Edward Sprigg (1697 - 1751)

Born 1697 in Prince George, Maryland

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth Pile — married 26 Apr 1720 in Queen Annes Parish, Prince George's, Maryland

Husband of Mary (Belt) Pindell — married about 1744 in Prince George's, Maryland

Descendants

Died 30 Nov 1751 at about age 54 in Queen Annes Parish, Prince George's, Maryland

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Biography

Edward Sprigg, the son of Thomas Sprigg IV (1660-1726) and Margaret (Moriarte) Sprigg (abt.1672-1739), was born in Prince George's County MD circa 1697. ^[1] Second son. Native: third generation. Resided in Queen Anne Parish, Prince George's County.

Family

Uncle:

1. Daniel Mariartee (ca. 1676-ca. 1726/27).

Brothers:

1. Thomas (?-1725);
2. Osborn Sprigg (ca. 1707-1749/50).

Sisters:

1. Priscilla, who married Ralph Crabb (?-1733/34);
2. Margaret;
3. Eleanor;
4. Elizabeth (?-1787), who married Turner Wootten (ca. 1695-1760).

First Cousins:

1. John Smith Prather (1706-1763);
2. Sarah Pierce (?-ca. 1700), who married John Beall, of Lawson (ca. 1674-1751).

Nephews

1. Thomas Sprigg (1715-1781);
2. Edward Sprigg (abt.1721-abt.1790)
3. Joseph Sprigg (1736-1800);
4. Osborn Sprigg (ca. 1741-1815);
5. Thomas Sprigg (ca. 1747-1809);
6. Henry Wright Crabb (1722/23-1764);
7. Francis King (1724/25-1771);
8. Thomas Sprigg Wootten (?-1789).

Niece:: Margaret Sprigg (ca. 1726-1804), who married William Bowie (1721-1791).

Marriage

1. Elizabeth Pile on April 26, 1720, daughter of Dr. Richard Pile (?-1731) and his wife Mary. Her brother was William, who married Elizabeth (last name unknown).
2. Mary (Belt) circa. 1744. She was the widow of Edward Hall, and daughter of Joseph Belt and his wife Hester (Esther) Beall; stepdaughter of Margery Wight Sprigg. Mary was the granddaughter of Ninian Beale. She was the niece of Sarah Beall who married Samuel Magruder. Her brothers were John (ca. 1707-?); Joseph, Jr. (1717-1761); Tobias (1720-1785); Jeremiah (1724-1784); and James (1726-?). Her stepbrothers were Thomas Sprigg (1715-1781); Edward Sprigg (ca 1721-1790). Her sisters were Anne (1708/9-?); Rachel (1711-?), who married Osborn Sprigg (ca. 1707-1749/50). Her first cousins were Joshua Beall (ca. 1719-ca. 1796); Thomas Beall, of George (1735-1819); and J oh n Magruder (1694-1750). Her nephews were Joseph Sprigg (1736-1800); Osborn Sprigg (ca. 1741-1815); and Thomas Sprigg (ca. 1747-1809). Her niece was Elizabeth Belt (?-1808), who probably married Thomas Sprigg (ca. 1747-1809). Mary Belt Hall Sprigg married third, by 1756, Thomas Pindell (?-1779).

Children

Sons:

1. Richard Sprigg (1721-aft.1772), who was in "foreign parts" and presumed dead when his father died, but returned briefly to Maryland ca. 1769 before going to Virginia and North Carolina;
2. Edward Sprigg (1723-1758);
3. James (1724/25-1778), who married Elizabeth (?-1811);
4. Thomas (1726/27-?);
5. Gilbert (?-1765);
6. Jacob Sprigg (abt.1749-1770)
7. Frederick.

