The Carncorran Sproules

Written by Heather Arnott 

My 2x Great Grandparents Robert and   Matilda Sproule (nee Irwin) farmed on their property in Carncorran Glebe, Ardstraw Parish, Co Tyrone.  (Also known as Carncorn)

Robert Sproule (B.1782 D 1844) and Matilda (B.1790 D.1869) had 8 children:

1. Andrew (B.1810 D. 1907)
2. Alexander (B.1811 D. 1881)
3. Robert (B.1815 D.1879)
4. Mary (B.1820 D.1909) 
5. John (B.1824 D.1908)
6. George (B.1825 D.1875) 
7. Emily  (B.1833 D.1890)
8. William (B. c 1835)

With an Aunt and Uncle having migrated to America around 1798 establishing themselves in Ohio and with the Potato Famine raging in Ireland, Robert’s son Andrew decided to migrate in 1845 joining them there.   Andrew Sproule lived in Fredericksburg, Ohio. He became a citizen of the United States and fought with the Union Army at the Battle of Vicksburg in the Civil War. He married his cousin Frances and they would have no children.  After Frances died in 1881 Andrew remarried and had two daughters; one married but no children eventuated. 

In 1865 William, 8^th son of Robert Sproule of Carncorran, would also emigrate, living for a short while with Andrew but later went off to work for the Railways and little more is known about him.

Robert’s daughters Mary and Emily both married – Mary to Johnston Funston and Emily to Thomas Muldoon.  Emily had five children, with only one marrying and having a child who died in infancy.

Son Alexander married Margaret and joined the RIC.   They would have four children, three marrying but no children eventuated from the marriages.

Robert married Rebecca (maiden name unknown) and had no children and they worked her family farm. 

The remaining barn on the Carncorran property

John and George farmed the home farm in Carncorran for many years – George marrying Jane Neelands of Derrygoon and John marrying Mary Alexander of Segully – remarrying Sarah Wilson after Mary died.  George and Jane had a son Robert and John and Sarah had a daughter Mary and son Robert.  These two families have continued the existing Sproule lines – one in Australia and the rest in Northern Ireland.

The South African Sproules

 By Mathew Sproule

My 2x great-grandfather, Alexander Harpur Robinson Sproule (1876-1951), son of Alexander H.R. Sproule (1846-1921) and Matilda Sproule (1850-1918) was born in Peterborough, Canada and eventually moved to South Africa where he married his wife, Elma Irene Kidwell (1886-1952) in Jamestown, South Africa where she was born.

Together they had 3 children, my great-grandfather, James Dennis Sproule (1909-1964), Roy Kidwell Sproule (1911-1960), who were both born in Cape Town. Alexander Harpur Robinson Sproule served in the military during the first world war, and he was stationed at Lion’s head in Cape Town. They returned to Fintona, County Tyrone and lived there until 1920. Their youngest son, Brian Patrick Charles Sproule (1918-1984) was born in Fintona.  They then settled permanently in South Africa, running a farm, called Hemlock, that was given to Alexander for services in the war in the early 1920’s.

My great-grandfather and his siblings all served during World War II and in 1934 my great-grandfather married my great-grandmother, Anne Dorothy Koch (1909-1993) and had 3 children together, Brian Donovan (1935-2000), Rodney Dennis (1940) and Vaughan Desmond (Des) (1941-2016).

Brian Donavan married Gail Marion Ferrell (1940-2007) and had 4 children. Rodney married Beatrice Marie Forster (1939) and had 3 children and Des married Mercia Elizabeth Wilson (1947-2016).

Alexander Harpur Sproule with his wife Elma, James Dennis Sproule, my great Grandfather, and Roy Kidwell Sproule abt. 1916

Alexander Harpur Sproule with wife Elma and R to L, Brian Patrick Charles, James and Roy Kidwell. Mpumalanga, South Africa

Our Sproule Family Crest

Family Photograph at Denamona 15 Nov 1916. It is the wedding of my 2x great-grandfathers sister Irene to Tredgar Sidney-Smith. The couple sitting next to the bride is my 3x great-grandparents Alexander H.R Sproule and Matilda Sproule.

Notes:

• Alexander Harupur Robinson Sproule b. 6 Oct 1876, d. 28 Feb 1951
• Son of Alexander Harupur Robinson Sproule, b. 3 Apr 1846, d. 12 Nov 1921
• Son of Joseph Sproule of Peterboro, b. 9 Apr 1818 in Curraghamulkin, died 1 Nov 1902 Peterboro, Ontario, Canada
• Son of Thomas Sproule of Curraghamulkin
• Son of John 'Jack Roe' Sproule of Curraghamulkin
• Son of Joseph Sproule of Curraghamulkin
• Son of Cornet Andrew Spreull

Alicia Sproule Daughter of Dr Wallace Sproule of Drumquin

Written by Sheena McClure

Alicia Sproule was born about 1843, the daughter of Dr Wallace Sproule and his wife Margaret Beattie.  In her father’s will of 1868 (PRONI Will Calendars) she is named as Elitia.

Alicia was married on 2 April 1873 in Dromore Presbyterian Church to Dr John Johnston who was born 15 Sept 1849, eldest son of Richard Johnston and Margaret nee Caldwell of Munie, Castlederg.  John Johnston was a graduate of Queen's College Belfast (MD, MCh) and was a doctor in Drumquin, County Tyrone, he died on 2 May 1881 of apoplexy at Burrell’s Folly, Drumquin.  

