John Sprague, Sr.

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].)

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.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52429539/john-sprague

https://familysearch.org/tree/person/LZVN-R56/details

Notes for JOHN SPRAGUE:

The book, "Saints and Strangers", by George Willison says of John: "(He) was a spark of the old flint, it appears, and spent hours in the stocks for highly misdemeaning himself in the house of James Cole of Plymouth, near unto or on the evening before the Sabbath Day, in drinking, gameing, and uncivil revelling, to the dishonor of God and the offense of this government, by his gameing and bringing of his mare uncivilly into the parlour of James Cole aforesaid."

An article in the "American Genealogist", vo. 41-3, by Maclean W. McLean of Pittsburgh, PA, continues to quote the record of John Sprague's offense: "for which midedmeanors hee was sentence to sitt in the stockes, two houres which accordingly was performed; and for his being there the greatest part of the afternoon unto the evening, hee (was fined) 5s."

The book, "One Bassett Family in America", by Buell Burdett Bassette says that John & Ruth lived in Marshfield, MA. On June 8, 1655, they were both presented to Court (The reason is not given.).

McLean's article asserts that Winston Churchill can be counted among the descendants of John Sprague. McLean gives further information about John Sprague: A Plymouth Colony deed, dated 27 April 1661, from Francis Sprague to his son John says: "my dwelling house at Duxbury", but with the provision that John was "not to enter into possession thereof until after the decease" of the father. In another deed, dated 3 May 1664, John Sprague was granted also his father's land at Namskakett (Middlebourgh). John succeeded his father in the business of keeping the tavern in 1669. John served on a coroner's jury 8 June 1673.

According to the Sprague genealogy, John was a Counsellor of Sir Edmiund Andros. John lost his life in Pierce's fierce fight at Pawtucket in King Philip's War. His estate was appraised in 1675, and was sworn to by his widow Ruth.

Links

• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=norvan&id...

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Slain in Pierces Fight at Pawtucket in King Philips War. Lived at marshfield for a while. Counsellor of Sir. Edmund Andros.

From the Sprague Project Database.

"Sprague Families in America", by Dr. Warren Vincent Sprague, page 11.

John Sprague and Ruth Bassett Sprague resided for a time in Marshfield, as the birth of their daughter Ruth is recorded there. This John, more likely than John of William, was a Counsellor of Sir Edmund Andros. He was slain in Pierce's fierce fight at Pawtucket in Philip's war, March 26, 1676. His estate was appraised in 1676 and was sworn to by the widow Ruth Sprague. She afterwards married ______ Thomas.

Ancestral File) (AFN:PT8M-HG; Spouse: Ruth Bassett (AFN:PT8M-JM); Born: [1643].

From George Sawyer.

John of Duxbury succeeded to his father's business in 1669.

"One Bassett Family in America", by Buell Bursett Bassett, page 10.

Ruth (Bassett) and John Sprague, Sr. lived in Marshfield. On June 8, 1655, they were both presented to Court. John was killed in the "Swamp Fight", King Philip's War.

"The American Genealogist", Volume 1965, page 178.

Extensive article on John Sprague.

From Keith Kingman.

John and Ruth (Bassett) Sprague first lived in Duxbury. Then before 1649, they moved to Marshfield, MA (north of Plymouth) where their third child, Ruth, was born. They then moved back to Duxbury where in 1670, John succeeded to his father's business of running an "Ordinary" (tavern).

From Sue Bates, correspondent.

The son of Francis and Anne Sprague, John Sprague was born about 1637, probably in Duxbury, Massachusetts. In 1655 he married Ruth Basset whose father, William Basset (born about 1590 in England) had arrived in America in 1621 aboard the ship FORTUNE (Thomas Barton, Master).

John Sprague and his wife Ruth Basset lived in Marshfield, Massachusetts for a number of years before settling at Duxbury around 1668. Shortly after their arrival in Duxbury, he became co-proprietor of his father's tavern in Duxbury and remained such until his death.

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 misdemeaning 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 uncivily into the parlor of James Cole, aforesaid."

It is believed that he was the John Sprague who was a counselor to Sir Edmund Andros, rather than the John Sprague who was the son of William Sprague.

