David Sproul (abt. 1803 - abt. 1870)

Born about 1803 in Abbey, Renfrewshire Scotland [uncertain]

Husband of Margaret Thomson (Lindsay) Sproul — married 25 May 1826 in Neilston, Renfrewshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died about 1870 at about age 67 in Wawanosh, Huron Co. North, Ontario

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Mark Sproul [send private message]

Biography

The parents of David Sproul are not yet proven. Neilston, Scotland is known to be the ancestral home of the Sproul / Spreul / Sprewl family

- It is probable that David and Margaret were married
in Margaret's parish of Cathcart, Scotland, 27th May 1826.
after banns were called at Neilston. Scotland May 25,1826
and then they moved to North America.

16 important years pass without records for David and his wife - between 1826 and 1842. The next appearance for David is in the Census of Canada West 1842, (attached), where he has 6 children and 2 other adults living in his household in York, (Toronto).

It is said that David and Margaret emigrated from Scotland to Pennsylvania, USA, then to York, Ontario, Canada about 1840. ^[1]. They finally they settled at Huron County on Lot 15, Con 3 of West Wawanosh Twp. around 1859.^[2]

By the 1861 Canada Census, (Huron), David Sproul is 59 (b 1802-3) and his wife "Margrate" is (oddly) listed as 48, (suggesting birth as 1813). His Daughter Caroline (b PA U.S.A. 1839) is 22, and is married. His son Mathew Sproul, (b Can. 1842) is 19 and is in the Huron home, as are John Sproul 16, (b. Can. 1845), Mary Sproul 14 (b Can 1847), and Jennet Sproul 10 (b Can. 1851). ^[3]

In the 1842 Census (York), It is suspected that there are 3 children (1 girl and 2 boys) born in the United States or possibly in Scotland. ^[4] One of these suspected children is Andrew Sproule. However, except for Caroline, insufficient records have been found to support the Pennsylvania birth location.

In addition to these foreign born children, there is a record of a Hallen Sproul, age 4 (b.1849, Toronto; d. 7 Jan 1853, Toronto) buried at Necropolis Cemetery on 5 Apr 1853. The plot owner is given as David Sproull. ^[5] In this same cemetery there is a record of a burial on 1 Feb 1852 of an unnamed infant, son of a David Sproule (b. Toronto; d. 31 Jan 1852, Toronto). The cause of death is given simply as 'Stillborn'.^[6]

• Additional note, from Sproul-111, Canada Census 1842 source, (see attached):

- By 1842 David Sproul(e) had been in Canada for 2 years and had 6 children: 1 born in Scotland, 2 girls & 2 boys born in America, and 1 infant born in Canada. 1842 Census of Canada West, (Canada), York, (Toronto), http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/1842-canada-west/Pages/item.aspx?itemid=11589 [Census of Canada 1842, CW/Toronto/St. Georges/Vol 1] [Sproul-111]

Timeline

1802 - 1803 David Sproul is born in Scotland, (Parentage is unconfirmed).

1826 Marriage Banns DAVID SPREUL and MARGARET THOMSON/LINDSAY 25/05/1826 572 60 / 64 NEILSTON, Scotland ^[7]

1826 Marriage DAVID SPREWL and MARGARET THOMPSON LINDSAY 27/05/1826 560 20 / 198 CATHCART, Scotland. ^[8]

1840 David Sproul arrives in Canada west, ^[9]

1841 David's son Mathew is born in Toronto.

1842 David Sproul appears in the Canada Census as having immigrated to Canada West 2 years previous. ^[10]

'1842' At least 5 more "Sproule"s were living in Canada West at this time: Thomas, JPA, Robert, John, and James (of Toronto)

1861 David and his family have moved to a farm in Huron County. He is 59 and James' wife "Margrate" is 48. His daughter Caroline is 22 and married, his son Mathew is 19, son John is 16, daughter Mary is 14 and Jennet is 10. ^[11]

