Middlesex County CT Archives History - Books .....Spencer Family 1887

***********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ct/ctfiles.htm
***********************************************

************************************************************************
The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the
information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information
must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence.  It is
always best to consult the original material for verification.
************************************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com May 20, 2005, 11:19 pm

Book Title: The Old Chimney Stacks Of East Haddam

CHAPTER XXI.
SPENCER FAMILY.

  Sergeant Jared Spencer, of "The New Town," Cambridge, Mass., then of Lynn, and
afterwards one of the first settlers of Haddam, Conn., made Ensign Sept. 1675,
by the Council of Hartford, had eleven children.

SECOND GENERATION.

  2. Samuel Spencer, (sixth child of Jared Spencer), of Millington. M. 1st.
Hannah, widow of Peter Blachford, (or Blachfield), also widow Thomas Hungerford,
New London, and daughter Isaac Wiley, of New London, 1673. M.  2d. Marriam,
widow of John Wiley, of Haddam, and daughter of Miles Moore, New London, 1689.
Mirriam Spencer survived her husband, who died August 7, 1705, leaving four
children.

THIRD GENERATION

  3. Deacon Isaac Spencer (son of Samuel), baptized Dec. 24, 1704, married Mary
Selden, October 2, 1707. She was born 5 Mar., 1689; her parents were Rebecca
(Church) Selden, from Hadley, Mass. Isaac Spencer was chosen deacon of 1st Ch.,
E. H., June 26, 1734, and died Feb. 10, 1751, aged 71 years; they had ____
children, viz.:

  Mary, b July 24, 1710,
  Rebecca, b Aug. 1, 1712,
  Joseph, b Oct. 3, 1714, bapt. Jan. 1715.
  Esther, b Dec. 16, 1716,
  Jared, b Nov. 5, 1718, bap. Dec. 7, 1718,
  Elihu, b Feb. 12, 1721, afterwards Rev. Elihu Spencer, of the College of N.
Y., and father of Mrs. Jonathan Dickinson Sargeant, whose son, Jno. Sergeant, b
1780, was candidate for Vice Pres. U. S., 1832.
  Isaac, b May 3, 1723,
  Mehitable, b May 29, 1725,
  Hannah, bap. Nov. 26, 1727,
  Anna, b Nov. 29, 1729,
  Israel, b Jan. 30, 1731-32, m Eliza Marsh, Oct. 18, 1753.

FOURTH   GENERATION.

  Hon. Joseph Spencer, (eldest son of Isaac), married Aug. 2, 1738, Martha, dau.
Hon. Hezekiah and Dorothy (Hobart) Brainard. Joseph Spencer was admitted to
church at Millington, March 23, 1746. He was Assistant (Senator) Conn., 1774 and
1775; Judge of Probate 1775. "June 30, 1774, in town meeting duly warned—Hon.
Joseph Spencer chosen moderator, a unanimous vote was recorded for a Declaration
of American Rights." "Jan. 6, 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 Safety. In the
Colonial army 1756, he was a Major, and afterwards 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.

  The war had now actually begun, and Washington had been chosen
Commander-in-Chief. Congress proceeded to appoint four Major-Generals and eight
Brigadier-Generals: they named Ward C. Lee, Schuyler and Putnam for the former
positions, and Pomeroy, Montgomery, Wooster, Heath, Joseph Spencer, Thomas,
Suilivan and Greene 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.

  In August 1776, Spencer was commissioned a Major-General by Congress.

  I have never seen a portrait or likeness of any kind of Gen. Spencer, and this
is the more strange from the fact that John Trumbull, son of the patriot Gov.
Trumbull, of Conn., first went, into the army with Spencer, and it was during
the time he was with him that he made those drawings of the enemies' works which
won the favorable notice of Washington, and secured him the position of
aide-de-camp on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief. Trumbull painted most of
the military and public men of that day, but seems to have omitted Spencer.

  Spencer's was the last brigade which left Boston for New York; this was on the
4th of April, 1776.

  During the occupation of New York, Spencer occupied a redoubt on the present
Pike street, between Munroe 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 McGowan'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.

  On the 29th of August, 1776, Washington called a council of war on Long
Island, 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, Parsons, Scott, Wadsworth
and Parsons, and on the 7th of September the question as to the expediency of
retaining New York city came before the council, and the majority voted to
retain it. On the 12th of September, however, it resolved on the evacuation,
with only three dissenting votes, which were given by Heath, Joseph Spencer and
James Clinton.

  Maj. Gen. Spencer was soon after placed in command of all the American forces
in the State of Rhode Island, and July 11, 1777, Maj. Gen. 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 Gen. Washington, who exchanged him
for Gen. Chas. Lee, a. prisoner since Dec. 1776.

  Gen. Spencer arranged an expedition in Sept., 1777, which was actually
embarked, to cross to R. I., and surprise the enemy. At the last moment, having
learned that the English commander was apprised 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 Gen. Sullivan
was sent to R. I. 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.

  He married a second time in 1756, Hannah Brown, of Waterbury, widow of Mr.
Southmaid; she united with the church, Dec. 13, 1788.

