Hon. Joseph SPENCER (eldest son of Isaac), married, August 2d 1738, Martha, daughter of Hon. Hezekiah and Dorothy (HOBART) BRAINERD. Joseph Spencer was admitted to the church at Millington, March 23d 1746. He was Assistant (Senator), Connecticut, in 1774 and 1775; and judge of Probate in 1775. "June 30th 1774, in town meeting duly warned-Hon. Joseph SPENCER was chosen moderator, a unanimous vote was recorded for a Declaration of American Rights." "January 6th 1778, Articles of Confederation were unanimously adopted." He presided on this occasion also, and frequently besides (E. H. Records.) In May 1778, he was made a member of the Council of ?afety. In the Colonial army, 1756, he was a major, and afterward a colonel, and must have served with some distinction, for at the commencement of the war with Great Britain the State of Connecticut turned immediately to him as a leader, and the Assembly, in the month of March 1775, appointed "Col. David WOOSTER a major-general, and Col Joseph SPENCER, and Israel PUTNAM to be brigadier-generals," thus making him second in rank in the State.w actually begun, and WASHINGTON had been chosen commander-in-chief. Congress proceeded to appoint four major-generals and eight brigadier-generals; they names Ward C. LEE, SCHUYLER, and PUTNAM for the former positions, and POMEROY, MONTGOMERY, WOOSTER, HEATH, Joseph SPENCER, THOMAS, SULLIVAN, and GREEN for the latter, thus making SPENCER's rank tenth in the Colonial army; but there is nothing which touches a soldier quicker than to see his subordinates placed above him, and there is nothing so destructive to discipline as such promotions, except for cause. Many felt this besides SPENCER, who was at first so offended that he left camp, but was soon induced to return. Gen. Seth POMEROY, the senior brigadier, refused to serve, and SPENCER took rank next to PUTNAM in the army at Boston. In the division of the army by WASHINGTON into three grand divisions, the command of the right wing, on Roxbury Heights, was given to Gen. WARD, the senior major-general, and with him were associated SPENCER and THOMAS, the ranking brigadiers.TRUMBULL painted most of the military and public men of that day, but seems to have omitted SPENCER.f April 1776.ke street, between Monroe and Cherry streets, called SPENCER redoubt. He also held the left at Harlem, of the line of defense extended across the city from the Hudson to the Harlem at MCGOWANS's pass. These various positions are now so covered up by the march of population and the growth of the city that they are past recognition, except the pass at the northern extremity of Central Park.sland, at the Dutch Stone Church, near the junction of the present Fulton and Flatbush avenues, in the city of Brooklyn. The following officers were present, viz.: WASHINGTON, PUTNAM, SPENCER, MIFFLIN, MCDOUGAL, SCOTT, WADSWORTH, and PARSONS, and on the 7th of September the question as to the expediency of retaining New York city came before council, and the majority voted to retain it. On the 12th of September, however, another council resolved on the evacuation with only three dissenting votes, which were given by HEATH, Joseph SPENCER, and James CLINTON.he State of Rhode Island, and July 11th 1777, Major General PRESCOTT, the English commander, fell into his hands as a prisoner of war. He was treated kindly by his captor, and in a short time was sent to General WASHINGTON, who exchanged him for General Charles LEE, a prisoner since December 1776.ctually embarked, to cross to Long Island, and surprise the enemy. At the last moment, having learned that the English commander was appraised of his plans, he countermanded the order. The facts proved that he had acted rightly, for the enemy had determined to allow them to land, and then by destroying their boats, to cut off their retreat and make them prisoners. Congress ordered an investigation?into the affair, to ascertain why the expedition was not prosecuted, and SPENCER, in indignation at the implied censure, resigned his commission, and General SULLIVAN was sent to Rhode Island to succeed him. On the 30th of August 1778, SPENCER assisted in SULLIVAN's retreat, and this seems to have been his last military service. He then returned to his home on the banks of the Connecticut, and doubtless intended to remain there; but his native State had not forgotten him, and he was elected to represent it in Congress.nited with the church December 13th 1788.os. SPENCER was elected deacon of the Millington Society, November 20th 1767;" afterward the record shows that "he was excused from service during the Revolution" and again, "reelected April 4th 1788." The last town record reads, "Hon. Joseph SPENCER died January 13th 1789, aged 74," to be exact, 74 years, 3 months, and 10 days. He had by his first marriage three daughters and two sons, and by the second marriage four sons and four daughters.ev. Elihu SPENCER, of the College of New Jersey, was born in Millington. His grandson, John SERGEANT, was candidate for vice-president of the United States in 1832.aughter of Joseph jr., of Millington, became the wife of the Hon. Lewis CASS, candidate for president in 1848.te of Connecticut.

