Joshua A. Spencer

Joshua Austin Spencer was an American lawyer and politician from New York.

Life

He was the son of Eliphalet Spencer and Triphena Spencer. He moved at a young age to Greenville, [Greene County, New York|Greenfield], Greene County, New York, and became a clothier, carpenter and joiner. In 1808, he moved to Lenox, Madison County, New York, studied law there in the office of his brother Gen. Ichabod S. Spencer, was admitted to the bar and practiced in partnership with his brother. In 1814, he married Clarissa Phelps, and they had two children. In 1819, he married Electa C. Dean, and they had eleven children.
In 1829, he moved to Utica, and practiced law in partnership with State Senator William H. Maynard who died in 1832.
Spencer was United [States Attorney for the Northern District of New York] from 1841 to 1845. In October 1841, he appeared for the defence in the trial of Alexander McLeod on a charge of murder in connection with the Caroline Affair, and secured McLeod's acquittal.
He was a member of the New York State Senate in 69th [New York State Legislature|1846] and New York State Legislature|1847]. He was Mayor of Utica in 1848.
He was buried at the Forest Hill Cemetery, Utica.