| 2 | i. | Alice2 Sprague5, born Bet. 1596 - 1597 in Upwey, Dorsetshire, England6,7,8; died Bef. May 03, 1668 in Tincleton, England9,10. She married (1) Richard Eames10 June 15, 1615 in Fordington, St. George, Dorset, England11,12,13,14,15; born Abt. 1590 in Fordington, St. George, Dorset, England16,17; died Bef. May 03, 163418,19. She married (2) John Holland19 December 20, 1638 in Tincleton, England20,21; died Bef. May 17, 1669 in Tincleton, England22,23. |
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Notes for Alice Sprague: [Sprague.FTW] "Ancestral File - Ver 4.11" Alice Sprague (AFN:8NRB-RC); Spouse: Richard Eames and 1 other. |
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Notes for Richard Eames: [Sprague.FTW] (Ancestral File) Richard Eames (AFN:8FBX-F9) |
| 3 | ii. | Ralph Sprague23, born Abt. 1599 in Upwey, Dorsetshire, England24,25,26,27,28; died November 24, 1650 in Malden, Middlesex Co., MA29,30. He married Joanna Warren30 August 15, 1623 in Fordington, St. George, Dorset, England31,32; born 160332; died February 24, 1679/80 in Woburn, Middlesex Co., MA33,34. |
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Notes for Ralph Sprague: [Sprague.FTW] "The Sprague Family from Dorset, To Massachusetts & Gibraltar", by Joan Watkins, 1992, correspondent. (NOTE: continued from notes for his father, Edward Sprague.) Soon after the death of her father Alice married Richard Eames and moved to the Dorchester area to live near Puddletown. Ralph followed and went to Fordington. It is thought that being still in his teens, he was apprenticed to his grandfather Tristram's mill, thus easing the burden on his mother in Upwey. In 1623 he married Joanna Warren whose father Thomas Warren was thought to have lived in the Manor House at Fordington. In 1624 their first son John was born and baptised in the Church of Fordington St. George. Jonathan followed in 1625, (although there is no later mention of Jonathan it could be that he died in childhood.) Religion in England was still going through a very discordant time, especially when King Charles I ascended the throne in 1623 and married a Catholic French Princess. The town of Dorchester was also experiencing hard times as a result of two devastating fires in 1613 and again in 1622. The prosperity of West Country began to wane too. The taste in clothing and textiles were changing. The King and his entourage were demanding finer woven woolens, silks and cotton, none of which were available locally and had to be imported from the Continent. Added to this there were years of poor harvests and great cold in the winters, with the rural population suffering many hardships and becoming restive by lack of employment and near starvation. Meanwhile, a forceful Puritan Cleric, Rev. John White began to play a significant part in Ralph Sprague's future. As early as 1606 the Rev. white was appointed Rector of two churches in Dorchester. The Holy Trinity and St. Peters. This Patriarch, as he became known, with his great energy and religious zeal, spread his strong Puritan influence gradually throughout the County and in fact assumed the role of Religious Leader to the West Country. At the same time he endeavored to maintain his loyalty to the Church of England, but dedicated his life to the service of Almighty God with a simplicity of lifestyle and strong convictions. The Rev. White became very interested, when in 1623 a religious body by the name of 'Pilgrim Fathers' organised an expedition and set sail from Plymouth for "New England". He began to look towards this new country as a place to further his own religious ambitions. The change in fortunes in Dorset and the West Country as a whole played a large part in his campaign. He tried to organise a Charter to colonise the area known as Massachusetts. In order to obtain financial backing, he had to battle against City Magnates and well-to-do personalities who themselves had begun to see the great possibilities of wealth and trade, as opposed to those of a purely religious nature. He had a few abortive attempts. Eventually he succeeded and the Company of New England was formed. According to Francis Higginson's diary written at the time, the following is an extract: "The Company of New England consisted of many worthy gentlemen of the City of London, Dorchester and other places, aiming at the glory of God, the propagation of the Gospel of Christ, the conversion of the Indians and the enlargement of the King's Majesty's dominions in America, and being authorised by his Royal