Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 15,366, for Samuel Sprague, Massachusetts
Page 1

SERVICE
Navy

Sprague, Samuel
Deborah
Massachusetts agency and residence

NUMBER
W. 15,366
Page 2


11. 193
R
Massachussetts [underlined]
[printed form with handwritten answers]
Samuel Sprague
of Boston in the state of Massatt  who was a Marine crossed out] on board the Frigate commanded by Capt. Nicholson of the U.S. Navy [crossed out], for the term of Three Years 
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 30th of March 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 31st of May 1819 and sent to Judge John Davis
Boston Massachusetts
Arrears to 4th of Mar 1819.                 89.54
Semi-anl, all'ce ending Sep. 1819.       48.00
11 Mo .6/31                                         _______
                                                            $137.54

{Revolutionary claim,   }
{Act 18th March, 1818.}
Page 3

Let to Hon R. C. Winthrop
Feb 24. 1831
Samn Apl 15/57

11035
Massachusetts
Deborah Sprague decd
Widow of Samuell Sprague
who was a pensioner under the Act of 1818
and who died on the 18th July 1819
of Boston in the State of Mass.
who was a marine in the Frigate
commanded by Captain Nichelson of the 
N.J. Navy in ___for___

Inscribed on the Roll of Boston
at the rate of 96 Dollars 00
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of
March, 1836. End 21 July 1840
when she died
Certificate of Pension issued the 10th day of
Feby 1831 and sent to
G.L. Bulfinch
Boston Mass
Total amount ___
---
Act July 7, 1838.
Recorded by H.R. Wightman Clerk
BookD. Vol. 1 Page 347
Page 4

No 35
Samuel Sprague
raman
77 - 3 years
dr c. Mar 30. 1818

Frigate Dean
Edwards Hague

Admitted
Page 5

United States - Massachusetts District ss.

Samuel Sprague of Boston in the County of
Suffolk in the District of aforesaid (crossed out words) for a
pension from the United States, under an Act of Congress
entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons
engaged in the land and naval service of the United 
States in the revolutionary war," maketh oath
that he served in the war of the Revolution on
board the Frigate Dean, afterwards called the Hague
for the term of about three years, and in manner
following viz. In the year 1779 he enlisted on
board said Frigate Dean as a (crossed out word) Capt. Nicholson
being then Commander, said Frigate name
was aforesaid changed to the Hague, when Capt.
Nicholson was removed & Captain Manly took the
command of said Frigate; that he the Deponent
served a board said Frigate from the time of 
his enlistment, until the peace in the year
1783 when he received an honorable discharge
from the Commander of said Frigate, which Dischage
he has lost. Samule Sprogue
Mass. Dist. Mar: 30 1818
Sworn before me
J Davis Dis Judge Mass Dist.
Page 6

to within named Samuel Sprague now
further on oath declares that he is in such
reduced circumstances in life as to stand in
need of assistance from his country for
support. Samuel Sprague

Masstts Dist.
Boston 25. Feby. 1819
Sworn to before me
Jn Davis Judge Mass District
Page 7

I Peter St. Medard of Boston Surgeon in the U States Navy
depose & say, that I was Chief Surgeon on board  the U States
Frigate Dean, commanded by Samuel Nicholson Esqr. &
also after her name was changed to the Hague, & commanded
by Captain Manly, that I well recollect that
Samuel Sprague of Boston, now an applicant for a Pension
served as a Boy on board said Frigate from the
year 1782, until the peace took place in 1783; and
that part of said period said Sprague acted as my
boy or assistant. P.T. Medard
Surg. U.S. Navy

Masstts Dist. ss.
Boston 31. March 1818
Sworn to before me
Jn Davis
Dis Judge
Mass. Dist.
Page 8

MASACHUSETTS DISTRICT, ss.

25 February 1819.
I AM satisfied that the above named, Samuel Sprague by reason
of his reduced circumstances in life, is in need of assistance from his country for support.
Jn Davis {District Judge U.S.
Massachusetts. Dist.
TO THE SECRETARY OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF WAR.
Page 9

MASSACHUSETTS DISTRICT, SS.
Boston 25 February A. D. 1819
IT appearing to my satisfaction, that Samuel Sprague
subscriber to the annexed declaration, sworn to before me, did serve in the revolutionary
war against the common enemy, as stated in said declaration, I now transmit the testimony
in the case, with the proceedings had thereon, to the Secretary of the department of
war, pursuant tot he directions of the Act entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons
"engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary
"war;" the testimony and proceedings in the premises being the declaration aforesaid,
(crossed out) with the accompanying documents marked
together this certificate.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the
seal of the District Court of the United States for this District
to be hereunto affixed.
Jn Davis } Judge of the District Court U.S.
Massachusetts District.
Page 10

Relating to claim of the
children of Deborah
Sprague decd.
Page 11

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston, November 1st 1850.
I Hereby Certify that at the date of the
annexed attestation G.S. Bulfinch
now a Justice of the Peace for the
County of Suffolk,

in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and qualified;
and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and
credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.

