Joseph D Spencer (abt. 1739 - 1829)

Born about 1739 in St. Thomas Parish, Orange, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah Nancy (Moore) Spencer — married 1765 in Orange, Colony of Virginia

Descendants

Died 27 Aug 1829 at about age 90 in Napoleon, Gallatin County, Kentucky, United States

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Biography

Joseph Spencer was the child of Edward Spencer and Elizabeth Gaines,born in November 1710 at North Farnham Parish, Richmond, Virginia. Joseph Spencer married Sarah Nancy Moore circa 1764 Orange County, Virginia. She is the daughter of Francis Moore and Elizabeth Harbin Moore of Virginia, a very prominent family of the area at that time. During the years living in Orange County Joseph and Sarah are said to have had the following children (see below)

Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Spencer served with Virginia Militia during the American Revolution.

Joseph Spencer is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A107041.

Joseph Spencer is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: 294925
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel

Joseph Spencer is DAR Ancestor #: A107041
Service: Virginia Rank(s): Lieutenant Colonel
Birth: 1745 Orange Co, VA
Death: 8-27-1829 Pendleton Co Kentucky
Pension Number: *S37436
Service Source: *S37436; Sanchez-Saavedra, A Guide to the VA Militia, P 16
Service Description: 1) Also Captain under Colonel Lawrence Taliaferro, Minute
Batt; Colonel Wm Dangerfield, 7th Regt, VA Line;
2) Lieutenant Colonel
Residence
1) County: Orange Co, VA Spouse:
1) Sarah N Moore ^[1]

NOTE: Service dates Oct 1775 to 1781. These dates are no longer stored on the 1776 sticker as per 1776 Project directions.

Children: (1) Edward Spencer III born in Orange County, Virginia 1765 - Died 1850 Kentucky. Married Eleanor Woolfolk 7 Nov 1787.

(2) Ann Nancy Spencer born in Orange County, Virginia 1767 - Died 1829. Kentucky married a Reuben Thomas.

(3) Francis Spencer born in Orange County, Virginia 1769 - Died 1829 Kentucky. Married a Winifred George on 4 Nov 1790.

>>>>>>> 4 Nov. 1790 Frances Spencer & Winifred George, spinster, p. 26

(4) Thomas Spencer born in Orange County, Virginia 1770 - Died 1827 Kentucky. Never married to knowledge at this time.

(5) Elizabeth (Betsy) Gaines Spencer born in Orange County, Virginia 1771 - Died 1855 Grant, Kentucky. Married a Robert Moore.

(6) Joseph D Spencer born in Orange County, Virginia 1773-1862 Kentucky. Never married.

(7) Winifred Spencer born in Orange County, Virginia 1775 - Died 1855 Kentucky. Married a Henry Blunt 14 July 1806.

(8) Catherine Spencer born in Orange County, Virginia 1777 - Died 2 Mar 1865. Married Samuel Conner 26 Oct 1808.

Daughter Harriet married a Granville Connely of which on the 1860 Census Joseph D is shown living with them.

(9 ) Bernard Spencer born in Orange County, Virginia 1779-1824 .The said Barnard Spencer was born circa 1779 Culpepper, Virginia and married Mary Polly Hampton on the 24 Dec 1804 in Pendleton County, Kentucky

(10) John Spencer born in Orange County, Virginia 1784 - Died 1818 Kentucky.

(11) Mary Polly Spencer 1785 - 1824. The said Mary Spencer was born in 1746 at Fredericksburg, Va and married David Lillard on the 10 Dec 1801. She died in Gallatin County, Kentucky and is buried at Ten Mile Baptist Cemetery.

Sarah died in 1824 and was buried at the Ten Mile Baptist Church Cemetery in the country side of Napoleon, Gallatin County, Kentucky. Joseph died on August 27, 1829, in Pendleton, Kentucky, having lived a long life of 89 years, and was buried along side his loving wife at the Ten Mile Baptist Church that they had belonged to located in Napoleon, Gallatin Co Kentucky. ^[2]

