William Spencer

14thApril 1826  -  25th February 1910

William was born in the village of Rawcliffe near Snaith in the West Riding of Yorkshire on 14th April 1826 the son of Robert and Mary Spencer.  He was the only surviving son of the family as the couple's elder son Robert born in 1821 had died in infancy.  Sadly his father Robert died aged 44 years just before Christmas 1828, when William was not yet three years old, leaving his widow to bring up their young family.  Mary probably moved her young family to Drax after her husband died, we have yet to discover the reason.   She was in Drax, a pauper, aged 64 in the 1851 census living with her unmarried 26 year-old daughter Mary.  William's mother died on 18 March 1866 and is buried in Drax [picture], along with her husband and daughter.

After his elementary education William went on to the Drax Free Grammar School and then furthered his studies at the Glasgow Free Church Training College. He must have shown exceptional ability as he secured his first appointment as Headmaster at Sowerby Bridge at the age of 20 years. However, after eighteen months, on September 1st 1848 he was appointed Headmaster to the Beverley Wesleyan Day School, founded in 1840, and held this post until he retired in 1887 thirty nine years later at the age of 61 years.

On 27 August 1850 William married Maria Ward (nee Danby), a widow, seven years his senior  and  born in Beverley. The couple did not have a family of their own but it is clear from accounts of his life made at the time, that William had a profound influence on the lives of both the pupils and the pupil teachers who passed through the school. He was said to have been a dedicated teacher in his long and honourable career.

Throughout his headship William was held in high esteem.  This was acknowledged at his retirement when he was presented with a marble timepiece and two bronzes from pupils and staff.  Neither was he forgotten by his former pupils, of which it was said there had been in excess of four thousand.  From these he received a gold watch and chain which were of special pride to him.

By the time he retired William was a widower without family ties.  However he was not a man who could be idle and by the following year he had begun another phase in his life; he had been elected a member of The Beverley Town Council. Re-elected in 1891 and 1894 he was then made an Alderman in 1895.  At the end of six years in office he successfully contested the Minster Ward and was again raised to The Aldermanic Bench for a further three years.  In 1904 he was elected Mayor of Beverley and again in 1905 re-elected to continue in the Office of Mayor.

Throughout his public service William was proud to come across his former students holding responsible positions. Several were his colleagues in the Council one of whom, Alderman Harry Wray, invested him with the insignia of office.

William Spencer was not a Party man in politics and it was difficult to know where his sympathies lay. He appeared to judge each issue upon its merits.  Nonconformists generally identified with the Liberal Party but Wesleyans tended to lean towards the Tories. In his later years he was considered to have Conservative leanings and just prior to his death, occupied a seat on the platform of one of their candidates Mr Stanley Wilson during the run up to the election of 1910.

Similarly in religion he appeared not to have developed a narrow view. Although a nonconformist and long time Wesleyan it is interesting to see in his will that he left significant legacies to seventeen local Church Charities including two Beverley Baptist Chapels, the Methodist Free Church and £100 to Beverley Minster Sunday School. On receiving their legacy a trustee of the latter on thanking the executors wrote......

"This kindly feeling from a Nonconformist was particularly gratifying to us. Believe me."

Under the Act of 1894 his former school was taken over as a Council School and was named Spencer Council School as a compliment to his long and valued service. Previously in 1881 Duncombe St had been named Spencer Street in his honour.

William Spencer was not a man who indulged himself with unnecessary luxuries nor hosted lavish social functions, but he was a generous man.  As a member of The Town Council he became aware, in 1904, that a prosperous businessman in the textile industry John Edward Champney, had offered to provide Beverley with a much needed Library and Museum.  A condition of the gift however was that the Corporation should provide a suitable site.  The suitable site was chosen but was mortgaged and William could see the debt becoming a burden upon the ratepayers of Beverley. Also as an eductionalist he saw that the library would become in important asset for the town.  He decided to put his money to good use by giving the considerable sum of £520.4s to pay off the debt.

