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Family Group Sheet

Data is only as good as my sources and interpretation -- and any human failings there-in. Corrections or questions, please ask.

Name Gerrard SPENCER
Christen 25 Apr 1614, Stotfold, Bedford, England358
Immigration 1630, Boston with Winthrop's Fleet315
Freeman 1634, Cambridge, Middlesex, MA265
Move 1631, Cambridge, Middlesex, MA [Original settler]315
Move 1638, Lynn, Essex, MA315
Move 1661, Haddam, Middlesex, CT [Original settler]315
Will 12 Sep 1683, Haddam, Middlesex, CT265
Will Memo Proven 3 Sep 1685
Death 29 Jun 1685, Haddam, Middlesex, CT265
Father Gerrard SPENCER (ch. 1576-<1646)
Mother Alice Whitbread (~1578-?)
Marriage 17 Dec 1636, Lynn, Essex, MA315
Spouse Hannah Lobdel Calcott HILLS
Birth abt 1618
Death 22 Oct 1692, Haddam, Middlesex, CT265
Father John Hill
Children
1 M John SPENCER
Birth 17 Aug 1638, Lynn, Essex, MA315
Death 8 Aug 1682, Haddam, Middlesex, CT153
Spouse Rebecca HOWARD
2 F Marah SPENCER340
Birth abt 1646
Death bef 22 Dec 1714, Haddam, Middlesex, CT340
Spouse Thomas Brooks
Marriage abt 1662340
Spouse Thomas SHAILOR
Marriage aft 1668
3 F Mehitabel Spencer
Birth 1638, Lynn, Essex, MA315
Death 1691, Haddam, Middlesex, CT315
Spouse Daniel Cone
Marriage 1661, Haddam, Middlesex, CT315
4 F Hannah Spencer
Birth 1641, Lynn, Essex, MA315
Death 1691, Haddam, Middlesex, CT315
Spouse Daniel Brainerd
Marriage 1663, Haddam, Middlesex, CT315
5 F Sarah Spencer
Birth 27 Jul 1644, Lynn, Essex, MA315
Death aft 1707
Spouse Stephen Backus
Marriage Dec 1666, Haddam, Middlesex, CT258
6 F Elizabeth Spencer
Birth 1646, Lynn, Essex, MA315
Death Aug 1688, Saybrook, Middlesex, CT315
Spouse Joseph Stannard
Marriage 1667, Saybrook, Middlesex, CT315
7 M Samuel Spencer
Birth 1648, Lynn, Essex, MA315
Death 7 Aug 1705, Haddam, Middlesex, CT315
Spouse Hannah Willey
Marriage 1 Mar 1672/3, Haddam, Middlesex, CT315
8 M Thomas Spencer
Birth 1650, Lynn, Essex, MA315
Death 3 Feb 1698/99, Saybrook, Middlesex, CT315
Spouse Elizabeth Bates
9 M Timothy Spencer
Birth 1652, Lynn, Essex, MA
Death 6 May 1704, Haddam, Middlesex, CT315
Spouse Sarah Clark
Marriage 1675, Haddam, Middlesex, CT315
10 F Ruth SPENCER
Birth 1654, Lynn, Essex, MA315,153
Death 28 Nov 1744, Haddam, Middlesex, CT153
Spouse Joseph CLARK
Marriage 1674, Haddam, Middlesex, CT315
11 M William Spencer
Birth 1656, Haddam, Middlesex, CT315
Death 1731, Haddam, Middlesex, CT315
Spouse Sarah Ackley
Spouse Unnamed female Clark
Spouse Margaret Bates
12 M Nathaniel Spencer
Birth 21 Dec 1658, Lynn, Essex, MA315
Death 1718, Haddam, Middlesex, CT315
Spouse Lydia Bailey
13 F Rebecca Spencer
Birth 1660, Lynn, Essex, MA315
Death abt 1706315
Notes for Gerrard SPENCER
Gerrard came to America with the first Winthrop Fleet in 1630. He was under the leadership of John Winthrop who established the Massachusetts Bay Colony in Cambridge [Maybe - he doesn't appear on any passenger lists]. The first mention of Gerrard is in the Cambridge Town records "in the prime of September 1634, Lots granted one west side River - Gerrad Spencer 4 ackrs." He moved to Lynn, MA with his brother Michael in 1638 and ran the ferry there. The ferry ran from Needham's Landing in Lynn to Biards Landing in Saugas. In 1661 he was one of the 28 purchasers of the town of Haddam. He was commissioned as an Ensign for the town of Haddam on September 14, 1675. A pewter flagon and Urim Basin are in the glass case in the rear of the church sancturary at Haddam.