Letters Patent for that, and at their very great costs and charge furnished five ships to go to New England for the further settling of the English Plantations that had begun in 1628". The five ships were "Talbot", "George", "Lyon's Whelp", "Four Sisters", and "Mayflower". The year was 1629, Ralph was about 29 and a great friend of the Rev. John White. Somehow he was persuaded to uproot his family and join this scheme. According to records, Ralph, his wife Joanna and son John (aged about 4) together with his brothers Richard and William (only 19) agreed to join and set sail it is thought on the "Lyon's Whelp". What impelled the Spragues to make this great decision to leave England can only be conjecture. being friends of the Patriarch John White, the underlying motive must have been religion. It was a mammoth undertaking, fraught with dangers but the overwhelming desire was to search for a land where the true principles of faith and morality could be practised, which was proving difficult in England. Added to this there must have been a great spirit of adventure in an age of increasing discoveries. A hope too of gaining a better way of life than they could enjoy in Dorset. Their courage to face such a voyage with a young family must have been daunting. They were bolstered and encouraged by Ministers saying they would find honour and glory in the works of the Almighty God beyond the seas. It was thus they embarked on the "Lyon's Whelp" in 1629. Ralph's younger brother Edward remained at Upwey with his Mother Christian, who later married John Corben. To quote further from Francis Higginson's Diary, he writes: "The Lyon's Whelp" was a neat and nimble ship of 120 tons, eight pieces of ordinances carrying in her many mariners and forty planters specially from Dorchester an thereabouts with provision and 4 goats. On 10th May 1629 the ship was in the port of Yarmouth, Isle of Wight ... Monday morning 11th May blew a fair wind from east southeast, the Lyon's Whelp having taken in all her provisions for passengers about three o'clock in the afternoon we hoisted sail and ... by God's guidance safely passed the narrow passage (the Needles) and entered into the sea....". On 11th June they reached the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. Here they encountered frightening mountains of ice in the sea. Towards night came a thick fog and the "Lyon's Whelp" became lost and spent many hours the next day trying to locate the other ships in their company. They continued to experience fogs and difficulties for more than two weeks until 19th June when Mr. Higginson writes: "This day by God's blessing and the directions (from Pilots) we passed the curious and difficult entrance into the large spacious harbour of Naimkecke." (Which became known as Salem.) The landing and uploading of the ships took many days but when complete the Spragues together with several compatriots, by joint consent and approbation of Mr. John Endicott, the Governor who had arrived in 1628, they undertook to travel on further afield westwards. For days they explored the uncouth wilderness in search of a suitable site. Eventually they came to the Charles River, where on the North side was a fertile neck of land full of stately timber, bounded on the East by the Mystic River. the surrounding countryside was inhabited by Indians called Aborigians. Their old Sachem (Chief) being recently dead, his eldest son called John Sagamore had taken over. He was a man of gentle and good disposition by whose free consent the Spragues and their compatriots were permitted to settle about the hill (called Mishawum) by the natives. According to the New England Charter the records read: "It was jointly agreed and concluded that this place on the north side of the Charles River be called Charlestown .... Mr. Graves, (an Engineer employed by the New England Company" do model and lay out the form of the Town and streets abut the hill. It is jointly agreed that each inhabitant have a two acre plot to plant upon and to fence in common... upon which Ralph Sprague and others began to build their houses and to prepare fencing for their lots which afterwards set up almost in a semicircular form on the South and southeast side of the field laid out to them, which lies situate on the northwest of the town hill." It is thus that the Spragues and others founded the beginnings of Charlestown, which developed in the future years to include such places as Malden, Woburn, Stoneham, Hurlington, Somerville, a large part of Medford, a small