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.

From Joe, a correspondent, note of June 9th, 2006

In your profile of John Sprague, Sr., you state that Sprague died on March 26, 1676 in the "Swamp Fight" of King Philip's War. Then you go on to describe action associated with the battle known as "Pierce's Fight."

The "Swamp Fight" and "Pierce's Fight" were two related however separate incidents. The former occurred on December 19, 1675 in a swamp of Kingston, Rhode Island, while the latter was on March 26, 1676, on the banks of the Blackstone River in what is now Central Falls, Rhode Island.

I am presently writing an longish article about Pierce's Fight.

From Mary Longstreth, correspondent, note of July 1st, 2008 quoting from prior correspondence.

NOTE: The following is not proven to be in anyway connected with this Sprague family member:

Mary Longstreth on 6/27/2008: I am looking for confirmation of which Captain Sprague was responsible for the transport of Native Americans prisoners from King Phillip's War as slaves.

Response from Dick Weber dated June 30, 2008: As to your question on "Capt. Sprague" I'm afraid I do not know. There were seven Spragues for whom I have a record of participation in King Philip's War. Only one of them in my records had a title of Capt. I've attached a report on Capt. John Sprague and as you will see it shows evidence of his service but no indication of any role with transporting prisoners.

Mary's response dated July 1, 2008: You may want to read the book, "Mayflower" by Nathaniel Philbrick. This is where I found the reference.

Dick's response dated July 1, 2008: As the participation in the Sprague Project increases each year I'm more and more dependent on others to share the results of their research for inclusion in the Sprague family history. If there is any short quote you can provide from "Mayflower" please do so.

I find it interesting that the Spragues would show up in a book on Mayflower descendants since there were not Spragues on the Mayflower. They did of course within a couple generation start marrying descendants

of the Mayflower immigrants.

Mary's response dated July 1st, 2008: From the Epilogue, Page 345:

"As early as the fall of 1675, they had begun to sail from the coast of New England: the slave ships. It began in September when a Captain Sprague departed from Plymouth with 78 Indians. By July of 1676, Plymouth had formalized the process of removing potentially dangerous Native men and boys.......The English were not so sure what to do with Phillip's 9 year old son.....In the end, Phillip's son, like his mother before him was shipped off as a slave."The premise is that the action of shipping the Native Americans as slaves initiated slavery in America.

The book does not maintain that Spragues were on the Mayflower. It's a very interesting discourse on King Phillip's War and the relationship between Atherton and Church

Died in Pawtucket, Rhode Island while fighting in King Phillip's war.

Links

• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=norvan&id...

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from The Sprague Project
[http://sprague-database.org/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I11590...]

"Sprague Families in America", by Dr. Warren Vincent Sprague, page 11.

John Sprague and Ruth Bassett Sprague resided for a time in Marshfield, as the birth of their daughter Ruth is recorded there. This John, more likely than John of William, was a Counsellor of Sir Edmund Andros. He was slain in Pierce's fierce fight at Pawtucket in Philip's war, March 26, 1676. His estate was appraised in 1676 and was sworn to by the widow Ruth Sprague. She afterwards married ______ Thomas. Ancestral File) (AFN:PT8M-HG; Spouse: Ruth Bassett (AFN:PT8M-JM); Born: [1643].

From George Sawyer.

John of Duxbury succeeded to his father's business in 1669.

"One Bassett Family in America", by Buell Bursett Bassett, page 10.

Ruth (Bassett) and John Sprague, Sr. lived in Marshfield. On June 8, 1655, they were both presented to Court. John was killed in the "Swamp Fight", King Philip's War.

"The American Genealogist", Volume 1965, page 178. Extensive article on John Sprague.

From Keith Kingman.

John and Ruth (Bassett) Sprague first lived in Duxbury. Then before 1649, they moved to Marshfield, MA (north of Plymouth) where their third child, Ruth, was born. They then moved back to Duxbury where in 1670, John succeeded to his father's business of running an "Ordinary" (tavern).

From Sue Bates, correspondent.

