The Family of Wiley G. and Nancy Spencer

INTRODUCTION

This page created May 6, 2007.

Wiley G. Spencer was the son of Shepherd Spencer, Sr. and Hannah Presnal. Shepherd Spencer, Sr. was the head of a prominent family in Edgefield District, South Carolina in the early 1800's. These Spencers were part of a large extended family group, which included the Hudsons and Washingtons, who left Edgefield in 1832 and migrated to Sumter and Pickens Counties in Alabama. However, for some reason, Wiley Spencer and his wife Nancy and children did not leave Edgefield with the rest of the family in 1832. Why not?

Actually, little is known about Wiley G. Spencer. According to fellow Spencer researcher Sandra P. Wellons, "Wiley G. Spencer signed as witness the will of Burgess White in Edgefield on June 30, 1830. Also in 1836, Wiley G. was sent to Pachalati, Florida, as a private in the 9th regiment of South Carolina, some of those Indian Wars, probably." Wiley was also enumerated with his wife and children on the 1820, 1830, and 1840 censuses of Edgefield District, South Carolina. But that is pretty much all I know about him. Bill Tankersley, fellow Spencer researcher and descendant of Shepherd Spencer Sr, was the person who originally informed me that Wiley Spencer was likely the father of my Caroline Spencer Whitten. Here is the progression of facts as they were revealed to me:

So, with the information above, combined with the information shared with me by Bill Tankersley and census records spanning 1820-1870 (see below), I have pieced together the following story:

Wiley Spencer was born to Shepherd Spencer and Hannah Presnal around 1794. Since the family was prominent in Edgefield District, I believe he was born in South Carolina, perhaps even in Edgefield. Around 1810, he married a lady named Nancy; and their first child, Lucinda, was born shortly thereafter. The 1820 Edgefield, South Carolina census shows a female child age 10-16, and this correlates with Lucinda's being born around 1810. This child is missing from the 1830 Edgefield census, but she is present on the 1840 Edgefield census (1 female age 30-40). Census and cemetery records show that their other children were as follows: Mary G. born in 1819 (although she is not listed on the 1820 census), Caroline in 1820, James in 1823, Hannah in 1828, and Nancy Ann in 1830. Due to the large gap in time from Lucinda's birth in 1810 to Mary's birth in 1819, I have to wonder if other children were born but did not survive between 1810-1820.

When Shepherd Spencer, Sr. and his extended family left Edgefield District in 1832, Shepherd's son Wiley and his family chose to remain in Edgefield. Shepherd Spencer, Sr. settled in Pickens County, Alabama on a large plantation, and his adult children settled in Pickens and Sumter Counties in Alabama and Oktibbeha and Noxubee Counties in Mississippi. It seems that Wiley's daugter Mary G. may have migrated with her extended family because marriage records show that she married John Nairne in Sumter County, Alabama in 1838. Mary and John made their home there and were listed on the Sumter County census in 1840. Perhaps the rest of Wiley's family settled in the area as well, although there are no records that specifically substantiate this (see * note below). Records do suggest, however, that Mary's sister Lucinda lived there in a public facility of some sort. Mary and John were listed on the 1850 Sumter County, Alabama census. Lucinda was not listed in their household, but there is a Lucinda Spencer listed in Sumter County on the 1850 census. This Lucinda Spencer was age 40 (born ca. 1810 in South Carolina) and was listed as insane, apparently one of several people listed as such in the same household. Perhaps this was an insane asylum? I have records to show that two of Caroline's daughters had mental health issues. Because of the documented history of mental health problems, because of the age of the person listed as insane, and because of her proximity to Mary G. Nairne, I believe the Lucinda Spencer listed as insane on the 1850 Sumter County, Alabama census is the daughter of my Wiley Spencer.

The real questions that no one can answer are (1) when did Wiley's family leave Edgefield and (2) did Wiley migrate with them? As mentioned above, fellow Spencer researcher Sandra P. Wellons shared with me that "in 1836, Wiley G. was sent to Pachalati, Florida, as a private in the 9th regiment of South Carolina, some of those Indian Wars, probably." He was also enumerated with his wife and children on the 1840 census of Edgefield District, South Carolina. But Wiley disappears from public records after 1840. I believe he died between 1840-1849, but I don't know if he died in Edgefield, South Carolina or died during the migration. Nor do I know when he died. So what of his wife and his other adult children?

