Lt. John Sprague, of Duxbury & Lebanon

(Lieut.) John Sprague

• Birth: Circa 1657 - Duxbury, Plymouth, Massachusetts
• Death: Mar 6 1727 - Lebanon, New London, Connecticut
• Parents: Samuel Fuller, Ruth Bassett.....DNA say's Dr. Samuel Fuller was Lt. John Sprague's father by Ruth Bassett...NOT John Sprague Sr.
• Married: 1) Lydia 2) Lois Standish
• Children: Benjamin Sprague, Irene (Sprague) Fish, Lydia (Sprague) Way, Ruth Sprague, Capt. Ephraim Sprague, Captain John Sprague, Samuel Sprague

Origins

John Sprague: The Father Who Raised Him

John was raised as the son of John2 (Francis1) Sprague and his wife Ruth Bassett of Duxbury, Massachusetts[1] [2] [3]

Samuel Fuller: His Biological Father

However there is new information, published in Volume 67, Number 2, page 177 of the Mayflower Descendant: An Illustrated Quarterly Magazine of Pilgrim Genealogy, History and Biography (Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, Summer 2019), which is not yet available in the NHEGS database. This article, entitled Lt. John Sprague (ca. 1655–1727/8) of Duxbury, Mass., and Lebanon, Conn., an illegitimate son of Samuel2 Fuller (Samuel1)? by Christopher Challender Child, an NEHGS staff member currently referenced on the NEHGS website. According to Wikitree member A (Fasg), in a comment on this profile, the article states that John may not have been the biological son of John Sprague, and provides a case for his biological father to have been Samuel Fuller Jr, as follows:

At the General Court at Plymouth on 6 Jun 1655, John2 Sprague, son of Francis, and Ruth Bassett, daughter of William, of Duxbury were "present[ed] for fornication before they were married..." indicating that the infant John was born less than 9 months after the wedding. [4]

This alone would be genealogically unremarkable, but comparison of the Y-DNA of descendants of eldest son John3 to younger sons Samuel and William and other Sprague children show John3 was not John2 Sprague's biological child. These descendants match the Y-DNA haplogroup of the Fullers of Plymouth. Only Samuel2 Fuller (Samuel1), born 1625, Plymouth Colony, died 17 August 1695, Middleboro, Plymouth County, was living near Duxbury. [4]

Documents will likely never answer whether John2 Sprague knew that he was not the biological father of his wife's first child.

Family

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Sprague-391

Marriage to Lydia Unknown

Circa 1684, John Sprague married Lydia Unknown in Duxbury (who is not to be confused with Lydia Goffe of Charlestown and Malden, see note above). He was a constable in Duxbury, and prominent in the church, and his wife's first name was provided in land deeds in Duxbury and Bristol[1] [3], and in various vital records shown in this profile[6]

Lydia (Unknown) Sprague, wife of Lt. John Sprague died July 18, 1725 in Lebanon[7] [1]

Move to Lebanon, Connecticut

Circa 1702 they moved to Lebanon, CT, and became prominent citizens there. He was a selectman, served in the General Court, and in the militia as Ensign and then Lieutenant[1].

Marriage to Lois Standish

Lt John Sprague remarried Lois Standish March 21, 1726[8] [1] [9]

Lt John Sprague died March 26, 1727/8[10] [1]

His will mentions his widow Lois (Stanidish) Sprague, grandaughter Mary Way and his son Ephraim [1] Land records show he distributed considerable property to other children before he died [1]

Children of John Sprague & Lydia:

1. Ephraim, born March 15, 1684-5[11], who married Deborah Woodworth first[12], and second married Mary Unknown[1]
2. Benjamin, b. July 15, 1686[11], who married Mary Woodworth, Prudence Miner, and Abigail Hodge[13] [1]
3. Samuel, who married Mary Burt[1]
4. John, who married Mary Babcock[14] and Hannah Burt[1]
5. Lydia, who married July 19, 1713, George Way of Lebanon, CT[1]
6. Irene, who married July 9, 1723, Aaron Fish[15], son of Samuel and Sarah Fish[1]
7. Ruth born Sept. 5, 1704[16]; who married Nov. 12, 1724, Clodus Dillis[1]

   ---

Biography

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

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.

1702-3, January 8. 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, 1702-3. 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.

1706. He bore the title of Ensign; and of Lieut. in 1710-20.

1712-3, Jan. 8. He deeded to son Benjamin Sprague, land in Lebanon.

1713-4, Jan. 19. He deeded to son John Sprague, 120 acres of land.

1714, Sept. 21. He deeded to George Way, Jr., of Lyme, 100 acres of land.

1715-6, Jan. 18. He deeded to son Samuel sprague 120 acres of land.

1718, July 14. 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.

1726, July 6. Will mentions beloved wife, Mrs. Lois Sprague, granddaughter, Mary Way, and son Ephraim Sprague.

