Amasa Sprague

Amasa Sprague (April 10, 1798 – December 31, 1843) was an American businessman and politician from Rhode Island. He co-founded the A & W Sprague textile firm with his brother William Sprague III. He was murdered on New Year's Eve, 1843.

Business career

Sprague was born on April 10, 1798, in Cranston, Rhode Island. He began his career working father William Sprague II’s cotton mill. As the elder Sprague's business expanded, Amasa assisted his father in purchasing raw materials and selling the finished product. William Sprague II died on March 28, 1836, and after their father's will was settled, Sprague and his brother William Sprague III founded A & W Sprague to continue the cotton and calico business. Amasa Sprague was the senior partner and superintendent of the print works.[1]

Sprague represented Cranston in the Rhode Island House of Representatives in 1832, 1840, and 1841.[1]

Personal life

Sprague and his wife, Fanny Morgan had four children[1]

Murder

On December 31, 1843, Sprague was shot in the arm and beaten to death by at least two men. The motive was not robbery, as $60 and a gold watch was found on Sprague's body.[2] Nicholas Gordon, a tavern owner whose liquor license had been revoked by the Cranston city council at Sprague's insistence, and his brothers William and John Gordon were tried for the murder.[3] William was found not guilty and Nicholas' two trials ended in a hung jury, but John Gordon was found guilty and executed on February 14, 1845.[2] Gordon’s conviction has been ascribed by researchers to anti-Roman Catholic and anti-Irish immigrant bias, and in 2011 he was granted a posthumous pardon.[4]

References
  1. Cutter, William Richard, ed. (1914). New England Families: Genealogical and Memorial. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company. pp. 815–816. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  2. "The Murder of Amasa Sprague, and the Irishman Persecuted for the Crime". New England Historical Society. January 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  3. McKay, Scott. "Judge's old notes shed light on last execution in R.I." Providence Journal. May 25, 2008.
  4. Erika Niedowski, "RI governor pardons Irish man hanged in 1845", Associated Press, 2011-06-29.
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