WS
William Spencer — 1940 US Census Record
Model Tree available1940 United States Federal Census · Martinsville-City-County, Virginia
Our Model Tree links this William Spencer across the 1920, 1930 and 1940 US Censuses in Martinsville-City-County, Virginia (XGBoost, ~Confirmed), with identified parents Martha & William — first a son (b.~1908), then head of a 8-person household.
Age 32
b. ~1908
Male
Son
Born: Virginia
Single
1940 Census Record Details
| Census Year | 1940 |
| Location | Martinsville-City-County, Virginia |
| Surname | Spencer |
| Given Name | William |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | Black |
| Age | 32 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | Virginia |
| 1935 Residence (City) | Martinsville |
| 1935 Residence (County) | Henry |
| Additional Details | |
| Occupation | Laborer |
| Industry | Mirror Co |
| Class of Worker | PW |
| Hours Worked | 38 |
| Income (1939) | 552 |
| Highest Grade | Hs 5 |
| 1935 Residence | Same house |
| Birth State | Virginia |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | virginia |
| Occupation | Laborer |
| Township / Ward | Martinsville |
| Est. Birth Year | ~1908 |
Household Members
Census records only state relationship to the household head.
Pairwise kinship is derived (~90–95% accurate), not recorded.
Step/blended families and boarders can break it.
8 people recorded at the same address in the 1940 census.
| Name | Relation to head | Relative to William | Age | Birth yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucile Spencer | Daughter | — | 29 | ~1911 |
| William Spencer | Head | — | 57 | ~1883 |
| Curtis Spencer | Son | — | 27 | ~1913 |
| William Spencer | Son | — | 32 | ~1908 |
| Richard Spencer | Son | — | 25 | ~1915 |
| James Spencer | Son | — | 23 | ~1917 |
| Howard Spencer | Son | — | 31 | ~1909 |
| Martha Spencer | Spouse | — | 56 | ~1884 |
Census Appearances
1920
Henry, Virginia
Son, age 12
Henry, Virginia · implied b. ~1908 — 8 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Spencer |
| Given Name | William |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | Black |
| Age | 12 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | Virginia |
| Father's Birthplace | Virginia |
| Mother's Birthplace | Virginia |
| Can Read | Yes |
| Can Write | Yes |
| Speaks English | Yes |
| Birth State | Virginia |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | virginia |
1930
Henry, Virginia
Son, age 22
Henry, Virginia · implied b. ~1908 — 9 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Spencer |
| Given Name | William D |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | Black |
| Age | 22 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | Virginia |
| Father's Birthplace | Virginia |
| Mother's Birthplace | Virginia |
| Occupation | Laborer |
| Industry | Glass Factory |
| Class of Worker | W |
| Can Read/Write | No |
| Veteran | No |
| Birth State | Virginia |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | virginia |
1940
Martinsville-City-County, Virginia
Son, age 32
Martinsville-City-County, Virginia · implied b. ~1908 — 8 household members
| Surname | Spencer |
| Given Name | William |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | Black |
| Age | 32 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | Virginia |
| 1935 Residence (City) | Martinsville |
| 1935 Residence (County) | Henry |
| Occupation | Laborer |
| Industry | Mirror Co |
| Class of Worker | PW |
| Hours Worked | 38 |
| Income (1939) | 552 |
| Highest Grade | Hs 5 |
| 1935 Residence | Same house |
| Birth State | Virginia |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | virginia |
Model Tree
An inferred pedigree reconstructed from census links — up to 4 generations within the 1900–1950 window. Closer generations are built from household co-residence; deeper ones are bridged by following a relative to their own childhood census. Confidence compounds and weakens with each generation.
Our Model Tree links William Spencer across 3 US Census years (1920, 1930 and 1940) in 2 locations, using XGBoost record linkage. Identified parents: mother Martha Spencer (~0.92 confidence) and father William Spencer (~0.92 confidence) and father William Spencer (~0.92 confidence). The pedigree spans 1 generation with 3 identified ancestors.