In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the
Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
WB Calhoun
Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Page 12

Boston Oct 19th 1857
This certifies that Mrs Deborah Sprague
died of apoplexy Feby 21st 1840.
Henry G Clark. M.D.

I certify that Henry G Clark above
named holds the office of City Physician
of the City of Boston, and is a physician of high
standing and respectability.
G.S. Bulfinch
Justice of Peace
Page 13

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Suffolk County ss.
Be it known, that before
me G. S. Bulfinch, a Justice of the Peace
in and for the county aforesaid, personally appeared
Edward Bell and made oath in due form of
Law, that he has been the owner of sundry
tombs in the Hall Street Cemetery in the City of
Boston, for many years, that he knew Mrs
Deborah Sprague in her life time, she was the
widow of Samuel Sprague decd, with whom he the
said Bell was also well acquainted, and has been
informed by said Sprague & others that he served in
the war of the Revolution, and verily believes the
same to be true and that he was a Pension of
the United States on the Massachusetts Rolls.
that he the said Bell knows the time of death of
the said Deborah Prague decd, which took place
on or about the twenty first day of February in 
the year eighteen hundred and forty, he was
present at her funeral, and saw her buried in
one of his tombs in the Cemetery aforesaid. He has
frequently heard said Sprague speak of services under Captain Manly, & various
incidents of his services
in the War of the Revolution. He mentioned the name Dr. St Medard
as Doctor of the Vessel & George
Richard as Chaplain of the Vessel
Edw Bell

Sworn to & subscribed
this 19th day of October
1850 Before me
G. S. Bulfinch
Justice of Peace

I certify that the aforesaid Edward Bell is a
respectable citizen, and a person of veracity and whose
statements may be relied on
G. S. Bulfinch
Justice of Peace for
Suffolk County
Masstts
Page 14

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
City of Boston March 17 1850

I the subscriber do hereby certify that it appears by the
Registry ohttps://catalog.archives.gov/images/misc/drag.pngf Marriages of the town (now City of Boston)
that Samuel Sprague and Deborah Wallace were
married by the Rev Thomas Baldwin on the nineteenth
day of May A D one thousand seven hundred & ninety one

The record is in the words and figures following list
"Samuel Sprague & Deborah Wallace married by Revd
Thos Baldwin 19th May 1791"
Artemas Simonds, City Registrar

I Artemis Simonds above named depose and say,
that I hold the office of City Registrar of the City of
Boston in the County of Suffolk and Commonwealth
of Massachusetts; that I am the keeper of the Registry of
Marriages in said City & that the above is a true extract
from the records of Marriages in said City with the exception
above named, as certified by one
Artemas Simonds,

Suffolk ss, Boston March 17. 1850 the above named
Artemas Simonds appeared and made oath to the truth of the
above certificates by him subscribed
Before me William Pavey Justice of the Peace
Page 15

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston, April 24th, 1850
I hereby certify, That, at the date of the annexed attestation, William Palfrey, of Boston, was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Suffolk, in the said Commonwealth, duly commissioned and qualified: and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.

In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
W. B. Calhoun
Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Page 16

State of Massachusetts, County of Suffolk}
I, Joseph Willard Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, for said County--do hereby certify that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited to said Court that Deborah Sprague dec'd, late widow of Samuel Sprague who was a pensioner of the United States, at the rate of ninety six dollars (as is verily believed) per annum was a resident of Boston in the County of Suffolk in the State of Massachusetts, and died at said Boston on the twenty first day of February in the year 1840 that she left only three surviving children whose names are William W. Sprague, Sarah Sprague, and Edward Sprague. These are the only surviving children.

