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| Princess Diana | Mother of future King of England |
| Winston Churchill | Prime Minister of England during WW II |
| American Presidents | Washington, Coolidge, F. D. Roosevelt, Bush |
| General Henry Champion | Revolutionary War General |
| General John Glover | Revolutionary War General |
| Agnes Harris | Royalty Links of Wife of immigrant William Spencer |
| Anne Hutchinson | Religious Reformer - Banished to Rhode Island |
| Ambrose Spencer | Jurist, Congressman |
| John C. Spencer | Secretary of War and Treasury under Tyler |
| General Joseph Spencer | Revolutionary War General - Continental Congress |
| Platt Spencer | Social activist, invented the "Spencerian Method of Penmanship" |
| Selden Palmer Spencer | US Senator - Missouri - 1918-1925 |
| William Augustus Spencer | Titanic Passenger |
| William Brainerd Spencer | Civil War Vet, Congressman, Louisian Supreme Court |
| Harriet (Beecher) Stowe | Author of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" |
| Tennessee Williams | American Playright |
| Related Links | Related Links |
| Return to Spencer Index |
Notable Descendants of Agnes Harris >>> |
From Her Second Marriage to William Edwards |
| Jonathan Edwards | Preacher Who Was Very Involved in "The Great Awakening" |
| Aaron Burr | Second Vice-President of the United States - Controversial Figure |
| Pierpont Edwards | Judge, father-in-law of Eli Whitney |
There are sources that indicate Diana is descended from Henry and
Isabella (Lincoln) Spencer, died 1485, in England. Ancestors of American
Presidents shows the descsendancies of four Presidents from this couple,
but conspicuously is silent on the Princess Diana connection (the book
shows many other Princess Diana connections to other Presidents through
her American lines.) The Spencers of the Great Migration indicates the
Spencer Siblings were descended from Henry and Isabella (Lincoln), but
the timing of their genelaogy places this couple born about 100 years earlier
than AAP shows. So, there are questions about our relationship to
Princess Diana. In the meantime, this information is presented as food
for thought.
| See a chart showing our possible relationship.
English Spencer lineages: This page shows the English Spencer line and then the line from the common Spencer ancestor to Gerard the father of our four Spencer immigrant children at the bottom with a link there to the American immigrants.
Spencer Lineage of Gerard Spencer - father of American Immigrants Visit a mirror site for the official Royal Princess Diana Page. Mists of Antiquity discusses the fraud and error that existed in the Spencer genealogy for years. Unfortunatly, the author is not clear on exactly what the error was or the correct situation should be. Interesting reading, nonetheless. Lady Diana Spencer Tribute page describes who some of her ancestors were and their roles in English history. Read the
History of the Althorp Spencers, Diana's Line.
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| Winston Spencer-Churchill is another possible cousin of ours through our Spencer immigrants. Since he comes down the English side of the Spencers, the same questions surround his relationship to us as the questions about Princess Diana's relationship. See also this chart |
We may also be cousins to four presidents, as four presidents are
shown in Ancestors of American Presidents as descended from Henry and Isabella
(Lincoln) Spencer. The Spencers of the Great Migration show the Spencer
siblings descended from this couple, but dating problems make these two
genealogies incompatible. George Washington, Franklin Delano Roosevelt,
George Bush, and Calvin Coolidge. (See Ancestry of American Presidents,
Boyd, 1989, pg 171.) See the AAP chart for
these presidents and a comparison of the
AAP and SOTGM genealogies of Henry and Isabella (Lincoln) Spencer.
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Calvin Coolidge Franklin Delano Roosevelt George Walker Bush |
These presidents' Spencer immigrant ancestors are not our Spencer brothers (or sister Elizabeth) however. Other descendants of the English Spencer ancestors migrating to America at different times (one of whom was Anne Hutchinson, see below) spawned these presidents. For more on this subject, including a Spencer descendant chart for each one, see Ancestry of American Presidents, Boyd, 1989, chart on pg 171.
Note, also that a William Spencer, will proved 1748 in Rhode Island,
is an ancestor of Harding. Jacobus, in his TAG series on the Spencers,
shows a William who may be this William, but I have not seen this link
made as yet.
