1607 - 1687

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• Birth	29 Mar 1607	Stotford,Bedfordshire,England   [1, 2]
  Christened	29 Mar 1607	,Stotfold,Bedford,England
  Gender	Male
  IMMI	Source Name: Virkus,Frederick a.,editor. Immigrant Ancestors: a List of 2,500 Immigrants to America before 1750. Balt   [3]
  Buried	Sep 1687	Old Center Cemetery,Suffield,Ct
  Died	11 Sep 1687	Hartford,Hartford,Ct   [1, 2]
  Person ID	I3154	Brainard (Brainerd) / Foster / Fish
  Last Modified	12 Jun 2005 00:00:00
  Father	Gerard SPENCER, b. 20 May 1576, Edworth,Bedfordshire,England
  Mother	Alice WHITEBREAD, b. 7 Oct 1571, Ion,Upper Gravenhurst,Bedfordshire,England
  Family ID	F1265	Group Sheet
  Family 1	Ann DEERFIELD\DENFIELD, b. Abt 1610
  Married	Abt 1632	Stotfold, Bedfordshire, England
  Children	1. Obadiah SPENCER, b. Abt 1633, Hartford, Hartford Co., Connecticut   2. Thomas SPENCER   3. Samuel SPENCER, b. 1640
  Family ID	F1272	Group Sheet
  Family 2	Sarah BEARDING, b. Abt 1623, , Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut
  Married	11 Sep 1645	, Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut
  Children	1. John SPENCER, b. Abt 1636, Lynn, Essex Co., Ma   2. Hannah SPENCER, b. 1640, Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut   3. Thomas SPENCER, Sr., b. 1640/1641, Of, Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut   4. Sarah SPENCER, b. 1641/1647, Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut   5. Marah Alice SPENCER, b. Abt 1642, Lynn, Essex Co., Ma   6. Mehitable SPENCER, b. 1642, Of, East Haddom, Middlesex, Connecticut   7. Samuel SPENCER, b. 27 Sep 1644, ,Stotfold,Bedfordshire,England   8. Elizabeth SPENCER, b. 26 Mar 1648, So. Berwick, York, Me   9. Samuel SPENCER, b. 27 Sep 1644, Lynn, Essex Co., Ma > 10. Jared SPENCER, b. Abt 1650/1651, Hartford, Hartford Co., Connecticut > 11. Hannah SPENCER, b. 15 Apr 1653, Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut   12. Ruth SPENCER, b. Abt 1654   13. Mary SPENCER, b. 18 May 1655, Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut   14. Timothy SPENCER, b. Abt 1652, Kinderhook, Columbia Co., Ny   15. William SPENCER, b. Abt 1656, Lynn, Essex Co., Ma   16. Martha SPENCER, b. 19 May 1657, Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut   17. Nathaniel SPENCER, b. Abt 1658, Lynn, Essex Co., Ma   18. Gerard SPENCER, b. Abt 1659, Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut   19. Rebecca SPENCER, b. Abt 1660, Lynn, Essex Co., Ma
  Family ID	F1270	Group Sheet
  Family 3	Rebecca (Porter) CLARK, c. 16 Sep 1630, Folstod, England
  Family ID	F1273	Group Sheet

• Notes

  Name Suffix: Sgt. Thomas was one of the first settlers of Hartford, CT. His birthyear isfrom "Seventeenth Century Colonial Ancestors", Lawrence, KS Public Library.He is named on the "Founders Monument". He was first at Cambridge, MA. Movedin 1639 to Hartford, CT. where he was an original proprietor; his home lotis now the junction of Main and Windsor Sts.; he served in the Pequot War; was a chimney viewer 1650; constable of north side 1658; surveyor of highways1672; Sgt. in train band 1650, and received in 1671 a grant of 60 acres "forhis good service to the country". The Spencer family in America For information on the immigrant family, refer to The Great MigrationBegins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Vols. I-III, by RobertCharles Anderson (Boston, 1995). To Cambridge, MA about 1631 with brothers William, Gerard, and Michael.Freeman May 14, 1634. To Hartford, CT by 1639 as orginal proprietor; chimney viewer 1650; north side constable 1658; surveyor of highways 1672; Sgt. of train band 1650, receiving grant in 1671 for his service in militia and PequotWar. His name appears on Hartford's Founders Monument. Will dated Sep. 9,1687. Married first Ann DORRYFALL (b. 1610; d. 1645), sister of Barnabas of Braintree, MA. Married second Sep. 11, 1645, Hartford, CT. Spencer ancestry in England The following lineage is generally accurate. However, some