| Notes |
- "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 and warehouses 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, Richard, and William Sprague, says they were "the founders of the settlement in this place," and "were persons of character, substance 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.)
"The Ralph Sprague Genealogy", by E. G. Sprague, page 27 In the year in which Richard came to America, the first meeting of the settlers of the town of Charlestown was recorded and his name with his brothers Ralph and William stood at the head of the list. Took the Freeman's Oath May 18, 1631. In an agreement entered into February 10, 1634, for the first government of the town by a body of selectmen, were appended thirty-three names and theirs again appeared. He was mentioned among "some of the cheif" of the one hundred fifty-one members in 1632 who joined in full communion with the Charlestown church when it was separately organized. It appeared in the church record as "Richard, Mary, Sprague," the names of husband and wife being written as one name. He became a member of the Honorable Artillery Company in the year 1638, which company received its charter in that year and was composed of members of different towns in the colony. The General Court granted him one hundred acres of land in 1639 significantly adding as the reason of its vote "haveing borne difficulties in the beginning." For several years he was selectman, and from 1659-1666 he was deputy to General Court. His occupation was merchant. He followed the sea, however, as he was captain of the pink Consent for a time; owned several vessels and was in trade with Barbadoes. He accumulated a large property by grant and purchase as his possessions showed; thirteen lots of real 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 Alice Lord, to Harvard College, and to the poor of Charlestown, etc. [2]
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