The Library was formally opened on August 8th 1906 with great ceremony [picture], during which the Freedom of The Borough of Beverley was conferred on both John Edward Champney and William Spencer.  A full account of the Grand Opening and all the ceremonials was reported in the Beverley Guardian.  A portrait of William Spencer [picture] who was Mayor at this time was unveiled by Mr Oare (Chairman of the Property Committee) he observed

"....that he yielded to no one in his admiration for the manly and straightforward character which was so exemplified in their present Mayor. His acquaintance with him extended over forty years, and his esteem amounted to almost veneration. There were many in distant lands who had passed through Mr. Spencer's school who, when they heard of this distinction being conferred upon their old tutor would say "Well done Beverley" (Applause)

William replied to the address saying...... "What he had done was small compared with the grand gift of that noble building by Mr. Champney. When he looked at his own portrait, which he was told was a very good one, he began to think that his life was coming to a close. His portrait would outlive him in this world but he hoped to outlive it in a better. The institution was one which was wanted, and he had no doubt that it would be a great success. It would grow in influence and in use and become not only now; but to future generations, a great intellectual, mental and moral blessing." (Applause)

During The Conferment of the Freedom of The Borough Ceremony William as Mayor moved, and Mr Duggleby seconded that the Honorary Freedom of the Borough be conferred on Mr. Champney. Mr. Tom Taylor, for five years Mayor of the Borough took the mayoral chair for the purpose of moving that the Honorary Freedom be conferred on the Mayor in recognition of his munificence in contributing a sum of £520, the cost of the site.
Mr. Turner said ..... "No one was more worthy to receive the Freedom than the Mayor. He had performed his duties ably and impartially,and with every fidelity to the interest of the Borough." (Applause)

Mr. Raney seconded it and William Spencer responded by saying.... "That a few minutes ago he was merely a private individual, but now he could say he would rather be a Freeman of Beverley than of Ancient Rome. Why they should have showered honours upon him as they had done of late he could not understand. They had named a street after him, they had named a school after him, they had made him Mayor and re-elected him, they had had his portrait painted and now they had made him a Freeman. How did they think he could bear these blushing honours which came so thick upon him? His interest in the town began in early life and had grown up increasingly with it. The population was 9,000 when he first came and it had increased 50percent....The town was a healthy one and although of late it had been somewhat under a cloud; he thought this would soon pass away." (Applause)

There followed a luncheon in the Mayor's Parlour and the health of the Mayor was given by Alderman Westerby and His Worship suitably replied Many more toasts and addresses were made. Mr. Stanley Wilson M.P. took the opportunity to offer his congratulations to both the Mayor and Mr. Champney on the honour done to them that afternoon.

William Spencer passed peacefully away at eight o'clock on the evening of February 25th 1910 at his home - 28 Railway Street, Beverley. He was aged 83 years and had been confined to the house for five weeks. The last occasion he had ventured out had been to vote at the Parliamentary Election on January 19th. His remains were interred in Saint Martin's Cemetery the following Tuesday at 2.30p.m. [picture]

William had many friends amongst whom was Councillor Duggleby his wife and their son Douglas Spencer Duggleby who was named after him. Douglas Spencer Duggleby was to receive a legacy of £20 in William's will as also did:

All of these being named in his honour.

Unfortunately the latter William Spencer Langhorn died at the young age of 16 years, just two months after his namesake. He would not have received the gift personally as these were not distributed until the late summer and autumn of 1910.  My father was born a couple of months later and he was named William Spencer Langhorn!

It is easy to see from the long and detailed will of William Spencer that his main interests remained those of education, religion, friends and family.

He rewarded those who had served him well, including Mrs Farrah (who can be seen in the photograph above taken at the opening of the Library).  She had served as his Mayoress.  To Margaret Hanley his housekeeper he left his main dwelling, 28 Railway Street, Beverley, with most of his effects and a legacy of £400. Neither did he forget his former pupil teachers who by now had dispersed, even as far afield as South Africa, they each received £30.

The Library received a further legacy and William Spencer's large bookcase.

He must still have had a great interest in his former school as, when making his will in 1908, he also considered what he could do to treat pupils both present and future.  It was to The Mayor, Aldermen and Burgess of the Borough he left, upon trust to invest, £100 the annual income to pay for oranges, a rare treat at this time, to be given to the pupils of Beverley Spencer Council School on the nearest school day to William Spencer's birthday [pictures].

It can be seen also from his will that William was quite a wealthy man when he died. He owned three houses, two in Spencer Street, and an estimate as to the value of his estate not including these properties or any effects is in excess of £15,000. Overall the value including the properties incurred expenses of £2,152 8s 2d for Estate Legacy Duties and Death Duties.

 Langhorns   or   Spencers  

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