Genealogy Report (Register) to HTML fileGenealogy Report (Register) to HTML file



Descendants of Gerard Spencer

Generation One

267. Gerard1 Spencer;; Sometimes Jared Spencer; born 1614 at Stotfold, Bedfordshire, England; baptized 28 Apr 1614 at Stotfold, Bedfordshire, England; died 3 Sep 1685 at Haddam, Middlesex Co., CT.

He was Ferryman. He "Ensign Garrard Spencer was baptized April 25, 1614, and died in 1685. He was the youngest of four brothers who came to New England about 1634, leaving one brother in England. His name is found in various early records and histories, and affords a striking example of the Puritan "indifference to uniformity of spelling." It is written Jarad, Gerard, Jarrett, Jarrard, Garrird, Garade, Jerat, Garrett, Gerrird, Jarrad, and the signature to his will, supposed to have been written by himself, is "Garrard Spencer." He was a resident of Cambridge (Newtown) in 1634, removed to Lynn in 1637 and was admitted freeman of Massachusetts Bay the same year. In 1638 a committee appointed by the town of Lynn to divide the lands, completed their work and a book was provided, in which the names of the proprietors, and the number of acres allotted to each was recorded. That book is lost, but a copy of the first three pages has been preserved at Salem. On page 1 is "Jarrett Spencer, 30 acres." In 1639 the court granted him "The fferry at Linn for two yeares, taking 2d. for a single person to the furthest place, and but 1d. a person, for more to the furthest place, and but 1d. for a single person, to the nearest place." On the records of Salem Court it is stated that Jarrard Spencer was a witness, May 27, 1643, in Essex Co. Court, Mass. "9th month 1654, the administration of the estate of Michael Spencer is granted Gerard Spencer of Linn and he is to bring an inventory to the next court." In the settlement, "the court took into consideration a child of the s'd Michael put unto him to bring up until he be 21 years old, wh child by name is Michael Spencer of about 6 years old." In June, 1656, Jerard Spencer was chosen Ensign of the trainband of Lynn, and in 1659 he was a grand juror for Lynn. In 1660 he was planning to live in Hartford, as appears by the following vote of that town: "June 14, 1660, At ye same towne meeting, ye towne by their vote, gave Gerard Spencer liberty to dwell among us, as an inhabitant with us at Hartford." The same year, he with others, purposed to make a settlement on the Great River at the place now called Haddam; but it was not till 1662 that the purchase of Indian lands was completed and the deed signed. On the map of the town plot of Haddam, compiled by Richard M. Bayles, and published in the "History of Middlesex County, Connecticut" Garrard Spencer's home-lot has on one side the lot laid out for a "Parsonage forever" and on the other side the home-lot of Thomas Smith. Passing three lots from Garrard Spencer's we come to that of Daniel Cone. Garrard Spencer was one of a committee, appointed Feb. 27, 1668, to settle the boundary between Haddam and Saybrook. Most of those who have borne the name of Spencer, in Haddam and East Haddam, have been descendants of Garrard Spencer and his wife Hannah, who were among the first settlers of Haddam in 1662.

From Conn. Col. records: "Sept. 14, 1675. At a meeting of the Council at Hartford, present, William Leete, Esq., Deputy Governor; Major John Talcott, Mr. Henry Wolcott, Capt. John Allyn, Major Robert Treat, Capt. Benjamin Newberry, Mr. John Wadsworth--The inhabitants of Haddam have presented Jarrad Spencer for an Ensigne for their Trayn Band, affirming him to be lawfully chosen, the Council doe accordingly commissionate him to be their Ensigne, and to command according to lawe." He was Deputy from Haddam to the General Court, Oct. 1674, July 1675, May 1678, Oct. 1678, May and Oct. 1683.

CHILDREN OF ENSIGN GARRARD AND HANNAH SPENCER.

1. John--born in 1638 at Lynn, died August 3, 1682, at Haddam. He married Rebecca, daughter of Robert Howard, of Windsor. She was born Aug. 17, 1648, and died Aug. 17, 1684. They had five children.

2. Hannah--born in 1640, married, in 1665, Daniel Brainard. They had eight children. They were grandparents of David Brainard, the celebrated missionary to the Indians, and ancestors of the Brainards of this country. He was brought from England to Hartford, Conn., when he was eight years old, where he lived in the Wyllys family till he was of age. He settled in Haddam in 1662. She died before 1700. He re-married twice, and died April 1, 1715, aged 74.

