three acres in the Middle Oxpasture "part whereof he bought of Edward Stebing & another part he bought of William Kelse & another part thereof he bought of Thomas Spenser"; four acres in the Pine Field "which he bought of John Halles" (annotated "sold [to] Jno. Moris"); ten acres in the Pine Field "part whereof he bought of Edward Stebing & another part of John Beddell"; eleven acres and two roods of meadow and swamp in the North Meadow; and ten acres of meadow and swamp on the east side of the Great River (annotated "mead sold [to] Calsey" and "swamp sold [to] Barding & Pantry") [HaBOP 352-53]. In his nuncupative will, dated 14 March and 4 May 1640 and 4 March 1640/1, William Spencer bequeathed that the estate that he hath in New England, and also that which may come to his wife hereafter, that is, any part of his wife's portion if any do come, that all the estate be divided as followeth: ...to my wife one third part of all my estate ... to my son Samuel one third part ... to my two daughters Sarah and Elizabeth one third part ... the children to be brought up with the improvement of the whole estate that I leave both to my wife and Children. Also my mind is my Cousin Matthew Allyn, my brother John Pratt and John Taylcoate, that these three parties or any two of them shall have the oversight of my estate, and in case that they shall see in their judgement the estate to be wasted, that they shall have power to take the children and their portions [blank] for their bringing up, and to pay the children their portions that remain at the several times above written. Also my mind is that my wife shall have no power to alienate or make sale of my house or any part of my land I leave without the consent of two of the parties that are to oversee my estate [CCCR 1:449-50; Manwaring 1:36-37]. The undated "inventory of the estate of the said Will[iam] Spenser" totalled £67 12s. 2d. in moveables; there were "several debts ... owing in the Bay, the which the most of them are denied, and those that are confessed are very doubtful whether much of it will be paid, being in the hands of some of his kindred that are poor." The supplement to this inventory also included "the house and houselot containing about 2 acres, with some outhouses; also several parcels of upland lots, to the value of [blank] 74 acres, as may appear by the records to that purpose, whereof, besides the right which he had in any other lands to be divided"; "also, eleven acres of meadow and swamp, lying in the North Meadow"; "also, one parcel lying on the east side of the Great River, containing ten acres"; "also, there is land yet remaining at Concord in the Bay, which while he lived he esteemed at £120" [CCCR 1:450-51]. It was agreed that if any of the children died before they came of age, "the survivor & survivors shall receive it at the time when it should have been paid to the deceased, if he or she had lived, and if they all die before the said time, then it shall be paid to Agnes Edwards or her lawful attorney of the said Agnes, the mother of the said Children" [Manwaring1:37]. The estate of William Spencer, deceased, was brought to court 24 June 1650 and, "with the information of the overseers in the presence of Thomas Spencer, brother to the said William, with the consent of the wife of William Edwards, they do judge that £30 is as much as the estate here will bear to be sequestered for the use of the children, which is to be paid to them according to the will of the said William Spencer ... provided also that whatsoever shall be paid here or in England of any estate due to the wife of the said William Spencer while she was the wife of William Spencer, or that shall come from Concord, two thirds thereof shall be and remain to the proper use of the children aforesaid" [RPCC 85-86]. Birth: Baptized Stotfold, Bedfordshire, 11 October 1601, son of Gerrard and Alice (Whitbread) Spencer [TAG 27:162]. Death: Hartford after 4 May 1640 [Manwaring 1:36-37] and probably before 22 May 1640 [Aspinwall 141]. Marriage: By about 1633 Agnes Harris, baptized Barnstaple, Devonshire, 6 April 1604, daughter of Bartholomew and Elizabeth (Collamore) Harris. She married (2) Hartford 11 December 1645 William Edwards [TAG 63:33-45]. Children:
i Elizabeth, b. say 1633; m. (1) by about 1650 William Wellman [TAG 37:7-9]; m. (2) by 1672 Jacob Joy (Jacobus gives the date of marriage as 23 May 1671 and McCracken as 23 May 1672, in Killingworth, but the Killingworth vital records do not contain an entry for this event [TAG 37:7-9; FOOF 1:348]).
ii Sarah, b. about 1635 (of full age [18] in the year 1653 [Manwaring 1:37]); m. by 1656 John Case [TAG 34:66-69].
iii Samuel, b. about 1639 (of full age [21] in the year 1660 [Manwaring 1:37]); m. by about 1668 Sarah ____ (estimated b. of first child [TAG 27:165-66]).
