Mr. Sprague was enthusiastic in the cause of freedom, as also were his sons. He enlisted as private in Col. Archibald Crary's Regt. in 1776; had due him 20 pounds, 12 shilling, 10 pence. In Massachusetts, he served as Major in Col. Joab Stafford's (Independent) Co. of volunteers and fought in the battle of Bennington, August 16, 1777. He marched to Fish Kill, June 6, 1778, to serve nine months in Col. Diamond's Regt., but was rejected as unfit for service. However, on October 17, 1779, he enlisted as private in Capt. Asa Barnes's (1st) Co., Col. Israel Chapens' 3d Regt., and was discharged November 21, 1779, serving one month and nine days.

After the war Joshua and his sons, William and Jonathan, worked at the carpenter trade, building boats. In 1788 they left Massachusetts, going to Simrell's Ferry, on the Monongahela river. They brought their tool chest on a two-wheeled cart drawn by one horse. Here they expected to remain and build boats, but after building several they were persuaded to come with the company that arrived at Marietta, June 22, 1788. Mr. Sprague and his two sons took a contract of building one of the block-houses and stockade called Fort Frye. Early in the spring, William and Jonathan had gone up to Waterford and cleared five acres of ground and planted corn, which produced a good crop. They lived in the stockade seven years, or until the Indian troubles were over. Joshua came into possession of a farm in Waterford Twp., on which he lived until 1812, when the infirmities of his years caused him with his wife to seek a home with their son Jonathan in Adams Twp., where their remaining years were spent.

from: http://www.sprague-database.org/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I43110&tree=SpragueProject