Musings on the Spencers in Colonial Hartford

My meanders begin in Colonial America; Hartford, Connecticut to be exact. Thomas Spencer, my 9th great-grandfather is one of the town's founders. (See foundersofhartford.org). I have noted the history of the settlement during the lifetime of my ancestor. 

Reverend Thomas Hooker was a Puritan and was forced from England by the Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1633, he sailed from Holland to the colonies to escape further persecution, settling in Cambridge. He formed a church with an assistant, Samuel Stone, who had been born in Hartford, a hamlet north of London. In 1635, he decided that the Boston area was too crowded and left for Connecticut with about 100 people from his congregation and some cattle. They started a settlement to the north of the Dutch outpost, House of Hope, from New Amsterdam.

Connecticut derives from the Algonquin word, quinnetukut, which means "long, tidal river". Hartford means "deer crossing", so it is thought that Samuel Stone suggested the name Hartford for the new settlement.  The settlement was surrounded by various Indian tribes affiliated with the Algonquin confederation. There were the Podunks to the east, the Poquonocks to the north and west, the Massacoes, the Tunxis tribe, the Wangunks to the south and the Sauklogs very near the settlement.  Relationships with these tribes were generally good and the settlers traded with the Indians and, in return, helped protect them from two warlike tribes, the Mohawks to the west and the Pequots to the east.

The Pequots attacked the settlement in 1636, starting the Pequot wars. Thomas Spencer, my ancestor, was made freeman in the Puritan church in Cambridge in May 1634, In that same year that he married Anne Derifield. They moved to Hartford in 1636 and Thomas served in the Pequot wars beginning in 1637. Thomas fought to the war's conclusion in 1638 with the resounding defeat of the Pequots. The captured Pequots were divided up and forced to join the other tribes or were shipped as slaves to the West Indies. 

During the war, the settlers had formed a general government with settlers in the nearby towns of Windsor and Wethersfield. In 1639, they ratified the "Fundamental Orders of Connecticut", a document that John Fiske called the "first written constitution known to history that formed a government." It marked the beginning of American democracy and much of the credit is owed to Reverend Hooker. The government of the United States is a lineal descendent of this document which is why Connecticut is known as the Constitution State.

In 1662, the Connecticut Colony succeeded in gaining a Royal Charter which established boundaries. Some of these boundaries still conflicted with the claims of the Dutch. They had mostly peaceful relations with the Native Americans and were helping the Mohegans who were still battling with the Pequots.

In 1675-76, the King Phillip's war was raging in Plymouth Colony. The Connecticut Colony and their Native American allies joined in the battle and helped Plymouth defeat the English. The support of Connecticut and their Native American friends were key in this success. The militia took this opportunity to finally eliminate the Pequot and their allied tribe from the region, allowing for peaceful growth.

Thomas Spencer acquired land where ever it was available in Hartford, he had a lot on Main Street for his home, 1.5 acres in the West Field, .75 acres on the east of the Great River, plus another 1.25 acres nearby, 4 acres near these were bought from his brother William. He also owner 8.5 acres in the Cow Pasture, and 9.5 acres in the Little Oxpasture.  He began farming and raising a family. 

Thomas and Anne had 3 sons before she died in 1645. Thomas married Sara Bearding later that year and had a son and 5 daughters with her.

Beginning in 1650, he turned from farming to public service. He served on the petit jury for much of the following decade and was the sergeant of the trainband, the local militia. He was appointed constable in March 1657 and was the surveyor of highways in 1672.

In 1686, the king commissioned Sir Edmund Andros as the Royal Governor of the Dominion of New England. In 1687, the year Thomas Spencer died, Andros came to Hartford and demanded that they turn over their charter to him as the new governor. The charter was placed on the table. But then, the candles were blown out and when re-lit, the charter was gone. It had been hidden in the "Charter Oak" outside the tavern where they were meeting. Sir Edmund named four members for his Council for the Government of New England and moved onto Boston. Other than demanding taxes, he mostly ignored Connecticut during his rule. When William and Mary took the throne in England, the citizens of Boston arrested Andros and sent him back to London in chains. In May 1689, the Hartford colonists voted to re-establish their charter and elected Robert Treat as their governor.