Sprague, from Spragg
England -> Long Island (mid to early 17th Century) -> Upper Canada (Ontario) (1812)
Much info from this source however it has has that my 7th Great Grandfather "was an English clergyman who emigrated to America early in the eighteenth century" though most sources have it that the emmigration was 3 generations prior and in the 16th century. Which is correct? Additional Information from the Sprague project website & database.
It appears that Spragg became Sprague upon the move to Canada, Though another source, which has back one additional generation (another Edward) has it as always Sprague, and connects my 11th Great Grandfather as the brother of the Spragues of Massachusetts, though it also has a seperate Francis Sprague line in Plymouth & Duxbury. However this source has that this supposed 11th GGrandfather died in 1614, 2 years before my 10th GGrandfather was born. I've gone ahead and included the information for now but please note this discrepancy. Other sources (ie the Valentine Sprague Bible) list this ancestor as "Moses Spragg"
Where in England is Upway? Found my answer: Dorsetshire, however it now appears that the info on the below listed 11th GGF is indeed incorrect - the Long Island Spragg's are not connected to the Massachusetts Spragues from Dorsetshire.
?? My 11th Great Grandfather, Edward Sprague ??             Unlikely
Please read the introduction text for some problems with this
Died 1614 in Upway, Dorsetshire, England, his will being proved June 6, 1614. Married Christiana ?.
Fuller by trade.
Previously lived at Fordington, Dorsetshire.
    Children:
  • Lt. Ralph Sprague (?-1650), one of the pioneers of Charlestown, and then Watertown, m. Joanna/Joane Warren. Proginator of the Lebanon, CT branch.
    • John Sprague
    • Samuel Sprague
    • Mary Sprague
    • Phinehas Sprague
  • Alice Sprague
  • Edward Sprague
  • Capt. Richard Sprague, one of the pioneers of Charlestown, left no children.
  • Christopher Sprague
  • William Sprague, one of the pioneers of Charlestown, and then Hingham, MA.
?? My 11th Great Grandfather, Moses Spragg or Spragie??
At least one child - Edward Spragg, or perhaps three per family lore:
  • John Spragg/Sprague, settled in Rhode Island
  • Joseph Spragg, settled in Richmond, NJ, ancestor of the Staten Island Spragg's
    • son's: Jacob Spragg, John Spragg, & Edward Spragg
    • grandsons: William Sprague & Joseph Sprague
  • Edward Spragg
My 10th Great Grandfather, Edward Spragg
Born 1616 in Upway, England. Died 10 March 1687 in Hempstead Town, Yorkshire, New York.
Some sources say born in Upway, Dorsetshire, England, but this seems incorrect (see introductory text).
The version in the Valentine Sprague bible has that he, not his great grandson Edward, married Margaret Gritman (or perhaps there are two seperate Edward Spragg - Margaret Gritman marriages).
Either he or his son Edward was the Cattle keeper/herdsman "in the neck" (later the town of Jamaica, then "Hempstead", nowadays North Hempstead) when the colonists practiced collective cattle keeping, recorded as such in various years between 1657-1663. He was responsible for 120 head in 1657.
There are many records refering to the various Edward Spragg's or Sprage's in the area and timeframe, but it is not always possible to distinquish which Edward is being refered to. This eldest Edward was capable of signing his name, while others appear to only use brands or marks, but still it is not always possible to distinquish which Edward is mentioned in the various records. The eldest Edward is also likely the "Edward Spry" in some dutch records from New Amsterdam.
At least 2 Children: It is possible that either Edward (the younger) or William had a son named Joseph Spragg (the one listed in the Great Neck area in the 1698 census) and that William's widow might be the Hannah Spragg in the same census, but there are also 2 clusters of Spragg's not explained in that census- Mary, John, Thomas, & Richard in one, and Edward, Abigail, Sarah, Jacob, & Edward in the other - the later is a perfect fit for my 8th GGparents and family, and the former is frequently assumed to be the widow and children of Edward, brother of John.