John and Alicia had two daughters both born in Drumquin: Margaret Sproule Johnston born on 10 March 1874 and Susan Jane Johnston born on 7 June 1875.  After their father died Margaret went to the Masonic Female Orphan School in Dublin in 1883 and Susan followed in 1885 (information from the school archivist).  Susan died on 25 April 1886 in Dublin of tubercular meningitis.  

Alicia and Margaret emigrated to the USA in 1898 on the Furnessia and are both described as dressmakers on the passenger list.  Alicia died on 18 June 1924 in New York and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx.  Margaret died on 4 February 1961 in Daytona Beach, Florida and was buried with her mother in New York.  Margaret did not marry, was a nurse and kept in touch with her cousin Margaret Caldwell Johnston from Munie.  Margaret left no will and on her death her estate was split between her maternal and paternal cousins.  Margaret Caldwell Johnston (my aunt) was contacted and was thought to be Alicia’s only cousin – she informed them that there were 23 cousins on her father’s side.  On her mother’s side there were cousins from Alicia’s sister Susan who married Mathew Guy.

Margaret Sproule Johnston,
courtesy of the Masonic School

Margaret Sproule Johnston
Family Photograph

Passenger list from the Furnessia 1898

Death notice for Alicia Johnston 1924

Margaret Sproule Johnston Funeral card 1961

Thanks to Sheena McClure for this piece and for all of the ilustrations.

Transcription of 4 Sep 1830 Deed Harper Sproule of Glenvale to Lowther Brien

 4 Sep 1830  Harper Sproule of Glenvale selling some land in Ardvarny to Lowther Brien – mentions original deed dated 28 Sep 1750

863 398 573398 Registry of Deeds, Familysearch.org transcribed by Kate Tammemagi

4 Sep 1830 between Harper Sproule of Glenvale gent on the one part and Lowther Brien of the City of Dublin on the other part Harper Sproule for the consideration of £70 did sell grant etc. to Lowther Brien then in his actual possession all that and those one undivided moity or half part of that part of the lands of Ardvarny called the nine acres that lately ascertained and measured by William Armstrong land surveyor and ascertained by Henry Irvine and George Sproule in said deed mentioned next to and adjoining the land of Letterboy and Drumnacrush in the County of Fermanagh and meered and bounded by every other side and part by the lands of Ardvarny in the actual possession of the said Lowther Brien and also one undivided half part of of the lands of Ardvarny in the actual occupation of Michael McGolderick blacksmith bounded on the side by the great road leading from Irvinestown to Ederny and on the other side by Ardress and the other parts of Ardvarny in the possession of Lowther Brien …

Mentioned in the renewal of last assignment lease of said premises  in said deed mentioned  orignial deed made by James Thompson to  Fielding Wallis deceased both in said deed mentioned and for any further life or lives in any renewal of the said lease for perpertual renewal  in the original lease dated 28 Sep 1750 ….

Witnessed William Wamsby of Ardvarny Yeoman, and by Thomas Hamilton of Irvingstown carpenter

For background on this deed - The Sproules of Ardvarny House, County Fermanagh

Transcription of Deed Dated 24 Jan 1822 Edward Sproule to Lowther Brien

Transcription of Deed Dated 24 Jan 1822 Edward Sproule of Glenvale in the County of Tyrone Gent and Lowther Brien Ardvarny lands being sold

785 103 531038 Registry of Deeds, Familysearch.org transcribed by Kate Tammemagi

A memorial of an indented deed of assignment bearing the date 24 Jan 1822 (DEED 1)made between Edward Sproule of Glenvale in the County of Tyrone Gent on the one part and Lowther Brien in the City of Dublin attorney  at law on the other part reciting that the said Edward Sproule for and in consideration of the sum of 1000 pounds sterling to him in hand paid by the said Lowther Brien did grant, sell release and confirm unto the said Lowther Brien his heirs and assigns all that part of the said lands of Ardvarny mentioned and described in a certain deed of partition of said lands entered into in the year 1805 (DEED 2) by and between Nehemiah Edwards and John Sproule the Elder whereby their respective proportions of said lands are laid out and separately described and formerly in the actual possession of Joseph Sproule together with all the houses and buildings thereon as stated and mentioned to belong to said lands and premises allotted and land out for the said Nehemiah Edwards, in and by the said therein mentioned deed of partition and as mentioned and described in a certain deed therein (DEED 3) recited by the said Nehemiah Edwards to the said Edward Sproule, and also all that half part of the garden on the lands of Ardvarny in the county of Fermanagh as mentioned and described in and by a certain deed therein mentioned and recited and dated the 13 day of April 1814 (DEED 4) and made between John Sproul therein mentioned on the one part and the said Edward Sproul on the other part and also all that and those parts of the said lands of Ardvarny as mentioned and described in and by a certain indenture therein mentioned and bearing the date 21 Aug 1817 (DEED 5)  and made between John Sproul therein mentioned on the one part and the said Edward Sproul on the other part being all that part of the said lands of Ardvarny then in the possession of the said John Sproul and devised to him by the last Will and Testament of John Sproul senior of Coranear of the county of Tyrone deceased and any other or every part and parcel of the said lands of Ardvarny or any part thereof with the appurtenances  thereto belonging or to or in any wise appertaining and all timber or timber trees then standing on said lands of Ardvarny and any part or parcel thereof with all houses buildings and other appurtenances  to said lands belonging or in any wise appertaining in the actual possession of the said Lowther Brien by virtue of the bargain and sale therein mentioned to have and to hold the said lands houses buildings and trees and appurtenances thereby granted and released to the said Lowther Brien his heirs and assigns for and during the natural life and lives of all such other person and persons as should from time to time and at all times thereafter to be added to or inserted in any lease or renewal to be obtained of the whole of said lands and premises from James Thompson to Fielding Walles therein mentioned which said deed as to the execution thereof by the said Edward Sproule and Lowther Brien is witnessed by John Harpur of Aghadulla Junior Gent of the County of Tyrone and by Manus Gallagher of Glenvale in said County farmer and the said memorial as to the deed of execution thereof by the said Lowther Brien is witnessed by the said John Harpur and Edward P Brien of Enniskillen. John Harpur of Aghadulla Junior Gent of the County of Tyrone maketh oath

