George Washington Papers

[Diary entry: 29 September 1773]

29. Dined at Mr. Sprigs & went to the Play in the Evening.

Today’s race was run in three heats of three miles each, for a purse of £50. Richard Sprigg (1739–1798), only son of Thomas and Elizabeth Galloway Sprigg, was born at West River Farm (later known as Cedar Park) in Anne Arundel County, Md. (KELLY [1] description begins J. Reaney Kelly. “Cedar Park, Its People and Its History.” Maryland Historical Magazine 58 (1963): 30–53. description ends , 41). In 1765 Sprigg married Margaret Caile (d. 1796) of Dorchester County, Md., and shortly afterwards moved to a new house designed for him by his friend William Buckland. This home, Strawberry Hill, was built on a promontory overlooking Annapolis and the Chesapeake Bay and the site is now a part of the United States Naval Academy grounds. Sprigg became a leading citizen of the town, a steward of the Jockey Club, and one of the founders of St. John’s College (TILGHMAN [1] description begins Tench Francis Tilghman. “The Founding of St. John’s College, 1784–1789.” Maryland Historical Magazine 44 (1949): 75–92. description ends , 89).

Index Entries