1. Martha SPENCER, [infant] b. 8 May 1739, East Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut; d. 24 Feb 1740, East Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut.
2. Martha SPENCER b. Abt 1740, East Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut; d. 3 Mar 1796.
3. 1. Joseph SPENCER, MD b. 22 Jul 1750, Of East Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut; c. 22 Jul 1750, East Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut; d. 11 May 1824, Vienna, , West Virginia.
4. Hubbard SPENCER b. 1742, East Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut; d. 1806, Canaan, , Vermont.
5. Anna SPENCER b. 30 Mar 1746, East Haddam, , Connecticut; c. 1746.
6. Israel Brainard SPENCER b. 10 Jul 1748, East Haddam, , Connecticut; c. 1748.
7. Nehemiah SPENCER b. 24 Dec 1752, East Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut; c. 24 Dec 1752, East Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut; d. 1769.

1. Samuel SPENCER b. 10 Jul 1708, East Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut; d. 4 Sep 1757, East Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut.
2. Rebecka SPENCER b. 1 Aug 1712, E. Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut.
3. 2. Joseph SPENCER b. 3 Oct 1714, East Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut; d. 13 Jan 1789, East Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut; bur. Nathan Hale Park.

http://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/biobrainerd.html

David was the sixth of nine children born into the home of Hezekiah and Dorothy (Mason) Brainerd. Details of his childhood are scanty, but he grew up in a country house just above the west bank of the Connecticut River, two miles outside of Haddam. His father was a country squire, a local justice of the peace, and a Christian, as was his mother. His father died when he was nine and the death of his mother in March, 1732 brought additional great grief to 14 year old David, who was by then seeking to find what conversion was all about. From ages 15 to 19 he lived with his sister Jerusha who had just married Samuel Spencer. In April, 1738, he returned to Haddam to live and to study with the pastor of his youth, Phineas Fiske. Brainerd soon became a serious student of the Bible, and ignored the other pleasures in which most young people were participating. Fiske died in the fall, and Brainerd, like Luther, continued desperately seeking peace with God. By February, 1739, he was setting aside whole days of secret fasting and almost incessant prayer as he strove for acceptance with God.

WILL:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~jdevlin/source_files/brainerd.htm

Will; 23 May 1727; Haddam, Middlesex Co., CT 33. Brainerd, Hezekiah, Haddam. Died 24 May 1727. Invt £2442-03-03. Taken 24 Jun 1727, by Joseph Arnold, Jared Spencer & Caleb Brainard. Will dated 23 May 1727.: I give to my eldest son a double portion of all my estate, to be injoyed by him when he comes to the age of 21 years of day of marriage, which shall first happen, excepting the lands I hereafter appoint to be sold. Item. To the rest of my children I give an equal proportion of my estate. Item. I give to my wife Dorothy 1/3 part of my moveable estate forever, and 1/3 part of my houseing and lands during her natural life and she to have her first choice. Item. I do appoint that my son Nehemiah be bred up to learing and fitted to be serviceable thereby. I do appoint my loveing wife Dorothy to be sole executrix of theis my last will, and I do desire her out of my whole estate to pay all my just debts. And also I do hereby fully impower her, for the bringing up of my sone Nehemiah to learning or other necessary uses, to sell the following parcells of land, viz., yt which I bought of Samuel Smith, and also that parcell of land I bought of William Spencer, and also that parcell of land that I have in partnership with my brother Caleb Brainerd., Elizabeth Wyllys.