 

 

NOTES on Deeds Mentioned in this lease:

(DEED 1) 24 Jan 1822 deed between Edward Sproule of Glenvale and Lowther Brien, selling Ardvarny. Edward of Glenvale is the son of John 'Jack Roe' Sproule of Curraghamulkin.

(DEED 2) 1805 deed of partition between Nehemiah Edwards and John Sproule the Elder. John the Elder is John Jack Roe Sproule of Curraghamulkin, also known as John Sproule of Cornear. Nehemiah Edwards is married to Elizabeth Sproule, daughter of John 'Jack Roe' of Curraghamulkin. He is the son of Mathew Edwards of Kilcroagh who's sister Martha married Robert Sproule of Golan. Their daughter Martha Sproule of Golan was the 1st wife of John 'Jack Roe' Sproule of Curraghamulkin.

(DEED 3) A deed by Nehemiah Edwards to Edward Sproule of Glenvale selling Nehemiah’s part of Ardvarny to Edward of Glenvale

(DEED 4) 13 day of April 1814 between John Sproule and Edward Sproule – this is now John junior, son of John 'Jack Roe' Sproule selling Ardvarny land to his brother Edward Sproule of Glenvale. John Jun was John Sproule of Ardvarny West.

(DEED 5) John Sproule of Ardvarny West is selling more Ardvarny land to Edward Sproule of Glenvale. This is the land he inherited from the death of John Sproule of Cornear. – Jack Roe

For background on this deed see - The Sproules of Ardvarny House, County Fermanagh

The Sproules of Ardvarny House, County Fermanagh

 If you look up Ardvarny, Fermanagh in Google Books, you will see lots of references, it is even in Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry. All of these entries are for one Edward-Eyre Atthill esq. J.P who lived in Ardvarney House from about about 1841. Edward-Eyre himself does not appear in the Sproule deeds for Ardvarny House, but the deeds do let us know exactly how he came to live there.

For before Edward-Eyre Atthill, there were indeed Sproules in Ardvarny House. The Post Chaise Companion of 1807 tells us that “About a mile from Kesh is Ardvarny,  the seat of John Sproule Esq.”  This travel book of the day mentioned all significant ‘seats’, some of which could actually be visited by the touring gentry. John Sproule of Ardvarny House was one of these, even though John himself  was still a very young man in 1807.

John Sproule of Ardvarny was the 4^th son of John ‘Jack Roe’ Sproule of Curraghamulkin and he is the child of his second wife, Elizabeth Edwards. He was born in 1779 so John was only 27 at the time of the Post Chase entry.

It was John’s grandfather, Joseph Sproule of Curraghamulkin, who had first a least to land in Ardvarny. There are two townlands there, Ardvarny West and Ardvarny East, and over the years, the Sproules bought and sold different plots of Ardvarny land in both townlands.  It was Joseph, 5^th son of Cornet Andrew Spreull, who held the first lease. We learn this in what I call the ‘Long Lease’, which is dated 24 Jan 1822 and it refers to many previous leases.

Joseph Sproule of Curraghamulkin must have died some time around 1803, for in a deed dated 1805, his land is being divided between two of his heirs. Clearly, Joseph’s Ardvarny land has been left jointly to his son John ‘Jack Roe’ Sproule of Curraghamulkin, and to his son-in-law,  Nehemiah Edwards of Kilcroagh. The 1805 deed, referred to in the Long Lease,  is a deed of partition, where the two boys are dividing up the land between them.  Again in the Long Lease, we learn that shortly after this, Nehemiah Edwards sold his portion Ardvarny to Edward Sproule of Glenvale, brother to John ‘Jack Roe’.

So at this point, 1805ish, John ‘Jack Roe’ Sproule is living in Curraghamulkin, and Edward, his brother, is living in Glenvale, also in Curraghamulkin. It therefore has to have been the young John Sproule Jun, son of John ‘Jack Roe’ who was living in Ardvarny House, Ardvarny West, Fermanagh.

John Sproule Jun was still living in Ardvarny House when his father John ‘Jack Roe’ died in early 1814, but he is very quickly beginning to sell his inherittance. In a deed dated 13 April 1814 John Sproule Jun John Sproule of Ardvarny sells part of his property to his uncle Edward Sproule of Glenvale. (Long Lease) Why would he do that? Why would he sell his inheritance? I can only speculate that John Jun. was in Ardvarny when he was very young, and, perhaps, has got himself into financial problems.

It continues in 1817, when John Jun. sells the remainder of Ardvarny to his uncle Edward. (21 Aug 1817 Long Lease) By 1819, John Sproule of Ardvarny West is now living full time in the home of his uncle, and he has become John Sproule of Glenvale.  We know that John later went to live in Bearharnois County, Quebec, Canada.

In this deed dated 4 Sep 1819,  Elizabeth Sproule, widow of John ‘Jack Roe’ Sproule had some Ardvarny land too, and she is selling it to Edward Sproule of Glenvale.

