Freedom Within a Slavery Driven Society:
The Journey and Legacy of James Spencer by Editors’ note: Anthony J. (Tony) Spencer is the Coordinator of Human Services for the City of Annapolis and former vice-president on the Board of Education for Anne Arundel County Public Schools. In addition, he is the author of two upcoming publication: New Eyes/New Vision, and founder of Enrapture Ministries and Records, providing entertainment in the performing arts. His most recent CD, “It’s Time,” is available on his website, enrapture51.com and CD Baby. Saturday, March 25, 2006, Henson & Priscilla Spencer, Ada Spencer-Anderson, Dr. Vivian Gist Spencer, and Tony J. Spencer celebrated the life, journey, and legacy of James Spencer by creating the Captain James Spencer Scholarship Fund. The service was held at Mt. Zion (Magothy) United Methodist Church, located at 7187 Artic Road, Pasadena, Maryland. A number of descendants, relatives and friends attended the reception and evening worship service. Local historians, Janice Hayes-Williams, James Clark, and Isabel Cunningham of Annapolis, Maryland, were among those in attendance. Retired educator Mrs. Irene Hebron, Senator Phil Jimeno and Sheriff George Johnson, other friends, neighbors, and visitors who had heard about the celebration, rounded out the list of guests for the evening of celebration. The following information does not include all of what the Spencer family has come to learn and understand about the legacy of James Spencer. However, remembering the oral history that our late aunt, Carrie Spencer-Turner shared with us many years prior to her death and the research that her brother, Henson Spencer, my uncle, has continued to stimulate my interest and appreciation for what James Spencer accomplished during his journey. In 1814, a number of historically significant events took place that ensured the safety and security of the American people, setting the stage for the nation and its citizens. On August 24th, at the Battle of Bladensburg, sailors and marines under the gallant leadership of Joshua Barney fought rear-guard action. Facing a new era, the British were forced back by local militia at the Battle of North Point on September 12th. Finally, the valiant defense of Fort McHenry by American forces during the British attack on September 13th inspired 35-year-old, poet-lawyer Francis Scott Key to write the poem which was to become the national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner." Although the events above were significant to the greater population of that day, the occurrences included one event that became substantially important to the Black population of Anne Arundel County for decades to come - the birth of James Spencer. The story of James Spencer, a man whose journey was unlike most, appears at first glance to be that of just a typical farmer of that day and time: uncomplicated, unsophisticated, and most likely to remain unchanged by the demands of the day. Throughout his life, to the community, Spencer displayed an undying work ethic: rising early, thanking God for another blessed day to provide for his family, managing those under his watch, assigning chores, doing an honest day’s work, getting the job done properly the first time, sending and/or taking his crop to the South Street Market in Baltimore–via sailboat or carriage, negotiating the best deal for labors that produced excellent crops, worshiping his God, and paying taxes. What was neither visible nor anticipated by many was the soul of a man with quiet determination to make a lifelong difference in the midst of a partisan society that endeavored to thrive as a result of the skills, labor and tears of a burdened and unappreciated people. James would sow myriad rich seeds, cultivate, nurture and pick the crops of his fields. As a result of his endeavors, Spencer would not only realize the fruit of his labor one day, he would also save enough money to purchase acres upon acres of land. Spencer’s purchases of land were not made only to acquire personal wealth; his acquisitions of land would enable the faith community to erect places of worship, to ensure that land was available to promote the education of freedmen and children in the neighborhood, and to secure a better future for his immediate family and others for generations. As a farmer, Spencer needed insight on life to survive the times; therefore, it was imperative that a full day’s effort be grounded in determination above self-indulgence. As a husband, father, and businessman in the local community maneuvering within a slavery-driven society, James upheld yet a higher standard–fulfilling the righteousness of God. It is no surprise that his decisions were calculated, just, deliberate, and highly ethical in an attempt to accomplish God’s will for his life and the well-being of those within the Spencer families. Without that one small, but creditable, piece of paper, James might have been subjected to misidentification and sold into slavery. His plight was not exceptional; it was the order of the day. The events of James Spencer’s life for the next six-years after receiving his Certificate of Freedom are not clear; however, on December 26, 1845, Spencer purchased a 56-acre tract of land, Smith’s Forest, laying the groundwork for Freetown, but also creating history yet to be told to the greater local public and the world. Spencer and his wife Harriet built a home on his land in Marley Neck in what became Freetown and eventually had three daughters and nine sons. James became not only the patriarch of the Spencer family but also a pioneer in the purchase of land in the colored community in Anne Arundel County. Although he bought his first 56-acre tract of land near Marley Creek near Glen Burnie in 1845, from Mr. and Mrs. Peter J. Young and Temperance Kirby, the land was not deeded to him until March 10, 1846. The two thousand dollars he paid for it then is equal to more than two-hundred thousand dollars today. The western section of this