Person Page - 341

John Stockdale Spencer was born at Vane Cottage in Otahuhu, Auckland, on 10 May 1863.^1,2

He arrived in San Francisco in April 1883 on the SS Sudburn from Sydney (according to his 1923 attempt at Naturalisation). In both the 1923 Intent document and his wife's 1936 Petition his birth year is given (incorrectly) as 1856.³

He married Martha Caroline Marshall in Denver, Colorado, on 9 September 1893.⁴

He was listed in the 1900 US census as head of the family in Precint 39, Teller, Colorado, with his wife Martha; they were living in their own (owned) home and the household included their children Clyde (6) and Clarence (11 mths), although they had had a total of three children. He was working as a machinist and claimed to have been born in 1860 - this is the first indication of his wandering birth year. He also claimed to have entered the US in 1885 and be Naturalised, which was not true.⁵

John was divorced from Martha Caroline Marshall at Teller, Colorado, on 13 December 1906.⁶

John's second marriage was to Margaret Jennie Harrison on 18 December 1912 at 1628 East 6th St in Portland, Oregon. He gave his age as 56, although he was only 49 at the time.⁷

He was listed in the 1920 US census as head of the family in Metzger, Washington, Oregon, with his wife Margaret; they were living in their own (mortgaged) house with their children Ethel (5), Margaret (3 and 2 mths) and Howard (1 and 6 mths). He was working as a machinist in the auto industry and now claimed to have been born in 1857.⁸

He was listed in the 1930 US census as head of the family at Greenburg Rd in Metzger, Washington, Oregon, with his wife Margaret; the household included their children Ethel (15), Margaret (13), Howard (11), Jesse (10) and George (3). They were living in their own home, valued at $5000 but without a radio. John was still working as a machinist despite his claimed age (73) and now gave his arrival in the US as 1898(!) although he was at least correctly identified as not naturalised.⁹ He was naturalised on 21 May 1936 in Portland, Oregon. He had lodged an Intent in 1923, but it would have expired in 1930, so we presume Naturaiisation finally ocurred as a result of his wife's petition.¹⁰

John died on 8 September 1936 at Multnomah Hospital in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, at age 73 of entero-colitis and heart disease.¹¹ He was buried on 12 September 1936 at the Crescent Grove Cemetery in Portland.¹¹

Joshua Spencer was born in Knossington, Leicestershire, in 1834.² and was baptised on 11 June 1835 in Knossington.^1,3
The siblings William, Thomas, Harrison, Joshua, Mary, George and Albert were listed in the 1841 census at Knossington village in Knossington, Leicestershire, with their parents, Thomas Spencer and Catherine Harrison.⁴
The siblings Thomas, Joshua and Albert were listed in the 1851 census at Oakham Rd in Knossington, Leicestershire, with their parents, Thomas Spencer and Catherine Harrison.²

He married Emily Fanny Wise in Funtington, Sussex, on 18 May 1858.^3,5

He was listed in the 1861 census as Head of Family in Knossington, Leicestershire, with his wife Emily; he was a farmer of 180 acres, employing four labourers and a boy, with two house servants. Their children Marion and Harrison were listed as living with them.⁶

Joshua died on 1 May 1864 in Funtington, Sussex.^3,7

Judith Stanley Heath Spencer was born on 17 October 1921.¹

She married Carl Otto Emil Hans Peter Brinkman in New Zealand in 1947.²

Judith died on 27 September 2013 in Auckland at age 91.^3,4,5 She was cremated at the Purewa Crematorium in Meadowbank on 30 September 2013.⁵ Her ashes were buried on 1 October 2013 at Purewa Cemetery.⁶

She was baptised in Knossington, Leicestershire, on 15 September 1857.¹

Lucy Spencer, Charles Spencer, George Spencer, Percy Spencer and Kate (Kitty) Spencer arrived at Auckland, on 11 June 1861 in the company of Thomas Spencer and Elizabeth Berridge.²

Lucy Spencer was born in Oakham, Leicestershire, on 7 December 1855.^1,3,2 and was baptised on 15 September 1857 in Knossington.⁴

Lucy Spencer, Charles Spencer, George Spencer, Percy Spencer and Kate (Kitty) Spencer arrived at Auckland, on 11 June 1861 in the company of Thomas Spencer and Elizabeth Berridge.⁵

She married Henry Robert Lawry, son of Henry Hassall Lawry and Hephzibah Forsaith, at St John's in Ponsonby, Auckland, on 7 December 1886.^1,6,7,8

She was widowed at age 67 on the death of her husband Henry on 13 January 1923.^1,9

Lucy died on 16 May 1948 in Wellington at age 92.^1,10 She was buried on 18 May 1948 at the Karori Cemetery.¹¹

Margaret Spencer was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, on 12 December 1836. She was the daughter of John SPENCER and Elizabeth STANTON.^1,2 She was baptised at St Peters in Liverpool, Lancashire, on 1 February 1837.³
She was listed in the 1841 census at Pembroke St in Liverpool, Lancashire, with her parents John and Elizabeth (he was a labourer) and siblings Mary (11), Elizabeth (6) and Ann (2 mths old).²
She was listed in the 1851 census at 21 Pembroke St in Liverpool, Lancashire, with her parents John and Elizabeth (he was now a coal dealer) and siblings Elizabeth (16), Ann (9), John (7) and Edward (2).⁴

Margaret's marriage to William Hampson was registered between July 1855 and September 1855 in Liverpool, Lancashire.⁵

