Other Events:

• FamilySearch ID: LBQH-QCD
• FindaGrave Memorial ID: 52429539
• Group: Veteran of King Philips War

Notes:

From FindaGrave:

JOHN, only son of Pilgrim Francis Sprague, was born. say 1630 to his 2nd wife. He married by about 1655 Ruth Bassett, daughter of WILLIAM BASSETT (on 8 June 1655 "we present John Sprague and Ruth Bassett, of Duxburrow, for fornication before they were married [PCR 3:82]). (John Sprague is treated in detail by Maclean W. McLean, who estimates his birth as about 1635, whereas we make him slightly older [TAG 41:178-81].)
______

Francis Sprague and Mother came from London, England on the good ship 'Anne'. John was their 3rd child and only son. At Duxburrow they settled on a large grant of land adjoining that of Elder William Brewster, not far from the town meeting house. This land, near what was known as the "Nook", lay along a bay with good meadows, salt marshes and a creek that is still known as Sprague's Creek.

John's birth date is unknown, probably between 1630-1633 - no actual proof. Information from different sites, Sprague Project, family tree, and family information. As far as I know there are no actual records of John Sprague's birth.

John Sprague and Ruth Bassett married in 1655 resided for a time in Marshfield, as the birth of their daughter Ruth is recorded there. Ruth Bassett's father, William Basset (born about 1590 in England) had arrived in America in 1621 aboard the ship FORTUNE (Thomas Barton, Master). This John, more likely than John of William, was a Counsellor of Sir Edmund Andros. John of Duxbury succeeded to his father's business in 1669.

John Sprague apparently inherited his father's ardent temperament. Described as a "...spark off the old flint", he is known to have spent several hours in the stocks on at least one occasion for "...highly misdemeanant himself in the house of James Cole of Plymouth near unto or on the evening before the Sabbath Day, in drinking, gaming and uncivil reveling, to the dishonor of God and the offense of the government, by his gaming and the bringing of his mare uncivilly into the parlor of James Cole, aforesaid."

"John Sprague was killed in the massacre of Captain Michael Pierce's Company of English Militia during the King Philip's War when, on 26 March 1676, that company of 65 men (supplemented by about 20 friendly Indians) engaged a superior force of hostiles near the Pawtucket River in Rhode Island, about 5 miles north of Providence.

According to Douglas Edward Leach in his history of that war entitled FLINTLOCK AND TOMAHAWK - NEW ENGLAND IN THE KING PHILIP'S WAR, Captain Pierce, having determined that there was a band of hostile Indians located near the Pawtucket River, had prepared his men for battle and had sent a messenger into the nearby town of Providence requesting reinforcements before attacking. For some reason this messenger, arriving at the time of public worship, chose to wait until after the service had concluded before delivering Captain Pierce's request. When the situation was made known, Captain Andrew Edmunds of the Providence Militia immediately set out with a group of armed men in order to join forces with Pierce's company. Meanwhile, the Plymouth Militia group had unwittingly engaged and become surrounded by an extremely large force of hostile Narrangansett Indians and were overwhelmed. By the time Edmunds and his men arrived, it was too late. The fact that some 42 of the 55 colonists killed that day were buried at the site of the battle, including that of John Sprague of Duxbury, indicates that there were some survivors, or it may indicate that there were bodies which may not have been recovered." Ruth afterwards married a Mr. Thomas.

John and Ruth's children:

1. Lt. John Sprague (Jr.), born abt 1656 in Duxbury, Plymouth Co., MA and died March 1728 in Lebanon, New London Co., CT at age 72 years. He married 1st Lydia and 2nd Lois Standish

2. Elizabeth Sprague abt 1657 in Marshfield, Plymouth Co., MA and died May 27, 1727 in Plympton, Plymouth Co., MA. She married George Sampson abt 1678 in Plympton, MA.

3. Ruth Sprague born February 12, 1660 in Marshfield, Plymouth Co, MA and died 1743 in Duxbury, Plymouth Co., MA at age 82. She married August 12, 1680 in Dartmouth, Bristol Co., MA. She married Eleazer (Elizer) Smith.

4. William Sprague born 1658 in Duxbury, MA and died November 25, 1712 in Duxbury, MA at age 48. He married Grace Wadsworth January 1700 in Duxbury, Plymouth Co., MA. William died by drowning - his whaling ship went down.

