Spencer and Whitbread Ancestry
 
             Thomas Spencer and Sarah Bearding
 
Jared Spencer and Hannah Pratt         Sarah Spencer and Thomas Huxley

Sarah Spencer and Joseph Bigelow       Sarah Huxley and Ebenezer Smith

Mary Bigelow and Gideon Merrill        Ebenezer Smith and Christiana Owen

Nathaniel Merrill and Hannah Belden    Dorcas Smith and Josiah Holcomb

Allen Merrill and Tamma Smith          Jonah Holcomb and Sabra

Elizabeth Merrill and Elijah M. Morey  Harriet Holcomb and Henry L. Andrews

             William Clemeth Morey and Melvina E. Andrews
 
             Minnie Elsie Morey and Aretus Erastus Freeman
 
             Iva Melvina Freeman and Donald VanHoosier Lawson
 
             Stephen Martin Lawson

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The following lineage is generally accurate. However, some differences are reported in other sources. 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), Princess of 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.
• 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/or Ann 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 and Anne.
  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.

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The information on the WHITBREAD family is mainly from The American Genealogist, Vol. 32, No. 3, pp. 129-142.

John WHITBREAD - b. about 1548; bur. Nov. 28, 1598, Upper Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire. Son of Thomas WHITBREAD (b. about 1522, Upper Gravenhurst; d. 1585). John resided at Upper Gravenhurst as early as 1571.

Eleanor - bur. Nov. 20, 1628, Upper Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire. "Of Elstow" in her will probated Apr. 18, 1629. Her maiden name is not known, but she may have been a RADCLIFFE or HERVEY.

1. Elizabeth - bap. Sep 28, 1571, Upper Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire. Probable daughter.
2. William - b. about 1573, Upper Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire; bur. there Feb. 16, 1639/40. Named in mother's will. Married by 1600 Elizabeth (bur. Jun. 5, 1612, Upper Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire). Children: Henry married Elizabeth FARNELL; William died as infant; John died young; Elizabeth married her first cousin Henry WHITBREAD; Thomas married Joan CARTER; Sibyl married Caesar LUCAS; and William married Joan COOPER.
3. Henry - bap. Jan. 9, 1575/6, Upper Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire; d. about Jan. 1634, Cardington, Bedfordshire. Will dated Dec. 14, 1633, and proved Jan. 25, 1633/4. Married Elizabeth LEVENTHORPE (perhaps bur. at Cardington, Feb. 17, 1648/9), daughter of George LEVENTHROPE of Meppershall, Bedfordshire. Children: Henry married his first cousin Elizabeth WHITBREAD; John; Elizabeth married; Frances; Eleanor probably married Robert SHEERING; Mary; and Anne probably married Samuel BAKER.
4. Alice - b. about 1578, Upper Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire. Married Gerard SPENCER.
5. Francis - bap. Apr. 30, 1581, Upper Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire. Probable son.
6. John - bap. Nov. 8, 1584, Upper Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire; bur. Aug. 3, 1632, Elstow, Bedfordhire. Married Jun. 29, 1612, at Elstow, Mary NEWMAN. Children: Eleanor married William NEWMAN; William married Miss PECK; John; Judith married William EDWARDS; Mary; and Thomas.
7. Judith - bap. Jun. 6, 1591, Upper Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire. Married Jul. 23, 1626 Richard POULTER.

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Gerard SPENCER - bap. May 20, 1576, Stotfold, Bedfordshire; d. by 1646. Son of Michael SPENCER and Elizabeth. Will proved Jun. 8, 1646. Married Nov. 10, 1600, Upper Gravenhurst.

Alice WHITBREAD - b. about 1578, Upper Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire, Enland. Daughter of John WHITBREAD and Eleanor.