Now at this point, Edward Sproule of Glenvale seems to have all of the Sproule Ardvarny property and land, but he doesn’t keep it for long. In 1822 Edward starts selling to Lowther Brien, and in 1826 he sells more. In 1830, his son Harper Sproule of Glenvale, sells the last piece of Ardvarny to Lowther Brien. Edward Sproule, Harper and other family members emigrate to New Brunswick, Canada.

Now Lowther Brien has the whole of the Sproule Ardvarny land. Lowther Brien was a lawyer with a practice in Dublin. He was married to a granddaughter of a Curraghmulkin Sproule, Margaret Harpur of Aghadulla. He and his family went to live in Ardvarny House, I believe this was in 1822. It was there that his daughter, Jane, was born in 1823.

Lowther Brien died on 27 Feb 1841, and his heirs were his three daughters. Jane Brien married Edward-Eyre Atthill, the gentleman mentioned in Burke’s Peerage, on 23 Oct 1847.

And this was how Edward-Eyre Atthill esq. came to live in Ardvarny House.

 

 Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry, Volume 1 1875 P.37, Publisher Harison, Pall Mall 

 Post Chaise Companion, Digital Library@Villanova University, The post chaise companion: or, Traveller's directory through Ireland 1807 

Age of John Sproule of Ardvarny , he is named as a ‘life’ in deed  30 Oct 1793. Public Records of Northern Ireland, PRONI Reference : D674/19

‘Long Lease’  -  785103 531038 Registry of Deeds, Familysearch.org dated 24 Jan 1822 between Edward Sproule of Glenvale in the County of Tyrone Gent and Lowther Brien, City of Dublin, Attorney at law. Transcription of this Lease

4 Sep 1819 Lease - 841269 564269 Registry of Deeds, Familysearch.org dated 4 Sep 1819 Elizabeth Sproule of Cornear widow of John Sproule of Cornear deceased of said place and Edward Sproule of Glenvale Transcription of this Lease

4 Sep 1830  Lease - 863 398 573398 Registry of Deeds, Familysearch.org Harper Sproule of Glenvale selling a piece of Ardvarny to Lowther Brien. Transcription of this Deed

The Family of Charles Sproule and Elizbeth Bird

 I came across this lovely little book again today. It is called 'Sermon from the Grave, a Memoir of Nathaniel Sproule', and it is all about the last years of young Nathaniel. It is written by James Reid Dill, who attended him as his Minister during his illness, and it includes the sermon at the funeral.

Nathaniel was only 31 when he died, and here James Reid Dill gives some of his background:

From 'A Sermon from the Grave' 1862, Published by William Freeman

Nathaniel, born 17 June 1830, was the son of Charles Sproule of Daisy Hill and Elizabeth Bird of Shanmullagh. Charles of Daisy Hill was a Grennan Sproule, his father was Charles Sproule of the Holm, and his mother another Sproule, Jane Sproule of Spamount.

Nathaniel was actually one of 4 brothers, not three as stated in James Reid Dill's outline. He had a 'natural' brother George, mentioned in his father's will. His two brothers Charles and William were both surgeons. 

William Bird Sproule, Nathaniel's brother, was born on 10 Dec 1826, and he joined the navy as an Acting Assistant Surgeon on 5 Aug 1848. However, like his brother Nathaniel, he died young. Only a year later, in 1849, 22 year old William Bird Sproule died in New York.

Brother Charles was another Surgeon, he died unmarried on 15 mar 1870.

James Reid Dill was connected to this Sproule family in that he was married to Sara Scott of Ballyare, who was the widow of Andrew Sproule of Fairy Hill. Andrew of Fairy Hill and Charles of Daisy Hill were brothers.

Note: For some obscure reason which totally baffles me, folk on Ancestry have William Sproule son of Charles of Daisy Hill, as a carpenter in America with a large family. None of this family was ever a carpenter!

A Sermon From the Grave, a Memoir of Nathaniel Sproule by James Read Dill, published 1862 by William Freeman  can be viewed here A Sermon from the Grave

Navy Record William Bird Sproule

Birth of William Bird Sproule - Births recorded  in Kilskeery C. of I. 1767-1872    

Headstone of this Family 

ELIZABETH BURD | the beloved wife of CHARLES SPROULL | ... who

died ... April 1868 (?) | aged 68 years | In memory of her son | WILLIAM
BURD SPROULL Surgeon (?) | who died in New York the year 18... aged 23
years | In memory of her son NATHANIEL SPROULL | Who died May 1862 (?) |
Aged 32 years | In memory of her Son CHARLES SPROULL | Surgeon ... who
died ... | Aged ... years

Headstones, TYRONE, Dromore Presbyterian Graveyard Graveyard, Dromore, Co. Tyrone, N. Ireland

Who is Thomas Sproule of Omagh in 1771?

This one is an unsolved mystery. There is a deed with a Thomas Sproule of Omagh who had leased rooms in the Brick House in Omagh in 1771. He is now selling his lease. We know that he took out the lease in 1769, only two years before.

Who is Thomas Sproule? Where did Thomas Sproule go?

