Isabel ?

Isabel married Henry SPENCER before 1444. Henry was born between 1400-1409 in Badby, Northamptonshire; died after 1 Jun 1469. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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John Spencer is first noticed as a gentleman of Wormleighton in 1470, when he and Thomas Hayton were sued for trespass by widow Alice Griffith. As a defendant in other trespass suits in 1472 and 1475, John was called a yeoman of Hodnell. Between 1477 and 1495 he was a plaintiff in at least ten cases of unpaid debt. In all of these cases, he was a resident of Hodnell, and was sometimes termed a gentleman. It is obvious from his will, written a year after the last suit, that John had acquired great wealth, holding lands in no less than fifteen lordships in Warwickshire and Northamptonshire. John Spencer of Hodnell and his second wife, Johan (Joan) were admitted to the Guild of the Holy Cross in 1483-84. From is will, it is also clear that he was also a brother of Trinity Guild in Coventry, Corpus Christi Guild, also in Coventry, and the Guild of Warwick. On 16 February 1 Richard III (1484) John witnessed a grant of land in Caldecote, Warwickshire, from Thomas Stafford, Robert Throgmerton, and John Hugeford, Esqs., to Edmund Newenham and John Newenham, which the grantors held by grant of Jumphrey Catesby, gent.

John Spencer of Hodnell died on 4 January 1496-7, according to his inquisition 'post mortem', dated "Tuesday before All Hallows 14 Henry VII (Oct 1498)," John's son Thomas, age 6 "and more," was declared his rightful heir. John's will, long and complex, was executed on 15 September 1496 and proved 25 January 1496/7. Among those mentioned were his wife Jane (also called Joan); a minor son Thomas, under age 21; a minor daughter Elizabeth, under age 14; a married daughter Joan, wife of William Cope; unnamed sisters and their children; the three children of his brothers William, namely, John Spencer of Snitterfield, Thomas Spencer, and an unnamed daughters; and the male heirs of his late bother Thomas Spencer.

Family/Spouse: Anne EMPSON. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Jane or Joan GRAUNT before 1483/4. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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He appears to have been dead by 14966 when his brother John executed his will, mentioning bequests William made to his children. William married Elizabeth Empson, daughter of Peter Empson and sister of his brother John's first wife, Anne Empson. Elizabeth was living as late as 1522, when she was mentioned in the will of her son John Spencer.

William lived in Radbourne, a village near Hodnell and now pat of Stratford-on-Avon district. In 1483-84 William Spencer of "Radbroke" and his wife Elizabeth were admitted to the Guild of the Holy Cross along with his brother John Spencer and the latter's wife Joan. He was said to be seated at "Rodburne" in 1 Henry VII ( 1485-86). He probably remained there, as his sons John and Thomas were living in "Radbroke" when they appeared as plaintiffs on the plea rolls inn 1498 and 1500.

Family/Spouse: Elizabeth EMPSON. Elizabeth (daughter of Peter EMPSON and Unknown ?) died after 1522. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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Thomas Spencer probably died soon after executing his will on 30 June 1493. he was certainly dead by 15 September 1496, when he was referred to as deceased in the will of his brother John Spencer. Thomas married MARGARET ?, a cousin of John Smyth of Wold (or Old). She is often called Margaret Smyth, but no proof of her surname has been found. She married second by about 1496-97, Edmund Belcher of Guilsborough, Northamptonshire, by whom she had sons Humphrey and John, both of whom died without issue. Humphrey, the oldest son and heir, was aged 4 in 1501. Margaret died on 29 Mar 1501. Edmund Belcher of Guilsborough died between 18 December 1528 and 26 April 1529, the dates of the execution and probate of his will.

Thomas and Margaret received the manor of Wold from Margaret's cousin John Smyth. The terms of the gift provided that Margaret's children were to receive the manor after the deaths of their parents. The Spencers were also to make an annuity of nine marks to Smyth during his lifetime. Additionally, upon Smyth's death Thomas and Margaret were to employ a priest in the church of Walgrave to celebrate mass for the souls of Smyth and his ancestors for the next fifty years, and the Spencers were to give security to Smyth for such service. Accordingly, Thomas and Margaret Spencer entered the premises, but Thomas was soon dissatisfied with the arrangement. Openly declaring the manor was not worth so great a charge, he failed to pay the rent or find security for a priest, and he apparently returned to Badby, where he died. After Thomas's death, Margaret refused to occupy the manor for the same reason, and Smyth reclaimed the property. upon her marriage to Edmund Belcher, a new agreement was made between Smyth and the Belchers with different terms. When Margaret died in 1501, the manor and advowson of Wold went to her son Humphrey, age 4, who died without heirs. At that time, the manor consisted of two messuages ad three virgates of land (about 90 acres) valued in the whole at L7 per annum. Eventually, the manor of Wold passed to William, the eldest son of Thomas and Margaret Spencer.

The will of Thomas Spencer of Badby, dated 30 June 1493, includes a request to be buried in the Badby churchyard. Small sums were given to several local churches, and L20 went to his wife Margaret. No children were mentioned, but, as will be shown below, he had as least four sons.

Family/Spouse: Margaret ?. Margaret died on 29 Mar 1501. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]