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26th Generation
1964. Nehemiah
SPENCER23 was born
on 27 Nov 1767 in Columbia Co., NY. He died on 28 Mar 1856.
Following is a letter written by Nehemiah Spencer who was born at Spencertown,
NY in 1767. Written when he was quite elderly, ca. 1835-40, it was a nephew
Jonah Spencer, who was born in 1819. Jonah's descendants in Clinton, Mass. had
the original letter in 1892 when a Spencer cousin from Minneapolis, Minn., Jonas
Spencer, visited them and copied it along with a drawing of a genealogical tree,
and a list of names appearing on the tree. Jonas was a son of Asa B Spencer.
Asa, born in 1802 had started for the gold rush in California 1849-50, had died
at the Panama Canel, and whose
widow and son William with the rest of his family, traveled up the Mississippi
River to Minneapolis where they settled and where William's sons William E and
Asa lived out their lives. This letter
was obtained and copied from one of them by Mrs Hazel Spencer Howard in 1949.
"Since I knew that you used to be fond of history, I have here given you
some extracts of a very imperfect sketch of what I could collect of the history
of our family, and a few incidents of my own
unprofitable life.
My great grandfather, John Spencer, removed from the town of East Haddam, conn.
with his sons Simeon, Joel, Nehemiah, Ithamar and Ahimaaz. they settled in a
place to which they gave the name Spencertown. It is in the town of Canaan in
Columbia Co., NY. The country was then entirely new and they were much harrassed
by the Indians. They built a kind of fort and kept watch i the night, and on
one occasion were forced to leave their homes and go to Sheffield in Massachusetts
and stayed nearly a year.
They improved their lands in Spencertown, and my grandfather Joel Spencer bought
a tract of land in a valley east of there on a stream they called Green River,
where in the course of several years he built two saw mills and two grist mills,
all before my rememberance. My great-grandfather died before my rememberance
in the 85th year of his age. My great-grandmother I remember very well; she died
in her 85th year. My grandfather's brother Simeon, died of the smallpox at about
60. My grandfather was interred in Maryland, Otsego County. His children were
Israel, Asa, Mary, Jerusha, Desire, John and Dorcas. Dorcas is the only one now
living. (NOTE: She died in 1843) I have been to his grave (his grandfather's).
It is ornamented with a beautiful white marble with this inscription: "To
the memory of Dea. Joel Spencer who departed this life February 25, 1806 in the
87th year of his age. His hands whilethey his alms bestowed, His glorious future
harvest sowed, the sweet rememberance of the just, like a great root revives
and bears a stream of blessings to his heirs, while dying nature sleeps in dust."
His brother Ithamar is interred in the same town, but not in the same burying
ground. He died in the 92nd year of his age. Ithamar's son Amos married my father's
sister, Dorcas. They live in Maryland and have a numerous family living chiefly
in the same town.
I cannot learn whether my father was born in E. Haddam or not. the children were
Joel, born May 2, 1766; Nehemiah, November 27, 1767 (the author of this letter);
Jonah, born in January 1770; Asa, March 20, 1772; Jason August 1774; Eliel, in
October 1777; Aseniath, September 1779; Josiah, March 1782; Jerusha, August 1784
(NOTE: his father would have been born in East haddam presumably, as they settled
in Spencertown in 1757, and Asa's eldest son was born in 1766). My father was
in low circumstances and moved several times, as I remember. the Revolutionary
War commenced and he went into the service and I went and lived with my grandfather
about five years, and was conversant with my cousin Cyrus Graves. (NOTE: Cyrus'
mother was Asenith Graves). We conversed much on the subject of religion. My
mind was filled with extreme anxiety about my future state. I thought the day
of judgement was at hand and I feared that I should be found at the left hand
of my judge. How old I was when these feelings came on , I cannot tell. It is
almost the first thing I can remember distinctly. My father moved to Pittstown
and the fall I was 14 I was much alone. My father and three oldest brothers being
from home. My mind at this time was deeply affected so that I could not rest,
and though I said nothing to anybody about it, yet it seemed I could not live
through the pains of Hell had got hold of me, and I feared that I should sink
into the bottomless pit. I had had such excercises of mind from my earlier childhood
by turns, but they were now more intense than ever before. I thought my time
of probation would soon be forever fixed beyound the reach of mercy.
Though my mind was not uniformally so distressed, yet I had no consolation. I
had intervals when I did not think much on the subject. But when I did it was
with gloomy forebodings and my intervals of thoughtlessness were recollected
with horror. but one day I remember being excedingly elated with joy. I thought
my sins were all pardoned and my title to heaven made clear, but why it was so
I could not tell or what evidence I had of its being so, but a strong presumption
n my mind that it was. But those feelings continued but a short time. My sky
was soon overcast with impenitrable clouds which could _________(illegible) a
ray of light. I thought my day of grace was past, that I had committed the unpardonable
sin and there was no mercy for me. I continued in this state of mind for several
days and the agitation of my mind in my wakeful hours disturbed my sleep and
caused many frightful dreams. I viewed myself as a great sinner in the sight
of God and that it would be perfectly just of Him if I were
sent to Hell forever. I do not recollect anything very distinctly of the state
of my mind afterward. I felt very anxious for the salvation of my soul and prayed
for pardon of my sins but had not that horror which I felt before.
Before spring we moved over to the west side of the river (NOTE: probably the
Green River). I became more conversant with other boys and in measure forgot
the concerns of my soul. I had just entered my 17th year when my father died
and my mother went back to Green River. My health was poor for nearly a year.
I lived with my grandfather and gave my mind considerably to study and spent
my time like other thoughtless boys. The fall that I was 20 I went up to Pitts
town and kept school that winter and stayed there the next summer. Went home,
studied the surveyor's art and in the month of march went 4 weeks to Dr. Porter's
school and studied English grammer and Geography, and the next winter went 4
months to that school and studied latin. I have obliged very much and must brake
off abruptly."
Here follows the line of John/ Spencer as recorded by the above Nehemiah and
included the original letter:
3
John/ Spencer moved from East haddam, Conn. and settled Spencertown, NY, with
his sons Nehemiah, Simeon, Joel, Ithamar and Ahimaaz.
4
Joel/ Spencer, born 1719, died 1806:
Children: Israel, Mary, Jerusha, Desire, Asa, Eunice, John, Dorcas.
Lucy BASSETT was born about 1775.
Nehemiah SPENCER and Lucy BASSETT had the following children:
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