Spencer, Thomas
Thomas SPENCER (1607 - 1687) and Sarah BEARDING (1623 - 1685)
my 9g-grandparents
Sergeant Thomas SPENCER, son of Gerrard SPENCER and Alice WHITBREAD, was baptized on 29 Mar 1607 in Stotfold, Bedfordshire, England, and died 11 Sep 1687 in Hartford, Connecticut Colony, at age 80 or more. He married (1) Ann DERIFIELD and (2) Sarah BEARDING.
Sarah BEARDING, daughter of Nathaniel BEARDING, was born about 1623, possibly in Lincolnshire, England, and died 11 Sep 1685 in Hartford, about 62.
Nathaniel BEARDING was born in England, about 1591. His daughter Sarah was born in England, about 1623, but nothing is known of his wife, or any other children. Nathaniel, presumably with his daughter, appeared in Hartford, Connecticut Colony, in 1636, so he was an early settler, but not one of the original settlers. After 1659 Nathaniel married Abigail GRAVES, widow of William ANDREWS. Nathaniel died on 14 Dec 1674 in Hartford.
The small town and civil parish of Stotfold was in Bedfordshire, but became part of Hertfordshire in 2010. It lies near the border of the two shires. See the maps on the Gerrard SPENCER page.
Thomas SPENCER immigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1631 or 1632, along with 3 of his brothers. They first settled in Cambridge. Thomas was made a freeman on 14 May 1634 in Cambridge, so he was a member of the Puritan church. He fought in the Pequot War, which lasted from Jul 1636 to Sep 1638.
U.S. and International Marriage Records
Name: Thomas Spencer
Gender: Male
Birth Year: 1607
Spouse Name: Ann Derifield
Spouse Birth Year: 1610
Marriage Year: 1635
Marriage State: CT
Thomas married (1) Ann DERIFIELD, sometimes spelled DERIFALL, DORIFALL or DORRYFALL, who was born about 1610, in England. [HF] They had 3 sons.
"Ann Dorifall, aged 24, sailed on the Elizabeth of Ipswich in 1634 and was admitted to Boston church 2 November 1634 as 'Ann Derifall, our brother Wm. Coddington's maid servant.'" [GMB, Vol 3, p. 1720]
Connecticut, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index
Name: Thomas Spencer
State: CT
County: Hartford County
Township: Hartford
Year: 1635
Page: NPN
Database: CT 1635-1807 Misc. Records
By 1638 Thomas and his brother William removed to Hartford, Colony of Connecticut. Thomas appeared in the Cambridge records in 1637, but he was married and appeared in the census in Hartford, 1635. He may have moved between Cambridge and Hartford a few times.
The first English settlers in Hartford had arrived in 1635, so Thomas and William were there at an early date. Thomas was commissioned Sergeant of Militia, and in Feb 1639 was granted several parcels of land in Hartford, for his service. An extensive description of these properties in found in [TS, pp. 14-6].
West side of Hartford, 1640. North is to the right. One lot "to Th Spencer" and another "to Wm Spencer" next to other familiar names. Another property "to Wm Spencer" is further west. Source [WWL, p. 2]. Full map can be seen on the John WARNER page.
Thomas SPENCER and Sarah BEARDING or BARDING were about 38 and 22 when they married, on 11 Sep 1645 in Hartford. They lived in Hartford the rest of their lives.
The children of Thomas SPENCER are listed in [TS, p. 20] which follows Thomas' son Obadiah and then Obadiah's son Samuel.
