1628 Abigail

The Abigail left Weymouth with Dorset passengers, with Master Henry Goding/Gauden. (as per Goding family), sailed from Weymouth, Dorset, June 20, and arrived at Salem September 6, with the new government for 'London's Plantation,' under the Governorship of Captain John Endicott.. passengers include:

1. John Endicott, governor of Mass.
2. Mrs. Anna Endicott
3. Charles Gott of Cambridge, England Salem
4. Mrs. Joyce Gott
5. Richard Brackenbury Folke or Holnest, Dorset Salem
6. William Brackenbury Folke or Holnest, Dorset Salem
7. Hugh Laskins Childhay, Dorset Salem
8. Mrs Laskin
9. Edith Laskin
10. Lawrence Leach perhaps from Ash, Martock Somerset Salem
11. Roger Morey Drimpton, Dorset Salem
12. John Elford Chetnold, Dorset Salem
13. Thomas Pucker Upcerne, Dorset Salem
14. Captain Richard Davenport

15. Mathias Button
16. Humphrey Woodberry with his father
17. Ralph Sprague of Upwey (son of Edward)
18. Richard Sprague (brother of Ralph)
19. William Sprague (brother of Ralph and Richard

Passengers who are listed in other sources as being aboard
20. Thomas Scruggs
21. Margaret Scruggs (wife)
22. Rachel Scruggs (daughter)

From information compiled by George P. Stowers, there follows this account of the ship’s passengers after they landed. This particular information is from Frothingham’s History of Charleston: Shortly after Endicott’s arrival and the settlement of Salem there “came over from England several people at their own charge, and arrived at Salem”. There were the 350 passengers on the fleet of six ships listed above. Included in this fleet were the three brothers, Ralph, Richard and William Sprague. These three brothers, with several others, with Endicott’s permission traveled through the woods to the peninsula on which Charlestown is now located. The Town Records refer to this event and from them the following is quoted: “Amongst others that arrived at Salem at their own cost, were Ralph Sprague, with his brethren Richard and William, who with three or four more, by joint consent and approbation of Mr. John Endicott, Governor, did the same summer of Anno 1629, undertake a journey from Salem, and traveled the woods about twelve miles to the westward, and lighted of a place situate and lying on the north side of Charles River, full of Indians called Aberginians. Their old Sachem being dead, his eldest son, by the English called John Sagamore, was their chief, and a man naturally of a gentle and good disposition, by whose free consent they settled about the hill of the same place, by the said natives called Mishawum.”


The following is an excerpt from the first proceedings of the Sprague’s and their associates: “The inhabitants yet: first settled in this place and brought it into the denomination of an English Towne, was in Anno 1629 as follows, viz: Ralph Sprague; Richard Sprague; William Sprague; John Meech; Simon Hoyte; Abraham Palmer; Walter Palmer; Nicholas Stower; John Stickline. Thomas Walford Smith yet lived here alone before. Mr. Graves who had charge of some, of the servants of the Company of Patentees with whom he built the great house this year for such of the said Company as are shortly to come over which afterwards became the Meeting house. And Mr. Bright Minister to the Companies Servants.”




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


Ralph Sprague, wife and brothers are thought to be on the Lyons Whelp as per http://www.sprague-database.org.