Rufus Spencer (1761 - 1836)

Born 4 Aug 1761 in Coventry, Kent, Rhode Island

Ancestors

Husband of Lydia (Briggs) Spencer — married 1782 in Beekman, Dutchess, New York, United States

Husband of Cynthia Christy — married about 1790 in Beekman Precinct, Dutchess, New York

Husband of Cornelia Christy — married about 1794 in Dutchess County, New York

Descendants

Died 5 Apr 1836 at age 74 in Lowville, Lewis, New York, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Joan Jakubowski [send private message]

This profile is part of the Spencer Name Study.

Biography

Old Quaker Cemetery Revolutionary War Soldier www.dar.org New York 5th, Dutchess County, New York The Four Spencer Brothers, their ancestors and descendants by Donald Lines Jacobus; 64 pages Spencer Genealogy: William Spencer 1601-1640; Thomas Spencer 1607- 1687; Gerard Spencer 1614-1683; Michael Spencer 1611-1653; their children spread across this nation; the Spencers in Michigan have many allied families; Perhaps this is your Spencer lineage: Michael 1611, John 1638, Peleg 1683, Peleg 1716, Rufus 1761-1836 m1) Lavinah Briggs 1768-1791 m2) Cynthia Christy m3) Cornelia Christy-children

Children: Abner 1783-1848 Supervisor of Denmark, Lewis, NY 1821 Daniel 1787-1855 buried in New Bremen, Lewis, NY Allen Albert 1791-1867 m Ruth E Sharp 1794-1870 William 1797-1876 m. Diadama Root died 1857 others to be found in Northern New York Larina Briggs was the dau. of Daniel Briggs 1731-1808 & Welthian Sweet 1732-1808 (dau. of Benjamin Sweet 1690-1777 & Susanna Spencer 1698-1757 (Robert1674,John1638,Michael1611) Daniel Brigss 1731 was son of Benjamin Briggs 1695-1759 & Susannah Spencer 1698-1738 (Michael1668,John1638,Michael1611)

Sources

• www.dar.org

family trees US Federal Census, 1810, 1820, 1830, Martinsburg, Lewis, New York; National Archives Records Administration; www.ancestry.com, Federal Census Records, Martinsburg, Lewis, NY 1810, 1820, 1830.

Unable to locate 1790 and 1800 census records for Rufus Spencer in Dutchess County. Rufus moved to Lewis County after Larina's death. Rufus Spencer moved 1805 to Martinsburg, Lewis, New York, received land grant from Walter Martin grantor record at Familysearch.org .

Source: 1810 Federal Census, New York, Lewis, New York

Historic Spencerville, Ontario, Canada at www.wikipedia.org, Peleg Spencer 1756-1834 built the first sawmill in Spencerville, his son built the Stone House Mill.

Will dated 25 Feb 1782 of Peleg Spencer 23 Feb 1716 - 20 Sep 1789, probate estate files, www.ancestry.com, images 196-206: names my beloved wife and son Peleg executors of my last will, also names: wife Audre, dau. Amy, son Andrew, son Jeremiah, dau. Mary Oatman, son Charles, dau. Audre, dau. Susanna Cole, son William Spencer, son Peleg, son Rufus, son John.

Will of Peleg Spencer 1717-1789, Vermont Wills & Probate

History of Leeds and Grenville, Ontario, Canada 1749 to 1879 by Thaddeus W H Leavitt

History of Jefferson County by Rensselaer Oakes; Page 672, Author Oakes, clearly states Rufus Spencer was on his way to be with his brother Peleg Spencer (1756-1834) in Canada, was stopped by bad weather in Lewis County, NY, remained in Lewis County 1805-1836, his Pension Records from Albany, NY, service NY 5th Militia, Dutchess County, NY during the Revolution. In Dutchess County, Rufus Spencer is linked toDennis Christie Family by NEHGS. Note, Rufus & Peleg are named in their Father's Will, with several siblings. More confusion is presented by others using derivative data, unsourced, linking the Sgt. Rufus Spencer, husband of Huldah, Mother of Huldah, Jacob, & Rufus Spencer in Arlington, Vermont with Peleg & Audrey Spencer of Shaftsbury, Bennington, Vermont. The record from www.myshgs.org, by Flora Clark, was derived from census data in error, states Rufus Spencer in Arlington, Vermont 1790 was the son of Peleg & Audrey Spencer: this is wrong, and continues to be used by researchers, thus posting information wrongfully. Who the parents of Sgt. Rufus Spencer who married Huldah, and had children Huldah, Jacob, & Rufus Spencer, is unknown, anyone posting records showing the parents of this Rufus Spencer has to prove it. This information is posted to help resolve the issue of which Rufus Spencer is the son of Peleg & Audrey Spencer of Shaftsbury, Bennington, Vermont. The Land Deeds in Oswego County & the tombstone of Huldah Spencer relic of Rufus Spencer are profiled (in error), whoever uses these records are obligated to use them properly.