 

Thomas Sproule of Omagh selling the lease to the Brick House in Omagh 16 Jan 1771

279 610 184528 Registry of Deeds, Familysearch.org, transcribed by Kate Tammemagi

 A memorial of an indenture dated 16 Jan 1771 made between Thomas Sproule of Omagh and William Hamilton of same  Gent purporting to be an assignment of all his the said Thomas Sproule’s right title and interest for him his heirs & assigns forever therefore of interest to all that & those that Tenement in the said town of Omagh occupied & taken to be part & parcel of the Brick House held by Deed forever by Mr Joseph Baxter under Alexander McCausland Esq & containing in front forty feet facing the main street backwards to the stable of said Brickhouse & a lot of ground containing six perches be the same more or less for a garden & which was granded to the said Thomas Sproule by deed dated 22 February 1769 & made between Joseph Baxter of Omagh Distiller and the said Thomas Sproule forever & the said Thomas Sproule acknowledges to have received from the said William Hamilton thirty eight pounds sterling being the full or consideration of the purchase of the whole of said concerns and conveyance all his right title & interest to said William forever & the said assignment & this memorial are witnessed by

William Orr, Cooper

John Hunter, Blacksmith

Archibald McCausland is Carpenter of Omagh

Thomas Sproule Deed 16 Jan 1771

 

Notes

This looks as if Thomas Sproule is a trader of some kind – this would be very unusual for a Grennan or Curraghamulkin Sproule.

Those Sproules would be more likely to have a doctor or a lawyer in the family, but this Thomas is unlikely to be either of those, as the deed would have used the appropriate title

Thomas took the property in 1769 and is now selling it just two years later

Who is Thomas Sproule of Omagh in 1771?

 

Notes on the Will of George Sproule of Curraghamulkin 12 July 1836

 Some things that I came across in PRONI were really quite moving. Being in PRONI is quite different to finding things online. You are handling the document that they handled – the will, the deed, the receipt, the note. So somehow it makes the whole thing more real, more personal. The will of George Sproule of Curraghamulkin is one that moved me, and moves me still.

It was in a box of documents from the solicitors Sproule & Ors, and it was brief, as are my notes on it. George Sproule was a farmer and a businessman who seemed to be in business with two other Sproules. I have deeds where Andrew Sproule of Magheracrigan, his brother, and Charles Sproule of Grennan are acting together, buying and selling land. George was an affluent man, and yet there is something sad and pathetic about these items in his will.

Poor James and Andrew, I wonder what happened to them.

 

Will of George Sproule of Curraghamulkin died 12 July 1836, Executors Robert and Oliver Sproule of Curraghamulkin.

1. Bequeaths to beloved wife Ann, my farm in Curraghamulkin in possession of self, and Henry Mc Canney and Harpurs Meadow also the farm in Tappahan allowing her to pay the chief rents on lands in Cooel and Curraghamulkin and Harpurs Meadow together. Also the lands in Dullaghan.
2. To the two sons Robert and Oliver lands in Dellichan in Cooel.
3. The two sons must pay 20 pounds per year to his illegitimate son James
4. Another son Andrew, 3 pence per day and to keep him warm and clothed and make sure that he gives up the old clothes when he gets the new.

Title :     Name: A Sproule & Ors, County Tyrone, Record Number EC 07049, Box 1819.

PRONI Reference :          LR1/1819/1

 

Curraghamulkin Deed, giving Age of George Sproule's Children

 Leases are great to find! They will contain land details and, very often, names and ages. This lease  from 1805 is typical of the type.  George Sproule of Curraghamulkin is leasing 100 acres of land in Curraghamulkin, land that has been in their family for generations now.

It is what is called a ‘perpetual lease’, that is it can be renewed forever. The length of the lease is based on the lives of the people named in the lease, in this case it is George Sproule’s children. The lease will renew when new names need to be added to the lease – the people on the last renewal are now dead. Because of this, a lease can often tell us the age of family members and when each died. In this lease we just have the new names to be added, and their ages.

 

Deed George Sproule of Curraghamulkin – leasing 100 acres of Curraghamulkin from Daniel Moore Echlen 29 January 1805 

583 48 394166 Registry of Deeds Familysearch.org, transcribed by Jamie Reid

Echlen to Sproul, reg’d 15^th July 1806

Indenture of demise dated 29^th January 1805 made between Daniel Moore Echlen of the City of Dublin atty-at-law in the 1^st part, and George Sproul of Carrickamulkin (Curraghamulkin) in the second part co. Tyrone farmer, whereby Daniel Moore Echlen did demise grant set and to farm let unto George Sproule of Carrickamulkin all the one undivided moiety of that part of the townland of Carrickamulkin cont’g by common estimation about 100 acres Cunningham measure bounded on the south by Thomas and John Sprouls part of Carrickamulkin afsd, on the north by the lands of Dowish and that other part of Carrickamulkin pos’d by John Armstrong and partners, on the east by the Ola Road leading from Drumquin to Enniskillen and on the west by the lands of Grennan, to hold to George Sproul for and during the natural life and lives of Andrew Sproul eldest son of the sd George Sproul aged about 4 years, Robert Sproul second son of George Sproule aged about 3 years, Elizabeth Sproul only daughter of George Sproule aged about 3 months and the survivor of them subject to yearly rent of £20 in which lease is cont’d a covenant for perpetual renewal the sd 2 paying a peppercorn on the fall of each life and sd lease contains the usual covenants btw landlord and tenant and is witnessed by Robt Belly of the City of Dublin and Henry Cooper of Dromore in the co. of Tyrone and this mem’l is witnessed by the sd Henry Cooper and John Galbraith of sd city of Dublin, George Sproule, signed sealed, sworn by Henry Cooper 18^th April 1806 at Omagh.

 Notes:

• George Sproule is the son of Andrew Sproule of Curraghamulkin who died in 1799. The bulk of his estate went to George. He died on 12 Jul 1836
• Thomas and John Sproule – these are the sons of Joseph of Curraghamulkin. Joseph has died before this, 1805, and this land must have been passed in his will. John is John ‘Jack Roe’ Sproule who was in Cornear at this time. Thomas is, I believe, Thomas Sproule of Drumgallan.
• This deed tells us that;

1. Andrew Sproule, the eldest son of George Sproule of Curraghamulkin was born in 1799 
2. Robert Sproule, the second son was born 1802
3. Elizabeth sproule, the only daughter at this time was born 1805

Another Son of Joseph Sproule of Curraghamulkin?