In October 1845, Wiley's daughter Caroline married Pleasant Whitten in Chambers County, Alabama. It appears that Pleasant and his brother Austin Whitten left Edgefield, South Carolina in early 1845 after settling their mother's estate and migrated southward with other families. For some reason, they stopped in Chambers County, Alabama where Pleasant married Caroline with Austin serving as a witness to the ceremony. Was Caroline already living in Chambers County when she met Pleasant? Or was her family traveling in the same group with the Whittens?

Pleasant's brother Austin Whitten also married Caroline's sister Hannah. The 1846 deed from Shepherd Spencer is a gift to granddaughter "Hannah E. Whitten". Census records indicate that Austin and Hannah's first child, Sheppherd Whitten, was born in November 1845. No record of Austin and Hannah's marriage has been found yet, but I believe they were married around 1844 or early 1845, most likely in Edgefield, South Carolina (before the second group moved) or somewhere in Alabama (perhaps Chambers County). Again the question can be asked, "Was Hannah living in Chambers when she married Austin, or did they marry in Edgefield and migrate with their families as part of the same traveling group?" Regardless of whether Wiley's family left Edgefield with the same group as the Whittens or met up with them in Chambers County, Alabama, I believe that Caroline, Hannah, James, Nancy Ann, and their mother Nancy were all traveling together.

The earliest of the gift deeds from Shepherd Spencer, Sr to his grandchildren was given on October 9, 1846 to Hannah Whitten. This deed was recorded in Pickens County, Alabama* on October 27, 1846 then received in Winston County, Mississippi on September 27, 1848. The next deed given was to Caroline Whitten on April 12, 1848. This deed was recorded in Pickens County, Alabama* on April 14, 1847 [MKJ note: should this really be 1848?] and also received in Winston County, Mississippi on September 27, 1848. I have inferred from this information that the Whittens probably left Alabama in the summer of 1848 and arrived in Winston County by September of that year. Census records indicate that the first two children born to both Caroline and Hannah were born between 1845-1848 and listed their birthplaces as Alabama. Both of the third children born to Caroline and Hannah were born between 1849-1850 and listed their birthplaces as Mississippi.

The deed to Nancy Ann Terry was given on February 9, 1849 in Pickens County, Alabama* and received in Winston County, Mississippi on February 21, 1849. The 1850 census of Winston County lists the household of James and Nancy Terry, with one-year-old daughter Mary Terry (whose birthplace was listed as Mississippi) and 53-year-old Mary Spencer (birthplace of South Carolina). I believe this Nancy Terry is the daughter of my Wiley Spencer. Further, I also believe that this Mary Spencer is actually Wiley's wife Nancy. No relationship is indicated for Mary Spencer, and the calculated birth year for Mary would be circa 1797, later than the 1790 birthdate I've previously listed for Wiley's wife Nancy. But in 1850, Nancy Spencer is not listed in the households of Caroline or Hannah Whitten, Mary Nairne, or James Spencer. Based on Nancy's absence from the households of the other children, and based on the age and birthplace listed for Mary on the census, I believe the 53-year-old Mary Spencer living in the household of Wiley's daughter Nancy Ann Terry is actually Wiley's wife Nancy. Nancy is later listed under her correct name in the household of daughter Caroline Whitten in 1860 in Winston County, Mississippi. That is the last public record I have found for Wiley's wife Nancy.