5. Dorcas Sprague was born abt 1666 in Duxbury, MA and died January 1710 at age 44. She married January 10, 1710 in Duxbury, Plymouth Co., MA Joseph Hatch born May 7, 1654 in Falmouth, Barnstable Co., MA (son of Jonathan Hatch and Sara Rowley) and died February 16, 1734.

6. Desire Sprague was born abt 1668 in Marshfield, Plymouth Co., MA and married November 24, 1696 in Falmouth/Sandwich, Barnstable Co., MA John Gifford.

7. Lt. Samuel Sprague born abt 1669 in Duxbury, Plymouth Co., MA and died July 25, 1740 in Rochester, Plymouth Co., MA at age 71. He married November 29, 1695 in Duxbury, Plymouth Co., MA Ruth Alden.

Information from "The Sprague Project".

Nine Men's Misery - Thank you Donald Thompson for this article
Nine Men's Misery is a site in current day Cumberland, Rhode Island where nine colonists were tortured by the Narragansett Indian tribe during King Philip's War. A stone memorial was constructed in 1676 which is believed to be the oldest veterans memorial in the United States.

History

On March 26, 1676 during King Philip's War, Captain Michael Pierce led approximately 60 Plymouth Colony troops and 20 Wampanoag Indians in pursuit of Narragansetts who had burned several Rhode Island towns and attacked Plymouth. Pierce's troops caught up with the Narragansett, Wampanoag, Nashaway, Nipmuck, and Podunk fighters, but were ambushed in what is now Central Falls, Rhode Island. Pierce's troops fought the Narragansetts for several hours but were surrounded by a larger force. The battle was one of the biggest defeats of colonial troops during King Philip's War, with nearly all killed, including Captain Pierce and the Wampanoags (exact numbers vary by account). The Narragansetts lost only a handful of warriors.

Nine of the colonists who were among the dead were first taken prisoner, along with a tenth man who survived. These men were tortured to death by the Narragansetts at a site in Cumberland, Rhode Island, currently on the Cumberland Monastery and Library property. The nine dead colonists were buried by English soldiers who found the corpses and created a pile of stones to memorialize the men. This pile is believed to be the oldest veterans' memorial in the United States, and a cairn of stones has continuously marked the site since 1676.

The "Nine Men's Misery" site was disturbed in 1790 by medical students led by one Dr. Bowen looking for the body of one of the dead colonists named Benjamin Bucklin, who was said to be unusually large with a double row of teeth. They were stopped by outraged locals. The site was desecrated several more times until 1928, when the monks who then owned the cemetery built a cemented stone cairn. The cairn and site can still be visited on the monastery grounds.

Pierce's Fight was followed by the burning of Providence three days later, and then the capture and execution of Canonchet, the chief sachem of the Narragansetts. The war was winding down even at the time that Pierce's party was destroyed, and King Philip himself was killed in August.

FamilySearch ID:
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LBQH-QCD

FindaGrave Memorial ID:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52429539

Group:
Person who served in King Phillips War between colonists and native Americans in 1676

John married Ruth Bassett in 1655. Ruth was born in 1633 in Bridgewater, Plymouth Colony; died in 1686 in Duxbury, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Child Status: Illegitimate
• FindaGrave Memorial ID: 116176792
• Group: Descendant of Mayflower Passenger
• Group: Mayflower - Dr. Samuel Fuller

Notes:

