Brief Life History of William Spencer
When William Spencer Covert was born on 6 August 1808, in Locke, Cayuga, New York, United States, his father, Smith Covert, was 27 and his mother, Phoebe Drake, was 24. He married Mary Cortright in 1828, in Sempronius, Cayuga, New York, United States. They were the parents of at least 7 sons and 3 daughters. He lived in Granite, Salt Lake, Utah, United States in 1880. He died on 17 November 1899, in Holladay, Salt Lake, Utah, United States, at the age of 91, and was buried in Holladay Memorial Park, Holladay, Salt Lake, Utah, United States.
Photos and Memories (19)
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Family Time Line
Sources (94)
- W S Covert, "United States Census, 1880"
- Legacy NFS Source: William Spencer Covert - birth-name: William Covert
- U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900
Spouse and Children
Children (10)
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Parents and Siblings
Siblings (11)
+6 More Children
World Events (8)
1812
War of 1812. U.S. declares war on Britain over British interference with American maritime shipping and westward expansion.
1827 · Slavery Becomes Illegal in New York State
During the years 1799 to 1827, New York went through a period of gradual emancipation. A Gradual Emancipation Law was passed in 1799 which freed slave children born after July 4, 1799. However, they were indentured until 25 years old for women and 28 years old for men. A law passed 1817 which freed slaves born before 1799, yet delayed their emancipation for ten years. All remaining slaves were freed in New York State on July 4, 1827.
1832 · The Black Hawk War
Convinced that a group of Native American tribes were hostile, The United States formed a frontier militia to stop them in their tracks. Even though Black Hawk was hoping to avoid bloodshed while trying to resettle on tribal land, U.S. officials opened fire on the Native Americans. Black Hawk then responded to this confrontation by successfully attacking the militia at the Battle of Stillman's Run and then left northward. After a few months the militia caught up with Black Hawk and his men and defeated them at the Battle of Wisconsin Heights. While being weakened by hunger, injuries and desertion, Black Hawk and the rest of the many native survivors retreated towards the Mississippi. Unfortunately, Black Hawk and other leaders were later captured when they surrendered to the US forces and were then imprisoned for a year.
Name Meaning
English (Surrey, of Norman origin): habitational name from the Norman hamlet of Couvert in Calvados or from some other locality similarly named from Old French (le) covert ‘the secret corner, refuge, or thicket’. Sussex surname forms with the definite article and no preposition are not nicknames from Old French covert ‘secret(ive)’, as has been suggested, but are either references to ‘Le Covert’ as the place of origin or represent the common Norman practice of substituting le for de in surnames. This surname is now extinct in Britain.
Americanized form of an unidentified Dutch or German name, perhaps Kofoed or German Gobert .
Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.
Possible Related NamesStory Highlight
William Spencer Covert (6 August 1808 – 17 November 1899)
William Spencer Covert md 1st. Mary Cortright about 1828 in New York. Had 10 children. Ruth Chilson Chase 16 Aug 1853 Salt Lake, Utah. Had 9 children. Came to Utah 1848 with Heber C. Kimball Co. S …
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