Caleb Spencer (1696 - 1782)

Born 19 Jan 1696 in Saybrook, New London, Connecticut Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Hannah (Hudson) Spencer — married 29 Jul 1719 in Saybrook, Middlesex, CT

Husband of Temperance (Whittlesey) Wright — married 15 Jun 1769 in Old Saybrook, Middlesex, Connecticut

Descendants

Died 28 Aug 1782 at age 86 in Westbrook, Middlesex, Connecticut, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Michael Spencer [send private message]

Biography

All relevant primary and secondary sources are consistent with accounts of Caleb's life provided by Jacobus^[1] and a 19th century family genealogical history^[2]: Caleb Spencer, son of Thomas Spencer, was born at Saybrook, Connecticut in 1696 and died there in 1782. He was a weaver and held 4 slaves. He was also Ensign of Saybrook's Train Band and was chosen as surveyor of highways in 1732.

Birth

Caleb was born in 1696 in Saybrook to Thomas Spencer (abt.1648-1700) and his wife Elizabeth. Jacobus specifed an exact date of birth: 19 Jan 1696. This is consistent with his age of 4 years as reported by his father's February 1700 probate record.^[3][4]

It is widely but not universally^[5] accepted that Caleb was born to a second wife of Thomas Spencer, also named Elizabeth. This assumption, advocated by Jacobus, is based upon two observations:

1. the 17 year difference in ages between Caleb and his next oldest known sibling (Thomas, Jr.). This difference in ages is again documented by the probate record of Thomas, Sr.
2. There are deeds showing that Elizabeth Spencer, a widow, of Saybrook, calling herself the daughter of William Waller, Jr., conveyed land in Lyme in 1722 and 1734. Jacobus judged that Thomas Spencer was the only Spencer of suitable age then living in Saybrook who left a surviving widow named Elizabeth.^[6] Jacobus thus concluded that the Elizabeth of these land deeds was the same as the "widow Elizabeth" named in Thomas' probate records -- his second wife. Anderson concurred that Thomas had a second wife named Elizabeth but concluded that it was "possible" that she was Elizabeth Waller.^[7]

First marriage and children

Caleb married first Hannah ____ in Saybrook on 29 July 1719. Jacobus thought she was the daughter Hannah Spencer named in the 1729 will of Jonathan Hudson of Shelter Island, New York.^[8]

Caleb and Hannah had 8 children, all born in Saybrook. Except as referenced with a footnote below, the dates of births, etc.. come from Jacobus's "The Four Spencer Brothers".^[9] These dates are identical to those given in 1900 by Henry Whittemore.^[10]

The most important primary source for documenting the events in Saybrook of the Spencer family during much of the 18th and 19th centuries are the records of the First Congregational Church of Westbrook, compiled and published in 1979 by Jean Rumsey.^[11] As Rumsey wrote, "The Town Clerk's office on the east side of Saybrook was some distance to travel from the 'West Parish' ... so many residents of Westbrook never bothered to have the family births, deaths and marriages recorded in the town books. Consequently there is much valuable data contained in the church records which is not available elsewhere." The First Congregational Church of Westbrook was started in 1726. Among the 14 "charter members" were Caleb's brothers Jared and Thomas Spencer and Lydia Grinnell. Lydia Grinnell, a grandaughter of Priscilla and John Alden, was also the grandmother of the woman (also named Lydia Grinnell) who married Caleb's first child (i.e. Joseph).

The 8 known children of Caleb and Hannah are as follows:

1. Joseph Spencer (1720-1810), b. 18 Apr 1720, d. 18 Feb. 1810 (year of birth is consistent with his age at death as documented by his death record^[12] and his headstone^[13]); m. Lydia Grinnell^[14]
2. Mary (Spencer) Lay (1721-1793), b. 19 Sep 1721, m. Jonathan Lay, d. (year of birth is consistent with her age at death as documented by her headstone^[15])
3. Caleb Spencer II (1724-1783), b. 8 Dec 1724, d. 30 Sep 1783
4. Hannah Spencer (1726-), b. 13 Feb 1727^[16], d. young
5. Lemuel Spencer (1728-1729), b. 14 Mar 1729^[17], d. 30 Mar 1729^[18]
6. John Spencer (abt.1729-1809), b. 15 Feb 1730, d. 1809
7. Sarah (Spencer) Wellman (1731-1788), b. 21 Feb 1731/2, bp. 27 Feb. 1731/2, m. 11 Dec 1754 Zadoc Wellman^[19], d. Aug 1788
8. Jemima (Spencer) L'Hommedieu (1734-1807), b. 3 Aug 1734, bp. 4 Aug 1734, perhaps the "widow L'Hommedieu" who d. 26 May 1807 after m. 8 Sep 1762 Henry L'Hommedieu

Hannah died in September of 1768.^[20]

Second marriage

Caleb married second Temperance Whittlesey, the widow of James Wright, on June 15, 1769.^[21][22][23] They had no children together. Caleb's will (see next) refers to his "loving wife Temperance".

Role in Saybrook

More sources are needed to document Caleb's occupation and civic role. Jacobus stated that he was a weaver; Whittemore that he was commissioned Ensign of the Train Band and was chosen Surveyor of Highways Dec. 12 , 1732. .

Death and will

Caleb's will was dated August 12, 1769 and proved September 16, 1782.^[24] The will and the probate distribution record mention, in addition to Temperance, his 3 sons Joseph, Caleb and John and 3 daughters Mary, Sarah and Jemima. In addtion to land and personal property he bequeathed to his 3 sons "my negro man Tobey". To Mary, Sarah and Jemima he bequeathed "my negro girl Jeney", "my negro girl rose" and "my negro Philis" respectively.

Postscript: The fate of Tobey and his wife Jude

Several sources document events in the life of Tobey (the black man who Caleb bequeated to his 3 sons) and Tobey's wife Jude ("Servant of William and Jerusha Murdock").

An 1884 history of Middlesex County, Connecticut^[25] has a small section on slavery in Westfield, the section of Saybrook where several generatons of the Spencer family lived from about 1680 to 1780. "Tobey and his wife Jude ... were received in the church, and permitted to sit on the broad stairs to the gallery and listen to the ponderous sermons of Mr. Devotion and his successors on election, free will and kindred topics. Toby had a number of children, all born in slavery... He was the property of the Spencers ... He died in January 1825, aged 82 and his wife survived him about a year. Tobey's name will live in the hill [Tobey's Hill] on the side of which his cabin stood..."

Remarkably, Tobey can even be found among the census records from Saybrook. In the 1790 census of Saybrook, “Toby Spencer” appears as a head of a household consisting only of 2 free non-whites (the 4th column; he and his wife?) and 2 slaves (the 5th column; his children? 2 of Caleb’s three female slaves?).^[26] Not too far from this row on the census record are rows for several Spencer households living in Saybrook. Reviews of all the records shows that in 1790 Saybrook had a total of 21 freed blacks and 29 slaves.^[27]

In the 1800 census of Saybrook, a record appears for the household of “Tobias Negro”.^[28] The record shows this household to consist solely of 3 free non-whites. Again, this row appears near to that of Caleb's son Joseph Spencer and that of the Lucy (Post) Spencer --the widow of Caleb's grandson.

The records of the First Congregational Church of Westbrook^[29] provide additional information about Tobey, Jude and the slave named "Phyliis" whom Caleb's will bequethed to his daughter Jemima. These records include a single page at the end for "Negroes and Indians". Toby, Jude and their children accounted for roughly half of the 29 entries on the page:

