Charlotte Taylor, daughter of Hon. Simon Taylor, wife of James Sproule of Mellmount

Some might have read the story on this blog of James Sproule of Mellmount and Jamaica, and a lady called Charlotte Taylor. It was a story that was astounding for me to research – each step of the way bringing a new surprise. But the surprises continued to arrive after I had posted the story.

In October of 2017 I received an email:

“Kate, I read your excellent research on the Sproule family and discover I must be a distant relative of yours.

We have in our family a portrait painting of which I would like to send you a photo; I think you would be interested.”

It was from a gentleman called Michael Ferriss who sent me a photograph of a portrait of a lady who he claimed was Charlotte Taylor. Could it really be her?

Charlotte Taylor was born a slave on the plantation of Golden Grove in Jamaica in 1795.  She was a ‘Quadroon’, which meant that her father was white and her mother was a mixed race slave. Her father lived there with her on the Golden Grove plantation, and he was a gentleman called the Honourable Simon Taylor. He was said to be the richest man in the whole of the British Commonwealth at that time. Charlotte Taylor was his slave daughter by his ‘housekeeper’.

Later in the story we find that Charlotte Taylor has 7 children with James Sproule, each of them baptised in Jamaica. With each is recorded that the father is James Sproule and the mother is Charlotte Taylor, quadroon. They weren’t married, as it was not possible marry in Jamaica at that time.

The white men, mostly English or Scottish, in Jamaica at that time often lived openly with slave 'housekeepers', and they had children by them. Some sent these children to England or Scotland to be educated, but what was really unusual about this was that James Sproule brought Charlotte Taylor and his 7 children all back to live in Ireland. They lived in a grand house called Mellmount on the outskirts of Strabane. Charlotte was introduced as his wife, now at last called Charlotte Sproule. She lived as an affluent lady there until her death in 1849. This is very rare, and indeed the story has brought much interest from academics who study the history of these times, and study the culture of slavery.

So here, now, was a portrait. Could it really be Charlotte Taylor?

Jane Fisher Holland and Mike Ferriss had sent me two photographs of the portrait. The name of the painter, they told me, was on the portrait. He was called Richard Hooke. Richard Hooke (1820-1908) was born in County Down and he was a respected portrait painter of his day. He was an exhibitor in the Royal Irish Acadamy for many years.

Charlotte Taylor 1795-1845,
Portrait by Richard Hooke, (1820–1908)

The portrait had been kept in their family all this time. It was definitely my Charlotte Taylor! This was so amazing for me to look this wonderful lady in the eyes for the first time. I had lived with her and her story for the best part of a year, and here she was. And here were her descendants, they were my cousins and they were descendants of a lady I had much admired for so long. I am so grateful they got in touch – thank you Jane Fisher Holland and Mike Ferriss.

References:

All references relating to James Sproule, Charlotte Taylor and the Hon. Simon Taylor can be found in the story in this blog. It is in several posts and begins here - The Beginning of the BIG Story

James Sproule is was born in Tullymoan, County Tyrone, Ireland.  For more on his family history -  The Tullymoan Sproules, 

Information on Richard Hooke, Artist - Library Ireland - Richard Hooke Art UK - Richard Hooke

The Family Tree of Robert Evan Sproule in Kinnebec, Maine, USA

 This post is on the family tree of Robert Evan Sproule who was hanged in British Colombia, Canada on 29 Oct 1886. The research on Robert and the identification of his family was all done by a gentleman called Greg Nesteroff of the KÜTNE READER. My aim is to publish this so that Robert Evan Sproule’s name appears on his family’s tree in the genealogy records.

Greg trawled the newspapers and all the documents to find hints of Robert Evan Sproule’s family, and there are plenty there.

There are several references to his brothers, including in the hand-written will  of Robert Sproule, but I’ll show just two examples. These are the most definitive references that I could see that show for certain what Greg had found, and which confirm the Maine Sproule family where Robert belongs.

