Colonial Families of the United States of America, Vol. 5, page 34

Spicer

     The Spicer family were originally from Normandy, and three brothers came to England, as gentlemen volunteers, with William the Conqueror, A.D. 1066.  John settled in Devonshire, and was the progenitor of the family that went to America.  In the reign of Edward I, 1273, John Spicer was Mayor of the city of Exeter, County Devon.  In the reign of Edward III, John Spicer was at sundry times Mayor of city of Exeter, from 1352-1359.  In 1357 he received private letters from King Edward, with a commission under the great seal of England, dated 25th of March “to our loving, the Mayor of our honorable city of Exeter, for tree ships, for the defense of the realm against the French King.”  In the following year, 1358, the Black Prince brought with him from France, King John of France, whom he had taken prisoner, at the Battle of Poitiers.  [The Battle of Poitiers was a major battle of the Hundred Years' War between England and France.]  They landed at Plymouth, England, and came to Exeter, and were entertained most bountifully, by John Spicer, Mayor.  In 1620, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, Nicholas Spicer was Mayor of Exeter, and married Martha Priestly, and had a son Thomas, bapt. Exeter 22nd October, 1591, who came to America about 1635, and signed a contract with Nicholas Easton of Newport, Rhode Island, in 1638.  In 1642 he was Treasurer of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, and in 1643 removed to Gravesend, Long Island, under the settlement of Lady Moody.  His son Peter came to New London, Connecticut, in 1666.

     Peter Spicer came to New London, Connecticut, in one the vessels trading with the Long Island ports.  He bought property in New London in 1666, and m. in Warwick, Rhode Island, 15th December, 1670, Mary Busecot, dau. Of Capt. Peter and Mary Busecot.  He d. New London, 1694.

Issue

I.Peter, b. in New London

II.Zephaniah, who m. at Preston, Connecticut, 1752, Sarah Starkweather, and removed to Cornish, New Hampshire.

Issue

I.Jabez, b. Norwick, Connecticut, 11th September, 1753; d. Richmond, Vermont, 26th January, 1823; m. Cornish, New Hampshire, 14th January, 1779, Faith Ripley, b. Windham, Connecticut, 13th October, 1757, d. Richmond, Vermont, 31st May, 1824.  She was a daughter of William and Lydia (Brewster) Ripley, a direct descendant of William Brewster of the Mayflower.  Their son:

     Dr. Jabez Spicer was b. at Cornish, New Hampshire, 12th March, 1788 and d. at Waconsta, Michigan, 25th December, 1847; m. 22nd February, 1810, Mary Hovey, b. Mansfield, Connecticut, 20th September, 1788, d. Venice, Ohio, 2nd August, 1850, dau. Of Rev. Jonathan Hovey and Mary (Storrs) Hovey.  Dr. Spicer studied medicine at Dartmouth College, and was ordained a Minister of the Congregational Church, and practiced both professions.