SPICER
Arms: A chevron erminois between three towers triple towered or.
Crest: Out of a mural crown a cubit arm vested proper, the hand holding a fire-ball sable, flames proper.
While at this stage we cannot accurately link to the families listed in the short historical information provided by Colin Withall of Adelaide as set out below, we feel that in due time we may be able to do so. Our authenticated Spicer line follows this history.
The History of the Spicer family of Topsham.
Prefixed to Curl’s Risdon is the following account of this family, extracted, it is said from the original MS. “Three brothers of this name, who were of an honourable family in Normandy, came over as gentlemen volunteers with King William the Conqueror: The first settled in Devonshire, the second in Warwickshire, and the third in Kent. The two former still remain in the said counties. Of the state of which family, an abstract is here given from the original manuscript, written in the 36 th year of Queen Elizabeth, 1594, which gives an account of them, from their first being officers, and magistrates of the honourable city of Exeter, beginning with the first year of Edward 1st, 1273, and continued down the same family, to the 7th year of Queen Anne, which to this present year, 1714, is 441 years; in which time there have been twelve mayors of the city, of this family.
‘Tis observable, that few families can show such a precedent of the mayor of so ancient and eminent city, continuing it for so long a course of years: their estate being also equivalent to their antiquity, they having given a considerable one to the Chamber of Exeter, to uphold its grandeur.
In the reign of King Edward the 3rd, John Spicer was sundry times mayor of the city of Exeter; and in the third time of his mayoralty, being the 31st year of the said kings reign, anno 1357, he received private letters from the king, and also a commission under the great seal of England, date the 25th of March, and directed thus; To our loving the mayor of our honourable city of Exeter, for three ships, to be provided, and to be sent unto him, and to be well and thoroughly appointed to the wars, and for the defence of the realm, against the French King, who had then a great fleet, and navy on the seas, of men of war. Which thing, this mayor, with all celerity, performed; and in the year then next following, he also being mayor, the prince, then called the Black Prince, came out of France, and brought with him prisoner, King John of France, whom he had taken prisoner a little before, at the battle of Poictiers.
He landed at Plymouth, and came to this city, whom the mayor received, and the King his prisoner, with all the honour he could, and entertained them moist bountifully, and after the best manner he might; which the Prince did not only most thankfully accept, but he made also his father acquainted therewith, who sendeth back his commendation unto the said mayor. The arms belonging unto this family, you shall find recorded in a very ancient roll, in the office of the heraults (if it be not lost) of a visitation, taken by the Herault in the time of K. Edward 3, which I have seen for about 29 or 30 years past.
Mr. William Harvey, then clarencieux and king at arms, who made his visitation in this city, and all these west parts: and among other things, he shewed me this roll, and the said arms. In the same manner I have also seen them in the collection of certain gentlemen, who have a delight to collect and keep a book of all the noblemen’s and gentlemen’s arms. The family of the Spicers in the time of K. Edward 1, 2, and 3, were principal officers, and magistrates of this city, and were then much commended for their sundry and gentleman like virtues and qualities; for in this days, such men, for their wisdom, and not their wealth, were magistrates and governours in this city, and is all other places of trust.”
The ancient arms of Spicer, as given in this account, are “ Partie per pale Mars and Saturne in bende, three turretes of the sun cotyzed, and a border grayly ermyn.” The present arms “ Sable, a chevron erminoys between three castles or.” The crest “ out of a mural coronet an arm holding a fire-ball proper.” “ Spicer, Sa, a chev. erminois, betw. Three towers tripled towered or. Crest. Out of a viscount’s coronet proper, a cubit arm, habited and gloved of the first, holding a fire ball.”
MEANING OF THE SURNAME SPICER
SPICER. O. Fr. Espicier. What we now call a Grocer because inter alia
he traded in Figs ( Grossi). The French called an Espicier or Spicer because he sold Spices.
Spicer: - First Generation.
1. John Spicer b. 6 Jan 1824, Iddesleigh Devon, (son of George Spicer and Mary Baglole) m. 7 Apr 1846, in Dolton, Jane Heard, b. 1825, Dalton-Devon, (daughter of John Heard and Catherine Folland) d. 1882, Fitzroy North. John died ? Jun 1870, Stoke Damerel.