differences are reported in other sources. This line is from A Study of Spencers, compiled by Karen Spencer, 1981, omitting the first 17generations presented there. A series begun January 1983 in le Despencer, Newsletter of the Spencer Family Association, by Flora Spencer Clark,includes the final 3 English generations as proved. This series continues with the American Spencers. Identification of Henry SPENCER and Isabella LINCOLN as parents of Sir John SPENCER is from Ancestors of American Presidents, by Gary Boyd Roberts (Santa Clarita, CA, 1995). Henry SPENCER (d. 1477/8) of Badby, Northants., married Isabella LINCOLN. Son William married Elizabeth EMPSON and became ancestor of Pres. F. D.ROOSEVELT, Sir Winston SPENCER-CHURCHILL, Lady Diana (SPENCER), Princessof Wales, and her sons Prince William and Prince Harry. Son Thomas married Margaret SMITH became ancestor of Pres. WASHINGTON and Pres. F.D. ROOSEVELT. Son John, as noted below, became ancestor of Pres. COOLIDGE and Pres. BUSH. Granddaughter Margaret SPENCER, son of William SPENCER,married Anthony, Lord Ashley Cooper as his third wife. Sir John SPENCER married first Ann EMPSON, mother of Robert; and second Jane GRAUNT (d. 1498), mother of Thomas of Hodnell. Anne Empson was sister of Elizabeth EMPSON and of Sir Richard EMPSON, minister to Henry VII. Daughter Jane married Sir William COPE and became ancestor of Pres.COOLIDGE and Pres. BUSH.. Robert SPENCER of South Mylls, Bedfordshire married Anne PECKE (and/orAnn SMYTH). John SPENCER of South Mylls married Christian BAKER: Children: John;William married Isabelle OSBORNE, daughter of Edward of Kenolmarsh, Northamptonshire; Robert. John SPENCER (b. about 1505, St. George's Parish; bur. there Jun. 9,1558) of Edworth, Bedfordshire married Ann (b. about 1509; bur. Jun. 16,1560), either a daughter of MERRILL or Michael GERRARD. Children:Michael; John was buried Apr. 21, 1560; Gerard married Ellen WHYSTON. Michael SPENCER (b. about 1530; d. after 1599) of Edworth and Stotfold, Bedfordshire married first Jan. 20, 1555/6 at Edworth, Bedfordshire, Ann LYMER (bur. Feb. 23, 1561, Edworth, Bedfordshire); and second about 1563 Elizabeth (bur. Nov. 18, 1599). Elizabeth was the mother of all but the first three children. 1.John - bap. Apr. 20, 1557, Edworth, Bedfordshire. Married. 2.Michael - bap May 27, 1558, Edworth, Bedfordshire; bur. Apr.15, 1560. 3.Anne - bap. July 24, 1560, Edworth, Bedfordshire. 4.Joan - bap. Aug. 21, 1564, Edworth, Bedfordshire. 5.Alice - bap. Aug. 30, 1566, Edworth, Bedfordshire. 6.Catharine - Married Mr. BLAND, and had daughters Sarah andAnne. 7.Thomas - bap. Mar. 12, 1571, Edworth, Bedfordshire. 8.Gerard - bap. May 20, 1576, Stotfold, Bedfordshire; d. by 1646. 9.Richard - bap. July 9, 1580, Stotfold, Bedfordshire; d.May-June 1646, London. His will (dated Mar. 17, 1645; codicil May 29,1646; proved June 8, 1646) includes the names of four brothers and sisters, and 12 nephews and nieces. [Broderbund Family Archive #354, Ed. 1, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, Date of Import: Jul 1, 1999, Internal Ref. #1.354.1.95189.12] Year: 1632 - immigration year Source Name: VIRKUS, FREDERICK A., editor. Immigrant Ancestors: A List of 2,500 Immigrants to America before 1750. Baltimore: Genealogical PublishingCo., 1964. 75p. Repr. 1986. Source Annotation: In the years from 1925 to 1942, Frederick A. Virkus edited seven volumes with the title, The Abridged Compendium of American Genealogy, published in Chicago by the Institute of American Genealogy. Each volume has a section in the main body of the work, complete in itself, entitled "Immigrant Ancestors," containing much genealogical information: vol. 1,pp. 965-997; vol. 2, pp. 387-421; vol. 3, pp. 645-692; vol. 4, pp.727-777; vol. 5, pp. 741-793; vol. 6, pp. 749-819; vol. 7, pp. 825-895. The section in vol. 7 appears to be the most complete and it has been reprinted. Thus that 1964 reprint list is the only one appearing in no.2048, Filby, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index. The