| 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 "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, sons of John Spencer:
"John Spencer, c. April 21, 1560, at Edworth. He is called 'son of Ann.' It is supposed that his two brothers were Gerat and Michael, the last of whom was the grandfather of Garrard the Emigrant.
Gerat Spencer, lived at Biggleswade, Bedford Co., m. July 30, 1568, Helen Whyston; he d. 1576-7. His will of July 8, 1576, proved May 20, 1577, speaks of four children, viz: a son, two daughters and a child unborn.
Michael Spencer, of Edworth and Stotfold, in Bedford Co., m. (1) in Edworth, Jan. 25, 1555, Annis Liner (or Miner), who was b. [should this be d.?] 23 Feb1561; left two sons. He m. (2) Elizabeth ___, who was b. 18 Nov 1599 [should this be d.?]. She had eight children."
3. "The American Genealogist," Vol. 27 "The Four Spencer Brothers: Their Ancestors and Descendants," compiled by Donald Lines Jacobus, M. A.
"Michael Spencer, born probably 1530-1535, living in 1599; married first, at Edworth, Beds, 20 Jan. 1555/6, Agnes Limer, who was buried at Edworth, 23 Feb. 1561/2; married second, about 1563, Elizabeth ___, who was buried at Stotfold, Beds, 18 Nov. 1599, as wife of Michael Spencer, signifying that he was then alive.
The division of Michael's children between the two wives is somewhat different from what might be inferred from the Rev. Mr. Holding's book, because of the discovery of the burial of the first wife, Agnes, early in 1562. The name of the mother is not stated in the Edworth baptisms, but Elizabeth is stated as mother of the two children, Gerard and Richard, who were baptized at Stotfold. We therefore assume that Elizabeth was mother of the other children who were born after 1562 and before the birth of Gerard in 1576, though it remains possible that there was a second, unknown, wife between Agnes and Elizabeth.
The removal of the family from Edworth to Stotfold occurred between 1571 and 1576.
Children by first wife, born at Edworth
i. John, bapt. at Edworth, 20 Apr. 1557.
ii. Michael, bapt. at Edworth, 27 May 1558 bur. 15 Apr. 1560.
iii. Anne, bapt. 24 July 1560.
Children, the last two certainly, the others probably, by Elizabeth:
iv. Joan, bapt. at Edworth, 21 Aug. 1564.
v. Alice, bapt. 30 Aug. 1566.
vi. Catherine, m. ___ Bland, and had daus. Sarah and Anne. Either she or one of her sisters was mother of Elizabeth who m. Edward Terry.
vii. Thomas, bapt. 12 Mar. 1571.
viii. Gerard, bapt. 20 May 1576 the first of the children baptized at Stotfold, and recorded as "Gerat," but his name is spelled Gerard at the baptisms of his own children.
ix. Richard, bapt. 9 July 1580; d. at London at the end of May or beginning of June 1646. His will, dated 17 Mar. 1645, codicil 29 May 1646, proved 8 June 1646, calls him "gent." (Waters, "Genealogical Gleanings in England," 514-515). To Thomas Spencer, copyhold lands in St. Michael Parish near St. Albans, co. Hertford. To Daniel Spencer of London, grocer, son of brother John Spencer deceased, eight messuages in parish of St. Margaret Lothbury in London. To Sarah Bland and Hannah Bland, daus. of sister Katherine Bland deceased, and to Elizabeth Tomlyns, widow, dau. of brother Jarrard Spencer deceased, a messuage in Grace Church Street, with remainder to said Sarah Bland. To said Daniel Spencer, lands in Kent and Essex, he to make certain payments to Anthony Spencer and Jarrard Spencer, sons of brother Thomas Spencer deceased, and to the two children of Margaret Spencer deceased, now in or near London and at the disposing of Elizabeth Carter their aunt. To Jarrard Spencer, Thomas Spencer and Michaell Spencer, sons of brother Jarrard Spencer deceased, ₤50 apiece, and another ₤50 to the children of William Stencer, son of said brother Jarrard Spencer deceased, to be divided equally between them and to be paid to their guardians. To Thomas Martyn and Mary his wife, now dwelling with me. To Edward Terrey, vintner, my kinsman, ₤130 which he oweth me by bond, and ₤30 to him and Elizabeth his wife, my sister's daughter. Residue to Daniel Spencer, who is named executor. Witnesses: John Norburie, William Norburie."
