William Nelson Spencer (1880 - 1959)

Born 15 Apr 1880 in Rock Sound, Eleuthera, Bahamas

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah Estelle (Knowles) Spencer — married 27 Dec 1900 in Key West, Monroe County, Florida, USA

Husband of Lillian Rosina (Russell) Spencer — married 26 Dec 1929 in Key West, Monroe County, Florida, USA

Died 26 Jul 1959 at age 79 in Key West, Monroe County, Florida, USA

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William Spencer is part of a Bahamian family.

Biography

William was born 15 April 1880 in Rock Sound, Eleuthera, Bahamas.^[1] He was the son of John Spencer and Mary Ann Knowles.

He married first Sarah Estelle Knowles on 27 December 1900 in Key West, Florida, in a ceremony performed by Chas. W. Frazer, Minister of the Gospel.^[2]

He married second, as her second husband, Lillian Rosina (Russell) Charlow on 26 December 1929 in Key West in a ceremony performed by Hugh Gunn, County Judge.^[3] The witnesses were E. G. Charlow and José G. Piodala.

William died on 26 July 1959 in Key West,^[4] and he is buried there in the City Cemetery.^[5]

Gully was a sponger fisherman and proud of it- his tombstone is inscribed with the word "Life Long Sponger"

Spouses:

Lillian Rosina Russell Spencer (1888 - 1979)

Sarah Estelle Knowles Spencer (1885 - 1928)*

Children:

Mizpah Louise Spencer Graves (1901 - 1986)*

Henry Oscar Spencer (1903 - 1977)*

William Howard Spencer (1906 - 1982)*

Mary Theora Spencer Schneider (1912 - 2002)*

Frank Luke Spencer (1919 - 1943)*

Roy Anthony Spencer (1926 - 1998)*

Jack Kenneth Knowles (Spencer) (1928 - 2012)*

Sources

1. ↑ Bahamas Registrar General, Civil Registration, Births, 1880, First Quarter, District of Rock Sound, p. 32, no. 7, [Unnamed child] Spencer, 26 March 1880; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-LBHP-7GX?i=36&wc=Q4ZP-N3L%3A216279901&cc=1922411 : accessed October 2017). The birth date that William used as an adult is not consistent with his likely birth record. The birth record does not provide a name or even sex of the child, though it is the closest match in time among the children of John and Mary Ann Spencer. The date 15 April 1880 is carved on William's grave stone, and he provided the same date on his World War I draft card. The 1900 census states that he was born in April 1881. Donna McCurley-Thiel, "William Nelson Spencer," Memorial no. 147232463, posted 31 May 2015; memorial with photograph, Find A Grave (https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=147232463 : accessed October 2017). "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918," William Nelson Spencer, serial no. 2175, order no. 1731, 12 September 1918, Monroe County, Florida, Draft Board; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYTD-3JQB?i=3241&cc=1968530 : accessed October 2017); citing National Archives microfilm publication M1509. 1900 U.S. Census, Monroe County, Florida, population schedule, Key West Ward #3, enumeration district 100, stamped page 49, sheet 8A, dwelling 120, family 154, John Spenser household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DTFQ-K89?i=14&cc=1325221 : accessed October 2017); citing National Archives microfilm T623, roll 174.
2. ↑ Monroe County Marriage Licenses 5: 312, William N. Spencer and Sarah Estelle Knowles, 27 December 1900; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89KN-YQR?i=384&cc=2397260&cat=341167 : accessed October 2017).
3. ↑ Monroe County Marriage Licenses 10: 289, Wm. N. Spencer and Lillian Charlow, 26 December 1929; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89KN-YPBV?i=303&cc=2397260&cat=341167 : accessed October 2017).
4. ↑ William's full date of death is carved on his grave stone. Donna McCurley-Thiel, "William Nelson Spencer," Memorial no. 147232463, posted 31 May 2015; memorial with photograph, Find A Grave (https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=147232463 : accessed October 2017). "Florida Death Index, 1877–1998," William Nelson Spencer, July 1959, Monroe County; database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VV3M-PWD : accessed October 2017).
5. ↑ Donna McCurley-Thiel, "William Nelson Spencer," Memorial no. 147232463, posted 31 May 2015; memorial with photograph, Find A Grave (https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=147232463 : accessed October 2017).