1863 Nov 5, Son Mathew, (W Wawanosh) marries Agnes Reid, (Goderich) Nov 5, 1863 ^[12]

Research Notes

• • More research --> 5 More "Sproule / Sproul"s are listed in the 1842 Census of Canada West: that's David (above) + James, (both of Toronto), Thomas, JPA, & Robert, (of Bathurst) and John (of Newcastle). Further examination of these docs and others could show If and how they might be related. For example, David, a cabinet maker, lived in Toronto (C-1344) Sub-District St. Georges, and James, a chair maker, in Toronto's St. Davids Sub-Distristrict, suggesting they might be brothers of similar trades. **More research could ultimately lead to revelations of how the family/ies arrived in Canada - 1842 Census https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/1842-canada-west/Pages/results.aspx?k=cnsSurname%3a%22Sproule%22

• Neilston, Scotland is known to be the ancestral home to many variations on the name Sproul.

• Marriage - Marriage Banns for David Spreul and Elizabeth Thomson Lindsay were called May 25, 1826 in Neilston, Scotland, <Old Parish Records>. ("Banns" are an announcement, usually in a church of a record of their intent to marriage. Usually this would be called three times in the church. Thereafter the marriage would take place.)
  
  
  • "David Spreul of this parish (Neilston) and Margaret Thomson Lindsay of Cathcart parish gave in their names for proclamation in order to marriage May 25th and gave to the poor 3/6" (Three shillings and sixpence, [1 day's tradesman wages])
  • David Spreul and wife Margaret Lindsay are the David Sprewl and Margaret Thomson Lindsay married 27 May 1826 at Cathcart Scotland, [Banns called in Neilston, Renfrewshire, Scotland]. ^[13]

• • There are no specific records of the couple recording any children in Scotland, therefore it can be assumed that their emigration was soon after their marriage.

• Special Note - There are three possible Davids born within the time frame: two David Sprouls and one David Spreul.

1 David Sproul born 1803 Abbey parish you will find here Sproul-819

• • • I spent a lot of time establishing the high probability that his profile as I have set out is correct. Drummie-1

2 David Spreul born 1802 had parents who were both from Abbey parish, John Sproul and Ann Smith, David was born in Barony parish, which is at odds with the marriage records of David and Margaret, where David is of the Neilston parish. *No further record exists of parents John Sproul and Ann Smith.

3 There is one other David Sproul

• DAVID SPROUL Born to JOHN SPROUL and MARY MARTIN M 22/06/1807 607 20 / 113 MUIRKIRK
• Mary Martin was possibly born in Neilston 1790 but there are too many John Sprouls in the time frame to pick one.
• Their marriage is not found.
  • On the basis that this David was born Muirkirk we can count him out also.

On reflection, comparing David Spreul born 1802 and David Sproul born 1807, it's possible that one or other were brought up in Neilston parish, despite being born elsewhere.

• By his marriage 1826 David is certainly from Neilston and there are only the two contenders, one or other is surely the David who marries Margaret 1826.. The problem will be which
  • That both David Sproul and Margaret Thomson Lindsay were born in Scotland is without doubt, and of course we have Margaret's parentage in William Lindsay and Helen Leckie. We might be able to take their ancestry back a bit further although looking at William Lindsay there are many to chose.

Drummie-1

• Side note: A suggested match has been discounted, (i.e.: that he was the son of Andrew Sproul and Margaret Young and was baptized at Abbey Paisley, Renfrew, Scotland on the 18th of September 1803. ^[14] (See Drummie-1 notes below).

