| Notes |
- "Supplement to Sprague Families in America", by Dr. Warren Vincent Sprague, page 189. Abiel Sprague, Jr., resided at Scarborough, Machias, Calais, and Baileyville, ME. In 1800 at Baileyville, he and his wife were over 45 years of age. She is mentioned as "Widow Sprague" in Baileyville, in the 1820 census. In the Revolutionary War, he served as private in Capt. Joseph Sevey's Co., Col. Benjamin Foster's regiment; entered service August 13, 1777, discharged August 28, 1777; service 15 days; Company served at Machias when British ships lay in that harbor, until relieved by Col. John Allen's forces. Statement by Capt. Ephraim Chase. Taking of Ichabod Jones' Ship. Abiel Sprague on committee appointed by committee of Safety to carry the prisoners to Cambridge and deliver to George Washington. (History of Machias) Early in 1779, Abial, James, and Moses Sprague, together with Joel Benney removed with their families from Machias to the eastern shore of Grand Manan Island where Bonney's Brook now is. They made some improvements. The island was uninhabited except for Indians who objected to them encroaching on their hunting grounds. On June 4, 1779, at the request of the Indians, the authorities at Machias dispatched a letter to Abiel and James Sprage and Joel Bonney, urging them to quit the island without delay as the Indians were much agitated and threatening. After receiving this notification, a confreence was held with the Indians at Passamaquoddy. The latter agreed to let them remain and winter on the island on condition of their paying ten dollars each to the Indians. In the spring of 1780, they moved over to Passamaquoddy where Bonney had lived some years before. March 29, 1784, Bonney received a grant of land at Digdequash, NB. Bonney River received its name from him. He was an ardent Loyalist and remained in NB several years, then moved to Portland, ME. Jonas Dyer, Abiel and James Sprague came from Machias in 1781 and settled in Calais, a town about 15 mile long on the St. Croix River. Dyer built the first framed house in the town. September 1, 1792, Abiel bought 40 acres and also received 100 acres due him as a settler. Theis he disposed of May 21, 1795. Mathew Sprague signed the deed with him. Abiel and James were interested in the lumber trade. On March 29, 1784, they with others were granted 15,200 acres on the upper waters of Digdequash River in NB. Most of the settlers in Calais came from Machias. The valuable timber lands and convenient water power were the attractions which brought them there. In 1792, the mill privilege at the mouth of Dennis Stream in Charlotte Co., NB was granted to a company of which Jonas Dyer and Ebial (Abial) Sprague were members. Loyalist refugees were settling in considerable numbers on the Canadian side of the St. Croix and other parts of the Dominion, creating a brisk trade in the lumber business. In 1788, Abiel and James Sprague of Calias had accounts at the store of Joseph Porter of Calias. In 1795, Abiel and Eli Sprague gave a bill of sale to Samuel Millberry for 3/8 of a sawmill situated on the St. Croix River. Abiel moved up the river from Calias and was the first settler at Sprague's Falls. This was a town of log houses which later completely disappeared. Woodland now occupies the site. After the Spragues came, a family of Baileys settled on the hill back from the river. This was the beginning of Baileyville.
From Sherie Sprague Winslow. Abiel moved to Machias in 1763 with his father. Also, he was a member of the group which boarded the British sloop "Margaretta" (REF: Spragues Journal of Maine) and captured two additional British schooners on 6/12/1775. In the Revolutionary War, he served as Private in Capt. Joseph Sevey's Company, Col. Benjamin Foster's Regiment. He served at Machias when British ships lay in the harbor. (REF: Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution, Volume XIV, page 749). He was on the committee appointed by Committee of Safety to escort prisoners to Cambridge. (REF: History of Machias by George W. Driskor.). In 1779, he moved ot Grand Manan Island, with brother James and Joel bonney. He moved away at the request of the Indians. He moved from Machias to Calais in 1781. He was active in the lumber trade. Was granted, along with brother James, 15,200 acres on the Digdequash River in New Brunswick in 1784. On September 1, 1792, he bought 40 acres and received an additional 100 acres due him as a settler. He was the first settler at Sprague's Falls in 1794, later named Baileyville, then Woodland. He came as a member of the survey crew of Samuel Titcomb. The Abiel Sprague line has been researched by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
"A Genealogy of the Spragues of Baileyville, ME: A Revision of the Spragues in the History of Early Baileyville", by Dr. Albert W. Bailey, page 4. Abial-2, Jr. came with his father to Machias in 1763. He served in American Revolution in the Battle of the Margaretta and on various committees. On May 20, 1774, Abial-2, Jr., was appointed administrator of his father's estate.
From Sande Prudhomme, correspondent. Abiel Sprague served for 15 days in the Revolution as a sailor, keeping the English from landing in the ME/NB area. In 1777 Lumberman by trade. He and sons and several others moved back and forth between ME and NB, owning sawmills and living among the Indians.
