Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy

Jared or Gerard Spencer

Male Abt 1650 - 1712  (~ 62 years)


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  • Name Jared or Gerard Spencer 
    Born Abt 1650  Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died From 15 Mar 1711/1712 to 7 Apr 1712  Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I2291  Petersen-de Lanskoy
    Last Modified 27 May 2021 

    Father Thomas Spencer,   c. 29 Mar 1607, Saint Mary's, Stotfold, Bedfordshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 Sep 1687, Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 80 years) 
    Mother Sarah Bearding,   b. Bef 1626, , , England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. From 1666 to 1674, Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age > 40 years) 
    Married 11 Sep 1645  Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F1187  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Hannah Pratt,   b. 25 Nov 1658, Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 22 Oct 1692, Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 33 years) 
    Married 22 Dec 1680  Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F1346  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. The following will transcription for Nathaniel Bearding in 1674 is from various Worldconnect databases as of 21 Sep 2007. It mentions this individual as follows: "I Nathaniel Berding of Hartford upon the River of Connecticut, planter doe in this my last will and testament give unto Abigaill my wife the sum of twenty pounds to be paid her in such pay as may bee comfortable for her not in any horse flesh; I doe also give to Abigaill my wife three cows both which gifts for her to possess and fivety shillings in peas fivety shillings in Indian corne and fivety shillings in pork all at the countey price; my will is also that Abigaill my wife shall have the two ould lower romes and the celler and the leanto for her to dwell in or dispose of all these during the time of her life; I do also give to my son-in-law Thomas Spencer the elder the sum of fivetene pounds to bee paid to him within the space of twoe years after my disease; I doe also give to Samuel Andrews and Elizabeth his wife the sum of fourty pounds to be paid him after the decease of my wife his mother; my parcel of land at Potunck and my household stuff to be to his for partt of that legacy; I doe also give to Sarah Spencer and to Hannah Spencer and to Mary Spencer and to Martha Spencer the fouer daughters of Thomas Spencer the elder the sum of tenn pounds to be equally devided amongst them that is to eather of them fivety shillings to be paid to them after my wife's decease. I do also give to John Andrews twenty shillings; I doe also give to Thomas Andrews twentye shillings to be paid after the discease of my wife their mother; alsoe my will is that my debts and theise legacies may be paid out of my moveable estate that so much as may be of my houseing and other lands may be kept intire. I have desired Paul Peck senior and George Graves to see this my will to bee performed, and i do hereby give to the said Paul Peck and Georg Graves the sum of fourty shillings for each man my debts and these legasyes being paid and my desires in this my will being attended. I go hereby give the remaining part of my estate to Jarrrett Spencer my grandchild whoe is the son of Thomas Spencer the elder; I doe also hereby make the sayd Jarrett my execquitor of this my will. My will also is that Abigaill my wife should have the use of all my household stuff during hir life; my will also is that my execquitor shold kepe all my houseing and barne and fenceing belonging to house and land in repaire; my will is also that what corn or provisions shall be in hand at my discease shall be for Abigail my wife as part of the twenty pounds I have before given hir; my will also is that Abigail my wife shall chose out of my cowes which cowes she will have for the three cowes given hir. In Witness hereof I have hereunto sett my hand dated this 7th of January 1673/4. The inventory of Nathaniel's estate was taken 14 Sep 1674 by Paul Peck, George Grave and Caleb Stanly and was valued at 282.15.10. See Hartford Probate Packets, film #1020549."

      2. This individual is mentioned in the following will for Thomas Spencer is from various Worldconnect databases as of 21 Sep 2007. He made his will in 1686 one year prior to his 1687 death; it reads: "I Thomas Spencer senior of Hartford, being at present in good and sownd understanding not knoweing how soon I may be removed hence by death and finding the shodowes of the evening are stretching over me canot but judg that council of the prophet very seasonable set they house in order, etc. I doe therefore make ordayn and apoint this followeing to be my last will and testament hereby makeing null and voyd all former wills and testaments by me made whither by word or writing. First I commit my soule to God in Jesus Christ my dear Savior and redeemer from whom alone I expect salvation and an inheritance among the sainets in light my body to the earth to be decently buried in the comon burying place; for that estate God hath blessed me with, I bequeath and dispose of it as followeth - when my just debts and funerall expences are fully satisyed and payed to my eldest son Obadiah I give my houseing and land in Hartford, all my lands both meadow and upland on the west side and east side of the Connecticut River within the bounds of the Township of Hartford, to be to him his heirs and assigns immediately after my decease and from thence forever, he paying out such legacies as I shall appoynt by this Will. I give to my sayd son allso one cupboard and irons warming pan old fann two forekes peas hook two axes and an old hoe. I give unto my son Thomas the sume of fifteen pounds and Obadiah shall pay ten pounds more to him or to his heires in currant pay corn or cattell to be payd within two or three yeares after my decease as he shall be able. I give unto my son Samuel (he having received a good portion from his Uncle) all my wearing apparrell off all sorts and kinds. I give unto my son Jarred my shop and tooles and twelve pownds, all which are in his hands and I have possest him with them allready. The rest of my moveable estate I give unto my five daughters, Sarah, Elizabeth, Hanna, Mary and Martha, to be equally divided to them by their brother my son Jarrad. I do make my son Obadiah Spencer executor of this my last will and testament and that he may have a refuge to repayre unto for advice if any difficulty should befall him in the executoin of my will I desire Capt. Jno Allyn, Lieut. Caleb Standly and my cousin Samuel Spencer to be the overseers whom I desire to asssit my sol executor their best advice as occasion may call for it. Finally I leave all my children with the Lord and desire his blessing may be their portion that they may love and serve him and live in love and peace one with another when I shall be gathered to my fathers and for the confirmation of this my will and testmanet I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of September 1686. Thomas Spencer (his mark) Witnesses: John Allyn, Hanna Allyn - Hartford Probate Records 4:262."

