DEATH OF MRS SPENCE
Had Lived in Waukesha Nearly Sixty Years
WIDOW OF THOMAS SPENCE
Had Frightful Experience of Shipwreck and Starvation of Shipwreck on Way to this Country Many Years Ago.
Mrs. Jane Spence, widow of Thomas Spence, was found dead in her bed at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Van H. Bugbee, corner Maple Ave. and Carroll St., Tuesday morning. She had not been ill at all and retired in apparent good health and spirits Monday evening. She was 85 years of age and death is believed to have been due to natural causes. Funeral services will be held at the Bugbee residence this (Thursday) afternoon at two o'clock, Rev. C. H. Williamson officiating.
Mrs. Spence's maiden name was Jane Leslie and she was born in Stewartstown in the north of Ireland, of Scotch parents. She married Mr. Spence in Ireland and they had one son when in 1848 they sailed on the Omega for America. The voyage proved a most disastrous one, as the boat suffered shipwreck while far out at sea. The women and children were taken off by a passing vessel, which was ill prepared to provide for the increased number of passengers. Food and water were scarce and the passengers from the Omega suffered terribly. Mrs. Spence saw her little son die of starvation in her arms, his body being cast into the sea. Meanwhile the men passengers had drifted about on the hulk of the wrecked vessel, and were finally taken off by another vessel, the Barbara, which was in its turn wrecked, only fourteen souls being saved. Mr. Spence was one of these and it happened that he reached St. John's, Newfoundland, before his wife and was there to welcome her when she landed. They found shelter with a clergyman of the Episcopal church, Rev. Edward Lowe, who gave Mr. Spence a prayer book bearing this inscription:
"Thomas Spence, St. John's, Newfoundland. Given to him after his wonderful and merciful preservation when a passenger on the brig, Barbara, wrecked on the coast of Newfoundland, 4th March 1848."
Mrs. Bugbee now owns the prayer book, which bears the date of binding as 1838.
Mrs. Spence was insane for six months after landing, because of the terrible experiences she had undergone. From Newfoundland the family went to Broklyn, N.Y. where for a year Mr. Spence conducted a private school. He then came west, settling in Waukesha, and his wife followed the next year. The family home remained here until it was broken by the death of Mr. Spence March 29, 1906. Since that time Mrs. Spence has resided with her daughters, Mrs. Bugbee and Mrs. Harry Vedder. Besides the daughters two sons survive, T. H. Spence of La Crosse and Judge E. L. Spence of Chicago. A third son, Leslie, died in 1907. Both E. L. and T. H. Spence were summoned by the death of their mother.
Waukesha Freeman, May 27, 1909, Page 1
Had Lived in Waukesha Nearly Sixty Years
WIDOW OF THOMAS SPENCE
Had Frightful Experience of Shipwreck and Starvation of Shipwreck on Way to this Country Many Years Ago.
Mrs. Jane Spence, widow of Thomas Spence, was found dead in her bed at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Van H. Bugbee, corner Maple Ave. and Carroll St., Tuesday morning. She had not been ill at all and retired in apparent good health and spirits Monday evening. She was 85 years of age and death is believed to have been due to natural causes. Funeral services will be held at the Bugbee residence this (Thursday) afternoon at two o'clock, Rev. C. H. Williamson officiating.
Mrs. Spence's maiden name was Jane Leslie and she was born in Stewartstown in the north of Ireland, of Scotch parents. She married Mr. Spence in Ireland and they had one son when in 1848 they sailed on the Omega for America. The voyage proved a most disastrous one, as the boat suffered shipwreck while far out at sea. The women and children were taken off by a passing vessel, which was ill prepared to provide for the increased number of passengers. Food and water were scarce and the passengers from the Omega suffered terribly. Mrs. Spence saw her little son die of starvation in her arms, his body being cast into the sea. Meanwhile the men passengers had drifted about on the hulk of the wrecked vessel, and were finally taken off by another vessel, the Barbara, which was in its turn wrecked, only fourteen souls being saved. Mr. Spence was one of these and it happened that he reached St. John's, Newfoundland, before his wife and was there to welcome her when she landed. They found shelter with a clergyman of the Episcopal church, Rev. Edward Lowe, who gave Mr. Spence a prayer book bearing this inscription:
"Thomas Spence, St. John's, Newfoundland. Given to him after his wonderful and merciful preservation when a passenger on the brig, Barbara, wrecked on the coast of Newfoundland, 4th March 1848."
Mrs. Bugbee now owns the prayer book, which bears the date of binding as 1838.
Mrs. Spence was insane for six months after landing, because of the terrible experiences she had undergone. From Newfoundland the family went to Broklyn, N.Y. where for a year Mr. Spence conducted a private school. He then came west, settling in Waukesha, and his wife followed the next year. The family home remained here until it was broken by the death of Mr. Spence March 29, 1906. Since that time Mrs. Spence has resided with her daughters, Mrs. Bugbee and Mrs. Harry Vedder. Besides the daughters two sons survive, T. H. Spence of La Crosse and Judge E. L. Spence of Chicago. A third son, Leslie, died in 1907. Both E. L. and T. H. Spence were summoned by the death of their mother.