particular parcel of land, initially called Smith’s Forest, included shoreline along Marley Creek as well as Brewers Island. This tract, later expanded to include a portion of what became Freetown, was just the beginning of his acquisition of land. What other landowners would consider swamp land, James Spencer saw as waterfront property. As other land became available, he made the trek to Annapolis many times to purchase it. In addition to owning acreage in the Glen Burnie and Freetown areas, he bought property on the south shore of the Severn River in Waterbury, ten to twelve miles west of Annapolis, near what is Sunset Beach today. Eventually, he owned eighteen hundred acres of land in Anne Arundel County! During the Civil War, a period in the nation’s history distinguished by a major division between the North and the South over race, slavery and economics, James Spencer contributed to a cause he supported wholeheartedly by serving in the Union Army, U.S. Colored Troops. September 20, 1870, years after serving in the U. S. Army, Spencer continued farming and acquiring properties. He and six other community leaders joined forces to purchase one- half-acre of land. As insignificant as this may appear, Spencer and his associates knew how this particular purchase would benefit the whole community. For one dollar, James Spencer, John Owens, Robert Curry, Pathan Owens, Edmond Franklin, William Turner, and William Harwood bought that one-half-acre of land from Abraham Franklin and Eliza Franklin. Their intentions were straight forward: to own property located in the third election district of Anne Arundel County where freedmen and their children could be educated. Obviously, one person could have purchased the property alone. Perhaps the number of signatures were required because of the task they had proposed for the district. Whatever their reason, they set a new course for the betterment of the community. A year later, on September 6, 1871, James Spencer and William Turner purchased 150-acres of land from Jacob H. Taylor and Mary Taylor, his wife of Baltimore County for fifteen hundred dollars. The purchase included the initial location of Nelsons Chance and the beginning of Brewer’s Island, running to the boundary from Smith’s Forest to Nace Owen’s Land to Tide Water, then bounding on the Tide Water of Curtis Creek, south to boundaries next to Brewers Trouble and the land of Mr. John E A Pumphrey, combined with ninety-seven and-a-half acres of land, the total amount a land sold to said James Spencer (Colored) and a certain William Turner (Colored) was two-hundred-forty-seven-and-a-half-acres. Along with these land purchases, Spencer and Williams bought existing buildings, roads, ways, waterways, privileges, appurtenances (accessories) and other advantages. March 14, 1873, Robert F. Dodson, Clerk of the Court for Anne Arundel County confirmed that James Spencer, Henry Queen, George Calvert, and Charles Susco had purchased a tract of land and a residence for nine-hundred dollars. The tract of land was called Hammond Enclosure, located in the Second District of Anne Arundel County, beginning on the north side of the public main road leading from Elkridge to the City of Annapolis and ending on the second line conveyed by Louis Gassaway and William H. Baldwin about January 19, 1837. It was further agreed by the new owners that, “two-and-a-quarter acres of land would be maintained as a place of residence for preachers of the African Methodist Church in the United States of America, who may from time to time be stationed in Severn Circuit at and near Waterbury, subject to the usage and discipline of said church from time to time, authorized and declared by the General Conference of said Church and by the Annual Conference within whose bounds said premises are situated.” Four years after the purchase of the same tract of land identified as Hammond Enclosure, on December 13, 1877, James Spencer, Henry Queen, George Calvert, and Charles Susco sold the property to Charles Tewman, William Allen, Terry Bower, Ceasar Johnson, and John H. Matthews for one dollar. Making a profit was not the intent; it appears that these community leaders made a choice to save the property for the faith community rather than see it lost to a lender. The new owners agreed to the same stipulations that Spencer and his associates had accepted in 1873: to maintain a place of residence for preachers of the African Methodist Church in the United States of America, who might, from time to time, be stationed in Severn Circuit at and near Waterbury. Finally, on September 26, 1879, James purchased additional ten-acres of land from Lloyd Faulkner and his wife, Maria Faulkner for sum of sixty-dollars. A mortgage was made on September 30, 1879 and recorded on October 4, 1879, witnessed by George W. McCubbin, J.P. On June 3rd, the 1880 United States Federal Census reported the statistical enumeration for the nation. In that report, James Spencer, a black male, was recorded as being born around 1814 in District 3, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, which made him about 66 years of age. At that time he was a husband, a father, a grandfather and a farmer. Despite Spencer’s birth being estimated as occurring in 1814, without benefit of certification, his correct date of birth will never be known. Notwithstanding, a span of three years - 1814 to 1817 - still serves as a respectable indicator of the time frame in which he was born. Curiously, according to the 1880 census, James was reported as being unable to either read or write. However, considering the evidence provided by documents of his land purchases, Spencer could not only read and write, his handwriting skills were excellent. When signing land purchases with his associates in 1877, James’ signature was handwritten, whereas one of his partners had to write the letter X to confirm his signature. Furthermore, in the second paragraph of his will, James states, “I give and bequeath to my son James