* I have wondered for years where in Alabama might Wiley's family have settled. Caroline was married in Chambers County, but no other record of the family's presence has been found there yet. Many of the courthouses in Alabama were burned during the Civil War, so it is often difficult to find marriage records, property deeds, or wills from the time of their migration, between 1840-1850. We know from census records and the slave gift deeds mentioned earlier that Wiley's father Shepherd Spencer, Sr. settled in Pickens County, Alabama. I've noticed that Lucinda's gift deed is the only one to Wiley's children that mentions a residence, in Lucinda's case Sumter County. Another gift deed that I found in Winston County was to Shepherd's daughter (Wiley's sister) Mary Ann Hudson Lowe. That deed mentioned that Mary Ann Lowe was in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi and her husband Henry Lowe was in Winston County, Mississippi. But none of the gift deeds to Caroline, Hannah, James or Nancy Ann mention their residence? Why? Could it be because they were living in the same county as Shepherd Spencer at the time the original deed was given and recorded? If so, then there would have been no need to specify the residences of the recipients of the deed. If I am correct in this theory, then it would seem that most of Wiley's family settled in Pickens County, Alabama sometime after October 1845 (when Caroline was married in Chambers County) and October 1846 (the date of the earliest gift deed, the one to Hannah). As stated above, though, I believe that at least Caroline's and Hannah's families left in 1848 for Winston County, Mississippi. It seems that James and Nancy Ann (and probably mother Nancy too if she were living with Nancy Ann) left around 1849 for Winston County. Daughters Mary Nairne and Lucinda stayed behind in Sumter County, Alabama.

So what eventually became of Wiley and Nancy's children? See below.

FAMILY TREE

Wiley G. Spencer (sometimes called Wiley Robert Spencer)
Born: Abt. 1794 in South Carolina, probably Edgefield District
Married: Abt. 1810 in probably South Carolina
Died: Between 1840-1849 in probably Edgefield District, South Carolina or Alabama or Mississippi
Buried: Unknown
Father: Shepherd Spencer, Sr.
Mother: Hannah Presnal
--------------------------------------------------------------

Nancy, maiden name unknown
Born: 1790 in South Carolina
Died: Aft. 1860 in possibly Winston County, Mississippi
Buried: Unknown
Father: Unknown
Mother: Unknown
--------------------------------------------------------------

  1. Lucinda Spencer
    Born: Abt. 1810 in South Carolina, probably Edgefield District
    Married: Unknown but probably not
    Died: After 1849 for sure and maybe even after 1870, in probably Pickens County, Alabama
    Buried: Unknown

    For a while I thought that Lucinda might have been born between Caroline and Hannah's births because I was able to make a "guesstimated" birthdate of circa 1826 fit in with the 1830 and 1840 censuses of Edgefield, South Carolina. But it was never a perfect fit. And then there was the problem that the only Lucinda Spencer I could find on any census after 1840 in either Alabama or Mississippi that was not a married woman (i.e. married name of Spencer living with a husband) was the Lucinda Spencer born circa 1810 and living in what appeared to be an insane asylum-poor house in Sumter County, Alabama on the 1850 census and again in one on both the 1860 and 1870 censuses in Pickens County, Alabama. When I tested the theory that perhaps my missing Lucinda was born in 1810 instead of 1826, things began to fall into place more easily. I could suddenly account for Wiley Spencer's unknown daughter of age 10-16 on the 1820 Edgefield, South Carolina census and the daughter age 30-40 on the 1840 Edgefield census. The other children seemed to fit better now as well. Also, the theory that the insane Lucinda Spencer on the 1850 Sumter County, Alabama census might be Wiley's daughter would also serve somewhat to explain why there was a female age 30-40 in the household in 1840 when Wiley's wife Nancy was plainly the female listed as age 40-50. If Lucinda were insane or severely mentally challenged, she may not have been able to live independently, so she could logically have still been at home even at age 30. Also, the fact that this person was in Sumter County at the same time as sister Mary G. Nairne seemed to further fit my theory.

    But she seemed to have moved to Pickens County, Alabama by 1860. Why? The 1860 census of Pickens County, Alabama shows a Lucinda Spencer, age 50 (born 1810 in South Carolina), insane, living in a household with other insane people. Each of the people listed has a date next to their names, and Lucinda has 1856 noted next to her name. My interpretation of this date is that it may indicate the date she moved into that facility. Perhaps the asylum-poor house in Sumter County, Alabama where she was living in 1850 closed?

    The 1870 census of Pickens County, Alabama shows a Lucy Spencer, age 65 (born circa 1805 in South Carolina) and listed as a pauper, living in a household with and next door to other paupers, all of whom have surnames I don't recognize. This census is the last public record I have found for Lucinda Spencer.