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]. Comments: William Spencer appeared on a list of early inhabitants of Cambridge, apparently dated 1632 [CaTR 2]. On 29 November 1638 William Spencer wrote from Hartford to John Winthrop asking why Winthrop had made suggestions regarding arguments to support the union between the Bay and "the plantations here," and yet when men came to treat with him regarding it, many using the very arguments suggested by Winthrop at Spencer's prompting, all were met with "a prejudice in the spirits of some men" and forced to go away unsatisfied [WP 4:74-75]. On 4 July 1648 Aspinwall certified "copies of five letters unto Edmund Angier - 3 letters from John Talcot & John Pratt, one dated 22 May 1640, another August 10th 1640, & another 15th June 1641, a fourth from Anne Spenser dated 2 May 1642 and the fifth from W[illia]m Edw[ards] no date. Also unto a copy of a writing under W[illia]m Spencer's name dated 3 July 1639. Also to a letter [of] attorney from Ed[mund] Angier to Joseph Mayet dated 5 July 1648" [Aspinwall 141]. From the chronology and the persons involved, it would seem that these letters pertained to the estate of William Spencer in England. Bibliographic Note: In 1988 Douglas Richardson ably demonstrated the identity of Agnes Harris, wife of William Spencer [TAG 63:33-45]."
2. The book "Families of Early Hartford, Connecticut," Lucius Barnes Barbour, 1982 ed.: "William Spencer son of Gerald and Alice bp. Oct 11, 1601 (Eng), died 1640, mar. Agnes who m. William Edwards. Early member 1st Church [of Hartford]. Name on Founders Monument [of Hartford]. Children:
Sarah, b. 1636, m. John Case.
Samuel, B. 1639, m. Sarah.
Elizabeth, m/1 William Wellman m/2 Jacob Joy.
Cambridge 1631; brother of Thomas; freeman Mass. March 4, 1632-3; deputy for Newtown May 1632, May 1634, March 1634-5, March 1635-6, Sept 1636, May 1637, Sept 1637, March 1637-8; chosen Lieut. for Newtown March 1636-7; one of the founders of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Co. and had other evidences of the public favor bestowed on him. Removed to Hartford 1639; where his home lot was about where the Union depot now stands. Was deputy in August and Sep. 1639, and appointed with Wyllys and Webster to revise the laws of the colony; townsman 1640; inv. ₤291-12-2. He appoints "my cosin Matthew Allyn, my brother John Pratt" and John Talcott to be overseers of this estate. Will dated March 4, presented May 4, 1640."
The following is added for Samuel in a separate entry: "Samuel Spencer, son of William and Agnes, born 1639 died 1716, mar. Sarah Meakins or Richards who died Apl 24, 1706 (HTR), dau. of John Meakins and Mary Bidwell... John Meakins mentions Sarah Spencer in his will Nov. 22, 1702. [Lists Children.]"
3. 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.
4. 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. 11-13:
"William Spencer is one of eight men who are recorded as inhabitants, in 1632, of the young settlement of New Town, afterwards Cambridge. (Paige's History of Cambridge, p. 8.) March 4, 1632-3, he took the freeman's oath, and was Deputy to the General Court in March, 1634 and 35, September, 1636, April, May, and September, 1637, and March, 1637-8. In March, 1636-7, he was appointed 'leiftenant of the military company of Newetowne,' and was one of the five persons named in the charter of the 'Military Company of Masssachusetts' which was granted by the General Court in March, 1638. (Mass. Colonial Records, vol. 1, pp. 135, 164, 178, 190, 191, 194, 204, 220, 251.)
He soon removed to Hartford, Connecticut, where 'At a Generall Meeting of the whole Towne the 23th Decemb'r 1639, Their was then chossen to order the affayrs of the Towne for one yeare, William Westhood, William Spence, Nathaniel Warde, John Moody.' (Hartford, Conn., Town Votes, vol. 1, p. 13.)