Revolutionary War Pension Application

District of Kentucky On this 28 th of May 1818 before me the subscriber one of the Circuit Judges for the Comm[onweal]th afsd personally appeared Joseph Spencer aged 73 years resident in Pendleton County and District aforesd, who being by me first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath make the following Declaration, in order to obtain the provision, made by the late act of Congress entitled “An act to provide for certain person engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary war” That he the said Joseph Spencer entered the service of the United States in the Revolutionary war, in the Continental establishment in the Month of October 1775 as a Captain in the 7th Virginia Regiment commanded by Wm Dangerfield [sic: William Daingerfield] in Gen’l Woodfords [William Woodford’s] Brigade. That he served in the said capacity of Captain untill Nov’r. 1777 when he resigned and rec’d. his discharge from Gen’l. Washington in the State of Pennsylvania That he was appointed a Lieutenant Colo of a Regiment of Virginia Malitia on the 5th of June 1780 as appears by his Commission here presented [not found] – and served about 14 months – That he was in the battles of the Great Bridge [9 Dec 1775], Burning of Norfolk [1-2 Jan 1776], Quinns Island [sic: Gwynn Island VA, 8-10 July 1776], Brandywine [11 Sep 1777], GermanTown [4 Oct 1777] as a Capt. and in Gates Defeat as a Colo. [defeat of Gen. Horatio Gates at Battle of Camden SC, 16 Aug 1780] That he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support and he here produces all the evidence in his power of his said services. He further states that in the year 1776 James Monroe [pension application W26271], now President of U.S. joined his company a short time as an Ensign at Fredericksburgh [sic: Fredericksburg]. Cap’n. Joseph Spencer of the 7th Virg’a. Reg’t. having been in the service of the united states since Oct’r. 1775, his Family being now in distress, for want of him; his affairs in disorder for want of proper care; and himself in a bad state of Health; begs that his Excellency General Washington would please to permitt him to resign that appointment which the Honourable the Cont’l. Congress were pleased to confer upon him
Nov’br 11th[?] 1777 [Alexander McClenachan]
Colo. 7th Virg’a Reg’t.
Wm Woodford Brig’r. Gen’l.^[3]

Aug. 18, 1782. Joseph Spencer, Orange County, [to] governor and council.
Harrison, Benjamin, ca. 1726-1791.; Virginia. Governor's Office

Requesting permission to send tobacco to Charleston to satisfy debts incurred while a prisoner there.^[4] Comparing signatures on both the document image and his Revolutionary War Pension statement, this is the same Joseph Spencer.^[5]

Research Notes

From unknown contributors:

A interesting letter that explains Josephs religious beliefs as copied from Debate on the Constitution Part 2.

"The Federal Constitution has it Enimyes in Orange as well as in other parts, Col. Thos. Barber offers as a Candedit for our March Election, he is as grate an Enimy to it as he posably can be,and if not as grate as any it has, as grate as his abiliteys will alow him to be, which if our Country men admired his Politickes no more than I do, the Constitution would have but little to fear from that Quarter, but his inwared Labors rifing his Carquits and the Instrements he makes use of to Obtain his Election, misrepresents things in such Horred carrecters that the weker clas of the people aremuch predegessed agains it. by which meens he has manywhich yet appears, in a General way the Baptus's, the Prechers of that Society are much alarn'd fearing relegious liberty is not Sufficiently secur'd they pretend to other objections but that I think is the principle objection, could that be removed by sum one Caperable of the Task. U thhink thay would become friends to it, that body of people has become very formible in pint of Elections, as I can think of no Gentln. of my Acquaintance so Suitible to Task as your Self. I have taken the liberty to Request it of you, several of your Conections in Orange Joines me in oppinion, thinking it would answer a Valuable purpus for I am Cartain that pople relye much on your integerity and Candure, Mr. Leeland and Mr Bledsone and Sanders are the must publick men of that Society in Orange, therefore Mr Leeland Lyes in your Way home from Fredricksburg to Orange would advise you'l call on him and spend a few howers in his Company, in Clos'd youl receive his objections, which was Sent by me to, Barber, A Coppy I tooke, this copy was first Design'd for Capt Walker, but as I hoped youl be in this state in a few days thought proper to Send it to you, by which means youl be made Acquainted with their objection and have time to COnsider them should you think it an Object worth yr Attention, my fears are that Except you and yr friends do Exerte yr selves Very much youl not obtain yr Election in Orange Such are the predegeses of the prople for in short there is nothing so Vile, but what the COnstitution is Charged with, hope to see you in Orange in a few days."The Library of America Page 267-269 (Please note spelling taken exactly from book Orange County Virgina, February 28,1788.
Please note I did not put Mr Lelands objections in. They are on pages 268 and 269 of the book. ( 1st ) wife Elizabeth Gaines (Taliaferro) circa 1725 in Virginia (records burnt to our knowledge in the civl war. Could have been American Revolution also) Now we get to our Joseph Spencer of our line. Some say he had a middle name of Dyke . I have found no written documentation to this. So I stick with Joseph Spencer I do not use a middle initial either as it is not on his revolutionary documents. Below is the information that I do know of him and was documented when I became a member of Daughters of the American Revolution Ancestor #: A107041 Denise Nead Clark, former Regent of the Front Range Daughters of the American Revolution, Westminster, Adams County Colorado . I have also received verification from another distant cousin who sent her grandmothers paperwork to me. It list many of the same records I have. Showing only Joseph D. So we will go with Joseph D. Spencer