"General Henry (4) Champion, son of Colonel Henry (3) Champion, was born in Westchester, Connecticut, March 16, 1751, and died there July 13, 1836. He served in the revolution as ensign at the Lexington alarm. On April 26, 1775, he was appointed second lieutenant of the Eighth company, Second regiment, and on May 1 promoted to first lieutenant. He was on duty at Roxbury until December 10, He was in the battle of Bunker Hill. On January 1, 1776, he was promoted adjutant on the staff of Colonel Samuel Wyllys, and after the evacuation of Boston, marched to New York, and assisted in fortifying that city. He took part in the battle of Long Island, August 27, 1776, and was with the army at White Plains, October 28, remaining until December, 1776. On January 1, 1777, he was promoted captain of the First Connecticut Line, remaining until the regiment was reorganized as the Third. On July 15, 1779, he was appointed acting major of the First battalion, Light Brigade. This corps was composed of picked men from all the regiments under Washington's immediate command, and was organized especially to attempt the capture of Stony Point, which was successfully done. Major Champion remained in the army until the close of the revolution. He was a member of the Order of the Cincinnati in Connecticut.Return to Top of PageMajor Champion was deputy to the general assembly in 1789, 1793-98, 1800-05, and from 1806 to 1817 was assistant. He was a deacon in the Westchester church from 1813 to 1828. General Champion always celebrated July 16, "Stony Point Day," at his home in Westchester. He obtained the charter for the Phoenix Bank of Hartford, because the State Bank had refused him the accommodation of a loan. He was largely interested in the Connecticut Land Company, to which he subscribed over eighty-five thousand dollars. The towns of Champion, New York, and Champion, Ohio, were named in his honor. He was instrumental in obtaining the school fund for Connecticut, and was chairman of the committee of the legislature appointed to arranme for the holding of the Hartford Convention in 1814. His opitaph reads as follows:
"The patriotism of General Champion early led him to join the army of the Revolution. He was a brave and efficient subaltern officer at the battle of Bunker Hill. He shared in the perilous retreat of the American troops from Long Island. He rendered essential services under Kosciusko in constructing the defences at West Point. He led the first battalion of Connecticut Light Infantry at the capture of Stony Point. Subsequently he filled many offices of honor and trust in his native State. By his talents and influence he promoted the welfare of the community where he resided. He died cheered by the hope and sustained by the promises of the Gospel, leaving a memory respected by his friends, cherished by his family and honorable to the place of his birth."
He married, in East Haddam, October 10, 1781, Abigail Tinker, born March 24, 1758, died April 19, 1818, daughter of Sylvanus and Abigail (Olmstead) Tinker, Children, born in Westchester: 1. Henry, born August 6, 1782. 2. Aristarchus, born October 23, 1784. 3. Aristobulus, twin of Aristarchus, died February 3, 1786. 4. Abigail, mentioned below. 5. Harriet, born May 2, 1789. 6. Maria, born November 19, 1791. 7. Infant, born March 11, 1794; died young. 8. Infant, born September 2. 1795; died young. 9. Eliza, born July 19, 1797. 10. William, twin of Eliza, died April 21, 1798. "
New England Families Genealogical and Memorial: Volume IV - Pp 1604-
The Spencer line of descent of General Henry Champion is:
1 Gerard Spencer 1614 - 1685
.. +Hannah 1618 - 1683
........ 2 Hannah Spencer 1640 - 1691
............ +Daniel Brainerd 1641 - 1715
.................. 3 Joshua Brainerd 1672 - 1755
.................. *2nd Wife of Joshua Brainerd:
...................... +Mehitabel Dudley 1690 -
............................ 4 Deborah Brainerd 1724 - 1789
................................ +Henry Champion 1723 - 1797
...................................... 5 Henry Champion, General 1751 -
The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume IV
General Glover's Spencer lineage is from Michael Spencer:
See "General John Glover" web page.
John Glover is also doubtless related to we descendants of the Kansas Pioneer Morris Wells Hallock through our Glover heritage, but I do not know his Glover line of descent.
See also his Read line of descent.
| "The Royal Descents of 500 Immigrants to the American Colonies", Gary Boyd Roberts, 1993, shows a lineage from Hugh Capet, King of France, died 996, down through to Agnes Harris, wife of William Spencer, American immigrant. She shows as related to Benjamin Harrison, 23rd US President in this analysis. |
Anne Hutchinson
- Religious Reformer, expelled by the Puritans
Coincidentally, Anne Hutchinson, herself, was a direct ancestor to American Presidents: Franklin Delano Roosevelt and George Bush. (Ancestors of American Presidents, Boyd, 1989, Pg 171.)