part of Cambridge, West Cambridge, and Reading. The Charlestown of today however is not quite so extensive. In addition to building their own homes, a "Great House" had to be erected on the directions of Mr. Graves on the south eastern slope of the hill for governor Winthrop and his associates who were due to arrive in 1630. The Great House was also to serve as a Meeting House for the first few years. Their first months in Charlestown was spent in clearing lands, felling trees in order to build the homes. There had not been much time to plant crops and the icy blasts of winter came before they were totally prepared. That winter of 1629/30 was particularly severe in a climate none of them had ever experienced before. They became short of provisions and suffered great hardships. In the Spring of 1630 there was a conspiracy among the Indians who planned to cut off the English. The faithful Sagamore however revealed the Indian plot an so all the people of Charlestown agreed to make a small fort with palisades and flankers on the top of the Town Hill. All hands men, women an children laboured at the digging and building until the work was done. The nearby town of Salem joined in the counter attacks that ensued with their big guns, and after quite a number of skirmishes the Indians were scattered. After this experience Charlestown felt themselves compelled to organise a form of Militia to prevent any future incursions. When the Governor arrived later in 1630 he "found the Colony in a sad and unexpected condition. No less than eighty had died during the very cold winter and those that had survived could hardly procure the means of subsistence." Gradually the summer saw a general improvement. More Settlers arrived in New England and trade and cultivation of the lands soon began. However, the Puritan moral codes and strictures still dominated the scene. According to the Massachusetts Records, Ralph took the Freeman's Oath in May 1630 and was appointed Constable of Charlestown in the same year. It is also recorded that in 1634 he was commissioned with two others to advocate certain interests of the town before the General Court, and the next year 1635 he was chosen Selectman, and continued in that position for some time. In 1632 with his wife, Joanna, they were listed as Members of the first Church and "did enter into the Covenant". In 1635, the General Court granted him 100 acres of land "having borne great difficulties in the beginning." Their home stood in Crooked Lane, later called Bow Street near the Great House and what is now part of the City Square. During these years there were further additions to the family: Richard, Samuel, Mary, Phineas and lastly Jonathan (who is thought to have died when he was young). In 1649, Ralph was one of a Commission to settle the boundaries between the Mystic River and Charlestown. He also joined the Militia and later became a member of the Boston Artillery Company. The records of the time state: "the Sprague family were noted persons of character, substance and enterprise, excellent citizens and generous public benefactors." Just before Ralph died in 1650, he petitioned among others for their own lands on the Mystic side of Charlestown to be known as Malden. This was granted. (NOTE: continued in notes for Ralph's brother, Richard Sprague.) "Ancestral File" Ralph Sprague [LT] (AFN:GVLW-87) "Sprague Families in America", by Dr. Warren Vincent Sprague, page 123. Birth year is reported as 1603 in England. Ralph Sprague was a farmer and one of the founders of Charlestown, MA. Frothingham in History of Charlestown, says, "He was a prominent and valuable citizen, active in promoting the welfare of the town and of the Colony". "Genealogical Register" April 1909, page 147. Ralph Sprague, eldest son, born in Upwey, County Dorset; came to Salem, MA in 1628 and from there went to Charlestown in 1629. Other sources have listed his wife as Joanna Warren, daughter of Richard Warren; The Genealogical Register lists his wife as Joan Corbin, daughter of John of Fordington, County Dorset. "The Genealogical Register", after April 1946. Ralph Sprague was husbandman, and fuller of Upwey, County Dorset, England. He emigrated to Salem, MA in 1628, was made a constable in Watertown in 1630, served as deputy in 1635, and afterwards, and finally settled in that part of Charlestown which became Malden. In this issue, his wife is listed as Joane Warren. "History of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company", page 78. Ralph Sprague, son of Edward