 Jamie Reid had sent me this 1742 deed, which he had transcribed – thank you Jaime. (See below for the transcribed deed)  It  is the first one in which we  find Joseph Sproule of Curraghamulkin after he took possession of the Curraghamulkin land in 1731. 

It is dated 13 Feb 1746 and it is  between Joseph Sproule of Curraghamulkin and a lady called Ann Godfrey of Castletown in Co. Tyrone.  Joseph is leasing land from Ann Godfrey in a place called Dunwest, County Tyrone. Now I know that Joseph had sons so it was possible that he was buying land for one of the sons in this Dunwest place, so it was worth chasing.

But first I had to find it, and I no idea where Dunwest was.

The first place to look for anything of this kind is our County Tyrone genealogy sites – two excellent sites full of all sorts of information. A search for Dunwest on the cotyrone.com site revealed one page with two different entries for Dunwest. It was a page giving information on Langfield or Longfield.

One entry was from the 1840 Topographical Dictionary of Ireland by Samuel Lewis, where he is describing Longfield West or Lower Langfield. The section on Dunwest says:

“In Dunwest are extensive beds of coal in 3 strata, all easy of access but though at every flood, large masses are detached by the river Poe and carried down the stream, no attempt has yet been made to work them; coal of very good quality is also found in other parts of the parish.”

This confirms that Dunwest is in West Longfield, but the description meant nothing to me. 

I looked up Dunwest in the Tithe Applotment Book for West Longfield, and there was indeed a ‘Dunwaist’ in this book, a townland of 1096 acres. That townland did not exist later in Griffiths Valuation, it’s not there. So it must have had a name change or have been integrated into another townland.

I couldn’t find the river Poe from that Topogrphical Dictionary entry at all. I contacted one of my good friends in that area, family historian Sheena McClure, and she had great insight into where this place could be from that description. She told me that the river Poe is now called Fairy Water and;

“The most westerly part of the Fairy Water but still in West Langfield is Drumgallan and on the old 1830s map shows quite a few buildings and wooded areas at the western part of this townland, but no label of Dunwest that I can see.”

Drumgallan, that was great news! Joseph Sproule of Curraghamulkin was leasing land in Drumgallan in 1742, and I had two unidentified Sproule records for Drumgallan!

One was the record of a death in Prerogative Wills & Administrations Indexes. It records a Thomas Sproule, Drumgallan, who died in 1808. According to Inch/Elder, Joseph of Curraghamulkin did indeed have a son called Thomas.

We have a second record of Drumgallan, another Thomas Sproule. This time Thomas appears in a list of subs for the Topographical Dictionary for 1837, and he is ‘Thomas Sproule esq. Drumgallan, Castlederg, Co. Tyrone. This is obviously a son of Thomas Sproule of Drumgallan who died in 1808. We also know that he is an ‘esq.’ telling us he is from an affluent family which again would fit with our Joseph of Curraghamulkin. Have we located the son of Joseph Sproule of Curraghamulkin, namely Thomas Sproule of Drumgallan?

Now life got a bit complicated when I saw the second description of ‘Dunwest’ on the very the same page in the cotyrone.com site which describes a completely different location! It is an advertisement for the sale of land in Dunwest which was placed in 1809, and it describes the location of this piece of Dunwest land quite precisely;

 “The lands are situated within 1 mile of Drumquin, 6 of Omagh, 7 of Newtown-Stewart, 9 Fintona, 6 of Dromore, and 8 of Lowtherstown.”

This is definitely nowhere near Drumgallan!  Two different locations, both in Longfield – where was my Dunwest?

After spending a lot of time trying to figure this out and going demented, I went to my friends on County Tyrone Ireland Genealogy group on Facebook and they came to the rescue!  I explained the evidence of Dunwest being in two different places both in Longfield. None of them knew or had heard of Dunwest. We discussed things, explored various possibilities, but I wasn’t happy that we had solved this. Then a short time later one of the group involved in the discussion,  Marie Maguire,  added another comment to my post;

‘Kate as I was driving along the Drumlegagh Road just outside of Omagh today I saw a minor road to the left called Dunwish Road. Could Dunwish townland be what you're looking for?’

God bless you Marie Maguire, Mary McCollum and the other folk on there who worked on this, problem solved! No, Dunwish was not the place I was looking for, but it eliminated the second place, the place in the advertisement  that described Dunwest as 1 mile from Drumquin. That wasn’t Dunwest, that was Dunwish.

So the Dunwest of the deed must be the one that has been integrated into Drumgallan, the ‘Dunwaist’ of the Tithe Applotment.

So now we have placed another person on our tree. Joseph Sproule of Curraghamukin leased land in Dunwest, which was in or near Drumgallan. Joseph had a son Thomas Sproule of Drumgallan who died in 1808. Thomas had a son also called Thomas Sproule of Drumgallan. What happened to him? Another question to be answered.