From George Sawyer.

Lt. John Sprague was a weaver and legislator.

• Find A Grave Memorial# 116176792
• Person ID I115897 Sprague Project
• http://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:John_Sprague_%285%29_
  • ↑ "Lebanon Vital Records", in Connecticut, United States. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records, Vol. 22, p. 190. SPRAGUE, John, Lieut., d. Mar. 6, 1727/8.

    ---

Married #1 Lydia _______

Married #2 Lois Abel

His son Ephraim is mentioned in his will.

GEDCOM Note

. Lt. John Sprague (43) was born about 1656 in Duxbury, Plymouth Co., MA.(44) He died on 6 Ma r 1727/28 in Lebanon, New London Co., CT.(45) (46) "Sprague Families in America", by W. V. Sprague, page 12. John Sprague was Constable of Duxbury in 1692, and held other public trusts there at variou s times from 1684 to 1701. He was one of the conspicuous members of the Church in Duxbury. 1702-3, January 8. John Sprague, "Mariner," and Lydia his wife, of Duxbury, deeded 40 acres o f upland with dwelling house and barn standing thereon in duxbury for 125 pounds to Israel Sy lvester of Scituate. His last deed in Duxbury was given January 28, 1702-3. 1703. He remove d 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, 1 718, in Oct.; 1719, May and Oct.; 1720, May. Rep. from Lebanon to General Court. 1706. He bore the title of Ensign; and of Lieut. in 1710-20. 1712-3, Jan. 8. He deeded to son Benjamin Sprague, land in Lebanon. 1713-4, Jan. 19. He deeded to son John Sprague, 120 acres of land. 1714, Sept. 21. He deeded to George Way, Jr., of Lyme, 100 acres of land. 1715-6, Jan. 18. He deeded to son Samuel sprague 120 acres of land. 1718, July 14. John Sprague, Sr., and John Sprague, Jr., agree to liberate Jack, an Indian sl ave bought by them when he has served faithfully 12 years, and give him a colt which they agr ee to keep free of charge until Jack sees fit to dispose of him. They also give him a ewe she ep, which they agree to keep and her increase for two years. 1726, July 6. Will mentions beloved wife, Mrs. Lois Sprague, granddaughter, Mary Way, and so n Ephraim Sprague.

From George Sawyer. Lt. John Sprague was a weaver and legislator.

He was married to Lydia Unknown about 1684 in Duxbury, Plymouth Co., MA. (47) Lydia Unknown w as born about 18 Jul 1658 in Duxbury, Plymouth Co., MA. She died on 18 Jul 1725 in Lebanon, N ew London Co., CT.(48) I have found no references to support the name of Goff. However, this name has been reporte d to me by Warren H. Hasty as the result of "submitted by a person researching the Goff famil y". In follow-up correspondence between Warren H. Hasty and Dr. David W. Lamberts, Mr. Hasty repo rts the following: My information was not from my research but through a Name Matching program sponsored by th e Silicon Valley PAF Users Group. I received two matches for John Sprague and Lydia Goff and one match for a John Sprague and L ois Standish with approximate birth dates, etc. for John Sprague and spouses as follows: Kay Lewis Baker John Sprague and Lydia Goff 166 East 3620 North RIN Number for Lydia - 566 Provo, UT 86404

United Ancestries Inc. John Sprague and Lydia Goff 2530 West South Sute No RIN Number shown Taylor's Landing Taylorville, UT 84118

John and Margaret Hansen John Sprague and Lois Standish 26600 S.E. 15th Street RIN Number for Lois - 3667 Issaquah, WA 98027-8240

In writing to above persons, you should include their RIN number where shown above so they ca n quickly find this data on their computer. Several months ago, I called the Baker family reg arding their source of data on this marriage of John Sprague and Lydia Goff and as I recall t hey stated it was from the Mormon Ancestral File. Unfortunately I did not follow through on a ny further research on this matter.

NOTE: December 11, 1996 by Richard E. Weber, The Composite Sprague Data Base. An extensive follow-up study was conducted by Dr. David Winton Lamberts to assist me in my pr oject efforts. The results are that no conclusive evidence has been isolated to support Lydi a Goff(e) as the name of the wife of John Sprague. It would appear that the name Goffe come s from confusion between this John and John Sprague, son of Ralph Sprague, the 1628 immigrant . Only scattered Family Group Sheets in the Ancestral File support the name Goffe and no othe r published reference was indicated by any correspondent. Lacking further evidence, I feel st rongly that this Lydia should be considered to have an unknown maiden name.

References

• https://familysearch.org/tree/person/LZ5N-X79/details
• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Sprague-391

  ---

GEDCOM Note

He deeded 100 acres of land to George Way of Lyme, 100 acres of land on 21 Sept 1715/16. Source Link: https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000175875543835label=@S1066@