He is believed to have been the 'Mr. Spencer' who was one of the Committee or Deputies to the General Court of Connecticut in April, Aug. Sept., and Jan., 1639, and April, 1640. (Conn. Colonial Records, vol. 1, pp. 27, 29, 34, 41, 46.)
In his will, which is dated May 4, 1640, and was probated March 4, 1640-1, he mentioned his wife, son Samuel, daughters Sarah and Elizabeth, and appointed 'my Cosen Mathew Allen, my brother John Pratt and John Taylcoate... shall haue the Ouersight of my Estate.' (Conn. Colonial Records, vol. 1, pp. 449, 450, 451.)In the inventory of his estate there is mentioned 'land yet remayneing at Concord in the Bay.' (This was probably part of the grant of '300 acres of ground beyond Concord by the 'Alewife Ryver' made to him by the General Court of Massachusetts in May, 1638. Mass Conlonial Records, vol. 1, p. 228.)
June 24, 1650. 'This Courte taking into Consideracon the estate of William Spencer deceased with the Information of the ov'seers In the presence of Thomas Spencer Brother to the said William, with the Consent of the wife of William Edwards: they doe Judge that 30t is as much as the Estate here will bare to bee Sequestered for the use of the children w'ch is to bee paid to them according to the will of the said William Spencer, provided that sufficient security bee given in to the satisfaction of the ou'seers for the payment of the debts of the said William Spencer, and the aforesaid sum of 30t to the said children as aforesaid: And provided allso that whatsoever shall bee paid here or in England of any Estate due to the wife of the said William Spencer while Shee was the wife of William Spencer, or that Shall come from Concord: two thirds thereof shall bee and remaine to the propper use of the children aforesaid. (Conn. Particular Court Records, vol. 9, p. 10.)' [Note: widow of William Spencer married William Edwards.]"
5. Some property records of William's as noted in the following biography of William's brother Thomas from 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. 13-20:
"In Vol. 1, of the Proprietors Records of Cambridge, Massachusetts, under date of 1635, it is recorded:..
More, in the nect about one acre, the highway to the oyster bank on the northeast, John White northwestk Will Spencer southwest, James Omstead southeast.
More in the same neck about one acre John White northwest, John Prince southwest, James Olmsteed northeast, William Spencer northwest....
He is supposed to be the Thomas Spencer who took the freeman's oath May 14, 1634. (Mass. Colonial Records, vol. 1, p. 369.) Paige's 'History of Cambridge,' p. 659 states that he was a resident of Cambridge as early as 1633, and his name appears among the list of persons who were to build a 'pale' or fence around the common lands. (Paige's History of Cambridge, p. 11.)
In 1639 he had become a resident of Hartford, Connecticut, as is shown by the following (Hartford, Conn., Land Records, Book of Distributions, p. 155): - ...Another parcell lyinge on the East side of the great River containinge by Estimacon foure acres (more or lesse) which he bought of Willm Spenser for a parcell of land wch lay in the middle ox pasture & contianed seaven acres two roods & was parcell of the said Thom: Spensors land wch foure acres abutteth on the Great river on the West and on Willm Spensers land on the South & East & the swamp now common on the North..."
6. 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."
7. The following partial excerpt concerning Thomas' brother William 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
First Residence: Cambridge
Removes: Hartford 1636 Estate: ...In the Hartford land inventory in February 1639/40 "Thom[as] Spenser, sergeant at arms," held thirteen parcels (some of which he acquired after the date of the inventory): "one parcel on which his dwelling house now standeth with yards & gardens therein being which was sequestered for Thom[as] Fisher & is now settled on Thom[as] Spenser part whereof he hath sold to Will[ia]m Spenser & now remaineth by estimation one acre"; one acre and two roods in the West Field; three roods in the Soldier's Field; four acres in the North Meadow; one acre and two roods on the east side of the Great River; one acre and one rood on the east side of the Great River "which is a parcel of that which was sequestered for Mr. Woolcott"; four acres on the east side of the Great River "which he bought of Will[ia]m Spenser for a parcel of land which lay in the Middle Oxpasture & contained seven acres two roods & was parcel of the said Thom[as] Spenser's land"... [HaBOP 152-54].