Children:
i William Spicer b. 1847, Dolton-Devon, d. 1915, Yarra Junction.
ii George Spicer b. ? Dec 1848, Dolton/Devon, d. 1912, Sth Yarra Age 64.
iii John b. 2 Jan 1851.
iv Sevinia Spicer b. ? Mar 1852, Winkleigh.
v Edwin b. 1858.
vi Emily Jane b. 4 Jun 1860.
Spicer: - Second Generation.
2. John Spicer b. 2 Jan 1851, Stoke Damerel-Devon, m. 30 Jun 1876, in Melbourne, Maria Jane Simpson, b. 1857, Melbourne, (daughter of James Simpson and Maria Herbert). John died 1927, Nth Carlton Age 76.
Children:
i Alice Maude b. 1877.
ii Ada Jane b. 1878.
iii John Herbert Spicer b. 1880, Carlton Victoria, m. Florence Dixon.
iv Albert Edward b. 1882.
v Mabel Spicer b. 1883, Carlton Victoria, d. 1884, Ballarat Aged 1 Month.
vi George Eureka Ballarat b. 16 Jan 1885.
vii Ethel May b. 1887.
viii Ruby Evelyn b. 1889.
ix Florence Gilderoy b. 1891.
x Dorothy Maria b. 1892.
xi Myrtle Vera (Veronica) b. 1894.
xii Mabel Ruth Spicer b. 1896, Nth Carlton, d. 1897, Nth Carlton.
3. Edwin Spicer b. 1858, Devon U.K., m. (1) 1881, in Melbourne, Elizabeth Fortune Elliot Harris, (daughter of Charles Harris and Joyce Obelen?) d. 1886, Collingwood, m. (2) 1887, in Melbourne, Isabella Jane Clegg, b. 1867, Melbourne, (daughter of Henry John Clegg and Sarah Ann Halifax).
Children by Elizabeth Fortune Elliot Harris:
i Edwin Spicer b. 1882, Carlton Victoria.
ii Emily Jane Spicer b. 1883, Carlton, d. 1883, Carlton Age 7 Mths.
iii Hugh Gardner Spicer b. 1884, Fitzroy Victoria, d. 1885, Fitzroy Victoria Age 1 Year.
iv Ernest Gordon Spicer b. 1885, Fitzroy Victoria.
v Robert Spicer b. 1886, Fitzroy
Victoria, d. 1887, Fitzroy Victoria Age 8 Mths.
Children by Isabella Jane Clegg:
vi Henry John Spicer b. 1888, Ballarat Victoria.
vii William Edward Spicer b. 1895, d. 1898, Clifton Hill Victoria.
4. Emily Jane Spicer b. 4 Jun 1860, Park Place Winkleigh, m. 1883, in Melbourne, Charles Bumstead, b. Barrabool.
Children:
i Emily Jane Bumstead b. 1883, Murc?.
ii William Charles Bumstead b. 1885, Darg?.
Spicer: - Third Generation.
5. Alice Maude Spicer b. 1877, Carlton Victoria, m. William Alderton
6. Ada Jane Spicer b. 1878, Carlton Victoria, m. William Williams.
Children:
i ? Williams.
ii ? Williams.
7. Albert Edward Spicer b. 1882, Carlton Victoria, m. Hilda May Newman.
Children:
i Alva.
ii Albert.
iii Jack.
iv Jeffrey.
8. George Eureka Ballarat Spicer b. 16 Jan 1885, Ballarat Victoria, m. 8 Sep 1908, Blanche May Oliver, b. 26 Feb 1888, Northcote Victoria, (daughter of Robert Isaac Oliver and Mary Dinwoodie) d. 11 Aug 1976, Preston Victoria, buried: 13 Aug 1976, Fawkner Victoria. George died 18 Mar 1942, Preston Victoria, buried: 19 Mar 1942, Fawkner Victoria.
Children:
i Norman George b. 18 Mar 1910.
ii Albert Leslie b. 22 May 1911.
iii Gordon Stanley b. 19 May 1914.
iv Joyce Evelyn b. 24 May 1917.
v Doris Spicer b. 28 Apr 1919, Brunswick East Victoria, d. 30 Apr 1919, Brunswick East Victoria.
