In 1639 William Spencer joined the Hooker settlement at Hartford. He is listed on the monument in the Ancient Burying Ground in Hartford as one of the founders of the Connecticut Colony. There he was elected a selectman, became a Deputy to the first session of the General Court in 1639, and was appointed on a committee of that body, to make the first code of laws for the Colony. No doubt his untimely death in 1640 ended a brilliant career.
According to some references, William Spencer was a graduate of Trinity College, Cambridge, England coming to New England with friends of John Winthrop in 1631; they settled in Cambridge. In 1633 he may have then returned to bring his wife and came with her in the ship "Mary and John" (according to page 203 Wm. R. Cutter's Genealogy and History of Connecticut (Vol. 3)). Passenger lists searched do not seem to agree on the arrival of the four Spencer brothers. One John and an William Spencer are listed by Banks as passengers on the "Mary and John" which sailed from Southampton 24 Mar 1633/34 but no wives are listed for them (page 111) and the other three brothers, Garrett, Michael and Thomas are not included here.
The list of passengers arriving 1630 on the "Mary and John" which numbered 160 does not include any Spencers. John Farmer's "Genealogical Register of First Settlers of N.E." (with additions by Samuel Drake) pp. 270-271 lists the following four believed to be the four Spencer brothers: 1) Garrett Spencer 1634 in Cambridge; 1637 in Lynn, Mass. 2) Michael Spencer 1634 in Cambridge; 1637 in Lynn, Mass. 3) William Spencer 1632 in Cambridge; freeman 1633; representative 1635; one of the founders of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Co. of Boston. 4) Thomas Spencer 1632 in Cambridge; brother of John; freeman 1634. The history by Cutter lists several important positions held by William Spencer, including: - In 1634 he was on the committee to confer with the governor and assistants in regard to the care of the common stock, which led to the formation of the house of representatives. He was the first representative chosen, and held the office until he left the colony. - In 1639 he went with his family to Hartford where his brother, Thomas had settled. - In 1639/40 he was representative in the general assembly in Hartford and while there he prepared the first revised laws of the colony. - 4 May 1640 William made his Will and died at Hartford 1640. The "Alderman History" reveals the Will of William Spencer devided his estate into thirds: to his son, Samuel one-third; to his widow, Agnes, one-third; and to his two daughters Sarah and Elizabeth, one-third. Following from "Catalogue of First Puritan Settlers of Conn." by R. R. Hinman: Spencer, William, Hartford, deputy in August and September, 1639 -- committee to inspect arms once in three months, and provide powder for Hartford in '39. He was appointed with Mr. George Wyllys and Mr. Welles to revise the laws of the colony in '39 -- selectman in '39 -- an original proprietor of Hartford -- ancestor of Hon. Joshua Spencer, of Utica, N.Y. Spencer, William, of Hartford -- died in 1640. He left a wife and 3 children, viz. Sarah, Elizabeth and Samuel. He was a kinsman of Matthew Allyn, a brother in law of John Pratt and John Talcott. William Spencer was the ancestor of the Hon. Judge Spencer and Hon. John C. Spencer, of the State of New York. He was one of the first Puritan settlers of Hartford.
260John Hall sold his home-lot to William Spencer, which was on the brow of the hill about where the Catlin place is now (1886).
261William Spencer, Cambridge, 1831, brother of Thomas; freeman, Mass., March 4, 1632/3; deputy for Newtown, May, 1632; May, 1634; March, 1534/5; March 163/6; Sept., 1636; May, 1637; Sept., 1637; March, 1637/8; chosen Lieut. for Newtown, March 163/7; one of the founders of the Ancient andhonorable Artillery Co., and had other evidences of the public favor bestowed upon him. Remoed to Hartford, 1639, where his home-lot was about where the Union depot now stands. He was deputy in August and September, 1639 and appointed Wylls and Webster to revise the laws of the colony; townsman, 1640; d. in 1640, leaving a widow, Agnes, whom he m. about 1633, who became afterward the wife of William Edwards; inv. #291.12.2. He appoints "my cosin Matthew Allyn, my brother John Pratt," and John Talcott to be overseers of this estate. Will dated March 4, 1640, presented May 4, 1640. Ch.: i. Elizabeth, m. (1) William Wellman, of Gloucester, New London, and Killingworth. (2) May 23, 1672, Jacob Joy, of Killingworth. ii. Sarah, b. 1636; m. about 1657, John Case, of Windsor, afterward of Simsbury; d. Nov. 3, 1691. iii. Samuel, b. about 1639; m. Sarah, prob. dau. of John Meakins.(John M. names dau. Sarah Spencer in his will, Nov. 22, 1702.) He d. about 1716, in Hartford. |