• 27 Jan 1771 - Baptism of Tobey ("servant of Ensign Caleb Spencer") and Jude along with their children Chloe and Cuffy
• Mar 1772 - "Tobey and Judah, their infant child d., overlaid"
• 20 June 1773, Baptism of an infant child of Tobey and Jude
• 16 Aug 1775 - Death of Chloe, daughter of Tobey and Jude
• 3 Dec 1775 - Baptism of Salem, daughter of T & J
• 21 Dec 1777 - Baptism of Cesar and Prince, twin sons of T & J
• 1783 - Communion served to Tobey
• 28 Mar 1784 - Baptism of "Phylis - Negro maid of Mrs. Le Hommodieu" [this is yet more evidence that Jemima Spencer married Henry L'Hommodieu]
• 8 Oct 1780 - Baptism of Eliakim, son of T & J
• 6 Mar 1783 - Death of infant child of T & J
• 2 Oct 1785 - Baptism of Chloe, daughter of T & J
• 3 Jul 1796 - Communion served to Jude [wife of Tobey]
• 1810 - Communion served to Phyllis [still the maid of Jemima?]
• 1812 - "Both members" [i.e. Tobey and Jude]
• 1812 -- Phyliis "member"
• 26 Jan 1826 - "Tobey d. ae 82"
• Jan 1827 - "Jude (a Black) d."
• 23 Dec 1827 - "Phylis (black) d. ae 82"