Sprague, a fuller of Upway, County Dorset, England, is said by Felt, in his Annals of Salem, to have come to America in the ship "Abigail" with Mr. Endicott, leaving Weymouth June 20, and arriving at Salem September 6, 1628. "After Mr. Endicott arrived at Naumkeag [Salem], he commissioned Messrs. Ralph, Richard and William Sprague and others to explore the country about Mishawum, now Charlestown. Here they met with a tribe of Indians, called Aberginians. By the consent of these, they commenced a plantation." He and his wife Joan were members of the First Church, Boston, but, with thirty-one others, were dismissed October 14, 1632, "to enter into a new church body at Charlestown." He was a brother of Richard Sprague, and father of Richard. He became a freeman October 19, 1630, and was the first person chosen to the office of constable at Charlestown, in 1630. He was active in military matters, and successively became sergeant in 1634, ensign in 1646, lieutenant in 1647, and captain. He represented Charlestown in the General Court in May, 1635, and afterwards, in all for nine years, --being a deputy when the charter of the Artillery Company was granted. He was one of the first selectmen of Charlestown, chosen February 10, 1634. His homestead, consisting of one acre of "earable land, ... with a Dwelling house upon it west upon the highway," was situated "at the east end of the common, butting south and west upon the highway," having Mystic River on the northeast. The Charlestown land Records, p. 53, describe twelve different pieces of real estate as the possession of Ralph Sprague. He died November, 1650. "American Families--Genealogies and Biographical Information from Most Authentic Sources Including Much Valuable Material Drawn from Hitherto Unpublished Family Records with Accurate Reproduction--and Descriptions of Ancient Emblazonry Compiled by Masters of Genealogic and Heraldic Science", published by The American Historical Society, Inc., New York, 1921, pages 30-40. Ralph Sprague came to Salem, Mass., in 1628, with his two brothers, Richard and William, his wife and two little boys, John and Richard. Whether actuated by the desires for religious liberty or by hopes of gain, there is some controversy. With several others they journeyed twelve miles to a hill on the north side of the Charles river, and on the south and southeast slope they made a settlement in 1628, building their homes in a semi-circle on the two acres of land Gov. Endicott granted to each of them. This settlement, called Charlestown, was within the present city limits of Boston. Here they found upon their arrival one solitary white man, Thomas Welford, an Englishman, living in a palisado house. This territory was owned and occupied by the Massachusetts Indians, a powerful but friendly tribe, with Sagamore John as sachem, who gave them permission to settle. Whether the Spragues came to America in the Abigail or the Lyon's Whelp is immaterial, but their arrival has been convincingly shown by [p. 32] the Hon. H. H. Sprague to be in 1628. The following spring, Mr. Bright, a minister and Mr. Thomas Graves, an engineer, with one hundred others, joined them. On Sept. 28, 1630, Ralph Sprague was one of a jury impaneled; this was the first jury in Massachusetts. In his short life of forty-seven years he was a very prominent man. On Oct. 19, 1630, he made requisition to be admitted as a freeman of the colony, and took the freeman's oath May 18, 1631. At General Court this month he was made constable, and became in regular succession sergeant, ensign, lieutenant, and captain of militia. On May 18, 1631, he was admitted freeman. Oct 14, 1632, he and his wife were dismissed from the "Congregation of Boston" to enter into a new body at Charlestown. In 1634 he was made one of the first selectmen of Charlestown; in May, 1635, he was a representative and frequently afterwards, 1636-1636, 1644-1645; in 1639 he became a member of the Artillery Company. Nine years from the settlement in Charlestown, Ralph and Richard owned large tracts of land along the opposite side of Mystic river, near Ell Pond, which the called "Pond Feilde." This was in the west part of Malden, now Melrose. Ralph had ninety acres and Richard sixty acres. At Ralph's death he bequeathed his homestead and its farm to his sons John and Phineas, and his farm in Pond Feilde" to his sons Richard and Samuel. His home was located in what is now Mountain avenue. By a letter dated Mar. 25, 1651, one John Corbin of Upwey, England appears to have been Ralph's