  I find in the E. H. town Records, "Col. Jos. Spencer was elected deacon of the
Millington Society, Nov. 20,1767;" afterward the record shows that "he was
excused from service during the Revolution," and again, "re-elected April 4,
1788." The last town record reads, "Hon. Jos. Spencer, died Jan. 13, 1789, aged
74,"—to be exact, 74 years, 3 mos., and 10 days. He had by his first marriage
three daughters and two sons, and by the second marriage four sons and four
daughters.

FIFTH    GENERATION.

  (5) Martha Spencer, (daughter Hon. Jos.) b May 8, 1739; died Feb. 24, 1739-40.

  (5) Martha Spencer, (daughter Hon. Jos.) not entered among the births recorded
at Millington; married June 14, 1759, Joseph Cone, Jr., who was born in E. H.,
Nov. 2, 1735; they had five children.: Conant Cone, b July 6, 1760, was father
of Spencer H. Cone, D. D., the eminent Baptist divine of N. Y. City, some years
since. The second child, Alice, was born Feb. 18, 1762, and the others,
Prudence, John and Martha, were baptized Sept. 8, 1868.

  (5) Anne Spencer, (dau. Hon. Jos.) bapt. Millington, March 30, 1746.

  (5) Joseph Spencer, (son Hon. Jos.) bapt. Millington, July 22, 1750; he
married ______. I have a record of but one child (6) Elizabeth Spencer who
married Hon. Lewis Cass, Major-General U. S. A.., Governor of the State of
Michigan, U. S. Senator, and Secretary of War in the Cabinet of President
Jackson, 1831 to 1837.—He was Democratic Candidate for President against Zachary
Taylor.

  (5) Nehemiah Spencer, (son Hon. Jos.) bapt. Mill., Dec. 24, 1752.

  (5) Millicent Spencer, (dau. Hon. Jos.) bapt. Mill., March 20, 1757; joined
the church April 5, 1789; m. Dec, 18, 1813, Rev. Elijah Parsons, pastor of the
First Society at E. Haddam.

  (5) Hon. Isaac Spencer (son of Hon. Jos.) bapt. Dec. 9, 1759, married
Lucretia, daughter of Harris Colt. Mr. Spencer was for many years Treasurer of
the State of Connecticut.

  Jared Spencer, Esq., (son Hon. Jos.) born June 5, 1762, a twin, bapt. Mill.
July 25, 1762. At the age of twenty-two he graduated (A. B.) from Yale College
in the class of 1784, after which he fitted himself for his profession as
Counsellor at Law, which he practiced until his death. He married Nov. 29, 1789,
Ann Green (church records say Nov. 30.) She was the sixth child of Captain James
and Ruth Marshall Green, born 13th Feb. 1768, bapt. Mar. 14, 1773, joined the
church June 5, 1796, and died Nov. 11, 1855, aged 87 years and nine months.
Esquire Spencer perished in a snowstorm Nov. 11, 1820, aged 58, leaving him
surviving four children, one, an infant, having died in 1802.

  (6) Nancy b. May 29, 1791, bapt. July 6, 1796, joined the church May 1, 1814,
married Capt. Thomas Bruce, of Portland, Conn, left two children.

  (6) Richard Green bapt. May 4, 1800, removed to Canada where he married Sophia
Lake, of Vermont. He died of cholera 1834, leaving one son.

  (6) Mary (Polly) b Sept. 12, 1793, bapt. July 3, 1796, died Sept. 7, 1860,
aged 66.

  (6) Lucretia b Sept. 12, 1793, bapt. July 3, 1796, died April 26, 1858, aged
63. These ages are from the tomb stones, and if the dates are correct the former
lacked but 5 days of 67 years, and the latter was 64 years, 7 months and 14 days.

  (5) Mary Spencer (dau. Hon. Jos.) born June 5, 1762, bapt. July 25, 1762, a
twin, married Turner Miner.

  (5) Seth Spencer (son Hon. Jos.) bapt. Jan. 20, 1765.

  (5) Hannah Spencer (dau. Hon. Jos.) bapt. Nov. 15, 1767, married Rev. Mr.
Skinner.

  (5) Betty Spencer (dau. Hon. Jos.) bapt. Mar. 18, 1770^ married Selden Warner.

  (5) Nehemiah Spencer (son Hon. Jos.) bapt. May 24, 1772, married Feb. 14,
1793, Betsy Swan.

  (For the above genealogy of the Spencer family, I am indebted to Mr. Richard
H. Green, of Brooklyn.)


Additional Comments:
Transcribed from:

THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS OF EAST HADDAM, MIDDLESEX COUNTY, CONNECTICUT,
BY
HOSFORD B. NILES,
Author of Genealogy of THE NILES FAMILY.
NEW YORK: LOWE & CO., Book and Job Printers No. 210 Fulton Street.
1887


File at -- http://files.usgwarchives.net/ct/middlesex/history/1887/oldchimn/spencerf33gms.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ctfiles/

File size: 11.6 Kb