The web site author wrote the “Overview” menu page in 2009 with additional information from outside sources, whereas, this below menu page “In Summary” was written earlier with information mainly from Audrey Mae’s oral tradition. Researching one’s genealogy is never static; new information is gleaned all the time.
Audrey Mae’s, John Edward’s (“Ed’s”) and Edith Anna’s Direct Family Line:
First Generation in East Greenwich, Rhode Island
John and Susannah (aka Susanna) were buried “just west of the house (current day 289 Kenyon Avenue, East Greenwich–original house razed in 1914) on the bank of Payne’s Pond”. Years later an old farmer not knowing the history removed the stones and “plowed over the land.”
Second Generation in East Greenwich, Rhode Island
John (b.4-20-1666–d.1743) and Audrey (née Green, b.12-27-1667–d.4-17-1733) Spencer. The burial place of this couple is not known to web site author, and more research is needed to find out where their land was. John was the first son of John and Susannah. With the marriage of Audrey, the Green (aka Greene) ancestry came into the Spencer line. Audrey descends from John Green who in 1635 sailed from England to Salem, Massachusetts. John Green came to Rhode Island with Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island. Unlike other colonials Roger Williams bought land from the Indians (aka Native Americans). Audrey Mae, born 1912, was name after this grandmother, Audrey Green.
Third Generation in East Greenwich, Rhode Island
William (b.5-5-1695–d.1758) and Elizabeth (née Rice, b.5-6-1698–d.1776) Spencer were married 5-10-1716. The burial place of this couple is not known to web site author, and more research is needed to find out where their land was. With the marriage of Elizabeth, the Rice ancestry came into the Spencer line.
Fourth Generation in East Greenwich, Rhode Island
With the marriage of Mary, the Manchester ancestry came into the Spencer line. William (b.4-4-1723–d.October 1777) and Mary (née Manchester, b.12-19-1719–d.9-8-1784) Spencer were the first Spencer family on the Spencer homestead on Middle Road (current day location around Partridge Run area). William and Mary and their older son Richard and oldest daughter Elizabeth are buried on the west end of the Henry Straight family cemetery (aka “over back” cemetery), located 1,383 feet south and over the stone wall and back from the Spencer family cemetery (aka East Greenwich historical cemetery No.9) on Middle Road and just west of Partridge Run. The “over back” cemetery is on the east side of the adjoining stonewall connecting the two cemeteries.
Fifth Generation in East Greenwich, Rhode Island
John (b.2-7-1760–d.9-29-1849) and Huldah (née Johnson, b.6-28-1762–d.8-29-1832) . With John’s marriage to Huldah, the Johnson ancestry came into the Spencer line. John, the second son of William and Mary, was a minuteman in the American Revolution and “engaged for fifteen months from December 16th, 1776, to March 16, 1778”. When his father and older brother died of small pox in October of 1777, John was needed at home to run the farm. His mother Mary (née Manchester) Spencer sold twenty acres of land to pay for a substitute, Samuel Davis, to take John’s place in the Revolution for six months. John and Huldah are the first Spencer generation to be buried in the Spencer family cemetery (aka East Greenwich historical cemetery No.9) on Middle Road. According to Audrey Mae’s map and diagram, Huldah’s gravestone is No.1 and John’s gravestone is No.2.
Sixth Generation in East Greenwich, Rhode Island
Richard Anthony (“Deacon”, b.5-11-1798–d.12-19-1889) and Roby (née Tarbox, b.7-15-1798–d.1876) Spencer. With Richard marriage to Roby, the Tarbox ancestry came into the Spencer line. Richard was always called Deacon Richard because he was Deacon of the Frenchtown Baptist Church for fifty years. Richard and Roby are buried in the Spencer family cemetery (aka E.G.historical cemetery No.9) on Middle Road. According to Audrey Mae’s map and diagram, Roby’s gravestone is No.5 and Deacon Richard’s gravestone is No.6.
Seventh Generation in East Greenwich, Rhode Island
Richard Anthony (b.9-1-1817–d.5-27-1845) and Ann Almy (née Tarbox, 2-13-1823–d.11-24-1904) Spencer. Richard died at age twenty-seven in New York City according to DAR application records. Richard Anthony dying in New York City was not part of the oral tradition that Audrey Mae told. Audrey Mae’s oral tradition was that Ann Almy was a high flyer and not well liked by the Spencers. (Ann Almy (née Tarbox) Spencer’s second marriage was to a well-to-do man named Joseph Briggs, and they lived in a lovely home in Connecticut.) Richard Anthony left one child, Anna Maria (pronounced Anna Mar-eye-ah) , who had just turned one year old when her father died. The child was raised in East Greenwich with the extended Spencer family. Richard Anthony is buried in the Spencer family cemetery (aka E.G.No.9) on Middle Road. According to Audrey Mae’s cemetery map and diagram, Richard Anthony’s gravestone is No.7.