The son of Francis and Anne Sprague, John Sprague was born about 1637, probably in Duxbury, Massachusetts. In 1655 he married Ruth Basset whose father, William Basset (born about 1590 in England) had arrived in America in 1621 aboard the ship FORTUNE (Thomas Barton, Master).

John Sprague and his wife Ruth Basset lived in Marshfield, Massachusetts for a number of years before settling at Duxbury around 1668. Shortly after their arrival in Duxbury, he became co-proprietor of his father's tavern in Duxbury and remained such until his death.

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 misdemeaning 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 uncivily into the parlor of James Cole, aforesaid."

It is believed that he was the John Sprague who was a counselor to Sir Edmund Andros, rather than the John Sprague who was the son of William Sprague.

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.

From Joe, a correspondent, note of June 9th, 2006

In your profile of John Sprague, Sr., you state that Sprague died on March 26, 1676 in the "Swamp Fight" of King Philip's War. Then you go on to describe action associated with the battle known as "Pierce's Fight."

The "Swamp Fight" and "Pierce's Fight" were two related however separate incidents. The former occurred on December 19, 1675 in a swamp of Kingston, Rhode Island, while the latter was on March 26, 1676, on the banks of the Blackstone River in what is now Central Falls, Rhode Island.

I am presently writing an longish article about Pierce's Fight.

From Mary Longstreth, correspondent, note of July 1st, 2008 quoting from prior correspondence.

NOTE: The following is not proven to be in anyway connected with this Sprague family member:

Mary Longstreth on 6/27/2008: I am looking for confirmation of which Captain Sprague was responsible for the transport of Native Americans prisoners from King Phillip's War as slaves.

Response from Dick Weber dated June 30, 2008: As to your question on "Capt. Sprague" I'm afraid I do not know. There were seven Spragues for whom I have a record of participation in King Philip's War. Only one of them in my records had a title of Capt. I've attached a report on Capt. John Sprague and as you will see it shows evidence of his service but no indication of any role with transporting prisoners.

Mary's response dated July 1, 2008: You may want to read the book, "Mayflower" by Nathaniel Philbrick. This is where I found the reference.

Dick's response dated July 1, 2008: As the participation in the Sprague Project increases each year I'm more and more dependent on others to share the results of their research for inclusion in the Sprague family history. If there is any short quote you can provide from "Mayflower" please do so.

I find it interesting that the Spragues would show up in a book on Mayflower descendants since there were not Spragues on the Mayflower. They did of course within a couple generation start marrying descendants of the Mayflower immigrants.

Mary's response dated July 1st, 2008: From the Epilogue, Page 345:

"As early as the fall of 1675, they had begun to sail from the coast of New England: the slave ships. It began in September when a Captain Sprague departed from Plymouth with 78 Indians. By July of 1676, Plymouth had formalized the process of removing potentially dangerous Native men and boys.......The English were not so sure what to do with Phillip's 9 year old son.....In the end, Phillip's son, like his mother before him was shipped off as a slave."The premise is that the action of shipping the Native Americans as slaves initiated slavery in America.

The book does not maintain that Spragues were on the Mayflower. It's a very interesting discourse on King Phillip's War and the relationship between Atherton and Church

From Michele Doty, correspondent, note of December 23, 2011

Because the Great Swamp Fight occurred on December 19 1675 and John Sprague, Sr. was killed Mar 26, 1676, the date of Pierce's "Nine Men Misery", I suggest that John may have been among the dead in Cumberland, RI with Michael Pierce instead of the site of the Great Swamp Fight in West Kingston, RI. [7]

John Sprague and Ruth Bassett Sprague resided for a time in Marshfield, as the birth of their daughter Ruth is recorded there. This John, more likely than John of William, was a Counsellor of Sir Edmund Andros. He was slain in Pierce's fierce fight at Pawtucket in Philip's war, March 26, 1676. His estate was appraised in 1676 and was sworn to by the widow Ruth Sprague. She afterwards married ______ Thomas. Ancestral File) (AFN:PT8M-HG; Spouse: Ruth Bassett (AFN:PT8M-JM); Born: [1643].