From "The Mayflower 500" by Gary Boyd Roberts (2020), p. 639 ff

An article in Mayflower Descendant 67 (2019): 117-149 argues persuasively from DNA evidence that the father of John Sprague, Jr. (ca. 1655-1727/8) of Duxbury, Mass., and Lebanon, Conn., was not John Sprague (ca. 1610-1676), husband of Ruth Bassett, but a member of the Mayflower Fuller family, almost certainly Samuel² Fuller, son of Mayflower passenger Samuel Fuller and Bridget Lee. ... If this conclusion is correct, the distinguished British of Lord Randolph [Henry Spencer-] Churchill and Jeanette "Jennie" Jerome have a Mayflower passenger descent as well as a line from John Howland's brother Arthur. Other Fuller-Sprague descendants, through only one of seven children of John Sprague Jr., and his first wife, Lydia ____, include "Natacha Rambova", whose John Howland descent is charted on p. 43 [2] herein, noted costume and set designer, actress, Egyptologist and wife of movie idol Rudilph Valentino; and Marion Robert [later Mitchell] Morrison, known as John Wayne, the actor. Yet another Fuller-Sprague descendant, as treated by Christopher Challender Child in "Mayor Pete's Cousins" (https://vitabrevis.americanancestors.org, posted 17 June 2019), is 2020 Democratic hopeful Peter Paul Montgomery "Pete" Buttigieg.
______________

From FindaGrave:

(John Jr., John Sr., Francis William Sprague)

John Married 1st Lydia who was b. July 18, 1658 in Duxbury, Plymouth Co., MA she died July 18, 1725 in Lebanon, New London Co., CT m. bef Nov 6, 1683 in Duxbury. From the records of the Colony of New Plymouth, "Shurtlif, 6:115. At the Court at Plymouth the sixth of Nov 1683 John and Lydia were after contract were fined five pounds for fornication."

John Sprague was Constable of Duxbury in 1692, and held other public trusts there at various times from 1684 to 1701. He was one of the conspicuous members of the Church in Duxbury.
January 8, 1702-3, John Sprague, "Mariner," and Lydia his wife, of Duxbury, deeded 40 acres of upland with dwelling house and barn standing thereon in Duxbury for 125 pounds to Israel Sylvester of Scituate. His last deed in Duxbury was given January 28, 1703. He removed to Lebanon, CT, probably in the spring of this year and became the owner of much land there.

1705, 1710, 1714. Selectman, Lebanon.
1706, May and Oct.; 1708, May and Oct.; 1709, May and Oct.; 1711, 1713, in May; 1714, 1716, 1718, in Oct.; 1719, May and Oct.; 1720, May. Rep. from Lebanon to General Court and bore the title of Ensign; and of Lt in 1710-1720
1712-3, Jan. 8. He deeded to son Benjamin Sprague, land in Lebanon
January 19, 1713-14 he deeded to son John Sprague 120 acres of land
January 18, 1715-16 he deeded to son Samuel Sprague 120 acres of land
July 14, 1718 John Sprague Sr. and John Sprague Jr. agree to liberate Jack, an Indian slave bought by them when he has served faithfully 12 years, and give him a colt which they agree to keep free of charge until Jack sees fit to dispose of him. They also give him a ewe sheep, which they agree to keep and her increase for two years.

July 6, 1726 Will mentions beloved wife, Mrs. Lois Sprague's, granddaughter, Mary Way and son Ephraim Sprague. Lt. John Sprague was a weaver and legislator.

"Sprague Families in America", by Dr. Warren Vincent Sprague, page 12."

Their Children:

1. Capt. Ephraim Sprague born March 15, 1684/85 in Duxbury, Plymouth Co., MA and died November 1754 in Lebanon, CT. He married 1st Deborah Woodworth abt 1728 in Lebanon, CT and 2nd Abigail Calkin in Lebanon, CT and 3rd wife May 1727 in Duxbury, MA and died after 1788 in Dutches, Dutches Co., NY. Married 1727

2. Benjamin Sprague born July 15, 1686 in Duxbury, MA July 7, 1754 in Lebanon, CT. Married 1st Mary Woodworth December 29, 1707 in Lebanon, CT; 2nd Wife Prudence Minor Sprague married January 26, 1725/26 in Stonington, New London Co., CT and married 3rd Abigail Hodge Tisdale Sprague married before 1727.

3. Capt. John Sprague born September 1692 in Duxbury, Plymouth Co., MA and married February 22, 1710 in Lebanon, New London Co., CT Mary Babcock born abt 1692. John died 1760 in Canaan, Litchfield Co., CT.

4. Samuel Sprague born December 31, 1688 in Duxbury, Plymouth Co., MA and died April 6, 1763 in Canaan, Litchfield Co., CT at age 76.

5. Lydia Sprague born 1692 in Duxbury, Plymouth Co., MA she died March 3, 1762 probably in Sharon, Litchfield Co., CT at age 70.

