Spicer Ancestry of James G. Zimmer
[1] Peter Spicer
Born 1644, either in Jamestown, Virginia {2} or in England, emigrated to Virginia {3}. The first recorded date of his landholding in the town of Groton, New London, Connecticut, was 1666. Married Mary Busecot (1648-1715, daughter of Rhode Island blacksmith Peter Busecot) in Warwick, Kent, Rhode Island, 15 Dec 1670. They had 11 children and resided in New London. In 1675 Peter served with the militia in the Pequot war and received another land grant for his services. Died 18 Sep 1694 {2}.
We can imagine him in 1666 as a young man working with th customary Spicer energy and perseverance to clear a spot for cultivation in that then wild and desolate country; afterward planting and harvensting and making ready the home to which four years later he brought his bride. The country thereabouts was heavily timbered, and abounding with wolves and other ferocious wild animals, and poisonous snakes...; none but the bravest would have ventured to build a dwelling there or dared to ask a woman to share it... In 1667 the Noank Indians, a remnant of the once warlike Pequot tribe, were ordered to settle on their reservation, called Mashantuckset, a mile or so west of our pioneer ancestor's farm. He evidently lived on amicable terms with them, for there are no complaints entered on the records... Indeed we have reason to be proud of our ancestor, inasmuch as his farm was not enlarged by land forcibly taken from, or obtained by small valueless gifts to the Indians.
When the general uprising of the Indians, in 1675, led to King Philip's War, he was among the volunteers and received for his services one hundred and forty acres in Voluntown, lot 108, of the "Cedar Swamp Lots." [from History of Descendants...]
[2] Jabez Spicer
Sixth of 11 children of Peter & Mary Spicer. B. 1681 in New London, Connecticut. Married to Margaret Park. They had six children. In 1717 he was licensed by the town of Norwich to "set up and use the art and mystery of tanning leather" -- a shoemaker. D. [after 1835] in Connecticut.
[3] Nathan Spicer
B. 10 Sept 1735 in Pomfret, Connecticut, the youngest of 6 children. D. 27 Jul 1811 at the age of 75. He was not a farmer, because he moved around a lot (Amenia NY, Kinderhook NY, Nassua NY, Fort Ann NY). He served in the Revolutionary War. His name appears on an assignment of land bounty rights made of members of a class of Col. Kilian Van Renssalaer's Albany County Regiment. He was a private in Willet's regiment.
He had two wives: Leah [unk surname] (who had 4 children) and Abigail Mahew (who had 8 children.
[4] Jacob Spicer. 11th of 12 children. Mother was Abigail Mahew. B. 26 Sept 1782 in NY. D. 10 Mar 1864 in Fort Ann NY. Married Anna Emmons 1 Jan 1804 in Nassua NY. They were members of the Universalist Church. They had 12 children.
... [5] Nathan Spicer. B. 16 Oct 1811, in West Fort Ann NY, the 4th of 12 children. M. to Marrietta Howard of Bridgewater MA. (She was a relative of Adonis Howard, a Swedenborgian preacher.) D. 21 May 1895 in West Fort Ann. They had 6 children.
... ... [6] Tobias W. Spicer. B. 3 Feb 1836. M. Orpha Smith 10 Jun 1863 in Queensbury NY. Orpha died 10 Apr 1883. They had 3 children, all born in Queensbury: Warren J, Walter C and Wilmer S Spicer. Tobias married two other wives: Julia G. McRae of Washington DC in 1884 and Anna Dwyer in 1906.
... ... ... [7] Walter Clyde Spicer. B. 10 Sept 1866.
... ... ... ... [8] Orpha Marie Spicer Zimmer.
... ... ... ... ... [9] James Griffith Zimmer
NOTES
Unless otherwise stated the source for this info is History of the Descendants of Peter Spicer, A Landholder in New London, Connecticut, As Early As 1666... compiled by Susan Spicer Meech and Susan Billings Meech, 1911 (and the Supplement compiled in 1923).
{1} American Genealogical-Biographical Index (Ancestry.com)
{2} Public Member Stories at Ancestry.com
{3} Jamestown was the first successful English settlement in North America, founded in 1607. (History of the Jamestown Settlement, 1607-1699)