The Family of Robert Sproule of Kirlish and Jane Greer Part 2

 There are three of the younger generation in the Sproules of Kirlish grave in Lysky Graveyard. Two of these died in tragic accidents.

Robert William Arnold Sproule

The first is Robert William Arnold Sproule, son of John Sproule of Kirlish and his wife Elizabeth Arnold. The gravestone tells us that poor Robert ‘drowned while bathing’. Robert William Arnold Sproule was born on 15 June 1872 in Dergmoney, Drumragh, in the home of his Grandfather, Rev John Arnold.[1]

Birth record for Robert William Arnold Sproule,
irishgenealogy.ie

When Robert was just 14 years old, he lost his life whilst swimming at Mullaghmore on 23^rd June 1887. The death certificate records that an inquest was held on 24^th June, and this was determined to be accidental drowning of a schoolboy. The inquest was held in Tyrone, which indicates that this Mullaghmore was also in Tyrone.

Death record for Robert William Arnold Sproule 
irishgenealogy.ie

John Arnold Sproule

The second young man in the Kirlish grave in Lysky graveyard was John Arnold Sproule and there is some confusion as to who exactly he is. Find a Grave records him as the son of John Sproule and Elizabeth Arnold. However, John Arnold Sproule cannot possibly be the son of this couple, as their son was, in fact, John Irwin Sproule, born on 8 June 1877. This birth was also in the home of his grandfather Rev. John Arnold in Dergmoney, Drumragh.

The birth of the son of John Sproule and Elizabeth Arnold 
irishgenealogy.ie

Now this entry has no name, so how can we be sure that this is not John Arnold Sproule? Quite simply. When John Sproule of Kirlish who married Elizabeth Arnold died on 27 June 1919, his son was there with him. That son was John Irwin Sproule. (Irwin and Irvine are often interchanged)

The death record of John Sproule of Kirlish, husband of Elizabeth Arnold
irishgenealogy.ie

John Irwin Sproule was born on 8 June 1877, and he is the son of John Sproule and Elizabeth Arnold. By-the-way, John Irwin was also born at Dergmoney.  He was married on 21 April 1899 to Mary Jane McCrea, the daughter of William McCrea of Tullyard.

The marriage of John Irwin Sproule of Kirlish and Mary Jane McCrea
 irishgenealogy.ie

John Arnold Sproule was the eldest of their 5 children,  born on 9^th July 1900, in Newpark, Tyrone.

The birth of John Arnold Sproule irishgenealogy.ie

So John Arnold Sproule named on the gravestone is the grandson of John Sproule and Elizabeth Arnold, not their son as named on Find a Grave.

John Arnold Sproule had an accident on the road at Drumnaforbe, when he was riding his bicycle and he collided with a motor lorry. He received severe head injuries and did not recover. He died on 19 Apr 1924, aged 23.

The report of the death of John Arnold Sproule,
Londonderry Sentinel, Thursday 24 Apr 1924
www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk

Ann Alice Sproule

Ann Alice Sproule is the last child in this grave in Lysky. She is the daughter of Robert Sproule, son of Robert Sproule of Kirlish. Little Ann Alice died on 1 Mar 1870 aged just 8 years. It is her father, Robert Sproule, son of Robert of Kirlish, who is the mystery man.

Next post will look at this.

Note

[1] Rev Arnold Sproule had a house and one acre of land in Dergmoney Lower and this is recorded in PRONI Valuation book, VAL/12/B/41/36C (1867 - 1878) Dergmoney lower