Show:
Gen 1
Parents
confidence ≈ 0.92
Mother
Martha Spencer
b. ~1883
Source mother
● Household
· direct · ~0.92
Father
William Spencer
b. ~1883
Source father
● Household
· direct · ~0.92
Father
William Spencer
b. ~1884
Source father
● Household
· direct · ~0.92
This person
Anchor record
William Spencer
Son · 1940 · age 32 · b. ~1908 · Virginia
★ You are viewing this record
Sibling
Lucile Spencer
Sibling · 1940 · age 29
Source co-child of head (derived)
● Co-child · derived · ~0.88
Sibling
Curtis Spencer
Sibling · 1940 · age 27
Source co-child of head (derived)
● Co-child · derived · ~0.88
Sibling
James Spencer
Sibling · 1940 · age 23
Source co-child of head (derived)
● Co-child · derived · ~0.88
Sibling
Richard Spencer
Sibling · 1940 · age 25
Source co-child of head (derived)
● Co-child · derived · ~0.88
Sibling
Howard Spencer
Sibling · 1940 · age 31
Source co-child of head (derived)
● Co-child · derived · ~0.88
Confirmed / household (~0.90+)
Probable / derived (~0.65–0.89)
Candidate (<0.65, unverified)
Original Census Page
1940 US Federal Census — Martinsville-City-County, Virginia
Open full size
1940 US Federal Census — Martinsville-City-County, Virginia
Page Contents
40 people indexed on this census page (nara:1940:m-t0627-04309-00689)
| Line | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | Annie Smith | 25 | Lodger | Servant | Virginia |
| 42 | James Hunt | 45 | Lodger | Cook | Virginia |
| 43 | James Hodge | 32 | Head | Laborer | Virginia |
| 44 | Lucile Hodge | 23 | Wife | — | Virginia |
| 45 | James, Jr Hodge | 6 | Son | — | Virginia |
| 46 | Gloria Mae Hodge | 2 | Daughter | — | Virginia |
| 47 | William C Spencer | 57 | Head | Salesman | Virginia |
| 48 | Martha Spencer | 56 | Wife | — | Virginia |
| 49 | William Spencer THIS PERSON | 32 | Son | Laborer | Virginia |
| 50 | Howard Spencer | 31 | Son | Laborer | Virginia |
| 51 | Lucile Spencer | 29 | Daughter | — | Virginia |
| 52 | Curtis Spencer | 27 | Son | Laborer | Virginia |
| 53 | Richard Spencer | 25 | Son | Laborer | Virginia |
| 54 | James Spencer | 23 | Son | Laborer | Virginia |
| 55 | James Hairston | 31 | Head | Janitor | Virginia |
| 56 | Roberta Hairston | 30 | Wife | — | Virginia |
| 57 | James, Jr Hairston | 5 | Son | — | Virginia |
| 58 | David T. Hickman | 65 | Head | Capper | Virginia |
| 59 | Ella V. Hickman | 59 | Wife | — | Virginia |
| 60 | Wiley Draper | 30 | Lodger | Carpenter | Virginia |
| 61 | James Draper | 28 | Lodger | Laborer | Virginia |
| 62 | Sadie Draper | 25 | Lodger | Cook | Virginia |
| 63 | Sallie Sue Penn | 45 | Head | — | Virginia |
| 64 | Louise Penn | 17 | Daughter | — | Virginia |
| 65 | Willie Mae Penn | 12 | Daughter | — | Virginia |
| 66 | Edith Penn | 10 | Daughter | — | Virginia |
| 67 | Lessie Martin | 21 | Son-in-law | Laborer | West Virginia |
| 68 | Lucy Bell Martin | 19 | Daughter | Seamstress | Virginia |
| 69 | Barbra Anne Martin | 0 | Daughter | — | Virginia |
| 70 | Willie Cuverson | 30 | Head | Laborer | South Carolina |
| 71 | Odessa Cuverson | 25 | Wife | — | South Carolina |
| 72 | Cephus Haynes | 29 | Head | Laborer | South Carolina |
| 73 | Gracie Haynes | 30 | Wife | Seamstress | South Carolina |
| 74 | Jackaline Haynes | 12 | Daughter | — | South Carolina |
| 75 | Eloise Haynes | 9 | Daughter | — | South Carolina |
| 76 | Annie Mae Mitchell | 25 | Lodger | Servant | Tennessee |
| 77 | Alec Hairston | 54 | Head | Chauffeur | Virginia |
| 78 | Rosa Hairston | 45 | Wife | — | Virginia |
| 79 | Laura Neal Habern | 20 | Niece | — | Virginia |
| 80 | Elaine Woody | 25 | Lodger | Teacher | Virginia |
Related Census Records
Pedigree Summary
William + 5 siblings
Gen 1 · 3 parents
~0.92
Max depth 4 (1900–1950 window)
About This Record & Model Tree
This record was independently indexed by YourRoots from the 1940 United States Federal Census (NARA). Our Model Tree links this person across census decades using XGBoost-based record linkage, with per-link confidence scores. Household corroboration strengthens the signal when co-residents appear on the same census pages in multiple years.
Source: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)