For more about Anne Hutchinson, see my page about Ezekiel Richardson's role in the Anne Hutchinson affair, which has some links to some world wide web sites about her.
| "SPENCER, Ambrose, jurist, was born in Salisbury,
Conn., Dec. 13, 1765; a descendant of William Spencer, who came from England
to Cambridge, Mass., 1631, becoming a landed proprietor of Hartford, Conn.,
and a deputy of the general court in 1639. Ambrose attended Yale
College, and was graduated from Harvard, in 1783; studied law with John
Canfield, at Sharon, Conn., and practised in Hudson, N.Y. He was
married in 1784, to the daughter of John Canfield. He was city clerk, 1786–93;
a member of the state assembly, 1793–95, and state senator, 1795–1804.
He submitted and carried through a bill for the abolishment of capital
punishment, in all cases except those of treason and murder, and was instrumental
in the erection of a state prison near New York city. He was appointed
assistant attorney-general of Columbia and Rensselaer counties in 1796;
was attorney-general of New York state, 1802–04; justice of the supreme
court, 1804–19, and chief justice, 1819–23. He was associated with Peter
J. Munro, in the preparation of reforms in the chancery system of the state
in 1808; was presidential elector in 1809; opposed the granting of a charter
to the Six Million bank, and was a member of the state constitutional convention
of 1821. He practised law in Albany, 1821–29; was mayor of the city, 1824–26,
and was a representative in the 21st congress, 1829–31. He removed to Lyons,
N.Y., in 1839, and engaged in agricultural pursuits. The honorary degree
of LL.D. was conferred on him by the University of Pennsylvania in 1820,
by Harvard in 1821, and by Columbia in 1823. He died in Lyons, N.Y., March
13, 1848."
The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume IX |
| "SPENCER, John Canfield, cabinet officer, was born in Hudson, N.Y.,
Jan. 8, 1788; son of Ambrose Spencer (q.v.). He was graduated at Union
college in 1806, was admitted to the bar in 1809 and in 1811 was made master
in chancery. He was judge-advocate-general in 1813 and assistant attorney-general
for western New York, and also district attorney in 1815. He served as
a Democratic representative from New York in the 15th congress, 1817–19,
as a member of the New York assembly in 1820–21, and as state senator,
1824–28. He was a member of the board that revised the state statutes in
1827, and until 1830 was attorney-general specially appointed to prosecute
the masons supposed to be connected with the abduction of William Morgan.
He was again a member of the New York assembly in 1832 and was secretary
of state, 1839–40. He was secretary of war in President Tyler's cabinet,
1841–43, and secretary of the U.S. treasury, 1843–44, when he resigned
because of his opposition to the annexation of Texas. He was a regent of
the University of the State of New York, 1840–95, and in 1849 received
the degree of LL.D. from Union college. He edited, with John Duer and Benjamin
F. Butler, a Revision of the Statutes of New York (3 vols., 1846). L.B.
Proctor wrote a "Review of John C. Spencer's Legal and Political Career
(1886). Secretary Spencer died in Albany, N.Y., May 11, 1895."
The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume IX, page 453 |
General Joseph Spencer, who reached the rank of Major General in the Revolution was: Garrard > Samuel > Isaac > Joseph Spencer. So, he is a "cousin" to we Spencers (an ancestor for some, too.)
Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army During the
War of the Revolution, , page 511:
| Spencer, Joseph (Conn). Colonel in the Lexington Alarm, April, 1775; Colonel 2d Connecticut, 1st May 1775; Brigadier-General Continental Army, 22d June, 1775; Major-General, 9th August, 1776; resigned 13th January, 1778; Major-General Connecticut Militia, 1779 to close of war. (Died 13th January, 1789.) |
Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1774-1949, Biographies,
S, page 1847:
| SPENCER, Joseph, a Delegate from Connecticut; born in East Haddam, Conn., October 3, 1714; completed preparatory studies; studied law; was admitted to the bar and practiced; held several local offices; judge of probate in 1753; served in the French war in 1758; member of the Connecticut Council in 1776; brigadier general in the Continental Army; commissioned major general August 9, 1776, and resigned June 14, 1778, because Congress had ordered an investigation of his military conduct in 1777; Member of the Continental Congress in 1778 and 1779; again a member of the Connecticut Council in 1780 and was annually reelected until his death in East Haddam, Conn., on January 13, 1789; interment in Millington Green Cemetery; reinterment in Nathan Hale Park in 1904. |
See the Second Connecticut Line Regiment Re-enactor's Home Page for some interesting stuff about the unit, including where it was at different times during the Revolution.