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, at Boston this 29th day of October in the year of our Lord 1850--
Joseph Willard, Clerk
Page 17

14140.
Deborah Sprague, dec'd
Widow of Samuel
Act July 7, 1838.

Declaration in behalf of the children of Deborah Sprague widow Act July 7, 1838
Page 18

Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
Suffolk County, Gs.
On this twenty third day of April A.D. 1850, personally appeared before the Supreme Judicial Court of said Commonwealth,
William W. Sprague in his own behalf and in behalf
of Edward and Sarah Sprague, said William W. is a
resident of Boston, aged 49 years, Edward, aged about
39 years, resides in Provincetown, and Sarah, aged 54
years, resides in New York, who being first duly sworn
according to law, doth on his oath make the following
Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision
made by the act of Congress passed July 7, 1838, entitled
"An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows";
that said William W. Sprague, Edward Sprague and Sarah
Sprague are the children of Deborah Sprague, deceased, who died on the twentieth day of February, 1840, that she the said Deborah Sprague was the widow of Samuel Sprague, who was in the service in the War of the Revolution, and served as set forth in his Declaration made to obtain a pension under the act of 18th March, 1818.
Said William W. Sprague further declares that she was
married to the said Samuel Sprague on the nineteenth day
of May 1791, (seventeen hundred and ninety-one,) that her
husband the aforesaid Samuel died on the eighteenth
day of July in the year eighteen hundred and nineteen as above declared, that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January, Seventeen hundred and ninety-four, viz. at the time above stated.
They therefore ask for the benefit of the act
above mentioned, and also of any and all the acts
[end of page]
Page 19

and Resolutions of Congress which are applicable
to their case.
Sworn and subscribed on the day and year first herein before written, in said Supreme Judicial Court, holden in & for said County of Suffolk.
[signature] William M Sprague
Witness my hand & the seal of said Court on said day & year.
[signature] Geo. C. Wilde, Clerk.

[a stamp is to the lower left of signature. another marking in seal is illegible]
Page 20

[printed form with handwritten answers]
of Samuel Sprague, a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR,
you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's [crossed out and handwritten ("and his heirs")] application for pension on file in this Bureau. [handwritten ("Wid. f. 15366, Mar 7, 1906.')
[column headings: (1) DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT, (2) LENGTH O SERVICE, (3) RANK, (4) OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERE: CAPTAIN OR COLONEL, (5) STATE
1779 | [blank] | Marine |, (Captain) Samuel Nicholson | on the U S S  Frigate Deane
Served till | 1783 | [blank] | (Captain) Manley ["e" crossed out] | afterwards called Hague
[end table]

Battles engaged in, [blank]
Residence of soldier at enlistment, [blank]
Date of application for pension, Feb'y 25, 1819  His claim was allowed
His claim was allowed
Residence at date of application, Boston, Mass.
Age at date of application, not stated. He died July 18, 1819.
Remarks: He married Deborah Wallace May 19, 1791 at Boston, Mass.
she died Feb 21, 1840 at Boston Mass. Children William W. Edward and Sarah. Heirs claim allowed.
Very respectfully,
[signature] Mrs. Alida E. Howe
21 East - 21st: St: New York
20581b3m11-05
Commissioner.
Page 21

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Suffolk County fs
Be it known that before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid personally appeared William C Bazin and made oath that he is personally acquaint ted with William W. Sprague, Edward Sprague and Sarah Sprague, and knows that they are the children
of Samuel Sprague deceased, and that he was personally acquainted with said Samuel Sprague and know him to be reputed as having served in the War of the Revolution, and had often heard him tell of his having taken an active part therein and that said children are about making application for the Benefit of any Pension Law that
may be applicable to their case as surviving children of said Samuel Sprague, and for any allowance that may be
due on account of his services aforesaid.
Sworn to and submited this 20 March 1850.
Before me     [signature] Wm P Bazin
G. S. Bulfinch Justice of the Peace
I certify that the above affiant William C. Bazin is a
very trustworthy and respectable citizen, and is a credible witness.
G. S. Bulfinch Justice of Peace
Page 22

J. L. Edwards Esq.
Page 23

Boston
24 April 1850
Sir,
Enclosed are the Declaration and
accompanying papers in case of the children of
Deborah Sprague decd, under Act 7 July 1838 etc.
They wish the Pension Certificates
to be sent to my care.
Very Respectfully
Your obedt servt
G. S. Bulfinch
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commiss of Pensions.
Page 24

He Died 18th July 1819
she died 21st Feb 1840

Deborah Sprague and
wid of Samuel 
who was a Marine
in the Rev. War

11035
(illegible) Act July 7,
1838, from March 4,
1836, to 21st Feb 1840
when she died at
$96 per Ann
---
Payable to
William W. Sprague
Sarah Sprague &
Edward Sprague
any remaining children
G. S. Bulfinch
Baston
Mess.
Page 25

I reply to you [illegible] of an [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] did of Gant [illegible] [illegible] now dec. and  [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] and
wounded [illegible] need a pension [illegible] for can then [illegible [illegible] for reason that [illegible] [illegible] be addend [illegible] [illegible]: appear [remainder of sentence illegible]
Page 26

J. L. Edwards Esq
Page 27

Boston
1 Nov 1850

Sir
In conformity with the directions contained
in your letter of 10 October last to Hon. R. C. Winthrop,
I enclose sundry documents in support of the claim of the
children of Deborah Sprague decd to Pension money under the
Act of 1838.

