Individual Details

About 1595 Edward married Christian Holland and moved from Dorchester to live in Upway, near Weymouth. Their home was the "Mill House" situated near the River Wey, a small stream that worked the Mill for Fulling. (Note: The Mill House is still in existence and the village boasts the "Sprague Wishing Well", and a set of Bells given to the church nearby).

In 1597 a daughter Alice was born followed in 1599/1600 by Ralph (Ralfe) and subsequently four more sons, namely, Edward, Richard, Christopher and William in 1610.

Edward did not enjoy robust health and in 1614 he died at an untimely age of 38/40, leaving his wife Christian to look after the 6 children all under the age of 21.

Search for the Passengers of the Mary & John 1630, Vol. 26, Burton W. Spear, 1997, p.101
from "Genealogical Gleanings in England" p.1016, Henry F. Waters, 1907
Abstract of Will of Edward Sprague of Upway, Dorset, dated 6 Jun 1614, proved 13 Oct 1614; PCC Lawe 104
To buried in the Upway churchyard
Eldest son Ralph Sprague. Eldest dau Alice Sprague. Second son Edward Sprague. Third son Richard Sprague. Fourth son Christopher Sprague. Youngest son William Sprague. Residue to wife Christian Sprague. Overseers: Henry Sanvoyes/Samwayes and William Bryer. Wit: John Bishoppe, John Taylor
Memorandum that whereas the living of the above said Edward Sprague doth fall onto his son Ralphe Sprague after his deceased, the said Ralfe Sprague doth, upon his father's request promise that his mother Christian Sprague shall quietly enjoy the said living until he shall be one and twenty years of age.


Upwey
The Will of Edward Sprague of Upwey, Dorset dated 6th June 1614
Transcribed by Michael Russell Feb 2008 A copy of the original Will is available from the National Archives Ref PROB 11/124 but this does not contain the Inventory. The original Will and Inventory was discovered among papers of Captain William Sprague a 5th generation descendant who died in Leicester Massachusetts in 1832. It was previously published in Hosea Spragues Genealogy of the Spragues in Hingham. A digital image of this work is also available on line via the Church of Latter Day Saints website Catalogue under “Title Search” - See also Biographies under the Parish of Fordington.

The Vith [6th] daye [day] of June in the yeare [year] of our Lord God, one thousand six hundred and fourteen [1614]. In the name of God, Amen
I, Edward Sprague of Upwey in the County of Dorset, ffuller, [Fuller] being sicke [sick] and weake [weak] of body, but well and perfect in mind, thanks being unto Almighty God, do ordaine [ordain] and appoint this my last Will and Testament to be made in manner and forme [form] following. That is to say, ffirst [first] of all, I do bequeath my Soul unto Almighty God, my Saviour and Redeemer, and my bodie [body] to be buried within the church yard. As for such temporall [temporal] goods as God has blessed me withall [withal], I give and bequeath as hereafter follows: viz.
I give unto the parrishe [parish] church of Upwey tenne [ten] shillings.
Item:- I give unto the poor of the said parrishe [parish] of Upwey tenne [ten] shillings
Item:- I give unto unto Ralphe Sprague my eldest sonne [son] one of the oldest paire [pair] of shears in my shoppe [shop] and one lesser payer [pair] called the quarrel.
Item:- I give and bequeath unto my eldest daughter Alice Sprague fiftie [fifty] poundes [pounds] to be paid within one yeare [year] after my decease.
Item:- I give and bequeath unto Edward Sprague my second sonne [son] two paire [pair] of shears and twentie [twenty] poundes [pounds] to be paid likewise within one year after my decease.
Item:- I give and bequeath unto Richard Sprague my third son twenty poundes [pounds] to be paid when he shall be one and twenty years of age.
Item:- I give and bequeath unto Xpofer [Christopher] Sprague my fourth sonne [son] twenty poundes [pounds] to be paid when he shall be of the age be one and twenty years.
Item:- I give and bequeath unto William Sprague my youngest sonne [son] xx L [twenty pounds] to be when he shall be of the age of one and twenty years.
All the rest of my goods movable and unmovable I give and bequeath unto Christian Sprague my wife whom I do make my whole (sole) executrix of this my last Will and Testament.
Memorandum: that if Richard Sprague , Christopher Sprague or William Sprague shall happen to die either of them before they shall be of age of one and twenty years, that then their legacie [legacy] to be devided [divided] betweene [between] the other two or if two of them shall happen to dye [die] before they shall be of the age of one and twenty years that the their legacies to remain to the other then living
ffinally, I do appoint Henry Samways and William Bryar overseers of this my last Will and Testament in the presence of those whose names are underwritten John Bishoppe [Bishop] John Taylor his marke [mark]
Memorandum: that whereas the living of the aforesaid Edward Sprague doth fall unto his sonne [son] Ralph Sprague after his decease the said Ralph Sprague doth upon his fathers request promise that his mother Christian Sprague shall quietly enjoy the said living until he shall be one and twenty years of age.
Probate: On the 13th day of October 1614 Probate was granted in London to Christian Sprague widow and executrix therein named.