See Notable Cousins for line to: Lucille BALL, Warren Gamaliel HARDING, Anne MORROW LINDBERGH and Vincent Leonard PRICE

1. William - bap. Oct. 11, 1601, Stotfold, Bedfordshire; d. 1640, Hartford, CT (nuncupative will dated both Mar. 4 and May 4, 1640). Married, probably at Cambridge, MA, Agnes HARRIS (bap. Apr. 6, 1604, Barnstaple, Devonshire; living in 1680). Agnes was the daughter of Bartholomew HARRIS and Elizabeth COLLAMORE, and sister of Richard HARRIS, both father and son being mayors of Barnstaple (cf. TAG 249:41). Agnes married second Dec. 11, 1645, Hartford, CT, William EDWARDS of Hartford, great-grandfather of Rev. Jonathan EDWARDS. William and Agnes SPENCER settled at NewTown (Cambridge), MA in 1632, and he took the Freeman's Oath on Mar. 4, 1632/3. He was Deputy to the General Court seven times 1634-1638, Selectman in 1635, Lt. of the Train Band 1632, and charter member of the Ancient and Honourable Artillery Company in 1638/9. The family moved to Hartford, CT in 1639. Children of William and Agnes: Elizabeth married first William WELLMAN, and second Jacob JAY; Sarah married John CASE; and Samuel, Sr. married Sarah MEAKINS (a 4-great grandson, bibliophile William Augustus SPENCER, perished in the sinking of the Titanic).
2. Elizabeth - bap. Oct. 31, 1602, Stotfold, Bedfordshire. Married Timothy? TOMLINS (d. by 1745). They came with her brothers to America, but returned to London by 1645.
3. John - bap. Jan. 22, 1603/4, Stotfold, Bedfordshire; d. before 1646. No children.
4. Henry - bap. Aug. 11, 1605, Stotfold, Bedfordshire; d. Oct. 20, 1607, Stotfold, Bedfordshire.
5. Thomas - bap. Mar. 29, 1607, Stotfold, Bedfordshire; d. Sep. 11, 1687, Hartford, CT.
6. Richard - bap. Dec. 11, 1608, Stotfold, Bedfordshire; bur. May 6, 1614, Stotfold, Bedfordshire.
7. A son - b. 1609/10, Stotfold, Bedfordshire; bur. Mar. 24, 1609/10, Stotfold, Bedfordshire.
8. Michael - bap. May 5, 1611, Stotfold, Bedfordshire; d. 1653, Lynn, MA. Will proved Nov. 29, 1653. Married Isabel (d. Oct. 9, 1674, Salem, MA), who married second Thomas ROBBINS. Children.
9. Gerrard - bap. Apr. 25, 1614, St. Mary's Parish, Stotfold, Bedfordshire; d. Jun. 29, 1685, Haddam, Middlesex Co., CT. His will was written Sep. 17, 1683, and proved Sep. 3, 1685. Gerard arrived at Cambridge, MA about 1631 with brothers William and Thomas, and settled at Lynn, MA. He removed to Hartford, CT, and, about 1660, to Haddam, CT. Freeman at Cambridge 1634; Juryman in 1638, Ensign of train band in 1656, and Grand Juror in 1659 at Lynn; Ensign in 1672, serving in the militia in King Philip's War, Representative in 1674-5, and Deputy to General Court in 1678-80 and 1683 in Haddam, CT. Gerard married 1636, Lynn, MA Hannah HILLS (b. 1618; d. Oct. 22, 1692, Haddam, Middlesex Co., CT). Children: John married Rebecca HAYWARD; Mehitable married Daniel CONE; Hannah married Daniel BRAINERD; Marah married first Thomas BROOKS, and second Thomas SHAYLOR; Sarah married Stephen BACKUS; Elizabeth married Joseph STANNARD; Thomas married first Elizabeth BATES, and second Elizabeth WALLER; Samuel married first Hannah (WILLEY) HUNGERFORD BLATCHFORD, and second Miriam (MOORE) WILLEY; Timothy married Sarah CLARK; Ruth married Joseph CLARK; William married Margaret BATES; Nathaniel married Lydia BAILEY; and Rebecca married first John KENNARD, and second John TANNER.

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For information on the immigrant family, refer to The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Vols. I-III, by Robert Charles Anderson (Boston, 1995).

Thomas SPENCER - bap. Mar. 29, 1607, Stotfold, Bedfordshire, England; d. Sep. 11, 1687, Hartford, CT. Son of Gerard SPENCER and Alice WHITBREAD. 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 Pequot War. 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.