      3. The book "Families of Early Hartford, Connecticut," Lucius Barnes Barbour, 1982 ed.: "Sgt. Thomas Spencer, son of Gerald and Alice bp. Mch 29, 1607 (Eng.) died Sept. 11, 1687, mar/1 ( ). Mar/2 Sept 11, 1645 (HTR) Sarah Bearding dau. of Nathaniel Bearding. Early member 1st Church [of Hartford]. Name on Founders Monument [in Hartford]. Children by 1st marriage:
      Elizabeth, bp. Mch 26, 1648 (HTR) m. Samuel Andrews.
      Hannah, b. Apl 25, 1653 (HTR) m/1 Geroge Sexton, m/2 Daniel Brainerd (See Brainerd Gen., p. 32).
      Marah/Mary, b. May 18, 1655 (HTR).
      Martha, b. Mch 19, 1657-8 (HTR), m. Andrew Benton.
      Gerald, m. Hannah Pratt.
      Sarah, m. Thomas Huxley.
      Children by 2nd marriage:
      Obadiah, m. Mary Disbrough.
      Thomas of Enfield, m. Esther Andrews.
      Samuel.
      Cambridge; freeman May 14, 1634; removed in 1639 to Hfd, where he was an original proprietor; his home lot in 1639 was on the east side of Main St., near what is now the junction of Main and Windsor Sts.; served in the Pequot War; chimney viewer 1650; constable north side 1658; surveyor of highways 1672; was sergeant of the train band 1650, and received in 1671 a grant of 60 acres 'for his good service in the country'."

      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. 13-20:
      "Children of Thomas and ___ Spencer,
      I. Obadiah, m. Mary Desborough.
      II. Thomas, b. Esther Andrews, and lived in Suffield.
      III. Samuel, living Sep. 1686.
      Children of Thomas and Sarah (Bearding) Spencer,
      I. Garrard, m. 22 Dec 1680, Hannah Pratt, and lived in Hartford.
      II. Sarah, m. Thomas Huxley of Hartford and Suffield.
      III. Elizabeth, bap. 26 Mar 1648; perhaps m. Samuel Andrews of Hartford.
      IV. Hannah, b. 15 Apr 1653, Colony Record; b. 25 Apr 1653, Town Record.
      V. Mary, b. 18 May 1655.
      VI. Martha, b. 19 Mar 1657; perhaps m. ___ Benton."

      5. The following partial excerpts about the wives and children of Thomas Spencer are from "The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633," Volumes I-III (see notes of Thomas Spencer for full transcript):
      "Thomas Spencer...
      Migration: 1633
      First Residence: Cambridge
      Removes: Hartford 1636...
      Estate: ...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]... Marriage: (1) After 2 November 1634 Anne Dorryfall, sister of Barnaby Dorryfall [NEHGR 105:197-99]. "Anne Dorifall, aged 24," sailed on the Elizabeth of Ipswich in 1634 [Hotten 281] and was admitted to Boston church 2 November 1634 as "Ann Derifall, our brother Wm. Coddington's maid servant" [BChR 19]. She died by 1645. (2) Hartford 11 September 1645 Sarah Bearding [HaVR 606], daughter of Nathaniel Bearding of Hartford. Children:
      With first wife
      i Obadiah ("eldest son"), b. say 1635; m. by about 1666 Mary Disborough (estimated b. of first Child), daughter of Nicholas Disborough [TAG 27:166, 38:209].
      ii Thomas, b. say 1637; m. by about 1666 Esther Andrews (estimated b. of first Child), daughter of William Andrews [TAG 27:166-67, 35:57].
      iii Samuel, b. about 1639 (if he is the Samuel who d. Windham 8 January 1726/7 aged about 88 [NEHGR 105:198], and if that age at death is not exaggerated); m. by about 1684 Sarah ____ (estimated b. of first child [TAG 27:167]).
      With second wife
      iv Sarah, b. say 1646; m. by 1667 Thomas Huxley (on 26 March 1667 John Winthrop Jr. treated "Huxlye, Sarah, above 20 years, wife of Tho[mas] Huxly of Hartford & daughter of Sergeant Tho[mas] [S]penc[er] of Hartford" [WMJ 710]).
      v Elizabeth, bp. 26 March 1648 [HaVR 579]; m. by about 1668 Samuel Andrews, son of William Andrews [TAG 35:55-59].
      vi Jared, b. say 1650; m. Hartford 22 December 1680 Hannah Pratt, daughter of John [HaVR Barbour 301].
      vii Hannah, b. Hartford 15 April 1653 [CTVR 31]; said to have married (1) George Sexton, (2) Daniel Brainerd and (3) Jonathan Chapman, but the secondary sources are vague and uncertain, and the evidence for these marriages has not been found.
      viii Mary, b. Hartford 18 May 1655 [CTVR 32]; m. Westfield 7 October 1675 Thomas Root [Pynchon VR 31].
      ix Martha, b. Hartford 19 March 1657[/8] [CTVR 31]; m. by 1677 Andrew Benton (b. of first Child), son of Andrew Benton [TAG 27:163; NEHGR 60:301-2 (evidence for this marriage not presented in either source)]...
      Comments: On 7 September 1652 Thomas Spencer undertook to pay the fine of Sarah Spencer [RPCC 112]."

      6. "The American Genealogist," Vol. 27 "The Four Spencer Brothers: Their Ancestors and Descendants," compiled by Donald Lines Jacobus, M. A., pp. 167-68:
      "Jared2 Spencer (Thomas1), also called Gerard or Jarrad, born about 1650-1, died at Hartford, in 1712 (will 15 Mar. 1711/12, proved 7 Apr. 1712); married at Hartford, 22 Dec. 1680, Hannah Pratt, born 25 Nov. 1658, died 22 Oct. 1692, daughter of John.