1 Sgt. Thomas SPENCER bapt. 29 Mar 1607 in Stotfold, Bedfordshire, England, d: 11 Sep 1687 in Hartford, Hartford, CT
+ Ann DERIFIELD or DERIFALL b: abt. 1610 in England, m: 1635 in CT, d: abt. 1644 in Hartford, age 34
......2 Obadiah SPENCER b: abt. 1639 in Hartford, d: May 1712 in Hartford, age 72
...... + Mary DESBOROUGH m: abt. 1666, d: Bef. 1712
......2 Thomas SPENCER b: abt. 1641 in Hartford, d: 23 Jul 1689 in Suffield, Hartford, CT, age 48
...... + Esther ANDREWS m: Abt. 1666, d: 06 Mar 1697/98 in Suffield, Hartford, CT
......2 Samuel SPENCER b: abt. 1643 in Hartford, d: 08 Jan 1726/27 in Windham, CT, age 83
....... + Sarah b: abt. 1660, m: abt. 1684, d: 15 Apr 1733 in Windham, CT
+ Sarah BEARDING b: 1623 in Lincolnshire, England, m: 11 Sep 1645 in Hartford, d: 11 Sep 1685 in Hartford, age 62
......2 Gerrard SPENCER b: 1646 in Hartford, d: 01 Jan 1702 in Hartford, age 55
...... + Hannah PRATT b: 25 Nov 1658 in CT, m: 22 Dec 1680 in Hartford, d: 22 Oct 1692 in Hartford, age 33
......2 Sarah SPENCER b: abt. 1646 in Hartford, d: 24 Oct 1712, age 66
...... + Thomas HUXLEY d: 21 Oct 1721 in Suffield, Hartford
......2 Elizabeth SPENCER bapt. 26 Mar 1648 in Hartford
...... + Samuel ANDREWS bapt. 21 Oct 1645 in Hartford, d: Jan 1711/12, age 66
......2 Hannah SPENCER b: 15 Apr 1653 in Hartford
...... + George SEXTON b: 1656 in Ireland, m: 1676 in CT
...... + Daniel BRAINERD m: 29 Nov 1698; He also married Hannah's cousin, also named Hannah SPENCER. See the Gerrard SPENCER page.
......2 Mary SPENCER b: 20 May 1655 in Hartford, d: 04 Nov 1690 in Westfield, MA, age 35
...... + Thomas ROOTE b: 1648 in Farmington, m: 07 Oct 1675, d: 16 Aug 1709 in Westfield, MA, age 61
......2 Martha SPENCER b: 19 Mar 1657/58 in Hartford
...... + Andrew BENTON bapt. 12 Aug 1653 in Milford, CT, d: 05 Feb 1703/04 in Hartford, age 50
This map was published in 1755, but still has the pre-1749 boundary, so Suffield appears in MA.
For scale, the area shown is about 30 miles by 30 miles. Cropped from this larger map.
1. Obadiah SPENCER was born about 1639 in Hartford, 1st child of Thomas SPENCER and Ann DERIFIELD, and died in May 1712 in Hartford, age 72. His wife was Mary DESBOROUGH, daughter of Nicholas DESBOROUGH. They lived in Hartford, and had at least 7 children, listed in [FSB].
1 Obadiah SPENCER b: Abt. 1639 in Hartford, CT, d: May 1712 in Hartford, CT
+ Mary DESBOROUGH m: Abt. 1666, d: Bef. 1712
......2 Obadiah SPENCER b: 1666 in Hartford, CT, d: 22 Aug 1741 in Hartford, CT
...... + Ruth KELSEY
......2 Thomas SPENCER b: 1668, d: 14 Jun 1761
......2 Samuel SPENCER b: 1670, d: Bet. 20 Apr–05 Jul 1756
...... + Deborah BECKLEY
......2 Ebenezer SPENCER b: 1673 in Hartford, CT, d: Bef. 1748
...... + Mary BOOTH b: 1670, m: 28 Feb 1699, d: 03 Sep 1724
.........3 Ebenezer SPENCER b: 1707 in Hartford, CT, d: 20 Nov 1787 in Somers, Tolland, CT
......... + Elizabeth 2874 ROOT m: 14 Feb 1734
......2 Mary SPENCER b: 1675, d: 02 Jun 1712
...... + Thomas KING m: Aft. 1706, d: 26 Dec 1711 in Hartford, CT
......2 John SPENCER b: 1677, d: 08 Jul 1750
...... + Sarah SMITH m: 04 Oct 1693
......2 Desborough SPENCER b: 1679, d: 1763
...... + Abigail ELMER m: 27 Mar 1701
Ebenezer SPENCER, grandson of Obadiah and Mary, married his second cousin, Elizabeth ROOT, granddaughter of Obadiah's sister, Mary SPENCER (below).
