William Spencer (Sheriff) Explained

Sir William Spencer
Noble Family:Spencer
Father:John Spencer
Mother:Isabella Graunt
Spouse:Susan Knightley
Issue:John Spencer
Isobel Spencer
Jane Spencer
Birth Date:c. 1496
Birth Place:Althorp, Northamptonshire
Death Place:Althorp, Northamptonshire
Burial Place:Brington Church

Sir William Spencer (22 June 1532) was an English nobleman, politician, knight, landowner, and High Sheriff from the Spencer family.

Life and family

Spencer was the son of John Spencer of Hodnell and Wormleighton, Warwickshire, and Althorp, Northamptonshire, and his wife, Isabella Graunt.

In the parish church for Althorp, St Mary the Virgin in Great Brington, Sir William bequeathed the church's east window of stained glass which depicted St. John the Baptist and the Spencer coat of arms, now in a south window of the chancel, in memory of his father, and a plain altar tomb with an Elizabethan tablet commemorating his life and death and that of his lady Susan, the daughter of Sir Richard Knightley.[1]

Spencer was appointed Sheriff of Northamptonshire for 1531–32, but died in office and was replaced by Sir David Cecil. He was buried in Brington church, the parish church for Althorp.

Marriage and issue

Spencer married Susan Knightley, the daughter of Sir Richard Knightley, of Fawsley, Northamptonshire and had a son, John Spencer, and five daughters. His daughter Isobel married Sir John Cotton, MP for Cambridgeshire. His daughter Jane married Sir Richard Brydges, MP for Berkshire.

References

Notes and References

  1. H. Gawthorne, S. Mattingly, G. W. Shaeffer, M. Avery, B. Thomas, R. Barnard, M. Young, Revd. N. V. Knibbs, R. Horne: "The Parish Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Great Brington. 800 Years of English History", published as "Brington Church: A Popular History" in 1989 and printed by Peerless Press.