Family History - John Gazlay Spencer
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John was born in Queensbury, Warren County, New York, and moved in the mid-1830s to Michigan, settling in Brighton, Livingston County. He was among the original purchasers of land in Brighton Township in September 1838. He is sometimes listed as Gayley Spencer in Livingston County records. John was an officer in Brighton Lodge No. 42, Masons, when it was chartered on 9 January 1851. He was one of the firs trustees of Methodist Episcopal Church of Brighton, formally organized in 1854. John married his wife, Lucy, apparently between 1850 (he is living alone at the time of the 1850 Census) and 1856 (when his wife is found in records as Mrs. Lucy Spencer).6
He enlisted in Company G, 11th Michigan Cavalry, on 25 November 1863, for three years. His age is listed as 40 in Civil War records but he was believed to actually be 63 when he enlisted. He was mustered in as a private on 3 December 1863. His company left Kalamazoo on 17 December, 1863 in a blinding snow storm, and arrived in Lexington, Kentucky on 22 December. On 1 January 1964, his regiment had only green wood to burn, and with the thermometer at eight degrees below zero, many of the men went to bed to keep from freezing. The regiment was armed, equipped, mounted and drilled until April 1864, when it was sent to Louisa, Kentucky. Details of John Spencer’s death on either 11 or 12 January 1864 have not been found, but could be attributed to either the harsh conditions or possibly in action during one of his company’s few skirmishes with Confederate troops during that period. Civil War records indicate he was buried in Lexington, Kentucky, but he was apparently re-interred in Brighton Village Cemetery where both old and new headstones mark his grave.4, 7
Lucy was a teacher in the public schools of Brighton, Livingston County, Michigan, in 1856 and 1857.6
- U.S. Federal Census, 1850, Michigan, Livingston County, Township of Brighton, Page 818, John G. Spencer (45, N.Y., merchant) [his age here is believed to be low by 4-5 years compared to other records]); he is living with several other families and individuals with surnames Fish, Plisz, Case, and Moon).
- U.S. Federal Census, 1860, Michigan, Livingston County, Brighton, Page No. 128, family of John G. Spencer (59, N. York); Lucy Spencer (50, N. York).
- Genealogy, Rootsweb (website), Chesebro’ Genealogy. Some sources are cited.
- Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers in the Civil War 1861-1865, compiled by George H. Turner, assistant adjutant general. Ihling Bros. & Everard, Stationers, Printers and publishers, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 1900. Digitized by Google. Available at Archives of Michigan.
- Find a Grave (website). Brighton Village Cemetery, Brighton, Livingston County, Michigan; John G. Spencer: John G. Spencer / Died / In the service of his country / At Lexington Ky / Jan. 11, 1861 [?] [probably 4 but worn to appear as 1] / Aged 63 Yrs. [from headstone] [A new, modern headstone next to this headstone reads: John G. Spencer / Pvt Co G / 11 Mich Cav / 1823 / Jan 12 1864. The death dates apparently differ by one day; The meaning of the date 1823 is not known, as his age of 63 on the older headstone agrees with other records.]
- History of Livingston County, Michigan; Philadelphia: Everts & Abbott, 1880. Various references to Charles Spencer, John G. Spencer, and Lucy Spencer, in Brighton Township and the Village of Brighton.
- Pages from the 27th Reunion Booklet for the Eleventh Michigan Volunteer Cavalry, Benton Harbor, Michigan, Sept. 11-12, 1912. Available at www.debwong.com.