Written by Larry McKay, a descendant of John Sproule
John Sproull of Ardvarney West was born about 1776 [1] to John “Jack Roe” Sproule of Curraghamulkin (aka of Cornear) and his second wife Elizabeth Edwards. John of Ardvarney first married Ann Edwards, daughter of Robert Edwards and Elizabeth Edwards [2], who were first cousins. Very little is known about Ann, including when she died, but it could have been 1820 or later. John of Ardvarney then married Mary Toner (sometime before 1823 in Ireland ), who accompanied John and his son Edward, from wife Ann Edwards, to Quebec, Canada in 1823.
The Grave of John Sproule of Ardvarney West, picture from Landon Sproule |
Mary was born about
1785 [1]. An Irish Catholic Parish record has surfaced for a Maria Toner
baptism March 9/1787 in Dublin, parents Richard and Maria Toner. There is no proof this is the same person. John Sproule died November 26/1853 [3],[5]. The
last record for Mary Toner was the 1851 Census for Canada East. It is unknown
at this time what happened to Mary Toner. She doesn’t appear to be interred
with husband John Sproule of Ardvarney. Perhaps she is interred in a Catholic cemetery
in Quebec or it could be possible she returned to Ireland after John’s death.
John Sproull of Ardvarney West is buried in plot #185 St. James Anglican
Cemetery in Ormstown, Quebec, along with other family members.[5]
1851 Census of Canada West, Ancestry.com |
Children of John
Sproull of Ardvarney West and Ann Edwards:
- John Sproule born about 1803, married Phoebe Porter in 1829 in Ireland. They lived in Ormstown, Quebec, Canada.
- Edward Sproule was baptised on July 12/1805 in Ardvarney West, Magheraculmoney, Fermanagh,
and was born to John Sproull of Ardvarney West and Ann Edwards. [6] He
married Margaret Dundas in Quebec. She was born 18 Jan 1818 in Co.
Fermanagh, Ireland to Moses Dundas and Margaret Steele. Edward came to
Canada in 1823 with his father, step mother and possibly other family.
Edward and Margaret had a family of twelve children. Edward died December
29/1892 in St. Stanislaus-DE-Kostka, Beauharnois, Quebec [3], [5] and wife
Margaret died December 18/1901 in Ormstown, Quebec [3], [5]. They are
interred in the family Plot #185 St. James Anglican Cemetery in Ormstown,
Quebec [5].
- Thomas Sproule was born 22 May 1808 in Ardvarney West. He was baptised in St. Marys Church, Ardess, Fermanagh
- Joseph Lowden Sproule was baptised on January 14/1812 in Ardvarney West, Magheraculmoney, Fermanagh and was born to John Sproull of Ardvarney West and Ann Edwards ( 6 ). Joseph appears in the 1851 Census for Canada East with his father, brother Henry, step mother and step sister Matilda. In the 1861 Census for Canada East Joseph appears with his brother Edward and his family. Joseph died April 14/1877 [3], [5] and is interred in family Plot #185 St. James Anglican Cemetery in Ormstown, Quebec. [5]
- Henry Frederick Sproule was baptised September 8/1816, and was born in Ardvarney West, Magheraculmoney, Fermanagh, to John Sproull of Ardvarney West and Ann Edwards [6]. Henry appears in the 1851 Census for Canada East with his father, brother Joseph, step mother and half sister Matilda. In the 1861 Census for Canada East Henry appears with his brother William and family. Henry and brother William served in the militia with the Beauharnois Battalion a privates in 1838. Henry died February 13/1862 [3], [5] and is interred in family Plot #185 St. James Anglican Cemetery in Ormstown, Quebec. [5]
William Sproule was born in Ireland in 1818, according to the 1851 Census of Canada East, or 1820 according to Chateaguay Church records. His parentage was unsure until a Deed of Donation was found showing his father, John Sproull of Ardvarney West, had given him land in Ormstown, Quebec.[7] The identity of his mother is still unclear (which is covered in another post on this blog ). William did not come to Canada with his family in 1823, but later, in 1835.[8] He married Mary Whelan in Quebec. She was born August 15/1824 in Ireland. Her parentage is unknown at this time. The 1911 Census of. Canada indicates that Mary Whelan arrived in Canada in 1847. U.S./Canada Passenger List Index verifies the arrival of Mary Whelan alone in Quebec in 1847. She appears in the 1851 Census for Canada East as Mary Whaling (Line 24), with her husband William Sproule and their 1 year old daughter Mary.[1] It may be coincidence, but in the previous household on Line 22 on the same page of the same census is a Jerry Whaling.[1] Church records show his name to be Jeremiah Whelan. William and Mary Sproule named one of their sons Jeremiah Sproule which may indicate some kind of relationship to Mary. William and Mary Sproule had a family of nine children. William Sproule died December 1/1900 in Ormstown, Quebec at the age of 80 years.[3] Wife Mary died April 2/1913 in Ormstown, Quebec. [8]
Children of John Sproull of Ardvarney West and Mary Toner:
1. Twins John and Mary Sproule were born to John
Sproull of Ardvarney West and Mary Toner on March 21/1824 in Hemmingford,
Quebec. They were baptized on March 23/1824 in Hemmingford, Quebec.[3] No
further information is available.