4. "The American Genealogist," Vol. 27 "The Four Spencer Brothers: Their Ancestors and Descendants," compiled by Donald Lines Jacobus, M. A.
"John Spencer, born probably within a few years after 1500, buried at Edworth, co. Bedford, 9 June 1558; married Anne, perhaps Merrill, who was buried at Edworth, 16 June 1560.
John was called "senior" at burial. The recorder in entering the burial of Ann Spencer, widow, paid her respect by the following tribute: "the good hospitallity keeper; and she did give to the towneship of Edworth ii of her best bease [beastsl to be lett to ii pore folks in the towne for iii s. a cow & the parson & churchwarden to have the letting of them & the distributing of the money to the poore & to se the stock meinteined each of them to have iiii d. of the vi s. for ther paynes to se this truly done acording to her last will."
Her will, dated 13 June 1560, proved 21 Apr. 1561, calls her Widow, in Edworth, Beds., and names her son Gerard (aged 17); son Michael, to have the chest that was his brother John's; John Spencer, son Michael's Child, to have £20; Elisabeth Lymer, to have ₤4 at marriage; Alice Aystin, to have a calf; servants; for the mending of "London Brygge waye," 10 s.; brother Edward's children, to have the ₤1 that he borrowed of her, and the barley he gave her sons to his children; Nicholas Merryll and John Merryll his brother, to have the barley their father gave her sons; and the poor of Edworth, to have the gift already mentioned. Michael Spencer was a witness.
From this will we gain the impression that our Spencer family at that period was of the yeoman class, and somewhat better off than the average village family of the time and place. Whether they were in origin a younger branch of an older gentry family, or a more humble clan which by industry and good fortune had improved its lot, we are not in a position to affirm. It would be necessary to prove the parentage and more remote ancestry of John Spencer, Sr., by documentary evidence, before claiming any specific connection with any other Spencer family in England. From the terms of the will, it would seem that Anne's brother was Edward Merryll or Merrill, and that this was her maiden name. A search of Merrill wills might confirm this conjecture.
Children:
i. Michael, b. probably 1530-1535.
ii. John, bur. at Edworth, 21 Apr. 1560, as son of Ann Spencer, widow.
iii. Gerard, b. Ca. 15143; d. at Biggleswade, Beds, ca. 1577; m. at Edworth, 30 July 1568, Ellen Whyston. His will, dated 8 July 1576, proved 20 May 1577, calls him of Biggleswade, yeoman, and names son Richard, under 21 (to have ₤60); daus. Agnes and Johan Spencer (underage) and child unborn, to have 140 marks apiece at 18 years; wife Elen; god-daughter Johan Spencer, my brother 's dau. (to have ₤1); brother Michael Spencer (to have 5 marks); wife Helen and brother Michael, executors. (F.C.C. Doughtrey, 19.) Children: 1. Richard. 2. Agnes. 3. Joan. 4. A child, b. 1576-7."
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 Michael Spencer:
"John Spencer, bap. April 20, 1557, at Edworth; d. before 1645; m. and left a son Daniel who was a grocer in London.
Michael Spencer, bap. May 27, 1558, in Edworth; buried April 15, 1560.
Johan Spencer, bap. Aug. 20, 1564, in Edworth.
Ann Spencer, bap. July 24, 1566, in Edworth.
Michael Spencer, bap. Aug 30, 1566, in Edworth.
Alice Spencer, bap. Aug. 30, 1566, in Edworth.
Thomas Spencer, bap. March 12, 1571.
Gerat Spencer, bap. May 20, 1576, in St. Mary's Parish, Stotfold, where his seven sons from one of whom we are descended, were born. He d. before his brother Richard's will in 1645.
