Michael Spencer

• General Notes
  • Pioneers of Massachusetts by Charles Henry Pope: page 427.
    
    ***The beginning notes are from Flora Clark's manuscript, "Genealogy of the Four Spencer Brothers."
    The division of Michael's children between the two wives is somewhat different from what might be inferred from the rev. Mr. Holdings's book, because of the discovery of the burial of the first wife, Agnes, early in 1562. The name of the mother is not stated in the Edworth baptisms, but Elizabeth is stated as mother of two children, Gerard and Richard, who were baptized at Stotfold. We therefore assume that Elizabeth was mother of the other children who were born after 1562 and before the birth of Gerard in 1576, though it remains possible that there was a seond, unknown, wife between Agnes and Elizabeth. The removal of the family from Edworth to Stotfold occured between 1571 and 1576. The above notes taken from: The American Genealogist, Whole Nr.105, Vol 27, Nr. 1, Jan. 1951.
    
    ***Additional Notes from Rev.John Holding***********
    Michael was the oldest son of John andAnne Spencer. Mr Holding says of him: "We find Anne Spencer in her Will, conveying her interest in the lease to Michael, her eldest son, who must have remained there as long as the lease was in force, and then, if not further confirmed or continued
    in the tenancy, he must have removed elsewhere. The later event took place, for we find him in Stotfold in 1576, where first evidence of his appearance there is the record in the register of this parish of the baptism of Gerard Spencer, son of Michael and Elizabeth Spencer, May 20, 1576."
    There is an entry in the church record that on November 5th, 1597, among those present at a church meeting, was Michael Spencer. (Stotfold is situtated but a few miles from Edworth.)   The first wife of Michael Spencer was Anne Lorimer. They were married January 22nd, 1555. His second wife Elizabeth (Last name not known) Mr. Holding, on page 33, says: "While Richard and Thomas were flourishing in London, Michael and his sons who remained at Stotfold, seem to have been less prosperous, for we find Michale filing a bill in chancery in 1581, and we find Gerard Spencer, his son, and his wife Alice, leasing their land in Stotfold to Thomas, his brother in London, in 1615, and then the next year they conveyed these lands to Thomas. This decadence in this branch of the of the family, no doubt was one great reason for William Spencer, and his brothers, Thomas, Michael and Gerard migrating to New England in 1632."  Mr Holding is of the opinion that the name "Micael" was given for the reason that his parents lived in St.Albans, which is in St. Michael's parish.
    
    The following lineage is generally accurate. However, some differences are reported in other sources. This line is from A Study of Spencers, compiled by Karen Spencer, 1981, omitting the first 17 generations presented there. 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. Granddaughter Margaret SPENCER, son of William SPENCER, married Anthony, Lord Ashley Cooper as his third wife.
    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.
    
    

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