1747 James Sproule of Grennan leases Dullaghan

This is a very important deed as it gives us some vital information on one of the very early Grennan families. Here in 1747 we have James Sproule of Grennan leasing a farm in Dullaghan, which is a townland next to Grennan in Dromore. 

As was customary in those days the deed names two of James Sproule's children as 'lives'. This was done as a measure of time that the deed would last - until the end of the the live of the longest lived of the people named. In this case we learn the age of the two children Charles was 5 in 1747 and John was 3. So we know that this James Sproule of Grennan had a son Charles born in 1742 and a son John born in 1745.

This Dullaghan land became the subject of a few more deeds later in the 1700s, and was later in the hands of the Blany family of Oughterard & Dullaghan.

1747 James Sproule of Grennan leases Dullaghan farm from Andrew Crawford

148 198 99167 Registry of  Deeds, Familysearch.org, transcribed by James Reid 

Crawford to Sproul, regd 13^th June 1751

Memorial of an article in writing duly executed 11^th June 1747 between Andrew Crawford of Enniskillen gent and James Sproul of Grennan in the parish of Dromore farmer Whereas the said Andrew Crawford for the consideration therein did let and to farm let unto James Sproule the farm of Dullaghan as it was then meared and held by said Crawford and situate in parish of Dromore co. Tyrone to hold unto him the said James Sproul the said farm for and during natural lives of said James Sproul the lessee, Charles Sproul aged then five years and John Sproul aged then three yrs both sons to ye said James Sproul or for and during the space of thirty one years commencing from first day of May then next which was in the year of our Lord 1748 at the yearly rent of thirty five pounds the first five yrs and at the yearly rent of thirty six pounds for the remaining part of the said years or lives the same to be paid by two equal payments in each year (that is to say one every first day of All Saints and every first day of May and so to continue until the expiration of the sd lease). In which sd article in writing the sd Andrew Crawford bound himself in the penalty of fifty pounds to perfect a lease of the sd premises to the sd James Sproul before the commencement aforesaid if required and in which sd article in writing there is a clause of distress and reentry with other usual covenants. Articles in writing duly executed in presence of James Given of Lissnobuchanin in Co. Tyrone gent. and sd article further executed by the sd parties thereto on the 16^th May 1751 in presence of Alexander Crawford of the Co. Fermanagh gent. This memorial executed by sd James Sproul in presence of sd James Given & Edward Morris of Strabane in co. Tyrone this 27^th May 1751. Signed, James Sproul.

• Charles Sproule son of James Sproule of Grennan born 1742 named in this deed
• John Sproule born 1745, son of James Sproule of Grennan, named in this deed