Francis Sprague
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Francis Sprague, whose ancestry is unknown (or not traced here), was born at England, about 1600.1 He died at Duxbury, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts, about 1670.1
Francis had two wives, both unknown. He married the first, before 1614;1,2 he married the second before 1630.3
Francis Sprague came to Plymouth on the Anne in July 1623. He shared in the division of land in 1623, and in the division of cattle in 1627, at which time he gave the names of his children as Ann and Marcy. In July 1627 he signed an agreement with William Bradford and others pertaining to the carrying on of the fur trade. He was taxed 1623/3 at Plymouth but shortly after settled at Duxbury. He was made Freeman of Plymouth Colony 17 Jun 1637 and was licensed to sell spirituous liquors; his liscense was suspended in 1640, but renewed in 1646. In 1641 he is listed as owning land on North River. In 1644 he deeded land to his son-in-law William Lawrence, and in the same year became a proprietor of Bridgewater, but never lived there. In 1659 he deeded land to his son-in-law Ralph Earle of Rhode Island. He continued to keep the land until 1666 and died within a year or so as his son succeeded him in the business.
Plymouth Colony Deeds: Francis Sprague of Duxbury, planter, gives to son John Sprague, dwelling house in Duxbury but he is not to enter into possession theeof until after the decease of his father, the said Francis Sprague. 27 Apr 1661.
"Francis Sprague of the Towne of Duxborrow in the Jurisdiction of Plymouth . . . planter . . . doth . . . give . . . . unto his son-in-law Ralph Earle of Road Iland in the Jurisdiction Providence plantation; the one halfe of all his share . . . of land . . . at the places Commonly Called by the Indians by the Names of Coaksett and Acushena." 15 Oct 1659.
1654. "These prsents Witnesseth that William Tubbs with the free consent of Mercye his wife hath sold unto Experience Michell . . . his now dwelling house," etc. 29 Nov 1653.
2 Jan 1637/8 he was presented for beating William alloway, erstwhile servant to William Bassett.
In 1650 he became a constable for Duxbury.
He was listed in the 29 May 1670 list of Duxbury freemen, but his name was crossed out, and is shown to be dead by 2 Mar 1679/80.
His two wives are unknown. Although Holman calls her Lydia, there's no source for that information. Neither Stratton nor Anderson mention this possiblity or Holman's assertion. There is some question as to whether Anna in the 1627 division of cattle is a wife or daughter. Anderson concludes she is likely a daughter, and later wife of William Lawrence. We leave it as Anderson suggests, two wives, both unknown.1,4,5
Francis had two wives, both unknown. He married the first, before 1614;1,2 he married the second before 1630.3
Francis Sprague came to Plymouth on the Anne in July 1623. He shared in the division of land in 1623, and in the division of cattle in 1627, at which time he gave the names of his children as Ann and Marcy. In July 1627 he signed an agreement with William Bradford and others pertaining to the carrying on of the fur trade. He was taxed 1623/3 at Plymouth but shortly after settled at Duxbury. He was made Freeman of Plymouth Colony 17 Jun 1637 and was licensed to sell spirituous liquors; his liscense was suspended in 1640, but renewed in 1646. In 1641 he is listed as owning land on North River. In 1644 he deeded land to his son-in-law William Lawrence, and in the same year became a proprietor of Bridgewater, but never lived there. In 1659 he deeded land to his son-in-law Ralph Earle of Rhode Island. He continued to keep the land until 1666 and died within a year or so as his son succeeded him in the business.
Plymouth Colony Deeds: Francis Sprague of Duxbury, planter, gives to son John Sprague, dwelling house in Duxbury but he is not to enter into possession theeof until after the decease of his father, the said Francis Sprague. 27 Apr 1661.
"Francis Sprague of the Towne of Duxborrow in the Jurisdiction of Plymouth . . . planter . . . doth . . . give . . . . unto his son-in-law Ralph Earle of Road Iland in the Jurisdiction Providence plantation; the one halfe of all his share . . . of land . . . at the places Commonly Called by the Indians by the Names of Coaksett and Acushena." 15 Oct 1659.
1654. "These prsents Witnesseth that William Tubbs with the free consent of Mercye his wife hath sold unto Experience Michell . . . his now dwelling house," etc. 29 Nov 1653.
2 Jan 1637/8 he was presented for beating William alloway, erstwhile servant to William Bassett.
In 1650 he became a constable for Duxbury.
He was listed in the 29 May 1670 list of Duxbury freemen, but his name was crossed out, and is shown to be dead by 2 Mar 1679/80.
His two wives are unknown. Although Holman calls her Lydia, there's no source for that information. Neither Stratton nor Anderson mention this possiblity or Holman's assertion. There is some question as to whether Anna in the 1627 division of cattle is a wife or daughter. Anderson concludes she is likely a daughter, and later wife of William Lawrence. We leave it as Anderson suggests, two wives, both unknown.1,4,5
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| This person was last edited on | 30 Jan 2018 |
Citations
- [S676] Robert Charles Anderson, The Pilgrim Migration: Immigrants to Plymouth Colony: 1620-1633 (Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004), 447-450, further cited as Anderson, The Pilgrim Migration.
- [S1872] Clarence Almon Torrey, New England Marriages Prior to 1700, 3 vols. (Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011), 1425, further cited as Torrey, New England Marriages (2011).
- [S676] Anderson, The Pilgrim Migration, 449.
- [S85] Mary Lovering Holman, The Scott Genealogy (Boston, Massachusetts: Harriett Grace Scott, 1919), 241, further cited as Holman, Scott Genealogy.
- [S86] Eugene Aubrey Stratton, Plymouth Colony: Its History & People 1620-1691 (Salt Lake City, Utah: Ancestry, 1986), 357, 417, 423, further cited as Stratton, Plymouth Colony.