SPRAGUE FAMILY

SEVENTH GENERATION

Jerusha Nutt Sprague, my GGGG Grandmother, was born on 5 Dec 1798 in Stratton, Windham Co., VT. She married Nahum Pike, 21 Aug 1814, Stratton, Windham Co., VT. They lived in Westboro, Worcester, MA.
The following material is taken from the Sprague database which is one of the best and most comprehensive family sites on the web.

SIXTH GENERATION

Hasey Floyd Sprague was born on 1 Nov 1765 in Athol, Worcester Co., MA. He was baptized on 3 Nov 1765.
"The Ralph Sprague Genealogy", by E. G. Sprague, page 72.
Hasey Floyd Sprague was baptised as Asa Flood. He died in 1844 in Stratton, Windham Co., VT.
"The Ralph Sprague Genealogy", by E. G. Sprague, page 98.
Hasey Floyd Sprague lived at the time of his marriage in Gerry, MA. In 1795, he moved to Stratton, VT, where he acquired several parcels of real estate. His home place was in Stratton Gore and was known as "Sprague Hill". He deeded land to his son, Joshua in 1818 and in 1825 to his son, Israel.

He was married to Mary Newhall on 8 May 1788 in Athol, Worcester Co., MA.Mary Newhall was born on 28 Jun 1768, the daughter of Hiram Newhall and Mary Seaver. She died on 5 Jun 1838. Hasey Floyd Sprague and Mary Newhall had the following children:

i. Joshua Sprague was born on 31 Jan 1791 in
         Phillipston, Worcester Co., MA. He died on 10 Nov 1862
         in North Adams, Berkshire Co., MA. Joshua Sprague carried
         on farms, in Stratton until 1829 and Wardsboro
         until 1836 when he moved to North Adams, MA
         and became a carpenter and builder.
         He was married to Betsy Cummings on 1 Jan 1815
         in Wardsboro, Windham Co., VT.

ii. Seaver Sprague was born on 26 July 1793 in
           Phillipston, Worcester Co., MA.
iii. Lucy Sprague was born on 5 Nov 1795 in Athol,
           Worcester Co., MA. She was married to David Grant on
           15 Nov 1818 in Stratton, Windham Co., VT.
iv. Jerusha Nutt Sprague was born on 5 Dec 1798 in
           Stratton, Windham Co., VT.
v. Israel Sprague was born on 12 Nov 1801 in
          Stratton, Windham Co., VT. He died on 20 Mar 1863
          in Brattleboro, Windham Co., VT
vi. Hiram Sprague was born on 7 Sept 1806 in
           Stratton, Windham Co., VT.

FIFTH GENERATION

Israel Sprague was born on 13 Oct 1741 in Malden, Middlesex Co., MA.He was born on 19 Oct 1741 in MA. He died on 21 Nov 1823 in Phillipston, Worcester Co., MA.
"The Ralph Sprague Genealogy", by E. G. Sprague, page 72.
Israel Sprague died intestate. He served in the military in Revolutionary War. He resided in Gerry, ? Co., MA. He resided in Athol, Worcester Co., MA.
"The Ralph Sprague Genealogy", by E. G. Sprague, page 72.
William Sprague, a cousin of Israel Sprague deeded him a farm for $1,200 in Phillipston, Mass., September 10, 1821.

He was married to Phoebe Hasey (Harvey) (daughter of Samuel Hasey and Sarah Upham) on 25 Mar 1762 in Leicester, Worcester Co., MA. Phoebe Hasey (Harvey) was born about 1721. She died on 13 Jun 1782 in Athol, Worcester Co., MA. Israel Sprague and Phoebe Hasey (Harvey) had the following children:

i. Dorothy Sprague was born on 16 Dec 1762 in Athol,
Worcester Co., MA. She died on 4 May 1844 in Athol,
Worcester Co., MA.
ii. Hasey Floyd Sprague
iii. Esther Sprague

He was married to Ruth Learned (daughter of Moses Larned and Ruth Hill) on 16 Jan 1783 Ruth Learned was born about 1756. She died on 27 Feb 1813.She resided in Templeton, Worcester Co., MA. Israel Sprague and Ruth Learned had the following children:

i. Israel Sprague was born on 21 Sept 1784. He died
           on 23 May 1795.
ii. Ruth Sprague was born before 22 June 1789 in
            Phillipston, Worcester Co., MA. She was baptized on
           22 June 1789 in Phillipston, Worcester Co., MA.
iii. A child Sprague was born on 5 May 1790 in
             Phillipston, Worcester Co., MA. He (or she) died
             on 5 May 1790 in Phillipston, Worcester Co., MA.
iv. William Sprague

FOURTH GENERATION

William Sprague was born on 4 Sept 1695 in Mystic Side in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., MA.He died on 21 Nov 1747 in Malden, Middlesex Co., MA.
"Malden Burying Ground", October 1855, page 326.
"by him four of his children."

