In 1677 John Spencer is granted land as recorded in the

Act for the Incorporation of East Greenwich

John Spencer’s name was first on the list of the “Act for the Incorporation of East Greenwich” .  He was a learned man and the early town records were in his handwriting. John and Susannah’s home was where the town meetings were held.

Vital Record of Rhode Island 1636-1850 [R.I. Colonial Records, Vol.II, page 587.]

Vital Record of Rhode Island 1636-1850 [R.I. Colonial Records, Vol.II, page 587.]

“… declare that the said plantation shall be a Towne, by the name and title of East Greenwich, in His Majesty’s Collony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations….constitute a Towne Meeting, by electing a Moderator, a Towne Clerk, …”  Martha McPartland in her book reports that John Spencer was the first town clerk in East Greenwich.

JOHN SPENCER WAS THE FIRST TOWN CLERK IN EAST GREENWICH, RHODE ISLAND.

Esther Amanda (née Spencer) Briggs (1835-1926), a Spencer historian, wanted to make sure that the above fact was known by all descendants. Hence, her article to the local newspaper.

McPartland’s The History of East Greenwich, R.I. Chapter 2, The Founding of East Greenwich, page 15

McPartland’s The History of East Greenwich, R.I. Chapter 2, The Founding of East Greenwich, page 16

McPartland’s The History of East Greenwich, R.I. Chapter 2, The Founding of East Greenwich, page 17

McPartland’s book, The History of East Greenwich, Rhode Island 1677-1960, explains the land division: “five thousand acres, which shall be divided as follows: Five hundred acres to be laid in some place near the sea, as commodious as may be for a town, which said five hundred acres shall be divided into fifty house lots, the remainder of said five thousand acres, being four thousand five hundred acres, shall be divided into fifty equal shares of great divisions , and that each person hereafter named and admitted by this Assembly …one of said house lots, and one great division, containing in the whole one hundred acres. (page 15-16).

 

Spencer descendants, if you have any additional information on the Act for the Incorporation of East Greenwich and the Spencer family, please add a comment to this web site and the web site editor will add this to the site.  Thanks!