9. Ethel May Spicer b. 1887, Ballarat Victoria, m. Hubert (Albert) Lucas.
Children:
i George Lucas
ii Gladys Lucas
iii Doris Lucas
10. Ruby Evelyn Spicer b. 1889, North Carlton, m. Mervyn Silverton Goode Matthews.
Children:
i William Matthews.
ii Evelyn Matthews.
iii Walter Matthews.
11. Florence Gilderoy Spicer b. 1891, North Carlton, m. Frank Dunstan.
Children:
i John Dunstan.
ii Edna Dunstan.
12. Dorothy Maria Spicer b. 1892, North Carlton, m. Victor Box.
Children:
i Thelma Box m. John Henderson.
ii Dorothy Box m. ? McLaughlan.
iii Norma Box
iv Clifford Box
13. Myrtle Vera (Veronica) Spicer b. 1894, North Carlton, m. Ernset McTavish.
Children:
i Joyce McTavish m. (1) ? Gardiner, m. (2) ? UNKNOWN.
ii Jean McTavish m. ? UNKNOWN.
Spicer: - Fourth Generation.
14. Daisy Alderton m. Jack McVeigh.
Children:
i Jack McVeigh.
ii Enid McVeigh.
iii Donald McVeigh.
15. Alva Spicer m. Morris Spurrier.
Children:
i Pamela Spurrier.
ii ? Spurrier.
16. Albert Spicer m. Gwen Vincent.
Children:
i Peter Spicer.
ii Mark Spicer.
iii Jeffrey Spicer.
iv Sandra Spicer.
17. Jack Spicer m. ? UNKNOWN.
Children:
i ? Spicer.
ii ? Spicer.
18. Jeffrey Spicer m. Elizabeth Cameron.
19. Norman George Spicer b. 18 Mar 1910, Northcote Victoria, m. 16 Sep 1944, in Preston Victoria, Hilda Grace Clark, b. 16 Feb 1921, Regent Victoria, (daughter of Charles Clark and Minnie Woodward)
Children:
i Valda May b. 23 Sep 1945.
ii Jennifer Ann b. 27 Sep 1960.
20 Albert Leslie Spicer b. 22 May 1911, Nth Fitzroy Grandma's home, m. 24 Mar 1934, in Thornbury, Bessie Marguerite Froggitt, b. 30 Jan 1913, Nth Fitzroy at home, (daughter of John Albert Charles Froggitt and Margaret (Sis) Jane Geddes).
Children:
i Graham Leslie Spicer b. 27 Apr 1936, East Melbourne Mercy, d. 14 Jul 1972, Singapore, buried: 21 Jul 1972, Box Hill Cemetary.
ii Barbara Joan b. 10 Oct 1937.
. iii Kenneth John b. 8 Jul 1939.
21. Gordon Stanley Spicer b. 19 May 1914, Northcote Victoria, m. 23 Feb 1952, Phylis Brooks. Gordon died 6 Nov 1983, Melbourne, buried: Fawkner Victoria.
Children:
i James Roland Piper b. 27 Apr 1942.
22. Joyce Evelyn Spicer b. 24 May 1917, Northcote Victoria, m. 26 Aug 1939, in Northcote Victoria, Keith Charles Lean, b. 11 Feb 1908, East Fremantle W.A., (son of Richard William Lean and Arabella Kelly).
Children:
i Beverley Joyce b. 26 Aug 1943.
23. George Lucas m. Dorothy UNKNOWN.
Children:
i George? Lucas.
ii Diane Lucas.
24. Gladys Lucas m. Arthur Clementson. Gladys died ? In childbirth.
Children:
i ? Clementson.
25. Doris Lucas m. (1) ? Polanske, m. (2) ? UNKNOWN.
Children by ? Polanske:
i ? Polanske.
26 Norma Box m. Ralph Carpenter.
27 Clifford Box m. ? UNKNOWN.
Spicer: - Fifth Generation.
28. Valda May Spicer b. 23 Sep 1945, Regent Victoria, m. 30 Oct 1965, in Northcote Victoria, Peter James Andersen, b. 25 Jun 1943, Carlton Victoria.