"American Families--Genealogies and Biographical Information from Most Authentic Sources Including Much Valuable Material Drawn from Hitherto Unpublished Family Records with Accurate Reproduction--and Descriptions of Ancient Emblazonry Compiled by Masters of Genealogic and Heraldic Science", published by The American Historical Society, Inc., New York, 1921, pages 30-40.
William Sprague, in 1721, was constable of Malden. "May 21, 1728, William and Dorothy, his wife, conveyed to the town of Malden by a deed of gift a certain piece of land purely and entirely for the building [p. 36] and placing a new meeting house." He was a very devout man, very active in church matters and had considerable influence over what disposition should be made of the income of the ministerial lands of the town. He was a farmer, lived in Malden, and died intestate Nov. 21, 1747.

He was married to Dorothy Floyd (daughter of Joseph Floyd and Elizabeth Potter) on 1 Jan 1717/18. Dorothy Floyd was born on 29 Oct 1699.She died after 25 Nov 1775. She signed a will 11251775. William Sprague and Dorothy Floyd had the following children:

i. Mary Sprague
iii. Joseph Sprague
iv. Nathan Sprague was born on 24 Oct 1724. He died
             on 2 Sep 1749.
v. John Sprague was born on 29 Sep 1728. He died on
          2 Sep 1747. He was buried in Medford, Middlesex Co., MA.
vi. Elizabeth Sprague
vii. Dorothy Sprague was born on 6 Feb 1737/38.
            She died on 20 Feb 1737/38.
viii. Jonathan Sprague
ix. Israel Sprague

THIRD GENERATION

Captain Edward Sprague was born on 9 Mar 1662/63 in Malden, Middlesex Co., MA. He died between 13 Apr 1715 and 14 Nov 1715 in Malden, Middlesex Co., MA.
"The Genealogical Register", July 1954, page 227.
Edward Sprague was a member of the General Court in 1696 and 1703 and was a captain in the Militia.

"American Families--Genealogies and Biographical Information from Most Authentic Sources Including Much Valuable Material Drawn from Hitherto Unpublished Family Records with Accurate Reproduction--and Descriptions of Ancient Emblazonry Compiled by Masters of Genealogic and Heraldic Science", published by The American Historical Society, Inc., New York, 1921, pages 30-40.
Edward Sprague was a miller by trade, owned a corn mill situated on the three mile brook near Ell Pond, and became an important factor in the life of this new and growing community. The power which supplied the mill was secured by raising Spot Pond nine feet by a dam, and became the center of strife and cause of lawsuits which have continued to the present generations. He was for many years a tithing man, whose duty it was to watch over moral welfare of a special charge, preserve order in the meeting house and enforce the general observance of the Lord's Day. He was chosen town treasurer, Mar. 9, 1695-6, which is the first record of a Malden town treasurer. In 1698 he was constable, was selectman in 1699, 1703, 1704, 1710, and again at the time of his death, 1715, on April 14 (one month after the election). He represented the town in the General Assembly in 1696 and in 1703. At the time of his death he was Captain of the Malden militia. Middlesex Probates Documents No. 15060, mention wife, Dorothy Sprague, son William, "farmer;" Timothy, "miller;" Ebenezer, "miller;" Hezekiah, "blacksmith;" and daughters Dorothy, Ann, Jemima, Lydia, and Phoebe. William Sargent, of Malden was guardian for Hezekiah during his minority. In 1727 Hezekiah and Ebenezer were both living in Groton. His widow died March 29, 1727, aged fifty-seven years, "and was the only wife of said Sprague."