Richard Spencer, bap. July 9, 1580, in Stotford; lived in London. It was through the discovery of the will of Richard's with its bequests to his nephews, the emigrants, by Ray T. Spencer, that we trace our lineage. The will was proven June 8, 1646.
Catherine Spencer, m. ____ Bland; d. before her brother's will; left two daughters."
6. 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, partial excerpts from pp. 79-80, 85:
"When we seek to define the status of the Spencers at Edworth in the mid-1500s, it seems clear that they were still in the "tenant" category. In Rev. John Holding's study, he found that the farm operated by the Spencers was held under a leasehold arrangement from the lord of the manor (in this case the PARRYS). A careful reading of ANNE (Merrill) Spencer'S will (widow of JohnC) shows that there was no mention of the distribution of land or tenements to her oldest son. Holding calculated that the leasehold at Edworth would expire in the year 1575. Anne died in 1560, so apparently her son's operation of the farm was safe for another fifteen years. We know that MichaelB did serve out the remaining years of the lease, but by 1573 he had located at STOTFOld, a short distance south of Edworth.
Just what lease or ownership arrangements the Spencers had at Stotfold has not been revealed in the literature, but presumably it was another leasehold. MichaelB and his wife Elizabeth still had several small children at this stage and indeed their last three children (including GerardA born at Stotfold There was at least one other living son (ThomasA, b. 1571), so it seems unlikely that GerardA (b. 1576) would have inherited a leasehold. In any event, GerardA and Alice Whitbread had all of their children born at Stotfold.
In the sequence of events mentioned above, it would appear that leases were the predominant pattern of land usage at least by the parents and grandparents of GerardA Spencer (b.1576) Rev. Holding notes that GerardA in 1615 conveyed a lease to his brother, ThomasA, (b. 1571) and quote "conveying them next year to the same". This may have marked the year when GerardA and Alice Spencer moved from Stotfold, but their new location has never been ascertained. Apparently they did not move to co. Essex as was once believed since a careful search of the records in 1993 in Braintree and nearby towns revealed no clue as to their presence in that region. At this time in the family's history, the children ranged in age from one to fourteen years."
"...This vast expanse of time brought us from Thomas1 of Badby down through HenryH, ThomasG, RobertF, and JOHNE Spencer. The "E" generation ended about 1500 with the death of JOHNE of South Mylls, Beds. His children, however had survived the internal struggles of the 1500s for the possession of the English Crown.
The children of JOHND Spencer of South Mylls and CHRISTIAN BAKER came on the scene in time to witness the attack on the Catholics by Henry VIII (1509-1547) and the great religious struggle of that period.
The life spans of the children of JohnSpencer of South Mylls (ca 1500-1568) (William, Robert, JOHN) and ETHELREDE BAKER coincide almost exactly with the reign of Henry VIII to the mid-1500s. It was during this period also, that we note the shift of the family from SOUTH MYLLS to EDWORTH. JohnC (later the husband of ANNE Merrill) was the first born at EDWORTH shortly before Henry VIII ascended the throne in 1509.
The Spencer occupation at Edworth extended on for another three-quarters of a century to about 1576. The last Spencer to be born at Edworth appears to have been ThomasA Spencer in 1571. His unborn siblings (KatherineA, GerardA, and RichardA) were born at STOTFOld. Thus, those who lived at Edworth survived the reign of Henry VIII (1509-1547), EdwardVI (1547-1553), and much of the reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603). It was during this period that the Spencers in generations "C" and "B" of Edworth were exposed to the great religious convulsions under HenryVIII and the restraints implosed under Elizabeth I against the rising Puritan forces.
When GerardA (b. 1576) (father of the Four Brothers) was born at Stotfold, Elizabeth was in the middle of her reign and the great battle against the Spanish Armada (1588) took place when GerardA was only twelve years of age. When GerardA and Alice Whitbread were married at UPPER GRAVENHURST in 1600, Elizabeth'S long reign was coming to a close and Puritanism had become a widespread influence in the life of the average Englishman. During the years that Gerard and Alice's children were born (1601-1614), James I (1603-1625) had come to the throne and the struggle against the Puritans was intensifying. Charles I (1625-1649) continued to oppress the Puritans and by 1630 the stage was being set for a great Civil War between the religious and political factions.
