Jane (Gay) Sproule (abt. 1826 - 1891)

Born about 1826 in Drumkeeran, County Fermanagh, Ireland

Ancestors

Wife of John Sproule — married 13 Oct 1843 in Dapto, New South WAles Australia

Descendants

Died 4 May 1891 at about age 65 in Jerrara, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Jane (Gay) Sproule was born in Ireland.

Jane (Gay) Sproule was an Assisted Immigrant to New South Wales.

Jane Gay was born about 1828 in Drumkeeran, Fermanagh, Ireland. She was the daughter of Thomas Gay and Jane Marshall. Jane came to Australia with her family as an assisted immigrant via the Margaret, arriving at Sydney on the 28th of March, 1841. She was recorded as a 15 year old housemaid, able to read (not write), and a protestant.^[1][2]

Jane married Irish immigrant John Sproule at a Presbyterian church in the parish of Wollongong in 1843.^[3] They had 13 children together, nine of whom survived her.

In 1855/56 the family was living at Fortune Farm, near Kiama. ^[4]

Jane died at her home at Jerrara, NSW, on the 4th of May, 1891, following an illness of five or six years.^[5] She was interred in the Jamberoo Presbyterian Cemetery.^[6]

Obituary

Jerrara.^[7]

In a small community like this, it is at all times a sad duty having to chronicle the death of one of our number. In small centres of population everyone is necessarily known to those around ; and all are, to a certain extent, dependent upon each other, thus it is by constant inter-course we become familiar with all around, and, as is the custom of this world, our likes and dislikes. On the 4th of the present month one of the oldest and most respected residents, Mrs. John Sproule, passed away. The deceased lady was daughter of the late Thomas Gay, of the county of Tyrone, Ireland ; she came to this colony in 1841, and, consequently, has been out here about fifty years, the greater part of which was spent in this district upon the farm belonging to her husband, Mr. John Sproule, upon which he yet lives, and upon which she passed the last days of her life. From her long residence and intimate knowledge of the district, it was at all times a pleasure to listen to the tales of old times which she delighted in relating. The deceased lady was of a kind and generous disposition, and her memory will be treasured with feelings of genuine sorrow and regret by many who were recipients of her kindness and good nature. During the past five or six years she had been an invalid; at times suffering very much, but she bore her afflictions with that forbearance which can only spring from the possession of a spirit of true Christian fortitude. Worn out by continued illness, she gradually sank and despite the exertions of her medical attendant, Dr. Terrey, peacefully passed away on the day previously mentioned ; but of a family of thirteen she leaves nine surviving children to mourn the loss of a true-hearted and devoted mother. Her funeral, at which the Revs. Dymock and Burgess officiated, was attended by a large gathering of friends and relatives who wished to pay to her remains the last tribute of respect that the living pay to the dead. Mrs. Sproule at the time of her death, was 64 years of age.

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales, Australia, Assisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1828-1896. Retrieved from Ancestry.com.au. Jane's birthplace is written as Drumkeirne, Fermanagh, which seems to be Drumkeeran.
2. ↑ Australia, New South Wales, Index to Bounty Immigrants, 1828-1842," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12338-3804-95?cc=1542665 : 20 May 2014), Gay > Jane > image 1 of 2; Western Sydney Records Centre, Kingswood.
   Typed transcription on card.
3. ↑ NSW BDM: Marriage 4400/1843 V18434400 74B SPROULE JOHN, GAY JANE, district: JC
   JC = Presbyterian, parish of Wollongong.
4. ↑ New South Wales, Australia Historical Electoral Rolls, 1842-1864. Retrieved from Ancestry.com.au
5. ↑ NSW BDM: Death 7769/1891 SPROULE JANE, father THOMAS, mother JANE, KIAMA
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 30 June 2021), memorial page for Jane Gay Sproule (1826–4 May 1891), Find A Grave: Memorial #187861237, citing Jamberoo Presbyterian Cemetery, Jamberoo, Kiama Municipality, New South Wales, Australia ; Maintained by Stombell (contributor 48335209).
7. ↑ Jerrara. (1891, May 16). Reporter and Illawarra Journal (Kiama, NSW : 1887 - 1894), p. 2. Retrieved August 17, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article106431473

• Known spouses now known