~~ Massachusetts ~~

--- Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Generations in America ---

Families of the Children of Margaret⁵ Washburn and Capt. Ephraim⁵ Holmes

Only two of the daughters of Margaret Washburn have descendants that have been identified. The middle daughter, Rebeckah, was not the Rebecca Holmes of Plymouth who married Peter Shurtleff in Plympton, and Margaret’s youngest daughter, Margaret Holmes, and her husband Eleazer Fuller, probably moved elsewhere from Plymouth County before 1790, but there were several Eleazer Fullers and I have not been able to determine where this particular family settled at this point, so their childrens’ families have not yet been traced.

			John^3 Washburn (6th)
		Lt. John^4 Washburn (7th)
			Rebecca^2 Lapham
	Margaret^5 Washburn
			Nathaniel^2 Packard
		Margaret^3 Packard
			Lydia Smith[?]
Eunice^6 Holmes
Rebeckah Holmes
Margaret^6 Holmes
			John^3 Holmes (3rd)
		John^4 Holmes (4th)
			Sarah Thomas
	Capt. Ephraim^5 Holmes
			Edmond^3 Tilson
		Elizabeth^4 Tilson
			Elizabeth Waterman

(986.) Eunice⁶ Holmes, eldest daughter of (366) Margaret⁵ Washburn, (111) Lt. John⁴ (7th), (56) John³ (6th), (43) John² (5th), (28) John¹ (4th); born in Halifax, MA, on 27 July 1741,[1] married 1.) Sgt. Benjamin⁴ Sprague, son of Jonathan³ and Lydia (Leavitt) Sprague, of South Bridgewater,[2] on 12 Aug. 1762 in Bridgewater.[3] He was born on 4 July 1736 in Bridgewater,[4] a grandson of William² and Deborah (Lane) Sprague (Jr.), of Providence, RI.[5] He served as a Sergeant in Capt. James Allen’s Company from Bridgewater in 1777, during the Revolutionary War, stationed in Bristol, RI.[6]

Sgt. Benjamin Sprague died intestate on 31 Mar. 1778 in Bridgewater, of small pox, aged 41 years,[7] and his widow Eunice Sprague was granted administration of his estate on 1 Feb. 1779.[8] She remarried to 2.) Solomon Ames (Jr.), son of Solomon and Susanna (Keith) Ames,[9] in ca. 1781 in Bridgewater.[10] He was born on 18 Sept. 1741 in Bridgewater,[11] and they were living in Bridgewater, MA, in the 1790,[12] and 1800 federal censuses.[13] Solomon Ames (Jr.) died testate on 24 Feb. 1814 in Bridgewater, aged 72 years,[14] his will dated 11 June 1810, and probated on 5 Apr. 1814, mentioned his wife Eunice, his two brothers Simeon and Jotham, and his son-in-law Asa Pratt, whom he named as executor of his estate.[15] (See Appendix [A] for a full transcription of his will.) Eunice (Holmes) (Sprague) Ames died on 12 Oct. 1833 in Bridgewater, aged 92 years,[16] but no probate records were filed for her estate.

Eunice Holmes had 3 children by Benjamin Sprague:

2639 i Capt. Ephraim⁵ Sprague, born on 17 May 1763 in Bridgewater,[17] married (1673) Vina⁵ Edson, daughter of Ezra⁴ and (513) Rebecca (Johnson) Edson,[18] on 29 June 1783 in Bridgewater.[19] She was born on 24 Apr. 1765 in Bridgewater,[20] a granddaughter of Samuel³ and Mary Edson (3rd),[21] and of Capt. David and (135) Rebecca⁴ (Washburn) Johnson.[22] He served as a Private in Capt. Nathan Packard’s Company from Bridgewater in 1779 during the Revolutionary War,[23] and was apparently promoted to Captain of the Militia after the war. They were living in Bridgewater, MA, in the 1790 federal census, nearby his step-father, Solomon Ames,[24] and the 1800,[25] and 1810 federal censuses,[26] in the South Parish of Bridgewater in the 1820 federal census,[27] and in Bridgewater in the 1830,[28] and 1840 federal censuses.[29] In 1816 he was appointed as guardian of the children of his brother-in-law, Jeremiah Washburn, who died in Smithfield, RI.[30] He died testate on 21 Feb. 1846 in Bridgewater, aged 82 years,[31] his will dated 3 May 1844, and probated in Mar. 1846, mentioned his wife Vina Sprague, his five children Holmes Sprague, Ephraim Sprague, Eunice Washburn, wife of Calvin Washburn, Mira Shaw, wife of John A. Shaw, Esq., and Chloe Sprague, and Trinity Church in Bridgewater, and he named John Edson, of Bridgewater, as executor of his estate.[32] She died a widow on 6 May 1851 in Bridgewater, aged 86 years.[33] (Continued in Washburn Fifth Generation under the family of Vina Edson.)