      Children, born at Hartford:
      i. Hannah3, b. 12 Oct. 1681; probably married. (Note: Ann Spencer m. (1) at Hartford, 25 Jan. 1704/5, Thomas Hill, b. 13 Jan. 1681/2, d. 1707 two children; m. (2) at Hartford, 15 Nov. 1710, Edward Foster, and settled in Suffield. She could conceivably have been a younger child of Thomas2 of Suffield (No. 12 above); or the child born to Esther3 in 1683 (No. 12 above); or identical with Hannah3 (No. 14, i). The names Hannah and Ann were sometimes used interchangeably though in other cases they were so little confused that both names were given to daughters in the same family. However, it is to be noted that this Hannah3 was so named in her birth record and in her father's will also, making it less likely that she was ever called Ann.)
      ii. Jared, b. 15 Jan. 1682/3 d. 13 June 1754.
      iii. Nathaniel, b. 2 Feb. 1684/5 d. young.
      iv. John, b. 25 Oct. 1686; bp. 31 Oct. 1686; d. young.
      v. Sarah (twin), b. (date gone); bp. 12 Feb. 1687/8; m. 21 May 1713, Joseph Bigelow.
      vi. Elizabeth (twin), b. (date gone); bp. 12 Feb. 1687/8; d. 21 Jan. 1728/9; m. bef. 1717, John Pease of Enfield.
      vii. Nathaniel, b. 21 Dec. 1690;d. young.
      viii. Mary, b. 8 Sept. 1692; m. 13 Jan. 1726/7, Joseph Pease."

      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, pp.157-158:
      "The Family of Thomas1 Spencer (1607-1687) and (1) Ann Derifall (Derifield) (ca.1610-1645) and (2) Sarah Bearding (Barding, Berden); d. before 1674; dau. of Nathaniel Bearding. Ann Derifall was a sister of Barnabas Derifall of Braintree, Massachusetts.
      Children by Ann Derifall
      Obadiah2 Spencer (Thomas1, GerardA, MichaelB, JohnC-D, RobertE, JohnF, RobertG, ThomasH, HenryI).
      b. ca. 1639 at Hartford, CT. Took Freeman's at Hartford 20 May 1658.
      m. Mary DISROWE (Disborough), dau. of Nicholas Disbrowe. Mary d before 1709. They had seven children.
      d. May 1712 at Hartford, CT.
      Thomas2 Spencer (Thomas1).
      b. ca. 1641 at Hartford, CT.
      m. Esther2 Andrews. She d. 6 Mar 1698 at Suffield, CT. Esther was the dau. of William1 Andrews and Abigail (Graves) Andrews of Hartford, CT.
      d. 23 July 1689 at Suffield, CT.
      Samuel2 Spencer (Thomas1).
      b. ca. 1643 at Hartford, CT.
      m. Sarah ___ (ca.1660-1733). She d. at Windham, CT.
      d. 24 Oct 1727 at Windham, CT.
      Children by Sarah Bearding
      Sarah2 Spencer (Thomas1).
      b. ca. 1646.
      m. Thomas HUXLEY at Suffield, CT. He d. 21 July 1721 at Suffield. A dau. Elizabeth Huxley m. James King who was b. 14 March 1675 at Ipswich, MA. James d. 15 July 1757 at Suffield. He had a large landed estate.
      d. 24 Oct 1712.
      Elizabeth2 Spencer (Thomas1).
      bp. 26 Mar 1648 at Hartford, CT.
      m. Samuel2 Andrews of Hartford. Samuel Jan. 1712 at Hartford.
      d. ?
      Gerard2 Spencer (Thomas1).
      b. ca 1651.
      m. Hannah PRATT (1658-1692) on 22 Dec 1680, dau. of John Pratt.
      d. 1712 at Hartford, CT.
      Hannah2 Spencer (Thomas1).
      b. 15 April 1653 at Hartford, CT.
      m. (1) George SEXTON, Jr. m. (2) Daniel BRAINERD, Sr. Nov. 1698.
      d. 1713
      Mary2 Spencer (Thomas1).
      b. 18 May 1655 at Hartford, CT.
      m. Thomas ROOT, 7 Oct 1675. He was of Westfield, MA, son of John Root. He d. 16 Aug 1709.
      d. 4 Nov 1690 at Westfield, MA.
      Martha2 Spencer (Thomas1).
      b. 19 Mar 1658 at Hartford, CT.
      m. Andrew BARTON (BENTON), Jr. (1653-1704)."

      8. 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. 168-169:
      "As an artisan in woodworking and in chair-making, the efforts of Thomas1 Spencer and Nicholas DISBROWE were probably unexcelled for many years in the Connecticut River Valley...
      In Trent's comprehensive summary (1984) of the Spencer shops in Hartford, he presents many illustrations of the chairs attributed to Thomas Spencer and his descendants. Most of these chairs fall in the period of the 1750s, hence are much later than the era of Thomas1 who died in 1687. Indeed, of the thirteen chairs illustrated by Trent, only one is directly attributed to the joint effort of Thomas Spencer and Nicholas DISBROWE. This is the so-called "Winthrop Great Chair" which was made for the ceremony to honor John2 WINTHROP in 1662 when he returned from England with a royal charter granted to Connecticut.
      It is most impressive that the dynasty of the Spencer shops lasted until about 1830 when it gradually gave way to lighter furniture and to factory-produced models. During this long period, however, the influence of the Spencer shops was felt throughout the Connecticut Valley, especially to the northward of Hartford and extending into Massachusetts...
      Perhaps too much emphasis has been placed on "chairmaking" in these notes on the Spencer shops of Hartford. Indeed, there was a wide demand for many commonplace. items which a "turner" could manufacture. Some examples could be kitchen utensils, handles, wheel spokes, stair railings, and similar items.
      The Spencers mainly concerned with these developments over a span of at least a century and a half included Gerard2 Spencer (1651-1712) who took over the Hartford shop in 1687. Upon his death, Gerard3 (1684-1754) took over the enterprise. It is noted that Gerard3 provided 900 spindles for the pews of the First Church in 1737. Subsequently Gerard3 moved to New Hartford (Litchfield County) where he is remembered as the father of JOHN4 (1710-1785) and Nathaniel4 Bearding Spencer (1724-1773) who produced the famous "Seymour Chair."

      9. 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. 172-177 has a transcript and analysis of the will dated 9 Sep 1686 of Thomas1 Spencer (see his notes for transcript). He mentions all nine of his children, but not his wife Sarah who preceded him in death. Some of his children are also mentioned in the wills of his first wife's brother Barnabas Derifall (who died 1680) and his second wife's father Nathaniel Bearding (who died 1674):
      "The Interpretation of the Will of Thomas1 Spencer
      Jacobus reported that Sarah Bearding Spencer, wife of Thomas1 Spencer, as dying before 1674 since she was not named in her father's (Nathaniel Bearding) will which was proven in 1674 (year of father's death).