We can now see that the Four Spencer Brothers were young men who had arrived on the scene at a critical juncture in English history. It is clear from the record that neither they nor their parents were in a solid position of land ownership. Indeed, this Spencer line for generations seemed to be in the "tenant" class. Consequently, Gerard and Alice's children easily could have looked to America for the "great salvation" and the acquisition of a promised one hundred acres of free land for each emigrant."
7. 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, partial excerpt of full transcript in the notes of the earliest Spencer, pp. 53-55, 57-60:
"Vital Records for the Early English Generations of the New England Spencers.
I. The OVERALL VIEW.
In an earlier chapter, the authors presented a broad sweep of the early Spencer generations in England leading to the "Five Siblings of Bedfordshire" who came to New England about 1630.
The review included the Spencers of South Mylls, Bedfordshire, as well as the closely related Spencers of Cople, Beds. The latter group included the Spencers of Virginia who came to America about a generation later than the new England Spencers.
In listing the vital records for the early English generations we shall follow the sequence of generations as depicted in the "Holding-Phillipps " Chart of the authors' earlier article.
An overall view of the Spencer descendants from JohnC Spencer and Ann Merrill may be helpful in visualizing those Spencers who came to New England alongside their near uncles and cousins who remained in England. The relationships are depicted in Chart I. These cousins were descended from uncles JohnA (b. 1557), ThomasA (1571-1631) as well as their aunt, CatherineA (b. 1573), all of whom were siblings. Of course, none of the members of the "A" generation came to America and only the sons and one daughter of GerardA undertook this monumental task. (Please keep in mind that the English generations are labeled in reverse as "A", "B', "C", etc. back to the earliest identified ancestor in generation "I". For those who came to America, the numbering begins with generation "1", then "2", etc. up to the late 20th century which may be generation "12" or even "13").
We also have a chart (No. II) showing some of the ancestral lines of the Whitbread family since Alice Whitbread was the mother of the "Five Spencer Siblings" who came to New England about 1630. The Whitbread family became famous in England as the founders of the Whitbread Brewery enterprises and which today has become so well known as the sponsors of the Whitbread round-the-world yachting races.
CHART I: The near relatives of the five Spencer siblings of Bedfordshire who came to New England about 1630:
-JohnC Spencer (1505-1550) = Anne Merrill (d. 1560)
-MichaelB (b. 1531) = Agnes Lymer (d. 1562); = Eliz. (d. 1599)
-John (b. 1577 Edworth) children b. Baldock, Beds.: Daniel = Sarah Audley; Francis = Margaret Roberts.
-Michael (1558-1560 Edworth)
-Anne (b. 1560 Edworth)
-Joan (b. 1564 Edworth)
-Alice (b. 1566 Edworth)
-Thomas (1571-1631 Edworth) = Margaret Spencer (?). Children b. Stotfold, beds.: Gerard (b. 1601) = Joan Hills; Anthony = Katherine Hills; Thomas; Richard; Margaret (d. 1635) = Simon Spencer.
-Catherine (b. 1573 Edworth) = ___ Bland
-Gerard (b. 1576 Stotfold) = Alice Whitbread. Children b. Stotfold: William (1601-1640) = Agnes Harris; Elizabeth (b. 1602) = Timothy Tomlins; John (b. 1604); Henry (1605-1607); Thomas (1607-1767) = Ann Derifield, = Sarah Bearding; Richard (1608-1614); a son; Michael (1611-1653) = Isabel ___; Gerard (1614-1685) = Hannah Hills, = Rebecca Porter Clark. [Note that the pedigree continues with another generation from the children William, Thomas, and Gerard.]
-Richard (1580 Stotfold-1645)
-John (1533-1560)
-Gerard (ca 1543-1577) = Ellen Whysson. Children b. Biggleswade, Beds.: Richard, Agnes, Joan, a child (b. 1567).
-William (b. ca 1545)...
