James Sproule, Grocer, Dromore

This little deed intrigued me.  It was dated 7 Nov 1859 and it was between James Sproule of Dromore, Merchant, and John Stewart of Drumsheil, Tyrone. [1]

Deed from Registry of Deeds, Familysearh.org

Now, in any other place, or in any other family, ‘James Sproule, Merchant’ would not be a strange thing. But here, in this part of Tyrone, it definitely was. The Sproules around Dromore are farmers, lawyers, doctors – but not merchants. This was the first that I had come across. We learn in Griffiths Valuation that James lived in number 1 Main St., Dromore. So he lives in the town of Dromore, not on a farm.[2]

James Sproule in Main St., town of Dromore, Griffiths Valuation

I don’t know who this James Sproule, Merchant, was, but in this deed of 1859, he was selling part of a dwelling house in the town of Dromore, and two acres of land adjoining James Gilmore’s farm.

James Sproule's land next to James Gilmore's in Griffiths

That sale was in 1859. 9 years later we learn just one snippet more about this family. Now we find two tiny little entries about a William Sproule, also of the town of Dromore in an Irish Law Journal. William Sproule is a Grocer, and if he is the same family as James Sproule the Merchant, then the sale in 1859 did not help the family’s financial problems.

The Irish Law Times and Solicitors' Journal, Volume 2, 1868

In 1869, we find William Sproule, Grocer of the town of Dromore, in jail in Omagh! The Irish Law Times and Solicitors' Journal tells us that he went to Jail on 25^th Nov 1868 and the same volume tells us that he has filed a petition for a hearing to be held on January 5^th 1869. [3]

The Irish Law Times and Solicitors' Journal, Volume 2, 1868

Presumably our William Sproule, Grocer, is to remain in Jail until then! 

I'd love to know if anyone knows this Sproule Grocer family of Dromore.

References:

[1] Deed dated 7 Nov 1859 between James Sproule of Dromore, Merchant And John Stewart of Drumsheil, Tyrone, 1859 42 244, Registry of Deeds, Dublin, Familysearch.org

[2] Griffiths Valuation, Dromore, and the Town of Dromore, Askaboutireland.ie

[3] Irish Law Times and Solicitors JournalVolume II 1868 P.659