In his will, dated 9 September 1686 and proved 26 October 1687, "Thomas Spencer Senior of Hartford, ... finding the shadows of the evening are stretching over me," bequeathed to "my eldest son Obadiah ... my housing and land in Hartford, all my lands both meadow and upland on west side and east side of the Connecticut River" in Hartford (he paying certain legacies), along with some personal goods; to "my son Thomas" £15, of which he hath £5; to "my son Samuel (he having received a good portion of his uncle) all my wearing apparell"; to "my son Jarrad my shop & tools & £12, all of which are in his hands"; residue to "my five daughters Sarah, Elizabeth, Hannah, Mary and Martha, to be equally divided to them by their brother my son Jarrad"; "my son Obadiah Spencer my executor"; "Capt. Allyn, Lieut. Caleb Standly and my cousin Samuel Spencer" overseers [Hartford PD Case #5095; Manwaring 1:365]... 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..."
8. "The American Genealogist," Vol. 27 "The Four Spencer Brothers: Their Ancestors and Descendants," compiled by Donald Lines Jacobus, M. A., pp. 167-68:
"William1 Spencer, baptized at Stotfold, Beds, England, 11 Oct. 1601, died at Hartford, Conn., 1640; married Agnes [probably Tucker], who married second, William Edwards, by whom she became ancestress of the noted Tucker family.
William's will, 4 May 1640, mentions cousin Matthew Allyn and brother John Pratt. The reason for concluding that his wife Agnes was a Tucker is stated in New York Gen. and Biog. Record, 71:220, and we understand that investigations are now in progress to prove that she was daughter of Richard and Agnes (Wyatt) Tucker, which would make her a relative of Matthew Allyn's Wyatt wife; and she may have been sister of John Pratt's wife, thus explaining the terms used in Spencer's will.
Children:
i. Elizabeth2, b. ca. 1633; m. (1) in 161i9, William Wellman, who d. at Killingworth, 9 Aug. 1671; eight children; m. (2) 23 May 1672, Jacob Joy, who d. 1690, son of Walter and Deborah; four children. [see 37:7]
ii. Sarah, b. ca. 1635; d. at Simsbury, 3 Nov. 1691 ae. 55; m. before 17 Aug. 1656, John Case, who d. 21 Feb. 1703/4; ten children. He m. (2) Elizabeth (Moore) Loomis.
iii. Samuel, b. ca. 1638; d. ca. 1716."
9. "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."
10. 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."
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. 134-140:
"William1 Spencer (1601-1640), AN EARLY LEADER IN NEW England, and HIS WIFE, Agnes HARRIS (1604-), ANCESTRESS of The EdwardS Family of CONNECTICUT.
I. EARLY DAYS IN NEW England.
In earlier writings, we explored the ancestry of the FOUR Spencer BROTHERS and their siblings of Bedfordshire, England, back to the mid-1300s. William1, Elizabeth1, Thomas1, Michael1 and Gerard1 were the children of GerardA Spencer (1576-) and Alice Whitbread Spencer. They had been raised in Stotfold, county Bedfordshire, in the "heartland" of England. Most of their ancestors had lived in the town of Edworth in Bedfordshire for several centuries. There were numerous other branches of the Spencer line who had lived in Bedfordshire as well as in the neighboring counties. The exact relationships among these earlier Spencer lines are not entirely clear. However, as we have written in earlier accounts, the lines down to Gerard A Spencer have been depicted for nine generations in England with a considerable degree of reliability.
Of the five Spencer siblings who came to America in the early 1600s, William1 Spencer undoubtedly was the best prepared for the task from the standpoint of educational attainments. He was approximately thirty years of age in 1631, while his siblings ranged from Elizabeth age 29 to Thomas 24, Michael 20, and Gerard 17.
The family of Gerard and Alice Spencer may have moved in later years from co. Bedfordshire, but apparently it was not to nearby co. Essex as some writers have believed. This was despite the fact that co. Essex in East Anglia had become a focus of the Puritan movement in the late 1500s and early 1600s. A thorough survey of co. Essex records for this period (conducted by genealogist Adam Smith) revealed no evidence that the Stotfold Spencers had lived in that area in the early 1600s. Furthermore, the fact that William Spencer and Agnes Harris were married at Stotfold in 1633 is strong evidence that the Spencers were still resident there at least at the time of the marriage.