He was married to Dorothy Lane (daughter of John (Job) Lane and Hannah Reynor) on 14 Nov 1693 in Malden, Middlesex Co., MA. Dorothy Lane was born on 24 Jul 1669 in Billerica, Middlesex Co., MA. She died on 29 Mar 1727 in Malden, Middlesex Co., MA. Capt. Edward Sprague and Dorothy Lane had the following children:

i. William Sprague
ii. Anna Sprague
iii. Dorothy Sprague was born on 9 Sep 1698.
           "The Ralph Sprague Genealogy", by E. G. Sprague,
            page 40. Dorothy Sprague resided with her brother,
           Timothy. She did not marry.
iv. Timothy Sprague
v. Ebenezer Sprague
vi. Jemima Sprague
vii. Lydia Sprague was born on 26 Apr 1705. She died
              on 8 Dec 1766."The Ralph Sprague Genealogy",
             by E. G. Sprague, page 40. Lydia Sprague did
             not marry. She was housekeeper for her brother,
             Timothy, most of her life.
viii. Hezekiah sprague
ix. Phoebe Sprague

SECOND GENERATION

Captain John Sprague was born on 23 May 1624 in Fordington, St. George, Dorset, England.He was christened on 23 May 1624 in Fordington, St. George, Dorset, England. He died on 24 Jun 1692 in Malden, Middlesex Co., MA.
"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 Walter Chamberlain, page 83.
Capt. John Sprague died at Malden, 25 June, 1692, aged 68.
"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 following in his father's footsteps, concerning himself with the community and building up various enterprises. England at that time was recovering from the Civil War, and Cromwell had become Protector. Religion and the unsettled estate had encouraged more and more families to look to New England for a better way of life. In 1651 John married Lydia Goffe. Like John, she too had been born in England, and travelled to New England with her father arriving in 1635.
In 1653 John was made Freeman of the Massachusetts Colony and later appointed to be one of a committee of three to lay 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 was commissioned Captain and remained with the Foot Company of Malden from 1685-89. During his lifetime he was also chosen Selectman for Malden, then Representative in the General Court 1685-89 and Moderator and Clerk of the Writs in 1687. John and Lydia lived in a property known as Pound Farm, Malden (now Melrose). The house stood near Barrett's Mound on the southerly side of Maple Street. They had ten children: John, Lydia, Jonathan (born 1656) Samuel, Mary, Edward, Phineas, Deborah, Hannah and Sarah. It is thought that Mary died in infancy. Captain John as he was known, had a long life and was a much respected citizen. He died in 1692 and was buried in the Bell Rock Cemetery.
(NOTE: continued in Capt. John's second son's notes for Jonathan Sprague.)

"The Genealogical Register", July 1954, page 227.
Capt. John Sprague was a member of the General Court from 1689 to 1691. He served with Major Simon Willard in King Philip's War.

"American Families--Genealogies and Biographical Information from Most Authentic Sources Including Much Valuable Material Drawn from Hitherto Unpublished Family Records with Accurate Reproduction--and Descriptions of Ancient Emblazonry Compiled by Masters of Genealogic and Heraldic Science", published by The American Historical Society, Inc., New York, 1921, pages 30-40.
John Sprague was 14 years old when he came to America, took the freeman's oath May 18, 1653, was tall of stature, and of fine appearance. He succeeded his father in his homestead, and was engaged in shipping foreign trade with his Uncle Richard. In 1689-91, he was representative to the General Court, and was selectman of the town many years. Some of the early town meetings were held at his house. He belonged to the militia in Malden, advancing from ensign to captain; was with Major Willard in 1676; served in King Philip's War. He was known as Captain John Sprague. In 1652 he bought the Ell Pond farm from his brothers Richard and Samuel (Richard's part being sixty-seven acres of tillage land), which he bequeathed to his two sons John and Phineas. He owned many parcels of real estate as recorded by "Wyman", and among them were four acres near the top of Bunker Hill. His estate settlement (Middlesex Probate Court No. 16068) mentions Lydia, 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 in England and died Dec. 11, 1715, in Malden, In the will of Mrs. Margaret Witchfield, of Windsor, Conn., made in Cambridge, Mass., proved Oct. 5, 1669, the children, John and Lydia, were each given five pounds.