Eighth Generation in East Greenwich, Rhode Island
Anna Maria (pronounced Anna Mar-eye-ah, b.5-23-1844–d.9-25-1913) and John Johnson (b.5-27-1842–d.4-19-1925) Spencer. Audrey Mae spelled Anna Maria’s name Mirah because everyone pronounced the name Mar-eye-ah at that time in history. If Anna Maria had not married a Spencer, the Spencer name would have ended in this line as a surname. John Johnson Spencer was a Private, Blacksmith, Teamster and Farrier in Company H, 1st Regiment Rhode Island Cavalry during the Civil War. He was taken prisoner near Middlebury, Virginia and, fortunately, was in the prisoner exchange program between the north and the south. Anna Maria (pronounce Mar-eye-ah) and John Johnson are buried in the Spencer family cemetery (aka E.G.No.9) on Middle Road. According to Audrey Mae’s map and diagram Anna Maria and John Johnson’s shared gravestone is No. 8.
Ninth Generation in East Greenwich, Rhode Island
William J.B.(b.4-11-1878–d.1-12-1969) and Mary Jane (née Vaughn, b.1-14-1877–d.2-11-1955). With the marriage of Mary Jane, the Vaughn ancestry came into the Spencer line.
William’s full name is William Joseph Briggs Spencer. However, William J.B. Spencer, as he was called, and Joseph Briggs are not blood related, as William’s name would suggest. Joseph Briggs was Anna Maria’s step-father. Naming a child after one’s relatives was very commonplace, especially at that time in history. Joseph Briggs was married to Anna Maria’s mother, and he wanted Anna Maria’s (pronounced Anna Mar-eye-ah) son to be named after him. He told Anna Maria (pronounced Mar-eye-ah) that if she named her son after him, he would give her fifty dollars ($50.00). In 1878 fifty dollars was a lot of money. She named William J.B. after him and she received the money.
William J.B. and Mary Jane are not buried in the Spencer family cemetery (E.G.No.9) on Middle Road. Fearful of vandalism in the Vaughn and Spencer family historical cemeteries, Mary Jane did not want to be buried in an historical cemetery without perpetual care. She wanted to be buried in a cemetery with perpetual care near their home in Coventry, R.I. She was the first of a number of Spencer (and Vaughn) descendents to be buried in Lot 29 and Lot 50, Rathbun cemetery, corner of Washington Street and Knotty Oak Road, in Coventry, R.I. This cemetery is across the street from their church and this cemetery has perpetual care. Years later, William J.B. was also buried there.
Tenth Generation in East Greenwich, Rhode Island
William J.B. and Mary Jane (née Vaughn) Spencer’s three children: Edith Anna (b.6-11-1898–d12-8-1991) , John Edward (b.8-15-1904–d.4-26-1988), Audrey Mae (b.3-19-1912–d.3-11-2007).
Edith Anna (née Spencer) Evarone is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California. John Edward Spencer is buried in Lot 29 and Audrey Mae (née Spencer) MacDonald is buried in Lot 50, Rathbun cemetery, corner of Washington Street and Knotty Oak Road, Coventry, R.I. along with their parents, William J.B. and Mary Jane. Other Spencer (and Vaughn) descendents are buried there or plan to be buried there, also.
Eleventh Generation in East Greenwich, Rhode Island
Child, Anna Lucia Evarone (b.3-17-1921–d.4-6-1923), and infant, Frank Evarone (b.5-19-1926–d.5-21-1926), were the first and third child of Edith Anna (née Spencer) and Frank (b.8-22-1898–d.12-29-1986) Evarone. Anna Lucia and the infant Frank are buried in the Spencer family cemetery (E.G.No.9) on Middle Road in East Greenwich, R.I. According to Audrey Mae’s map diagram Anna Lucia and the infant Frank share the same gravestone No. 38. On Audrey Mae’s artistically designed map, she has a drawing of an angel beside their gravestone.
Colonial Burial Sites:
Unmarked graves on the bank of Payne’s Pond:
- John and Susannah (née Griffin) Spencer, one of the founders of East Greenwich are buried in unmarked graves on the bank of Payne’s Pond. John died in 1684 and Susannah died in 1719.
Unknown to this writer the burial place of the next two generations:
- John and Audrey (née Green) Spencer and William and Elizabeth (née Rice) Spencer
Cemetery Over back (aka Straight Cemetery and StraightSpencer Cemetery):
- William and Mary (née Manchester) Spencer
The Spencer Family Historical Cemetery on Middle Road:
- John and Huldah (née Johnson) Spencer, Richard and Roby (nee Tarbox), Richard Anthony, Anna Maria (pronounced Mar-eye-ah) and John, child, Anna Lucia Evarone, and infant, Frank Evarone