As we noted in our earlier accounts, the exact sailing date for the Spencer siblings and the identity of the ship on which they embarked has yet to be resolved. We do not know if they came as a group or whether they embarked singly or in pairs. Despite these gaps in our knowledge, we can with a high degree of certainty designate the year in which William1 Spencer arrived in New England (and perhaps his brother Thomas1 also). This conviction is based on the fact that the early ships from England uniformly left their home ports in April and arrived at their destination in New England in mid-summer. From the records of the Massachusetts Bay Company, we know that William Spencer was in New England on 4 March 1632 when he took the oath of Freeman. Hence, he must have arrived in Boston at least by 1631. Could he possibly have come in the first ships of the Winthrop Fleet in 1630? This might be a distinct possibility. In any event, William Spencer could be listed as among the first of the emigrants to New England with the Winthrop group.
Thomas 1 Spencer William's next youngest brother, took the oath of Freeman on 1 April 1633. Gerard was a Freeman on 9 March 1637. Michael was a Freeman in March 1638. The gap between the oldest pair of brothers and the younger pair is considerable, amounting to five or six years.
II. Agnes HARRIS Spencer and William EdwardS.
There have been several published reports on the chronology of Agnes HARRIS, wife of William1 Spencer, who after the death of her first husband, married William Edwards on 11 December 1645 in Hartford, Connecticut. Agnes Harris was a native of Barnstaple, county Devon, England, where she was born 6 April 1604, daughter of Bartholomew and Elizabeth (Collamore) Harris. A descendant of Agnes Harris (Donald C. Bergquist) believes it likely that she came to New England in 1632 on the "Charles". C.E. Banks in his passenger list, notes that the Allyn relatives of Agnes Harris "probably" were on board the "Charles", including Mathew Allyn, his wife Margaret Allyn (a cousin to Agnes) and children Mary and John Allyn. Banks did not list Agnes Harris as a possible passenger.
We need to examine the chronology for William Spencer to seek an answer for the time of arrival of Agnes Harris in New England. From the detailed records of the Massachusetts Bay Company, the name of William1 Spencer first appears in the listings of the General Court (governing body of the MBC) on 9 Jan 1632. William's name does not appear again until March of 1634 in the Court meeting at Newe Town (Cambridge). According to Tepper's "Passengers to America", William Spencer and John Spencer (Ipswich) were on the "Mary and John" which left England on 24 March 1633 (C. E. Banks gives the year 1634 but this probably was due to the confusion of listing some dates 1633/34). In any event, William was back in England for perhaps a year and apparently returned to Newe Towne in the summer of 1633. It was not until nearly a year later (March 1634) that his name again appears in the General Court records. One might speculate that William's trip to England was a matrimonial mission related to Agnes Harris. We wonder immediately how he was acquainted with a female from Devonshire in the far southwest of England while William originally came from eastern England.
Some writers have speculated that Agnes Harris may have come to New England with the Mathew Allyn family in 1632 on the "Charles". If such had been the case, Agnes easily could have established contact with William Spencer. If this is a possibility, why would William have made the long trip back to England in 1632 and 1633? Such speculation now can be laid to rest. Of course we are still left with the mystery as to how William and Agnes became acquainted in the first place since she was a native of southwest England and William had been born and raised far to the east in co. Bedfordshire.
As we noted earlier, William Spencer and Agnes Harris had three children: Elizabeth2 Spencer (ca.1633-) who married William Wellman in 1649 and later Jacob Joy; Sarah2 Spencer (ca. 1635-1691) who married John Case; and Samuel2 Spencer (ca.1636-) who married Sarah Meakins. All three children were born at Newe Towne before the family moved to Hartford, which probably occurred in 1638 or 1639. William Spencer died a short time later in 1640. In a later section, we will review the background of William's land transactions and his official duties in Hartford.