He was married to Lydia Goffe (daughter of Edward Goffe and Lydia (Joyce) Cutter) on 2 May 1651 in Malden, Middlesex Co., MA. Lydia Goffe was born about 1628 in England. She died on 11 Nov 1715 in Malden, Middlesex Co., MA.Capt. John Sprague and Lydia Goffe had the following children:

i. John Sprague
ii.Lydia Sprague
iii. Jonathan Sprague
iv. Samuel Sprague, Sr.
v. Mary Sprague was born on 13 Feb 1660/61. She died before
          31 May 692. "The Spragues of Malden, Mass.",
         by George Walter Chamberlain, page 83.
         Mary Sprague is not mentioned in her father's will,
         dated May 31, 1692.
vi. Captain Edward Sprague
vii. Phineas Sprague
viii. Deborah Sprague
x. Sarah Sprague

FIRST GENERATION

#02 Lt. Ralph Sprague was born about 1599 in Upwey, County Dorset, England. He was christened on 20 Jun 1599 in Upwey, County Dorset, England. He died on 24 Nov 1650 in Malden, Middlesex Co., MA.
"The Sprague Family from Dorset, To Massachusetts & Gibraltar", by Joan Watkins, 1992, correspondent.
(NOTE: continued from notes for his father, Edward Sprague.)
Soon after the death of her father Alice married Richard Eames and moved to the Dorchester area to live near Puddletown. Ralph followed and went to Fordington. It is thought that being still in his teens, he was apprenticed to his grandfather Tristram's mill, thus easing the burden on his mother in Upwey.
In 1623 he married Joanna Warren whose father Thomas Warren was thought to have lived in the Manor House at Fordington. In 1624 their first son John was born and baptised in the Church of Fordington St. George. Jonathan followed in 1625, (although there is no later mention of Jonathan it could be that he died in childhood.)
Religion in England was still going through a very discordant time, especially when King Charles I ascended the throne in 1623 and married a Catholic French Princess. The town of Dorchester was also experiencing hard times as a result of two devastating fires in 1613 and again in 1622. The prosperity of West Country began to wane too. The taste in clothing and textiles were changing. The King and his entourage were demanding finer woven woolens, silks and cotton, none of which were available locally and had to be imported from the Continent. Added to this there were years of poor harvests and great cold in the winters, with the rural population suffering many hardships and becoming restive by lack of employment and near starvation.
Meanwhile, a forceful Puritan Cleric, Rev. John White began to play a significant part in Ralph Sprague's future. As early as 1606 the Rev. white was appointed Rector of two churches in Dorchester. The Holy Trinity and St. Peters. This Patriarch, as he became known, with his great energy and religious zeal, spread his strong Puritan influence gradually throughout the County and in fact assumed the role of Religious Leader to the West Country. At the same time he endeavored to maintain his loyalty to the Church of England, but dedicated his life to the service of Almighty God with a simplicity of lifestyle and strong convictions.
The Rev. White became very interested, when in 1623 a religious body by the name of 'Pilgrim Fathers' organised an expedition and set sail from Plymouth for "New England". He began to look towards this new country as a place to further his own religious ambitions. The change in fortunes in Dorset and the West Country as a whole played a large part in his campaign. He tried to organise a Charter to colonise the area known as Massachusetts. In order to obtain financial backing, he had to battle against City Magnates and well-to-do personalities who themselves had begun to see the great possibilities of wealth and trade, as opposed to those of a purely religious nature. He had a few abortive attempts.
Eventually he succeeded and the Company of New England was formed. According to Francis Higginson's diary written at the time, the following is an extract: "The Company of New England consisted of many worthy gentlemen of the City of London, Dorchester and other places, aiming at the glory of God, the propagation of the Gospel of Christ, the conversion of the Indians and the enlargement of the King's Majesty's dominions in America, and being authorised by his Royal Letters Patent for that, and at their very great costs and charge furnished five ships to go to New England for the further settling of the English Plantations that had begun in 1628". The five ships were "Talbot", "George", "Lyon's Whelp", "Four Sisters", and "Mayflower".
The year was 1629, Ralph was about 29 and a great friend of the Rev. John White. Somehow he was persuaded to uproot his family and join this scheme. According to records, Ralph, his wife Joanna and son John (aged about 4) together with his brothers Richard and William (only 19) agreed to join and set sail it is thought on the "Lyon's Whelp".
What impelled the Spragues to make this great decision to leave England can only be conjecture. being friends of the Patriarch John White, the underlying motive must have been religion. It was a mammoth undertaking, fraught with dangers but the overwhelming desire was to search for a land where the true principles of faith and morality could be practised, which was proving difficult in England. Added to this there must have been a great spirit of adventure in an age of increasing discoveries. A hope too of gaining a better way of life than they could enjoy in Dorset. Their courage to face such a voyage with a young family must have been daunting.
They were bolstered and encouraged by Ministers saying they would find honour and glory in the works of the Almighty God beyond the seas. It was thus they embarked on the "Lyon's Whelp" in 1629. Ralph's younger brother Edward remained at Upwey with his Mother Christian, who later married John Corben.