 

1746 Deed Joseph Sproull of Curraghamulkin leasing land in Dunwest,

149  134 99169 1746 Registry of Deeds, Familysearch.org Transcribed by Jaime Reid

Godfrey to Spruell, red’d 13^th June 1751

Indenture of lease 13^th Feb. 1746 between Ann Godfrey of Castletown in Co. Tyrone widow on the 1^st part, and Joseph Sproull of Carrickamulkan in the said co. gent. on the other part. Whereby Ann Godfrey did demise grant let to farm let unto Joseph Sproull all that town or peell [?] of land commonly called Dunwest situate in co. Tyrone with all houses buildings and improvements erected and made thereon together with all woods and underwoods growing lying or being thereon with a liberty for the sd Joseph Sproull his heirs ex admons & assigns (during the sd term) to cut down fellraise sell and dispose of the same and every part thereof without impeachment of waste (all other royalties excepted) to hold unto the sd Joseph Sproull his h e a & a the sd demised premises from the 1^st day of November then last past for and during the term of twenty one years at the yearly rent of forty-seven pounds for the first ten years and for the remaining eleven years the yearly rent of forty-nine pounds with sixpence a pound receivers fees in case sd yearly rent should not be pd before the end of three calendar months after the days appointed in the said indenture for payment of the sd rents.

Executed in presence of Rev. Wm Hamilton of Strabane in co. Tyrone and Simon Rousse of Strabane afsd gent, and this mem duly executed by sd Joseph Sproull in presence of sd Simon Rousse and of Edward Morris of Strabane afsd, 27^th May 1751. Signed, Joseph Spruell.

This deed on Familysearch.org

Dunwest in County Tyrone Genealogy

Subs for A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland 1837 

Tithe Applotment Book for West Longfield 1826, PRONI Fin_5_A_204A/B

Diocesan and Prerogative Wills & Administrations Indexes, 1595-1858 in Familysearch.org

Document with Information on Magheracrigan and Curraghamulkin Sons

 One of my most pleasurable experiences was rooting through old cardboard boxes in PRONI, the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland, in Belfast. One of these was the box of  documents of James Sproule Crockett & Ors Solicitors, and it had some good information, including this one on the Magheracrigan and Curraghamulkin Sproules.

At that time you were not permitted to copy documents, so I have here my notes.

 In the box of deeds LR1/1605/1 of James Sproule Crockett & Ors, County Tyrone, Record Number NI 165, Box 1605.

This is document is dated 30 May 1835 and in it Andrew Sproule of Crigan (Magheracrigan)  in Ardstraw is handing over land land that had been left in the will of Andrew of Curraghamulkin to  Andrew Sproule junior, his son. It records the death of other sons, though no dates.

Andrew Sproule late of Grannan (this is Andrew of Curraghamulkin) deceased did by his last will and testament bearing the date 27 July 1797 bequeatherd the lands of …. Therein mentioned described as then in the possession of a Alexander King,  12 acres unto his son Joseph Sproul during the said Joseph Sproul and his wife Elizabeth’s lives and after their decease to the sons of said Joseph Sproul namely James and Andrew and in the case that the said persons should die without issue then the said lands to go to his two sons Charles Sproule and Andrew Sproul. And the said Andrew Sproul did further also by this said will bequeath unto his son James Sproule that part of the lands of Screen then in possession of the Widdow Hall  and now in the possession of Benjamen and Robert Hall and if James should die without issue the said lands were to go to his sons Charles and Andrew. Andrew of Crigan is now passing these lands to his son Andrew.

 So in this document we learn:

• Andrew Sproule of Curraghamulkin was also referred to as Andrew Sproule of Grennan
• Andrew of Curraghamulkin had a son Joseph , who is now dead in 1835
• Son Joseph had two sons James and Andrew who are now both dead with without issue
• Andrew of Curraghamulkin also had two sons Charles and Andrew Sproule (Andrew of Magheracrigan) We assume Charles is also now dead, though it doesn’t state that.
• Andrew of Curraghamulkin also had a son James, who is also dead without issue.
• Andrew Sproule of Curraghamulkin is passing all of the land left by these deaths to his son Andrew.

Note - John Sproule Crockett, the Solictor, was the son of John Clare Crockett and Martha Sproule of the Holm

The Marriage Settlement of Chadwallader Blayney and Mary Sproule 1792

 This is the marriage settlement of Chadwallader (Cadwallader) Blayney, son of Ambrose Blayney of Oughterard and then Dullaghan,  and Mary Sproule, daughter of John Sproule of Grennan 11 Ap 1792

 

478 553 311812 Registry of Deeds, Familysearch.org, transcribed by Kate Tammemagi

A memorial of a deed or articles of marriage dated 11 Ap 1792 between Ambrose Blaney of Oughterard in the Parish of Dromore Co Tyrone, farmer in the first part, John Sproule of Grennan in the said parish in the second part, also in the second part Chadwalader Blayney eldest son of the said Ambrose Blayney of the 3^rd part Mary Sproule, eldest daughter of the said John Sproule of the fourth part. Whereby for the consideration therein mentioned namely the said marriage it is agreed in case the said Mary Sproule should survive survive the said intended husband Chadwallader Blayney having issue then it shall and may be lawful for the said Mary Sproule to take and receive the tenants, leases and profits of all that part of the lands of Bodony situated in the parish of Dromore in the occupation of the said Chad. Blayney this understood to consist of about 40 acres of arable and green pasture with the bog … belonging and after her decease then to the heirs of Chad Blayney by her begotten. It was further agreed in case the said Mary Sproule should die within the space of 12 months from the date thereof without issue 50% of her fortune should be returned. 

