Ebenezer Sproat

Ebenezer Sproat
Ebenezer Sproat (aka Sprout)
Born	(1752-02-09)February 9, 1752 Middleborough, Massachusetts
Died	January 7, 1805(1805-01-07) (aged 52) Marietta, Ohio
Place of burial	Mound Cemetery (Marietta, Ohio)
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	Continental Army
Rank	Colonel
Battles/wars	American Revolutionary War
Relations	Abraham Whipple (father-in-law)
Other work	pioneer to the Ohio Country, surveyor, militia officer during the Northwest Indian War, first sheriff in the Northwest Territory

Ebenezer Sproat (1752–1805), surname also spelled Sprout, was an officer of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, a pioneer to the Ohio Country, and one of the founders of Marietta, Ohio, the first permanent American settlement in the Northwest Territory. He served throughout the entire American war of independence, from April 1775 through November 1783, achieving the rank of colonel. After the war, he was a pioneer and surveyor in the Northwest Territory, and became a leader of the militia at Marietta during the Northwest Indian War. He was the first sheriff in the Northwest Territory and Ohio, serving fourteen years as sheriff of Washington County, the oldest county in Ohio.

Ebenezer Sproat was born in Middleborough, Massachusetts in 1752. He was the son of Ebenezer Sproat, who owned a farm and was the proprietor of the Sproat Tavern in Middleborough. During his boyhood and youth, he assisted his father in cultivating the farm. When quite young he became interested in the public affairs of the colony. Like his father Ebenezer grew to be a tall man and was of perfect proportions.

Ebenezer Sproat was in the field with the Continental Army throughout the American Revolutionary War, and was engaged in the battles of Trenton, Princeton, and Monmouth. He was a disciplinarian, but also of cheerful disposition, and was a favorite with both officers and enlisted ranks.