Francis Sprague came to Plymouth with his family. He was admitted a freeman of Plymouth on June 7, 1637. He moved to Duxbury the next year and served as surveyor of highways for two years, and as constable for one. He was licensed to keep victualling [inn-keeping] on October 1, 1638 for Duxbury, but was fined several times for selling wine contrary to the order of the Court. He lost his licence on May 5, 1640, but had it reissued on July 7, 1646. His license was recalled on June 5, 1666.
Francis, Anna and Mercy Sprague came to Plymouth in 1623. Opinion is divided as to whether Anna was his wife or his daughter. If his wife, then the couple had another daughter, name unknown, who married by 1644 and was therefore born soon after May 22, 1627. If his daughter, then Francis Sprague came to Plymouth with two daughters but no wife, and married in Plymouth by about 1630.
"Sprague Families in America", by Dr. Warren Vincent Sprague, page 2:
Francis Sprague came in the good ship, "Anne" which sailed from London, England, and arrived at Plymouth, July, 1623. He was one of those "passengers" who, as Morton writes, "seeing the low and poor conditions of those that were before them, were much daunted and dismayed, and according to their divers humors, were diversely affected. Some wished themselves in England again; others fell to weeping, fancying their own misery in what they saw in others; other some pitying the distress they saw their friends had long been in, and still were under. In a word, all were full of sadness; only some of their old friends rejoiced to see them, and it was no worse with them for they could not expect it should be better, and now hoped they should enjoy better days together. And truly it was no marvel they should be thus affected, for they were in a low condition, both in respect of food and clothing at that time." Governor Bradford, in allusion to the passengers who came in the Anne and the James, says: "The best dish we could present them with, is a lobster, or a piece of fish, without bread, or any thing else but a cup of fair spring water: and the long continuance of this diet, with our labors abroad, has somewhat abated the freshness of our complexion; but God gives us health."
He married in England, Lydia ______ who with their daughter came with him.
"Pilgrims Republic of 1888", Goodwin, pages 362-596.
1623, Autumn. He shared in the division of lands with those who came in the Anne.
1627, At the division of cattle he gives the names of his children as Ann and Mary.
1627, July. Signed an agreement with William Bradford and others pertaining to the carrying on of the fur trade.
1632-3, Jan. 2. Was taxed at Plymouth, being assessed for 18 shillings.
1632. About this date he settled in the N.E. part of Duxbury, near the Nook, so called.
1637, June 17. Admitted Freeman of the Colony.
1637. Licensed to sell spirituous liquors. 1640. Owned land on North River.
1644, Apr. 1. Deeded to his son-in-law William Lawrence 50 acres on South River.
1645. Was one of the original proprietors of Bridgewater, but he nor any of his family came to reside there. He was one of the original purchasers of Dartmouth.
1659, Oct 26. Deeded land to his son-in-law Ralph Earle of Rhode Island.
1666. Was an Inn Holder up to this date and owned considerable property. Mr. Sprague did not adhere strictly to the enactments of the civil code of the Puritan Fathers and was several times brought before the Court for what they considered departures from the strict line of duty. His ardent temperament and great independence of mind did not fully accord with the principles of the Puritans, but considered from the present standards of estimating the characters of men, he must have been a person of worth and great respectability. We know that he was the head of a most honorable and respected family of descendants.
1669. His son John succeeded to his business of "keeping an Ordinary" or tavern, where spirituous liquors were sold, and it is presumed that his death occurred shortly before.
1662. The Court admonished good wife Tubbs (his daughter Mercy) for "mixed dancing"; she left her husband and in 1668 the court granted him a divorce. They had a son, William Tubbs, Jr., who married in 1691, Judith, widow of Isaac Baker.
24 Oct 1918 - Appointed First Lieutenant of Engineers by the President of the United States, form 650-6
03 Dec 1918 - Honorable discharge from the Army, First Lieutenant of Engineers, Washington DC
17 Mar 1914 - married Mildred Hoffman Stevens in Sacramento, Marriage License #876
Hydraulic Engineer for the Ca Fish & Game Commission
1930 census Oakland, CA
26 Apr 1942 - Selective Service registration address 1582 Euclid Ave, Berkeley, CA, white, 6 foot, 175 pounds, blue eyes, brown hair, light complexion
1955 registration as a Republican, retired, address 359 Vernon St Apt 101 penthouse, Oakland, birth in Wisconsin.
Oct 2 1961 - Rec'd 50 year membership pin in at the Eureka Lodge #16 F & AM in Auburn
1964 Jan 1 Royal Arch Masons of California registration
1964 Dec 31, Knights of Templar certification in Oakland, CA
1966 drivers lic says red hair, grey eyes
Wife Mildred was president of the Oakland chapter Knights Templar Ladies Auxiliary 1923,1924,1925