The Honorable William Spencer (August 6, 1782 –January 19, 1871) was an American lawyer, judge, postmaster, and representative in the

Vermont Legislature The Vermont General Assembly is the legislative body of the state of Vermont, in the United States. The Legislature is formally known as the "General Assembly," but the style of "Legislature" is commonly used, including by the body itself. The G ...

from Corinth in

Orange County Orange County most commonly refers to: *Orange County, California, part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area Orange County may also refer to: U.S. counties *Orange County, Florida, containing Orlando *Orange County, Indiana *Orange County, New ...

Early life and education

He was born in

Hartford, Connecticut Hartford is the capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It was the seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960. It is the core city in the Greater Hartford metropolitan area. Census estimates since the ...

, to Ashbel Spencer and Abigail Birdwell. He was a college graduate, although the specifics of his education are unknown.

Career

He formed the law firm Spencer & Vilas with

Levi Baker Vilas Levi Baker Vilas (February 25, 1811February 6, 1879) was an American lawyer and politician. He was the 4th Mayor of Madison, Wisconsin, and served three non-consecutive years in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Dane County. Before movin ...

whose son

William Freeman Vilas William Freeman Vilas (July 9, 1840August 27, 1908) was an American lawyer, politician, and United States Senator. In the U.S. Senate, he represented the state of Wisconsin for one term, from 1891 to 1897. As a prominent Bourbon Democrat, he wa ...

was a U.S. Senator and Postmaster General under President Cleveland. He was the 11th Judge of the Orange County Court. He studied law in the office of Samuel Miller Esq. of Middlebury, Vermont, and Judge Mattocks of Peacham, Vermont, probably

Samuel Mattocks Samuel Mattocks (December 30, 1739 – January 18, 1804) was a Connecticut and Vermont Continental Army officer and political figure who served as Vermont State Treasurer during the state's early years. Early life Samuel Mattocks was born in Midd ...

John Mattocks John Mattocks (March 4, 1777 – August 14, 1847) was an American Whig Party (United States), Whig politician, a brigadier general in the War of 1812, U.S. Representative, and 16th governor of Vermont. Biography Mattocks was born in Hartford, Co ...

. In 1804, he was admitted to the bar of the county court, and in 1807, to the Supreme Court. In 1804, he opened his law practice in Corinth, Vermont, where he lived. He was Chief Justice of Orange County from 1820-1824 and then an assistant judge from 1825-1830 after the system was changed. He was Judge Probate for the

Bradford Bradford is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Bradford district in West Yorkshire, England. The city is in the Pennines' eastern foothills on the banks of the Bradford Beck. Bradford had a population of 349,561 at the 2011 ...

district from 1824-1839. He was also postmaster for some time, and a representative for Bradford in the Vermont Legislature. He was also a trustee of the Bradford Academy from its organization. He voted in the Freemen's meetings for more than 60 years. In 1828, he was listed as the first assistant justice for Orange County and Judge of Probate for the District of Bradford. In 1835, he is listed as Judge of Probate for the District of Bradford. In 1839, he is listed as Judge of Probate for the District of Bradford and as a justice of the Peace.

Family life

He married Martha Resign Nutting and had 11 children, one of whom was

Abner Nutting Spencer Abner Nutting Spencer (May 11, 1820 – November 14, 1879) was an American farmer and landowner, for whom Spencers Grove, Iowa is named. Early life He was born in Orange County, Vermont to Hon. William Spencer and Martha (Nutting) Spencer. He m ...

. He died in Corinth, Vermont, and is buried in the Meadows Meeting House Cemetery.

Genealogy

* William Spencer, son of :* Ashbel Spencer (1737–1808), son of :* Caleb Spencer (1709–1789), son of ::* Obadiah Spencer (c. 1666–1741), son of ::* Obadiah Spencer (c. 1639–1712), son of ::* Thomas Spencer (1607–1687)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spencer, William 1782 births 1871 deaths American judges Vermont postmasters Members of the Vermont House of Representatives 19th-century American politicians 19th-century American judges 19th-century American lawyers