One comes from one of the the newspaper articles announcing that Robert Evan Sproule has been hanged. The Oshkosh Daily Northwestern (Oshkosh, Wisconsin) of  12 Jan 1887 tells us that he is a native of Weeks Mills, Maine;

“Papers showing his innocence beyond question were filed yesterday with the secretary of state here, and a brother of the dead man, Frank Sproule, of Weeks Mills Maine, has instructed his counsel here to bring a suit against the Provinces of British columbia for $50,000 damages in consequence of the wrongful oeccecution of his brother…”

The other example also gives the same address for Robert's brother, and it is from no less a person than  the Secretary of State in Washington D.C.. His  reply to a letter from  Robert’s brother, Franklin Sproule Esq. Weeks Mills, Maine is printed in the local paper;

Daily Colonist 28 Sep 1886 Thanks to Greg Nesteroff 

Franklin Sproule, brother of Robert Evan Sproule is very easy to locate from this address. He was a weathly man who owned mills in Weeks Mills, Kinnebec County, Maine. Franklin was born on 29 Aug 1825 in Jefferson, Lincoln, Maine, and he died on 23 Jan 1805 in Windsor, Kennebec, Maine, USA. So now we have enough to place his brother, Robert Evan Sproule, on his family tree.

The death cert of Franklin Sproule 
Ancestry.com. Maine, U.S., Death Records, 1761-1922

The Family of Robert Evan Sproule with  Grateful thanks to Greg Nesteroff of the KÜTNE READER

ANDREW SPROULE CAPTAIN was born on 23 Sep 1788 in Bristol, Lincoln, Maine, USA. He died on 07 May 1852 in Jefferson, Lincoln, Maine, USA. He married  ELIZABETH BETSEY LITTLE on 06 Apr 1814 in Bristol, Lincoln Co., Me, USA. She was born on 05 Mar 1792 in Bristol, Lincoln, Maine, USA. She died on 19 Jul 1871 in Jefferson, Lincoln, Maine, USA.  

1.  SARAH A SPROULE was born in Oct 1815 in Maine, United States of America. She married Edwin a Potter on 2 Mar 1839 in Waltham, Middlesex, Massachusetts. Sarah died on 30 Jan 1874 in Waltham, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. 

2. SUSAN ANN SPROULE was born on 09 Feb 1819 in Bristol, Lincoln County, Maine, USA. She married Henry A. Potter on 10 Jul 1842 in Waltham, Middlesex. Susan Ann died on 05 Apr 1905 in Framingham, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. 

3. ELIZABETH SPROULE was born about 1821 in Washington, Knox, Maine, USA. She married Dwight D. Carrier She died on 21 Jun 1891 in Waltham, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA 

4. FRANKLIN SPROULE was born on 29 Aug 1825 in Jefferson, Lincoln, Maine, USA. He died on 23 Jan 1905 in Windsor, Kennebec, Maine, USA. He married Sarah A Frisbie on 27 Apr 1851 in Charlestown, Massachusetts. Sarah was born about 1828. Sarah died in 1877

5.  ABIGALE M. WEEKS was born in 1827 in Bristol, Lincoln County, Maine, USA. She married Winthrop H Weeks on 1 Sep 1854 in Waltham, Massachusetts, USA. Abbey died on 11 Jun 1878 in Bristol, Lincoln County, Maine, USA.

6. ROBERT EVAN SPROULE was born on 11 Jul 1833 in Kinnebec, Maine, USA. He died on 29 Oct 1886 in Victoria, British Columbia, USA. 

7. JAMES SPROULE was born on 10 Aug 1835 in Kinnebec, Maine, USA. He died on 10 Mar 1910 in Verdi, Washoe County, Nevada, United States of America. He married Margaret Ellen Godfrey, daughter of James Godfrey, in 1888. She was born in 1840 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. She died on 03 Dec 1928 in Verdi, Washoe County, Nevada, United States of America. 

The Will of Robert Evan Sproule
Ancestry.com. Washington, U.S.,
Wills and Probate Records, 1851-1970

 

For more on Robert Evan Sproule:

The Hanging of Robert Evan Sproule

The Unfortunate Robert Evan Sproule 

 

The Family of Robert Sproule and Hully Murray

 ROBERT SPROULE OF BURRELL’S FOLLY was the son of Joseph Sproule of Curraghamulkin according to Jack Elder. He died at Burrell’s Folly, Drumnaforbe, Longfield East, County Tyrone, which was a house that he had built in 1779. Robert married HULLY MURRAY.