According to a History of Orange County by William W. Scott in April of 1778 Joseph called for a leave of from his post to help family with inoculation for smallpox. (Pg 143) He was one of Cullpepers Minute Men in Virginia On the 28th day February of 1778 Joseph sent a letter to his friend James Madison in which he enclosed Baptist leader John Leland's objections regarding the need for Freedom of Religion. Debate on The Constitution Part 2 pages 267 -268-269.

From Orange County Deed Book, 1768-1772, pp. 196-197. 21 November 1769. between JOSEPH SPENCER and SARAH his Wife and ELIZABETH SPENCER, JOSEPH's Mother, which land was given to EDWARD SPENCER, JUNR. by his Father EDWARD SPENCER and by the Will of EDWARD SPENCER, JUNR. to JOSEPH SPENCER [after the death of JOSEPH's Mother, ELIZABETH Will Abstracts--Orange Co. VA 1778, I found the following: p. 37. Edward Spencer a witness to a Waugh will 10 Feb. 1787 [Note: see above: A Waugh was an overseer for John Taliaferro] p. 58. 1799, received widow's dower: Woolfolk estate p. 3. Sarah Spencer, witness to Isaac George Will, friend Joseph Spencer

1782 Estate of William Robins--Joseph Spencer, acct. settled 28 May 1778 Estate of Stephen Shiflett, Cash of Capt. Joseph Spencer for wages due Stephs' son, Benjamin for services as soldier under said Spencer 28 July 1785 1782--Lucy B. Moore, orphan of Barnard Moore, dec'd--tobacco made by Joseph Spencer 1788: Joseph Spencer held surety for Robert Thomas estate 1789: Joseph Spencer witness to Robert Terrell will "Orange County VA Will Book 2, 1744-1778" Abstracted & compiled by John Frederick Dorman, Washington D.C. 1961 p. 65. Will of Edward Spencer of Parish of St. Thomas County of Orange 5 Oct. 1761.

Mother: Elizabeth--Land whereon I live during natural life, then to brother Joseph. Sister: Winifred Spencer: black mare named Filly. Mentions one brother and sisters (plural). Joseph is named the executor and sister Catherine is named executrix. [My Note: A Catherine Spencer appears of record in Charleston. I haven't placed her family as yet].

Will is signed by Edward Spencer. Witnesses: Thomas Thorp, Jr., John Carie, Uriel Mallory. Dated 25 March 1762: Joseph and Catherine presented in Court. Will proved by Mallory. Orange County VA Will Book 2, 1744-1778 Abstracted & compiled by John Frederick Dorman, Washington D.C. 1961 p. 106. Sarah (Moore) Spencer, sister of Bernard Moore, 1775: Sarah married Joseph Spencer. The Said Joseph Spencer was the child of Edward Spencer born on November 1710 at North Farnham Parish , Richmond, Virginia died at Orange County, Virginia on and his ( 1st ) wife Elizabeth Gaines (Taliaferro) circa 1725 in Virginia (records burnt to our knowledge in the civl war. Could have been American Revolution also)

In November 1826, Joseph Spencer executed a deed of gift to his wife, Sarah Spencer "all my visible estate." One of the witnesses to this document was a son-in-law, Henry Blunt/Blount. His grandson, Granville M. Connely served as his administrator when he died.

The written knowledge I have found on Joseph is very interesting it is as follows:

Josephs Birth date is in the American Genealogical -Biographical index at 1740, Virginia Volume 165 page 123. This information comes from Historical reg. of Officers f Continental Army, by Francis B Heitman (685p) 511 Historical reg of Virginians in the Rev, soldiers, salors,marines 1775-1783 by John H Gwathmey 1938 (13,972p):731 Please note no month or day is noted only the year.