father-in-law. A copy of this letter is to be found in the "New England Historical and Genealogical Register," IV, 289. In "Lochford's Note Book" are several legal papers and letters of 1638-39 from Ralph Sprague and Joan, his wife, wherein it is expressly stated that her father had died, and that his name was Richard Warren, so that instead of John Corbin being her father he had probably married her mother the Widow Warren. Besides the "New England Historical and Genealogical Register," much information can be obtained form Bradford's "History of Massachusetts," Frothingham's "History of Charlestown," and from the "Glimpse of the Beginning of the Massachusetts Bay Settlement", by H. H. Sprague and others. The Charlestown Land Records, page 53, describe (1638) twelve different pieces of real estate in Ralph's possession. His homestead consisted on one acre of "earable--with a dwelling house upon it and other apitnances," and was situated at the east of the common, butting south and west upon the highway, having Mystic river on the northeast. Ralph Sprague, some time of Fordington, Dorset, fuller, afterwards of Charlestown, New England, planter, and his wife Joan, daughter of Richard Warren, of Fordington, husbandman, sent, in 8-9-1638, power of attorney to William Derby, of Dorchester, England, gentleman, to demand and receive such portion as might come to them from Warren's estate, and remit the same through Sprague's sister Alice (Sprague) Eames, of Pomberry Mill, near Dorchester, and a letter was sent the same day by Ralph to his sister Alice about this same matter. In Aug. 1640, Ralph and his wife Joan made John Holland, on Tinckleton, Dorset, fuller, and attorney to receive John Cox, of Bowlington, and Elizabeth, his wife, executors of Richard Warren, deceased, seven pounds given by his will to said Joan and her children John, Jonathan, Richard, Samuel, Mary, Phineas, or any other sum due upon them. He died in Sept. 1650, at the age of forty-seven, in Malden, Mass., which has been the home of some of his descendants during all of these two-hundred and fifty years. His will was dated June 11, 1650, and entered in 1651. "The Brothers Ralph & William Sprague and some of Their Descendants", by Frank William Sprague, 1909, page 3. Ralph Sprague came to Salem, Mass., in 1628, and from there went to Charlestown in 1629. ABRIDGED COMPENDIUM, Frederick Virkus, pages 3528 and 3529. SPRAGUE, Ralph (1603-50); brother of William), from Eng. to Salem, Mass., ca. 1626; re- moved to Charlestown, 1629; dep. Gen Ct, 1635 et seq.; ensign for Charlestown, 1646; it., 1637-41 1647-49; mem. A. and H. A. Co., 1637; m Joan Warren. Lt. Ralph Sprague was born about 1595 in Upwey, Dorsetshire, England. He was christened on 20 Jun 1599 in Upwey, County Dorset, England. He died on 24 Nov 1650 in Malden, Middlesex Co., MA. "Ancestral File" Ralph Sprague (Lt) (AFN:GVLW-87) Notes from Harry Sprague. Was born in 1603 in Upwey, Dorset County, England and married Joan Warren in Fordington, St. George Church, Dorchester, Dorset County, England August 15, 1623; came to Salem, Massachusetts, in 1628 with his two brothers, Richard and William, his wife and two little boys, John and Richard. Whether actuated by desires for religious liberty or by hopes of gain there is some controversy. With several others, they journeyed twelve miles to a hill on the north side of the Charles River, and on the south and southeast slope they made a settlement in 1628, building their homes in a semi-circle on the two acres of land Governor Endicott granted to each of them. This settlement, called Charlestown, was within the present city limits of Boston (1913). Here they found one solitary white man, Thomas Welford, an Englishman, living in a pallisadoed house upon their arrival. This territory was owned and occupied by the Massachusetts Indians, a powerful but friendly tribe, with Sagamore John as Sachem, who gave them permission to settle. Whether the Spragues came to America in the Abigal or the Lion's Whelp is immaterial but their arrival has been convincingly shown by the Hon. H.H. Sprague, to be in 1628. The following spring Mr. Bright, a minister and Mr. Graves, an engineer, with a hundred others, joined them. September 28, 1630, Ralph was one of a jury impaneled. This was the first jury in Massachusetts. In his short life of forty-seven years he was a very prominent man. On October 19, 1630, he made requisition to be admitted as a freeman of the Colony, and took the freeman's Oath May 18, 1631. At General