First twenty years of his life were spent in Freetown, and in Groton, NY. Was a clerk and farmer: 1836 moved to Palmyra, NY., where he was employed as clerk for W.P. Jackson. One year in Salem, MI. After marriage returned to Groton, NY. where in connection with his father and brother Clint, he purchased two farms and remained twenty years. Fall of 1859 he purhased the farm one and one half miles from Palmyra, where he died . Was Baptized by his brother, Rev. Jay Backus, in 1836 and united with the Baptist Church. Soon after elected Deacon and later to Palmyra he served the Baptist Chruch.
Ref: History of the Descendants of Peter Spicer, a Land Holder in New London,
Ct. by Susan Spicer Meech & Susan Billings Meech 1911 pg 194

1. Courtly Clinton BACKUS b. Groton, Tompkins County, New York.
2. Charlotte BACKUS b. 23 Sep 1840, Groton, Tompkins County, New York.
3. Scott S. BACKUS b. 19 Oct 1845, Groton, Tompkins County, New York.
4. Ellen A. BACKUS b. 2 Oct 1849, Groton, Tompkins County, New York.
5. Rufus Numon BACKUS b. 16 Aug 1856, Groton, Tompkins County, New York.

1. Jay Spicer BACKUS b. 17 Jan 1810, Granville, Washington County, New York.
2. Clinton C. BACKUS b. 18 Jan 1812, Freetown, Cortland County, New York.
3. 1. Numon Spicer BACKUS b. 12 Apr 1816, Freetown, Cortland County, New York; d. 27 Nov 1899, Macedon, Wayne County, New York; bur. Nov 1899, New York.
4. Rhoda BACKUS b. 26 Aug 1817, Freetown, Cortland County, New York.

Jeemiah was first engaged to woman named Phebe Newman who died while preparing for the impending nuptials. It is apparent that Jeremiah was deeply in love with young Phebe and must have been devistated upon her untimely death. As a memorial to Phebe Newman, Jeremiah named his 2nd daughter Phebe, a son Numan, and gave to all his other sons the last syllable of her name; Lyman, Orman, Daman, and Beaman.

1. Sally SPICER b. 18 Sep 1786, New York.
2. Phebe SPICER b. 6 Sep 1788, New York; d. 4 Mar 1876, North Granville, Washington County, New York; bur. 1876, New York.
3. 3. Betsey SPICER b. 31 Aug 1790, Granville, Washington County, New York; d. 26 Mar 1881, Freetown, Cortland County, New York [probably]; bur. 1881, New York.
4. Numan SPICER b. 21 Oct 1792, Granville, Washington County, New York; d. 15 Mar 1873, Kendall, Orleans County, New York; bur. 1873, New York.
5. Eunice SPICER b. 1 Oct 1794, Granville, Washington County, New York; d. 9 Sep 1870, Kendall, New York; bur. 1870, New York.
6. Lyman SPICER b. 26 Jan 1797, Granville, Washington County, New York; d. 10 Oct 1875, Kendall, New York; bur. 1875, New York.
7. Maline SPICER b. 2 Mar 1800, Granville, Washington County, New York.
8. Polly SPICER b. 20 Jul 1803, Granville, Washington County, New York.
9. Orman SPICER b. 1 Dec 1804, Granville, Washington County, New York.
10. Eliza SPICER b. 26 Nov 1806, Granville, Washington County, New York; d. 26 Jul 1825, Whitehall, New York; bur. New York.
11. Daman SPICER b. 1808, New York; d. Bef Jan 1824.
12. Beaman SPICER b. 22 Jan 1812, New York; d. New York; bur. New York.

Nathan and his second wife Abigail are buried at Fort Ann, Washington County, New York in a small cemetery at the crossroad between Hadlock and Buttermilk Falls Road. The graves were first apparently marked with two field stones, and later headstones.

Inscription on the headstone of Nathan Spicer:
"In memory of Mr. Nathan Spicer,
who departed this life July 27, A.D. 1811,
aged 76 years

Com living men, as you pass by
As you ar now so once was I
As I am now so you must bee
Prepare for death
and follow me

Useful in life
Resigned in death
And at Gods call
Give up my breath"

Nathan as well as many of his descendants was a blacksmith. His craft was highly respected and versitile. Nathan was skilled at his craft. Blacksmithing fell into 3 specialtie groups as described in Jean Grubes book entailed preforming a wide variety of work, "[group 1]...all sorts of iron or boat work, chaise and chair work, cleaning and mending guns, pistols, locks and keys, cleans and mends jacks, shoes horses, and makes all kinds of kitchen furniture, ...hinges for houses, etc...cranes, tongs, trivets, spits, pans, drippers, skimmers, etc...repairs all kinds of things, and made Betty lamps and other lighting fixtures. Tools ususally included the hearth with bellows, water trough, shovels, tongs, rakes, pokers, and water containers for dampening down the fire and cooking objects...[group 2] anvil, sledges, tongs, swages, cutters, chisels, and hammers...[group 3]shoeing box which contains knives, rasps and files for preparing the horses hooves for shoes, an iron stand for supporting the horses foot while working on it and a special hammer and nails to fasten the shoe to the hoof."

Blacksmiths also made wagon wheels, axes, sleigh runners, bits for horses, iron fittings for houses and schooners, chains, ploughs, any item forged from metals.

One can assume that Nathan and his sons may have put their skills to work for the Revolution.


From: autoreply@dar.org | Block Address | Add to Address Book

Subject: DAR Patriot Lookup: Reference Code RYAFBAK

To: jmilan3@yahoo.com

Content-Length: 902
Dear Julie A. Milan,
A search of our Patriot Index provided the information found below.

SPICER Sr, Nathan
Birth: CT 10 Sep 1735
Service: NY
Rank: PS
Death: NY 27 Jul 1811
Patriot Pensioned: No Widow Pensioned: No
Children Pensioned: No Heirs Pensioned: No
Spouse: Abigail Mayhew
Spouse: Leah X

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If you need to respond to this message, please click the 'Send a
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Danna
Patriot Lookup Volunteer


New Stores (later called Nassau), Rensselaer County, New York; On June 3, 1798 New Stores became Union Village and contained 30 homes. In 1806 the township of Nassau was formed and by 1808 the name of Union Village became Nassau Village.

Genealogical Study of the Family of Josiah Fisher Wilson Sanborn & Alberteen Adelaide Eaton"
Compiled by Helen (Burgess) Lindhorst
privately published, 1978 revised 1993

1. Nathan Henry SPICER, II b. 29 Nov 1756, Norwich, New London County, Connecticut; d. 1 Jan 1845, Springport, Cayuga, New York; bur. Jan 1845, Troy, Rensselaer, New York. Oakwood lies within the boundaries of Lansingburgh, New York but was annexed by Troy.
2. George SPICER b. 1757, Norwich, New London County, Connecticut; d. 1840, near Pontiac, Huron County, Ohio; bur. 1840, Ohio.
3. Ebenezer SPICER b. 1759, Norwich, New London County, Connecticut; d. 1813, Sussex Vale, New Brunswick, Canada; bur. 1813, New Brunswick, Canada.
4. 6. Jeremiah SPICER b. 28 Aug 1761, Cayuga County, New York; d. 14 Aug 1825, Granville, Washington County, New York; bur. Aug 1825, New York.