This gentleman, Andrew Sproule of Curraghamulkin at the time of his death, was known as Andrew Sproule of Grennan in his earlier life.
We are still uncertain who are the parents of this man, but hopefully this Will may help! For an update on Andrew of Grennan /Curraghamulkin, see Who is Andrew Sproule of Grennan? Written by James F. Reid, September 2021.
WILL OF ANDREW SPROULE OF CURRACHMULKIN CURRAGHAMULKIN
Transcribed by Kate Tammemagi
Will written 26 Jul 1797
Will proved 11 Jul 1799
PRONI Ref : T/58 A Certified
Copy of the original
In the name of God amen, the 26th day of July one thousand
seven hundred and ninety seven. I Andrew Sproule of Curragh Malkin in the
parish of Langfield and County Tyrone being sick and weak but of perfect sound
mind and memory knowing it is natural for all men to die do make this my last
will and testament touching such estate wherewith I am possessed, goods and
chattels at my death.
I will and bequeath in the following manner and first I leave and
bequeath unto my beloved wife Anne the one half of my farms in Curraghmulkin,
Tappaghan and Cunnydrolin and Corbulie with one half of my stock of cattle and
goods and from and after the first day of November one thousand eight hundred
and three she is also to have the one half of that part of Cool now in the
possession of Arris McCany (paying the one fourth of the whole Chief Rent of
Cool) during her life and afterwards all bequeathed her are to become the
property of my son George to whom I bequeath it together with whatever stock of
cattle or goods his mother may have at her death and also the remaining half of
those lands stock of cattle and goods left my wife after my death (except the
one half of Corbulie which I give unto my executing executor to recompense his
trouble)
Also I Ieave unto my son George from and after the first day of November
one thousand eight hundred and three that part of Cool now held by James McCany
he paying the one fourth of the whole Chief Rent of Cool during his Mother’s
life and the one half of said Chief Rent ever afterwards and also paying out of
James McCany’s part in Cool six pounds a year from November 1803 unto my
daughter Anne Armstrong during her life and after her death to pay fifty pounds
thereafter unto each of her two youngest children and if it shall so happen
that my son George die without issue lawfully begotten the said lands therein
bequeathed him are to become the property of my sons Charles and Andrew share
and share alike or their heirs and also I bequeath unto my son Joseph that part
of my lands in Screen now in the possession of Alexander King during his life
and in case he dies before his wife Elizabeth Clark alias Sproule she is to
have it during her life or widowhood and after her widowhood or death his two
sons James and Andrew are to possess said part of the lands of screen near
Fintona in the county of Tyrone from and after November 1803 and if it so
happen that the said James and Andrew Sproule, sons of my son Joseph die
without issue the said land to become the land and property of my sons Charles
and Andrew share and share alike or their heirs.
I also will and bequeath unto my son James that part of the lands in
Screen aforementioned now in the possession of the widow Hall from and after
the November 1803, he paying unto my son Joseph’s four daughters Ann, Sarah,
Margaret and Elizabeth the sum of fifty pounds sterling each when they are of
the age of twenty five years and if it so happens that any of them died before
each payment be made her or their part so dying are to be divided equally
between the sisters surviving and the brother or brothers surviving, unless it
so happen that the sister so dying was lawfully married and in that case her share
are to be paid unto her issue or the trustee of such issue and if it so happen
that my son James die without issue lawfully begotten the land is to become the
property of my sons Charles and Andrew share and share alike provided that the
issues and profits of the said land are not equal to said payments to be made
by James before such his supposed death may happen that then and in that case
my sons Charles and Andrew or their heirs are to pay the said sums or what may
remain after the issues and profits out of the said land aforesaid.