To quote further from Francis Higginson's Diary, he writes: "The Lyon's Whelp" was a neat and nimble ship of 120 tons, eight pieces of ordinances carrying in her many mariners and forty planters specially from Dorchester an thereabouts with provision and 4 goats. On 10th May 1629 the ship was in the port of Yarmouth, Isle of Wight ... Monday morning 11th May blew a fair wind from east southeast, the Lyon's Whelp having taken in all her provisions for passengers about three o'clock in the afternoon we hoisted sail and ... by God's guidance safely passed the narrow passage (the Needles) and entered into the sea....".
On 11th June they reached the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. Here they encountered frightening mountains of ice in the sea. Towards night came a thick fog and the "Lyon's Whelp" became lost and spent many hours the next day trying to locate the other ships in their company. They continued to experience fogs and difficulties for more than two weeks until 19th June when Mr. Higginson writes: "This day by God's blessing and the directions (from Pilots) we passed the curious and difficult entrance into the large spacious harbour of Naimkecke." (Which became known as Salem.)
The landing and uploading of the ships took many days but when complete the Spragues together with several compatriots, by joint consent and approbation of Mr. John Endicott, the Governor who had arrived in 1628, they undertook to travel on further afield westwards. For days they explored the uncouth wilderness in search of a suitable site. Eventually they came to the Charles River, where on the North side was a fertile neck of land full of stately timber, bounded on the East by the Mystic River. the surrounding countryside was inhabited by Indians called Aborigians. Their old Sachem (Chief) being recently dead, his eldest son called John Sagamore had taken over. He was a man of gentle and good disposition by whose free consent the Spragues and their compatriots were permitted to settle about the hill (called Mishawum) by the natives.
According to the New England Charter the records read: "It was jointly agreed and concluded that this place on the north side of the Charles River be called Charlestown .... Mr. Graves, (an Engineer employed by the New England Company" do model and lay out the form of the Town and streets abut the hill. It is jointly agreed that each inhabitant have a two acre plot to plant upon and to fence in common... upon which Ralph Sprague and others began to build their houses and to prepare fencing for their lots which afterwards set up almost in a semicircular form on the South and southeast side of the field laid out to them, which lies situate on the northwest of the town hill."
It is thus that the Spragues and others founded the beginnings of Charlestown, which developed in the future years to include such places as Malden, Woburn, Stoneham, Hurlington, Somerville, a large part of Medford, a small part of Cambridge, West Cambridge, and Reading. The Charlestown of today however is not quite so extensive.
In addition to building their own homes, a "Great House" had to be erected on the directions of Mr. Graves on the south eastern slope of the hill for governor Winthrop and his associates who were due to arrive in 1630. The Great House was also to serve as a Meeting House for the first few years.
Their first months in Charlestown was spent in clearing lands, felling trees in order to build the homes. There had not been much time to plant crops and the icy blasts of winter came before they were totally prepared. That winter of 1629/30 was particularly severe in a climate none of them had ever experienced before. They became short of provisions and suffered great hardships.
In the Spring of 1630 there was a conspiracy among the Indians who planned to cut off the English. The faithful Sagamore however revealed the Indian plot an so all the people of Charlestown agreed to make a small fort with palisades and flankers on the top of the Town Hill. All hands men, women an children laboured at the digging and building until the work was done. The nearby town of Salem joined in the counter attacks that ensued with their big guns, and after quite a number of skirmishes the Indians were scattered. After this experience Charlestown felt themselves compelled to organise a form of Militia to prevent any future incursions.
When the Governor arrived later in 1630 he "found the Colony in a sad and unexpected condition. No less than eighty had died during the very cold winter and those that had survived could hardly procure the means of subsistence." Gradually the summer saw a general improvement. More Settlers arrived in New England and trade and cultivation of the lands soon began. However, the Puritan moral codes and strictures still dominated the scene.
According to the Massachusetts Records, Ralph took the Freeman's Oath in May 1630 and was appointed Constable of Charlestown in the same year. It is also recorded that in 1634 he was commissioned with two others to advocate certain interests of the town before the General Court, and the next year 1635 he was chosen Selectman, and continued in that position for some time. In 1632 with his wife, Joanna, they were listed as Members of the first Church and "did enter into the Covenant". In 1635, the General Court granted him 100 acres of land "having borne great difficulties in the beginning." Their home stood in Crooked Lane, later called Bow Street near the Great House and what is now part of the City Square.
During these years there were further additions to the family: Richard, Samuel, Mary, Phineas and lastly Jonathan (who is thought to have died when he was young). In 1649, Ralph was one of a Commission to settle the boundaries between the Mystic River and Charlestown. He also joined the Militia and later became a member of the Boston Artillery Company. The records of the time state: "the Sprague family were noted persons of character, substance and enterprise, excellent citizens and generous public benefactors." Just before Ralph died in 1650, he petitioned among others for their own lands on the Mystic side of Charlestown to be known as Malden. This was granted.
(NOTE: continued in notes for Ralph's brother, Richard Sprague.)