Virkus work supplies facts on birth, ancestry, time and place of arrival on this continent, marriage, and death of each immigrant that it includes. A more complete list of immigrants to America before 1750 whose surnames begin with the letter A or the letter B through "Battles" is contained in the material listed in item no THOMAS, Cambridge 1632, br. of Jared and John, free m. 14 May 1634, rem.1638 at Hartford, was serj. of the milt. and had, in 1671, a gr. forserv. d. 11 Sept 1686. By his first w. he had Obadiah, Thomas, Samuel,and Jared, but he m. sec. w. 11 Sept. 1645, Sarah, only ch. of Nathaniel Barding or Bearding of H. and by her had Sarah; Elizabeth bapt. 26 Mar.1648; Hanah, b. 25 Apr. 1653; Mary, 29 May 1655; and Martha, 19 May 1657;of wh. Sarah m. Thomas Huxley; Elizabeth m. Samuel Andrews; and Martha m.a Benton. Notes: THOMAS SPENCER Notes: ORIGIN: Stotfold, Bedfordshire MIGRATION: 1633 FIRST RESIDENCE: Cambridge REMOVES: Hartford 1636 CHURCH MEMBERSHIP: Admission to Cambridge church prior to 14 May 1634implied by freemanship. FREEMAN: 14 May 1634 (sixth in a sequence of nine Cambridge men) [ MBCR1:369]. EDUCATION: He made his mark to his will. OFFICES: Petit jury, 7 March 1649/50, 15 May 1650, June 1651, 7 September1652, 7 June 1655, 1 December 1659, 6 June 1661, 5 June 1662 [ RPCC 77,82, 101, 111, 143, 205, 234, 248]. Hartford constable, 4 March 1657[/8] [RPCC 185]. ESTATE: Granted one rood for a cow yard in Cambridge, 5 August 1633 [ CaTR5]. Granted a proportional share of one in the undivided meadow, 20 August 1635 [ CaTR 13]. In the 8 February 1635/6 list of house, credited with one in town [ CaTR 18]. In the Cambridge inventory of lands on 1 May 1635 "Thomas Spenser" held four parcels: "in the town one house with a garden plot and backsideabout one rood"; two acres in Smalllot Hill; one acre in the Neck; and one acre more in the Neck [ CaBOP 7]. The first two of these parcels were purchased by Edmund Angier [ CaBOP 50]. In the Hartford land inventory in February 1639/40 "Thom[as] Spenser,sergeant at arms," held thirteen parcels (some of which he acquired after the date of the inventory): "one parcel on which his dwelling house nowstandeth with yards & gardens therein being which was sequestered for Thom[as] Fisher & is now settled on Thom[as] Spenser part whereof he hath sold to Will[ia]m Spenser & now remaineth by estimation one acre"; one acre and two roods in the West Field; three roods in the Soldier's Field;four acres in the North Meadow; one acre and two roods on the east sideof the Great River; one acre and one rood on the east side of the GreatRiver "which is a parcel of that which was sequestered for Mr. Woolcott";four acres on the east side of the Great River "which he bought of Will[ia]m Spenser for a parcel of land which lay in the Middle Oxpasture& contained seven acres two roods & was parcel of the said Thom[as]Spenser's land"; three acres and two roods in the cowpasture; five acres and twenty perches in the cowpasture; five acres in the Little Oxpasture "which he bought of Nath[aniel] Yela for land belonging to the said Thomas Spencer"; four acres & two roods in the Little Oxpasture "which he received of Richard Goodman for land belonging to the said ThomasSpencer"; two acres in the Little Oxpasture "which he bought of Ric[hard]Goodman" on 24 February 1653; and four acres on the east side of the Great River "which he bought of Joseph Eston" on 24 February 1653 [ HaBOP152-54]. In his will, dated 9 September 1686 and proved 26 October 1687,"Thomas Spencer Senior of Hartford, ... finding the shadows of the evening are stretching over me," bequeathed to "my eldest son Obadiah ...my housing and land in Hartford, all my lands both meadow and upland onwest side and east side of the Connecticut River" in Hartford (he paying certain legacies), along with some personal goods; to "my son Thomas"Ð15, of which he hath Ð5; to "my son Samuel (he having received a good portion of his uncle) all my