      The inventory of of the Thomas1 estate set the total value at ₤139 19 00, but does not mention the value of his shop or tools or of the considerable amount of land which he had purchased during his lifetime. (A separate analysis is being made of the multiple transactions in Hartford and will be published in a different article).
      Not mentioned in this Will was the fact that Thomas had received a grant of 60 acres in 1660 in recognition of his military and civic services to the colony and the city of Hartford. It is possible that his woodworking shop and tools were included in the value of "home lot and housing" which was set at 50 pounds.
      It is interesting that a nephew, Samuel2 Spencer, the only son of his brother, William1 Spencer, was named as an overseer in the Will. Samuel2 Spencer spent his whole life at Hartford and fathered eight children by Sarah Meakins. Samuel's last Child, in fact, was born just a few months before the death of Thomas1 in 1687...
      In an earlier chapter, the present authors gave a detailed account of the inter-connections of the four or five families in Hartford who were related by cross marriages. As a sequel to that story, we have constructed a chart to show the beneficiaries of the estates of four pioneers who willed property and money to their children (or nieces and nephews) and sometimes to grandchildren. The four pioneers in order of death were William1 Andrews (d. 1659), Nathaniel Bearding (d. 1674), Barnabas Derifall (Derifeild) (d. 1680) and Thomas1 Spencer (d. 1687). All were residents of Hartford except Barnabas Derifall who lived in Braintree (West Quincy), Massachusetts.
      The children involved as legatees were the nine children of Thomas1 Spencer (Ann Derifall and Sarah Bearding)and the six children of William1 Andrews. The latter also had two wives, of whom only the second has been identified (Abigail Graves). Abigail in later years became the second wife of Nathaniel Bearing (no children).
      In order to simplify the chart of beneficiaries, we have not included any of the surviving spouses.
      Chart: The Distribution of Assests to children from the Estates of Four Pioneers in New England [KP Note: reformatted for my transcript:]
      Various estates:
      A. Barnabas Derifall (d. 1680) of Braintree, MA.
      B. Thomas1 Derifall (d. 1687) of Hartford.
      C. Nathaniel Bearding (d. 1674) of Hartford
      D. William1 Andrews (d. 1659) of Hartford
      Children of Thomas1 Spencer (1607-1687):
      -Obadiah2 Spencer A, B
      -Thomas2 Spencer A, B
      -Samuel2 Spencer A, B, C
      -Sarah2 Spencer Huxley B
      -Elizabeth2 Spencer Andrews B
      -Gerard2 Spencer B
      -Hannah2 Spencer Sexton-Brainerd B, C
      -Mary2 Spencer Root B, C
      -Martha2 Spencer Benton B, C
      Children of William1 Andrews (d. 1659)
      -John2 Andrews C, D
      -Abigail2 Andrews D
      -Elizabeth2 Andrews Grannis D
      -Thomas2 Andrews C, D
      -Esther2 Andrews Spencer D
      -Samuel2 Andrews C, D
      The emerging pattern from the chart illustrates the dichotomy which characterized the bequests from Nathaniel Bearding - some assets to his grandchildren in the Thomas1 Spencer family, but excluding any children who had been born to the first wife of Thomas1, Ann Derifall - a not unlikely scenario for those who did not share his bloodlines.
      Nathaniel Bearding's legatees among the Andrews children showed some separation, but of a considerably different character. Nathaniel had only two step grandchildren, Esther2 Andrews and Samuel2 Andrews. Samuel2 was a major beneficiary with 40 pounds, while Esther2 Andrews Spencer was not named in the will. On the other hand, Nathaniel Bearding made bequests to John2 Andrews and Thomas2 Andrews who were bore no blood relation to Nathaniel We believe the explanation of the latter two bequests was based on the fact that Abigail Graves Andrews-Bearding had raised the four children (stepchildren) from William Andrews first marriage to Mary Britton as well as her own two children by William1 Andrews.
      In the case of the bequests by Thomas1 Spencer, there is an oddity in the fact that his son Samuel2 Spencer essentially was excluded from the will (except for clothing). We do not believe this is an indication of differential favoritism among the sons, but the fact that Samuel2 had been well provided for in the will of his grandfather, Barnabas Derifall of Braintree, Massachusetts.
      Abigail2 Andrews was not named in her father's will because she had died (1653) some years before her father's death.
      The only other aspect of the estates is the fact that females in general received only token recognition from the father or grandfather as the case might be. It was the sons and grandsons who always were the major legatees."

      10. The periodical "Connecticut Nutmegger," by Jack T. Spencer, CSG, "The Families Linked to Sgt. Thomas Spencer, a Co-Founder of Hartford," vol. 29, pp. 14-27:
      "I. BACKGROUND
      Sgt. THOMAS1 SPENCER was one of the "Four Spencer Brothers" of Bedfordshire, England, who were among the earliest settlers of New England and who almost certainly were passengers in the earliest vessels of the Winthrop Fleet in 1630 or 1631. THOMAS1 was the second oldest of the Spencer Brothers. The older was WILLIAM1 SPENCER (1601-1640). The two youngest brothers were MICHAEL1 SPENCER (1611-1653) and GERARD SPENCER (1614-c.1683). There also was a sister, ELIZABETH1 SPENCER (1602- ) who came to New England as the wife of TIMOTHY TOMLYNS and settled at Lynn, Massachusetts.
      The male Spencer siblings (William, Thomas, Michael, Gerard) first settled at Newe Towne (Cambridge, Massachusetts.) A few years later the two older brothers, along with other pioneers, became co-founders of Hartford, Connecticut. Michael and Gerard eventually settled at Lynn, Massachusetts, but Gerard made another move in later years to become the "patriarch" of Haddam, Connecticut.