  2. Mary G. Spencer
    Born: October 19, 1819 in South Carolina, probably Edgefield District
    Married: July 31, 1838 in Sumter County, Alabama
    Spouse: John W. Nairne (also spelled Narine or Naire)
    Died: April 22, 1858 in Pickens County, Alabama
    Buried: Old Providence Baptist Church Cemetery, Panola, Sumter County, Alabama

    John Nairne and Mary Spencer reared their family in Sumter County, Alabama. According to the 1850 census of Sumter County, John and Mary had two daughters, Elizabeth and Haceltine. When Mary died in 1858, she was buried next to John Wiley Nairne, her son who died at age two. Visit the family page for John and Mary for more information.

  3. Caroline Spencer
    Born: September 28, 1820 in South Carolina, probably Edgefield District
    Married: October 15, 1845 in Chambers County, Alabama
    Spouse: Pleasant Whitten
    Died: November 6, 1904 in Louisville, Winston County, Mississippi
    Buried: Noxubee Hill Cemetery, Louisville, Winston County, Mississippi

    In 1850, Caroline and her husband Pleasant lived next door to sister Hannah and husband Austin Whitten in Winston County, Mississippi. In 1860, Caroline and Pleasant (and Caroline's mother Nancy) were still living next door to Austin and his children, but Hannah had died in 1858. Visit the family page for Pleasant and Caroline for more information.

  4. James H. Spencer
    Born: 1823 in South Carolina, probably Edgefield District
    Married: About 1849
    Spouse: Harriet O. (maiden name unknown)
    Died: Bet. 1853 - 1856 in probably Oktibbeha County, Mississippi
    Buried: Unknown

    James and Harriet Spencer were listed on the Winston County, Mississippi censuses in both 1850 and 1853. However, after James' death between 1853-1856, Harriet moved to Oktibbeha County, Mississippi and remarried to Shackleford Cordin (or Cardine). Guardianship records for James and Harriet's children were recorded in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi between 1856-1860. See the family page for James and Harriet for more information.

  5. Hannah E. Spencer
    Born: 1828 in South Carolina, probably Edgefield District
    Married: About 1845 (probably in Edgefield, SC or Chambers County, AL)
    Spouse: Austin Whitten
    Died: After 1855 but before 1859 (probably in Winston County, Mississippi)
    Buried: Unknown, probably unmarked in Winston County, Mississippi

    Hannah and her husband Austin lived next door to sister Caroline and husband Pleasant Whitten in Winston County, Mississippi. Hannah died between 1855-1859, and Austin remarried to Elizabeth Jero. See the family page for Austin and Hannah for more information.

  6. Nancy Ann Spencer
    Born: 1830 in South Carolina, probably Edgefield District
    Married (1): About 1849
    Spouse (1): James W. Terry
    Married (2): April 03, 1853 in Winston County, Mississippi
    Spouse (2): George Young Rowland
    Died: January 31, 1907 in Vicksburg, Warren County, Mississippi
    Buried: Unknown, probably in Vicksburg, Warren County, Mississippi

FAMILY HISTORY

1820 Edgefield District, South Carolina Census, page 91A:
Wiley Spencer:

Census Data Calculated Birth Range Probable Family Member
1 male age 26-45 (born 1775-1794) Wiley (ca 1794)
1 female age 10-16 (born 1804-1810) Lucinda? (1810)
1 female age 26-45 (born 1775-1794) Nancy (ca 1790) 

1830 Edgefield District, South Carolina Census, page 146:
Willey Spencer:

Census Data Calculated Birth Range Probable Family Member
1 male age under 5 (born 1826-1830) James (ca 1823)
1 male age 30-40 (born 1790-1800) Wiley (ca 1794)
1 female age under 5 (born 1826-1830) Hannah? (1828)
2 females age 5-10 (born 1820-1825) Mary (1819) and Caroline (1820)
1 female age 30-40 (born 1790-1800) Nancy (ca 1790) 
1 female age 60-70 (born 1760-1770) Nancy's mother? 
No slaves, total of 7 in household. If Lucinda were born in 1810, why is she not listed in the household?

