Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

assistant foreman, and later became su-
perintendent of the shops at Rocky Hill,
operated by Foster Merriam & Company,
of Meriden, and has continued in that
position to the present time. Like all
his ancestors, Mr. Spencer is a man of
even disposition, industrious and stead-
fast, and a good citizen. In political prin-
ciple he is a Democrat, and for a period
of twenty years he has served the town
of Rocky Hill as constable. He is a mem-
ber of Apollo Lodge, No. 33, Knights of
Pythias, of Middletown.
Mr. Spencer married, July 3, 1887, Mar-
garet Elizabeth Smith, daughter of Levi
Smith, of Rocky Hill, and they are the
parents of three children: 1. Henry Clay-
ton, born July 9, 1888 ; married Elizabeth
Perry, of New York. 2. Arthur Wells,
born December 4, 1891 ; is now in the
Ordnance Department of the United
States forces, soon to go abroad. 3. Mil-
dred, born May 30, 1895 ; w^e °f Alfred
H. Hubbard, of Middletown, Connecti-
cut.
WAY, Ernest Newton,
Tobacco Factor.
One of the old American families is
that of Way, founded in America by
Henry Way, a stern Puritan, born in 1583,
in England. With his wife, Elizabeth, he
came to Massachusetts in the ship "Mary
& John" in 1630, and settled at Dorches-
ter, where he died in 1667.
His son, George Way, born in Eng-
land resided in Boston, became a follower
of Roger Williams, and about 1657
removed to Rhode Island. After the
burning of Providence by the Indians, he
removed to Saybrook, and there died
about 1690. He married Elizabeth, only
daughter of John and Johanna Smith, and
they were the parents of George Way.
George Way, born about 1655, settled
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
309
in that part of Saybrook which is now
Lyme, where he died February 23, 1717.
He married, about 1690, Susannah, daughter
of Joseph and Sarah West, of New
London.
Their son, Thomas Way, born March
18, 1700, in Lyme, married, November
29> x 739> Sarah Welles, daughter of
Ephraim and Abigail (Allis) Welles,
Colchester, Connecticut, and settled
that town.
Their son, George Way, born about
1742, in Lyme, was a farmer in Colches-
ter, a Revolutionary soldier, and died in
1804. He married, in November, 1769,
Mary Moore, born in 1752, in Lyme, died
in Colchester, in 1828.
Their son, Thomas Way, born about
1780, married Sally Randall, born June
12, 1781, in Colchester, daughter of Amos
and Sarah (Kilbourne) Randall, of that
town.
Their son, John Gardner Way, born
December 16, 1812, was a teacher, quarryman
and farmer, residing in East Haddam,
Connecticut, where he died August
19, 1853. He married, September 3, 1834,
Caroline W. Palmes, born July 3, 1814,
died January 1, 1892. She was descended
from Major Edward Palmes, born in 1638,
in Sherborn, Hampshire, England, son of
Andrew Palmes. In 1659 he came to
America and landed at New Haven,
whence he removed the next year to
New London. He married (first) Lucy,
second daughter of Governor John Winthrop,
(second) Sarah Davis. His second
son, Andrew Palmes, born October 1,
1682, graduated at Harvard in 1703. His
wife, Elizabeth, born in 1685, died November
8, 1733. Their second son, Bryan
Palmes, born November 7, 1714, was a
merchant and real estate dealer, and died
April 12, 1756. He married, December
29, 1750, Sarah, widow of Thomas Way,
of New London, daughter of John and
of
in