A. Spencer, my old family Bible, and to my son George Spencer, my other Bible and my watch.” The Bible was the road map that held a Christian’s faith on course. James’ involvement with his God and Mt. Zion Church could be maintained only with a personal relationship, not one that was merely handed down to him. Reading his Bible for himself would have provided James with faith in those things he could not see, hope in the midst of uncertainty, and love that was required of a true believer in Christ. Furthermore, leaving his Bibles to his sons was an extension of what he had learned through reading and was his way of saying, “Remember whose you are, and this is how you keep your hand on the gospel plow to the kingdom.” And so the questions remain: Did Spencer tell the census recorder that he could not read or write, or was it assumed to be so? Did Spencer tell the recorder to include the misinformation for fear of the possible consequences that could have resulted due to the inequities that existed in their society? The answers may never be known. Although James, his wife Harriet (misspelled “Harrot” in the 1880 United States Federal Census), and all of their children were born in Maryland, James’ father was recorded as being born in Virginia. It has not yet been determined when James met and married Harriet, his lifelong partner. It is possible that they were married sometime during the six years after he received his Certificate of Freedom and before the purchase of his first 56-acres of land (between 1839 and 1845). From ages listed in the census, estimated dates of some of his sons’ and daughters-in-law’s births and deaths can be determined. The following approximations of ages were recorded: Harriet, James’ wife, 45, was born in 1835; James A. Spencer, the son, 31, born in 1849; Laura, the wife of James A., 25, born in 1855; Joseph, 26, born in 1854; Sarah, Joseph’s wife, 24, born in 1856; William, 23, born in 1857; and Charles, 22, born in 1858. John H. Spencer, who died at an early age, before the census, left his daughter, Mary, to be raised by his parents and other family members. Mrs. Dorothy Matthews, a relative who was raised by Greenbury Spencer, the last surviving child of James and Harriet Spencer, provided information on Greenbury. Greenbury, was born December 11, 1860, and died at the age of 85 years-old on November 13, 1945. Greenbury’s wife Harriett Richards Spencer, died on November 6, 1932. While some details appear on census, information on Garrison Spencer, my great-grandfather, and his other siblings, Isaiah Spencer, George Spencer, Mary Spencer-Williams (wife of Uriah Williams), Harriet Spencer-Turner (wife of Mahlon Turner), Henrietta Spencer-Kess (wife of Roderick), were not recorded. Schedules 2--Productions in Agriculture in Anne Arundel Co., Md.
On January 21, 1881, as recorded by the Clerk of the Superior Court of Baltimore City, James Spencer bought 110-acres of land from William and Angeline Wilson for the sum twelve hundred dollars. The property included Nelson’s Chance, Pleasure and Brewers Trouble from the corner of Franklin’s fence, through to Curtis Creek to the northern side of a point called Rock Point, adjoining the land called Hall’s Palace, to land bounding on Tide Water, which was formerly owned by Ruth Haslup, bounding on property owned by Carrol Smith, and ending at Abram Franklin’s fence.” To date, this is the last record found thus far of James Spencer’s land purchases. On March 31, 1885, William Spencer swore under oath to the Register of Wills at the Anne Arundel County Courthouse that James Spencer died on March 25, 1885. His will indicates his devotion to his wife and children. He left to his wife Harriet his home and furnishings, his best horse or her choice of his horses, and an annuity of $270, equal to almost $5,000 today and adequate for her needs. Several sons received inheritances of three hundred or five hundred dollars, large amounts in that era, and all his children shared in the remaining real and personal property. He did not forget his daughters or Mary, the daughter of his deceased son John; however, Mary could not receive her inheritance until she reached the age of eighteen. James also provided monetary support for the care and education of his minor son George until he reached his twenty-first birthday. James specifically committed the guardianship of George to William until George reached the age of twenty-one. A great deal of discovery about our great-great-grandfather, James Spencer, is still ahead for the Spencer family and his many descendants. There is much more to uncover about James Spencer during the six years between the time he received his Certificate of Freedom, and the purchase of the fifty-six-acre tract of land now known as Freetown, as well as the many years that follow. James Spencer’s quiet determination proved to be a powerful tool. By acting on his convictions and not only talking about the ills of society, he demonstrated to his community that with a dedicated work ethic and sincere effort to serve, the soul of a man will find a way to make a lifelong difference in the midst of a partisan society. More important, leaving a legacy of distinction, dignity, and promise for generations to come is something we all must strive to accomplish. We will more to learn about James Spencer’s experiences, the foundation that fortified his life to enable him to achieve success, and the various levels of challenge that he eventually confronted. As we find more information, we will share it with you as well as with others. Respectfully submitted, Anthony J. “Tony” Spencer
The following picture was taken on December 28, 1963 during a reception, directly after Samuel and Ada Henson-Spencer had renewed their wedding vows for 50-years of marriage. Top Row: Laverne Spencer-Goddard, Henson Spencer, Audrey Spencer, my father, Raymond Spencer (my father), Anita Spencer-Williams, and Stanford Spencer
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