Martha (Law) Spencer (1869 - 1911)

Born 24 Dec 1869 in Harwood Island, Clarence River, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Wife of George Spencer — married 31 Mar 1890 in Maclean, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 14 Nov 1911 at age 41 in Maclean, New South Wales, Australia

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

Biography

Martha was born the sixth child and second daughter to Charles and Barbara (nee LAW) LAW on December 24, 1869 at Harwood Island, Clarence River, NSW.

Martha married George, son of Robert and Ann (nee DAWKES) SPENCER, on March 31, 1891 at the Methodist Parsonage, Maclean, NSW. Officiant was Rev. Harry ALLEN. Witnesses to the marriage were Richard CRANSTON and Ellen Elizabeth LAW (sister of the bride).

Martha's siblings were Jane Ann (1860-1950) Ford, David Man (1861-1925), John William (1863-1951), James (1865-1935), Charles Henry (1868-1902), Ellen Elizabeth (1870-1950) Gardner, George (1873-1951), Peter (1875-1944), Unnamed Child (1877-1877), Ellen Mary (1878-1956) Nicholson, Sarah Janet (1881-1952), Philip (1884-1940) and Joseph Alexander (1886-1952).

Martha died on November 14, 1911, at the Lower Clarence Hospital, Maclean at the age of 42 years from Haemorrhage and ? Septicaemia, Septic Endocarditis. Informant was U WILSON (Matron) Lower Clarence Hospital. Her funeral was held on November 15, 1911 and buried in the Methodist Cemetery, Maclean. Officiant was George A REEVE. Witnesses to the burial were James E WANT and Charles J GILBERT ^[1]

"Martha was pregnant with twins when George visited his mother in England. Upon receiving notification of her husband's death she eventually went into an premature labour and lost her twins. Hence the problems leading to her untimely death. My Pop remembered seeing them lying on their backs waving their arms and legs. They looked like little dolls. The twins were buried along the bank just down from the house."
From an interview with her Pop, Stewart "John" SPENCER. Jan Louise SPENCER 1990

Martha and George had thirteen children

1. Annie Elizabeth (1891-1984) Pullen
2. Raymond Charles (1893-1951)
3. Frederick George "Joe" (1894-1954)
4. Ernest William "Curley" (1896-1961)
5. Phillis Maria (1898-1966) Walker
6. Leonard "Bart" (1900-1976)
7. Herbert "Mick" (1902-1983)
8. Lilian "Lily" (1903-1974) Hills
9. Stewart "John" (1904-1991)
10. Ethel (1907-1993) Jarick
11. Bryce (1909-1995)
12. Twins (1911-1911)

"District and Inter-District Maclean "Death of Mrs G SPENCER
"Quite a gloom was cast over the Lower Clarence on Wednesday when it became known that Mrs George SPENCER, of Palmers Island, had died in the Lower Clarence Hospital on Tuesday afternoon at 5 o'clock. The deceased had been removed from her home at Palmers Island three weeks ago in a critical condition, and after a lapse of some days her condition showed an improvement that gave her many friends great hopes of recovery, and the news of her untimely end came as a great shock. The deceased, who was 42 years of age, was a daughter of Mr LAW, of Harwood, and had the sad misfortune of losing her husband in England some four months ago. By her death the deceased leaves 11 children to mourn their loss, the oldest being 21 years, and the youngest 2 years. The remains were interred in the Methodist Cemetery on Wednesday afternoon, the Rev REEVE officiating at the graveside."
The Clarence and Richmond Examiner, page 2, Thursday, November 16, 1911

Martha's father Charles, died the same month on November 30, 1911

Sources

1. ↑ FindAGrave: database and images, memorial page for Martha Law Spencer; Died: 14 Nov 1911; Cemetery: Maclean Cemetery, Maclean, New South Wales; Find A Grave: Memorial #145252858; maintained by: Gravewizard; created by: T.V.F.T.H.; accessed: 26 Feb 2024

• Bir: 10176/1870 LAW MARTHA (f) CHARLES (m) BARBARA GRAFTON NSW BDM
• Chr:
• Mar: 4587/1890 LAW MARTHA to SPENCER GEORGE MACLEAN NSW BDM
• Dea: 15219/1911 SPENCER MARTHA (f) CHARLES (m) BARBARA MACLEAN NSW BDM
• Bur: Methodist Cemetery, Maclean ID8316462

• BIRTH: https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/lifelink/familyhistory/search/result?7

• MARRIAGE: https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/lifelink/familyhistory/search/result?15

• DEATH: https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/lifelink/familyhistory/search/result?11

• BURIAL: http://austcemindex.com/edit-inscription?id=8316462&msg=2

• Birth Certificate Registration obtained
• Marriage Certificate Registration obtained
• Death Certificate Registration obtained