3. Alice--married 1st, in 1662, Thomas Brooks. He died Oct. 18, 1668. She married 2nd, in 1673, Thomas Shailer. He sailed for the West Indies in 1692 and was lost at sea. She had four Brooks children and four Shailer children.

4. Mehitabel married Daniel Cone. (See Cone family.)

5. Thomas--married about 1673, Elizabeth, youngest daughter of James and Ann (Withington) Bates. They resided in Haddam, but removed to Westbrook before 1679. They had four children and he died in Feb. 1699.

6. Sarah--married Dec. 1666, Stephen Backus of Norwich, Ct. He was born in 1640, son of William Backus of Saybrook. They had six children.

7. Samuel--of Millington Society, East Haddam, married 1st, in 1673, Hannah Blatchford, widow of Peter Blatchford of Haddam, formerly of New London. Also, she was Hannah Hungerford, widow of Thomas Hungerford of New London and daughter of Isaac Willey of that place. She died about 1681. They had four children. Samuel Spencer married 2nd, in 1689, Miriam Willey, widow of John Willey of Haddam, formerly of New London, and daughter of Miles Moore of that town. Samuel Spencer died August 7, 1705, leaving four children. His wife Miriam survived him.

8. William--married Margaret Clark about 1679. They had nine children, and he died 1712.

9. Nathaniel--married 1st, Lydia, daughter of Thomas Smith in 1681. They had nine children. He married 2nd, Hannah. He died before 1722. Hannah died Feb. 20, 1742.

10. Rebecca--died before 1706. She married 1st, John Kennard of Haddam, about 1682. They had two children. He died in Feb., 1689. She married 2nd, John Tanner of Lyme, afterward of East Haddam.

11. Ruth--married Joseph Clark, son of William Clark of Haddam. They had six children.

12. Timothy--married and had six children. He died in 1704 and his wife died about 1704.

Page 211

13. Elizabeth--married Joseph Stannard, one of the twenty-eight men who went from Hartford to Haddam, having purchased the land in 1662.

Ensign Garrard Spencer and his family were members of the church at Lynn, Mass., but after they removed to Haddam some of his grandchildren were taken to Middletown, Conn., to be baptized. The records of the first church of Middletown tell us that, "1672, 7th, 8. Being ye Lord's day, Joshua Braynard and John Howard, children of two of ye daughters of Ensign Spencer, children of the church of Christ at Lynn, received ye Innitiatory seal of ye covenant baptism, by virtue of communion of churches." Also, in 1672, "Rebecca Coan of Haddam, daughter of Goodwife Coan was bapt. The mother being a member of the church at Lynn." In "1678, Elijah Brainard and Stephen Coane, children of two of the daughters of Ensigne Spencer of Haddam, whose children are children of the church of Xt. at Lynn, were baptized." The records of the first church at Middletown, also mention baptisms of William, son of Daniel Brainard, on his wife's account; and Jared, son of Thomas Spencer; Nathaniel, son of Goodwife Cone, and William, son of Goodwife Stannard; "mothers being in relation to the church at Lynn." The Society of Colonial Wars has accepted the proof of the services of Ensign Garrard Spencer of Haddam in King Philip's war. "187

Children of Gerard1 Spencer and Hannah (Johannes) Hills were:

Generation Two

268. Samuel Gerrard2 Spencer (Gerard1); born circa 1640;78 married Hannah Willey, daughter of Isaac Willey and Joanna ____, 1671/72 at Haddam/Middlesex Co., CT; died 7 Aug 1705 at Haddam, Middlesex Co, CT.

Children of Samuel Gerrard2 Spencer and Hannah Willey were:

Generation Three

269. Grace3 Spencer (Samuel2, Gerard1); born 27 Jul 1674 at Haddam, Middlesex, CT;78 married John Day, son of John Day and Mary Gaylord, 21 Jan 1696 at Colchester, New London, CT;78 died 12 May 1714 at Colchester, CT, at age 39.78

Children of Grace3 Spencer and John Day were:




Return to Table of Contents

Please send e-mail to:
Created with The Master Genealogist for Windows on 30 May 2000 at 14:43:06.