2640 ii Benjamin⁵ Sprague (Jr.), born ca. 1766 in Bridgewater,[34] married Priscilla Churchill on 17 Nov. 1785 in Bridgewater.[35] She was born ca. 1766.[36] They were living in Bridgewater, MA, in the 1790 federal census,[37] but he was not a head of household in Bridgewater in the 1800 federal census, and he may have been living with his step-father, Solomon Ames. He died on 15 Jan. 1806 in Bridgewater, aged 39 years,[38] but no probate records were filed for his estate, and she was still living in Bridgewater in the 1810 federal census.[39] She died a widow on 20 Jan. 1820 in Bridgewater, aged 53 years.[40] They had children:

a. Capt. Benjamin⁶ Sprague (3rd), born on 27 Nov. 1790 in Bridgewater,[41] married Lucy Ames, daughter of Joseph and Martha (Williams) Ames (Jr.),[42] on 11 Mar. 1818 in Bridgewater.[43] She was born on 4 Aug. 1792 in Bridgewater.[44] They were living in the South Parish of Bridgewater, MA, in the 1820 federal census.[45] She died on 20 Sept. 1827 in Bridgewater, aged 35 years, of “affection of the brain.”[46]

b. Friend Sprague, born on 1 Nov. 1792 in Bridgewater,[47] as a minor over the age of 14 years he chose Nathan Mitchell, Esq., of Bridgewater, as his guardian in right of his father on 15 Apr. 1808,[48] but no marriage record was found for him, and he probably died young.[49]

c. Lydia⁶ Sprague, born on 17 Aug. 1799 in Bridgewater,[50] married Capt. Barnabas “Barney” Leonard (Jr.), son of Barnabas and Phebe⁶ (Bassett) Leonard,[51] on 27 Aug. 1815 in Bridgewater.[52] He was born ca. 1790,[53] a grandson of Lt. Joseph⁵ and Phebe⁶ (Cushman) Bassett (Jr.), of Bridgewater.[54] He died on 6 Apr. 1847 in Bridgewater, aged 56 years,[55] but no probate records were filed for his estate.

d. George⁶ Sprague, born on 31 Aug. 1801 in Bridgewater,[56] went to New York, then to Florida.[57]

2641 iii Lydia⁵ Sprague, born on 24 Aug. 1777 in Bridgewater,[58] married (2447) Capt. Asa Pratt, son of Deacon Seth and (928) Hannah⁶ (Washburn) Pratt, on 21 Mar. 1799 in Bridgewater.[59] He was born on 22 Apr. 1774,[60] a grandson of (354) Capt. Joseph⁵ and Deliverance (Orcutt) Washburn.[61] He was executor of the estate of his step father-in-law, Solomon Ames, in 1814. He died testate on 15 Dec. 1831 in Bridgewater, aged 57 years, of an “affection of the throat,”[62] his will dated 29 Sept. 1831, and probated on 20 Feb. 1832, mentioned his wife Lydia, his grandson John Edward Howard, his granddaughters Harriet A. Howard and Sarah H. Mitchell, his nephew Seth Pratt, and his two daughters Harriet M. Howard and Lusannah T. Mitchell, and he named his sons-in-law, Cushing Mitchell and Jno. E. Howard, as co-executors of his estate.[63] She was probably living with her son-in-law John E. Howard in West Bridgewater in the 1840 federal census, and she died a widow on 18 June 1848 in Bridgewater, aged 71 [sic] years,[64] and they were both buried in the Old Graveyard in Bridgewater. (Continued in Washburn Sixth Generation under the family of Capt. Asa Pratt.)

