Michael Spencer

• General Notes
  • The division of Michael's children between the two wives is somewhat different from what might be inferred from the rev. Mr. Holdings's book, because of the discovery of the burial of the first wife, Agnes, early in 1562. The name of the mother is not stated in the Edworth baptisms, but Elizabeth is stated as mother of two children, Gerard and Richard, who were baptized at Stotfold. We therefore assume that Elizabeth was mother of the other children who were born after 1562 and before the birth of Gerard in 1576, though it remains possible that there was a seond, unknow, wife between Agnes and Elizabeth. The removal of the family from Edworth to Stotfold occured between 1571 and 1576. The above notes taken from: The American Genealogist, Whole Nr.105, Vol 27, Nr. 1, Jan. 1951 ***Additional Notes from Rev.John Holding*********** Michael was the oldest son of John and Anne Spencer. Mr Holding says of him: "We find Anne Spencer in her Will, conveying her interest in the lease to Michael, her eldest son, who must have remained there as long as the lease was in force, and then, if not further confirmed or continued in the tenancy, he must have removed elsewhere. The later event took place, for we find him in Stotfold in 1576, where first evidence of his appearance there is the record in the register of this parish of the baptism of Gerard Spencer, son of Michael and Elizabeth Spencer, May 20, 1576." There is an entry in the church record that on November 5th, 1597, among those present at a church meeting, was Michael Spencer. (Stotfold is situtated but a few miles from Edworth.) The first wife of Michael Spencer was Anne Lorimer. They were married January 22nd, 1555. His second wife Elizabeth (Last name not known) Mr. Holding, on page 33, says: "While Richard and Thomas were flourishing in London, Michael and his sons who remained at Stotfold, seem to have been less prosperous, for we find Michale filing a bill in chancery in 1581, and we find Gerard Spencer, his son, and his wife Alice, leasing their land in Stotfold to Thomas, his brother in London, in 1615, and then the next year they conveyed these lands to Thomas. This decadence in this branch of the of the family, no doubt was one great reason for William Spencer, and his brothers, Thomas, Michael and Gerard migrating to New England in 1632." Mr Holding is of the opinion that the name "Micael" was given for the reason that his parents lived in St.Albans, which is in St. Michael's parish. ***The beginning notes are from Flora Clark's manuscript, "Genealogy of the Four Spencer Brothers." 

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