And the said Ambrose Blanyey did by the said deed did grant make over unto his son the said Chad Blayney for the consideration therein mentioned all that part of the said lands of Bodoney all his title rights interest therein. And the said John Sproule in the said deed did grant and make over one yearly rent charge of thirteen pounds and thirteen shillings issuable and payable from out of the lands of Dullaghan in the Parish of Dromore to be payable until the sum of one hundred pounds sterling be paid the said Chad Blayney for the marriage portion of the said Mary Sproule. In case the said Mary Sproule should survive the said Chad. Blayney after the expiration of Cormac McNulty and Owen McNulty’s lease then she is only to receive the yearly sum of 10 pounds sterling during her life.

Witnessed James Buchanan of Omagh Gent, Charles Thompson and Charles Caldwell both of the parish of Dromore

James Buchanan and Charles Caldwell did the registration of the deed.

Identifying Sproule Families in Ireland - Learning from the Y-DNA

Thanks to all of the members of the Sproule DNA project, and to Joe Sprowl who manages this, we have managed begin identifying different Sproule families. In this post, I will look at some of the Irish Sproule Lines

Two Separate Sproule Families

The first finding was that there are different  Sproule families in Ireland – that was expected. It used to be thought that they all came from one family who arrived in Donegal in 1622. However, the 1665 Hearth Money Rolls suggested that there were different Sproule families who arrived at different times. We have found so far in the Sproule DNA project two specific mutations that identify two of these families.

One mutation in the Y-DNA is unique to the Sproules who came from Scotland in 1622, from Renfrewshire. They dispersed throughout Donegal and Tyrone. There are descendants of these Sproules in America, Canada, Australia and the West Indes. We have called this mutation The Cowden Mutation. If you have the Cowden Mutation in your DNA no matter where you are in the world, it tells us firstly that your family came from Ireland, and secondly that you are a descendant of these Cowden Sproules.

A second family, who do not carry the Cowden Sproule mutation, but who have their own unique mutation, is the Clondermot Sproules. I believe they arrived from Scotland much earlier than the Cowden Sproules, and they settled in an area of Clondermot that is now round New Buildings. This family did not come from Cowden, Renfrewshire, but we do not as yet know where they originated.

The Cowden Sproules

We have some further information on some of the Sproule lines in Donegal and Tyrone. Of course,  the more folk that come forward with their Y-DNA, the more we will learn.

The Mutation	The Family	Known families with this Mutation
The Cornet Andrew mutation BY105178 This mutation arose round the birth of Cornet Andrew Spreull, or his father. He died in about 1733 in Grennan, Dromore. This family has the Cowden mutation, but does not have the Tullymoan or Kilclean mutations.	This family are descendants of Cornet Andrew Spreull or his father. The descendants lived in  Dromore, East Longfield and Longfield West, Tyrone	1.    Robert Sproule m. Sara Whitcomb, 15 Nov 1745 at Marlborough, Middlesex County, Massachusetts 2.    James Sproul d. 12 May 1863 m. Elizabeth, Lennox & Addington Co., Ontario, Canada 3.    William Sproule b. abt 1818 m. Mary Whelan, Beauharnois County, Canada East (Quebec), Canada
The Kilclean Mutation FGC60995 The Kilclean mutation arose before 1720 in Ireland. Kilcleans have the Cowden mutation, but do not have the Tullymoan or Cornet Andrew mutations.	Discovered in the family of James Sproule of Kilclean b. abt 1808 who married m. Rebecca Baxter. The family went to live in the Parish of Simonds, St. John County, New Brunswick, Canada. This family were all Stone Masons, and in Ireland the eldest son was always William.	1.    Thomas Sproul m. Sarah Rea  12 Nov 1761 New Castle County, Delaware 2.    Robert Sprowl b. 1782 m. Mary, Chester Co. Pennsylvania
The Tullymoan Mutation R-FT107246 The Tullymoan family have this mutation and they have the Cowden mutation, but do not have the Cornet Andrew or Kilclean mutations. We do not as yet know when the Tullymoan mutation arose in this family.	The Sproule family of Tullymoan, Urney, of which I am one. The family have lived on this farm from the early 1600s until today.	1.    Sligo Sproules, of Billa, Ballysadare. 2.    Robert Sproul b. c1737 died c 1800 (m) Mary Henry, Bohemia Manor, Cecil County, Maryland
The Carncorran /Castlebane Sproules There is no mutation here. This family only has the Cowden mutation – no other mutations. They descend directly  from the same line as Cornet Andrew, but from earlier than him, before that mutation was formed. The Killen Sproules below are similar, and it is likely that they come from the same ancestor in the mid 1600s.	The family of Robert Sproule of Carncorran, Ardstraw, Tyrone d. 16 Dec 1844 who married Matilda Irwin. This family are closely related to the Castlebane Sproules and probably the Carrickadartans Sproules
The Killen Sproules There is no mutation here. This family only has the Cowden mutation – no other mutations. They descend from an earlier line and are close to the Carncorran Sproules in the about the mid 1600s	The family of Alexander Sproule of Edenasop, Termonamongan, Tyrone b. abt 1796 m. Jane

 

The Clondermot Sproules

The Mutation	The Family	Known families with this Mutation
The Clondermot Mutation R-FT157516 The Clondermot Sproules do not have any of the other mutations. They came to Ireland from Scotland before the Cowden Sproules and were well established in Gortin and Tully Upper by the 1660s. We do not know where exactly they came from as yet.	John Sproule 1771–1861 m. Sarah Orr – went on to live in Nova Scotia	1.    William Sproul b. 1827 Baltimore, Maryland, m. Ellen Baublitz 2.    The Evish Sproules, of Camus, Tyrone – unconfirmed by mutation 3.    The Glenfin /Ballybofey Sproules – unconfirmed by mutation (The second two here are identified as Clondermot Sproules by different means)