(988.) Margaret⁶ Holmes, youngest daughter of (366) Margaret⁵ Washburn, (111) Lt. John⁴ (7th), (56) John³ (6th), (43) John² (5th), (28) John¹ (4th); born in Halifax, MA, on 30 Dec. 1743,[65] married Sgt. Eleazer⁵ Fuller, son of Dr. John⁴ and Deborah (Ring) Fuller, of Kingston,[66] MA,[67] on 6 Jan. 1763 in Plympton.[68] He was born on 27 Apr. 1740 in Kingston,[69] a grandson of Samuel³ and Mercy³ (Eaton) Fuller (3rd), and of Eleazer and Mary (Shaw) Ring,[70] and they lived in Kingston, MA. The will of John Fuller, of Kingston, dated 31 Dec. 1761, mentioned his son, Eleazer Fuller, and was witnessed by Ebenezer Washburn, Eleazer Rickard, Jr., and John Faunce.[71] Eleazer Fuller served in the Revolutionary War, as a private in Capt. Peleg Wadsworth’s company from Kingston, enlisting first in Apr. 1775, and was promoted to a Sergeant by Oct. 1775.[72] No death or probate records were found for him in Plymouth County, and he was not a head of household in Plymouth Co., MA, in the 1790 or 1800 federal censuses.

Margaret Holmes and Eleazer Fuller had children:

2642 i Abigail Fuller, born on 29 Mar. 1764 in Kingston.[73]

2643 ii Daniel Fuller, born on 29 Aug. 1765 in Kingston,[74]

2644 iii Jenny Fuller, born on 18 Aug. 1769 in Kingston.[75]

2645 iv Sarah “Sally” Fuller, born on 9 July 1771 in Kingston.[76]

{Back to Site Index}{Continued in Children of Abisha Washburn and Hannah Morton}

© 2018 John A. Maltby, Redwood City, California

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[1] Bowman, George Ernest, Vital Records of the Town of Halifax, Massachusetts, To the end of the year 1849, Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, Boston, 1905, [hereinafter Halifax VRs], p. 49, as “Unis Holms.”

[2] Mitchell, Nahum, History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater, in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, Boston, 1840, reprint, Heritage Books, Bowie, MD, 1983, [hereinafter Mitchell, History of Bridgewater], p. 306.

[3] Vital Records of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, To the Year 1850, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA, 1916, 2 Volumes, [hereinafter Bridgewater VRs], Vol. 2, p. 184.

[4] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 306.

[5] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 306; Torrey, Clarence Almon, New England Marriages Prior to 1700, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1987, [hereinafter Torrey, New England Marriages], p. 698.

[6] Massachusetts Soldier and Sailors of the Revolutionary War, 17 Volumes, Boston, Vol. XIV, p. 749.

[7] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 560; Latham, Williams, Epitaphs in Old Bridgewater, Massachusetts, 1882, reprint, Heritage Books, Bowie, MD, 1986, [hereinafter Latham, Epitaphs in Old Bridgewater], p. 151, “died at the pox-house—late Wm. Dunbar’s—and buried with others at the westerly end of that farm, and afterwards removed to this place,” and was re-buried in the Trinity Church Graveyard in Bridgewater.

[8] Plymouth County Probate Docket #19021, Vol. 23, p. 221, with Hezekiah Hooper and David Kingman as sureties.

[9] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 102.

[10] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 354, marriage intentions recorded 19 Nov. 1781, she is called “widow Eunice Sprauge.”

[11] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 35.

[12] Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790: Massachusetts, Bountiful, Utah, 1993, p. 166, Bridgewater Town, Plymouth County, the Solomon Ames household had 3 free white males aged 16 or older, 1 free white male under 16, 4 free white females, and 1 other free person.

[13] 1800 Federal Census, Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., MA, p. 373, the Solomon Ames household had 1 male under 10, 1 male aged 26-44 years, 1 male aged 45 or over, 2 females aged 16-25 years, 1 female aged 45 or over, and 2 other people.

