In 1639 William Spencer joined the Hooker settlement atHartford. He is listed on the monument in the Ancient BuryingGround in Hartford as one of the founders of the ConnecticutColony. There he was elected a selectman, became a Deputy to thefirst session of the General Court in 1639, and was appointed ona committee of that body, to make the first code of laws for theColony. No doubt his untimely death in 1640 ended a brilliantcareer.According to some references, William Spencer was a graduate ofTrinity College, Cambridge, England coming to New England withfriends of John Winthrop in 1631; they settled in Cambridge. In1633 he may have then returned to bring his wife and came withher in the ship "Mary and John" (according to page 203 Wm. R.Cutter's Genealogy and History of Connecticut (Vol. 3)).Passenger lists searched do not seem to agree on the arrival ofthe four Spencer brothers. One John and an William Spencer arelisted by Banks as passengers on the "Mary and John" whichsailed from Southampton 24 Mar 1633/34 but no wives are listedfor them (page 111) and the other three brothers, Garrett,Michael and Thomas are not included here. The list of passengers arriving 1630 on the "Mary and John"which numbered 160 does not include any Spencers. John Farmer's"Genealogical Register of First Settlers of N.E." (withadditions by Samuel Drake) pp. 270-271 lists the following fourbelieved to be the four Spencer brothers: 1) Garrett Spencer1634 in Cambridge; 1637 in Lynn, Mass. 2) Michael Spencer 1634in Cambridge; 1637 in Lynn, Mass. 3) William Spencer 1632 inCambridge; freeman 1633; representative 1635; one of thefounders of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Co. of Boston.4) Thomas Spencer 1632 in Cambridge; brother of John; freeman1634. The history by Cutter lists several important positionsheld by William Spencer, including: - In 1634 he was on thecommittee to confer with the governor and assistants in regardto the care of the common stock, which led to the formation ofthe house of representatives. He was the first representativechosen, and held the office until he left the colony. - In 1639he went with his family to Hartford where his brother, Thomashad settled. - In 1639/40 he was representative in the generalassembly in Hartford and while there he prepared the firstrevised laws of the colony. - 4 May 1640 William made his Willand died at Hartford 1640. The "Alderman History" reveals theWill of William Spencer devided his estate into thirds: to hisson, Samuel one-third; to his widow, Agnes, one-third; and tohis two daughters Sarah and Elizabeth, one-third. Following from"Catalogue of First Puritan Settlers of Conn." by R. R. Hinman:Spencer, William, Hartford, deputy in August and September, 1639-- committee to inspect arms once in three months, and providepowder for Hartford in '39. He was appointed with Mr. GeorgeWyllys and Mr. Welles to revise the laws of the colony in '39 --selectman in '39 -- an original proprietor of Hartford --ancestor of Hon. Joshua Spencer, of Utica, N.Y. Spencer,William, of Hartford -- died in 1640. He left a wife and 3children, viz. Sarah, Elizabeth and Samuel. He was a kinsman ofMatthew Allyn, a brother in law of John Pratt and John Talcott.William Spencer was the ancestor of the Hon. Judge Spencer andHon. John C. Spencer, of the State of New York. He was one ofthe first Puritan settlers of Hartford.John Hall sold his home-lot to William Spencer, which was on thebrow of the hill about where the Catlin place is now (1886).William Spencer, Cambridge, 1831, brother of Thomas; freeman,Mass., March 4, 1632/3; deputy for Newtown, May, 1632; May,1634; March, 1534/5; March 163/6; Sept., 1636; May, 1637; Sept.,1637; March, 1637/8; chosen Lieut. for Newtown, March 163/7; oneof the founders of the Ancient andhonorable Artillery Co., andhad other evidences of the public favor bestowed upon him.Remoed to Hartford, 1639, where his home-lot was about where theUnion depot now stands. He was deputy in August and September,1639 and appointed Wylls and Webster to revise the laws of thecolony; townsman, 1640; d. in 1640, leaving a widow, Agnes, whomhe m. about 1633, who became afterward the wife of WilliamEdwards; inv. #291.12.2. He appoints "my cosin Matthew Allyn, mybrother John Pratt," and John Talcott to be overseers of thisestate. Will dated March 4, 1640, presented May 4, 1640. Ch.: i.Elizabeth, m. (1) William Wellman, of Gloucester, New London,and Killingworth. (2) May 23, 1672, Jacob Joy, of Killingworth.ii. Sarah, b. 1636; m. about 1657, John Case, of Windsor,afterward of Simsbury; d. Nov. 3, 1691. iii. Samuel, b. about1639; m. Sarah, prob. dau. of John Meakins.(John M. names dau.Sarah Spencer in his will, Nov. 22, 1702.) He d. about 1716, inHartford.