Abigail Spencer
Spencer in 2016, photo by Prphotos
Birth Name: Abigail Leigh Spencer
Place of Birth: Gulf Breeze, Florida, U.S.
Date of Birth: August 4, 1981
Ethnicity: English, about one eighth German, some Scottish, 1/1024 Chickasaw Native American
Abigail Spencer is an American actress. Her roles include the series Rectify and Timeless. She is the daughter of Lydia and Yancy Spencer III (Yancy Bailey Spencer III), a professional surfer. She has a son with her former husband Andrew Pruett. A picture of Abigail’s family can be seen here. A picture of her parents can be seen here.
Abigail has said that she has Cherokee Native American ancestry. It is not clear if this Cherokee ancestry has been verified/documented. One of her eight times maternal great-grandmothers, Nahettaly, was Chickasaw.
Abigail’s paternal grandfather was Yancy/Yancey Bailey Spencer, Jr. (the son of Yancy/Yancey Bailey Spencer and Georgia/Georgie C. Smith). Abigail’s grandfather Yancy was born in North Carolina. Abigail’s great-grandfather Yancy was the son of William Robert Spencer and Martha A. Glidewell. Georgia was the daughter of William Wyatt Smith and Sarah “Sallie” Julia Wade.
Abigail’s paternal grandmother was Patricia Lee Rice (the daughter of John Friend Rice and Alice Loretta Rominger). John was the son of Charles Edward Rice and Cornelia Elizabeth/J. Mitchell. Alice was of German descent, and was the daughter of Edward Eugene Rominger and Clara/Carrie Sarah Ann Mendenhall.
Abigail’s maternal grandfather was Eugene Fuller “Gene” Brown II (the son of Eugene Fuller Brown and Helen Elizabeth Bahbo Dobbins). Abigail’s grandfather Eugene was born in Missouri. Abigail’s great-grandfather Eugene was the son of Silas Fuller Brown and Susan Frances Tower. Helen was the daughter of John Alexander Dobbins and Kate Ward Hurt.
Abigail’s maternal grandmother was Maxine Boatright (the daughter of John Leonard Boatright and Lela/Lula Lou Looney). Maxine was born in Missouri. John was the son of Peter Leonard Barem Boatright and Frances Lovina/Levina Midgett/Migette. Lela was the daughter of Benjamin Franklin Looney and Etna Dallas Eaves.
Sources: Genealogy of Abigail Spencer (focusing on her father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Aibgail’s paternal grandfather, Yancy/Yancey Bailey Spencer, Jr., on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Genealogy of Abigail’s paternal great-grandfather, John Friend Rice (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://www.findagrave.com
Genealogies of Abigail’s paternal great-great-grandparents, Edward Eugene Rominger and Clara/Carrie Sarah Ann Mendenhall – https://findagrave.com
Obituaries of Abigail’s maternal grandparents, Eugene Fuller “Gene” Brown II and Maxine (Boatright) Brown – http://www.findagrave.com
Aibgail’s maternal grandfather, Eugene Fuller “Gene” Brown II, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Aibgail’s maternal grandmother, Maxine Boatright, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Abigail’s maternal great-great-grandparents, Benjamin Franklin Looney and Etna Dallas Eaves, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Benjamin Franklin Looney and Etna Dallas Eaves on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Benjamin Franklin Looney and Etna Dallas Eaves on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Genealogy of Abigail’s maternal great-great-grandfather, Benjamin Franklin Looney – https://www.geni.com
Abigail’s maternal great-great-grandfather, Benjamin Franklin Looney, on the 1870 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Benjamin Franklin Looney on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Her family from left to right:
Mother, family friend, father, her (Abigail), and her brother is at the bottom
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXV46EuA2r7/
Correction i found her native American ancestor. It’s through her ancestor Matilda Goad Rice. The native American ancestors name was Jane Naketti who was the daughter of Eagle Plume and was married to John Dodson. Jane was born in 1585 and was Iroquois.
What is Spencer’s exact fraction of Native American ancestry? It may be too distant to list.
Not sure of the fraction she’d be but figured out that Jane is her 10th great-grandmother-so its a very small amount
“UPDATE: I spoke to the tribal historian for the Powhatan Nation. He said that Jane Eagle Plume did not exist or at least not a daughter of Chief Eagle Plume and he knows nothing of Jane Dier since she is not Indian.”
https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/89901/was-jane-eagle-plume-dodson-also-princess-nicketti-powhatan
https://www.geni.com/people/Jane-Dodson/6000000001157141072
Correction. I found her paternal grandparents marriage record. Her grandmother’s maiden name was Patricia Lee Rice the daughter of John Friend Rice and Alice Loretta Rominger. Through her great grandmother she is German and through the Rices she has Irish ancestry as well.
Which of Spencer’s ancestors was Irish?
One several trees I’ve seen her ancestor Thomas Rice was born in either Ireland or Wales. Most actually say he was born in England though.
No offense, but she has that ‘plain’ English look. Unlike the other British countries, the English didn’t really get the best combinations of ethnic mixing.
IMO she is exactly the opposite of what “plain looking” is supposed to be..
I am sure she is part Cherokee like she says. Her paternal grandmother Patricia Lee was probably Cherokee.