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