Capt. John Sprague

1624 - 1692  (68 years)

• Name	John Sprague  [1, 2]
  Prefix	Capt.
  Born	23 May 1624	Saint George, Fordington, Dorchester, , Dorsetshire, England   [2, 3]
  Christened	23 May 1624	Saint George, Fordington, Dorchester, , Dorsetshire, England   [4]
  Gender	Male
  Military	King Philip's War
  	served with Maj. Simon Willard
  Died	24 Jun 1692	Malden, Middlesex Co., MA, USA   [2, 5, 6, 7, 8]
  	"The Ralph Sprague Genealogy", by  E. G. Sprague, page31.     John Sprague died in Malden, MA onJune 24, 1692. "The Spragues of Malden, Massachusetts", by George WalterChamberlain, page 83.     Capt. John Sprague died at Malden,25 June, 1692, aged 68. From Harry F. Sprague, correspondent.     According to his tombstone,Captain John Sprague died June 25, 1692 (42597E.jpg).
  Buried	Bell Rock Cemetery, Malden, Middlesex Co., MA, USA   [1]
  Notes	"The Sprague Family: From Dorset, to Massachusetts &Gibraltar", by Joan Watkins, 1992, correspondent. (NOTE: Continued from John Sprague's Uncle William Sprague.) Even before Ralph died, his eldest son John was followingin his father's footsteps, concerning himself with thecommunity and building up various enterprises. England at that time was recovering from the Civil War, andCromwell had become Protector.  Religion and theunsettled estate had encouraged more and more families tolook to New England for a better way of life.  In 1651John married Lydia Goffe. Like John, she too had been bornin England, and traveled to New England with her fatherarriving in 1635. In 1653 John was made Freeman of the Massachusetts Colonyand later appointed to be one of a committee of three tolay out the county's highways between new towns Redding(now Wakefield) and Winnesmett (now Chelsea andRivers).  He joined the Malden Militia, first as anEnsign in 1654, then promoted to Lieutenant in 1664.Finally he was commissioned Captain and remained with theFoot Company of Malden from 1685-89.  During hislifetime he was also chosen Selectman for Malden, thenRepresentative in the General Court 1685-89 and Moderatorand Clerk of the Writs in 1687.  John and Lydia livedin a property known as Pound Farm, Malden (nowMelrose).  The house stood near Barrett's Mound on thesoutherly side of Maple Street.  They had tenchildren: John, Lydia, Jonathan (born 1656) Samuel, Mary,Edward, Phineas, Deborah, Hannah and Sarah.  It isthought that Mary died in infancy.  Captain John as hewas known, had a long life and was a much respectedcitizen.  He died in 1692 and was buried in the BellRock Cemetery. (NOTE: continued in Capt. John's second son's notes forJonathan Sprague.) "The Genealogical Register", July 1954, page 227.     Capt. John Sprague was a member of the General Court from1689 to 1691.  He served with Major Simon Willard inKing Philip's War. "American Families--Genealogies and BiographicalInformation from Most Authentic Sources Including MuchValuable Material Drawn from Hitherto Unpublished FamilyRecords with Accurate Reproduction--and Descriptions ofAncient Emblazonry Compiled by Masters of Genealogic andHeraldic Science", published by The American HistoricalSociety, Inc., New York, 1921, pages 30-40.     John Sprague was 14 years old when he came to America, tookthe freeman's oath May 18, 1653, was tall of stature, andof fine appearance.  He succeeded his father in hishomestead, and was engaged in shipping foreign trade withhis Uncle Richard.  In 1689-91, he was representativeto the General Court, and was selectman of the town manyyears.  Some of the early town meetings were held athis house. He belonged to the militia in Malden, advancingfrom ensign to captain; was with Major Willard in 1676;served in King Philip's War. He was known as Captain JohnSprague.  In 1652 he bought the Ell Pond farm from hisbrothers Richard and Samuel (Richard's part beingsixty-seven acres of tillage land), which he bequeathed tohis two sons John and Phineas.  He owned many parcelsof real estate as recorded by "Wyman", and among theme werefour acres near the top of Bunker Hill.  His estatesettlement (Middlesex Probate Court No. 16068) mentionsLydia, his wife, and sons John, Phineas, Samuel, Edward,Jonathan, and daughters Lydia Greenland, Hannah Stowers,Deborah Sprague, and Sarah Fosdick.  On March 2,1650-1, he married Lydia, daughter of Edward and Lydia(Joyce) Goffe, of Cambridge, Mass.  She was born inEngland and died Dec. 11, 1715, in Malden,  In thewill of Mrs. Margaret Witchfield, of Windsor, Conn., madein Cambridge, Mass., proved Oct. 5, 1669, the children,John and Lydia, were each given five pounds. "The Ralph Sprague Genealogy", by E. G. Sprague, page 31     John was four years old when he came to America, took theFreeman's oath May 18, 1653; was tall of stature and offine appearance; succeeded his father in his homestead; wasengaged in shipping in foreign trade with his uncleRichard; Representative to the General Court in 1689-91;selectman of the town many years.  Some of the earlytown meetings were held at his house; belonged to themilitia in Malden, advancing from ensign to captain, waswith Major Willard in 1676; served in King Philip's Waramong others in those dark days.  He was known asCaptain John Sprague.  He bought the Ell Pond farmfrom his brothers Richard and Samuel in 1652, (Richard'spart being sixty-seven acres of tillage land), which hebequeathed to his two sons, John and Phineas.  Heowned many parcels of real estate as recorded by "Wyman"and among them was four acres near the top of BunkerHill.  His estate settlement Middlesex Probate CourtNo. 16068, mentions Lydia, his wife, and sons John,Phineas, Samuel, Edward, Jonathan, and daughters LydiaGreenland, Hannah Stowers, Deborah Sprague, and SarahFosdick.  March 2, 1651, he married Lydia, dau.of  Edward and Lydia (Joyce) Goffe of Cambridge, Mass.     In the will of Mrs. Margaret Witchfield of Windsor, Ct.,made in Cambridge, Mass., proved October 5, 1669, thechildren, John and Lydia, were each given £5. [2]
  Person ID	I42554	Sprague Project
  Last Modified	19 Jun 2020