      All of the Spencer siblings were born at Stotfold, co. Bedfordshire, England. Their parents were GERARDA SPENCER (1576- ) and ALICE WHITBREAD SPENCER. These Spencers were descendants of a long line of this surname in Bedfordshire whose ancestry can be traced back with certainty to the middle of the 14th century. Tracing the general lineage to even earlier times, we know that the original ancestors came to England with William the Conqueror in 1066 and participated in the Battle of Hastings. In the ensuing two or three centuries, the "Despencers" ranked among the highest of the Norman nobility, sometimes gaining and sometimes losing (their lives) for this close relationship.
      In earlier publications (see reference list), we have described the important activities undertaken by WILLIAM1 SPENCER in the founding of Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was the first Town Clerk of Cambridge and later served as a "Selectman" for several years. William played even more important roles for the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Company, especially in regard to surveying and setting the boundary lines for many of the towns under the control of the Court. For many years he served as a Deputy representing Newe Towne at the frequent meetings of the General Court in Cambridge and in Boston.
      As for ELIZABETH1 SPENCER, we already have documented the activities of her husband, TIMOTHY TOMLINS (see reference list), who was a co-founder of Lynn, Massachusetts in 1630. Timothy, like William Spencer, was a prominent leader in Lynn and served as a Deputy to the General Court and in many other civic and military capacities before his untimely death about 1645.
      II. THE FAMILY OF SGT. THOMAS1 SPENCER
      The Family of THOMAS1 SPENCER (1607- 1687) and two wives: 1) ANN DERIFALL (1610- ) and SARAH BEARDING (d. before 1674). Ann was a sister of Barnabas Derifall of Braintree, MA. Sarah was the daughter of Nathan Bearding of Hartford. Ann married Thomas ca. 1638; Sarah married Thomas on 11 Sept. 1645 at Hartford. Thomas d. 1 Sept. 1687 at Hartford.
      Children by Ann Derifall:
      OBADIAH2 SPENCER (Thomas1, GerardA, MichaelB, JohnC-D, RobertE, JohnF, RobertH, ThomasI, HenryJ), b. ca. 1639 at Hartford, CT. Took Freeman's Oath at Hartford 20 May 1658. m. MARY DISBOROUGH, dau. of Nicholas Disborough. Mary d. before 1709. They had children. d. May 1712 at Hartford, CT.
      THOMAS2 SPENCER (Thomas1), b. ca. 1641 at Hartford, CT. m. ESTHER2 ANDREWS. She d. 6 Mar 1698 at Suffield. Esther was the dau. of William1 and Abigail (Graves) Andrews of Hartford, CT. d. 23 July 1698 at Suffield, CT.
      SPENCER2 (Thomas1) b. ca. 1643 at Hartford, CT. m. SARAH ___ (ca. 1660-1733). She d. at Windham, CT. d. 24 Oct 1727 at Windham, CT.
      Children by Sarah Bearding
      SARAH2 SPENCER (Thomas1) b. ca. 1646 at Hartford, CT. m. THOMAS HUXLEY at Suffield, C. He d. 21 July 1721 at Suffield. A dau. Elizabeth Huxley m. James King, who was. b. 14 Mar 1675 at Ipswich, MA. James d. 15 July 1757 at Suffield. He had a large landed estate. d. 24 Oct. 1712.
      ELIZABETH2 SPENCER (Thomas1) b. bp. 26 Mar 1648 at Hanford, CT. m. SAMUEL2 ANDREWS of Hartford, brother of Esther2 Andrews who m. Thomas2 SPENCER. Samuel Andrews was the son of William1 Andrews and Abigail (Graves) Andrews of Hartford. Samuel d. Jan 1712 at Hartford. d. ?
      GERARD2 SPENCER (Thomas1). b. ca 1651 at Hartford, CT. m. HANNAH PRATT (1658-1692) on 22 Dec 1680. She was dau. of John Pratt, d. 1712 at Hartford, CT.
      HANNAH2 SPENCER (Thomas1) b. 15 April 1653 at Hartford, CT. m. (1) GEORGE SEXTON, Jr. m. (2) DANIEL Brainerd, Sr. Nov. 1698. d. 1713.
      MARY2 SPENCER (Thomas1), b. 18 May 1655 at Hartford, CT. m. THOMAS ROOT, 7 Oct 1675. He was of Westfield, MA., son of John Root. He d. 16 Aug. 1709. d. 4 Nov. 1690 at Westfield, MA.
      MARTHA2 SPENCER (Thomas1). B. 19 Mar 1658 at Hartford, CT. m. ANDREW BARTON (BENTON), Jr (1653-1704). He was the son of Andrew Barton Sr., Andrew Jr. d at Hartford, 5 Feb 1704.
      All of the children of Sgt. Thowas1 Spencer was born at Hartford, CT, between 1639 and 1658. When the last child was born in 1658, Sgt. Thomas was 51 years of age. ANN DERIFALL, who was mother of the first three children, was born about 1610 in England. The year of birth probably is quite accurate since Ann was listed as age 24 on the passenger list of the "Elizabeth" which sailed from Ipswich, co. Essex, the last of April 1634 (Tepper). The exact year of Ann's death is unknown, although it probably can be set down as 1645 judging by the approximate date of Sarah Bearding's first child in 1646. Ann Derifall was only about 35 years of at the time of her death.
      Our interest in the Spencer ancestral line, ultimately will focus on the second son of THOMAS1 SPENCER, that is, THOMAS2 SPENCER, who was born in Hartford about 1641 and died in Suffield, CT. in 1689. THOMAS2 married ESTHER2 ANDREWS of Hartford.
      III. THE RELATIVES OF ANN DERIFALL AND HER ASSOCIATION WITH WILLIAM CODDINGTON OF RHODE ISLAND
      A careful search of the IGI (International Genealogical Index, 1990) offers no useful clue to the immediate relatives of Ann Derifall in England. The fact that Ann Derifall sailed from Ipswich in eastern England in 1634 has inclined historians to believe that she was perhaps a native of East Anglia. Indeed, there were Derifalls who lived in Little Baddow, co. Essex, which was the residence of Rev. THOMAS HOOKER when he left for New England in 1633. Of interest is the fact that BARNABAS DERIFALL came to New England in that same year, although there is no evidence that he was a member of the BRAINTREE COMPANY sponsored by Rev. Hooker.