Sarah BEARDING - b. about 1623; d. Sep. 11, 1685, Hartford, Hartford Co., CT. Daughter of Nathaniel BEARDING (d. Sep. 1674, Hartford, CT) and his first wife (name unknown). Nathaniel was in Hartford by 1636; townsman 1658; surveyor of highways 1666. His name appears on Hartford's Founders Monument. He was fined 10 s. in 1649 for sleeping when on watch. He married second Abigail (d. Mar. 20, 1682/33), widow of William ANDREWS, and wrote his will Jan. 7, 1674. His estate was inventoried at £282 Sep. 14, 1674. Two children of Abigail (----) ANDREWS BEARDING married children of Thomas SPENCER.

1. Obadiah - b. about 1639, Hartford, CT; d. about 1712, Hartford, CT. Will dated Jun. 22, 1709; codicil May 2, 1712; inventory May 26, 1712. Married 1665 Mary DISBOROUGH (b. 1641, Hartford, CT; d. before 1709), daughter of Nicholas DISBROW and Mary BRONSON of Hartford. Children: Obadiah married Ruth KELSEY; Thomas married Sarah MEAKINS; Samuel married Deborah BECKLEY; Ebenezer married Mary BOOTH; Mary married Thomas KING; John married Sarah SMITH; and Disborough married first Abigail ELMER and second Sarah (ARNOLD) CASE.
2. Thomas - b. about 1637, Hartford, Hartford Co., CT; d. Jul 23, 1689, Suffield, Hartford Co., CT. Married Esther ANDREWS (d. Mar. 6, 1697/8, Suffield, Hartford Co., CT), daughter of William ANDREWS and Abigail (----) ANDREWS BEARDING. Children of Thomas and Esther SPENCER: Esther married William PIERCE (and had a child by John BARNARD); Elizabeth married John TAYLOR; Thomas probably did not marry; Samuel married Elizabeth MASCRAFT; William married; and Anna died in infancy.
3. Samuel - b. about 1643, Hartford, CT; d. Jan. 8, 1726/7, Windham, CT. Heir of his Uncle Barnabas DERIFIELD. Married Sarah (b. about 1660; d. Apr. 15, 1733, Windham, CT. Children: John married; Sarah married John CRANE; and Hannah married Gershom PALMER.

1. Sarah - b. about 1646, Hartford, CT; d. Oct. 24, 1712, probably at Suffield, CT. Married Thomas HUXLEY.
2. Elizabeth - bap. Mar. 26, 1648, Hartford, Hartford Co., CT. Married Samuel ANDREWS (bap. Oct. 21, 1645, Hartford, Hartford Co., CT; d. Jan. 1711/2, Hartford, Hartford Co., CT), son of William ANDREWS and Abigail (----) ANDREWS BEARDING. Children of Elizabeth and Samuel ANDREWS: Samuel; Thomas married first Mary MASON, and second Susanna ELLIS; John married Lydia ENSIGN; Abigail married John STEDMAN; and Elizabeth married William DAY.
3. Jared - b. about 1650/1, Hartford, CT; d. Jan. 1, 1712, Hartford, CT.
4. Hannah - b. Apr. 15, 1653, Hartford, CT. Married first George SEXTON, Jr.; possibly second Nov. 29, 1698, Hartford, CT Daniel BRAINERD, Sr.; and possibly third Jonathan CHAPMAN.
5. Mary - b. May 18, 1655, Hartford, CT; d. Nov. 4, 1690, Westfield, MA. Married Oct. 7, 1675 Thomas ROOT (d. Aug. 16, 1709), son of John.
6. Martha - b. Mar. 19, 1658, Hartford, CT. Married Andrew BENTON (bap. Aug. 12, 1653, Milford, CT; d. Feb. 5, 1703/4, Hartford, CT), son of Andrew BENTON and Hannah STOCKING. Children: Hannah married Edward SCOVILLE; Martha; Andrew; Mercy; John; Dorothy married John GRIDLEY; Mary married Jonathan PRATT; Joseph married first Sarah WATERS, and second Sarah PYNCHON; Ebenezer married Elizabeth WHITE; and Elizabeth.

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Jared SPENCER - b. about 1650/1, Hartford, CT; d. Jan. 1, 1712, Hartford, CT. Son of Thomas SPENCER and Sarah BEARDING. Married Dec. 22, 1680, Hartford, CT.