2. Thomas SPENCER was born about 1641 in Hartford, child of Thomas SPENCER and Ann DERIFIELD and died 23 Jul 1689, age 48. His wife was Esther ANDREWS. They lived in Suffield (Southfield, Suthfield), which was originally part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, but was annexed by Connecticut Colony in 1749.
1 Thomas SPENCER b: Abt. 1641 in Hartford, CT, d: 23 Jul 1689 in Suffield
... + Esther ANDREWS m: Abt. 1666, d: 06 Mar 1697/98 in Suffield
......2 Esther SPENCER b: Abt. 1666
...... + John BARNARD
......2 Elizabeth SPENCER b: Abt. 1668
...... + John TAYLOR m: 24 Mar 1685/86
......2 Thomas SPENCER b: Abt. 1670, d: 22 Aug 1692
......2 Samuel SPENCER b: Abt. 1674, d: 23 Nov 1743
......2 William SPENCER b: Abt. 1677, d: Dec 1745
......2 Anna SPENCER b: 06 Jun 1680 in Suffield, d: 04 Oct 1680
...... + Thomas HILL b: 13 Jan 1681/82, d: 1707
...... + Edward FOSTER m: 15 Nov 1710
3. Samuel SPENCER was born about 1639 to 1643 in Hartford, child of Thomas SPENCER and Ann DERIFIELD, and died 08 Jan 1726/27, age 83. He married in 1680 to Sarah PRATT, born about 1660 in MA, and died 15 Apr 1733 in Windham, CT. They had 3 children. I don't know when they removed to Windham, 25 miles east of Hartford, but their daughters were both married there, in 1708 and 1715.
U.S. and International Marriage Records
Name: Samuel Spencer
Birth Place: CT
Birth Year: 1639
Spouse Name: Sarah Pratt
Spouse Birth Place: MA
Spouse Birth Year: 1660
Marriage Year: 1680
Marriage State: MA
Samuel is often conflated with his 1st cousin, Samuel SPENCER, born about 1639, son of William SPENCER and Agnes HARRIS. It seems that they both had wives named Sarah. One distinction is that Samuel, son of William and Agnes, married his Sarah about 1668, and their 1st child was born in 1668. Sarah PRATT was born about 1660 and married about 1680, so she is probably the Sarah who married Samuel, son of Thomas and Sarah.
1 Samuel SPENCER b: abt. 1643 in Hartford, CT, d: 08 Jan 1726/27 in Windham, CT, age 84
+ Sarah PRATT b: abt. 1660 in MA, m: 1680, d: 15 Apr 1733 in Windham, CT, age 73
......2 John SPENCER b: abt. 1684, d: 05 Apr 1772, age 87
......2 Sarah SPENCER bapt: 05 Sep 1786 in Braintree, MA
...... + John CRANE m: 16 Sep 1708 in Windham, CT
......2 Hannah SPENCER bapt: 07 Sep 1689 in Braintree, MA, d: Aft. 1766, age 77+
...... + Gershom PALMER m: 28 Jun 1715 in Windham, CT
4. Gerrard SPENCER was born about 1646 in Hartford, child of Thomas SPENCER and Sarah BEARDING, and died 01 Jan 1702 in Hartford, age 55. According to [FSB] he was born about 1650-1 and died between 15 Mar 1711/12, when his will was written, and 7 Apr 1712, when the will was proved. He married on 22 Dec 1680 in Hartford, to Hannah PRATT, born 25 Nov 1658 in CT, and died 22 Oct 1692 in Hartford, age 33.
