William Spencer

     William was born in Stotfold, Bedfordshire, England. He was christened there on 11 October 1601 in the church of St. Mary's. He immigrated in 1631. He first settled at Cambridge, Massachusetts. William married Agnes Harris circa 1632 in Cambridge.² William & Agnes had children: Elizabeth [ca. 1633][m. ca. 1650 William Wellman & 2nd 5/23/1671 Jacob Joy], Sarah [ca. 1635-11/03/1691][m. by 1656 John Case] & Samuel [ca. 1639][m. by 1668 Sarah]. William's children were bequeathed, in his Uncle Richard's will of 17 March 1645, fifty pounds.³ On his death bed, he made a nuncupative will on 4 March 1640 at Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut.

He bequeathed that the estate that he hath in New England, and also that which may come to his wife hereafter, that is, any part of his wife's portion if any do come, that all the estate be divided as followth: ... to my wife one third part of all my estate ... to my son Samuel one third part ... to my two daughters, Sarah & Elizabeth, one third part ... the children to be brought up with the improvement of the whole estate that I leave both to my wife & children. Also my mind is my cousin, Matthew Allyn, my brother, John Pratt, and John Taylcoate, that these three parties or any two of them shall have the oversight of my estate, and in case they shall see in their judgement the estate to be wasted, that they shall have power to take the children & their portions ___ for their bringing up, and to pay the children their portions that remain at the several times above written. Also, my mind is that my wife shall have no power to alienate or make sale of my house or any part of the and I leave without the consent of two of the parties that are to oversee my estate.

The inventory of William's estate was taken. His estate was valued at 120 pounds. William departed this life in 1640 in Hartford. An agreement was dated after 11 December 1645. In it, it was agreed that if any of the children died before they came of age, "the survivor & survivors shall receive it at the time when it should have been paid to the deceased, if he or she had lived, and if they all die before the said time, then it shall be paid to Agnes Edwards or her lawful attorney of the said Agnes, the mother of the said children.

Then on 24 June 1650, the estate of the deceased William Spencer was brought to court and, "with the information of the overseers in the presence of Thomas Spencer, brother to the said William, with the consent of the wife of William Edwards, they do judge that 30 pounds is as much as the estate here will bear to be sequestered for the use of the children, which is to be paid to them according to the will of the said William Spencer . . . provided also that whatsoever shall be paid here or in England of any estate due to the wife of said William Spencer, or shall come from Concord, two thirds thereof shall be and remain to the proper use of the children aforesaid.³