  
  

  Father	Lt. Ralph Sprague,   b. Abt 1599, Upwey, Dorsetshire, England ,   d. 24 Nov 1650, Malden, Middlesex Co., MA, USA  (Age ~ 51 years)
  Mother	Joanna Warren,   b. 1603,   d. 24 Feb 1679/80, Woburn, Middlesex Co., MA, USA  (Age 77 years)
  Married	15 Aug 1623	Saint George, Fordington, Dorchester, , Dorsetshire, England   [9]
  	From Dottie Middleton, correspondent, note of June 2, 2016 Online Fordington St George parish records show that Joannaand Ralph were married 15 Aug 1623; unfortunately, theonline transcript doesn't name their parents.  JohnSprague was baptized at St George 23 May 1624 and Jonathanon 27 November 1625. John died in 1692 and is buried in Bell Rock Cemetery,Malden, MA, with about 30 other Spragues.  Someresearchers (Sprague database, familysearch, IGI, andMichael Russell, OPC, who wrote "Pilgrims from FordingtonThe Sprague Family From Fullers to Founding Fathers") sayJonathan died in 1650 in Malden.  Copy-cat"research?"  Access to first-hand documents I haven'tfound?  I don't know.  In any case, Jonathan hasno headstone at Bell Rock Cemetery, and none inMassachusetts that I could find on findagrave.  Thereis one Sprague headstone at Bell Rock with only thesurname; that might or might not be Jonathan, but we don'tknow.  Further research is needed.  Watkins'noting "no later mention" of Jonathan and speculating thathe might have died in childhood is somewhatmisleading.  Existing St George parish records do notmention Jonathan after his baptism; however, the 1626records were very badly water damaged and the 1629 recordsare missing.
  Family ID	F13579	Family Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family / Spouse	Lydia Goffe,   b. Abt 1628, England ,   d. 11 Nov 1715, Malden, Middlesex Co., MA, USA  (Age ~ 87 years)
  Married	2 May 1651	Malden, Middlesex Co., MA, USA   [10, 11, 12]
  Children	+ 1. John Sprague,   b. 9 Mar 1651/52, Malden, Middlesex Co., MA, USA ,   d. 16 Dec 1703, Malden, Middlesex Co., MA, USA  (Age 51 years) + 2. Lydia Sprague,   b. Between Sep 1653 and Sep 1654, Malden, Middlesex Co., MA, USA ,   d. 20 Jan 1704/05, Malden, Middlesex Co., MA, USA  (Age ~ 51 years) + 3. Jonathan Sprague,   b. 8 Aug 1656, Malden, Middlesex Co., MA, USA ,   d. 8 Mar 1730/31, Malden, Middlesex Co., MA, USA  (Age 74 years) + 4. Samuel Sprague, Sr.,   b. 21 Dec 1658, Malden, Middlesex Co., MA, USA ,   d. 12 Dec 1743, Malden, Middlesex Co., MA, USA  (Age 84 years)   5. Mary Sprague,   b. 13 Feb 1660/61,   d. Bef 31 May 1692  (Age 31 years) + 6. Capt. Edward Sprague,   b. 9 Mar 