2. Margaret Sproule was born to John Sproull of
Ardvarney West and Mary Toner March 26/1826. She married Alexander Craig Brown
April 11/1856 in Ormstown, Quebec.[3] Alexander was born to William Brown
and Mary Barr April 22/1820 in Quebec.[3] The birthdate on his gravestone
doesn’t match his birthdate in church records. Alexander and Margaret had six
children. Margaret Sproull Brown died March 9, 1912 in Howick, Quebec and
husband Alexander Brown died March 11/1906.[3] They are interred in
Georgetown Protestant Cemetery, Howick, Quebec.
3. Matilda Sproule was born to John Sproull of
Ardvarney West and Mary Toner June 15/1828 in Hinchinbrook, Quebec. [3]She
was baptized January 22/1829. [3] Matilda died June 8/1904 in Ormstown. [3] She is interred in family Plot #185 St. James Anglican Cemetery in Ormstown,
Quebec.
Sources :
[1] 1851 Census of Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, Ancestry.com
[2] The Father of Elizabeth Edwards, 2nd wife of John Sproule of Curraghmulkin, Kate Tammemagi, Sproule Genealogy
[3] ChateaguayValley Church Records, Southwestern Quebec Genealogical Resources, Huntingdon County and the Seigniories of Chateauguay and Beauharnois
[4] Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915, National Library of Ireland; Dublin, Ireland; Microfilm Number: Microfilm 09084 / 01; Ancestry.com
[5] St. James Cemetery, Ormstown, Qubec
[6] St. Marys Church Ardess Records transcribed by George Armstrong; Ireland Genealogy Projects
[7] Deed of Donation, W F Lighthall, Notary (No. 250 to No. 449), Châteauguay Valley Notary Records
[9] Georgetown Protestant Cemetery, Howick, Quebec
[10] 1861 Census of Canada, Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Census Returns For 1861; Roll: C-1274; Ancestry.com
[11] Militia Pay Lists, Companies in the Beauharnois Battalion, Châteauguay County
More on the Family History of John Sproule of Ardvarney West and Ormstown
- The Sproules of Ardvarny House, County Fermanagh
- John ‘Jack Roe’ Sproule of Curraghamulkin, Part 1 - The Context
- Part 2 - John ‘Jack Roe’ Sproule of Curraghamulkin, Pieces of the Jigsaw
- Part 4 - John ‘Jack Roe’ Sproule of Curraghamulkin – and the Second Wife
- The Children of John ‘Jack Roe’ Sproule of Curraghamulkin and his Two Wives
- Part 6 – the Father of Elizabeth Edwards, 2nd wife of John Sproule of Curraghmulkin
- The Big Breakthough in Sproule DNA, Using the Mutation
- The Sproule Maize that is Altamullan – Fitting the Final Pieces
- Transcription of Deed Dated 24 Jan 1822 Edward Sproule to Lowther Brien