Court this month he was made constable and became in regular succession, sergeant, ensign, lieutenant and captain of militia. May 18, 1631, he was admitted as a Freeman. October 14, 1632, he and his wife were dismissed from the "Congregation of Boston" to enter into a new body at Charlestown. In 1634 was made one of the first selectmen of Charlestown, Massachusetts. In May, 1635 was Representative, and frequently afterwards, 1636-1638, 1644-1645. In 1639, he became a member of Artillery Company. Nine years from the settlement in Charlestown, Ralph and Richard owned large tracts of land on the opposite side of Mystic River, near Ell Pond, which they called "Pond Feilde." This was in the west part of Malden, now Melrose, Massachusetts. Ralph had ninety acres, and Richard, sixty acres. At Ralph's death, he bequeathed his homestead, and its farm, to his sons John and Phineas, and his farm in "Pond Feilde" to his sons Richard and Samuel. His home was located near what is now Mountain Avenue. By a letter dated March 25, 1651, one John Corbin of Upwey, England, appears to have been Ralph's father-in-law. A copy of this letter is to be found in the N.E.H. and G. Reg. IV 289. In Lochford's Note Book are several legal papers and letters of 1638-9 from Ralph Sprague and Joan his wife wherein it is expressly stated that her father had died and that his name was Richard Warren, so that instead of John Corbin being her father, he had probably married her mother, the widow Warren. Besides the N.E.H. abd G. Reg. much information can be obtained from the Bradford's History of Massachusetts, The Young's Chronicles and Hutchinson's History of Massachusetts. Frothingham History of Charlestown and from the "Glimpse of the Beginning of Massachusetts Bay Settlement" by H.H. Sprague, et. al. The Charlestown land records, page 53, describes (1638) twelve different pieces of real estate in Ralph's possession. His homestead consisting of one acre of "earable land----with a dwelling house upon it and other aptinances" was situated at the east of the common, butting south and west upon the highway, having Mystic River on the northeast. Ralph Sprague, sometimes of Fordington, husbandman, sent in 8-9-1638 power of attorney to Wm. Derby of Dorchester, England, gentleman to demand and receive such portion as might come to them from Warren's estate and remit the same through Sprague's sister Alice (Sprague) Eames of Pomberry Mill near Dorchester, and a letter was sent the same day by Ralph to his sister Alice about this same matter. In August, 1640, Ralph, and his wife Joan, made John Holland of Tinekleton, Dorset, fuller, an attorney to receive of John Cox of Bowlington, and Elizabeth his wife, executors of Richard Warren, deceased, seven pounds given by his will to said Joan and her children John, Jonathan, Richard, Samuel, Mary, Phineas or any other sum due unto them. (Ref.--N.E.H. and G. Reg. LI 1897 105.) He died in September, 1650, at the age of 47, in Malden Massachusetts, which has been the home of some of his descendants during all of these 250 years (1913). His will was dated June 11, 1650 and entered in 1651. Joan his widow, married Deacon Edward Converse of Woburn, Massachusetts, September 2, 1662. She died there February 24, 1680. American Biographical Library: The Biographical Cyclopędia of American Women, Volume II American Biographical Notes, S, The Chicago Historical Society, page 374 SPRAGUE, RALPH, came to America, a. 25; was prominent in the early settlement of Charlestown, Mass., where he was several years a selectman; in 1630, first constable, in 1639 lieut. and in 1637 and 8 years after, a representative; d. in 1650. (Young's Chron. Mass., p. 373.) THE PIONEERS OF MASSACHUSETTS, pages 11320-11329, Ancestry.com, 1998. 1. SPRAGUE, Ralph, husbandman, fuller, son of Edward, of Upway. Dorset, fuller, "sometimes of Fordington, co. of Dorset," came with his bro. Richard to Salem in 1628. They made their way through the woods to Charlestown in the spring of 1629, and were there when the party arrived to build the Great House and make other preparations for the coming of Gov. Winthrop and his party. He appl. frm. Oct. 19, 1630, was adm. frm. May 18, 1631. Lieut. The court app. him constable of Watertown in 1630. Deputy 1635 and afterward. He rem. to the part of Char. which became Malden. 