John Spencer was the third child born to Thomas and Mary. He was born at Rouchel Brook in 1845.
We don’t know much of his early life but he had purchased some of the Spencer property adjascent to Rouchel Vale in his own name.
In 1870 he joined with Brothers Thomas, Matthew and Absalom in purchasing the pastoral lease Cuttabunda, 100km north of Brewarrina. The 1872 Grevilles Directory lists John and brother Thomas as Graziers from Cuttbundoo, Bokira River.
On 10th February 1874 he married Eliza Ann Marsh, eldest daughter of Henry and Sarah Marsh of Sandy Creek Station which is between Rouchel and Muswellbrook.
Initially they lived at Rouchel but moved permanently to Cuttabunda in 1882.
After the failure of Cuttabunda in 1896, John and Eliza moved to Brewarrina. In about 1910 John and Eliza moved to Sydney where they lived initially at Lidcombe and later at Strathfield.
Eliza died in 1917 and John in 1924.
John and Eliza had 10 children. The first four were born at Rouchel, the others at Cuttabunda.