Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

possessions, including valuable and choice
books. He was not, however, disheartened
; his collegiate education became
available in this his hour of need. He
established at Leyden a school ; his knowl-
edge of Latin brought him many students,
both Danes and Germans, who desired to
acquire education in the English language.
This, supplemented by his cheerfulness
and contentment, enabled him to bear the
burden of straitened finances, and the
hardships incidental to emigration were
overcome. He could not look for any
financial assistance from his children, who
had been bred to refinement and culture
and were not fitted for toilsome and la-
borious duties. He was materially bene-
fited financially by the establishment of
a printing office ; religious books were
printed that were contrabanded by the
English Government, and the operation
was closely watched by the English Ambassador,
Sir Dudley Carleton. Elder
Brewster was sent to England in 1619
to arrange for the emigration of the Pilgrims
to America. The English Ambas-
sador forwarded information of his departure
for England, and recommended
that he be apprehended and examined.
His eflForts were futile, and Elder Brew-
ster returned to Leyden without being
molested.
At the time of the departure of the Pilgrims
for their future home in a new land,
on account of his popularity, he was chosen
their spiritual guide. He embarked
on the "Mayflower" with his wife, whose
maiden name was Mary Love, and the
two youngest members of his family.
Wrestling and Love, sons, the latter be-
ing an infant in arms. On the arrival of
the voyagers on the bleak coast of Mas-
sachusetts, the famous Covenant estab-
lishing the Pilgrim Republic was drafted,
and William Brewster is credited as being
its author. For the first nine years of
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
52
the Plymouth settlement he supplied the
vacant pulpit, preaching impressive ser-
mons ; though often urged, he never administered
the sacrament. Elder Brewster
died at Plymouth, Massachusetts,
April 16, 1644. His wife's death had pre-
ceded his, she passing away April 17,
1627. The late years of his life were spent
in Duxbury, Massachusetts, with his son.
Love, who was apparently the wealthiest
man in that town, and was engaged in the
cultivation of the paternal acres and estab-
lishing a family home. Jonathan, his
eldest son, was living at the time of his
father's death. He remained in Leyden
at the time of the first emigration of the
Pilgrims, but joined his father soon afterward
at Plymouth. He removed to Con-
necticut, and died at Brewster's Neck, in
tnat province.
(III) John Sparrow, son of Captain
Jonathan and Rebecca (Bangs) Sparrow,
was born in Eastham, Massachusetts, November
2, 1656, and died there, his will
being proved March 19, 1734-35. He lived
at Eastham, and served in the early In-
dian wars. He married, December 5,
1683, Apphia Tracy, daughter of John and
Mary (Prence) Tracy. Mary (Prence)
Tracy was the daughter of Governor
Thomas Prence by his second wife, Mary
(Collier) Prence. (His first wife was the
daughter of William Brewster.) Chil-
dren: I. Rebecca, bom December 23,
1684. 2. John, born August 24, 1687, died
young. 3. Elizabeth, born January 19,
1689. 4. Stephen, of whom further.
(IV) Stephen Sparrow, son of John
and Apphia (Tracy) Sparrow, was born
September 6, 1694, and died in East Haddam,
Connecticut, September 9, 1785. He
lived at Eastham, Massachusetts, and removed
with his sons to East Haddam,
Connecticut, and served in the expedi-
tion to Louisburg in 1745. He married,
at Eastham, Massachusetts, November 7,