As the case has been pending a considerable
time, & I feel assured is a very honest one, I hope it may
be convenient to bestow early attention on it, and I will
thank you to inform me if any thing further should
be deemed necessary, & if not to forward the Pension Certificate
to my care.

Very Respectfully
Your obedt servt
G.S. Bulfinch

J. L. Edwards Esq
Com of Pensions
Page 28

Stamp
Boston
Nov

FREE

J. L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Adde end. can 
Deborah Sprague  dis
Page 29

No 14140
Deborah Sprague to
Mass
Let Hon R.C. Winthrop Oct 10/50

act 7 July 1838
Page 30

Washington 18 Jan
1851

Sir,
I beg the favor of being
informed at your earliest convenience
what has become of
the claim of Deborah Sprague
for a Pension. - The papers
were forwarded by me some
months ago, & I desire to
be able to assure her son
that they have been safely
received & will be duly 
attended to.

I am, very Respy
your Obser Sevt
Rob. C. Winthrop

Commissioner
of Pensions,
Page 31

N.S. Mary Frigate Dean

WIDOW, & c.

File No. 15366
Deborah Sprague
Widow of
Samuel Sprague
Marine Rev War

Act: July 7th 38
Index: - Vol. M, Page 235
Arrangement of 1870.}

Mch. 6, 1905 Hist. to Mrs.
Wes W. Perkins, Mt. Vernon, NY

Apl. 14, 1905 letter to above

Hist. to Mrs. Alida E. Howe
March 7, 1906.
Page 32

Feb. 12th
Com. of Pensions. D.C
Gentlemen,
Kindly send Revolutionary
record of Samuel Sprague
who enlisted 1779 in 
the Navy.
Applied for pension 1818-
died 1819. Claim allowed
Please send full data
his fathers name was
Samuel ----

Stamp
W>W. ?, & N.  DIV
Feb 14 1905
Files
Page 33

Thanking you I remain 
very truly yours
(Mrs.) Alida E. Howe
21 East 21st St.
N. Y

Stamp
Pension Office
USA
Feb 13 1906

Great grand daughter of Samuel Sprague
Page 34

110 South 10 Avenue
Mount Vernon N.Y.

To the U.S. Commissioner of
Pensions-
My dear Sir:
Will you
kindly send me all
data regarding Samuel
Sprague who was one 
of the party which threw
the tea in Boston Harbor
Dec. 16, 1773?
I understand that his
Page 35

daughter, Sarah Foggin
(nee Sprague) received
a sum of money in
Boston during the winter
of 1850- 1851 in recognition
of service of Samuel
Sprague.
Was he a member of any
regiment, & was the
name of his wife recorded

Yours truly
Sarah Foggin Perkins
(Mrs Geo. W. Perkins)
Page 36

Stamp
Old War & Navy
Mar 10 1905
FILES

Stamp
Pension Office
USA
Mar 3 1905
Page 37

W
110 South 10 Avenue
Mount Vernon, NY

To the Commissioner of 
Pensions

My dear Sir;
MAR 27 1905
FILES.
Your statement
regarding Samuel Sprague
(Enlisted 1779 - Frigate "Dean'
applied for pension 1818 died
1819 - claim allowed.
Children applied 1850 - allowed
(widows pension)
was received.
Will you kindly inform me

Stamp
Old War (illegible) Navy
Mar 27 1905
FILES
Page 38

the reason why claim
for pension was applied
for and why granted
Yours truly
Sarah U. Perkins
March 24, 1905.
(Mrs Geo. W. Perkins)

Stamp
Pension Office
USA
Mar 25 1905
Page 39

ISC
W. 15366: Rev. War.
April 14, 1905.
Madam:
In reply to your recent communication you are advised
that Samuel Sprague was granted a service pension under the
act of Congress of March 18, 1818, which provided for "every
soldier and sailor who served in the War of the Revolution for
term of nine months or longer on the Continental establish-
ment or in the naval service of the United States, and who
stood in need of assistance from his country."
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

Mrs. George W. Perkins,
110 South 10th Avenue,
Mount Vernon, N. Y.