There is some evidence that Hully Murray could well be the daughter of Edward Murray who was living in Drumquin at that time, and he died there in about 1772. In a deed dated 13 Apr 1768, Edward Murray of Drumquin is leasing out land in Drumnaforbe.[1] In another deed date 5 Nov 1773 we learn that Edward Murray of Drumquin is now deceased and his eldest son and heir is Lowther Murray. [2] Now Lowther Murray appears as a plaintif in the Ireland Court of Chancery Records of 1777, and there is in that a list of defendants that includes Lecky Murray, his brother, and also Robert Sproule and his wife Hully Murray.[3] We don’t have details of this record, but it looks like a financial dispute between Lowther Murray and other members of his family, which includes Robert Sproule and his wife Hully. Lecky Murray, who was a brother of Lowther, was a doctor in the American Revolution, and in his papers there, we learn that his father was Edward Murray and his mother was Sarah. He died in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1813/1814.

So it looks like Hully Murray could be the sister of Lowther Murray and Dr Lecky Murray, and the daughter of Edward Murray of Drumquin and his wife Sarah. More research is required to confirm this.

Robert Sproule and Hully Murray had the following children:

1.       MARTHA (MATTY) SPROULE OF BURRELL'S FOLLY was born in 1775. She died on 29 Dec 1867 in Burrell’s Folly, Drumnaforbe, Longfield East, Tyrone, Ireland (Aged 92).

“December 29, at Burrell's Folly, county Tyrone, Martha, eldest daughter of the late Robert Sproule, Esq., aged 92 years.” Londonderry Sentinel 11 Jan 1867

2.       SARAH SPROULE BURRELL'S FOLLY was born in 1778. She died on 25 Oct 1858 in Clare House, Clare, Tyrone, the home of her sister Rebecca.

“On the 25th ult., at Clare House, the residence of John Mathewson, Esq., Sarah, second daughter of the late Robert Sproule, Esq., of Burrelsfolly, in the 80th year of her age.” Londonderry Sentinel 8 Oct 1858

3.       MARGARET SPROULE OF BURRELL'S FOLLY was born about 1786 in Burrell's Folly, Drumnaforbe, Tyrone, Ireland. She married James Caldwell on 09 Jan 1805 in Drumquin, Longfield, Tyrone (this marriage is family lore and no document has been found). James Caldwell was born about 1780 in Tyrone,  Ireland.  They lived in Orange County, New York, and had at least 8 children. At some stage around 1820 the family moved to Newmarket Ontario where James Caldwell died in 1825.

Margaret is buried with her son James Bell Caldwell in in Newmarket, Ontario West, Ontario, Canada. He died in 1825 in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, where she died on 06 Feb 1854  Margaret married a Mathewson after the death of James Caldwell, but I have found no record of this marriage as yet.

4.       EDWARD SPROULE OF BURRELL'S FOLLY was born in 1792 in Burrell’s Folly, Drumnaforbe, Longfield East, Tyrone, Ireland (Upper Langfield). He died on 30 Jan 1875 in Burrell’s Folly, (left will in PRONI). He married Mary Porter of Strabane, daughter of Frederick Porter and Catherine Sproule, on 17 Apr 1826. She was born in 1790 in Strabane.. She died on 25 May 1866 in Burrell’s Folly, Drumnaforbe, Longfield East, Tyrone, Ireland. “May 25, at Burrellsfolly, Mary, the beloved wife of Edward Sproule, Esq., aged 76 years.” Londonderry Sentinel 5 Jun 1866

5.       REBECCA SPROULE OF BURRELL'S FOLLY was born in 1796 in Burrels Folly, Drumnaforbe, Longfield East, Tyrone, Ireland. She died on 16 Jul 1862 in Clare House, Ardstraw, Tyrone (Aged 66). She married JOHN MATHEWSON OF CLARE. James was the son of James Mathewson of Ardstraw,  and he was born in 1800.  He died on 05 Apr 1871 in Newtonstewart, Ardstraw, Tyrone, Ireland (Age 71 Derg Churchyard).