Note- Edward is person I99734 at the Sprague Project Database
My 9th Great Grandfather, John Spragg
Born circa 1645 in Hempstead Town, New York. Died before 1698 in Hempstead Town, New York.
Many sources now seem to swap him for his brother Edward (making the next two generations Edward Spragg III & IV).
Recorded as "John Spreag" is some records.
Apparently not the same as the John Spragg, Colonial Secretary.
One Child - Edward Spragg

Note- John is person I99736 at the Sprague Project Database
My 8th Great Grandfather, Edward Spragg
Born circa 1671 in Hempstead Town, New York. Died after 29 April 1726 in Hempstead Town, New York. Married Abigail Southard.
Some sources imply a birth around about 1665.
At least two Children (Edward & Jacob), other sources add other children, birth order unclear: Note - Edward is Person I91428 at the Sprague Project Database
My 7th Great Grandfather, Edward Spragg
Born 1696 in Hempstead, Long Island, New York. died 1785 in Hempstead Town, New York. Married Margaret Gritman.
Some descriptive sources say they had three son's - Elijah who stayed in Hempstead, and two unnamed sons - one of whom went to Nova Scotia, and the other went to Rhode Island, however other sources (of which I am not conviced) list 5 sons (Edward, William, Thomas, Samuel, & Elijah) and 3 daughters - those same sources claim that his wife was his younger sisters granddaughter (see the Gritman page for more), as well as changing his son's Elijah's birth & death dates and his wifes surname from Golder to Golden: OR: Note - Edward is person I93530 at the Sprague Project Database
My 6th Great Grandfather, Elijah Spragg
Born 10 May 1740 in Hempstead, Long Island, New York. Died 1808 in Hempstead Town, New York. Married 17 April 1768 in Hempstead, Long Island, New York to Hannah Golder.
Some sources (which list the additional siblings) have his birth as 1748 and death in 1780.
Three son's, and possibly a daughter: Note - Elijah is person I99743 at the Sprague Project Database
My 5th Great Grandfather, Samuel Spragg/Sprague
Born 1770 or circa 1772. Died 1816 in Prescott or Cornwall, Upper Canada. Married 1 April 1792 to Catherine Smith.
Ship Carpenter.
Came to Canada in 1812, according to allisons.net: "He followed the usual overland route to the mouth of the Oswego river, where he and his family embarked in what were known as Durham boats. Coasting along the eastern shore of the lake, they ascended the Bay of Quinte, and landed east of the village of Northport.... He settled on lot 28, 1st concession of Sophiasburgh. Mr. Sprague had been induced to emigrate by Benjamin Smith, who had preceded him to the Bay of Quinte in 1801, and settled at Demorestville. About that time Samuel was employed in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and being especially skilled occupied a responsible position. He owned a schooner, which he leased to a man who, unknown tohim, engaged in the contraband trade, with the result that it was confiscated by the United States Government. After his arrival at Northport, Samuel built a schooner for Benjamin Smith, and later began the construction of one for himself, which was partly completed at the time of his death." (I took the liberty of correcting what I presumed to be typo's in the above. I wonder if the Benjamin Smith is any relation to Catherine Smith?).
"He died while returning from Montreal, after taking down and disposing of a raft of square-oak timber. He was a ship carpenter by trade, and oak being plentiful on his own property and in the surrounding forest, he had been engaged for more than three years before his death in cutting, squaring and rafting oak to Quebec. It ua on one of these trips, his last one it unfortunately proved, that he contracted byphoid fever and died on his way home somewhere about the Long Sault--near Prescott or Cornwall. He had sold his raft of oak for $1,000, but died among strangers who no doubt robbed him. His widow was never able to trace or recover any portion of the money."
?? Children: Note - Samuel is person I99767 in the Sprague Project Database
My 4th Great Grandmother, Catherine Sprague
Born 1809. Died 1861. Married Benjamin Allison (her 8th cousin).
The 1851 Census for Hastings county, Sydney Township, listes the family as being Wesleyan Methodists.
One child - William J. Allison, though the 1851 Sydney township census also lists a 10 year old Fanny M. & a 14 year old male in addition to the 8 year old "Wm Janes" and that all three were born in Sophiasburg.

Note - Catherine is person I239755 at the Sprague Project Database
Return to the Main Page or to the Ahnentafel page.
Webmaster: Greg Weatherup
Last Update: Jan. 19th, 2012.