Waukesha Freeman, May 27, 1909, Page 1
DEATH OF MRS SPENCE
Had Lived in Waukesha Nearly Sixty Years
WIDOW OF THOMAS SPENCE
Had Frightful Experience of Shipwreck and Starvation of Shipwreck on Way to this Country Many Years Ago.
Mrs. Jane Spence, widow of Thomas Spence, was found dead in her bed at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Van H. Bugbee, corner Maple Ave. and Carroll St., Tuesday morning. She had not been ill at all and retired in apparent good health and spirits Monday evening. She was 85 years of age and death is believed to have been due to natural causes. Funeral services will be held at the Bugbee residence this (Thursday) afternoon at two o'clock, Rev. C. H. Williamson officiating.
Mrs. Spence's maiden name was Jane Leslie and she was born in Stewartstown in the north of Ireland, of Scotch parents. She married Mr. Spence in Ireland and they had one son when in 1848 they sailed on the Omega for America. The voyage proved a most disastrous one, as the boat suffered shipwreck while far out at sea. The women and children were taken off by a passing vessel, which was ill prepared to provide for the increased number of passengers. Food and water were scarce and the passengers from the Omega suffered terribly. Mrs. Spence saw her little son die of starvation in her arms, his body being cast into the sea. Meanwhile the men passengers had drifted about on the hulk of the wrecked vessel, and were finally taken off by another vessel, the Barbara, which was in its turn wrecked, only fourteen souls being saved. Mr. Spence was one of these and it happened that he reached St. John's, Newfoundland, before his wife and was there to welcome her when she landed. They found shelter with a clergyman of the Episcopal church, Rev. Edward Lowe, who gave Mr. Spence a prayer book bearing this inscription:
"Thomas Spence, St. John's, Newfoundland. Given to him after his wonderful and merciful preservation when a passenger on the brig, Barbara, wrecked on the coast of Newfoundland, 4th March 1848."
Mrs. Bugbee now owns the prayer book, which bears the date of binding as 1838.
Mrs. Spence was insane for six months after landing, because of the terrible experiences she had undergone. From Newfoundland the family went to Broklyn, N.Y. where for a year Mr. Spence conducted a private school. He then came west, settling in Waukesha, and his wife followed the next year. The family home remained here until it was broken by the death of Mr. Spence March 29, 1906. Since that time Mrs. Spence has resided with her daughters, Mrs. Bugbee and Mrs. Harry Vedder. Besides the daughters two sons survive, T. H. Spence of La Crosse and Judge E. L. Spence of Chicago. A third son, Leslie, died in 1907. Both E. L. and T. H. Spence were summoned by the death of their mother.
Waukesha Freeman, May 27, 1909, Page 1
Had Lived in Waukesha Nearly Sixty Years
WIDOW OF THOMAS SPENCE
Had Frightful Experience of Shipwreck and Starvation of Shipwreck on Way to this Country Many Years Ago.
Mrs. Jane Spence, widow of Thomas Spence, was found dead in her bed at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Van H. Bugbee, corner Maple Ave. and Carroll St., Tuesday morning. She had not been ill at all and retired in apparent good health and spirits Monday evening. She was 85 years of age and death is believed to have been due to natural causes. Funeral services will be held at the Bugbee residence this (Thursday) afternoon at two o'clock, Rev. C. H. Williamson officiating.
Mrs. Spence's maiden name was Jane Leslie and she was born in Stewartstown in the north of Ireland, of Scotch parents. She married Mr. Spence in Ireland and they had one son when in 1848 they sailed on the Omega for America. The voyage proved a most disastrous one, as the boat suffered shipwreck while far out at sea. The women and children were taken off by a passing vessel, which was ill prepared to provide for the increased number of passengers. Food and water were scarce and the passengers from the Omega suffered terribly. Mrs. Spence saw her little son die of starvation in her arms, his body being cast into the sea. Meanwhile the men passengers had drifted about on the hulk of the wrecked vessel, and were finally taken off by another vessel, the Barbara, which was in its turn wrecked, only fourteen souls being saved. Mr. Spence was one of these and it happened that he reached St. John's, Newfoundland, before his wife and was there to welcome her when she landed. They found shelter with a clergyman of the Episcopal church, Rev. Edward Lowe, who gave Mr. Spence a prayer book bearing this inscription:
"Thomas Spence, St. John's, Newfoundland. Given to him after his wonderful and merciful preservation when a passenger on the brig, Barbara, wrecked on the coast of Newfoundland, 4th March 1848."
Mrs. Bugbee now owns the prayer book, which bears the date of binding as 1838.
Mrs. Spence was insane for six months after landing, because of the terrible experiences she had undergone. From Newfoundland the family went to Broklyn, N.Y. where for a year Mr. Spence conducted a private school. He then came west, settling in Waukesha, and his wife followed the next year. The family home remained here until it was broken by the death of Mr. Spence March 29, 1906. Since that time Mrs. Spence has resided with her daughters, Mrs. Bugbee and Mrs. Harry Vedder. Besides the daughters two sons survive, T. H. Spence of La Crosse and Judge E. L. Spence of Chicago. A third son, Leslie, died in 1907. Both E. L. and T. H. Spence were summoned by the death of their mother.
Waukesha Freeman, May 27, 1909, Page 1
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