And I also leave that part of the lands of Screen unto my son Charles
now held by Andrew Patton, Jane McCaril, Neal Mc Cosker, Rose mullan, Owen
Mullan, Owen Shrry, Michael McQuade and Paul McGinn from and after the first
day of November 1803 he paying the sum of fifty pounds with its interest a bond
due Reverend Hugh Dunlap by my son Joseph which sum I also bequeath my son
Joseph and unto my son Andrew I will and bequeath that part of Cool now in his
own possession by a former agreement he paying the whole Chief Rent due yearly
on Cool until November 1803 when he is also to get and have the part now
possessed by John McCormick with the one third of the Bog / Trespass free in
Arris and James McCany’s part of Cool as here willed unto my son George and
wife who are to pay the half of the Chief Rent due out of Cool after November
1803 and my son Andrew to pay the other half of said Chief Rent of Cool from
and after said November 1803 and further I leave unto my sons Charles and Andrew
my part of the lease and interest of Ardvarnock Ballyboe and Noughty near
Raphoe from and after November 1803 subject to the payment of four hundred
pound sterling share and share alike which sum of four hundred pounds are to be
paid thus, one hundred pounds sterling to be paid to my son Oliver after
November 1803 three hundred pounds sterling to be paid my son Oliver’s three
daughters Ann, Rebecca and Elizabeth share and share alike when they are of the
age of twenty five years and fifty pounds sterling to each of my daughter
Elliotts two children, Margaret and Hugh Elliot when of the age of 25 years or
their heirs and one hundred pounds sterling to be paid by two equal shares unto
my granddaughters Anne Thompson and Mary Thompson when they are of the age of
Twenty five years and if it so happens that one of them die before her payment
is made the other sister is to have her share or if they both die before the
payment are made according to the age mentioned then and in that case their sum
are to be paid unto my daughters Anne Armstrong and Margaret Elliot share and
share alike or their heirs and further I order and appoint that my son Andrew
payout of that part of Cool now possessed by John McCormick and here bequeathed
unto him six pounds sterling a year unto my daughter Ann Armstrong from his
portion of said part of Cool now held by John McCormick during her life and one
hundred pounds sterling after her death unto her two youngest children equally
and also my son Andrew out of said division in Cool is to pay yearly one pound
sterling unto the Reverend Thomas Anderson dissenting clergyman so long as he
is Minister in the Parish of Langfield and afterwards unto the succeeding
dissenting Minister in the parish of Langfield and so on to each and every
succeeding dissenting Minister of Langfield.
And also I order and appoint my son Charles to collect and receive all debts
due me with the issues and profits arising out of my lands under Tenants in the
Lands of Cool, Screen Corbulie in the County Tyrone, and Ardvarnock, Ballybow
and Noughty in the county of Donegal near Raphoe during six years from November
next and out of those next profits and issues to pay my lawful debts and the
remainder if any to divide between my sons Joseph, James, George, Andrew and
Charles proportionally according to their share of lands do herein bequested to
them by me. And at the end of 2nd term to yield up unto each of them
that part of lands here appointed and willed unto them and lastly I nominate
and appoint my three sons Charles, Andrew and George Sproule executives of my
last will and testament.
In witness thereof, I here unto put my hand and affix my seal the day
and year first within written. Andrew Sproule (seal) signed and sealed in
presence of me Hugh McNulty, Jane O’Neill, Roger O’Neill.
The last will and testament of Andrew Sproule late of Curragh Milkin in the County of Tyrone deceased was proved in common form of Law & probate granted Charles Sproul, Andrew Sproul and George Sproul the executors named in the said will they being first sworn personally 11 Jul 1799
Summary
- Wife Anne gets one half of his Farms in Curraghmulkin Tappaghan and Cunnydrolin and Corbulie, she is also to have the one half of that part of Coole now in the possession of James McCany during her life and afterwards all bequeathed to her isto become the property of son George.
Ann gets one half of these farms - who gets the other half? This is not mentioned in this Will and obviously a transfer took place before this - perhaps to Joseph and his family.
- Daughter Ann Armstrong gets £6 a year from George’s portion, and after her death £50 to each of her two youngest children.
Ann Sproule of Curraghmulkin and John Armstrong were married on 23 Jan 1793 in Kilskeery Church.
I found five children of theirs in the birth records of Kilskeery Church of Ireland Church. James Armstrong b.1794, Ann Armstrong b.1795, Margaret Armstrong b.1802, Andrew Armstrong1b. 804, Mary Armstrong b.1805.