6.       HELENA (HULLY) SPROULE OF BURRELL'S FOLLY was born in 1805 in Burrells Folly, Tyrone, Ireland (Youngest daughter). She died on 12 Aug 1859. She married Henry Stanford Maxwell esq, son of John Maxwell MD and Ann Stanford, (Freeman's Journal). He was born in 1796 in Bromyard, Hereford, England. He died in 1837 in Drumquin, Co Tyrone, Ireland. Helena (Hully) then  married Thomas Irwin Simpson on 14 May 1841 in Langfield Church (Freeman's Journal). He was born in 1790 in Ballyards, Armagh. He died on 23 Nov 1875 in Ballyards House, Armagh, Ireland. (Will in PRONI)

References:

[1] Deed 13 Apr 1768 where Edward Murray of Drumquin is leasing out his land in Drumnaforbe,266 228 17092 Registry of Deeds, Dublin, Familysearch.org

[2] Deed 5 Nov 1773 Edward Murray is now deceased and Lowther Murray is his son and heir. 298 415 197889 Registry of Deeds, Dublin, Familysearch.org

[3] 12 Nov 1777 Court of Chancery Record, Microfilm of Original Records at the National Archives; Dublin, Ireland; Chancery Bill Books Ireland, Court of Chancery Records, Ancestry.com. Ireland, Court of Chancery Records, 1633-1851

Thanks to Bernie Donaghey and Sheena McClure for insriptions from the Derg Parish Church, Lower Main St. Castlederg

See also:

The Sproules of Burrell's Folly, Drumnaforbe

Marriage Settlement of Edward Sproule of Burrell's Folly and Mary Porter 17 April 1826

Marriage Settlement of Edward Sproule of Burrell's Folly and Mary Porter 17 April 1826

814 252 348587 Registry of Deeds, Dublin, Familysearch.org Transcribed by Kate Tammemagi

 

A memorial of a deed dated 17 April 1826 made between Edward Sproul of Burrells Folly in the County of Tyrone of the 1^st part esq.,  Mary Sproul of Castletown in the second part, Mary Porter of Castletown, spinster of the third part, Alexander Campbell of Lisnally and Robert Porter of Mellmount of the fourth part. Whereby after reciting a marriage was intended to be had and solemnised between the said Edward Sproul and the said Mary Porter ….

Edward Sproul granted… to said Alexander Campbell and Robert Porter two undivided third parts of the two parks  of Mullandrate adjoining Mr James Johnsons park and the Glebe together with the other park above the highway also adjoining said glebe containing together 18 acres together with the field commonly called and known by the name of the Barley Hill containing 8 acres in the manor of Stranorlar, Co Donegal together with... and also all that and those the tenement with the dwelling house thereon lately built by Anthony Rogers deceased situated next adjoining the late Surgeon Sproule’s stable on the South side of the street leading from the Bowling Green to the Market House in the Town of Strabane to hold unto the said Alexander Campbell and Robert Porter their heirs & assigns upon the trusts and for the purposes in the said deed particularly mentioned and amongst others for the use of the said Mary Porter her heirs and assigns until the solemnisation of said marriage and immediately after the solemnisation thereof for the use of the said Alexander Campbell and Robert Porter and the survivor of their heirs on trust to pay the yearly units and profits therof onto the use of the said Mary Porter during her natural life for her own sole and separate use notwithstanding coverture and from all and after the decease of the said Mary Porter … and the said deed further witnessed that the said Mary Sproule in consideration of said marriage and for the love and affection that she beareth towards her niece the said Mary Porter and for other considerations therin mentioned grants bargain etc. to the said Alexander Campbell and Robert Porter their heirs etc. all that and those one undivided third of and in the said two parks of Mullandrate with the field commonly called Barley Hill …lying in the Manor of Strabane and in the County of Donegal etc. to the said Alexander Campbell and Robert Porter heirs etc. for the uses and for the trusts and purposes for the said Mary Sproule to have receive and take the yearly rents, issues and profits of the said lands and for her and their own purposes use and benefit etc.

