Found on a doorstep to overcome odds regardless of misfortune
Fred Spencer grew up believing he was left on a doorstep at birth in 1852. It must have been difficult for whomever was the mother, on her own, and without medical assistance. Fred was born with a deformed shoulder. |
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Through the doorstep of that King's Bench home lived Ann Spencer, a single woman in her early 20s, her 28-year-old brother Simon (described as an "idiot" and having constant "fits") and her widowed mother, according to the 1851 census. We can only speculate the true circumstances of Fred's birth at a time when having a child out of wedlock brought family shame. No father was named on his birth certificate; Ann is listed as his mother. Fred's half brother Thomas was born in 1856 to Ann Spencer, seemingly again out of wedlock.
In June 1857 at age 26, Ann Spencer married Thomas Buckland, a widower 14 years older than she, when Fred was one month shy of his fifth birthday. They first lived in Canhold (1861 census), before moving to Union Street (1871 census). Fred was adopted by his step-father and took his surname.
Thomas Buckland Sr was a labourer. His first wife, Elizabeth (Tuck) Buckland died in 1849, their marriage lasting 8 years.
After Thomas married second wife Ann, children Lot, Mark and Kate soon followed.
Fred married Augusta Jordan in 1883. They had 6 children.
From Bath Chronicle 26 November, 1908:
WOMAN BURNED TO DEATH AT MELKSHAM
On Thursday an inquest was held at Melksham concerning the death of Mrs. Spencer, wife of Mr. F. Spencer, Union Street, who met with her death owing to her nightdress catching fire. It seems that Mrs. Spencer, who had been ill for some time, got out of bed, and unfortunately stood too near the fire, when her nightdress probably came in contact with it. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death."
In 1917, his son Charles William was wounded in action and died in France.