The son of Francis and Anne Sprague, John Sprague was born about 1637, probably in Duxbury, Massachusetts. In 1655 he married Ruth Basset whose father, William Basset (born about 1590 in England) had arrived in America in 1621 aboard the ship FORTUNE (Thomas Barton, Master).

John Sprague and his wife Ruth Basset lived in Marshfield, Massachusetts for a number of years before settling at Duxbury around 1668. Shortly after their arrival in Duxbury, he became co-proprietor of his father's tavern in Duxbury and remained such until his death.

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 misdemeaning 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 uncivily into the parlor of James Cole, aforesaid."

Counsellor of Sir Edmund Andros.

Married 1655 to Ruth Bassett.

He was slain at Pierce's fight at Pawtucket during King Philip's War, March 26, 1676.

He lived in Duxbury, and succeeded to his father's business of "keeping an ordinary", or running a tavern, in 1669, so it is assumed his father died shortly thereafter.

GEDCOM Note

!INFO: From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 January 1996 !DEATH: killed in the King Phillip's War with the Indains

"Sprague Families in America" by W V Sprague p. 11

John Sprague and Ruth Bassett Sprague resided for a time in Marshfield, as the birth of the i r daughter Ruth is recorded there. This John, more likely than John of William, was a Couns el lor of Sir Edmund Andros. He was slain in Pierce's fight at Pawtucket in Philip's was, Ma rc h 26, 1676. His estate was appraised in 1676 and was sworn to by the widow Ruth Sprague.

From George Sawyer. John of Duxbury succeeded to his father's business in 1669.

"One Bassett Family in America" by Buell Bursett Bassett, p. 10 Ruth ( Bassett) and John Sprague Sr. lived in Marshfield. On June 8, 1655, they were both p r esented to Court. John was killed in the "Swamp Fight", King Philip's War.

From Keith Kingman John and Ruth (Bassett) Sprague first lived in Duxbury. Then before 1649, they moved to Mar s hfield, MA (north of Plymouth) where their third child, Ruth, was born. They then moved b ac k to Duxbury where in 1670, John succeeded to his father's business of running an "Ordinar y " (tavern).

. John Sprague Sr. was born about 1630 in Duxbury, Plymouth Co., MA. (14)(15) (16) He was bur ied in 1676 in Duxbury, Plymouth Co., MA. He died on 26 Mar 1676 in Pawtucket, Providence Co. , RI. (17)(18) "Sprague Families in America", by W. V. Sprague, page 11. John Sprague and Ruth Bassett Sprague resided for a time in Marshfield, as the birth of thei r daughter Ruth is recorded there. This John, more likely than John of William, was a Counsel lor of Sir Edmund Andros. He was slain in Pierce's fierce fight at Pawtucket in Philip's war , March 26, 1676. His estate was appraised in 1676 and was sworn to by the widow Ruth Sprague . She afterwards married ______ Thomas. Ancestral File) (AFN:PT8M-HG; Spouse: Ruth Bassett (AFN:PT8M-JM); Born: [1643].

From George Sawyer. John of Duxbury succeeded to his father's business in 1669.

"One Bassett Family in America", by Buell Bursett Bassett, page 10. Ruth (Bassett) and John Sprague, Sr. lived in Marshfield. On June 8, 1655, they were both pre sented to Court. John was killed in the "Swamp Fight", King Philip's War.

"The American Genealogist", Volume 1965, page 178. Extensive article on John Sprague.

From Keith Kingman. John and Ruth (Bassett) Sprague first lived in Duxbury. Then before 1649, they moved to Marsh field, MA (north of Plymouth) where their third child, Ruth, was born. They then moved back t o Duxbury where in 1670, John succeeded to his father's business of running an "Ordinary" (ta vern).

He was married to Ruth Bassett (daughter of William Bassett and Elizabeth Unknown) in 1655 i n Duxbury, Plymouth Co., MA. (19)(20) Ruth Bassett was born about 1633 in Bridgewater, Plymou th Co., MA. (21)(22) (23) She died between 22 Mar 1693 and 1700.

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.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jun 7 2022, 10:39:58 UTC

GEDCOM Note

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 adjuoining 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 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.

- Find-a-Grave