From Helen Gibson, correspondent, note of August 9th, 2002 from the Grantbook Database:
SPRAGUE, ABIEL
Volume: A, page 304, Grant number 133
Original province of registration: Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia registration date: 1784/03/29
New Brunswick registration date: -----
Accompanying plan: No
Acreage: 300 acres
Place and County: DIGDIGUASH, PASSAMAQUODDY BAY,
Sunbury County
From Helen Gibson, correspondent, note of October 15th, 2006
Daniel F. Johnson : Volume 86 Number 816
Rank 72
Date January 26, 1893
County Charlotte
Place Saint Stephen
Newspaper Saint Croix Courier Glimpses of the Past (by Rev. W.O. Raymond) - In 1779 or the following year, there were nine persons settled on the present site of St. Stephen - James FROST and Jeremiah FROST, Benjamin GETCHELL, Samuel MILBERRY, Samuel LIBBY, Jacob LIBBY and Eben LIBBY, John ROLFE and Dr. McDONALD. On the opposite side of the river (soon after known as Plantation No. 5, now the city of Calais) three more had made their homes - William SWAIN, David FERROL and Daniel HILL. The latter were joined a year or two later by Samuel HILL, Jones DYER, Abiel SPRAGUE, James SPRAGUE and others; and at the time of the landing of the Loyalists there were perhaps 15 or 20 families living in log houses on both sides of the Schoodic, at or near the head of the tide waters and within the present limits of the three towns. Most of these settlers had come from Machias and the valuable timber lands and convenient water power were the attractions which brought them here. They built at saw mill at the mouth of Dennis Stream which now forms the eastern boundary of the town of St. Stephen and there began, under the most unfavorable circumstances the lumber trade of the St. Croix. They found their principal market probably in the Annapolis valley and other parts of Nova Scotia where Loyalist refugess were already beginning to settle in considerable numbers. The owners of the first mill are said to have been Daniel HILL, Jacob LIBBY and Jeremiah FROST. It does not appear that any effort was made at the time to obtain a grant of the mill privilege or establish a legal claim to their land. In 1792 the mill privilege at the mouth of the stream was granted to a company, in which Jacob and Eben Libby, Jones Dyer and Abiel Sprague and also James CHAFFEY of Indian Island with others who were later comers. Another mill privilege adjoining this was granted to John CURRY, James CHAFFEY and Sarah FROST, the latter, the widow of Jeremiah Frost, holding six of the eight shares. Of the persons above named, James and Jeremiah Frost were probably the first to come. We know little more about them except that Jeremiah came to Passamaquoddy in 1770. Swain and Ferrol were also here before the coming of the Machias men. Swain's home stood near to where the pumping station of the water works stands today, not far from the Calais end of the upper bridge in Milltown. The site of Perrol's house is somewhere near the railway station in Calais. Tradition says that Daniel Hill and his family came from Machias in 1779. He settled on what is now the Calais side of the river, his house and clearing being on that point of land opposite the Cove, hence called Hill's Point for many years - now Ferry's Point. In 1779 or 1780 the company which included Benjamin Getchell and his family and Samuel Libby and his sons, came from Machias to St. Stephen. They are said to have made their way through the woods, guided by two Indians named DENNY and SEBATIS. Coming out back of the Maguerawaak mountain, they crossed the river at Stillwater, where now stands the town of Milltown. There they wished to settle, but they were prevented by the Indians, who had a camping ground and a burial place there; and claimed the land as belonging to their tribe. They next made choice of the ridge opposite the Fishing Falls, and, with their cattle and other effects, which they had brought across the river on a raft, they came down and took possession. It is known that at the time there were five settlers here - probably the two Frosts, Swain, Ferrol and Hill. Benjamin Getchell built his house where the residence of Mrs. W.T. ROSE now stands. We have little information concerning him, except that he had settled at Machias some time before the close of 1769 and had married Mehitable MESERVE. His eldest son, Jonas GETCHELL was born about 1776, probably in Machias and his second son, Samuel GETCHELL about 1779. Samuel Libby was born at Rye, N.H. and was about 60 years of age when he came from Machias to Schoodic. He died of small pox not many years after his arrival. Jacob Libby, his eldest son, was born in Epsom, N.H. He accompanied his father to Machias about 1765 and was about 32 years old when they came to Schoodic. He also died of small pox in 1805. His house was at the Cove (afterwards called Libby's Cove) on the hillside, a little to the north of where the Cove School now stands. Eben Libby, a half brother of Jacob, when he wished to build a house for himself, perhaps some two or three years later, chose a spot futher down the river where a little brook came out of the forest. The St. Stephen Bank building stands upon the spot today. Eben was but four years old when his father moved to Machias and 19 when they came to this place. His eldest son, Samuel, was the first child born in St. Stephen. Samuel Hill came from Machias about 1780, Jonas Dyer and James and Abiel Sprague in 1781. They settled on the southern side of the river. Dyer built the first framed house in what is now the city of Calais. Among those who came later was Robinson CROCKER who had been engaged in privateering. His house was on the river bank, directly in front of Eben Libby's. He afterwards occupied land farther down the river, including the little island which still bears the bname of Crocker's Island. Of the other pre-Loyalist settlers at Schoodic very little is known, excepting their names and it is possible that some of those are now forgotten. [5]
|
1742 - 1817
Home
Search - Deceased only
Print
Add Bookmark
[2] 
Find
Surnames
Bookmarks
Places
Dates - Turned off
Cemeteries
Search - Deceased only
Photos
Documents - Empty
Histories
Recordings - Empty
Videos - Empty
Albums - Empty
All Media
What's New
Most Wanted
Reports
Statistics
Notes
Sources
Repositories
Contact Us
Individual
Ancestors
Descendants
Relationship
Timeline
Suggest