6. Irene Sprague born abt 1701 in Duxbury, Plymouth Co., MA and baptized 1701 in Plympton, Ma, she married July 9, 1723 Aaron Fish who was born abt 1700.

7. Ruth Sprague born September 3, 1704 in Lebanon, New London Co., CT and married November 12, 1724 to Clodus Dillis born abt 1700.

8, Ebenezer Sprague born abt 1705 in Lebanon, New London Co., CT

2nd Wife Lois Standish m. March 21, 1725/26 in Lebanon, CT

FindaGrave Memorial ID:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/116176792

Group:
Passenger or Descendant of the Mayflower

Group:
Descendant of Dr. Samuel Fuller of the Mayflower

John married Lydia [--?--] before 6 Nov 1683 in Duxbury, Plymouth Colony. Lydia was born on 18 Jul 1658 in Duxbury, Plymouth Colony; died on 18 Jul 1725 in Lebanon, New London County, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• FamilySearch ID: KNCL-RQF
• FindaGrave Memorial ID: 37121946

Notes:

From FindaGrave:

Daughter of John Sprague and Ruth Bassett.
Wife of George Sampson married 1678 and mother of:
* Joseph Sampson b 1679
* Abigail Sampson b 1680
* Judeth Sampson b 1682
* Ruth Sampson, Mrs Nehemiah Sturtevant 1684-1766
* Benjamin Sampson b 1686
* Martha Sampson b 1689
* George Sampson 1690-1774
* Elizabeth Sampson b 1692
* William Sampson b 1695
* Seth Sampson b 1697

1912 Shurtleff Genealogy #253

FamilySearch ID:
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KNCL-RQF

FindaGrave Memorial ID:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/37121946

Elizabeth married George Sampson in 1678 in Plympton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. George (son of Abraham Samson and Miss [--?--]) was born in 1655 in Duxbury, Plymouth Colony; died on 26 Jul 1739 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts; was buried after 26 Jul 1739 in Hillcrest Cemetery, Plympton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• FamilySearch ID: LC3X-MQL
• FindaGrave Memorial ID: 107936660

Notes:

From FindaGrave:

Son of John Sprague and Ruth Bassett.

He married Ruth Alden 29 Nov. 1694 in Duxbury, MA.

FamilySearch ID:
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LC3X-MQL

FindaGrave Memorial ID:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/107936660

Samuel married Ruth Alden on 29 Nov 1694 in Duxbury, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. Ruth (daughter of David Alden and Mary Southworth) was born about 1674 in Duxbury, Plymouth Colony; died on 2 Jul 1758 in Rochester, Plymouth County, Massachusetts; was buried after 2 Jul 1758 in Center Cemetery, Rochester, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• FamilySearch ID: L75S-H8N
• FindaGrave Memorial ID: 149409062
• Group: Descendant of Mayflower Passenger
• Group: Mayflower - Dr. Samuel Fuller

Notes:

FamilySearch ID:
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/L75S-H8N

FindaGrave Memorial ID:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/149409062

Group:
Passenger or Descendant of the Mayflower

Group:
Descendant of Dr. Samuel Fuller of the Mayflower

Family/Spouse: George Way. George was born in 1691 in Lyme, New London County, Connecticut; was christened on 2 May 1703 in New London, New London County, Connecticut; died on 16 Mar 1760 in Sharon, Litchfield County, Connecticut; was buried after 16 Mar 1760 in Hillside Cemetery, Sharon, Litchfield County, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• FamilySearch ID: LZQ5-WK6
• FindaGrave Memorial ID: 192628998

Notes:

FamilySearch ID:
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LZQ5-WK6

FindaGrave Memorial ID:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/192628998

Abigail married Experience Bent on 26 Aug 1703 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. Experience was born on 16 Jul 1669 in Marshfield, Plymouth Colony; died in 1754 in Middleboro, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• FamilySearch ID: LZW7-2PT

Notes:

FamilySearch ID:
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LZW7-2PT

Family/Spouse: Hannah Soule. Hannah (daughter of Benjamin Soule and Sarah Standish) was born on 18 Mar 1695/96 in Plympton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts; died on 22 Sep 1776 in Plympton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts; was buried in Sep 1776 in Hillcrest Cemetery, Plympton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• FamilySearch ID: LH2G-VFF
• FindaGrave Memorial ID: 107936356
• Group: Descendant of Mayflower Passenger
• Group: Mayflower - John Alden & Priscilla Mullins

Notes:

From FindaGrave:

Eldest son of Lieut. Samuel and Ruth Sprague.