Colonial Records of Connecticut, Volume 2, published 1852, states on p. 182 that "Ensigne Jarrad Spencer is propownded for a freeman." This entry was made at a Court session held at Hartford, June 26, 1672. This session was presided over by Governor John Winthrop, and a footnote indicates that this session was hastily called in response to a letter from the King of England that he had declared war against the States General. The King's letter advised the Colonies to make "speedy and effectual provision for their defence against the Dutch." Exactly what is meant by the entry regarding Ensign Spencer is unclear.

At page 260-61 of the Colonial Records of Connecticut, Volume 2, Ens. Gerrard Spencer is listed as a deputy at a "Generall Court by Speciall Order of the Gouernor," which met on July 9, 1675. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Indian War which broke out in Plymouth Colony and the danger it presented to the eastern towns in Connecticut. ("The Court being mett, they were acquainted wth the occasion of theire meeting, which was the present trouble of the Indians now risen against the English, spoyleing and destroying of them by fire and sword . . .")315

Gerrard and his brothers are tied to the Strotfold family by the settlement of their uncle's will in London. Jacobus (340) notes: on 8 (11) 1748, i.e. 8 Jan 1648/9, Garrard [Gerard] Spencer appointed Thomas Broughton of Watertown, Mass., and Samuel King of London, England, his attorneys to collect
his legacy under the last will of Richard Spencer, late of London, linen draper, deceased;"
Will
In Early Connecticut Probate Records, Volume IV - Hartford District, 1677 - 1687, published 1984, p. 363-64, the Will of Ensign Jarrad Spencer is transcribed. The Will was dated September 17, 1683 and was taken on June 29, 1685. The will is as follows:

"The last Will of Ensign Jarrad Spencer of Haddam: I give unto my son William the Land which I bought of Steven Luxford's Estate. How I come by it the Court Record will show. I give unto my son William 1-3 part of 48 acres lying by that wch was commonly called Welles his Brook. I give to my son Nathaniel my now Dwelling house with the Lott that was the Houselott, with an Addition lying by the side of it, granted by the Committe. I give unto my daughter Rebeckah that Houselott I bought of Thomas Smith. Likewise I give unto my daugthter Rebeckas 1-3 part of the Lott by Welles his Brook. I give unto my son Thomas 40 acres on Matchamodus Side. I give unto my son Thomas his son, Jarrad spencer by name, my Rapier. I give unto my son Timothy Spencer the remainder of that 6 score acre lott wherof his 2 brothers had their shares. The other 6 score thereof I dispose of as followeth: To Grace Spencer, the daughter of my son John Spencer, 40 acres; to Alice Brooks, the daughter of my daughter Brooks, 40 acres; to Grace Spencer, the daughter of my son Samuel Spencer, I give the other 40 acres. I give unto Jarred Cone, the son of my daughter Cone, my Carbine. A pewter Flagon and Urim Basin I give to the Church at Haddam, if there be one within five years. It is my Will that my son John Spencer his Children and my son-in-law Daniel Cone his Children have an equal proportion of my Estate with my other Children. It is my Will that however my Estate falls out for portions to my Children, that my daughter Ruth Clarke's portion shall be 15 pounds, which was my Covenant with her father at her marriage, which 15 pounds she hath received some part thereof, as my Books will testify; & to son Joseph Clarke I give him 40 acres of land at Matchemodus. It is the humble request of Jarrad Spencer that the honoured Major John Talcott and Capt. John Allyn would be pleased to oversee that his Will. I appoint my two sons Daniel Brainard and William Spencer Adms. to the Estate."

Witness: John James, JARRAD SPENCER315
Last Modified 29 Mar 2003 Created 19 Sep 2003 by Reunion for Macintosh

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