      The discovery of the connection between the DERIFALLS and the SPENCERS in Connecticut can be credited to Mrs. William C. Clark who published a genealogical study in 1951 in the NEHGS Register. This report proved that Barnabas Derifall of Braintree, Massachusetts, was a brother of Ann Derifall. In the will of Barnabas Derifall prepared in 1680, he named three Spencer brothers (OBADIAH2, THOMAS2, SAMUEL2) as beneficiaries of his estate. These clearly were the same names as the sons of Ann Derifall and Thomas Spencer.
      Savage states that Barnabas "Doryfall" came to Boston in the "Mary and Jane," probably on the same ship with WILLIAM CODDINGTON and his second wife, MARY MOSLEY. Not only did Barnabas Derifall have this contact with Coddington, but the latter also owned property at Braintree where Barnabas was an original proprietor.
      William Coddington originally was a native of Boston, Lincolnshire, a city often associated with the names of the earliest Pilgrim fathers. Coddington was a powerful figure in the contingent of Puritan leaders who came to America in the very first vessels of the Winthrop Fleet in 1630.
      Besides the Derifalls who lived in co. Essex (Little Baddow), there also were families with this surname who lived in London in the area of St. Bride, Fleet Street. The time scale (IGI) was the late 1500's and early 1600's. There were Coddingtons in the same district in this period. We do know also, that William Coddington was in London in 1632, but was postponing his return to New England until 1633 because his new wife was expecting a child. Mary Mosley was a native of the Chelmsford area in co. Essex.
      Thus, we have more than one possible scenario for the contact between Barnabas Derifall and William Coddington. Perhaps they had first made contact in London prior to the departure for New England in the "Mary and Jane" in 1633 or they became acquainted later during the actual voyage. However, as we now note above, the Derifalls at Little Baddow in co. Essex could have made their first Puritan connections with the Rev. Thomas Hooker rather than William Coddington.
      ANN DERIFALL did not come to New England until 1634 and it is recorded that she became a maid servant to the family of William Coddington, an association not too surprising when we note the close contacts her brother Barnabas must have enjoyed with the Coddington family. Barnabas lived the entire remainder of his life at Braintree until his death in 1680. He became a member of the Boston church in 1633 (year of his arrival) and was elected to Freeman in 1636. His lands were located chiefly in what is now West Quincy, Massachusetts. Barnabas Derifall had no children.
      As a final note in the history of William Coddington, he retained his properties at Braintree until 1638, at which time he removed to Rhode Island along with the followers of Anne Hutchinson as a result of religious differences with John Winthrop and other Puritan leaders in Boston and Cambridge. This date of 1638 for Coddington's departure coincides well with the marriage of Ann Derifall to Thomas Spencer and with the sale of his property in Cambridge and his departure for Hartford. The Pequot War of 1637 had become history and Thomas joined other veterans of that war in occupying lots on Sentinel Hill in Hartford. A new life had begun for Sgt. Thomas Spencer and Ann Derifall. William Coddington, too, had begun a new life in Rhode bland which eventually would lead him to be Governor of that new colony for several terms.
      IV. UNRAVELING THE SPENCER-ANDREWS-GRAVES-BEARDlNG CONNECTIONS
      The second wife of Sgt. Thomas Spencer was SARAH2 BEARDING (BARDING) of Hartford, Connecticut. Since Sarah's father; NATHANIEL BEARDING, also appears in the records as the husband of ABIGAIL (GRAVES) ANDREWS-BEARDING, some writers have overlooked the fact that Sarah Bearding had no blood relationship to Abigail her stepmother.
      We shall present one chart of the ANDREWS-GRAVES-BEARDING-SPENCER connections so that the reader can understand more clearly exactly what happened among the various intermarriages.
      The first list on the left shows the children descended from WILLIAM ANDREWS, while the list on the right shows the one child (Sarah) of NATHANIEL1 BEARDING. Sandwiched between these two lists are the descendants of THOMAS1 SPENCER and his two wives, ANN DERIFALL and SARAH BEARDING. Connecting lines indicate the intermarriages…
      [The author has a chart titled "Interrelations of the Andrews-Graves-Bearding-Spencer Families in Cambridge and Hartford." The relationships can be simply reduced down to the following: (1) Nathaniel1 Bearding's second wife was Abigail Graves, who married as William1 Andrews as his second wife. (2) Nathaniel1 Bearding and Abigail Graves had a daughter Sarah Bearding who married Thomas1 Spencer as his second wife. (3) William1 Andrews and Abigail had a daughter Esther2 Andrews who married Thomas1 Spencer's son Thomas2 Spencer, whose mother was Ann Derifall, the first wife of Thomas1 Spencer.]
      THE CHRONOLOGY OF FAMILY INTERRELATIONSHIPS
      1634. WILLIAM1 ANDREWS is first mentioned in the history of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Wife #1 was Mary Britton. One child was born about 1632 (John), one in 1634 (Abigail), one in 1636 (Elizabeth), and one in 1638 (Thomas).
      1637. WILLIAM1 ANDREWS and his first wife emigrated to Hartford, Connecticut.
      1638. William Andrews has a son, THOMAS1 ANDREWS, born in Hartford. This was the last of the four children born to wife number one.
      1638-1641. Somewhere in this interval, the first wife of William Andrews dies at Hartford.
      1641. William Andrews marries ABIGAIL GRAVES at Hartford (IGI records). The first child, ESTHER2 ANDREWS, is born to William's second wife.
      1645. The second child, SAMUEL2 ANDREWS, is born to William Andrews and Abigail (Graves) Andrew. This year also saw the marriage of THOMAS2 SPENCER and SARAH BEARDING, daughter of NATHANIEL BEARDING.
      1659. WILLIAM1 ANDREWS dies at Hartford.
      1660(?). ABIGAIL (GRAVES) ANDREWS marries NATHANIEL BEARDING of Hartford.
      From this chronological arrangement, we can see clearly that ABIGAIL (GRAVES) ANDREWS was a stepmother to SARAH BEARDING and that no genetic relationship existed.
