Today we travel to Prince George’s County, Maryland, looking for my husband’s 8^th great-grandfather, Thomas Sprigg.  Thomas was born about 1630 in Northamptonshire, England.  He came to Maryland about 1655, and January 18, 1658, was issued a patent for transporting seven persons – himself, his wife Catherine and five others.  It is believed that no children were born to Thomas and Catherine.  For his second wife Thomas married Eleanor Nuthall the daughter of John Nuthall, Sr., and his wife, Elizabeth Bacon.  Thomas and Eleanor had eight children.

1. Sarah Sprigg married John Pearce
2. Thomas Sprigg married Margaret Mariarte
3. Martha Sprigg married Thomas Prather (my husband’s 7^th great-grandparents)
4. Elizabeth Sprigg married Robert Wade
5. Ann Sprigg married Philip Gittings
6. Eleanor Sprigg married Thomas Hilleary
7. John Sprigg died before marrying.
8. Mary Sprigg married Thomas Stockett

Thomas Sprigg first lived in Anne Arundel County, until Calvert County was formed from a portion of Anne Arundel in 1658.  In Calvert County he was a Justice of the Peace.  He was also a member of the Quorum for several years, 1658-61-67-69-70-74.  He was commissioned High Sheriff of Calvert County 1 April 1664 and held office until 4 May 1665.

Land records show that Thomas Sprigg owned 1,000 acres of land called Northampton – after the English shire of his birth.  He also owned Kettering, 325 acres which adjoined Northampton.  It was located on the west side of the Patuxent River.  In 1692 he purchased 500 acres which he called Spriggs Request.  Thomas Sprigg purchased Bear Garden November 10, 1703, shortly before he died.  This was a 137-acre piece of property on the eastern branch of the Potomac River.  His total acreage was just shy of 2,000.  In 1696 Prince George’s County was formed, the majority of lands were not included in any county, but a small portion of Calvert County was added.  Thomas Sprigg’s property was in the portion that became Prince George’s County.

Thomas Sprigg, Sr., died between May 9, 1704, when he wrote his will, and December 29, 1704, when the will was probated, in Prince George’s County.  Eleanor Nuthall Spriggs predeceased Thomas, as he asks to be buried by ‘my wife and children.’  The children being son John and daughter Mary Spriggs Stockett.

Daughter Sarah Pearce was given one gold ring worth ten shillings. I must add that in March 1700, Thomas Sprigg, through a deed of gift, gave to ‘Sarah Pearce, eldest daughter of Thomas Sprigg, and John Pearce, grandson of Thomas Sprigg, Senior, and son of said Sarah . . . for love and affection a 200 acres part of the 1,000 acre tract called Northampton and the 325 acre tract called Kettering.’

Thomas, being the only son, received the majority of his father’s wealth.  He was given the dwelling house and all the houses and land of Northampton and Kettering that ‘had not disposed of’, and one-third of 500 acres patented in the Manor of Colington.   He also received his father’s silver seal, Bible and silver tankard.

Martha Prather received one third of the 500-acre tract in the Manor of Colington.  The other third went to daughter Eleanor Nuthall.

Martha, Elizabeth, Ann and Eleanor received ‘all my movables within doors and without’ to be divided between them.

Mary Stockett, Thomas’ deceased daughter, her husband, Thomas Stockett, received five shillings, their son (Thomas Sprigg’s grandson) seven shillings and the horse called Button.  Eleanor Stockett, granddaughter, received five shillings.  Thomas Sprigg ten shillings for a ring and each of his children five shillings.  Elizabeth Wade ten shillings and each of her children five shillings.  Ann Gittings ten shillings and each of her children five shillings.  Daughter Eleanor Nuthall ten shillings and her children five shillings.  Martha Prather ten shillings and each of her children five shillings.  Five shillings in 1704 would be worth about $27 today.

Thomas Sprigg’s Will

Prince George’s County, Maryland Book 1698, Page 23

In the name of God, Amen.  This 9th day of May 1704, I, Thomas Sprigg, Senior, of Prince George’s County in the province of Maryland, being in perfect health and memory, praised be God for the same, and knowing the uncertainty of my life and health and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, and being willing so to order and dispose of my affairs, that it hath pleased God to bless me with all in this world, that there may be no difference between my children after my death, I make this my last will and testament in manner following.  First, I surrender my soul into the hands of God, hoping through the merits of Jesus Christ I shall receive the same in the resurrection, to be reunited to my body both together, to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, and my body to be buried by my wife and children in Christian burial as shall think fit by my executor or executors hear after named.

First.  I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah Pearce one gold ring of ten shillings price.

Item.  I give unto my son Thomas Sprigg my dwelling house and all the houses and land of Northampton and Kettering that I have not disposed of and one-third part of the 500 acres of the land I patented in the Manor of Colington, to have his third part in the middle of the said 500 acres, to him and his heirs forever.  And also, I give him my silver seal and great Bible and my silver tankard.

Item.  I give unto my daughter Martha Prather one-third part of the land above mentioned, at that end next to William Prather’s where he now lives, unto her and her heirs forever.  And further I give unto my daughter Eleanor Nuthall the other one-third part at the other end of the said land near unto Jonathan Limons, unto her and her heirs forever.

Item.  I give unto my daughter Elizabeth Wade and to my daughter Anne Gittins and my daughter Eleanor Nuttall and my daughter Martha Prather all my movables within doors and without, to be divided between them, and my daughter Elizabeth Wade to have her first choice.  It is my will and desire that after it is appraised, if the son doth require it, then my Executor or Executors, with what has, can be to have it equally divided between Elizabeth Wade, Ann Gittings, Eleanor Nuttall and Martha Prater, as it is appraised and that they may have their parts in goods and chattels, in species as they in themselves and not converted into money nor paid them the other way, if they do not agree then I do desire my loving friends Samuel Magruder, Senior, Edward Willett, John Smith at Mattaponi or any two of them to make an equal division between them, and case of their absence to choose other in their stead and when divided my daughter Elizabeth Wade to have her first choice.

Further I give unto Thomas Stockett five shillings and to my grandson Thomas Stockett seven shillings and my horse called Button and to Eleanor Stockett five shillings and to my son Thomas Sprigg ten shillings for a ring and all his children five shillings to each and my daughter Elizabeth Wade ten shillings and all her children five shillings; and to Anne Gittings ten shillings and all her children five shillings and to Eleanor Nuttall ten shillings and her children five shillings and to Martha Prater ten shillings and her children five shillings and to my loving friends Samuel Magruder, Edward Willett and John Smith, or others that are at the trouble in dividing between them, ten shillings each person to buy them rings, and my will is that my mulatto John Cabby be set free after four years’ service and to have what is due to white servants.

Item.  Of this my last will and testament I do constitute and appoint my loving son Thomas Sprigg my sole executor making void all others and in case of mortality or absence out of the country I do hereby appoint my sons-in-law James Wade, Phillip Gittings and Thomas Prater, or any one or two of them with the same power and authority as I have given unto my son Thomas Sprigg.  In witness hereof I have set to my hand and fixed my seal this ninth day of May one thousand seven hundred and four.

Thomas Sprigg

Witnessed and signed and sealed before us Thomas Lucas Senior, Thomas Lucas, Dority Lucas

On the back of this will was endorsed to wit December 29, 1704.  Then came Thomas Lucas. Senior, Thomas Lucas, Junior, and Dorothy Lucas as witnesses to the within will and made oath to the same in common form before me.  Edward Willett, Deputy Commission. Thomas Sprigg, Senior, last will and testament.