[14] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 431.

[15] Plymouth County Probate Docket #439, Vol. 45, p. 322-323, from FHL microfilm #0550903.

[16] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 430, buried in the Old Graveyard in Bridgewater.

[17] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 306, from his gravestone in Trinity Church Graveyard in Bridgewater.

[18] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 153.

[19] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 353.

[20] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 107, from Trinity Church Records in Bridgewater.

[21] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 152.

[22] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 204.

[23] Massachusetts Soldier and Sailors of the Revolutionary War, Vol. XIV, p. 752.

[24] Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790: Massachusetts, Bountiful, Utah, 1993, p. 166, Bridgewater Town, Plymouth County, the Ephm Sprague household had 2 free white males aged 16 or older, 2 free white males under 16, and 3 free white females.

[25] 1800 Federal Census, Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., MA, p. 381, the Ephraim Sprague household had 1 male aged 10-15 years, 2 males aged 16-25 years, 1 male aged 26-44 years, 1 female under 10, 2 females asged 10-15 years, and 1 female aged 26-44 years.

[26] 1810 Federal Census, Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., MA, p. 77, the Ephm. Sprague household had 2 males aged 16-25 years, 1 male aged 45 or over 2 females under 10, 1 female aged 10-15 yeatrs, 1 female aged 16-25 years, and 1 female aged 45 or over.

[27] 1820 Federal Census, South Parish of Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., MA, p. 460, the Capt. Ephm. Sprague household had 1 male aged 16-25 years, 1 male aged 26-44 years, 1 male aged 45 or over, 1 female aged 10-15 years, 1 female aged 16-25 years, and 2 females aged 45 or over, including 1 person engaged in agriculture.

[28] 1830 Federal Census, Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., MA, p. 331, the Ephraim Sprague household had 1 male aged 60-69 years, 1 female aged 20-29 years, and 1 female aged 60-69 years.

[29] 1840 Federal Census, Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., MA, p. 9, the Ephraim Sprague household had 1 male aged 70-79 years, 1 female aged 30-39 years, and 1 female aged 70-79 years, including 1 person employed in agriculture.

[30] Plymouth County Probate Docket #22013, Vol. 41, p. 266; Vol. 51, p. 375.

[31] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 560; Latham, Epitaphs in Old Bridgewater, p. 151, buried in Trinity Church Graveyard in Bridgewater; Plymouth Co. Probate Docket #19037.

[32] Plymouth County Probate Docket #19037, Vol. 88, p. 76-79, from FHL microfilm #0555638, witnessed by John E. Howard, Daniel H. Baker, and William Baylies.

[33] Latham, Epitaphs in Old Bridgewater, p. 152, buried in Trinity Church Graveyard in Bridgewater.

[34] Calculated from his age at death.

[35] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 353.

[36] Calculated from her age at death.

[37] Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790: Massachusetts, Bountiful, Utah, 1993, p. 166, Bridgewater Town, Plymouth County, the Benjn Sprague household had 1 free white male aged 16 or older, 1 free white male under 16, and 1 free white female.

[38] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 560, buried in the Old Graveyard in Bridgewater.

[39] 1810 Federal Census, Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., MA, p. 77, the Wido. P. Sprague household had 1 male under 10, 1 female aged 10-15 years, and 1 female aged 26-44 years.

[40] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 561, buried in the Old Graveyard in Bridgewater.

[41] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 306.

[42] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 104.

[43] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 353.

[44] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 34.

[45] 1820 Federal Census, South Parish of Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., MA, p. 460, the Benja. Sprague household had 1 male under 10, 1 male aged 26-44 years, and 1 female aged 26-44 years, including 1 person engaged in commerce.

[46] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 561.

[47] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 307.

[48] Plymouth County Probate Docket #19042, Vol. 32, p. 338.

[49] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 237.

[50] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 307.

[51] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 237.

[52] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 354.

[53] Calculated from his age at death.

[54] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 112.

[55] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 518.

[56] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 307.

[57] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 307.

[58] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 307, from a private record.

[59] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 354.

[60] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 1, p. 266, from a private record.

[61] Mitchell, History of Bridgewater, p. 326.

