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I recieved a email from the Spencer Family Historical Society asking me if I would provide them with an article for their August publication on my research for the father of my ggggrandpa James Spencer. I have written about him several times on this forum. In his War of 1812 he was not going to be identified as free person of color, or black. He was identified as INDIAN. I have no tribe only oral history that says his father came down from the Onieda of New York.
So far I have found this link:
http://www.angelfire.com/on3/oneida/page8.html
I also spoke to an elder Spencer family member who tells me the line comes from one of the four Spencer brothers that came to New England, Gerrard Spencer. With this in mind I started looking for a clue………..
Gerrard Spencer b. 1614 England
son : Samuel Spencer b. 1648 took a BLACKFOOT wife ( source found on ancestry)
son: Isaac Spencer b. 1678 ( would be 1/2 BLACKFOOT)
son : Elihu Spencer b. 1720 ( would be abt 1/4 BLACKFOOT)
Elihu became a Presbyterian minister and missionary to the Onieda Tribe and formed a mission indian school. He took a Onieda wife and had two & possibly a third child by her. ( making children 3/4 Indian Blackfoot/Onieda) One son named Thomas and one named Henry ( possible also a William Spencer was his son but no proof)
Bill……. this would make Indian sons of Elihu born late 1740’s as he married his white wife in 1750. Thomas and Henry both grew to adulthood and died 1777 at the Battle of Oriskany. The reason I wonder about William spencer is he is also listed as dying at that battle.
I have tried to contact several historians of Onieda and NY history and so far I have had no luck. Any help from anybody with any knowledge about tracing NY Native Americans I would welcome ANY help.
According to what I have found James Spencer was born along the Greenbrier River in a village called TROAT……..1784 . Everybody is trying to put the Greenbrier Thomas Spencer with him but I have searched that line and there is NO INDIAN so it can’t be mine. Trying to change minds tho is like talking to a stone wall.
Anyway it is an honor to be ask to write this article and I will give it my best.
From Ancestry.com
. SAMUEL14 SPENCER (GERRARD (ENSIGN) (HADDAM FOUNDER)13, GERRARD12, MICHAEL11, JOHN (SR)10, JOHN9, ROBERT8, JOHN7, ROBERT6, THOMAS5, THOMAS (DE)4, NICHOLAS (DE)3, JOHN (LEDE)2, WILLIAM (LEDE)1) was born 1648 in Lynn, Essex, MA, and died August 07, 1705 in East Haddam, Middlesex, CT. He married (1) HANNAH WILLEY March 01, 1672/73 in Lynn, Essex, MA, daughter of Isaac Willey and Joanna Lutten. He married (2) MIRIAM MOORE 1689, daughter of Miles Moore and Isabell.
Children of Samuel Spencer and Hannah Willey are:
NOTE for Hannah: Marriage 1 Hannah (BLACKFOOT) WILLEY
· Married: 1 MAR 1673 in Lynn,Essex,Massachusetts
· Sealing Spouse: 6 MAR 1940 in SLAKE
· Info from Dick Dickinson pdd3@email.byu.edu ( august 25, 2001 )
6/18/2004 email but it bounced…….bjd
I recieved an email from a man in NY by the name of Lee Miller. He also is from the Spencer line. Here is some new information that he has provided. :
Greetings Brenda,
Below is some ‘stuff’ pertaining to this line . . . It was indeed a pleasure
speaking with you . . .
Small world, but I just finished reading in “The Wilderness War” by Allan W.
Eckert, about the Battle of Oriskany. Thomas’ indian name was Ahnyero. He is
mentioned in Eckert book on pgs. 47-48, 112, 116-117, 45, 130 and 134. If I
come with anythings else I will drop you a line.
I have Elihu ancestry waaaaaaaaaaay back. Rev. Elihu was also connect, in
his ministry with the Rev. brothers John and David Brainerd . . . a
collateral relation of the Spencers . . . another line for which I have a
lot of info.
Regards,
Gary
Liverpool, New York
So, Thomas Spencer’s Indian name was AHNYERO. Also found this on Elihu spencer , Thomas’ father:
He was born at East Haddam, Connecticut, February 12, 1721; commenced a
course of literary study with a view to the gospel ministry, in March, 1740,
and graduated at Yale College in September, 1746. After his graduation, on
the recommendation of such men as David Brainerd and Jonathan Edwards, he
undertook a mission among the Indians of the Six Nations, and with a special
view to this mission, studied the language of the Indian tribes, and was
ordained to the work of the ministry by an ordaining council in Boston,
Now if he went to the Indians after graduation in 1746 and he married his white wife in 1750 he then lived among the Indians from 1746-50. According to records he then returned a number of times for short periods and durning the RW he was asigned to troops as a chaplin. Wonder if the white woman ever knew about his Onieda wife and children?
Brenda,
Sorry I haven’t been able to add to what you already know.
I don’t have any sources at hand for New York except for the census info I sent you. Wish I could help.
Bill
Bill,
You have been soooo much help. I would like to thank you for all your support and for just being there.
I had hoped that somebody searching the forum might have access to ONEIDA rolls. Here is what I do know about Thomas Spencer:
His father Elihu Spencer
mother Oneida
born 1749
died 1777 Battle of Oriskany NY
Indian name AHNYERO ( meaning blacksmith )
He served in RW and was ranked as captain
He was a spy and took the American side against the British
He was an interperter
He was sent to Canada for a while but return to NY
He married and had at least 1 child by Oneida wife
If anybody has access to RW records or Oneida rolls it might be helpful.
I did contact somebody that works in a tribal office and lives on Long Island, NY. I am waiting for that person to respond.
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