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.
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.