"Ancestral File" Ralph Sprague [LT] (AFN:GVLW-87)

"Sprague Families in America", by W. V. Sprague, page 123.
Birth year is reported as 1603 in England. Ralph Sprague was a farmer and one of the founders of Charlestown, MA. Frothingham in History of Charlestown, says, "He was a prominent and valuable citizen, active in promoting the welfare of the town and of the Colony".

"Genealogical Register" April 1909, page 147.
Ralph Sprague, eldest son, born in Upwey, County Dorset; came to Salem, MA in 1628 and from there went to Charlestown in 1629. Other sources have listed his wife as Joanna Warren, daughter of Richard Warren; The Genealogical Register lists his wife as Joan Corbin, daughter of John of Fordington, County Dorset.

"The Genealogical Register", after April 1946.
Ralph Sprague was husbandman, and fuller of Upwey, County Dorset, England. He emigrated to Salem, MA in 1628, was made a constable in Watertown in 1630, served as deputy in 1635, and afterwards, and finally settled in that part of Charlestown which became Malden. In this issue, his wife is listed as Joane Warren.

"History of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company", page 78.
Ralph Sprague, son of Edward Sprague, a fuller of Upway, County Dorset, England, is said by Felt, in his Annals of Salem, to have come to America in the ship "Abigail" with Mr. Endicott, leaving Weymouth June 20, and arriving at Salem September 6, 1628. "After Mr. Endicott arrived at Naumkeag [Salem], he commissioned Messrs. Ralph, Richard and William Sprague and others to explore the country about Mishawum, now Charlestown. Here they met with a tribe of Indians, called Aberginians. By the consent of these, they commenced a plantation." He and his wife Joan were members of the First Church, Boston, but, with thirty-one others, were dismissed October 14, 1632, "to enter into a new church body at Charlestown." He was a brother of Richard Sprague, and father of Richard. He became a freeman October 19, 1630, and was the first person chosen to the office of constable at Charlestown, in 1630. He was active in military matters, and successively became sergeant in 1634, ensign in 1646, lieutenant in 1647, and captain. He represented Charlestown in the General Court in May, 1635, and afterwards, in all for nine years, --being a deputy when the charter of the Artillery Company was granted.
He was one of the first selectmen of Charlestown, chosen February 10, 1634. His homestead, consisting of one acre of "earable land, ... with a Dwelling house upon it west upon the highway," was situated "at the east end of the common, butting south and west upon the highway," having Mystic River on the northeast. The Charlestown land Records, p. 53, describe twelve different pieces of real estate as the possession of Ralph Sprague.
He died November, 1650.