1662/63, Malden, Middlesex Co., MA, USA ,   d. 14 Nov 1715, Malden, Middlesex Co., MA, USA  (Age 52 years) + 7. Phineas Sprague,   b. Apr 1665, Malden, Middlesex Co., MA, USA ,   d. 29 Aug 1736, Malden, Middlesex Co., MA, USA  (Age ~ 71 years) + 8. Deborah Sprague,   b. 21 Jul 1668, Malden, Middlesex Co., MA, USA ,   d. 17 Aug 1756, Malden, Middlesex Co., MA, USA  (Age 88 years) + 9. Hannah Sprague,   b. 1670, Malden, Middlesex Co., MA, USA ,   d. Aft 26 Dec 1721, Malden, Middlesex Co., MA, USA  (Age 51 years) + 10. Sarah Sprague,   b. Dec 1672, Malden, Middlesex Co., MA, USA ,   d. 22 Dec 1752, Nantucket, Nantucket Co., MA, USA  (Age ~ 80 years)
  Last Modified	2 Feb 2013
  Family ID	F14584	Family Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map		Married - 2 May 1651 - Malden, Middlesex Co., MA, USA Died - 24 Jun 1692 - Malden, Middlesex Co., MA, USA Buried - - Bell Rock Cemetery, Malden, Middlesex Co., MA, USA  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Headstones

  Sprague, John, Capt., son of Lt. Ralph and Joanna (Warren) Sprague, buried in Bell Rock Cemetery in Malden, Massachusetts.

  
  

• Sources

  [S1765] Correspondent: MacAulay, David. [S76] Book: Sprague, Ralph, Genealogy, Sprague, E. G., (Montpelier, VT:The Capital City Press, 1913), page 31. [S643] Publication:American Families-Genealogies/Bio's., (New York, NY: The American Historical Society, Inc., 1921), pages 30-40. [S4922] Correspondent: Middleton, Dottie, note of June 2, 2016. [S3372] "Malden Burying Ground", October 1855, page 326, g, "d. 24 June 1692.". [S643] Publication:American Families-Genealogies/Bio's., (New York, NY: The American Historical Society, Inc., 1921), "d. 24 June 1692.", pages 30-40. [S304] Book: Sprague, Brothers Ralph & William, Sprague, Frank William, (Boston, Mass.: New England Historic and GenealogicalSociety, 1909), "d. 25 June 1692.", page 3. [S1764] Periodical: Genealogical Register, New England Historical and Genealogical Review, after 1946 and "The Genealogical Register", July 1954, page227. [S433] Book: New England Marriages, Torrey, Clarence A., (Baltimore, MD, Genealogical Publishing Co., 2004), page 698. [S304] Book: Sprague, Brothers Ralph & William, Sprague, Frank William, (Boston, Mass.: New England Historic and GenealogicalSociety, 1909), page 3. [S76] Book: Sprague, Ralph, Genealogy, Sprague, E. G., (Montpelier, VT:The Capital City Press, 1913), "m. March 2, 1651.", page 31. [S433] Book: New England Marriages, Torrey, Clarence A., (Baltimore, MD, Genealogical Publishing Co., 2004), page 697.