The Sprague family is of ancient English origin. In Prince's Chronology we read: "Among those who arrived at Naumkeag are Ralph Sprague, with his brothers, Richard and William, who with three or four were by Governor Endicott employed to explore and take possession of the country westward. They traveled through the woods to Charlestown, on a neck of land called Mishawum, between the Mystic and Charles rivers, full of Indians called Aberginians, with whom they made peace."
Hon. Edward Everett, in his address commemorative of the bi-centennial of the arrival of Winthrop at Charlestown, said: "Ralph, Richard and William Sprague are the founders of the settlement in this place, and were persons of substance and enterprise, excellent citizens, generous benefactors and the head of a very large and respectable family of descendants."

(I) Edward Sprague, father of the American pioneers, lived at Upway, Dorsetshire, England, where he died in 1614. He was a fuller by trade. Earlier in life he lived at Fordington, Dorsetshire.
He married Christiana _____. His will was proved June 6, 1614, in the prerogative court at Canterbury. Copies of the will made at that time are still in possession of the family in America.
Children:
Ralph, mentioned below.
Alice.
Edward.
Richard, came to New England, captain of the train band, left no children.
Christopher.
William, lived in Charlestown and Hingham, Massachusetts, held various offices of trust and had many descendants in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

(II) Ralph, son of Edward Sprague, was born in Dorsetshire, England. He was about twenty-five years old when he came to this country. He was on what is thought to have been the first jury empannelled in this country. He was lieutenant of the train band. He was admitted a freeman May 18, 1631; appointed by the general court constable of Watertown in 1630; deputy to general court in 1635 and afterward. He removed to the part of Charlestown that was set off as Malden. He died Nov., 1650. The distribution of his estate was made Feb. 6, 1650-51, to widow Joanna and children John, Samuel, Mary and Phinehas.
The widow married Edward Converse. He married Joane, daughter of Richard Warren of Fordington, England, who left legacies to her and her children. She gave a power of attorney to John Holland of Tincklton, England, to collect these bequests. She was a member of the Charlestown and later the Malden church. Descendants of Ralph located at Lebanon, Conn.

(V) William, descendant of Ralph Sprague and Edward Sprague (1), was probably born in Lebanon, Conn., and settled in Ballstown, Albany county, New York, where he was living with his family in 1790, according to the first federal census.

(VI) William (2), son of William (1) Sprague, was born probably at Hopewell, near Canandaigua, New York, and probably died at Buffalo, New York.
He married Desire Benham.
Children:
1. Henry Benham, whose daughter Anna B. is living at Connersville, Indiana.
2. John Cromwell, mentioned below.
3. William.
Also six daughters:
4. Nancy, married Mr. Lampman.
5. Mary, married a Mr. Frazier.
6. Lizzie, died young.
7. Rebecca, married General Stager.
8. Emily, married Joshua Case.
9. Another who married a Mr. Gregory.

(VII) John Cromwell, son of William Sprague, was born in Canandaigua, N.Y., in 1828, and died in Ogdensburg in April, 1905. He was educated in the public schools of his native town. He left home when he was but twelve years old and learned the business of druggist and pharmacist. He lived in Syracuse, but came to Ogdensburg before he was of age and lived there the rest of his life. He embarked in business on his own account in a drug store at Ogdensburg, which, after a time, he sold and entered the book business. Afterwards he resumed the drug business, and retired after a long and successful career, a few years before his death.
He was a Democrat in politics. He was a member of the local lodge of Free Masons, and for thirty years he was vestryman of the Protestant Episcopal church of Ogdensburg.
He married, in 1859, Ellen Mary, daughter of Alden and Ellen (Baldwin) Vilas of Ogdensburg. (See Vilas).

(VIII) William Cromwell, son of John Cromwell Sprague, was born in Ogdensburg, Oct. 10, 1864. He was educated in private schools, St. Paul's school, Concord, New Hampshire, St. Luke's school, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and at Yale College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1886 with the degree of A.B. He entered the employ of the Standard Oil Company, and is at present (1910) the representative of that conern in Northern China, with headquarters at Shanghai, having filled this position since 1906.
He married Josephine Elyea, of Leroy, New York. They have one child, Edward Cromwell, born Nov. 10, 1901.

SECOND ENTRY:

Francis Sprague, immigrant ancestor, was born in England, and came to Plymouth in 1623. He was a taxpayer there in 1632, and was admitted a freeman June 17, 1637. He settled in Duxbury in 1632, near the part called the Nook. In 1640 he had land on the North river. He sold land at Duxbury, April 1, 1644, to his son-in-law, William Lawrence. Anna and Mercy Sprague had shares in the division of cattle in 1627. He was a proprietor of Bridgewater in 1645.
Children:
John.
Anna.
Mary.
Mercy, who married William Tubbs.
A daughter who married William Lawrence.

