Herbert Spencer

Herbert was the second son and third child of Henry and Annie Spencer (née Emery).

His father Henry was born in Hickling in about 1847 and his mother Annie in London in about 1853. Annie's family came from Cambridgeshire and in 1861 she was living with her parents, Charles and Mary Emery, in Whittlesford, Linton, Cambridgeshire. She was not in the home at the time of the 1871 Census but she and Henry were married in Cambridgeshire in 1876 (JAS Linton Cambs).

Henry and Annie had eight children, one of whom, Leonard (b. 1884 JAS), died aged 4 months. All the children were born in Nottingham: Annie b. 17 May 1877, William Henry b. 1878 (OND), Herbert b. abt 1880, Joseph Emery b. 1881 (AMJ), Harold Charles b. 1882 (JAS), Sidney/Sydney birth registered 1879 (JFM) and May b. 7 May 1892.

In 1881 Henry, a grocer, and Annie together with their four children Annie, William, Herbert and an unnamed new born son (Joseph), were living at 32 Long Row, Nottingham. These were also commercial premises as also in the property on the night of the census were ten male and female grocer's assistants, including Annie's sister Catherine Emery (17, b. Sawston Linton Cambs), as well as a cook, housemaid and two nurses (domestic).

By 1891 Henry, now a grocer and general merchant, was living at Standard Hill House, Standard Hill, Nottingham, with his wife, and their six children Annie, William, Herbert, Joseph, Harold and Sidney. Also in the houshold was his sister-in-law Catherine Emery, a draper's assistant. Henry employed three domestic servants, a housemaid, cook and a nursemaid, Jane Elizabeth Sumner (18 b. Lincolnshire).

The family was living at 5 Clinton Terrace, Nottingham, in 1901. Henry was now a cafe proprietor. In the home on the night of the census were his wife and their seven children Annie a music teacher, William and Herbert who were both grocers, Joseph and Harold both draper's assistants, and Sidney and May who were school age. Jane Sumner was still in the household as a domestic servant.

Henry, 'in trade, own account', and Annie, had moved to 5 Pavilion Road, West Bridgford, by 1911. Only Annie a typist for an ironmonger, Herbert a grocery manager, and May were still living at home. Jane Sumner remained in their employ.

The youngest son Sydney, a divinity student, was recorded on the 1911 Census as a visitor in the household of Henry Butteriss, a grazier, in Hallaton, Rutland. Two of his brothers, Harold Charles and Joseph Emery, had been ordained and had emigrated to America. Joseph (28, single) departed Liverpool on 10 July 1909 for New York (SS Arabic, White Star Line). He was recorded on the 1910 US Census in Yorkstown, Westchester, New York; the record gave his nationality as American, country of origin England. Harold Charles, who had married Edith Caroline Wye in 1910 (reg. JFM Barrow on Soar Leicestershire), was recorded on the passenger list of SS Caronia (Cunard Line), 'clergyman, married', departing Liverpool 5 April 1910 for New York. The eldest son, William Henry (b. 1878), has not yet been traced after 1901.

Their parents continued to live at 5 Pavilion Road until their deaths, Annie, on 29 March 1930 and Henry three years later on 25 May 1933.

Annie and May remained unmarried and in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled they were living at 17 Oakfields Road, West Bridgford. Annie was a shorthand typist and May a general clerk. Jane Elizabeth Sumner was still living with them; her occupation was given as housekeeper ('incapacitated'). May died on 16 September 1953 and Annie on 13 October 1955; they were still living at 17 Oakfields Road. Administration of their estates was awarded to their brother, Harold Charles Spencer, a retired minister.

Harold Charles, who appears to have taken US nationality, had returned to the Britain on 17 April 1919, giving his address in Britain as 5 Pavilion Road, Nottingham. He, his wife and their son Leslie Gordon, were recorded on the 1921 Census in Handsworth, Staffordshire, where he was minister at the Ebenezer Congregational Church. They later moved to Lincolnshire where Harold was a minister in Bourne and in Louth, but his death on 20 June 1971 was recorded in the Newark registration district (probate: home address Newark).

Joseph Emery died on 5 July 1948 and was buried in Hamden Cemetery, Delaware County, New York (residence Peeskill, Westchester, New York).

The youngest son Sydney, 'a minister of religion', and his wife Ethel were recorded on the 1921 Census in Rotherham, Yorkshire, but had probably moved to Liverpool by 1927 and still resident there in 1939.