1. THOMAS SPICER (son of SILAS & HANNAH (DRAPER) SPICER) was
born March 9, 1785 in North Groton, Connecticut. In 1796, at age 11, Thomas
moved with his family to Oswego, NY. In 1807, Thomas was located in
Hounsfield.
Thomas was a soldier in the War of 1812. He served in Captain Elisha
Camp's Company in the Regiment of Colonel C.P. Bellinger from June 28,
1812 to July 28, 1813. He was a Sergeant at the Second Battle of
Sackets Harbor, May 28-30, 1813. According to family legend, Thomas
took a cannonball that the English had fired, wrapped it in burlap, and
fired it back at the English. This was after the Americans had depleted
their own ammunition. He was one of the master workmen at the building
of the Madison Barracks, and bossed the digging at Camp's Ditch.
Also according to family legend, Thomas fought in the Civil War with 2
sons and 9 grandchildren. A Thomas Spicer from Jefferson County, NY did
enlist December 19, 1861 as a corporal in Company C of the 94th NY
Regiment, but Thomas would have been 76 years old! It is unlikely that
Thomas actually served. According to Spicer Genealogy, Thomas "was a tall,
dark-skinned man, with great physical strength. His feats of daring were talked
of far and wide. He never knew a sick day until after he had arrived at an age
when most men die. He was noted for his integrity and honor. So sacred was
his word that 'as true as Tom Spicer' became a favorite expression among the
men and women who knew him. He was for fifty years a devoted member of the
Methodist Church and a consistent Christian. He often addressed the assembled
congregation, having a fine speaking voice, and always with great pathos and
feeling. He was also an excellent singer. In all his life he never quarreled."
Thomas was chairman of the July 4th festivities and ceremonies at Sackets and
Hounsfield for 40 years. Thomas died June 23, 1870 at age 85 in Hounsfield,
NY. He is buried in Sulphur Springs.
He married on March 13, 1805, in Plainfield, Otsego County, NY
ABIGAIL BUTTON, who was the daughter of JOHN & ANNIE (COON)
BUTTON. She was born August 12, 1785 in Stonington, Connecticut. Thomas
and Abigail had eleven children. According to the same Spicer genealogy,
Abigail was "a woman of great sweetness of disposition. She was renowned as
a singer, having a particularly fine soprano voice." Abigail died in 1863, and is
most likely buried in Sulphur Springs, Jefferson County.
Children, SPICER:
2 i NELSON SPICER
3 ii ELIZA "Betsey" SPICER
4 iii ERI SPICER
5 iv SILAS SPICER
6 v ERVIN SPICER
7 vi ABIGAIL SPICER
8 vii ANNA SPICER
9 viii CEPHA SPICER
10 ix MIAL SPICER
11 x HANNAH FISH SPICER
For further information, contact:
Blaine Bettinger
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http://jefferson.nygenweb.net/spicerp.htm updated March 29, 2009
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