II. The Vital Records of the Early Generations in England [KP note: I delete all generations prior to JohnC since it is unproven conjecture.]
-JohnC Spencer of Edworth; b. ca 1505; m. Ann Merrill (d. 1560); d. 1558.
The Family of JohnC Spencer of Edworth (JohnD, JohnE, RobertF, ThomasG, HenryH, ThomasI) and Ann Merrill.
-MichaelB Spencer of Edworth, Beds.; (The first of the Spencers at Stotfold, Beds); b. 1531 at Edworth; m. (1) Agnes Lorimer (Limer), 22 Jan 1555/56 at Edworth. Agnes bur. at Edworth, 23 Feb 1562; m. (2) Elizabeth ___ in 1563; Elizabeth bur. at Stotfold, 18 Nov 1599; d. after 1599. Probably bur. at Biggleswade, Beds.
-JohnB Spencer of Edworth; b. ca 1533 at Edworth; d. ca 1560.
-Gerard Spencer, b. ca 1543 at Biggleswade, Beds. (perhaps earlier); m. Ellen (Helen) Whyston (Whysson), 10 July 1568 at Edworth, Beds. Ellen was the dau. of Wm. and Elizabeth Whyston; d. ca 1576 at Biggleswade. Will dated 8 July 1576 and proved 20 May 1577.
-WilliamB Spencer of Edworth; b. ca 1545 at Edworth.
The Family of MichaelB Spencer (b. ca 1531) and Agnes Lorimer (d 1561/62 and Elizabeth ___; (The first three children were by Agnes Lorimer).
-JohnA Spencer (MichaelB, JohnC, JohnD, JohnE, RobertF, ThomasG, HenryH, ThomasI). (Holding states that JohnA may have settled at Baldock, Beds, where several of his children were baptized); bapt. 20 April 1557 at Edworth, Beds.
-MichaelA Spencer; bpt. 27 May 1558 at Edworth, Beds.; bur. 21 April l560 at Edworth.
-Anna Spencer; bapt.) 24 July 1560.
-Joan Spencer; bapt. 21 Aug 1564 at Edworth. AliceA Spencer; bapt.) 30 Aug 1566 at Edworth.
-Thomas Spencer; bapt. 12 Mar 1571 at Edworth; m. Margaret Spencer (?) who was bur. 19 Dec 1635 at Stotfold. (So identified by Jacobus. Holding identifies Margaret as the daughter of Thomas who married a Spencer); d. 1631.
-Katherine Spencer; b. 1573 at Stotfold, Beds. m. ___ Bland; d. Before 1645. (Katherine had daughters Sarah and Hannah Bland). It appears that Katherine was the first child baptized at Stotfold after the family had moved from Edworth. Some records indicate that GerardA was the first of the children born at Stotfold.
-Gerard Spencer (the father of the Five Spencer Siblings who came to New England about 1630); bapt. 20 May 1576 at Stotfold; m. Alice Whitbread of Upper Gravenhurst, Beds, on 10 Nov 1600. Alice was born at Meppershall, Beds, ca 1580 She died in May of 1646. She belonged to a family of considerable prominence. Gerard moved from Stotfold sometime before his children emigrated to New England. Possibly Gerard moved to London, but this is not confirmed; d. before 1646.
-RichardA Spencer; b. (bapt.) 9 July 1580 at Stotfold. m.?; Will dated 17 Mar 1645; codicil dated 29 May 1646; proved 6 June 1646.
Donald L. Jacobus made the following comments on the Family of MichaelB Spencer: "The division of Michael's children between the two wives is somewhat different from what might be inferred from the Rev. Mr. Holding's book because of the discovery of the burial of the first wife, Agnes, early in 1562. The name of the mother is not stated in the Edworth baptisms, but Elizabeth is stated as mother of the two children, GerardA and RichardA, who were baptized at Stotfold. We therefore assume that Elizabeth was the mother of the other children who were born after 1562 and before the birth of GerardA in 1576, though it remains possible that there was a second, unknown, wife between Agnes and Elizabeth."
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Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
1535 - Aft 1599 (~ 69 years)