- Son George gets one fourth of Cool held by James McCany and also the land held by his Mother after her death. If son George dies without issue then the property goes to his sons Charles and Andrew share and share alike or their
Son George must not have children at this point, since the land would go to his heirs, but he does have a wife. George later does have children
- Son Joseph gets a piece of land in Screen near Fintona. Joseph’s wife is named as Elizabeth Clark alias Sproule, and if Joseph dies before her, Elizabeth is to have this land during her life, and after that to their two sons James and Andrew (sons of Joseph and Elizabeth Clark), and if they die the land goes to Testator’s sons Charles and Andrew.
- Son James gets other land in Screen possessed by the Widow Hall, he must pay son
Joseph’s four daughters Ann, Sarah, Margaret and Elizabeth £50 sterling each
when they are of the age of 25 years of age.
If son James dies without issue, the land goes to Charles and Andrew.
James must not be married and he has no children. He is very rarely mentioned in this Will and he is not an executor - all of the other boys are. He is not mentioned in any of the 'if this person dies, then the land goes to...' situations.
We also know now that Joseph Sproule and his wife Elizabeth Clark have 6 children at this time, two boys and four girls - James, Andrew, Ann, Sarah, Margaret and Elizabeth. From this we can speculate that Joseph would have been born somewhere round the early 1760s.
- Son Charles gets part of Screen – out of which he must pay £50 to Reverend Hugh Dunlap
- Son Andrew gets that part of Cool now in his own possession – there was a former agreement on this – Andrew must pay his sister Ann Armstrong £6 out of this per year and £100 to her two youngest children after her death
This is the second smallish amount to daughter Ann Armstrong.
- Sons Charles and Andrew get his part of Ardvarnock Ballyboe and Noughty – out of this they must pay £400
- £100 to son Oliver
- £100 each to Oliver’s three daughters, Ann, Rebecca and Elizabeth when they are 25 years
- £50 each to daughter Elliot’s two children Margaret and Hugh Elliot when they are 25 years This daughter is Margaret who married Thomas Elliot of Ferney, Magheracross, Fermanagh
- £100 split between granddaughters Anne Thompson and Mary Thompson when they are 25 years, and if both die before that, the sum goes to Andrew’s two daughters, Ann Armstrong and Margaret Elliot.
Daughter Elliot is Margaret Sproule who married Thomas Elliott of Ferney. Note that her father here in the marriage settlement is 'Andrew Sproule of Grennan'
It looks as if the Thompson daughter may be dead, as she is not mentioned by name. I have not found any record of this Thompson - Sproule marriage. The two daughters of Andrew of Curraghmulkin living at this time are Ann Armstrong and Margaret Elliot.
Son Oliver is definitely Oliver Sproule of Stroancarbadagh, as cleverly worked out by Jamie Reid. The names of the daughters given here in the Will, Ann, Rebecca and Elizabeth, are identical to Oliver of Stroancarbadagh's. Oliver acquired his Stroancarbadagh land on marrying Elizabeth Elliot in 1771.
- Sons Charles and Andrew seem to be the 'residual legatees' in most cases. It is very striking in this Will that when Andrew is talking of ‘should someone die then in that case’, sons George, Joseph and James are not mentioned. If it is the sons to be the people to inherit in the event of a death then it is always Charles and Andrew.
- Sons Charles and Andrew are always named in that order – Charles first, then Andrew. This suggests that Charles is the older of the two.
The Land
Cool or Coole is a townland and it is now called Coolavanagh.
Tappaghan There no townland of Tappaghan now, but Tappaghan Mountain is in County Fermanagh. It is just at the top of Glenarn Townland, near to Greenan, Dromore.
Cunnydrolin – I couldn’t find this one
Corbulie – this is Corbally, Dromore, Tyrone
Ardvarnock Glebe is near Raphoe, North Raphoe
Ballybow - Ballyboe, Leck Civil Parish, Raphoe North, beside Glenoughty
Noughty - Glenoughty, Leck Civil Parish, Raphoe North
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