      When SAMUEL2 ANDREWS married ELIZABETH2 SPENCER, these individuals had no genetic connections despite the fact that Abigail Graves was the mother of Samuel2 Andrews and the step-grandmother Elizabeth2 Spencer. Likewise, when Esther2 Andrews and Thomas2 Spencer were married, no genetic connection existed since Thomas2 Spencer was the son of Ann Derifall and Esther was the daughter of Abigail (Graves) Andrews.
      We have gone into considerable detail to explain these relationships since a cursory examination of the lineage might lead one to some mistaken conclusions. Perhaps the key which finally clarified the relationships was the discovery in the IGI records of the marriage of Wlliam1 Andrews to Abigail Graves in Hartford in 1641.
      V. THE EARLY HISTORY OF WILLIAM1 ANDREWS OF CAMBRIDGE AND HARTFORD
      Besides the unusual familial relationships among the ANDREWS-GRAVES-BEARDING-SPENCER coalition, there have been some mystifying genealogical questions about the ancestors and immediate relatives of Williarn1 Andrews. There was a large number of immigrants with the surname of ANDREWS who came to New England in the "Great Migration" of the 1630's. Their probably were nearly a half dozen "William Andrews" settling in various towns under the control Massachusetts Bay Company including Newe Towne (Cambridge), Charlestown, Lynn, and Salem. New Haven also was the location for at least one Andrews. The William Andrews of Cambridge, of course, is the main focus of our interest because he was the parent of ESTHER2 Andrews who married THOMAS1 SPENCER. Some historians, however, have confused the William1 Andrews of Cambridge with other men holding the same Christian name.
      In order to settle this question, a careful study was made of at least four important records on the history of Cambridge and Hartford. This list included "History of Cambridge" by L.R. Paige; the so-called "Proprietors Records of Cambridge" beginning in 1630; the "History of Hartford" by Love; and finally the many references found in the International Genealogical Index (1991 edition).
      These combined references confirm that WILLIAM1 ANDREWS was one of the earliest settlers at Cambridge and that he was the only William Andrews there up to the end of 1637. In September of 1637. William Andrews sold all of his property to Samuel Shepherd and moved on to Hartford, Connecticut. Love confirms that William Andrews was at Hartford in 1637.
      Why has so much confusion prevailed in the literature regarding the two wives of William1 Andrews of Cambridge and Hartford? We believe most of the fault can be attributed to the erroneous statements Pope in "The Pioneers of Massachusetts" published in Boston in 1900. Pope had a correct date (25 Sept 1637) for William's sale of his property in Cambridge. However, Pope's statements regarding the death of "wife Mary d. Jan 19. 1640" and a second marriage to Reanna James of Watertown seem to have no connection whatever to our own William Andrews of Cambridge and Hartford. Apparently Pope followed the trail of some other William Andrews, of whom there were several in the Massachusetts Bay area.
      The Paige "History of Cambridge" mentions WILLIAM1 ANDREWS in only three places in the early part of the book. William was in a list of inhabitants in 1634 and again on a list of 1635. On 23 November 1635, William is identified as a "Selectman" and appointed to the position of Constable. There the story ends except for the sale of his property in September of 1637.
      One of the better histories of the descendants of William1 Andrews of Cambridge is to be found in "Colonial Ancestors," edited by Edward Little. Here, however, the identification of William's history at Cambridge adopts Pope's version which as we have seen is quite erroneous.
      There are literally hundreds of William Andrews to be found in England in the early 1600's (IGI), but one entry was found in Lincoln of Lincolnshire where a William Andrews had married a MARY BRITTON on 16 May 1631. St. Botolph (IGI-C0003). Since the first child of William1 Andrews was born about 1632, the chronological fit is almost perfect. Although William1 Andrews was first mentioned in the Cambridge History in 1634 there is a strong likelihood that he was there earlier and that his first child (John2) was born in Newe Towne about 1632. Incidentally, co. Lincolnshire was the scene of much early activity by the Puritans, including the imprisonment of several leaders in the city of Boston before the Pilgrim fathers fled to Holland.
      Since William1 Andrews was in the direct line of the Suffield (CT) Spencer and the Spencer pioneers of the Western Reserve of Ohio (Portage County), it is important to highlight the details of his life in Hartford (subsequent to his Cambridge experiences). As we have noted, William and his first wife emigrated from Newe Towne (Cambridge) Hartford in 1637. Although they appear not to have been in the original Hooker group which went to Hartford in 1635 and 1636. William was still considered an original proprietor and a founding father of the city. This is evidenced by the proprietor list of 3 Jan 1640 which gave the names of those inhabitants who had a right to undivided lands (Love). William Andrews had an allocation of 30 acres, while Thomas1 Spencer was listed with 14 acres. It seems that NATHANIEL BEARDING was not rated as a "standard" proprietor because his name was on a list for only 6 acres and was included with those individuals granted lots "at the town's courtesy, with liberty to fetch wood and keep swine or cows by proportion on the common."
      During his lifetime in Hartford, William Andrews appears not to have been among the primary leaders of the community. It seems clear, however, that he had been well educated for his time judging by his appointment as one of the first teachers in the town in 1643. He was a member of a jury in 1644 and in 1651 was appointed to the post of Town Clerk. We are reminded of William1 Spencer who held a similar post in Newe Towne as well as Hartford (albeit the latter post was very brief). William Andrews remained as Town Clerk until the time of his death in 1659.
      In his will dated 1 April 1659, William1 Andrews seems to have left more authority in the hands of his wife, ABIGAIL (GRAVES) ANDREWS, than was customary for the time (in contrast perhaps to the will of William1 Spencer who died in 1640). Essentially, Abigail Andrews was to remain in control of all the property in Hartford. In case of her remarriage, however, most of the property was to pass to their children. Abigail was to retain the power of Executrix. Based on these limitations, it seems clear that Abigail did not transfer much wealth to her second husband, Nathaniel1 Bearding, due to the restrictions imposed in the will of her first husband.
      V. THE BEARDING CONNECTION IN HARTFORD
      As to the history of the BEARDINGS (BARDING, BERDEN) in England, there are not many useful clues. Every county in England reported in the IGI (International Genealogical Index) was surveyed for possible leads. In no instance was there found the surname of "Bearding" or "Barding." There were, however, numerous records of BERDEN in many of the northern, central, and southern counties of England. This leads to the conclusion that the Nathaniel1 Bearding (Barding) of Hartford probably originated with the surname of BERDEN in England.