1775 • Orange Co Va Affidavit showing the Philip Ballard praying for a pension , Dec 28th ,1829 referred to Revolutionary Claims . Showed he was under Capt. Joseph Spencer of Orange Co, VA the then called Minute Service. Attached to CO Tolevers (Taliaferro)

Notes from Residence event: : From England and settled in Virginia. Moved to Gallatin Co, Kentucky about 1800. He first showed up in the Pendelton County tax lists on this date 1820 Grant, Kentucky, United States. This didn't involve moving, but rather resulted from the creation of Grant County from the western half of Pendelton County, Kentucky.

Notes

Instead of removing I saved the children listed from both biographies. Joseph and Elizabeth moved from Virginia to Kentucky, They had 11 children during their marriage . (Taken from Spencer Family Bible) Edward (Ned) Spencer -1765- 1850 married Elenore Woolfolk Ann (Nancy) Spencer - 1767-1832 - married Ruben Thomas Francis Spencer - 1769-1829 married Winnifred George Thomas S Spencer - 1770 Joseph D Spencer - 1773-1862 - Elizabeth (Betsy) Gaines Spencer -1773 - Married Robert Moore Winifred Spencer - 1775-1885 Married Henry Blunt Bernard Spencer -1779- 22 Jul 1824 - Mary "Polly" Hampton Mary (Polly) Spencer - 1782- 1824 Married David Lillard John Spencer - 1784-1820 married Sally Garnett

Children

1. Edward SPENCER b: ABT 1765 Orange Co VA, married Eleanor Woolfolk

2.Elizabeth SPENCER

3.Ann SPENCER b: ABT 1767 in , Orange, Va

4.Seth SPENCER b: ABT 1770 in , Orange, Va

5.Sally SPENCER b: ABT 1775 in , Orange, Va

6.Catherine SPENCER b: 24 May 1777

7.Bernard SPENCER b: ABT 1780, married Mary Hampton

8.Mary Polly SPENCER b: 1785, married David Lillard

9.Thomas SPENCER b: ABT 1787 in , Orange, Va

10.Winifred SPENCER b: ABT 1788 in , Orange, Va

11.John SPENCER b: ABT 1789 in , Orange, Va

12.Joseph Dyke SPENCER Jr b: 16 Oct 1790 in , Orange, Virginia

13.Francis SPENCER b: 1791 in , Orange, Virginia

Sources

1. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed March 18, 2022), "Record of Joseph Spencer", Ancestor # A107041.
2. ↑ James R. Glacking, "Footsteps of the Past," 22 March 2001 (http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ky/county/grant/index/spencerjoe.html : accessed 8 Dec 2009).
3. ↑ Southern Campaigns American Revolution Pension Statements and Rosters
4. ↑ Library of Virginia Digital Collections
5. ↑ Library of Virginia Digital Collections, Image 1.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES CATALOG Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 37,436, for Joseph Spencer, Virginia. Record Group 15: Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 1773 - 2007. M804 The start of this file can be found on Roll 2256. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/196699104

A History of Orange County Virginia Chapter XXI Joseph Spencer household https://books.google.com/books?id=fygSAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA177&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=4#v=onepage&q&f=false

See also: Sources without citations

Heads of families at the first census of the United States taken in the year 1790. : records of the state enumerations, 1782 to 1790

1810; Census Place: Pendleton, Kentucky; Roll: 8; Page: 110; Image: 00102; Family History Library Film: 0181353

1820 U S Census; Census Place: Grant, Kentucky; Page: 141; NARA Roll: M33_17; Image: 156

DAR Docs Pension states name as Joseph Spencer had a child Joseph D DAR Patriot Index Centennial Edition REFN Page 2755 Part 3

U.S. Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 NameJoseph SpencerGenderMaleMilitary PlaceVirginia, USAState or Army ServedVirginiaRegiment7th RegimentRankCaptain NameJoseph SpencerGenderMaleMilitary Date1 Jun 1775-1783Military PlaceVirginia, USAState or Army ServedVirginiaRegiment7th RegimentRankCaptain Fold 3 http://www.fold3.com/image/17538390

Debate and the Constitution have the book that states Josephs letter to James Madison .

Find a grave Name Joseph D SpencerBirth Date1740Death Date27 Aug 1829CemeteryTen Mile CemeteryBurial or Cremation PlaceNapoleon, Gallatin County, Kentucky, United States of America

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Denise Clark for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Denise and others.