Sources

1. ↑ Donald Lines Jacobus, M.A., comp., "The Four Spencer Brothers – Their Ancestors and Descendants," The American Genealogist, Volume 27, p. 178 - Image 501 of 560 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9B2-FSXY?i=500&cat=319844)
2. ↑ Our New England Ancestors and Their Descendants, 1620-1900: Historical, Genealogical, Biographical, by Henry Whittemore, 1900 (https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=iik3AAAAMAAJ&pg=GBS.PA59&hl=en)
3. ↑ Connecticut State Library (Hartford, Connecticut); Probate Place: Hartford, Connecticut. Probate Packets, Southworth, M-Stannard, Lucretia, 1780-1880. Ancestry.com. Connecticut, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Connecticut County, District and Probate Courts. Image 746 of 1443. Inventory and distribution of the estated of Thomas Spencer of Saybrook. Probate court of New London 20 March 1700. “Three sons of Thomas Spencer, namely Jarad Spencer, Thomas Spencer and Caleb Spencer.” “Children age Gerard Spencer 26 year and Thomas Spencer 21 yr 1 April next Caleb Spencer 4 year” (image 746 -- at the end of the inventory. (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/2967162:9049?_phsrc=nFx1207&_phstart=successSource&gsfn=Thomas&gsln=Spencer&ml_rpos=7&queryId=852db10b24ac6572a7a96b11d6cc961f)
4. ↑ New London Probate records, 1675-1916. Probate records v. A-B 1675-1725. Pages 105 & 106 (Images 58 & 59 of 726) (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-9922-6ZW?i=57&cat=421297) This transcription of the original is more legible but includes a transcription error in the ages of the children. "Children age, Gerard Spencer 26 years old, Thomas Spencer 21 years, Abigail next [correction in pencil "(April next)" -- crossed out in pencil], Caleb Spencer 4 years old." "An inventory of the estate of Thomas Spencer of Say Broock who deceased to 3 of february 1699/1700."
5. ↑ Our New England Ancestors and Their Descendants, 1620-1900: Historical, Genealogical, Biographical, by Henry Whittemore, 1900 (https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=iik3AAAAMAAJ&pg=GBS.PA59&hl=en)
6. ↑ The Four Spencer Brothers: Their Ancestors and Descendants: The American Genealogist. Volume 127. Page 169 (Image 496 of 560) (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9B2-FSHT?i=495&cat=319844)
7. ↑ Great Migration 1634-1635, R-S. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2012.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume VI, R-S, by Robert Charles Anderson. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009, page 424. This source names the wives as Elizabeth "Bate" and "possibly Elizabeth Waller." (with Ancestry.com - advance to image 538)
8. ↑ NY Wills, 11: 161 cited by Donald Lines Jacobus, M.A., comp., "The Four Spencer Brothers – Their Ancestors and Descendants," The American Genealogist, Volume 27, p. 178 - Image 501 of 560 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9B2-FSXY?i=500&cat=319844)
9. ↑ Donald Lines Jacobus, M.A., comp., "The Four Spencer Brothers – Their Ancestors and Descendants," The American Genealogist, Volume 27, p. 178 - Image 501 of 560 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9B2-FSXY?i=500&cat=319844)
10. ↑ Our New England Ancestors and Their Descendants, 1620-1900: Historical, Genealogical, Biographical, by Henry Whittemore, 1900 (https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=iik3AAAAMAAJ&pg=GBS.PA59&hl=en)
11. ↑ First Congregational Church of Westbrook, Connecticut : baptisms, marriages, deaths, memberships, 1725-1899, from the first four volumes of records : supplemented by gravestone inscriptions from Westbrook cemeteries by First Congregational Church of Westbrook, Connecticut. Compiled by Jean Rumsey, 1979. Pages 156 to 168 (images 156 to 168 of 220) list events of Spencers. (https://archive.org/details/firstcongregatio00firs/page/156/mode/2up).
12. ↑ "Connecticut Deaths and Burials, 1772-1934", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7KP-BQW : 16 January 2020), Joseph Spencer, 1810.
13. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/60294709/joseph-spencer : accessed 19 May 2022), memorial page for Joseph Spencer (18 Apr 1720–18 Feb 1810), Find a Grave Memorial ID 60294709, citing Old Burying Ground, Westbrook, Middlesex County, Connecticut, USA ; Maintained by Nate Bramlett (contributor 46874243) .
14. ↑ Our New England Ancestors and Their Descendants, 1620-1900: Historical, Genealogical, Biographical, by Henry Whittemore, 1900. Page 60 (https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=iik3AAAAMAAJ&pg=GBS.PA60&hl=en)
15. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/87786382/mary-lay : accessed 19 May 2022), memorial page for Mary Spencer Lay (1721–12 Oct 1793), Find a Grave Memorial ID 87786382, citing Old Burying Ground, Westbrook, Middlesex County, Connecticut, USA ; Maintained by Irma (contributor 46927625) .
16. ↑ First Congregational Church of Westbrook, Connecticut : baptisms, marriages, deaths, memberships, 1725-1899, from the first four volumes of records : supplemented by gravestone inscriptions from Westbrook cemeteries by First Congregational Church of Westbrook, Connecticut; Rumsey, Jean (https://archive.org/details/firstcongregatio00firs/page/160/mode/2up) Gives only "Feb 1727" as the date of birth. Volume 1 of church records. Page 36.
17. ↑ First Congregational Church of Westbrook, Connecticut : baptisms, marriages, deaths, memberships, 1725-1899, from the first four volumes of records : supplemented by gravestone inscriptions from Westbrook cemeteries by First Congregational Church of Westbrook, Connecticut; Rumsey, Jean (https://archive.org/details/firstcongregatio00firs/page/164/mode/2up) Gives Says 13 Feb 1729 rather than 14 Feb. Volume 1 of church records. Page 36.