(II) John, son of Francis Sprague, was born about 1630, at Plymouth or Duxbury; died at Duxbury in 1676. He married, in 1655, Ruth Bennett. They lived at Marshfield. He was a soldier in King Philip's war, in Captain Michael Pierce's company, and was killed at Pawtucket, March 26, 1676.
Children:
John, mentioned below.
William.
Samuel.
Eliza.
Ruth, born Feb. 12, 1659.
Desire.
Dorcas, married, Jan. 10, 1673, Joseph Hatch.

(III) John (2), son of John (1) Sprague, was born at Duxbury, about 1660. He was a constable there in 1692. He resided there 1684-1701. He went to Lebanon, Connecticut.
He married Lydia _____.
Children:
John.
Ephraim, born March 15, 1685.
Benjamin, mentioned below.

(IV) Benjamin, son of John (2) Sprague, was born at Duxbury, July 15, 1686. He removed to Lebanon, Conn. He married (first) Dec. 29, 1707, Mary Woodworth; (second) Abigail Tisdale, of Taunton, who had by her first marriage Elkanah and Elijah Tisdale.
Children of first wife, born at Lebanon:
1. John, Sept. 5, 1709.
2. Eliakim, Oct. 10, 1711.
3. Mary, March 5, 1713.
4. William, Sept. 29, 1715.
5. Phineas, Sept. 5, 1717.
6. Jerusha, Oct. 2, 1720.
7. Benjamin, June 5, 1725.
Children of second wife:
8. Silas, Jan 3, 1727.
9. Abigail, Nov. 23, 1729.
10. Elkanah, Jan. 25, 1732.
11. Minor, March 5, 1734.
12. Lydia, March 20, 1736.
13. Esther, March 3, 1738.
14. Mary, Sept. 10, 1740.

(V) John (3), son of Benjamin Sprague, was born Sept. 5, 1709, at Lebanon, Conn.

(VI) John (4), son or nephew of John (3) Sprague, was born at or near Lebanon. He settled in Randolph, Orange county, Vermont. In 1790 there were living in Randolph, according to the first federal census, William Sprague, who had two sons under sixteen and two females in his family; Jonathan, who had two males over sixteen and two under that age, besides five females. Jonathan was a soldier in the revolution, from Vermont. John, Jonathan and William were probably sons of John.

(VII) John (5), son of John (4) Sprague, was born in Conn., or Randolph, Vermont. He lived at Randolph and was a farmer. He married Sally Story.
Children, born at Randolph:
John Leonard, mentioned below.
Sally, married 1837, Gilbert Morrill.

(VIII) John Leonard, son of John (5) Sprague, was born in Randolph, Vermont, and settled in his native town. He was a prominent citizen and a prosperous farmer. He married Emily Goss.
Children:
Richard.
John Z.
Prentiss L.
Francis C.
Mina.
Foster Goss, mentioned below.

(IX) Foster Goss, son of John Leonard Sprague, was born in Randolph, Vermont, in 1854, and has always lived there. He received a common school education. During his boyhood he worked on his father's farm. He engaged in business in 1894 as a general merchant at East Randolph, Vermont, and has continued with much succcess to the present time. His son, Harry F., is in partnership with him under the firm name of Sprague & Sprague.
In politics he is a Democrat, and in religion a Universalist. He has been justice of the peace for a number of years.
He married in 1872, Abbie Pearsons, born 1854, daughter of Leonard and Amanda Pearsons.
Children:
1. Harry F., of the firm of Sprague & Sprague; married Gertrude Greaves; children: Dorothy, Harry, Arthur, Richard and Emily.
2. Leonard Pearsons, mentioned below.
3. Ruth A., resides with her parents.

(X) Dr. Leonard Pearsons Sprague, son of Foster Goss Sprague, was born in Tunbridge, Vermont, Aug. 22, 1879. He attended the public schools and the State Normal School at Randolph, from which he was graduated in 1898. He entered the University of Vermont and graduated in the class of 1902 with the degree of B.S., and continued his studies, receiving the degree of M.S. in 1905, and M.D. in 1906.
He accepted an appointment in the Mary Fletcher Hospital, and was for two years and a half connected with the laboratory of hygiene of the State Board of Health. He began to practice in June, 1909, at Chateaugay, New York. He is a member of the Vermont Medical Association, the American Medical Association and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He belongs to several college fraternities, Kappa Sigma, Phi Beta Kappa, and Delta Mu. In politics he is independent. He attends the Presbyterian church.
He married, Feb. 22, 1907, Maud Thurber, of Belmont, New York, daughter of Dr. Elmer E. and Jennie (Hoy) Thurber. They have no children.
[Transcriber's note: this material was published in 1910, so this couple may have had children; they just weren't born early enough to make the list.].

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