When Sir John Spencer was born on 1 January 1455, in Wormleighton, Warwickshire, England, his father, Sir William Spencer, was 10 and his mother, Elizabeth Empson, was 8. He married Isabel Graunt in 1489, in Snitterfield, Warwickshire, England. They were the parents of at least 11 sons and 7 daughters. In 1519, at the age of 64, his occupation is listed as knighted by king henry viii. He died on 14 April 1522, in Northamptonshire, England, at the age of 67, and was buried in St Mary The Virgin's Church, Great Brington, Northamptonshire, England.
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Wars of the Roses was a series of English civil wars for control of the throne of England between the royal families House of Lancaster and the House of York. The name of the war was derived as the red rose was the symbol of the Lancastrians and the white rose was the symbol of the Yorks.
English (Lancashire and Yorkshire): occupational name for someone who dispensed provisions or money, from Middle English spenser(e), spencer(e) ‘household steward, butler, almoner’ (Anglo-Norman French espenser, Old French despensier). Compare Spence and Spender . There is some dispute about the origins of the Spencer family, whose most famous member in recent times was the late Princess of Wales, born Lady Diana Spencer (1961–97). Some sources say that they are descended from William the Conqueror's steward, Robert Despencer. What is clear is that by the 15th century they had become prosperous from sheep farming in Northamptonshire. Robert Spencer (died 1627) was said to be the wealthiest man in England. Their titles have included Earls of Sunderland and Earls Spencer; and through the female line the 5th Earl of Sunderland also became Duke of Marlborough in 1733. This connection was the result of the marriage, in 1700, of the 3rd Duke of Sunderland to the daughter of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough. The youngest son of this union, John Spencer (1708–46), was the father of the 1st Earl Spencer (1734–83).
Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.
Possible Related NamesDorothy Spencer1 F, #144429, b. circa 1498 FatherSir John Spencer1 b. c 1474, d. 14 Apr 1552 MotherIsabel Graunt1 b. c 1475 Dorothy Spencer was born circa 1498 at of Wormleighton, Warwickshire, E …
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