Capt. John Sprague

1624 - 1692  (68 years)

• Name	John Sprague  [1, 2]
  Prefix	Capt.
  Born	23 May 1624	Saint George, Fordington, Dorchester, , Dorset, England   [2, 3]
  Christened	23 May 1624	Saint George, Fordington, Dorchester, , Dorset, 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, page 31. John Sprague died in Malden, MA on June 24, 1692. "The Spragues of Malden, Massachusetts", by George WalterChamberlain, page 83. Capt. John Sprague died at Malden, 25 June, 1692, aged68. From Harry F. Sprague, correspondent. According to his tombstone, Captain John Sprague diedJune 25, 1692 (42597E.jpg).
  Buried	Bell Rock Cemetery, Malden, Middlesex Co., MA, USA   [1]
  		I42554 Sprague, John, Capt., son of Lt. Ralph and Joanna (Warren)Sprague, buried in Bell Rock Cemetery in Malden,Massachusetts.
  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 atthat time was recovering from the Civil War, and Cromwellhad become Protector. Religion and the unsettled estatehad encouraged more and more families to look to NewEngland for a better way of life. In 1651 John marriedLydia Goffe. Like John, she too had been born in England,and traveled to New England with her father arriving in1635. 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 and Rivers).He joined the Malden Militia, first as an Ensign in 1654,then promoted to Lieutenant in 1664. Finally he wascommissioned Captain and remained with the Foot Company ofMalden from 1685-89. During his lifetime he was alsochosen Selectman for Malden, then Representative in theGeneral Court 1685-89 and Moderator and Clerk of the Writsin 1687. John and Lydia lived in a property known as PoundFarm, Malden (now Melrose). The house stood near Barrett'sMound on the southerly side of Maple Street. They had tenchildren: John, Lydia, Jonathan (born 1656) Samuel, Mary,Edward, Phineas, Deborah, Hannah and Sarah. It is thoughtthat Mary died in infancy. Captain John as he was known,had a long life and was a much respected citizen. He diedin 1692 and was buried in the Bell Rock 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 in KingPhilip'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 representative tothe General Court, and was selectman of the town manyyears. Some of the early town meetings were held at hishouse. He belonged to the militia in Malden, advancing fromensign to captain; was with Major Willard in 1676; servedin King Philip's War. He was known as Captain John Sprague. In 1652 he bought the Ell Pond farm from his brothersRichard and Samuel (Richard's part being sixty-seven acresof tillage land), which he bequeathed to his two sons Johnand Phineas. He owned many parcels of real estate asrecorded by "Wyman", and among theme were four acres nearthe top of Bunker Hill. His estate settlement (MiddlesexProbate Court No. 16068) mentions Lydia, his wife, and sonsJohn, Phineas, Samuel, Edward, Jonathan, and daughtersLydia Greenland, Hannah Stowers, Deborah Sprague, and SarahFosdick. On March 2, 1650-1, he married Lydia, daughter ofEdward and Lydia (Joyce) Goffe, of Cambridge, Mass. Shewas born in England and died Dec. 11, 1715, in Malden, Inthe will of Mrs. Margaret Witchfield, of Windsor, Conn.,made in Cambridge, Mass., proved Oct. 5, 1669, thechildren, 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 early townmeetings were held at his house; belonged to the militia inMalden, advancing from ensign to captain, was with MajorWillard in 1676; served in King Philip's War among othersin those dark days. He was known as Captain John Sprague.He bought the Ell Pond farm from his brothers Richard andSamuel in 1652, (Richard's part being sixty-seven acres oftillage land), which he bequeathed to his two sons, Johnand Phineas. He owned many parcels of real estate asrecorded by "Wyman" and among them was four acres near thetop of Bunker Hill. His estate settlement MiddlesexProbate Court No. 16068, mentions Lydia, his wife, and sonsJohn, Phineas, Samuel, Edward, Jonathan, and daughtersLydia Greenland, Hannah Stowers, Deborah Sprague, and SarahFosdick. March 2, 1651, he married Lydia, dau. of Edwardand 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, Dorset, 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, , Dorset, 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. John Spraguewas baptized at St George 23 May 1624 and Jonathan on 27November 1625. John died in 1692 and is buried in Bell Rock Cemetery,Malden, MA, with about 30 other Spragues. Some researchers(Sprague database, familysearch, IGI, and Michael Russell,OPC, who wrote "Pilgrims from Fordington The Sprague FamilyFrom Fullers to Founding Fathers") say Jonathan died in1650 in Malden. Copy-cat "research?" Access to first-handdocuments I haven't found? I don't know. In any case,Jonathan has no headstone at Bell Rock Cemetery, and nonein Massachusetts that I could find on findagrave. There isone Sprague headstone at Bell Rock with only the surname;that might or might not be Jonathan, but we don't know.Further research is needed. Watkins' noting "no latermention" of Jonathan and speculating that he might havedied in childhood is somewhat misleading. Existing StGeorge parish records do not mention Jonathan after hisbaptism; however, the 1626 records were very badly waterdamaged and the 1629 records are 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		Born - 23 May 1624 - Saint George, Fordington, Dorchester, , Dorset, England Christened - 23 May 1624 - Saint George, Fordington, Dorchester, , Dorset, England 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.