2. He m. Joane, dau. of Richard Warren of Fordington, yeoman, who left legacy to her and her children John, Jonathan, Richard, Samuel, Mary and Phinehas; she empowered John Holland of Tinckleton, Dorset, fuller, to collect this for her, 29 (6) 1640. [L.] She was adm. to the chh. with her husband in 1630, and joined with him in the organization of the Charlestown church in Nov. 1632, and in that of Malden in 1649. His father-in-law, John Corbin, wrote him from Upway, Dorset, March 25, 1651. [Reg. IV, 289, and LI, 105.] Ch. Samuel bapt. at Bo. 3 (4) 1632, Mary bapt. at Char. 14 (7) 1634, (m. Daniel Edmunds,) Phinehas bapt. 31 (5) 1637, Jonathan d. Dec. 1650. 3. He d. (9) 1650. Distribution of his est. was made 6 (11) 1650, to widow Joanna and ch. John, Richard, Samuel, Mary and Phinehas. The widow m. 2, Edward Converse, q.v 4. Richard, bro. of Ralph, [see letter of Corbin, above said, and will of their father Edward, in Reg. XLIX, 264.], Charlestown 1629. Frm. May 18, 1631. Town officer. One of the appraisers of Thompson's Island in 1657. Lieut. His wife Mary was memb. chh. Boston with him in 1630, and in that of Char. at its organization In 1632. He d. Nov. 25, 1668, ae. 63. Will dated 17 (7) prob. 11 Dec. 1668, beq. to wife Mary; to Nathaniel Rand; cousins Richard and John S. Mary, wife of Daniel Edmunds; bro. William S. of Hingham; Margery, wife of Lawrence Dowse; Alice, wife of Thomas Lord; to Harvard College; a liberal amount to the church of Char. His widow deeded to the chh. 1 March, 1671, her shop and chamber over it adjoining the meeting house, fronting on the market-place, adjoining land of John Long. 5. William, bro. of Ralph and Richard, planter, Charlestown, rrem. to Hingham. Propr. 1636. Town officer. Wife Millicent adm. chh. Char. 3 (2) 1635; ch. Antony bapt. 23 (3) 1636, John bapt. at Hing. April, 1638, Samuel bapt. May 24, 1640, Jonathan bapt. March 20, 1641-2, d. 4 July, 1647, Persis b. Nov. 12, 1643, (m. John Doggett,) Joanna b. Dec. 1645, (m. Caleb Church,) Jonathan b. May 28, 1648, William b. July 2, 1650, Mary b. April 5, 1652, (m. Thomas King,) Hannah b. Feb. 25, 1654, d. 31 March, 1659. He d. 26 Oct. 1675. Will dated 19 Oct. 1675. To wife Millicent; ch. Anthony, Samuel, William, John, Jonathan, Persis, wife o[ John Doggett, Johanna, wife of Caleb Church, and Mary, wife of Thomas King. To Anthony the sword that was his bro. Richard Sprague's. The widow d. 8 Feb.1695-6. |
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Notes for Joanna Warren: [Sprague.FTW] Ancestral File: Joanna Warren (AFN:92CN-NR) |
| 4 | iii. | Edward Sprague34, born December 15, 1601 in Fordington, Dorsetshire, England34; died December 15, 163334. | ||
| 5 | iv. | Richard Sprague34, born Abt. 1605 in Upwey, Dorsetshire, England35,36; died November 25, 1668 in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., MA37,38. He married Mary Unknown38 October 11, 1632 in Upwey, Dorsetshire, England38; died Bet. December 06, 1672 - June 12, 167439,40. |
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Notes for Richard Sprague: [Sprague.FTW] "The Sprague Family: From Dorset, to Massachusetts & Gibraltar", by Joan Watkins, 1992, correspondent. (NOTE: continued from Richard's brother, Ralph Sprague.) Richard married in 1630 but they had no children. He became very interested in Military affairs. When he died in 1668 apart from leaving property to his widow, he left some to Ralph's son Richard which included his Wharf an dwarehouses with land. He also left to "Harvard 31 sheep and 30 lambs". (NOTE: continued in notes for Richard's brother, William Sprague.) "Sprague Families in America", by Dr. Warren Vincent Sprague, page 123. Richard Sprague and Mary (Sharp) Sprague had no children. 1628. One of the founders of Charlestown. 1630. One of the founders of first Church in Boston. 1631, May 18. Made Freeman 1632, Oct. Dismissed from 1st Church of Boston to new Church in Charlestown. 1638. Captain of Charlestown train band. 1664 and 1659 to 1666. Representative in General Court from Charlestown. 1646-7. Second Sergeant of Artillery Co. 1652-3. First Sergeant of Artillery Co. 1659-60. Ensign of Artillery Co. 1665-6 and 1668. Lieutenant of Artillery Co. 1668, Sept. 15. Makes his will, and gives to Harvard College 400 pounds, and thirty-one ewes and thirty lambs; to his brother William of Hingham his sword; to his nephew Richard, son of Ralph, his wharf and warehouse with other property; mentions his wife, Mary. His estate was valued abt 2357 pounds, 16 shillings, 8 pence. "History of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company", page 78. Richard Sprague of Charlestown, third son of Edward, of Upway, England, came over with his brother Ralph, and with him moved