A few years ago (1988), R.S. Pitkin outlined the remarkable line of descendants coming down from William Edwards (second husband of Agnes) and Agnes Harris Spencer-Edwards. Perhaps we first think of Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758), the great New England theologian who was a great grandson of Agnes Harris. The descendants from Jonathan present a remarkable picture. Jonathan had daughters Esther (1732-1758) and Mary (1734-1807) as well as son Timothy (1738-1813). Mary Edwards was the wife of Timothy Dwight (1752-1817), 8th President of Yale (1795-1817). Esther Edwards was the mother of Aaron Burr (1756-1836), Vice President of the U.S. (1801-1805). Burr killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel in 1804.
Aaron Burr's sister Sarah (1754-1797) was married to Tapping Reeve (1744-1823), Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court) 1814-1816.
Jonathan Edwards' son Timothy was the gr gr grandfather of Edith Kermit Carow (1861-), wife of President Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919).
A gr grandson of Elizabeth Edwards (1697-1733), sister to Jonathan, was Gideon Tomlinson (1780-1854) who was the 8th governor of Connecticut, 1827-1831.
The lines descending from Agnes Harris Spencer-Edwards certainly have few parallels in American history. This remarkable lineage impels us to look more closely at the history of William Edwards (1618-1680) and the limited accounts of his ancestry.
McCracken states that William Edwards was baptized at St. Botolph's, London, 1 Nov 1618, son of the Rev. Richard and Anne Edwards. McCracken seems somewhat uncertain of the identification, but if true, there would have been a fourteen year spread between widow Agnes Harris Spencer (b. 1604) and William Edwards (b. 1618). Since their son Richard was born in 1647, this would have placed his mother's age at 43 when the son was born.
Goodwin states that "Mrs. Ann Edwards, the mother of Mr. William Edwards, was married in England to her second husband, Mr. James Cole, who together with her son William Edwards, then a young man, and Abigail Cole, daughter of James Cole, by his first wife, came early to New England, and were among the first settlers of Hartford. Mr. James Cole died in 1652, leaving a will."
Manwaring presents a copy of this will showing that James Cole left nearly all his possessions to son Daniel Cole and daughter A big all Cole. However, provision was made for his wife Ann to have limited shelter and income from the estate. William Edwards was almost excluded from the will excepting for the bequest of a few tools.
The Cole family indeed was among the very early settlers of Hartford. Confirmation of this fact is found in some of the first notes written by William Spencer at the annual town meeting in Hartford of 23 December 1639. William made a list of "the names of such inhabitants as have a right in undivided lands." Among the 95 names were William Spencer 40, John Talcott 90, William Andrews 30, Robert Day 14, James Cole 10, Thomas Hooker 20, and William Parker 12. It is apparent from this range of numbers, that James Cole was somewhat low "on the totem pole".
In a second list, William Spencer made the following note: "Inhabitants granted lots to have only at the towns courtesy with liberty to fetch wood and keep swine or cows by proportion on the common." Nicholas Desborough "had 6" and Nathaniel Bearding "had 6". This record is significant because Nicholas Desborough (Disbrow) was the father of Mary Desborough who married Obadiah2 Spencer(ca.1639-1712), oldest son of Sgt. Thomas1 Spencer. Nathaniel Bearding (Berden) was the father of Sarah Bearding second wife of Sgt. Thomas Spencer. The caveat regarding special provisions for Nicholas Desborough and Nathaniel Bearding might indicate that neither man was of sufficient wealth in terms of land ownership to receive automatic grazing privileges.
There are very few other references to James Cole and his stepson William Edwards in Love's History of Hartford. As noted earlier, James Cole was a Hartford land owner as early as 1639, three years after the founding of the city. How the Cole family came to New England is clouded in mystery. None of the usual sources for passenger records (Tepper, Banks, Coldham, Winthrop) offer any clues to this family's passage. There is no record of prior residence at Newe Towne (Cambridge) as was true for so many of the first settlers at Hartford in 1635 and 1636.
Goodwin gives a death date of James Cole as 1652. Manwaring gives a date of November 1652 for the probate of the will. In the same legal records, William Edwards was listed as a "cooper" in Hartford in 1654. In May 1668, William Edwards filed suit in behalf of his wife Agnes (Harris) Spencer-Edwards against Nathaniel Bearding (father of Sarah) for "illegal possession of land belonging to said Edwards on the east side of the Great River, for a surrender of said land." In March 1673, Richard Edwards (b. 1647), only son of William and Agnes, acted as attorney for his mother in a suit against Daniel Arnold.
