[3104.ftw]
[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 22, Ed. 1, Tree #3104, Date of Import: Dec 9, 1998]
Rev. John Halding, Vicar of Stotfold, co. Bedford, published "The Spencers of Bedfordshire" 1903
F,G Emmison in "Bedfordshire Parish Register Series" publ. the complete register of Stotfold and Edworth. Jacobus feels John the 1st can establish as certain ancestors of the Spencers of America.
At the burial of Ann Spencer, widow, it was said of her :the good hospitality keeper, and she did give to the township of Edworth 2 of her best beasts to be left to 2 pore foies in town for 3 shillings, a cow, and the poor and Churchwarders to have the taking of them and the distributing of the money to the poore and to see the stock maintained each of them to have 4 pence of the 6 shillings for there paynes to see they truly done according to her last will." The will was dated 13 Jun 1560 and proved 24 Apr 1651. Calls her widow in Edworth, beds. and names son Gerard age 17, son Michael to have the chest that was his brother John's. John Spencer, son of Michael's child to have 20 lbs., Elizabeth lymer to have 4 lbs at marriage. Alice Aystin to have a calf, servants to have some, for the mending of the "London Brygg Waye" 10 shillings. Brother Edward's children to have l lb., he borrowed from her and the barley he gave her sons to his children. Nicholas Merryil and John Meryll, his brother to have the barley their father gave her sons and the poor of Edworth to have the gift already mentioned. Michael Spencer was a witness. So from this seems of yoeman class, better off than average. The above two Merrylls indicates that she was probably a Merrill.
Gerard's will was dated 8 Jul 1570, probated 20 May 1577. Calls him of Biddleswade, Yoeman and names son Richard under 21 to have 60 lbs, dau. Agnes and Johan Spencer under age and child unborn to have 40 mars apiece at 18 yrs. Wife Ellen, god-daughter, Johan Spencer my brother's dau. to have 1 lb; brother Michael Spencer to have 5 marks. Wife Helen and brother Michael exectors. (P.C.C>Coughtry 19)
ch: Richard, Agnes, Joan and child b. 1576/77
John Spencer, s. Robert and Anne Peake Spencer
Robert, son of Thomas, who was son of Henry G. Spencer (abt 1394) and Isabel Lincoln