Children:
i Tamra Jane Andersen b. 3 Nov 1970, Burwood Victoria, m. 8 May 1993, in Wantirna Victoria, Robert Edward Clarke, b. 29 Jan 1969, Caringbah N.S.W.
ii Nadine Michele Andersen b. 22 Oct 1973, Waverley Victoria.
iii Sarah Louise Andersen b. 26 Aug 1979, Waverley Victoria.
29. Jennifer Ann Spicer b. 27 Sep 1960, Richmond Victoria, m. Gregory Francis Westgarth b. 1960.
Children:
i Christian Francis Westgarth b. 1988.
ii Grant Matthew Westgarth.
iii Georgia Ann Westgarth.
30. Barbara Joan Spicer b. 10 Oct 1937, Richmond Epworth, m. (1) 25 Jun 1958, in Camberwell - Victoria, Geoffrey David Smalley, b. 17 Jun 1935, (son of Leslie Ernest Smalley and Thelma May Anderson) m. (2) 29 Nov 1992, in Warragul (Civil Ceremony), Douglas James Mclean, b. 30 Sep 1933, Echuca.
Children by Geoffrey David Smalley:
i Dale Geoffrey b. 6 Jan 1959.
ii Andrea Joan b. 19 Sep 1961.
31. Kenneth John Spicer b. 8 Jul 1939, m. 6 Dec 1968, in West Hawthorn, Maureen Jean McLeod, b. 11 Aug 1944, Leichardt Sydney N.S.W., (daughter of Leslie Charles McLeod and Eileen Jean Hobson).
Children:
i Katherine Jane Spicer b. 19 Sep 1969, East Melbourne Mercy.
ii Matthew John Spicer b. 13 Jun 1971, East Melbourne Mercy.
32. Beverley Joyce Lean b. 26 Aug 1943, Regent Victoria, m. 4 Jul 1964, in Ivanhoe Victoria, Barry Maxwell Allan, b. 29 Sep 1938.
Children:
i Dean Alexander b. 24 Aug 1965.
ii Nicole Joy b. 12 Dec 1967.
iii Amanda Lea Allan b. 13 Jul 1969, Deniliquin N.S.W, m. 1992, in Box Hill Victoria, Andrew Hall, b. 9 Feb 1967.
33. Ronald Carpenter m. Miriam Daniel.
Children:
i Michael Carpenter.
ii Anne Carpetener.
iii Peter Carpenter.
Spicer: - Sixth Generation.
34. Dale Geoffrey b. 6 Jan 1959, Fitzroy St Vincents, m. 1 Sep 1984, in Melbourne, Bernadette Duckmanton, b. 14 May 1954.
Children:
i Angela Louise Smalley b. 25 Mar 1985, Carlton Royal Womans.
ii Dione Gwendoline Smalley b. 10 Aug 1987, Hawthorn Birthing Centre.
iii Anthony Dale Smalley b. 8 Jun 1989, Hawthorn Birthing Centre.
35. Andrea Joan Smalley b. 19 Sep 1961, Fitzroy St Vincents, m. 2 Mar 1990, in Kew, Stephen McIlvena, b. 20 Oct 1955, (son of Ronald McIlvena and Dorothy Peterson).
Children:
i Ella Jane McIlvena b. 2 Dec 1990, Moorabbin Southen Memorial.
ii Joel Peterson McIlvena b. 28 Nov 1993, Ferntree Gully.
36. Dean Alexander Allan b. 24 Aug 1965, Deniliquin N.S.W., m. 14 Mar 1990, in Kinglake Victoria, Sharon Bartlett, b. 26 Mar 1966.
Children:
i James Alexander Allan b. 7 May 1991, Deniliquin N.S.W.
ii Chloe Faye Allan b. 22 Mar 1993, Kilmore Victoria.
37. Nicole Joy Allan b. 12 Dec 1967, Deniliquin N.S.W, m. 7 Oct 1989, Rohan Staveley, b. 27 Oct 1964, Elwood.
Children:
i Lauren Joy Staveley b. 30 Mar 1994, Malvern Cabrini.