18. ↑ First Congregational Church of Westbrook, Connecticut : baptisms, marriages, deaths, memberships, 1725-1899, from the first four volumes of records : supplemented by gravestone inscriptions from Westbrook cemeteries by First Congregational Church of Westbrook, Connecticut; Rumsey, Jean (https://archive.org/details/firstcongregatio00firs/page/164/mode/2up) Gives Says 13 Feb 1729 rather than 14 Feb. Volume 1 of church records. Page 36.
19. ↑ "Connecticut, Vital Records, Prior to 1850," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP7G-JZ8T : 15 April 2022), Sarah Spencer, ; citing Marriage, Killingworth, Middlesex, Connecticut, United States, Compiled by Lucius A. and Lucius B. Barbour, housed at State Library, Hartford, Connecticut; FHL microfilm 008143425.
20. ↑ First Congregational Church of Westbrook, Connecticut : baptisms, marriages, deaths, memberships, 1725-1899, from the first four volumes of records : supplemented by gravestone inscriptions from Westbrook cemeteries by First Congregational Church of Westbrook, Connecticut; Rumsey, Jean (https://archive.org/details/firstcongregatio00firs/page/160/mode/2up) "Spencer - Hannah - w. Ens Caleb d Sept 1768" Volume 1 of church records. Page 115.
21. ↑ First Congregational Church of Westbrook, Connecticut : baptisms, marriages, deaths, memberships, 1725-1899, from the first four volumes of records : supplemented by gravestone inscriptions from Westbrook cemeteriesby First Congregational Church of Westbrook, Connecticut; Rumsey, Jean (https://archive.org/details/firstcongregatio00firs/page/158/mode/2up) "Spencer - Caleb - En's, m. wid. Temperance Wright - 15 June 1769 - Volume 1 of church records. Page 27
22. ↑ Donald Lines Jacobus, M.A., comp., "The Four Spencer Brothers – Their Ancestors and Descendants," The American Genealogist, Volume 27, p. 178 - Image 501 of 560 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9B2-FSXY?i=500&cat=319844)
23. ↑ Our New England Ancestors and Their Descendants, 1620-1900: Historical, Genealogical, Biographical, by Henry Whittemore, 1900 (https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=iik3AAAAMAAJ&pg=GBS.PA59&hl=en)
24. ↑ Probate Files Collection, Early to 1880; Author: Connecticut State Library (Hartford, Connecticut); Probate Place: Hartford, Connecticut. Probate Packets, Southworth, M-Stannard, Lucretia, 1780-1880. Ancestry.com. Connecticut, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data:Connecticut County, District and Probate Courts. Images 346 to 374 of 1443. Abstract is presented with images 360 and 361(https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/2941177:9049?_phsrc=nFx529&_phstart=successSource&gsfn=Caleb&gsln=Spencer&ml_rpos=1&queryId=80a5de300aafab3100c28e6b899011af)
25. ↑ Middlesex County, Connecticut, Biographical Sketches of Its Prominent Men, NY, JB Beers & Co., 1884. Section of Slavery in Westfield. Page 562 (https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=kwHMDwAAQBAJ&pg=GBS.PA564)
26. ↑ "United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YYY-RLV?cc=1803959&wc=3XTM-1T1%3A1584071302%2C1584070702%2C1584071336 : 14 May 2015), Connecticut > Middlesex > Saybrook > image 3 of 6; citing NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
27. ↑ Slavery in Connecticut dated back to the mid-1600s. By the American Revolution, Connecticut had more enslaved Africans than any other state in New England. In 1784 it passed an Act of Gradual Abolition. It stated that those children born into slavery after March 1, 1784 would be freed by the time they turned 25. As a result, slavery in Connecticut was practiced until 1848. To read more consider "From the State Historian: Connecticut’s Slow Steps Toward Emancipation" - an article on the ConnnecticutHistory website (https://connecticuthistory.org/from-the-state-historian-connecticuts-slow-steps-toward-emancipation/)
28. ↑ "United States Census, 1800," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRZ-YNW : accessed 20 May 2022), Jobias, Say Brook, Middlesex, Connecticut, United States; citing p. 432, NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 3; FHL microfilm 205,620.
29. ↑ First Congregational Church of Westbrook, Connecticut : baptisms, marriages, deaths, memberships, 1725-1899, from the first four volumes of records : supplemented by gravestone inscriptions from Westbrook cemeteries by First Congregational Church of Westbrook, Connecticut; Rumsey, Jean Image 208 of 220. Negroes and Indians (https://archive.org/details/firstcongregatio00firs/page/208/mode/2up)

Key sources:

1. First Congregational Church of Westbrook, Connecticut : baptisms, marriages, deaths, memberships, 1725-1899, from the first four volumes of records : supplemented by gravestone inscriptions from Westbrook cemeteries by First Congregational Church of Westbrook, Connecticut. Compiled by Jean Rumsey, 1979. Pages 156 to 168 (images 156 to 168 of 220) list events of Spencers. (https://archive.org/details/firstcongregatio00firs/page/156/mode/2up)
2. Donald Lines Jacobus, M.A., comp., "The Four Spencer Brothers – Their Ancestors and Descendants," The American Genealogist, Volume 27, p. 178 - Image 501 of 560 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9B2-FSXY?i=500&cat=319844)
3. Our New England Ancestors and Their Descendants, 1620-1900: Historical, Genealogical, Biographical, by Henry Whittemore, 1900 (https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=iik3AAAAMAAJ&pg=GBS.PA59&hl=en)