Hannah PRATT - b. Nov. 25, 1658, Hartford, CT; d. Oct. 22, 1692, Hartford, CT. Daughter of John PRATT and Hannah BOOSEY.

1. Hannah - b. Oct. 12, 1681, Hartford, CT. Possibly married first Jan. 25, 1704/5, Hartford, CT Thomas HILL, Jr. (b. Jan. 13, 1681/2; d. 1707); and second Nov. 15, 1710, Hartford, CT Edward FOSTER.
2. Jared - b. Jan. 15, 1682/3, Hartford, CT; d. Jun. 13, 1754. Perhaps moved to New Hartford. Married Jun. 10, 1708, Hartford, CT Sarah DAY (bap. Sep. 19, 1686; d. 1767), daughter of John DAY and Sarah BUTLER. Children: Hannah married Nathaniel WHITE; John married Mary; Elizabeth married Daniel BARTHOLOMEW; and Nathaniel Bearding married Theodosia BUNCE.
3. Nathaniel - b. Feb. 2, 1684/5, Hartford, CT. Died young.
4. John - b. Oct. 25, 1686, Hartford, CT. Died young.
5. Sarah - b. Feb. 16, 1687/8, Hartford, CT. Married Joseph BIGELOW.
6. Elizabeth - b. Feb. 16, 1687/8, Hartford, CT; d. Jan. 12, 1728/9, Enfield, Hartford Co., CT. Married before 1717, John PEASE (b. Apr. 22, 1678, Salem, Middlesex Co., MA; d. Jun. 6, 1761, Enfield, Hartford Co., CT), son of John PEASE and Margaret ADAMS, and grandson of John PEASE and Mary GOODALE. Children: Elizabeth; Sarah; and John married first Bathsheba JONES.
7. Nathaniel - b. Dec. 21, 1690, Hartford, CT. Died young.
8. Mary - b. Sep. 8, 1692, Hartford, CT. Married Jan. 13, 1727/8, Joseph PEASE (b. Mar. 10, 1692, Enfield, Hartford Co., CT; d. May 26, 1757, Enfield, Hartford Co., CT), son of John PEASE and Margaret ADAMS, and grandson of John PEASE and Mary GOODALE. Children: Joseph married Mindwell KING; Stephen; and Jonathan.

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Thomas HUXLEY - d. Jul. 21, 1721, probably at Suffield, CT.

Sarah SPENCER - b. about 1646, Hartford, CT; d. Oct. 24, 1712, probably at Suffield, CT. Daughter of Thomas SPENCER and Sarah BEARDING.

1. Sarah - Married second Ebenezer SMITH.
2. Thomas - b. Apr. 7, 1668, Suffield, CT.
3. John - b. 1670.
4. Mary - Married about 1692 Dea. Ichabod SMITH (b. Jan. 24, 1670, Northampton, MA), son of Samuel SMITH and Mary ENSIGN. Children of Mary and Ichabod SMITH: A child died in infancy; Mary; Hannah; Samuel married Jerusha MATHER; Ichabod married Elizabeth STEDMAN; James; and Joseph.
5. Elizabeth - Married Jun. 22, 1698, Suffield, CT James KING (b. Mar. 14, 1675, Ipswich, MA; d. Jul. 15, 1757, Suffield, CT), son of James KING and Elizabeth FULLER. Son of Elizabeth and James KING: James married Miriam HAMLIN.
6. Jared - b. Jan. 21, 1679.
7. Hannah - Married Feb. 20, 1701/2 Mathew COPELY (b. Apr. 14, 1679, Suffield, CT; d. there Feb. 18, 1763), son of Thomas COPLEY and Ruth DENSLOW. Children of Hannah and Mathew COPLEY: Nathaniel married Abigail NORTON; Mathew married Rebecca OWEN; Thomas died in infancy; Hannah married William SPENCER; Thomas; Moses; Noah died in infancy; Sarah had a son by Samuel SMITH; Elizabeth; and Noah married.
8. Nathaniel - b. Aug. 26, 1683; d. 1685.
9. William - b. Jun. 26, 1687.

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