Court Record, Page 160 - 4 July 1727: Will proven.nard, executrix of the last will and testament of Hezekiah Brainard, late of Haddam, not having fully perfected her account of executorship, and being decd., this Court do therefore grant letters of Adms. on sd. estate unto Hezekiah Brainard, son of the decd., with the will annexed. And the sd. Hezekiah Brainard became bound in the sum of £400.
Page 89 -- 28 April 1733: Hezekiah Brainard, eldest son of Hezekiah Brainard, moved to this Court that there may be a distribution according to the will; and this Court appoint Caleb Brainard, Elijah Brainard and Jared Spencer of Haddam to distribute the estate. Daniel Brainard, a minor, 15 years of age, and Martha Brainard, 17 years, chose their brother Hezekiah Brainard to be their guardian. And this Court appoint sd. Hezekiah Brainard to be guardian to 3 of the children, viz., John, age 13 years, Elizabeth 10, and Israel 8 years of age. Recog. £300.
See Dist. per File: 17 May 1733: Order to distribute to Hezekiah, to Nehemiah, to Dorothy Smith, to Jerusha Spencer, to Martha Brainard, to David, to John, to Elizabeth, and to Israel Brainard. By Caleb Brainard & Elijah Brainard.s Court that there was 300 acres of land granted by the General Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut to James Wadsworth, John Hall and Hezekiah Brainard, Esq., bounded south by the Litchfield line and every way else by commmon land, lying near the west line of the place called Torrington. Sd. Wadsworth hath sold his third part as undivided to Ebenezer Hill, Jr., Luke Hill, & Isaaaaac, and sd. Hall's part now belongs to his eldest son John Hall of Wallingofrd, and in the dist. of sd. Brainard's estate according to his last will his third part of sd. land fell to his son Israel Brainard, who is yet under age, who together with the othe owners of sd. land, viz., John Hall and the sd. Ebenezer, Luke & Isaac Hill, moves this court that James Wadsworth, Esq., and James Wadsworth, Jr., of Durham, might assist Hezekiah Brainard, guardian to sd. minor, to divide the sd. 300 acres of land by meets and bounds that each owner may know their part thereof.

BIOGRAPHY: Biographical article that establishes David's mother's maiden name as Hobart and not Mason as some other articles had done (as noted in David's notes).

Copied from The National Cyclop?a of American Biography... New York: James T. White & Company, 1892. Vol. II.

1. Hezekiah BRAINERD b. 26 Oct 1708, Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut; d. 14 Dec 1774.
2. Dorothy BRAINERD b. 23 Feb 1710, Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut; d. 27 Feb 1754.
3. Nehemiah BRAINERD b. 20 Apr 1712, Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut.
4. Jerusha BRAINERD b. 21 Apr 1714, Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut; d. 13 Jul 1767, East Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut.
5. 3. Martha BRAINERD b. 1 Sep 1716, East Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut; d. 11 Oct 1754, East Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut; bur. Tater Hill.
6. David BRAINERD b. 20 Apr 1718, Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut; d. 9 Oct 1747, Northampton,, Massachusetts.
7. John BRAINERD b. 28 Feb 1720, Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut; d. 18 Mar 1781, Deerfield,, New Jersey.
8. Elizabeth BRAINERD b. 5 Oct 1722, Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut.
9. Israel BRAINERD b. 7 Jun 1725, Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut; d. 6 Jan 1748, New Haven,, Connecticut.

1. Hannah BRAINERD b. 20 Nov 1667, Kinderhook, Columbia Co., Ny; c. Middletown, Middlesex, , Connecticut; d. 7 Sep 1750, Kinderhook, Columbia Co., Ny; bur. Sep 1750, Cove Cem, East Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut.
2. Daniel BRAINERD b. 2 Mar 1668, Haddam, Middlesex Co., Connecticut; c. Middletown, Middlesex, , Connecticut; d. 28 Feb 1743, Kinderhook, Columbia Co., Ny; bur. Mar 1743, Cove Bury Grd., East Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut.
3. James BRAINERD b. 2 Jun 1669, Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut; c. Middletown, Middlesex, , Connecticut; d. 10 Feb 1742, Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut; bur. Feb 1742, Old Burying Gnd, Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut.
4. Joshua BRAINERD b. 20 Jul 1671, Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut; c. 7 Oct 1672, Middletown, Middlesex, Connecticut; d. 13 May 1755, Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut; bur. May 1755.
5. William BRAINERD b. 30 Mar 1673, Of, Middletown, Middlesex, Connecticut; c. 5 May 1674, Middletown, Middlesex, Connecticut; d. 13 Dec 1698, East Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut.
6. Caleb BRAINERD b. 20 Nov 1675, Of, Middletown, Middlesex, Connecticut; d. 11 Aug 1742, Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut; bur. Aug 1742, Old Hill Cemetery, Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut.
7. Elijah BRAINERD b. 26 May 1678, Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut, Connecticut; c. 27 May 1678, Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut; d. 20 Apr 1740, Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut.
8. 6. Hezekiah BRAINERD b. 24 May 1681, Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut; c. 7 Mar 1682, Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut; d. 24 May 1727, Hartford, Hartford, , Connecticut; bur. May 1727, Center Church Gd, Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut.