Lafayette Sprague and Nancy Cook (son 15, daughter of 16)

[Jen's maternal GGGrandparents]
[Madelyn Hall > Judith Sprague > son 15, daughter of 16]

Lafayette Sprague
BIRTH: 20 June 1864, Milbridge, Washington, Maine
DEATH: 2 May 1948, Milbridge, Washington, Maine

Nancy Cook
BIRTH: 02 Apr 1868, Sackville, Westmoreland, New Brunswick, Canada
DEATH: 10 May 1948, Milbridge, Washington, Maine

Lafayette Sprague

Lafayette Sprague

 Lafayette Sprague was born in the summer of 1864 in Milbridge, Maine, to Charles E Sprague (1826-1914) and Mary Ann McKenzie (1832-1883).  He was the 8th of 10 children.  His parents lived in Milbridge, Maine.  His father, Charles, had been a sailor when he was young, then a general laborer for the rest of his life.

Before Lafayette was born, the 1860 Census shows Charles (33) raising his family in Milbridge.  In 1870, Charles is 43, listed as a laborer owning $400 worth of real-estate in Milbridge, Maine.  This would be considered middle class.


Siblings of Lafayette
1. Abigail S (1851-1869)  (C'60) died at age 18.
2. William Edwin (1852-1909) (C'60, C'70) m 1876 Clementina Bracy (1860-1950)
3. Hollis "Woodbury" (1854-??) (C'60,C'70, C'80, sailor)
4. Frank?? (1856-1867) (don't see any justification, but an unlinked burial at Evergreen) died at age 11
5. Elvira W (1858-1903)  (C'70) m. 1879 Nelson R Williams (1857-after 1940)
6. James I (1859-bef1870) (C'60) presumed died before 1870
7. Caroline B (1861-1920) (C'70) m. 1880 Joseph Tilden Williams (1853-1913)
8. Lafayette (1864-1948) (C'70, C'80) m 1887 Nancy Cook (1868-1948)
9. Minnie (1868-1868) (death record, died at 4 months)
10. Charles F (1873-aft.1920) (C'80) m. 1891 Mary Ellen Staples (1871-1898)

As of 1880, Lafayette was still at home, and attending school (age 16).  His mother, Mary Ann, died in 1883 (age 51), leaving Lafayette at age 19 among 6 children who survived her.  His father, Charles, would live to age 88 (d.1914), old enough to meet all of Lafayette and Nancy's 10 children.

Nancy Cook

Nancy Cook

Nancy's parents were both from New Brunswick, Canada.  Samuel Cook (1826-bef. 1881) and Judith Snowden (1828-1917) were married in 1852 in Sackville, Westmorland, New Brunswick, and had 11 children.

Nancy, born in 1868, was among the youngest.  Judith traveled twice to the US with Frances (Fanny) Patterson, first in 1849 from Cumberland, then again immigrated in 1851 aboard the Schooner Britain, 23 years old, listed as a milliner (hat-maker), with the intention to become an inhabitant of the United States.

As of the 1881 Census, Nancy lived with her mother, Judith (55, assumed widow, but not indicated) and siblings.  The family were Presbyterians.
After Nancy left home, mother Judith continued (1891,1901,1911) as a widow living in Sackville.  She identified as Church of England on later census documents.   In 1901, she was living with son William, Charles B.  Charles's wife Susan had passed away in 1899, leaving him with five kids (Mary J, Lenna, Samuel Andrew, Ada, Hatty S).  By 1911, Judith (83!) is still living with William, and taking care of Charles' youngest three kids (Ada, Hattie, Andrew).  She died in 1917, and is buried in Sackville.

Nancy's Siblings
Mary Jane (1853-1921) ('61C, death record gives parents Samuel Cook of PEI and Judette Snowden of Woodpoint)

James "Valentine" (1854-??) ('71C,'81C)
Elizabeth "Bessie" Betsy/Bessie J (1856-1923)  ('71C,'81C)
Robert (1857-1935) ('71C,'81C)
Amos (1859-??)  ('71C,'81C)

William (1862-1934) ('71C,'81C)
Charles Bradford (1865-1931) ('71C,'81C)
Stephen Robie (1863-1949) ('81C)


Nancy (1868-1948) ('81C)
Draxy (1872-1934) ('81C)
Barbara (abt 1875?) (no corroborating documentation, but on FamilyTree)

Life Together

Long Bridge and Sprague house, Milbridge, ME, from here.

 Lafayette Sprague (22), a Mainer, married  Nancy Cook (18), an English Canadian from New Brunswick in 1887 in Milbridge, Maine.  They ultimately had 10 children, 9 of which lived to adulthood.

When Judith was born in 1893, Lafayette was working as a stone cutter in Milbridge.  Nancy was called "Sarah Cook" on the birth record, perhaps accidentally.

When Amos was born in 1897, Lafayette was working as a laborer.  Later, when Sydney was born in 1900, he's working as a "sealer".  It's likely this refers to sealing cans of sardines, as the 1900 census indicates factory work.  He did that for a few years, as in 1901, he's still working as a sealer.

As of the 1900 Census, they had been married for 14 years, and had 5 children, of which 5 were living.  Lafayette was a laborer at the sardine factory.  Charles (73, wd), Lafayette's father, lived next door with Charles Jr , and grandson Whitney.

By 1910, the family had grown.  Nancy (40), after 24 years of marriage, had borne 10 children, of which 9 survived.  Lafayette was working as a fireman at a sawmill.  Oldest son Harry E (abt 22) was working as a hired teamster.

Children of Lafayette and Nancy Sprague
1. Harry Elmer (1886-1958) m. 1940 Aggie Nora Garey (1885-?)
2. Mary Ann "Mazie" (1888-1949) m. 1909 Ralph L Driscoll (1882-1964), m2. 1939 Walter M Harvey (1884-?)
3. William Forest (1891-1958) m. 1919 Mildred Grant (1899-?)
4. Judith (1893-1963) m. Orrin Otis Hall (1892-1985)
5. Amos (1897-1976) m. 1922 Althea L. Fickett (1905-??)
6. Sydney (1900-1901) boy died at age 4 months
7. Elvira W (1903-1993) m. 1924 Percy Reel Merchant (1902-1989)
8. Clifford (1905-1987) m. 1936 Phyllis Coombs (1902-2001)
9. Almena (1907-1976) m. 1925 Milford Ray (1904-1983)
10. Lena (1910-1987) m. 1927 Millard Ray (1904-1986)

1920 Census was the last where they had kids at home with 5 kids (Amos, Elvira, Clifford, Almena, Lena) and a grandson (Donald).  They lived on Bridge Street around that year.

Wyman Factory, Milbridge

Incidentally, the 1930 Census taker was very phonetic:  "Laffyett", which gives a good indication of how he would have said his name.  They lived on Harrington Road, Milbridge, between Clifford and Phyllis Sprague on one side and Orrin and Judith Hall on the other.  Lafayette still did general labor for hire.

Lafayette and Nancy both lived full lives.  On the 1940 Census, Lafayette (75) and Nancy (72) live in a house they own, worth not much more than $100 at Bendigo Flat.  Lafayette is listed as retired.  Down the street is son Clifford and Phyllis and their 7 kids (Oscar, Bernice, Joyce, Alice, Betty, Charlene, Charles)

Lafayette died on 2 May, 1948 at age 84.  His wife died a week later on 10 May at age 80.  They are both buried in Milbridge, Maine.

More on Sardine Packing
L Ray Packing Co was established in 1941.
Milbridge Historical Society.

Beach Cliff Sardines, Prospect Harbor (nearby, from here)

From Society for Preservation of the Lowly Tinned Sardine, here

Sardine Factory in Lubec, ME