Joseph Spencer


Joseph Spencer was an American lawyer, soldier, and statesman from Connecticut. During the Revolutionary War, he served both as a delegate to the Continental Congress and as a major general in the Continental Army.

Early life

Spencer was born in East Haddam, Connecticut. Spencer was the son of Isaac and Mary Spencer. He was the great-grandson of Gerard and Hannah Spencer, who were part of the first settlers of East Haddam in 1662.

Career

He was trained as a lawyer and practiced until 1753, when he became a judge. He was active in the militia, serving in King George's War and as a Lieutenant Colonel of the Middlesex militia in the French and Indian War.
By the time the American Revolution began, Spencer had advanced to Brigadier General of Connecticut’s militia, and in April 1775 he led them to support the Siege of Boston as the 2nd Connecticut Regiment. In June, when these units were adopted into the national army, he was made a brigadier general in the Continental Army; he was amongst the first eight Continental Army brigadier generals so appointed.
In 1776, Spencer was promoted to major general in support of William Heath in the Eastern Department. The following year his military career became difficult. He cancelled a planned attack on British forces in Rhode Island and was censured by the Continental Congress. He demanded a court of inquiry and was exonerated, but when the controversy was resolved, he resigned his commission on June 14, 1778.
Spencer first served on the Connecticut Council in 1776. Free of military responsibility, the state sent him as a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1779. In 1780, he was returned to the council, and served there until his death.

Personal life

August 2, 1738, Joseph Spencer married Martha Brainerd, with whom he had five children.
After his first wife's death in 1754, he married Hannah Southmaid, with whom he had eight more children, including:
Spencer died on January 13, 1789 in East Haddam and was buried in Millington Cemetery west of the Millington Green section of East Haddam near where he lived. Later he and his wife were re-interred at the Nathan Hale Park of East Haddam and a monument was erected in his honor.

Descendants

His granddaughter through his son Joseph, Elizabeth Spencer, was married to General Lewis Cass, had been governor of the Michigan Territory and a United States senator from the state of Michigan, and served as secretary of state under President James Buchanan. 5 time Great-Grandchildren James M Reed, Esq, Director & Shareholder Hall Estill, Tulsa OK, Nancy Stanton, Macomb, MI & Larry R, Reed, US Immigration Customs Enforcement, Retired.