William (b.5-5-1695–d.1776)–Will Probated Dec.30. 1776–and Elizabeth (née Rice, b.5-6-1698–d.1776) Spencer

William is the second son of John and Audrey (née Greene) Spencer. According to RootsWeb.com, William “born at East Greenwich…was a prominent resident and large land owner there all his life.” William (b.5-5-1695–d.1758) married Elizabeth (née Rice, b.5-6-1698–d.1776) on 5-10-1716. Elizabeth was the daughter of John and Elnathan (née Whipple) Rice of Warwick, Rhode Island. She was the great-granddaughter of Captain Randall and Frances (née Dungan) Holden (page 81, The Greenes of Rhode Island).

Vital Records of Rhode Island, page 66, Marriage of William, second son of John and Audrey Spencer, and Elizabeth Rice, daughter of John Rice of Warwick

In Vital Records of Rhode Island, many Spencer marriages are often performed by John, Thomas or William Spencer who are the Justices.   However on page 66 of Vital Records of Rhode Island, William and Elizabeth were married by a Samuel Greene, Justice.  Since William’s mother’s birth name is Audrey Greene, the Spencers and the Greenes appear to be well connected.

With William and Elizabeth’s marriage, the Rice, the Whipple, the Dungan and the Holden ancestry came into the Audrey Mae, John Edward (“Ed”) and Edith Anna Spencer family line.

William and Elizabeth (née Rice) Spencer’s children are listed under the Births and Deaths section of Vital Records of Rhode Island.  Their first son, John, is named after both grandfathers, John Spencer and John Rice.  Their second son is named Richard. William and Elizabeth’s great-grandson and great-great-grandson will also be named Richard. (Web author’s note: Perhaps, this name, Richard, was a Rice or Whipple ancestor name as Spencers do not see this name previously in their genealogical research.) William and Elizabeth’s third son, William, is named after his father, William. (Web site author’s note: Usually the first son is named after his father, but in this family the third son is named after the father.)  Audrey Mae, John Edward (“Ed”), and Edith Anna descend from William and Elizabeth’s third son, William. (Update: One of Audrey Mae’s great-granddaughters has the family name of Elizabeth as her middle name, and one of Audrey Mae’s great-grandsons has the family name of Spencer as his middle name.   One of Edith Anna’s great-grandsons has the family name of Spencer as his first name.)

Vital Records of Rhode Island 1636-1850, page 147 & 148, William and Elizabeth’s children

William and Elizabeth (née Rice) Spencer had eleven children. Their ninth child, Samuel, died before his second birthday.  Audrey Mae, John Edward (“Ed”), and Edith Anna descend from William and Elizabeth’s third son, William.

The burial place of this third generation Spencer couple, William and Elizabeth (née Rice), is not known to this web site author. More research is needed to find out where their land was located, and, thereby, the location of their historical cemetery.

However, the burial place of William and Elizabeth’s third son, William,Jr. is known because of Audrey Mae’s oral tradition.  Oral tradition has William, Jr. and his wife, Mary (née Manchester) buried in the Straight cemetery (aka “over back” cemetery).  The web site for the Henry Straight and William Spencer historical cemetery is straightspencerhistoricalcemetery.org .

“Spencer descendants, if you have any additional information on William and Elizabeth (née Rice) Spencer, please add a comment to this web site and the web site editor will add this to the site.  Thanks!”