Witnessed by Archibald Hamilton & Samuel Walker of Castletown

See The Sproules of Burrell's Folly

The Sproules of Burrell's Folly, Drumnaforbe

Burrell’s Folly was the home of Robert Sproule and his wife Hully Murray, who married sometime round the mid 1770s. Robert was a Curraghamulkin Sproule according to Jack Elder, the son of Joseph Sproule of Curraghamulkin, which is in Longfield West, County Tyrone.[1] The house named Burrell’s Folly was situated near the village of Drumquin, in Drumnaforbe.

There was a house originally on this land, but Robert Sproule built his own house here in 1779 at a cost of £350. I'm not sure why the 'Folly' was in the name of the house, but the 'Burrell' came from the former owner of the land, George Burrell. [2]  It was built beside a stream behind the main road on the Omagh side of the village of Drumquin. The house itself was  demolished, but the offices beside the house which were built by Robert’s son Edward Sproule in 1832 still remain. [3]

Burrell's Folly offices built by Edward Sproule stabeled the horses
and the quarters on the first floor were occupied by the horsemen
 and stable lads. Picture from  Kenneth Allen, geograph.ie

We learn about the house in a book called 'Langfield Parish, A Brief Historyh' by Rev Creighton a former Rector there, which also tells us about some additions to the Langfield Church by this Burrell's Folly family.[3] The stained glass window beside the choir stalls in Lower Langfield church was paid for by Edward Sproule, in memory of his wife, Mary.   In Jack Elder’s Tree of this family, Edward's wife is Mary Potter, but in fact she was actually Mary Porter. [1]

Edward was the only son of Robert of Burrell’s Folly. He married  Mary Porter of Strabane, daughter of Frederick Porter and his wife Catherine Sproule, on 17 April 1826.  This was revealed in the Marriage Settlement deed of the couple.[4] As you can see, Mary Porter's mother was also a Sproule, and these two families are intertwined in several generations. More on this in another post.

The history of Langfield Parish book also tells us that pulpit of Langfield church was dedicated to the memory of Hully Sproule of Burrell's Folly in 1859. This Hully, or sometimes Helena, is the daughter of Robert Sproule and Hully Murray. The stone pulpit, offset with small marble pillars, has the following detail inscribed on the base;

 ‘To the glory of god in memory of Hully Sproule, wife of Thomas Simpson, died 12 August, 1859, aged 60. Erected by her husband’ 

Hully, or Helena, was Robert’s  6^th child and she married Thomas Simpson on 14 May 1841 in Langfield Church. [5] This was Hully’s second marriage, as she had been married before this to Henry Stanford Maxwell Esq., (1796-1837) an English gentleman soldier of the 98^th ft. 

Thomas Irwin Simpson, (1790-1875)  the second husband, was a very affluent man from Ballyards, County Armagh. There is a story to tell here with Mr Simpson, but I don’t know what it is yet! His will is rather extraordinary – he leaves a large amount of land and big sums of money to nephews, nieces and other folk. To his son Thomas Simpson, living in Barnsley in England, he leaves a meagre £25 a year. Perhaps this son is not the son of Hully Sproule! [6]

Rebecca Jane, (1796-1862)  the 5^th child of Robert of Burrell's Folly and Hully Murray, married a relative, John Mathewson of Clare House, and the name Hully is carried on in their family too. [7]

Another two daughters of Burrell’s Folly were single ladies. Martha (Matty) was eldest child, born about 1775 and she died on 29 December at Burrell’s Folly, aged 92 years. Sarah, the second child, died in the home of her sister Rebecca, at Clare House, on 25 September 1858, aged 80. [8] [9] 

There was one more daughter in this family and she is one that I was not away of until recently. I  first heard of this lady from John Parfitt in our Sproule Genealogy Facebook Group. She was a lady named Margaret Sproule who lived in Orange County, New York. She had been married in Ireland in 1805 to a man called James Caldwell. Now a Caldwell/Sproule marriage is not at all unusual. What made this couple stand out was the name of their only daughter and she was given a very distinctive name. She was Hully Jane Caldwell. Her own family seemed to know that this name Hully was important, and Hully herself called one of her daughters Hully. This name immediately suggested the family of Robert Sproule of Burrell's Folly.