History of Oswego County, New York Card Catalog, www.ancestry.com

History of Lewis County, New york by Dr. Franklin B Hough 1822-1885 (he is direct line descendant to my grandfather's stepmother). (Free at www.archive.org)

Kenyon Ancestry (American Kenyon #1, his son James Kenyon b1684#12, my grandmother Mina Eugenia Kenyon 1865-1943, descends from James 1684) John1655, James 1684, Abiel, Cranson, Nathan, Mina Eugenia, Franklin Stone 1898-1963.

(NEHGS) Genealogy of Dennis Christie 1722-1790 Dutchess County, New York

The Four Spencer Brothers by Donald Lines Jacobus 64 pages Spencer Genealogy Thomas Spencerb1607;Thomas1641;Samuel1674;Lt. Thomas1702;Hezekiah1740 (Minuteman);Hezekiah1766;Alfred1801;Bethena1827 married Hon. James Munroe Pendleton1822(husbandof7thcousin2Xremoved);Nathan1779;Nathan1754;William1704;Joseph1661;James1627;Maj. Brian Pendleton1599-1681 (3rd ggf of husband of 3rd cousin 3 times removed), his descendant married my daughter.

Bethena Spencer & Harriet J. Spencer are sisters, daughters of Alfred Spencer 1801-1838 & Hariet King 1802-1844.

Martha Kenyon 1791-1852 (cousin of my grandmother Mina Eugenia Kenyon) m. Harris Pendleton 1786-1863;Amos1728;William1704;Joseph1661;james1627;Maj. Brian Pendleton1599-1681 (Brian Pendleton Genealogy; Will of Brian Pendleton)

Camp Pendleton, California, named after Major General Joseph Henry Pendleton 2 Jun 1860-4 Feb 1942 (US Naval Academy appointed 2nd Lt. 1884; son of Joseph Rhodes Pendleton 1822-1906 sibling James Francis Pendleton m. Harriet J. Spencer 1Mar1831-29 Dec 1923: Gen. Joseph Henry Pendleton1860;Joseph Rhodes Pendleton1822;Gilbert Pendleton1782;Amos Pendleton1728;William1704;Joseph1661;James1627;Maj. Brian Pendleton 1599-1681.

Internet: Spencer DNA Project-group one dna.

Cemetery Records, Lowville Rural Cemetery, Spencers buried in Lowville Rural Cemetery

Military Record: WW II, died in Plane Crash at Cambridge, England: Lt. Glenn R. Still died 1944, son of Hazel Benton 1893-1968 & Rupert Still: Hazel was daughter of Almond Benton, brother of Amanda (Hattie) Benton (m. 1 James Birks, 2 Calvin Spencer 1837-1882, John Kelsey): Amanda & Calvin adopted my Grandfather Charles B Spencer May 1880-1958.

Military Record: Grandson of my Grandmother's sister Martha Kenyon & William Hess: Glen Kenyon Hess 1925-1945, US 3rd Army, 95th Division, Commander: Gen. George Patton US Military Academy West Point.