Her first public appearances as a teenager were as a singer, with gentleman evangelist Reginald Radcliffe. After her marriage she was involved from 1860 in evangelistic work in some of the rougher parts of Liverpool with her husband, at a time when there was a growth in revivalism in Liverpool. She had probably been influenced in both doctrine and style by Dr Hugh McNeile, a very gifted orator who had originally been rector of Albury in Surrey, but became perpetual curate of St. Jude’s in 1834 and a vocal and able supporter of the Protestant cause.⁶

She was listed in the 1861 census at L & P.S. Rd in Longton, Lancashire, with her husband William; he was a cooper. Their children William and Elizabeth were listed as living with them.⁷

She was listed in the 1871 census at Vinery House, Vale Rd in Allerton, Lancashire, with her husband William; he was now a Master Cooper employing 2 men and 4 boys. Their children William, Clara and Emma were listed as living with them.⁸

She was widowed at age 40 on the death of her husband William on 7 March 1877.^9,10

It is unclear exactly when she travelled to New Zealand, but by 1881 she was appearing at evangelist meetings in Auckland and later addressed gold-miners in the Thames area.
In 1883-84 she toured in Australia, to much acclaim. Newspapers record her speaking to large crowds in Melbourne (May-June 1883), Adelaide (July) and Sydney (Sep-Oct),where her stay was extended after her voice gave out. She also toured the regional centres - Hobart and Launceston (May-June 1884), Ballarat (July), Bendigo (Aug-Sep) and Geelong. Newspaper reports make much of her voice - apparently she presented with clear diction and had 'throat and lungs of remarkable strength and capacity'. She was also notable in her ability to attract large crowds - reports state she packed out the Exhibition buildings in both Melbourne and Sydney (5-6000 attendees).¹¹

The NZ Herald of 27 November 1884 records that she had left Auckland by 'the last mail steamer' for America, to be married to George Hemus. It also records that when she left Geelong she was given 'some very gratifying testimonials' to the the tune of 3 purses totalling 163 sovereigns, a gold brooch and an opossom rug - clearly the evangelist trade was lucrative!¹²

Margaret's second marriage was to George Hemus on 29 December 1885 in Los Angeles, California.¹³

She was listed in the 1910 US census at 717 Kohler St in Los Angeles, California, with her husband George; both claimed to be evangelists within an industry of the 'world'. They were living in a rented home, and claimed to have been married for 24 years with 14 children 5 living - these numbers are clearly their summation of both their original families, not the children they had together (which would be none). They also both claimed to be 65; he claimed to have entered the USA in 1883 and be naturalised, while she gave an entry date of 1885 - these ages are totally inaccurate, as he would have been 62, while she was 73.¹⁴

She was widowed at age 80 on the death of her husband George on 8 March 1917.¹⁵

She was listed in the 1920 US census at 1048 Vernon Ave, District 73 in Los Angeles, California; she now claimed no occupation, but owned a farm, gave an age of 78 and claimed she was naturalised, though no records have been found.¹⁶

Margaret died on 24 October 1925 in Los Angeles, California, at age 88.¹⁵ She was buried at the Rosedale Cemetery, 1831 West Washington Blvd in Los Angeles.¹⁵

Marion's birth was registered between April 1859 and June 1859 in Sapcote Hinkley, Leicestershire.^2,1
The siblings Marion and Harrison were listed in the 1861 census in Knossington, Leicestershire, with their parents, Joshua Spencer and Emily Fanny Wise.²

Mary Spencer was born in England in 1797.¹ and was baptised on 28 February 1797 in Sapcote.¹

Mary died on 1 July 1814 in England.¹

Mary Spencer was born in Leicestershire circa 1835.¹ and was baptised on 11 June 1835 in Knossington.²
The siblings William, Thomas, Harrison, Joshua, Mary, George and Albert were listed in the 1841 census at Knossington village in Knossington, Leicestershire, with their parents, Thomas Spencer and Catherine Harrison.¹
She was attending the school at 7 St Georges Place at Brighton at the time of the 1851 UK census, which was run by a Matilda HENDERSON.³
She was listed as a visitor to Mary Harrison's household in the 1861 Census at 17 London Rd in St Margaret, Leicestershire; while listed as a 'visitor', she is actually Mary HARRISON's niece.⁴

She was listed in the 1871 census as Head of Family at 3 Port View in Saltash, Cornwall; she was a 'landowner' and the household included a servant and a boarder.⁵

She married John Lower Clark in Saltash, Cornwall, on 25 July 1872.^2,6

She was widowed on the death of her husband John on 25 April 1880.^7,8

She was appointed executrix of John Lower Clark's estate in Bodmin, Cornwall, on 19 May 1880, along with the Rev Henry Anthony NOEL of St Stephen's, Saltash, as co-executor.⁸

She was listed in the 1881 census as Head of Family at The Strand in Topsham, Devon; she was 'living on income from investments'. The house also contained four CLARK daughters of her deceased husband (incorrectly identified as grand-daughters, rather than step-daughters) and a servant.⁹

She was listed in the 1891 census as Head of Family at The Lodge on the Strand in Topsham, Devon; she was 'living on her own means' with one servant.¹⁰

She was listed in the 1901 census as Head of Family at 18 Belvoir Dr in Newton Abbott, Devon; she was 'living on her own means' with one servant and one of her step-daughters.¹¹

Mary died on 16 September 1913 in Newton Abbott, Devon.²

Mary Ann Spencer was born in Newton, Auckland, on 15 June 1867.^1,2

Mary died on 29 September 1868 in Newton, Auckland, at age 1.^3,4