Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

later was granted a franchise for main-
taining a ferry in Lynn, Massachusetts.
There he served as grand juror and
ensign of the militia, in 1660 removed to
Hartford, and two years later to Haddam,
Connecticut, where he was one of
the twenty-eight original proprietors.
For many years he represented the town
in the Legislature and served on important
committees, including that which
settled the bounds between Haddam and
Saybrook. His wife, Hannah, was the
mother of Samuel Spencer, who was a
member of the Millington Society of East
Haddam, and died August 7, 1705. His
first wife, Hannah, was a daughter of
Isaac Willey, of New London, and widow
of Peter Blachford, of Haddam. Her
second son, Isaac Spencer, was born January
8, 1678; was deacon of the church;
married, October 2, 1797, Mary Selden.
Their third son, Jared Spencer, was born
November 5, 1718, was a member of
the Haddam Church, and living in 1760.
Elizabeth Spencer, also a member of that
church, probably his wife, was living at
Spencertown in 1761. They were probably
the parents of Joseph Spencer, whose
birth was not recorded in either town or
church record of Haddam. He was born
in 1742, and died November 10, 1814, in
Haddam. He married there, June 2, 1774,
Eunice Cone, who was born October 13,
1745, daughter of Simon Cone, and died
April 12, 1809. She was baptized in the
Haddam Church in March, 1776. Her
father, Simon Cone, died in the Colonial
army in 1756-57. Her eldest child, Joseph
Spencer, was born April 27, 1775, and
baptized in April, 1776, at the Haddam
Church. He married, July 18, 1799, Mar-
tha, surname not recorded. Possibly her
maiden name was Dana. They were the
parents of Joseph Dana Spencer, who
was baptized October 29, 1809, at the
Congregational church in Haddam. He
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308
lived in Higganum, and was highly re-
spected as a man of sound judgment, often
acting as an advisor of his fellow-citizens.
His son, Chatfield Spencer, was born
May 4, 1824, in Higganum, and married
Maria D. Smith, born in Rocky Hill,
daughter of Mason Smith, a large farmer
of that town. When twenty years of
age, Mr. Spencer located in Rocky Hill,
where he worked at his trade of black-
smith, and later was a farmer. He was a
Congregationalist in religious faith, and a
Democrat, politically. He died in 1904,
at the age of eighty years. His wife died
three months before him, and the shock
of this event caused his death. He was
pronounced by his physician to be in per-
fect health.
Clayton Robert Spencer, son of Chatfield
and Maria D. (Smith) Spencer, was
born December 21, 1865, in Rocky Hill.
He attended the local grammar school,
and very early began the endeavors which
were necessary to sustain himself. His
first employment, while still a boy, was
with the Rocky Hill Hardware Company,
where he became skilled in foundry work.
He continued with this establishment
until twenty-three years old. when he
entered the employ of the Lamb Knitting
Machine Company at Chicopee Falls,
Massachusetts. There he continued three
years, and then went to Middlefield, Con-
necticut, where he was employed in the
local foundry for a like period. About
1894 he engaged with the Pratt & Cady
Company, of Hartford, as a moulder,
and continued in the employ of that
establishment for a period of ten years.
On account of ill health, owing to the
confinement of the shop, he engaged in
the express business, operating between
Rocky Hill and Hartford, and continued
with success for several years. For some
time he was with the Bradley & Hubbard
Manufacturing Company, of Meriden, as