Here is another page about the Second Regiment of the Connecticut Line of this unit during the Revolution. Note the mention of being formed under Joseph Spencer.
Platt Spencer - Social Activist, Invented the "Spencerian Form of Penmanship".
He removed with his family to Jefferson, Ohio, in 1810; taught writing, and until 1832 was variously engaged as a student, teacher and bookkeeper. He was an earnest advocate of total abstinence, to which principle he had become convert in 1832; was county treasurer for twelve years; a zealous promoter of the antislavery movement; influential in organizing several business colleges in the United States, and was an instructor in business colleges throughout the country.
He was the originator of the Spencerian system of penmanship, and in 1848 published Spencer and Rice's System of Business and Ladies' Penmanship, which appeared in a second edition as Spencerian or Semi-Angular Penmanship. He was married, April, 1828, to Persis, daughter of Duty Ebenezer and Sallie Warren of Ashtabula, Ohio, and of his children, Ellen (Spencer) Mussey (q.v.), became prominent in Washington in the legal profession. He is the author of several books on penmanship and the Key to Spencerian Penmanship completed in 1864. He died in Geneva, Ohio, May 16, 1864."
The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans:
Volume IX
Selden Palmer Spencer, Senator 1918-1925
This guy looks like he could be ours:
Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1774-1949 Biographies,p
1848
| SPENCER, Selden Palmer, a Senator from Missouri; born in Erie, Pa., September 16, 1862; attended the public schools of his native city and the Hopkins Grammar School, New Haven, Conn.; was graduated from Yale College in 1884 and from the Washington University Law School, St. Louis, Mo., in 1886; was admitted to the bar in 1886 and commenced practice in St. Louis; professor of medical jurisprudence in the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis in 1886; member of the State house of representatives in 1895 and 1896; judge of the circuit court of St. Louis 1897-1903; captain in the Missouri Home Guard and chairman of the draft board in 1917 and 1918; elected as a Republican to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William J. Stone; reelected in 1920, and served from November 6, 1918, until his death; delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1920 and 1924; died at Walter Reed Hospital, Washington, D.C., on May 16, 1925; interment in Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis, Mo. |
I'm fairly sure this fellow is ours because General Joseph Spencer's wife was a Selden and he's from Connecticut. I haven't quite placed this fellow in a tree, yet, however. There are several other Spencers that have served in Congress, but they came from points further west so can't tell if they relate to us. See ancestry.com
| He is shown on this Titanic passenger list. According to an unverified source, William Augustus Spencer was 4xg grandson of immigrant William and Agnes (Harris) Spencer. (Look under first class passengers, or do a search.) |
| "SPENCER, William Brainerd, a Representative from Louisiana; born
on "Home Plantation," in Catahoula Parish, La., February 5, 1835; received
his early schooling under private tutors; was graduated from Centenary
College, Jackson, La., in 1855 and from the law department of the
University of Louisiana at New Orleans in 1857; was admitted to the bar
in 1857 and commenced practice in Harrisonburg, La.; served in the
Confederate Army, with the rank of captain, until 1863, when he was
captured; remained a prisoner of war at Johnsons Island, Ohio, until the
close of the Civil War; resumed the practice of law in Vidalia, La.,
in 1866; successfully contested as a Democrat the election of Frank Morey
to the Forty-fourth Congress and served from June 8, 1876, to January
8, 1877, when he resigned to accept a judicial appointment; appointed
associate justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court January 9, 1877, which
position he held until his resignation April 3, 1880; again resumed the
practice of law in New Orleans, La.; died in Jalapa, Mexico, February 12,
1882; interment in Magnolia Cemetery, Baton Rouge, La."
Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1774-1949, page 1848 |
Following is the lineage from immigrant William Spencer to Harriet (Beecher) Stowe, authoress of "Uncle Tom's Cabin". Note, her maiden name was Beecher, married name Stowe:
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