wearing apparell"; to "my son Jarrad my shop& tools & Ð12, 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]. The "inventory of the estate of Sergeant Thomas Spencer who deceased the 11th of September 1687" totalled Ð139 19s., including Ð132 in realestate: "six acres of land on the east side Coneticutt River," Ð60; "four acres of land in the long meadow," Ð20; "four acres of woodland," Ð2; and"his homelot and housing," Ð50; after listing the few items of personal estate, the appraisers noted that "the other moveable estate was distributed by himself and delivered to his daughters most of it in his lifetime and the remainder before the inventory was taken as his executors gave the account of said estate" [ Hartford PD Case #5095]. BIRTH: Baptized Stotfold, Bedfordshire, 29 March 1607, son of Gerard andAlice (Whitbread) Spencer [ TAG 27:162]. DEATH: Hartford 11 September 1687 (from inventory). MARRIAGE: (1) After 2 November 1634 Anne Dorryfall, sister of BARNABYDORRYFALL [ NEHGR 105:197-99]. "Anne Dorifall, aged 24," sailed on theElizabeth of Ipswich in 1634 [ Hotten 281] and was admitted to Bostonchurch 2 November 1634 as "Ann Derifall, our brother Wm. Coddington'smaid servant" [ BChR 19]. She died by 1645. (2) Hartford 11 September 1645 Sarah Bearding [ HaVR 606], daughter ofNathaniel Bearding of Hartford. CHILDREN: With first wife Notes: i OBADIAH ("eldest son"), b. say 1635; m. by about 1666 MaryDisborough (estimated b. of first child), daughter of Nicholas Disborough[ TAG 27:166, 38:209]. Notes: ii THOMAS, b. say 1637; m. by about 1666 Esther Andrews(estimated b. of first child), daughter of William Andrews [ TAG27:166-67, 35:57]. Notes: 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 ageat death is not exaggerated); m. by about 1684 Sarah _____ (estimated b.of first child [ TAG 27:167]). Notes: With second wife iv SARAH, b. say 1646; m. by 1667 Thomas Huxley (on 26 March 1667John Winthrop Jr. treated "Huxlye, Sarah, above 20 years, wife ofTho[mas] Huxly of Hartford & daughter of Sergeant Tho[mas] [S]penc[er] ofHartford" [ WMJ 710]). Notes: v ELIZABETH, bp. 26 March 1648 [ HaVR 579]; m. by about 1668Samuel Andrews, son of William Andrews [ TAG 35:55-59]. Notes: vi JARED, b. say 1650; m. Hartford 22 December 1680 HannahPratt, daughter of John [ HaVR Barbour 301]. Notes: vii HANNAH, b. Hartford 15 April 1653 [ CTVR 31]; said to have married (1) George Sexton, (2) Daniel Brainerd and (3) JonathanChapman, but the secondary sources are vague and uncertain, and the evidence for these marriages has not been found. Notes: viii MARY, b. Hartford 18 May 1655 [ CTVR 32]; m. Westfield7 October 1675 Thomas Root [ Pynchon VR 31]. Notes: ix MARTHA, b. Hartford 19 March 1657[/8] [ CTVR 31]; m. by1677 Andrew Benton (b. of first child), son of Andrew Benton [ TAG27:163; NEHGR 60:301-2 (evidence for this marriage not presented in either source)]. Notes: ASSOCIATIONS: Thomas Spencer was brother of WILLIAM SPENCER of Cambridge and Hartford, and of Michael Spencer and Gerard Spencer of Lynn[ TAG 27:79-87, 161-65]. In this article Jacobus makes the three sons by the first wife of Thomas Spencer slightly younger than we do here. Notes: COMMENTS: On 7 September 1652 Thomas Spencer undertook to pay thefine of Sarah Spencer [ RPCC 112]. Notes: THOMAS SPENCER Notes: Despite claims that he arrived as early as 1630, Thomas Spencer of Piscataqua does not appear in the papers preserved by Ambrose Gibbons at such an early date. Since he married a sister of Humphrey Chadbourne, and may have done so before 1634, it is more likely that he accompanied Chadbourne on the Pied Cow in 1634.

• Sources

  [S61] World Family Tree Vol. 4, Ed. 1, Brøderbund Software, Inc., (Release date: August 23, 1996), Tree #3551. Date of Import: Apr 1, 2000 [S75] Automated Archives, Automated Family Pedigrees - #1 CD No. 100(Orem, Utah: Automated Archives, 1992).. [S78] Broderbund Family Archive #354, Ed. 1, Passenger and Immigration ListsIndex, Date of Import: Jul 1, 1999, Internal Ref. #.