Samuel Spencer born on April 14th, 1698 in Yorkshire England. Born to the 3rd Earl of Sunderland Charles and his commoner wife Judith, Samuel was not entitled to any inheritance or title due to his mother’s status. This led Samuel and his family to immigrate to the United States in 1737 with his children, including son William. The family all took on the surname Sunderland upon their arrival in the United States. In 1770, William Sunderland married Sarah Barraclough in Burlington County, New Jersey. William and Sarah eventually came to Ohio in 1795 along with their 18-year-old son, Peter.
Peter went on to live a storied life in Centerville.
- In 1799, Peter Sunderland married Nancy Robbins, the daughter of one of Centerville’s founders, Benjamin Robbins in what was the first wedding ceremony to be performed in Washington Township.
- In 1802, Peter and his brother Richard bore witness to the first will filed in Montgomery County.
- In 1803, Peter was the defendant/perpetrator in the first court case in Montgomery County, for assault and battery on a man named Benjamin Scott. The case was held on the upper floor of Newcom’s Tavern. He pled guilt and was fined $6. A year later Scott and Sunderland were back in court, but this time Scott was convicted.
- Sunderland served in the War of 1812.
- Around 1820, a stone house was built on Alex-Bell Road (where Fortis College and Cross Pointe Shopping Center are now). The house had a secret hiding place which was used as part of the Underground Railroad.
- In 1826, a slave from Kentucky known as “Black John” took refuge in the Sunderland house. When a group of men came to “reclaim” John, Peter threatened them and yelled for Black John to escape. Black John ran into the nearby woods and disappeared.
- After hearing a rumor of an Indian uprising, Peter built a large stone springhouse on his property to protect the area. When the land was being cleared in the early 1980s for development, the spring house was rediscovered and subsequently dismantled and reassembled in Stubb’s Park.
Peter Sunderland died October 2, 1841 at the age of 67 years old. He is buried in the Sugar Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Centerville along with his father, mother, and wife.
Dayton Unknown 
The essay says, “In 1770, William Sunderland married Sarah Barraclough in Burlington County, New Jersey.” I think that should say, “William Sunderland married Sarah Reasor.”
William’s father may have been a Samuel Spencer, but it is unclear whether he is the son of the 3rd Earl of Sunderland or not. I haven’t found solid information about his birth, marriage (Judith Tichborne or Elizabeth Barraclough or ?), immigration to America, children, etc. There seem to be several William Spencers around that time and place. The one who was in Burlington New Jersey and moved to Pennsylvania then Ohio with his wife Sarah Reasor — I’d like documentation of his birthplace and parents. Was he a preacher?
Hi Chris, our sources are cited in our bibliography. It appears that the Sarah he married is actually unknown/questioned, so thanks for pointing that out.
My 2nd great grandmother was Margaret Sunderland. Peter Sunderland is my 6th great grandfather. I have a family tree book my grandfather passed down to me. I believe it was made in the 70’s-80’s. It says that Samuel’s last name was Spencer but changed it to Sunderland when he came to America and that his father was the 3rd Earl of Sunderland but I’ve always wondered how true it is. It seems like there are very few things online that speak of Samuel. Wikipedia doesn’t mention him either. I wonder how they know Samuels father is Lord Charles Spencer. It seems to be something all Sunderland in America believe