PUBLIC "-//Colonial Williamsburg Foundation::John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library//TEXT (US::ViWC::viwc00036::Guide to the William Spencer Diaries)//EN" "viwc00036.xml" A Guide to the William Spencer Diaries, 1790 Spencer, William, Diaries, 1790 MS 37.2 Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation © 2002 By the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. All rights reserved.

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 Machine-readable finding aid derived from MS Word 2000, created by Doug Mayo, 09/25/2002 Description is in English Feb 13, 2004 PUBLIC "-//Colonial Williamsburg Foundation::John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library//TEXT (US::ViWC::viwc00036::Guide to the William Spencer Diaries)//EN" "viwc00036.xml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15). Feb 26, 2004 converted to conform to eadVIVA.dtd by vivastrict.xsl 2013-11-21 Converted to schema conforming EAD by dtd2schema.vh.xsl. A Guide to the William Spencer Diaries, 1790 A Collection in the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library MS 37.2

John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation 2002 Special Collections staff Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Descriptive Summary John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation William Spencer Diaries, 1790. MS 37.2 1 item. English William Spencer, b. 1764. Administrative Information Access

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Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Librarian/ Associate Curator of Rare Books and Manuscripts, and the holder of the copyright, if not the Rockefeller Library at Colonial Williamsburg.

 Preferred Citation

William Spencer Diaries, Manuscript MS 37.2, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

 Alternative Form

Also available on microfilm M-50.

 Biographical/Historical Information

William Spencer was born in Buckingham County, Va. in 1764. While still a boy, he moved to Prince Edward County. He served as a Methodist circuit rider, 1789-1797, in Virginia and Norht Carolina. He was married to Mary Newbill adn taught school in Prince Edward County. In 1804, he moved to Lunenburg County.

 Scope and Content Information

Diaries of William Spencer (b. 1764), a Methodist circuit rider on the Williamsburg circuit, extending from Richmond (Henrico County) to Hampton; and the Surry circuit, including Surry and Sussex counties. Gives the locations where he preached, his reception by congregations, and accounts of his personal spiritual life. The diaries were written as a homily for future generations. Prominent early Methodists mentioned included Stephen Davis, Ira Ellis, James O'Kelly, and John Robinson. Spencer lists many of the homes and churches where he preached, including Clayton's Meetinghouse; Ellis Chapel, Sussex County; Lane's Chapel, Sussex County; and Watkins Meetinghouse, Henrico County.

 Adjunct Descriptive Data Bibliography

Portions of the diaries have been published in:

Virginia United Methodist Heritage, Vol. III, no. 2. Fall, 1975. Related Material at the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library

The Rockefeller Library has a microfilm copy (M-82.12) of William Spencer's diary for the period of Dec., 1787-Jan. 1790.

 Related Material at the Virginia Historical Society

The original of the William Spencer Diary, Dec., 1787- Jan., 1790 resides at the Virginia Historical Society.

William Spencer Diary, Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, Virginia. William Spencer Diary, 1789 Dec. 17-1790 Jan. 27.1 item (48 p.)Mss5:1 Sp346:1

Index Terms Persons: Spencer, William, b. 1764. Davis, Stephen. Ellis, Ira. O'Kelly, James, ca. 1735-1826. Robinson, John. Subjects: Methodist Church--Virginia- -Clergy--History--18th century. Methodist Church--Virginia--History--18th century. Corporate Names: Clayton's Meetinghouse. Ellis Chapel (Sussex County, Va.) Lane's Chapel (Sussex County, Va) Watkin's Meetinghouse (Henrico County, Va.) Genre and Form Terms: Diaries--Virginia--18th century.