Margaret Sproule of Orange County was the right age to be a daughter of Robert Sproule, she was born in about 1786. But we needed more evidence, and one lovely piece came from Stuart McCormick and this helped to confirm the parentage of Margaret Sproule of Orangae County. Stuart is a Mathewson researcher, and he had found a reference to this Margaret in Bill Mathewson’s excellent book, "A Mathewson Story".  On p.4 of this book there is a list of the children of James Mathewson of Arstraw (1723 - 1828) from his second marriage. The first child of this marriage was Isabella, and one of her children, Rosanna (1807 -1892):

"married James B. Caldwell, son of James Caldwell, whose wife was Margaret Sproule, daughter of Robert Sproule of Burrell’s Folly.”[10]

James B. Caldwell, was James Bell Caldwell, 1807-1887, who was born in Orange County, New York, and was the son of James Caldwell and Margaret Sproule. [11] His sister was Hully Jane Caldwell.

So that name Hully, the name of her mother,  helped bring Margaret Sproule back to her family tree. Now we have the full family of Robert Sproule of Burrell’s Folly and Hully Murray – unless of course, you have found another child!

References:

[1] JJ Elder Page 1 Sproule Family Tree 

[2]  Renewal Lease for Burrell's Folly dated 8 dec 1832 quoted in Landed Estates document, for 'the house, garden and land then formerly possessed by George Burrell'. from 1853 Landed Estates, Findmypast.ie 

[3] Langfield Parish, A Brief History by Rev. Derek Creighton with Mrs Georgina Millar, published November 1992 Thanks to Sheena McClure and Kathleen Caldwell for this.

[4] Marriage Settlement Deed dated  17 April 1826, marriage of Edward Sproule of Burrell’s Folly and Mary Porter, 17 April 1826, 814 252 348587 Registry of Deeds, Dublin, Familysearch.org 

[5]  Marriage of Hully/Helena Sproule,  "At Langfield Church, by the Rev. Archibald Hamilton, Thomas Simpson, Esq., Ballyard, county Armagh, to Helena, youngest daughter of the late Robert Sproule, Esq., Burtatolly, county Tyrone, and relict of Henry Maxwell, Esq., 98th Regiment."  Londonderry Sentenel 22 May 1841

[6] Thomas Irwin Simpson Will in PRONI Will Calendars, Date of death 23 November 1875 Date of Grant 16 december 1875

[7] Marriage of Hully Mathewson in The Belfast Newsletter, 15 Feb 1865 - "Mathewson and Mathewson - February 2 at Crew, Hugh Mathewson jun. of Montreal to Hully Mathewson, daughter of John Mathewson Esq., Clare House, Tyrone." Linen Hall Library; Belfast, Northern Ireland; Periodicals & Newspapers, Irish & Reference, Ancestry.com. Belfast, Northern Ireland, The Belfast Newsletter (Birth, Marriage and Death Notices), 1738-1925 [database on-line]. 

[8]  Death of Martha Sproule - "December 29, at Burrell's Folly, county Tyrone, Martha, eldest daughter of the late Robert Sproule, Esq., aged 92 years." Londonderry Sentinel, 11 Jan 1867.

[9]  Death of Sarah Sproule - "On the 25th ult., at Clare House, the residence of John Mathewson, Esq., Sarah, second daughter of the late Robert Sproule, Esq., of Burrelsfolly, in the 80th year of her age." Londonderry Sentinel, 8 Oct 1858.

[10 "A Mathewson Story". Bill Mathewson. 2010. unpublished.

[11] James Bell Caldwell, birth and death in Findagrave - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/148355571/james-bell-caldwell Inscription on gravestone reads:

James B. CALDWELL
west Born in New York
Dec. 30, 1807
Died Mar. 15, 1887
Rosanna POTTER
Wife of
James B. CALDWELL
Born in Co. Tyrone Ireland
June 28, 1809
Died Jan. 4, 1892
Margaret Sproule
MATHEWSON
Mother of J. B. CALDWELL
Native of Tyrone Ireland
Died Feb. 6, 1854

Aged 67 yrs.