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- "The Sprague Family: From Dorset, to Massachusetts &Gibraltar", by Joan Watkins, 1992, correspondent. (NOTE: continued from Richard'sbrother, Ralph Sprague.) Richard married in 1630 but they had nochildren. He became very interested in Militaryaffairs. When he died in 1668 apart from leavingproperty to his widow, he left some to Ralph's son Richardwhich included his Wharf and warehouses with land. Healso left to "Harvard 31 sheep and 30 lambs". (NOTE: continued in notes for Richard'sbrother, William Sprague.)
"Sprague Families in America", by Dr. Warren VincentSprague, page 123. Richard Sprague and Mary (Sharp)Sprague had no children. 1628. One of the founders ofCharlestown. 1630. One of the founders offirst Church in Boston.
1631, May 18. Made Freeman 1632, Oct. Dismissed from1st Church of Boston to new Church in Charlestown. 1638. Captain of Charlestowntrain band. 1664 and 1659 to 1666. Representative in General Court from Charlestown. 1646-7. Second Sergeant ofArtillery Co. 1652-3. First Sergeant ofArtillery Co. 1659-60. Ensign of ArtilleryCo. 1665-6 and 1668. Lieutenantof Artillery Co. 1668, Sept. 15. Makes hiswill, and gives to Harvard College 400 pounds, andthirty-one ewes and thirty lambs; to his brotherWilliam of Hingham his sword; to his nephew Richard, son ofRalph, his wharf and warehouse with other property;mentions his wife, Mary. His estate was valued abt2357 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 hisbrother Ralph, and with him moved from Salem toCharlestown. He is in the list of the members of theFirst Church, and was admitted a freeman May 18,1631. With his wife, he was dismissed therefrom inOctober, 1632, to form a new church at Charlestown. In 1637, he was an adherent of Mr.Wheelwright, and signed the remonstrance against theproceeding of the court; but, on expressing his regret, hissignature was erased. He was active in militarymatters, and one of the leading citizens of the newtown. Mr. Everett, in his address commemorative ofthe bicentennial of the arrival of Winthrop at Charlestown,in speaking of the three brothers, Ralph, Richard, andWilliam Sprague, says they were "the founders of thesettlement in this place," and "were persons of character,substance and enterprise; excellent citizens; generouspublic benefactors; and the heads of a very large andrespectable family of descendants." Richard Spraguewas a captain of the Charlestown train-band, andrepresented that town in the General Court in 1644, andfrom 1659 to 1666. He was first sergeant of theArtillery Company in 1652, ensign in 1659, and lieutenantin 1665. He died, November 25, 1668. His willof September 15, preceding, names his wife, Mary, but nochildren of his own. The sons of his brother Ralphare mentioned in it. He gave to Harvard Collegethirty ewes, with their lambs. This was among theearliest donations to that college. His homestead inCharlestown consisted of "three acres of earable land, ...with a dwelling house and other aptinances," situated "inthe east feilde, butting southwest and west upon thestreete way, bounded on the southeast by gravelllane." The Charlestown Land Records, p. 41, describethirteen different pieces of real estate in Charlestown asthe possession of Richard Sprague. He bequeathed hissword 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 himto his daus. Elizabeth & Mary".
From Scott L. Sprague, correspondent.American Biographical Library: The Biographical Cyclopædiaof American Women, Volume II, American Biographical Notes,S, The Chicago Historical Society, page 374. SPRAGUE, RICHARD, merchant, andone of the founders of Charlestown, Mass., where he wasseveral years a selectman; from 1659 to 1666, was arepresentative; d. Nov. 25, 1668. (Young's Chron. Mass., p.373.)
"The Ralph Sprague Genealogy", by E. G. Sprague, page 27 In the year in which Richard cameto America, the first meeting of the settlers of the townof Charlestown was recorded and his name with his brothersRalph and William stood at the head of the list. Tookthe Freeman's Oath May 18, 1631. In an agreemententered into February 10, 1634, for the first government ofthe town by a body of selectmen, were appended thirty-threenames and theirs again appeared. He was mentionedamong "some of the cheif" of the one hundred fifty-onemembers in 1632 who joined in full communion with theCharlestown church when it was separately organized. It appeared in the church record as "Richard, Mary,Sprague," the names of husband and wife being written asone name. He became a member of the HonorableArtillery Company in the year 1638, which company receivedits charter in that year and was composed of members ofdifferent towns in the colony. The General Courtgranted him one hundred acres of land in 1639 significantlyadding as the reason of its vote "haveing bornedifficulties in the beginning." For several years hewas selectman, and from 1659-1666 he was deputy to GeneralCourt. His occupation was merchant. He followedthe sea, however, as he was captain of the pink Consent fora time; owned several vessels and was in trade withBarbadoes. He accumulated a large property by grantand purchase as his possessions showed; thirteen lots ofreal estate comprising many acres, wharf, warehouse,investments in vessels, etc. His will devised to his wife,Mary, whom he married in England, his nephews Richard,Lieut. John, cousins Samuel and Phineas and Mary Edmands,his brother William of Hingham, Margery Dawse and AliceLord, to Harvard College, and to the poor of Charlestown,etc. [2]
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