Birth Mary Spencer was the daughter of mariner and merchant Roger Spencer (1618-aft.1669) and Gertrude Spencer (abt.1623-bef.1681). She was born in Saco, Massachusetts Bay. Her date of birth is given as 1652.
Marriage Cotton Mather said Mary Spencer was the widow of John Hull, a well-bred merchant (but not the master of the mint). John Coddington stated that John Hull resided at Boston and traded in Saco in 1670 and died childless in 1673. Mary's relationships and father are set out in The Heraldic Journal where she was granted arms. [1]
Wikipedia states that William Phips married Mrs Mary Hull nee Spencer about 1674 a daughter of merchant Daniel Spencer (N.B., this is wrong she is the daughter of Roger Spencer and according to records their marriage was 1693). [2] William Phipps died in 1695 and Mary may be the Mary Phipps who married Peter Sargent on 9 Oct 1701. The US New England Marriage index confirms she was formerly married to John Hull in 1673. (He died without issue same year) [3] then she married Sir William Phipps (William Phipps (1651-1695) who became 1st Governor of the Province of Massachusetts) in 1693. [4] [5] and she went on to marry as her third husband, Peter Sargent (abt.1650-abt.1713) (a member of His Majesty's Council), in Boston on 9 October 1701, (contract signed 24 September) [6]
Family and Life events William and Mary Phipps had no children although they adopted Mary's nephew, 8yr old Spencer Bennett, son of Dr David Bennett (1616-abt.1719) and Rebecca (Spencer) Bennett (abt.1658-1712), sister of Mary (who had died). Spencer (Bennett) Phips (1685-1757) took the surname Phips and went on to be Lieutenant Governor and Acting Governor of Massachusetts.[7]
Lady Mary was arrested in 1692, accused of being a witch. However her case was not taken forward and her husband, Sir William started to disassemble the witchcraft courts. [8]
Death/Burial/Will Lady Mary Phipps/Sergent died 20 January 1705, as reported in the Boston News Letter. [9] [10]
The will of Dame Mary Sergeant, published in the The New England Historical and Genealogical Society in 1896 shows a number of connections, confirming her relationships to Peter Sergent, Sir William Phipps and Spencer Phipps. She gives her land, wharf and property, called Salutation at the north end of Boston to her two nephews, David and William Bennett. Spencer Phipps was to be her executor with cover during his minority to her friends John Foster (a Judge) and Andrew Belcher. Other bequests were made too, including to a free school, a house given to Mary Armstrong, Margaret Armstrong and to her two sisters-in-law Mary Bridger and Margaret Andrews, also to Benjamin White, Elizabeth Holland and William Bennett. Others are mentioned too, including Reverend Cotton Mather. [11]
Style She was born Mary Spencer, and her title styles included: Mary Spencer, Mrs Mary Hull, then Lady/Dame Mary Phipps, then Lady/Dame Mary Sergeant. She had her own arms, based on Sergent [12]
Details of her christening and her burial are needed.
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S > Spencer | S > Sergent > Mary (Spencer) Sergent
Categories: Salem Witch Trials