The Connecticut Census of 1670 lists Mrs. Cole, William Edwards, and Richard Edwards all of Hartford.
In 1684, William Edwards conveyed a tract of land to Thomas Lord which originally had been acquired by William Spencer (first husband of Agnes) in 1639. This land consisted of four tracts in the Middle Ox Pasture owned by four of the original settlers. (Goodwin gave William Edwards death year as 1672, so we have a conflict in dates. Also, Love's history shows William Edwards being paid two shillings in 1679 for the burial of a prisoner.
We can close the story of Agnes Harris Spencer-Edwards and her second husband, William Edwards, noting that William did not play any significant role in the history of Hartford. Indeed, he is barely mentioned in the most prominent book on the history of the city. He was a cooper by trade, but otherwise seemed to hold no public or civil office of any consequence. This is perhaps all the more surprising from a genetic viewpoint considering the illustrious descendants who followed him.
Footnote:
Subsequent to the completion of this chapter on William Spencer and Agnes Harris, an important entry was found in the IGI (Microfiche A0034) that seems to provide definite proof that William and Agnes Harris were married in Stotfold, Beds, in 1633. The actual entries were listed as his marriage to Agnes Pratt and also to Agnes Heane or Hearn. We believe that the entry of Agnes Pratt perhaps was as a witness and that the name of Heane or Hearn were misspellings of Harris. Possibly the misspellings also may be the result of the misreading of the old English script or of a faded manuscript. Douglas Richardson (TAG, 1988) was the first to identify the name of Agnes Harris as the wife of William Spencer, but the confirmation of place and date of marriage is especially interesting.
The fact that the marriage was in Stotfold, Beds, also may indicate that the parents of William Spencer (Gerard Spencer and Alice Whitbread) still remained at the site of the old homestead in Beds.
References
BANKS, C.E. "Topographical Dictionary of 2,885 English Emigrants to New England 1620-1650". Gen. Publ. Co., Baltimore, 1981.
BERGQUIST, Donald C. "A Visit to Barnstaple, County Devon". Le Despencer, Vol. 16, May 1992.
DeFOREST, L.E. "Moore and Allied Families". 1938.
Goodwin, N. "Genealogical Notes - Contributions to the Family History of Some of the First Settlers of Connecticut and Massachusetts". Gen. Publ. Co., Baltimore, 1982.
LOVE, W.D. "The Colonial History of Hartford". Connecticut Printers, 1935.
McCRACKEN, G.E. "Tucker-Wyatt-Allyn-Pratt. The Wife of William1 Spencer and William Edwards". The American Genealogist, Vol. 42. No. 2.1966.
MANWARING, C.W. "A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records". Vol. I. Hartford District, 1635-1700. R.S. Peck & Co., Hartford, 1904.
Paige, L.R. "History of Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1630-1877". The Riverside Press, Cambridge, 1877.
PITKIN, R.S. "Notable Descendants of Agnes Harris Spencer-Edwards". Le Despencer, Vol. 12, Oct. 1988.
RichardSON, D. "The English Origin of Agnes Harris of Hartford, Conn. Wife of William1 Spencer and William Edwards". The American Genealogist 63:33-45. 1988.
Spencer, Henry C. "Lieut. William Spencer, Gentleman of New Towne, Mass. and Hartford, Conn. (1601-1640)". Le Despencer, Vol. 10, April 1986.
TEPPER, M. "Passengers to America". Gen. Publ. Co., Baltimore, 1980.
"Original Distribution of Lands in Hartford Among the Settlers". February, 1639-1640. Conn. Hist. Soc. 1912.
"The Records of the Town of Cambridge (Newe Towne), Mass. 1630-1703". Cambridge, 1901."
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. 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."
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. 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 statement on the boundaries of Newe Towne and Roxbury (to the south). They also issued another statement setting the boundaries for the meadow ground by the Naponset River near Blue Hills. These lines related to Dorchester, Mt. Wollaston (Quincy) and Boston.
23 April 1636-NR: "Mr. Spencer and Thomas Hosmer are to make a sufficient pale (
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Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
1601 - 1640 (~ 38 years)