David Sproul born 1803 Abbey parish you will find here Sproul-819

Note:- David Sproul born 1803 to Andrew and Margaret Sproul
died 1835 Death DAVID SPRAUL ----- 36 M 09/08/1835 718 90 / 226
PRESTONPANS (Examination of image reads Sproul not Spraul)
Drummie-1

Sources

1. ↑ Canada Census 1842
2. ↑ Reflections of West Wawanosh, p.100
3. ↑ Census 1861, pg12
4. ↑ Census 1842
5. ↑ Image of burial record available at FamilySearch.org
6. ↑ Familysearch.org *this digital image is blurry
7. ↑ 1826 Marriage Banns DAVID SPREUL and MARGARET THOMSON/LINDSAY 25/05/1826 572 60 / 64 NEILSTON Scottish National Records---Old Parish Records at Scotlandspeople ( https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ )
8. ↑ 1826 Marriage DAVID SPREWL and MARGARET THOMPSON LINDSAY 27/05/1826 560 20 / 198 CATHCART Scottish National Records---Old Parish Records at Scotlandspeople ( https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ )
9. ↑ Canada Census 1842
10. ↑ Canada Census 1842
11. ↑ Canada Census 1861 pg 11 and pg 12
12. ↑ Huron Religious Marriage Registers 1858–1869
13. ↑ Ancestry.com. Scotland, Select Marriages, 1561-1910 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
14. ↑ Ancestry.com. Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

• Census of Canada 1842, CW/Toronto/St. Georges/Vol 1
• Census of Canada 1861, CW/Huron/Wawanosh/Page 9
• West Wawanosh Township Historians, Reflections of West Wawanosh, (Natural Heritage/Natural History Inc., 1996), ISBN 1-896219-19-5.
• McGill University. The Canadian Atlas Digital Project:
• Map of Huron County; https://digital.library.mcgill.ca/countyatlas/huron.htm
• Township of West Wawanosh, Copyright © McGill University, 2001 https://digital.library.mcgill.ca/countyatlas/showtownship2.php?townshipid=Wawanosh+West
• Margaret Sproule's Property: https://digital.library.mcgill.ca/countyatlas/showmap.php?Township=Wawanosh+West&plotX=390&plotY=2997&getMap.x=51&getMap.y=16
• Person (Margaret Sproule) https://digital.library.mcgill.ca/countyatlas/showrecord.php?PersonID=85102

Additional

• 1808 Birth MARGARET THOMSON LINDSAY Born to WILLIAM LINDSAY and HELEN LECKIE CHILD 6 F 21/02/1808 560 10 / 175 CATHCART Scottish National Records---Old Parish Records at Scotlandspeople ( https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ )
• 1826 Marriage DAVID SPREUL and MARGARET THOMSON/LINDSAY 25/05/1826 572 60 / 64 NEILSTON Scottish National Records---Old Parish Records at Scotlandspeople ( https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ )

• 1842 Census David Sproule Enumeration of household: Census of Canada West 1842, V1 : Ref MG 31 CI: https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/1842-canada-west/Pages/item.aspx?itemid=11589 Microfilm: C-1344, Image No.: 004569584_00499. Reference: MG 31 C1 Census of Upper Canada, 1842

• • 1842 Census of Canada West (summative collection of 6 "Sproule" surnames in Canada West [ed]: https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/1842-canada-west/Pages/results.aspx?k=cnsSurname%3a%22Sproule%22

• Census of Canada 1861, CW/Huron/wawanosh/Page 9
• Census of Canada 1871, ON/026/C-2/Page 55
• Census of Canada 1881, ON/175/E/1/Page 50
• Census of Canada 1891, ON/78/G-1/Page 21
• West Wawanosh Township Historians, Reflections of West Wawanosh, (Natural Heritage/Natural History Inc., 1996), ISBN 1-896219-19-5.

Wikitree profile Lindsay-1127, Margaret Thomson (Lindsay) Sproul, https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Lindsay-1127

• Huron Religious Marriage Registers 1858–1869, 5 Nov. 1863, #007859250, Item 3, David mentioned in son Mathew's marriage register: , Bridegroom: Mathew Sproul 22, W. Wawanosh, (b. Toronto), parents: David Sproul & Margaret Lindsay, Bride: Agnes Reid 21, Goderich, (b. Glastry NIR), parents: David Reid & Mary Mackee: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS7D-18BK?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AQ2CB-CMWQ&action=view