1840 Edgefield District, South Carolina Census, page 99A:
Wylie Spencer:

Census Data Calculated Birth Range Probable Family Member
1 male age under 5 (born 1835-1840) Unknown child
1 male age 10-15 (born 1825-1830) Son from 1830 census, James (ca 1823)
1 male age 40-50 (born 1790-1800) Wiley (ca 1794)
1 female age 5-10 (born 1830-1835) Nancy Ann (1830)
2 females age 10-15 (born 1825-1830) Caroline (1820) and Hannah (1828)
1 female age 30-40 (born 1800-1810) Lucinda (1810)
1 female age 40-50 (born 1790-1800) Nancy (ca 1790) 
4 Slaves: 3 males age under 10; 1 female age 10-24
Total of 11 in household [MKJ note: should be 12]; 2 employed in agriculture, 1 in manufacturing/trade.

1840 Sumter County, Alabama Census, Microfilm 704 Roll 15, page 2:
J.W. Nairn:

Census Data Calculated Birth Range Probable Family Member
1 male age under 5 (born 1835-1840) Unknown child, possibly George Sherard from 1850 Sumter, AL census?
1 male age 20-29 (born 1811-1820) John (1815)
1 male age 40-50 (born 1790-1800) John's father?
1 female age under 5 (born 1835-1840) Elizabeth (1840)
1 female age 15-20 (born 1820-1825) Mary (1819) -- daughter of Wiley Spencer
15 Slaves: 3 males age 10-24, 1 male age 24-35; 1 female age 10-24, 2 females age 24-36, 1 female age 36-55, 1 female age 55-100

1850 Sumter County, Alabama census: Microfilm 432 Roll 15, Wassau District, December 20, 1850, page 325, Dwelling 1034, Family 1061
John W. Nairne -- age 35 (1815), born Maryland, tailor, real estate value = 1000
Mary G. Nairne -- age 30 (1820), born SC
Elizabeth Nairne -- age 10 (1840), born AL, attended school
Haceltine? Nairne -- female, age 8 (1842), born AL, attended school
George Sherard -- age 15 (1835), born NC - probably not a son

1850 Pickens County, Alabama census: Microfilm 432 Roll 13, Southern District, page 13A, Dwelling 57, Family 58
Jones, Robert Sr. -- age 73 (1777), born NC, no occupation, real estate value = 200
Jones, Elizabeth -- age 73 (1777), born SC
Jones, Robert Jr. -- age 40 (1810), born SC, no occupation, remarks = Insane
Jones, Susan -- age 36 (1814), born SC
Jones, Rebecca -- age 24 (1826), born SC
Henderson, Mary -- age 38 (1812), born SC, remarks = Insane
Spencer, Lucy -- age 40 (1810), born SC, remarks = Insane
Spencer, William -- age 28 (1822), born AL, farmer [MKJ note: Who is this?]

1850 Winston County, Mississippi Census: Microfilm 432 Roll 382

Page Dwelling/Family      Family Listing
329A 193/195 Terry, James W. -- age 21 (1829), male, farmer, real estate value = 180, born S.C.
Terry, Nancy -- age 20 (1830), female, born S.C.
Terry, Mary -- age 1 (1849), female, born Miss.
Spencer, Mary -- age 53 (1797), female, born S.C.
 
329A 194/196 Webb, Andrew (age 38, SC) and Ann (age 38, NC) and children. No known relation.
 
329B 195/197 Spencer, James H. -- age 27 (1823), male, mechanic, born S.C.
Spencer, Harriet -- age 17 (1833), female, born Miss.
Spencer, Shepherd -- age 1 (1849), male, born Tenn.
 
335B 280/283 Whitten, Austin -- age 26 (1824), male, Farmer, real estate value = 160, born S.C.
Whitten, Hannah -- age 22 (1828), female, born S.C.
Children Shepherd (1846) and George (1849). See Austin and Hannah's page for full listing.
 
335B 281/284 Whitten, Pleasant -- age 22 (1828), male, farmer, real estate value = 160, born S.C.
Whitten, Caroline -- age 37 (1813), female, born S.C.
Children James (1846), John (1848), and Lucinda (1849). See Pleasant and Caroline's page for full listing.


1860 Sumter County, Alabama Census: Northern Division, Warsaw Post Office, June 13, 1860, Dwelling/Family 69/69, page 573
Jno W. Nairne – age 40 (1820), tailor, real estate 400, personal estate 7000, born MD
Noah Little – age 25 (1845), grocer, born NC
Jn J. Whitaker – age 30 (1830), mechanic, personal estate 500, born NC
      (Note: Mary Nairne died in 1858.)