Inventory:
A True and perfect Inventory indented of all and singular the goods, rightes, chattels and debts of Edward Sprague late of Upwey in the County of Dorset, FULLER deceased made the sixth day of June and appriced and valued by Thomas Leball, John Seller, William Bryar and Francis George as followeth, viz 1614
IMPRIMUS [ In the First Place] his wearing apparell
Item: a piece of Russet cloth
Item: two beds furnished
Item: one coverled and a carpet
Item: ten pair of sheets, board cloths, with two pair of pillow byes, and six table napkins
Item: thirteen silver spoons
Item: one cupboard, nineteen pewter vessels, three candle sticks, and three salts
Item: four coffers, one chest. two chairs and a flasket
Item: a sword and dagger
Item: two other beds furnished
Item: mill
Item: a sack of wheat and a sack of malt
Item: iron ropes, with other old yron [iron]
Item: one willow, four old tubs with a hedlop
Item: one table, board and cupboard
Item: five barrels with other timbre vessels
Item: two frying pans, one spit, two andyrons three pair of pothooks, with other kytchin [kitchen] stuff
Suma Totalissimus Inventury £cclviii

On 25 Apr 1629, the "Lyon's Whelp" sailed from Graveshead (London) with 40 planters from Dorset and Somerset, including six fishermen from Dorchester, Dorset. They arrived in Salem in mid-July. Aboard were three brothers from Upway, Dorset - Ralph Sprague, age 30, Richard Sprague age 25, and William Sprague age 19. With Ralph was his wife, Joanna Warren and children John 4, Jonathan 3, and Richard, 1. Rev. John White of Dorchester, Dorset, sent them to seek out a plantation site of the "Mary & John" group from the West Country that white was planning to send out the following spring. They became the founders of Charlestown, MA.

The Lyon's Whelp left the Thames, Gravesend, England April 5, 1629 along with five other ships, George Bonaventure, Four Sisters, Lyon, the Mayflower and the Talbot, arriving in Salem June 1629.

Known Passengers:

Thomas Minor
Simon HOYT (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~robinsgenealogypage/index.html)
“Now in this year1629, a great company of people (The Higginson Fleet) of good rank, zeal, means and quality have made a great stock, and with six good ships in the months of April and May, they set sail from Thames for the Bay of the Massachusetts, otherwise called Charles River. The fleet consisted of, the George Bonaventure of twenty pieces of ordnance; the Talbot nineteen; the Lion’s Whelp eight; the Mayflower fourteen; the Four sisters fourteen and the Pilgrim four, with 350 men women and children, also 115 head of cattle, as horses, mares, cows and oxen, 41 goats, some conies (rabbits), with all provision for household and apparel, 6 pieces of great ordnance for a fort, with muskets, pikes, corselets, drums, colors, and with all provisions necessary for a plantation for the good of man.”
(The True Travels, Adventures and Observations of Captain John Smith – London 1630)

From http://users.adelphia.net/~cousin.wes3/stower_stowers_history.htm

Charles Banks Topo lists the following passengers:
Eedes, William, from Dorsethsire, bound for Salem. Ref: Hist Record of Putman Co, NY. 36 pg 37.
Hoyt, Simon, from Upway, bound for Charlestown and Salem, Dorchester, Windsor Ct. Ref: Hist Record of Putman Co, NY. Notation states he was aboard to Lions Whelp or the Abigail, 1629. 36 pg 36.
Sprague, Ralph, Richard and William, all from Upway, Dorsetshire, bound for Salem 169. Ref: Pope. 36 pg 35.
Stower, first name unknown, from Upway, Dorsetshire, bound for Charlestown, MA 1629.
Tilly, Hugh, from Somersetshire, bound for Salem and Yarmouth. Ref: Mass Col Rec 1/101. 36 pg 147.
Lyon's Whelp sources:
http://www.sprague-database.org
http://www.stoningtonhistory.org/archiv4.htm

Marriage	Abt 1596	Living
Death	Bef 13 Oct 1614

Spouse	Living
Child	Alice SPRAGUE (1597 - )
Child	Ralph SPRAGUE (1599 - 1650)
Child	Edward SPRAGUE (1601 - )
Child	Richard SPRAGUE (1605 - 1668)
Child	Christopher SPRAGUE (1607 - )
Child	WILLIAM SPRAGUE (1609 - 1675)