Daughters:

1. Elizabeth (Sprigg) Van Meter (1728-1790)
2. Mary;
3. Margaret (?-ca. 1783), who married in 1772 Samuel Dorsey (?-1777);
4. Lucy Belt Sprigg (1752-1825), who married first, ca. 1774, Nicholas Dorsey (1741-1788), and second, in 1793, Thomas Sprigg (?-1810).
5. Ann Hall, who married Joshua Griffith (1730-?). Stepdaughter

Notes:

• Jacob, Frederick, Margaret, and Lucy were Sprigg's children by Mary Belt Hall;
• Lucy was born several months after Sprigg's death.
• Colonial Families in the US: II. Col. Edward, b. 1697; d. 30th Nov. 1751; commissioned 29th Apr. 1732, Justice of the Provincial Court, member of the Lower House from 1730 to 1751, Speaker from 1742 to 1748. m. (firstly) 26th Apr. 1720, Elizabeth PILE, dau. of Dr. Richard PILE; m. (secondly) Mary BELT, dau. of Col. Joseph and Esther (BEALL) BELT, who m. (secondly) Thomas PINDELL, by whom she had issue.

Death

Edward died in Prince George's County MD in November 1751. ^[2]

Will

SPRIGG, EDWARD, Prince George's Co. 30 Nov, 1751 - 21 Feb, 1752

• To son Edward Sprigg, tract in Frederick County, called "Happy Choice", to include the buildings where sd. son now lives, by friends John Cooke, Thomas Williams and Jack Beck, or any 2 of them, with all convenient speed.
• To wife Mary Sprigg, lands called "Happy Choice, during her life, and at her decease, to son Jacob Sprigg,
• To son Frederick Sprigg, 600 A. pt. of tract In Frederick County, called "Addition To Pile's Delight."
• To dau, Margaret Sprigg, 400 A. pt. of tract called "Addition To Pile's Delight", to be laid off contiguous to the tract of 600 A., which I have above given to son Frederick Sprigg.
• To son Gilbert Sprigg, 400 A., pt. of land called "Addition To Pile's Delight," to be laid off contiguous to the foregoing parcel of land, which I have given to dau. Margaret. Sprigg.
• To son James Sprigg, 400 A., pt. of tract of land called "Addition To Pile's Delight." to be laid off contiguous to the aforegoing, which I have above given to son Gilbert Spriggs.
• Desire the afsd. 4 tracts shall be laid off from the tract afsd. by the surveyors of Frederick County, as he shall be directed by friends John Darnall, Esq., and Reverdy Ghiselin, or either of them.
• To Robinette, pt of my tract called "Addition To Pile's Dellght," lying In the bottom, adjoining to his sd. Robinett's field.
• That in case the buildings and Improvements where Joseph Chapline now lives are Included within the courses of my tract of land called "Addition To Pile's Delight," then I give sd. Joseph Chapline, 100 A., pt, of tract afsd, to be laid off as to Include sd. Chaplin's buildings and Improvements, provided Chaplin pays the caution money of 100 A, to my extx.
• Mentions unborn child, sd. child to have 2 tracts of land In Frederick County, 1 called 'Three Pastures," the other called "Little Cove"; also 2 slaves.
• Remaining pt. of tract called Addition To Pile's Delight" shall be sold before the 1st of June, next, by my extx.
• Tract of land "North Hampton", and tract called "Catharine," and tract called "Addition To Catharine," In Prince George's County, shall be sold before the first day of June,, by extx.
• Desire that the 4 following tracts, lying In Prince George's County, 'Sprigg's Meadow", 183 A.,. 'The Gore," 48 A., "The Lane," 27 A., shall be sold In one lot at public sale before the first day of June, they to bring 185 pounds sterl., at the least. [Only names three tracts]
• To wife Mary Sprigg; 4 slaves.
• To son Edward Sprigg, I slave.
• Balance to be divided bet. children: Edward,. James, Gilbert, Jacob, Margaret, Frederick and my unborn child.
• Wife extx.
• Wit: Jno. Cooke, Lucy Williams, Rachell Sprigg, Jo Belt. Jr,
• The following Is a Codicil to the within will, whereas, I have a Warrant of Resurvey, to add contiguous vacancy to my tract of land In Frederick County, called "Happy Choice", and as the Certificate Is not yet returned, nor the quantity of land ascertained, I therefore, give to son Edward Sprigg, all the land that will be added when the patent is made out lying contiguous to that pt. of "Happy Choice,"

The remaining pt. of the vacancy that will be added to son Jacob Sprigg and hrs.

• Wit: Jno. Cooke, Lucy Williams, Rachel Sprigg, Jo Belt, Jr. MCW 28.231

Notes: PRIVATE CAREER. EDUCATION: literate. RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Anglican, Queen Anne Parish, Prince George's County. SOCIAL STATUS AND ACTIVI- TIES: Gent., by 1729. Sprigg's obituary states, "His death is much lamented not only for his firm and zealous conduct ..... but for his friendly disposition and open candor." OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE: merchant; planter.

PUBLIC CAREER. LEGISLATIVE SERVICE: Lower House, Prince George's County, 1729-1731 (elected to the 2nd session of the 1728-1731 Assembly), 1732-1734 (Accounts 1-Cv), 1734/35-1737 (Accounts 1, Cv, 2-4; Bills of Credit 1, Cv), 1738 (Accounts), 1739-1741 (Accounts Cv-3), 1742-1744 (speaker), 1745 (speaker), 1745/46-1748 (speaker), 1749-1751 (Elections Cv-3; Laws 2; Accounts Cv-3), 1751 (elected to 1751-1754 Assembly, but died before the 1st session). OTHER PROVINCIAL OFFICE: justice, Provincial Court, commissioned 1732. LOCAL OFFICES: justice. Prince George's County, 1727-1731, 1747-1751 (quorum, 1747-1751); justice. Especial Court of Oyer, Terminer, and Gaol Delivery, Prince George's County, appointed 1747, 1748 (quorum, 1747, 1748); Queen Anne Parish Vestry, Prince George's County, 1723-1726, 1728-1731, 1742-1743, 1748-1750; churchwarden, Queen Anne Parish, Prince George's County, 1727, 1744. MILITARY SERVICE: captain, by 1728; major, by July 1733-at least November 1742; colonel, by November 1743-death.

WEALTH DURING LIFETIME. LAND AT FIRST ELECTION: 915 acres in Prince George's County (502 acres received as gift from father, 1722; 413 acres by patent). SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN LAND BETWEEN FIRST ELECTION AND DEATH: purchased at least 2,290 acres in Prince George's County, patented 500 acres in Prince George's (later became part of Frederick) County, and sold 354 acres in Prince George's County for a net gain of 2.436 acres, 1731-1739; patented 55 acres in Prince George's County and 400 acres in Frederick County, 1741-1748; sold 846 acres in Prince George's County and 75 acres in Frederick County, 1741-1748; gave 825 acres in Prince George's County to his son Richard before 1746; resurveyed two tracts in Frederick County in 1749 and 1751 for a net gain of 4,134 acres; sold 492 acres in Prince George's County, 1750.

WEALTH AT DEATH. DIED: on November 30, 1751, in Prince George's County, after an illness of only 20 hours. PERSONAL PROPERTY. TEV, at least 18,760 pounds of tobacco, £1,165.2.11 current money (including 33 slaves, 54 oz. plate, medicines and surgeon's instruments, and books); FB, not calculated due to discrepancies in accounts, the last of which was filed in 1785.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Sprigg's debts included over £1,051.0.0 sterling owed to William Black, a merchant of London. His will directed that 785 acres in Prince George's County, including his 502-acre home plantation, be sold to pay his creditors. LAND: ca. 6,000 acres in Prince George's and Frederick counties.

Sources

1. ↑ A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature: Edward Sprigg
2. ↑ Will of Edward Sprigg.