      As for the NATHANIEL1 BEARDING of Hartford, his origin remains largely obscured. There is no indication of his being an early resident of Cambridge in the company of Hooker, but he does appear on the list of Hartford settlers in 1640 and Savage even lists him at Hartford in 1636. Nothing seems to be known of his lineage in England. A still more mysterious aspect of Nathaniel is that there is no known official record of a marriage prior to that with ABIGAIL (GRAVES) ANDREWS. We are certain, however, that his daughter, SARAH2 BEARDING, was by Nathaniel's first wife rather than his second wife (see the chronological chart). Nathaniel Bearding died at Hartford on 14 Sept 1674.
      The will of Nathaniel Bearding, dated 7 Jan 1673, is preserved in Manwaring's Probate Records. The principal beneficiaries included his widow, Abigail (Graves) Andrews-Bearding, and Thomas1 Spencer (the elder, a son-in-law). Nathaniel provided for all of his daughter's six children (wife of Thomas1 Spencer). Nathaniel also named SAMUEL2 ANDREWS as a legatee, a child by his wife's first marriage to William1 Andrews. Nathaniel was mindful also of the fact that Samuel was married to ELIZABETH2 SPENCER, one of Nathaniel's granddaughters.
      Nathaniel had an omission in his will. He did not name ESTHER2 ANDREWS. There also was one rather unusual inclusion, the name of which was the name of JOHN2 ANDREWS, a son by the first wife of William1 Andrews. John2 Andrews was not a blood relative to either Nathaniel or Abigail, but undoubtedly he must have been raised by Abigail Graves after she married William Andrews in 1641 in Hartford.
      Although ESTHER2 (ANDREWS) SPENCER was not under the will of Nathaniel Bearding, she was named in her mother's nuncupative will when Abigail died in 1683. Abigail also named Esther's brother, SAMUEL2 ANDREWS, as a beneficiary.
      VI. THE RELATIVES OF ABIGAIL GRAVES IN CAMBRIDGE AND HARTFORD
      The early records of Newe Towne (Cambridge) and New Haven indicated that there were other immigrants with the GRAVES surname, but their relationship to ABIGAIL (GRAVES) ANDREWS remained unknown until a will of ANN GRAVE was published by H.F. Waters in 1907. ANN GRAVE of England was a resident of "St. Bultolph without Aldgate" London. Three of the beneficiaries in her will made in 1675 were "GEORGE GRAVE the elder of Hartford in Connecticut in New England and JOHN GRAVE of Guilford in the County of New Haven in New England and to their own natural sister also in New England..." The evidence seems very clear that ANN GRAVE of London had been married to a sibling of ABIGAIL, GEORGE, and JOHN GRAVE.
      There were several immigrants with the GRAVES surname in the early 1630's in New England, but with a positive identification of GEORGE GRAVES and JOHN GRAVES as siblings of ABIGAIL (GRAVES) ANDREWS, we can review the historical literature on these two individuals.
      The first mention of GEORGE GRAVES is found in Paige's "History of Cambridge" where his property is mentioned as located almost on the boundary between Newe Towne (Cambridge) and Charlestowne in 1633. Actually, George's property was within the limits of Newe Towne, but he is never mentioned again in Paige's voluminous history. Love in his "History of Hartford" identifies GEORGE GRAVES as one of the founders in 1636, which would place him among the main Thomas Hooker group which arrived that year. Also, George Graves may well have brought his sister Abigail from Newe Towne since she did not marry WILLIAM1 ANDREWS until 1641 (IGI record). In the record of "Land Distributions in Hartford" for the ensuring years, there were at least 30 references to DEACON GEORGE GRAVES and at least two references to his son, "MARSHALL" GEORGE2 GRAVES.
      "Deacon" George Graves was married twice. The IGI (B0142) lists a marriage of George Grave and "Anne Kyne" on 21 Sept. 1623, co. Herts, "Much Haddam." The second marriage was to Sarah Ventres (Kenneth Graves) who was the mother-in-law of Deacon's son George. It seems probable that George-2 and John-2 were born in England, based on the fact that Deacon George first appears in the Charlestowne records in 1634. Mary-2, born 1635, therefore would seem to have born in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
      What of Abigail Grave's brother, John-1 Grave? It seems clear that his permanent residence was at Guilford, New Haven, but we do not know if he had an earlier residence at Charlestowne, possibly with his brother George and sister Abigail. New Haven was not settled until 1638, so there is a possibility that John-1 Graves is revealed in the 1670 Census of Connecticut. There also an Edward Graves in Hartford in 1669 who does not appear related to the descendants of Deacon George Graves.
      As to the origin of this particular Graves family in England, there seem to be few clues excepting for two references, one being the marriage mentioned above in co. Hertfordshire. The second reference is found in Cussand's History of Hertfordshire (Mary K. Talcott in the Register). In 1621, co. Herts, Burroughs of Hartford, there was a mention of "George Graue" (sic) in the list of freeholders of that community.
      VII. RETROSPECT
      We have now reviewed considerable detail the known histories of the spouses and close relatives of St. Thomas-1 Spencer (1607-1687) of Cambridge, Massachusetts and Hartford, Connecticut. As one of the original five Spencer siblings who were among on the very early pioneers of New England and as the ancestor of perhaps hundreds and even thousands of modern-day Spencer descendants in the U.S., we would like to know as much as possible about those relatives who surrounded Sgt. Thomas during his lifetime. The foregoing pages have documented all of the presently known historical facts, especially regarding the Andrews, Derifall (Derifield), Graves, and Bearding (Berden) families.
      In our next segment, we shall examine the colorful life of Sgt. Thomas Spencer and his achievements in war and in peace. Although perhaps not as well educated or as brilliant as his older brother, William-1 Spencer (1601-1640), yet Sgt. Thomas lived twice as long and had three times as many children. Thus, Thomas-1 achieved his immortality as surely as William-1 achieved his, but by a rather different and perhaps a more enduring route.
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