1 Gerrard SPENCER b: 1650 in Hartford, Hartford, CT, d: Mar 1712 in Hartford, CT
+ Hannah PRATT b: 25 Nov 1658 in CT, m: 22 Dec 1680 in Hartford, CT, d: 22 Oct 1692 in Hartford, CT
......2 Hannah SPENCER b: 12 Oct 1681 in Hartford, CT
......2 Jared SPENCER b: 15 Jan 1682/83 in Hartford, CT, d: 13 Jun 1754
......2 Nathaniel SPENCER b: 02 Feb 1684/85 in Hartford, CT; died young
......2 John SPENCER b: 25 Oct 1686 in Hartford, CT; died young
......2 Sarah SPENCER bapt: 12 Feb 1687/88 in Hartford, CT
...... + Joseph BIGELOW m: 21 May 1713
......2 Elizabeth SPENCER bapt: 12 Feb 1687/88 in Hartford, CT, d: 21 Jan 1728/29
...... + John PEASE of Enfield, m: bef. 1717
......2 Nathaniel SPENCER b: 21 Dec 1690 in Hartford, CT; died young
......2 Mary SPENCER b: 08 Sep 1692 in Hartford, CT
...... + Joesph PEASE m: 13 Jan 1726/27
Gerrard and Hannah lived in Hatrford, and had about 8 children, of which 3 died young. Sarah and Elizabeth were twins.
5. Sarah SPENCER was born about 1646 in Hartford, child of Thomas SPENCER and Sarah BEARDING, and died 24 Oct 1712, age 66. Her husband was Thomas HUXLEY, who died on 21 Oct 1721 in Suffield, Hartford, CT.
6. Elizabeth SPENCER was baptized 26 Mar 1648 in Hartford child of Thomas SPENCER and Sarah BEARDING. Her husband Samuel ANDREWS was baptized 21 Oct 1645 in Hartford, and died in Jan 1711/12, age 66.
7. Hannah SPENCER was born 15 Apr 1653 in Hartford child of Thomas SPENCER and Sarah BEARDING. She married (1) in 1676 CT to George SEXTON, born 1656 in Ireland, and (2) on 29 Nov 1698 to Daniel BRAINARD/BRAINERD.
Daniel BRAINARD also married Hannah's cousin, also named Hannah SPENCER. See the Gerrard SPENCER page.
8. Mary SPENCER was born 20 May 1655 in Hartford, child of Thomas SPENCER and Sarah BEARDING, and died 04 Nov 1690 in Westfield, MA, age 35. She married on 07 Oct 1675 to Thomas ROOTE, born 1648 in Farmington, and died 16 Aug 1709 in Westfield, MA, age 61.
Mary and Thomas were my 8g-grandparents. See the Thomas ROOTE page.
9. Martha SPENCER was born 19 Mar 1657/58 in Hartford child of Thomas SPENCER and Sarah BEARDING. Her husband Andrew BENTON was baptized 12 Aug 1653 in Milford, CT, and died 05 Feb 1703/04 in Hartford, age 50.
Sources
[ECS] Paternal ancestry of Edward Church Smith (1958) by Edward Church Smith
[GMB] The Great Migration Begins/Immigrants to New England 1620-1633 by Robert Charles Anderson (1995) (requires Ancestry.com license)
[GM] The Great Migration/Immigrants to New England 1634-1635 by Robert Charles Anderson et al (1999) (requires Ancestry.com license)
[GRS] The George R. Spencer Website
[HF] Sergeant Thomas Spencer, Hartford Founder, from the Society of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford
[HW] Our New England ancestors and their descendants, 1620-1900; historical, genealogical, biographical (1900) by Henry Whittemore. "The Spencer and Allied Families" on p. 49 ff.
[SB] Spencer's of Badby to the four Brothers of CT
[SFT] Thomas Roote in the Solbrig Family Tree on Ancestry.com
[SGM] The Spencers of the Great Migration (1999) by Jack T. & Edith W. Spencer
[TS] Thomas Spencer family of Hartford, Connecticut; in the line of Samuel Spencer, of Cromwell, Connecticut(1896) by Frank Farnsworth Starr
[TSG] The Spencer Genealogy
[WRC] Genealogical and family history of the state of Connecticut; a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation (1911) by William Richard Cutter, et al Vol I Vol II Vol III Vol IV
[WWL] Lee family quarter-millennial gathering : of the descendants and kinsmen of John Lee, one of the early settlers of Farmington (1884) by William Wallace Lee
Updated 11 Sep 2020 by William Haloupek. Contact haloupek at gmail dot com.