Rhode Island Vital Records, 1636-1899, Peleg Spencer born 23 Feb 1716-7, son of Peleg & Elizabeth, East Greenwich, R.I.; Marriage 27 Oct 1737 Peleg & Audrey Spencer. https://www.americanancestors.org/DB532/rd/14341/4-89/260611662

Son of Rufus Spencer, Martinsburg, Lewis, New York; Daniel Spencer born 1787 m. Irene Babcock; 1855 New York Census, New Bremen, Lewis, New York, 1850 Federal Census, New Bremen, Lewis, New York; their son Martin Charles Spencer 1837-1915, buried in Lowville Rural Cemetery, Lewis County, New York. Martin Charles Spencer married Widow Catherine Koster, 1875 New York Census, Lewis County, N.Y., 1880 US Federal Census, Lewis County, N.Y. Frederick Koster, spouse of Catherine Koster, died 1864 in Andersonville Prison Camp, Civil War Soldier, his widow received a widow's pension and guardianship of her two sons by Frederick Koster. The Koster Family were servants to the Prince of Poland: Ludwig Jan Sulkowski and his 3rd wife Antoinette Marie Gemperle who lived in New Bremen, Lewis, NY 1852-1862.

Military Service: Rufus Spencer 1761-1836 served as Private in the New York 5th Militia (proven by his pension records). I will name a comrade; Elisha Scofield 20 May 1764 Stamford, CT. - 6 Sep 1859 Theresa, Jefferson, New York and his wife Abigail Ingersol of Bedford, NY (born 11 Mar 1767-1 Sep 1861): Elisha served in 1780 personal waiter to General George Washington, and served 3 years in the Connecticut Volunteers under Colonel Waterbury. Elisha's daughter Sally Scofield b1803 married Oliver Flint 1803-1879, their son Charles E. Flint 1827-1911 married Delia Stoddard 1828-1919, their son Judge Henry Flint 1830-1903 married Sarah Stillman Kelsey 1829-1891 who was the daughter of Reuben Stillman Kelsey 1786-1869 and Rebecca Bushnell 1790-1856; (Rebecca1790, Daniel1767, Nathaniel1727, Nathaniel1690 married Temperance Seward 1698-1770).

• Find A Grave: Memorial #54068522

Source: When I started my search for Rufus Spencer, his profile was so filled with bad information, my initial thought was, how could this be, well, it came to be because family dropped the ball, became disinterested, and those that had good data chose to remain private. Must respect that choice, however, 12 years of digging, reading wills, and family history has clarified the issue. Those that remain private have their ancestors uncovered, and can now be profiled accurately. Northern New York early history has much to share about the colonists from New England, please, enjoy the ride! Review 6 Aug 1810 Federal Census, third USA Census, New York, Lewis, New York lists seven villages in Lewis County, New York: Leyden, Turin, Martinsburg, Lowville, Denmark, Harrisburg, Pickney; census taker Benjamin Starr, Assistant Marshall. Twenty four images in this census are loaded with family history, image 19 holds Abner W. Spencer, his wife (daughter of Samuel Macumber, next door) two probable sons and daughter, this is in Denmark, Lewis, New York. Abner dies 1848 by suicide, his father Rufus Spencer is in image 9 of 24 images, 3 sons 10-15, 1 son 16-25, these children will surface in 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850 census. Rufus Spencer was granted land from Col. Walter Martin 1764-1834, founder of Martinsburg, Lewis, New York, Walter Martin is found in image 6 of 24, image 7 of 24 is a repeat of image 6. In image 2 of 24, Abraham Spencer 1775-1838 (mar. Temperance Butler 1774-1847) descends from Gerard Spencer 1614-1685. Abraham is son of Abraham b1740, Ephraim, Jared, John, Gerard. Image 2, Stephen Spencer 1778-1851 (mar. Phebe Bailey) also descends from Gerard Spencer 1614-685; Stephen' lineage is from Stephen b1753., Daniel, Nathaniel, Gerard. Image 21 has Oliver Kelsey 1787-1840, (Harrisburg census) whose son John Kelsey 1834-1903 married after Alvira died, Amanda Benton 1841-1918 who raised my Grandfather Charles Spencer 1880-1958. Rufus Spencer 1761-1836 is not found in 1790 and 1800 census of Pawling, Dutchess, New York, he is part of William Spencers Family. Pawling 1800 tax rolls for 1800 is recorded for Rufus. His last Pension is recorded, Pension payment from Albany, New York, served as Private, New York 5th Militia, Rev. War. Other Children of Rufus Spencer and his 3 wives, are not located, wiki tree has listed Abner, Rufus, Daniel, Alpheus, Allen, William, all born before 1796.