1860 Pickens County, Alabama Census: Southern Division, Carrollton Post Office, Dwelling 352, page 795
Lucinda Spencer (1856) -- age 50 (1810), housewife, born SC, grief/insane -- living with other insane and afflicted people in the household of Abner and Martha Pratt.

Abner's occupation was Warder of Poor, so I suspect his household was something of a poor house. Each of the people listed with him (other than the Pratts themselves) had a date written beside their name. Lucinda had the date 1856 beside hers. I interpret this to be the date the person came to live there.

1860 Oktibbeha County, Mississippi Census: Starkville Post Office, July 1860

Page Dwelling/Family      Family Listing
30 208/184 Cardine, S.W. -- age 28 (1832), born AL, house carpenter
Cardine, Harriete -- age 26 (1834), born SC
Cardine, Mary -- age 3 (1857), born MS
Cardine, David -- age 8/12 (Dec. 1859), born MS
Spencer, John -- age 8 (1852), born MS, attended school within the year
Spencer, Susan -- age 5 (1855), born MS
(Note: James Spencer died between 1853-1856. His widow Harriet remarried to Shackleford W. Cordin or Cardine shortly thereafter.)
 
35 263/228 Yeager, William F. -- age 46 (1814), born KY, coach maker, real estate value = 3000, personal estate value = 4500
Yeager, Martha -- age 37 (1823), born SC
Children James, Sarah, John, Ella, Dona
(Note at bottom of census page: W.F. Yeager, Guardian for minor heirs of James Spencer, decd.)

1860 Winston County, Mississippi Census: Louisville Post Office, August 1860

Page Dwelling/Family      Family Listing
657 384/383 Whitten, P.H. -- age 32 (1828), male, farmer, real estate value=1000, personal property value=3500, born SC
Whitten, C. -- age 34 (1826), female, born SC
Whitten Children -- Jas (1847), J.T. (1849), L. (1850), N.C. (1852), M.J. (1854), Elizabeth (1856), Pleasant (1858), Robert (1859). See Pleasant and Caroline's page for full listing.
Spencer, Nancy -- age 70 (1790), female, personal property value=1000, born SC
 
658 385/384 Whitten, A.W. -- age 36 (1824), male, farmer, real estate value=300, personal property value=5000, born SC
Whitten, E. -- age 28 (1832), female, born Ala
Whitten Children -- S.M. (1846), G.W. (1848), J.A. (1850), Wm (1852), P.W. (1855). See Austin and Hannah's page for full listing.
(Note: It appears that Austin's first wife Hannah died between 1855-1859. Austin remarried to Elizabeth Jero in 1859.)
 
685 580/580 Rowland, G.Y. -- age 52 (1808), male, farmer, real estate 1500, personal estate 4000, born SC
Rowland, Nancy -- age 30 (1830), female, born SC
Whitten Children -- P.S. (1840), Henry (1842), Jas (1844), Jno (1846), S.D. (1850), Geo. (1857), S.L. (1859).
(Note: It appears that Nancy Ann's first husband James Terry died about 1852. Nancy Ann remarried to widower George Rowland in 1853. However, Nancy's daughter Mary Terry, present on the 1850 census, and daughter Nancy Juanita Terry, born after 1850, are not listed with Nancy and George on this census. Where are they?)


1870 Pickens, Alabama census: Vailes Precinct, Reform Post Office, Dwelling/Family 83/83, page 795
Lucy Spencer -- age 65 (1805), pauper, born SC, can't read or write
Richd Coward -- age 14 (1856), pauper, born AL, deaf and dumb
Living next door to other paupers


Land and Property Deeds in Winston County, Mississippi

GENEALOGY RESOURCES

LINKS & CREDITS

| Main Whitten Page |

My Guestbook
Please, if you found anything of interest to you here,
please take a moment and sign my guestbook.
I welcome comments and would like to know
how you found my site. Thank you!

Sign My Guestbook

My Guestbook Page

Copyright 1999

Mary K. Johnson
Look4Whittens@yahoo.com

E-Mail me for more information!