Married to Sarah Hammond on April 26, 1722 in Rochester, MA.

Daughters Allathea Spooner and Elizabeth Pitcher are mentioned in Noah's will. Sons Samuel and John are also mentioned as are grandsons Peleg, Alden, Paul and Nathaniel who were sons of Noah, Jr. Also granddaughter Hannah. His son, Alden, who hadn't been heard from in 20 years, was also mentioned; should he ever return he was to have part of the inheritance.

FamilySearch ID:
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LH2G-VFF

FindaGrave Memorial ID:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/107936356

Group:
Passenger or Descendant of the Mayflower

Group:
Descendant of John Alden and Priscilla Mullin of the Mayflower

Noah married Sarah Hammond on 26 Apr 1722 in Duxbury, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. Sarah (daughter of John Hammond and Mary Arnold) was born on 23 Dec 1695 in Duxbury, Plymouth Colony; died on 26 Sep 1778 in Rochester, Plymouth County, Massachusetts; was buried after 26 Sep 1778 in Center Cemetery, Rochester, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• FamilySearch ID: LRXT-N8V
• Group: Descendant of Mayflower Passenger
• Group: Mayflower - Dr. Samuel Fuller

Notes:

FamilySearch ID:
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LRXT-N8V

Group:
Passenger or Descendant of the Mayflower

Group:
Descendant of Dr. Samuel Fuller of the Mayflower

Mary married Jehiel Murray on 12 Nov 1733. Jehiel (son of Jonathan Murray and Anna Bradley) was born on 28 Mar 1708 in Guilford, New Haven County, Connecticut; died on 17 Jun 1798 in New Milford, Litchfield County, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• FamilySearch ID: LWCK-VM7
• FindaGrave Memorial ID: 194135372

Notes:

FamilySearch ID:
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LWCK-VM7

FindaGrave Memorial ID:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194135372

Joseph married Jemima Billington on 17 Oct 1728 in Plympton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. Jemima (daughter of Francis Billington and Abigail Churchill) was born on 12 Jun 1710 in Plymouth County, Massachusetts; died after 3 May 1758. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• FamilySearch ID: L69N-G6J
• Group: Descendant of Mayflower Passenger
• Group: Mayflower - George Soule
• Group: Mayflower - John Alden & Priscilla Mullins
• Group: Mayflower - Myles Standish

Notes:

FamilySearch ID:
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/L69N-G6J

Group:
Passenger or Descendant of the Mayflower

Group:
Descendant of George Soule of the Mayflower

Group:
Descendant of John Alden and Priscilla Mullin of the Mayflower

Group:
Descendant of Myles Standish and his wife Barbara

Family/Spouse: Abiah Whitmarsh. Abiah was born on 3 Jun 1724 in Abington, Plymouth County, Massachusetts; died on 26 Dec 1800 in Plympton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts; was buried after 26 Dec 1800 in Hillcrest Cemetery, Plympton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• FamilySearch ID: L9G8-TW7
• FindaGrave Memorial ID: 138315911
• Group: Descendant of Mayflower Passenger
• Group: Mayflower - John Alden & Priscilla Mullins

Notes:

From FindaGrave:

Wife of Walter Spooner, age 64

Her first name is likely spelled incorrectly, and could be Althea/ or Alathea, per documents

FamilySearch ID:
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/L9G8-TW7

FindaGrave Memorial ID:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/138315911

Group:
Passenger or Descendant of the Mayflower

Group:
Descendant of John Alden and Priscilla Mullin of the Mayflower

Allathea married Judge Walter Spooner on 2 Dec 1748 in Dartmouth, Bristol County, Massachusetts. Walter (son of Seth Spooner and Rose Clarke) was born in 1720 in Acushnet, Bristol County, Massachusetts; died on 26 Oct 1803 in Acushnet, Bristol County, Massachusetts; was buried after 26 Oct 1803 in Long Plain Cemetery, Acushnet, Bristol County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]