Mary Jane was born April 11, 1816 in Frederick County, Virginia to Jacob and Elizabeth (Fleming) Gantz. According to family members, her father died in 1816 from wound complications related to his military service during the War of 1812. She and an older brother, George Wm Gantz, were raised by their mother, a stoic Irishwoman. with the help other family and neighbors. At age 17, she married William C Spencer on March 17, 1833 in Frederick County, VA. According to the youngest daughter's obituary, William and Mary Jane moved to Wood County, VA in 1848 and laid claim to land in District 65 which included the Red Hill area. They established a farm and raised 7 children here. Mary Jane's older brother, George Wm, and her elderly mother also moved to Red Hill, Wood County, VA in 1852. Her mother died in 1858 and was buried in the Red Hill Evangelical United Brethren (EUB) Church graveyard. Both Mary Jane and William continued to live on the Spencer Farm until their deaths; Mary Jane -7 Sep 1886 and William C -2 Aug 1889. Their oldest daughter, Frances who never married, reminded in the home as a caregiver for both parents until their deaths. Although both were members of the Red Hill EUB Church, there is no evidence they were buried here. Family lore says that both were buried in graves on the family homestead. Unfortunately, that family homestead was sold after William's death in 1889 for delinquent taxes and the burial sites were not preserved.
Mary Jane was born April 11, 1816 in Frederick County, Virginia to Jacob and Elizabeth (Fleming) Gantz. According to family members, her father died in 1816 from wound complications related to his military service during the War of 1812. She and an older brother, George Wm Gantz, were raised by their mother, a stoic Irishwoman. with the help other family and neighbors. At age 17, she married William C Spencer on March 17, 1833 in Frederick County, VA. According to the youngest daughter's obituary, William and Mary Jane moved to Wood County, VA in 1848 and laid claim to land in District 65 which included the Red Hill area. They established a farm and raised 7 children here. Mary Jane's older brother, George Wm, and her elderly mother also moved to Red Hill, Wood County, VA in 1852. Her mother died in 1858 and was buried in the Red Hill Evangelical United Brethren (EUB) Church graveyard. Both Mary Jane and William continued to live on the Spencer Farm until their deaths; Mary Jane -7 Sep 1886 and William C -2 Aug 1889. Their oldest daughter, Frances who never married, reminded in the home as a caregiver for both parents until their deaths. Although both were members of the Red Hill EUB Church, there is no evidence they were buried here. Family lore says that both were buried in graves on the family homestead. Unfortunately, that family homestead was sold after William's death in 1889 for delinquent taxes and the burial sites were not preserved.
Family Members
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