[62] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 543; Latham, Epitaphs in Old Bridgewater, p. 88, buried in the Old Graveyard in Bridgewater; www.findagrave.com, memorial #22893123, from his gravestone in First Cemetery in Bridgewater, MA.

[63] Plymouth County Probate Docket #16059, Vol. 72, p. 39-41, from FHL microfilm #0555261, witnessed by Artemas Hale, Dion Bryant, and Samuel Alden.

[64] Bridgewater VRs, Vol. 2, p. 545; Latham, Epitaphs in Old Bridgewater, p. 88, buried in the Old Graveyard in Bridgewater.

[65] Halifax VRs, p. 49.

[66] MF5G: Eaton, pp. 25, 79; Plympton VRs, p. 321, the marriage of John Fuller and Deborah Ring on 7 Feb. 1722/3 in Plympton.

[67] MF5G: Eaton, pp. 25, 79.

[68] Vital Records of Plympton, Massachusetts, To the Year 1850, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, 1923, [hereinafter Plympton VRs], p. 333; Vital Records of Kingston, Massachusetts, To the Year 1850, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, 1911, [hereinafter Kingston VRs], p. 239, marriage intentions recorded 13 Nov. 1762 in Kingston.

[69] Kingston VRs, p. 80.

[70] MF5G: Eaton, pp. 10, 25.

[71] Plymouth County Probate Vol. 25, p. 96.

[72] Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War, Vol. VI, p. 158.

[73] Kingston VRs, p. 79.

[74] Kingston VRs, p. 80.

[75] Kingston VRs, p. 82.

[76] Kingston VRs, p. 84.

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[A] The Will of Solomon Ames of Bridgewater, Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1810) *

In the name of God amen. I Solomon Ames of Bridgwater in the County of Plymouth Trader, being under decays of Body but of sound disposing Mind & Memory, do this eleventh day of June in the Year of our Lord one Thousand eight hundred & ten, make & ordain this my last Will & Testament recommending my Soul to God’s Mercy in & through the Redeemer & my Body to be decently buried according to the Discretion of my Executor hereafter named, & do now proceed to make Disposition of my worldly Interest in the following Manner (viz-)

I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Wife Eunice the use & Improvement of one third part of my Dwelling house, to include a right in the Cellar, Kitchen fire-place & oven & Buttery, also the Improvement of one half of my Pew in the Rev^d. Doc^r. Sanger’s Meeting house, all this during her natural Life—I also give unto her the s^d. Eunice one hundred Dollars in Money or good Securities–my best Horse & Chaise & a good Cow, together with all my household Furniture to be wholly at her disposal forever.—And my Will is that my s^d. Wife Eunice should have (out of my Estate to be hereafter disposed of) the s^d. Horse & Cow well kept the Year round and sufficient Barn room & stabling for her necessity & convenience & a sufficient Quantity of fire wood delivered at the Door & cut fit for use to support one fire during her Life, & in all other respects an honourable & comfortable support during her natural Life.—

I give & bequeath to my two Brothers Simeon & Jotham five Dollars each, to be paid in convenient time after my decease.—

I give & devise to my Son in Law Asa Pratt, his Heirs & assigns forever, all my Real & personal Estate not before disposed of, & which I may be in possession of at my decease,–subject however to the payment of my just debts & Legacies aforesaid and carrying into effect, in every particular the provision made for the honourable & comfortable support of my said Wife Eunice during her natural Life ~~

And I do hereby constitute & appoint my said son in Law Asa Pratt to be my sole Executor of this my last will & Testament, hereby revoking all former Wills by me made— In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal the day & year first above written. —

signed sealed, published & declared by the

above named Solomon Ames to be his last

will & Testament in presence of us, who at his Solo^m. Ames (seal)

request & in his presence have hereunto

subscribed our names as Witnesses to the same

Caleb Bassett

Nathan Mitchell

Lewis Bassett

Presented for probate on 5 Apr. 1814 by Asa Pratt, the Executor therein named, and proved by Caleb Bassett and Nathan Mitchell Esq^r., two of the witnesses.

* Transcribed by John A. Maltby from Plymouth County Probate Vol. 45, p. 322-323, from FHL microfilm #0550903.