from Salem to Charlestown. He is in the list of the members of the First Church, and was admitted a freeman May 18, 1631. With his wife, he was dismissed therefrom in October, 1632, to form a new church at Charlestown. In 1637, he was an adherent of Mr. Wheelwright, and signed the remonstrance against the proceeding of the court; but, on expressing his regret, his signature was erased. He was active in military matters, and one of the leading citizens of the new town. Mr. Everett, in his address commemorative of the bicentennial of the arrival of Winthrop at Charlestown, in speaking of the three brothers, Ralph, Richar, and William Sprague, says they were "the founders of the settlement in this place," and "were persons of character, subatance and enterprise; excellent citizens; generous public benefactors; and the heads of a very large and respectable family of descendants." Richard Sprague was a captain of the Charlestown train-band, and represented that town in the General Court in 1644, and from 1659 to 1666. He was first sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1652, ensign in 1659, and lieutenant in 1665. He died, November 25, 1668. His will of September 15, preceding, names his wife, Mary, but no children of his own. The sons of his brother Ralph are mentioned in it. He gave to Harvard College thirty ewes, with their lambs. This was among the earliest donations to that college. His homestead in Charlestown consisted of "three acres of earable land, ... with a dwelling house and other aptinances," situated "in the east feilde, butting southwest and west upon the streete way, bounded on the southeast by gravell lane." The Charlestown Land Records, p. 41, describe thirteen different pieces of real estate in Charlestown as the possession of Richard Sprague. He bequeathed his sword to his brother William, of Hingham, which, in 1828, was in the possession of his descendants. "The Genealogy & Estates to Charlestown, MA", by Wyman, page 892. Estate of Capt. Richard (Edward) Sprague had no issue: 15 Sept. 1668, " ... to Margery Dowse & Alice Lord, legacies". In wife, Mary's will 12 Nov. 1671: " ... to L. Dowse, marsh at Wormwood point, and after him to his daus. Elizabeth & Mary". From Scott L. Sprague, correspondent. American Biographical Library: The Biographical Cyclopędia of American Women, Volume II, American Biographical Notes, S, The Chicago Historical Society, page 374. SPRAGUE, RICHARD, merchant, and one of the founders of Charlestown, Mass., where he was several years a selectman; from 1659 to 1666, was a representative; d. Nov. 25, 1668. (Young's Chron. Mass., p. 373.) |
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Notes for Mary Unknown: [Sprague.FTW] Some have reported Richard's wife to be Mary Sharp. "The Migration Begins" does not support that fact (page 1734). (Ancestral File - Ver. 4.11) Mary Sharp (AFN:GVLW-F3) "The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633", Volume III P-W, by Robert Charles Anderson, page 1735. Marriage: By 1632 Mary ____________. (Wife Mary is first seen at her dismissal from Boston church on 14 October 1632, but there is no record of her admission to that church as wife of Richard Sprague. Savage and others assume that he had married in England, and brought his wife with him, but it seems more likely that he married between 1630 and 1632, and that his wife was one of the women named Mary admitted to Boston church in its first two years.) She died between 6 December 1672 (acknowledgement of deed) and 12 June 1674 (date of inventory). The wills of both Richard Sprague and his wife Mary suggest a close relationship with Alice, the wife of Robert Rand. Mary explicitly calls Alice her sister, and as Mary makes a much larger bequest to Alice and her family than to others, it is likely that Alice and Mary were siblings. |
| 6 | v. | Christopher Sprague40, born Abt. 1607 in Fordington, Dorsetshire, England40; died Abt. March 31, 1625 in Dorchester, Dorset, England40. He married Ann Grey40; born 161040; died in Y40. |
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Notes for Christopher Sprague: [Sprague.FTW] "Ancestral File - Ver 4.11" Christopher Sprague (AFN:93V9-J6) |
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Notes for Ann Grey: [Sprague.FTW] (Ancestral File - Ver 4.11) Ann Grey (AFN:MVS4-GV) |
| + | 7 | vi. | William Sprague, born Abt. October 1609 in Upwey, Dorsetshire, England; died October 26, 1675 in Hingham, Plymouth Co., MA. |
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