History below from their graves at findagrave.com.
EDWARD, and CHRISTIANA (HOLLAND) SPRAGUE, raised a family of six children in
Upwey. They were Alice (1597-1645), Ralph (1599-1650), Edward (1601-1633),
Richard (1605-1668), Christopher (1607-1624/25) and William (1609-1675).
In the year 1614 EDWARD SPRAGUE (senior) was still a relatively young man but he
sickened and hastily arranged for his Will to be written. This was signed on the
6th June that year, shortly before he died, as probate was granted on the 13th
of October 1614, just a few days after his death. Will still survives within the
family in America.
At the time of his demise (age 38 yrs), Alice, the eldest, was 17, Ralph who was
now technically head of the family was 15 and the youngest William only 5 years
old. Their lack of maturity and Edward's death seems to have precipitated a
number of changes.
EDWARD SPRAGUE of Upwey was the father and a well established ‘Fuller' by
trade. A Fuller is someone who cleanses and thickens cloth as a part of the
finishing process. They lived comfortably by the standards of the day, operating
from the Mill.
His will shows that he owned 80 sheep and forty two lambs and among his
possessions were four pairs of shears, so they clearly sheared their own sheep
and then processed the wool at the Mill. To keep the Mill going they would also
have bought in wool from local farmers. There is some speculation that Edward
grew up in Fordington.
Daughter Alice is the eldest child of Edward and Christian Sprague of Upwey,
Dorset, England. She married first Richard son of Thomas and Millicent
(Brewster) Eames on Jun 5, 1616 in Fordington, Dorset, England.
She married second John Holland December 20, 1638 in Tincleton, Dorset, England.
Son Ralph Sprague Born about 1595, probably at Upway, Dorsetshire, son of
Edward and Christian (_____) Sprague. In his will, Edward calls "Ralphe
Sprague my eldest son." A fuller from Fordington St. George, Dorsetshire
who came to Massachusetts Bay in 1629. First settled in Charlestown &
removed to Malden. Died in Malden November 1650. His stepfather, John Corbin,
wrote from Upway on 25 March 1651 "I am very sorry to understand that my
brother-in-law John Holland shall report ... that you are dead ... but I give
God praise that I hear to the contrary."
Married in Fordington St. George, Dorsetshire, 15 August 1623 Johane/Joan
Warren, daughter of Richard Warren. Joan Sprague was admitted to Boston church
as member #103, immediately after her husband; dismissed with him to newly
formed church at Charlestown. She married (2) 1663 EDWARD CONVERSE . She died
Woburn 24 February 1680 and called herself "Joannah Convers widow to Edward
deceased sometimes wife of Lieutenant Ralph Sprague" in her will. Source:
Anderson's Pilgrim Migration.
Ralph Sprague married in Fordington St.
George, Dorsetshire, 15 August 1623 Johane/Joan Warren, daughter of Richard
Warren. Joan Sprague was admitted to Boston church as member #103, immediately
after her husband; dismissed with him to newly formed church at Charlestown.
They had six children: John, Jonathan, Richard, Samuel, Mary Edmunds, &
Phineas.
Johane/Joan Warren Sprague married (2) in 1663, EDWARD CONVERSE. She died in Woburn 24 February 1680 and called herself "Joannah Convers widow to Edward deceased sometimes wife of Lieutenant Ralph Sprague" in her will. Source: Anderson's Pilgrim Migration & Winthrop Fleet.
Edward was the 4th child of Edward and Christiana (Holland) Sprague, born in Fordington, Dorset, England in 1601. He is said to have been married, but names and dates have not been uncovered.
Richard is a son of Edward and Christiana Sprague. He and his
Brothers Ralph
and William
arrived in America in 1628 from Upwey, Dorset, England. Richard was a sea
captain and owner of a merchant ship. He married Mary Sharp, there are no
indications of children in this marriage.
Richard Sprague in the year in which he came to America, the first meeting of
the settlers of the town of Charlestown was recorded and his name with his
brothers Ralph and William stood at the head of the list. Took the Freeman's
Oath May 18, 1631. In an agreement entered into February 10, 1634, for first
government of the town by a body of selectmen, were appended thirty-three names
and theirs again appeared. He was mentioned among "some of the chief"
of the one hundred fifty-one members in 1632 who joined in full communion with
the Charlestown church when it was separately organized. It appeared in the
church record as "Richard, Mary, Sprague," the names of husband and
wife being written as one name. He became a member of the Honorable Artillery
Company in the year 1638, which company received its charter in that year and
was composed of members of different towns of the colony. The General Court
granted him one hundred acres of land in 1639 significantly adding as the reason
of its vote "having borne difficulties in the beginning." For several
years he was selectman, and from 1659-1666 he was deputy to General Court. His
occupation was merchant. He followed the sea, however, as he was captain of the
Pink Consent for a time; owned several vessels and was in trade with Barbados.
He accumulated a large property by grant and purchase as his possessions showed;
thirteen lots of real estate comprising many acres, wharf, warehouse,
investments in vessels, etc. He d. in Charlestown, November 25, 1668 at the age
of sixty-three. His will was dated September 15, 1668 and proved December 11,
1668, devising to his wife, Mary, whom he m. in England, his nephews Richard,
Lieut. John, cousins Samuel and Phineas and Mary Edmands, his brother William of
Hingham, Margery Dawse and Alice Lord, to Harvard College, and to the poor of
Charlestown, etc. Mary's will was dated November 12, 1671, and it was proved
April 16, 1674. No children.
Christopher is a son of Edward and Christiana Sprague. His
Brothers Ralph, William and Richard arrived in Salem in 1628 from Upwey, Dorset,
England.
Christopher died and was buried in Fordington, Dorset, England.
Fordington is a part of the town of Dorchester, Dorset; originally a separate
village, it has now become a suburb. Taking its name from a ford across the
River Frome, it grew up around the church of St. George (where Henry Moule was
once Vicar), though the parish was much larger and surrounded Dorchester on
three sides. It was part of the liberty of Fordington.
The will of Alfred the Great is said to make an early reference to Saint George
of England, in the context of the church of Fordington, Dorset. Certainly at
Fordington a stone over the south door records the miraculous appearance of St
George to lead crusaders into battle.
Christopher married Ann Grey in 1623, he died shortly thereafter, Ann died in
1626 age 16.