"American Families--Genealogies and Biographical Information from Most Authentic Sources Including Much Valuable Material Drawn from Hitherto Unpublished Family Records with Accurate Reproduction--and Descriptions of Ancient Emblazonry Compiled by Masters of Genealogic and Heraldic Science", published by The American Historical Society, Inc., New York, 1921, pages 30-40.
Ralph Sprague came to Salem, Mass., in 1628, with his two brothers, Richard and William, his wife and two little boys, John and Richard. Whether actuated by the desires for religious liberty or by hopes of gain, there is some controversy. With several others they journeyed twelve miles to a hill on the north side of the Charles river, and on the south and southeast slope they made a settlement in 1628, building their homes in a semi-circle on the two acres of land Gov. Endicott granted to each of them. This settlement, called Charlestown, was within the present city limits of Boston. Here they found upon their arrival one solitary white man, Thomas Welford, an Englishman, living in a palisado house. This territory was owned and occupied by the Massachusetts Indians, a powerful but friendly tribe, with Sagamore John as sachem, who gave them permission to settle. Whether the Spragues came to America in the Abigail or the Lyon's Whelp is immaterial, but their arrival has been convincingly shown by [p. 32] the Hon. H. H. Sprague to be in 1628. The following spring, Mr. Bright, a minister and Mr. Thomas Graves, an engineer, with one hundred others, joined them.
On Sept. 28, 1630, Ralph Sprague was one of a jury impaneled; this was the first jury in Massachusetts. In his short life of forty-seven years he was a very prominent man. On Oct. 19, 1630, he made requisition to be admitted as a freeman of the colony, and took the freeman's oath May 18, 1631. At General Court this month he was made constable, and became in regular succession sergeant, ensign, lieutenant, and captain of militia. On May 18, 1631, he was admitted freeman. Oct 14, 1632, he and his wife were dismissed from the "Congregation of Boston" to enter into a new body at Charlestown. In 1634 he was made one of the first selectmen of Charlestown; in May, 1635, he was a representative and frequently afterwards, 1636-1636, 1644-1645; in 1639 he became a member of the Artillery Company. Nine years from the settlement in Charlestown, Ralph and Richard owned large tracts of land along the opposite side of Mystic river, near Ell Pond, which the called "Pond Feilde." This was in the west part of Malden, now Melrose. Ralph had ninety acres and Richard sixty acres. At Ralph's death he bequeathed his homestead and its farm to his sons John and Phineas, and his farm in Pond Feilde" to his sons Richard and Samuel. His home was located in what is now Mountain avenue. By a letter dated Mar. 25, 1651, one John Corbin of Upwey, England appears to have been Ralph's father-in-law. A copy of this letter is to be found in the "New England Historical and Genealogical Register," IV, 289. In "Lochford's Note Book" are several legal papers and letters of 1638-39 from Ralph Sprague and Joan, his wife, wherein it is expressly stated that her father had died, and that his name was Richard Warren, so that instead of John Corbin being her father he had probably married her mother the Widow Warren. Besides the "New England Historical and Genealogical Register," much information can be obtained form Bradford's "History of Massachusetts," Frothingham's "History of Charlestown," and from the "Glimpse of the Beginning of the Massachusetts Bay Settlement", by H. H. Sprague and others. The Charlestown Land Records, page 53, describe (1638) twelve different pieces of real estate in Ralph's possession. His homestead consisted on one acre of "earable--with a dwelling house upon it and other apitnances," and was situated at the east of the common, butting south and west upon the highway, having Mystic river on the northeast. Ralph Sprague, some time of Fordington, Dorset, fuller, afterwards of Charlestown, New England, planter, and his wife Joan, daughter of Richard Warren, of Fordington, husbandman, sent, in 8-9-1638, power of attorney to William Derby, of Dorchester, England, gentleman, to demand and receive such portion as might come to them from Warren's estate, and remit the same through Sprague's sister Alice (Sprague) Eames, of Pomberry Mill, near Dorchester, and a letter was sent the same day by Ralph to his sister Alice about this same matter. In Aug. 1640, Ralph and his wife Joan made John Holland, on Tinckleton, Dorset, fuller, and attorney to receive John Cox, of Bowlington, and Elizabeth, his wife, executors of Richard Warren, deceased, seven pounds given by his will to said Joan and her children John, Jonathan, Richard, Samuel, Mary, Phineas, or any other sum due upon them.
He died in Sept. 1650, at the age of forty-seven, in Malden, Mass., which has been the home of some of his descendants during all of these two-hundred and fifty years. His will was dated June 11, 1650, and entered in 1651.

He was married to Joanna Warren (daughter of Richard Warren) on 15 Aug 1623 in Fordington, St. George, Dorset, England. Joanna Warren was born in 1603. She died on 24 Feb 1680 in Woburn, Middlesex Co., MA.
Ancestral File:
Joanna Warren (AFN:92CN-NR) #02 Lt. Ralph Sprague and Joanna Warren had the following children:

i. Captain John Sprague
ii. Jonathan Sprague was born on 23 May 1624.
He died in Dec 1650 in Malden, Middlesex Co., MA.
iii. Richard Sprague
iv. Jabez Sprague
v. Lt. Samuel Sprague
vi. Mary Sprague
vii. Phineas Sprague

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The following is the Passenger List for the Lyon's Whelp sent to me by my cousin, ( however many times removed!) Elaine Sprague of Malden, MA.