Frances (Mosse) Sprigg (abt. 1786 - 1874)

Born about 1786 in Clonroosk, Queens County, Ireland

Ancestors

Wife of Charles Sprigg — married 22 Jun 1815 in Dublin St James, Dublin, Ireland

Descendants

Died 5 Sep 1874 at about age 88 in Clarendon, South Australia, Australia

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Biography

Frances (Mosse) Sprigg was born in Ireland.

Frances (Mosse) Sprigg came free to the Colony of South Australia (1836-1900)

Fanny Mosse was born around 1786. Her parents were the Rev. Peter Mosse and Mary Nickson, of Clonroosk, in Queens County, Ireland. Fanny was probably born into quite a privileged household. Her parents' home at Clonroosk was situated a mile from Maryborough. It was mentioned as a noteworthy landmark in The Post-Chaise Companion traveler's directory in 1786. The Reverend Peter Mosse, was rector of Dunleckney, in County Carlow, when Fanny was born. He was the grandson of the Canon Thomas Mosse of Maryborough, and the Mosse family were prominent in the Irish church. Fanny's mother, Mary Nickson, was the daughter of the wealthy businessman, Abraham Nickson. Her family clearly had access to a lot of wealth and were very well connected socially in the circles of the Protestant Ascendancy which ruled Ireland at that time. ^{[1] [2]}

In the Irish Rebellion of 1798, when Fanny was around 12 years old, her uncle, Colonel Abraham Augustus Nickson was killed by Irish rebels in the Battle of Ballyrahn, in County Wicklow. Her cousin, Captain Abraham Augustus Nickson, roused a local militia in response to his father's death and they were responsible for a series of massacres and reprisals against local civilians. These events were long remembered and probably had some profound effects on the standing of her family in their community.

It seems likely that Fanny had left Ireland prior to that turbulent time, however, as her father had assumed a position as clerk in the office of the Colonial Secretary in the Cape Colony of South Africa by 1797. This was just a few years after the Colony had been captured by British forces from the Dutch. It is understood that her father found himself in financial difficulties in Ireland, and lived a rather precarious existence thereafter, firstly in South Africa, and later in India. He died in India in 1810. Fanny's mother Mary died in Ireland in 1818, and was buried in Maryborough. So it appears that the Mosse family returned to their home in Ireland after their father's death in India, possibly receiving support from their wider family who were still living in the area.

Fanny married Charles Sprigg, of Waterford, by licence, on 22 Jun 1815 in the parish of Dublin St James, in Dublin. They had seven sons, all claimed to have been born at Pallas, near Maryborough between 1816 and 1827. Pallas townland was adjacent to Fanny's old home at Clonroosk, so it is seems that Fanny and Charles Sprigg may have settled very near, perhaps even in her childhood home after their marriage. Charles Sprigg was the son of a lawyer from Waterford, and his family were also well connected in Irish Protestant circles, however he described himself as a "small farmer" on his emigration papers when he applied for passage to South Australia in 1839. It is not know how honest this description may have been, since his occupation and status may have been a factor in determining his eligibility for assisted passage. The 1824 Pigot's Directory of Dublin and Leinster recorded Charles Sprigg esq., among the Nobility, Gentry, and Clergy, of the city of Maryborough. ^[3][4][5]

Fanny's brother Peter Benjamin Mosse is said to have purchased land in South Australia on her behalf in London in 1839, with money acquired from an inheritance. This is a family rumour which is yet to be confirmed, but there are records which indicate that Charles and Frances purchased their property in South Australia on 9 Aug 1839, a few days after they lodged their application for assisted passage, but before their departure from Liverpool, in England. They purchased three adjacent allotments, with Charles buying one of them, and Frances acquiring two. ^[6][7][8]

The Sprigg family arrived aboard the ship Delhi at Port Adelaide, in South Australia, a few days before Christmas, in 1839. They settled on their property in the Adelaide Hills, near Clarendon, and farmed very successfully for many years.

Charles died at their 'Glanville' home in 1857, at the age of 74. He was buried nearby in the cemetery at O'Halloran Hill.

Fanny died on 5 Sep 1874 at Clarendon. She was buried with Charles at O'Halloran Hill. ^{[9] [10]}

Sources

1. ↑ Mosse, Rev. Charles H., The Mosse Family Notes.
2. ↑ The Post-Chaise Companion, p.158.
3. ↑ Dublin, Ireland, Probate Record and Marriage License Index, 1270-1858 (Ancestry.com).
4. ↑ Dublin, St James, Baptisms & marriages, 1742-1830, Irish Parish Register Marriages, Ffolliott Collection (FindMyPast.com).
5. ↑ 1824 Pigot's Directory of Dublin and Leinster https://www.failteromhat.com/pigot/0225.pdf
6. ↑ South Australia Landowners 1835-1841, database, (FindMyPast.com), (https://www.findmypast.com.au/transcript?id=ANZ%2FSOUTHAULAND%2F2713), Charles Sprigg 1839.
7. ↑ South Australia Landowners 1835-1841, database, (FindMyPast.com), (https://www.findmypast.com.au/transcript?id=ANZ%2FSOUTHAULAND%2F2715), Mrs Frances Sprigg 1839.
8. ↑ South Australia Landowners 1835-1841, database, (FindMyPast.com), (https://www.findmypast.com.au/transcript?id=ANZ%2FSOUTHAULAND%2F2714), Mrs Frances Sprigg 1839.
9. ↑ SA BDM Index - Death Certificate Bk. 59/280
10. ↑ Thomas, Jan, South Australians 1836-1885, 1990.

• Mosse, Rev. Charles H., The Mosse Family Notes, unpublished, 1955 (2nd ed. 2013) Note: This document cites as its source on the Mosse family of Ireland, records in the Genealogical Office, Office of Arms, Dublin Castle, refs: G.O.384. Donovan M.S. (p.145), and G.O.729.

• Wilson, W., The Post-Chaise Companion: or Traveller's Directory Through Ireland, Dublin, 1786

• Dublin, Ireland, Probate Record and Marriage License Index, 1270-1858 (Ancestry.com).

• Dublin, St James, Baptisms & marriages, 1742-1830, Irish Parish Register Marriages, Ffolliott Collection (FindMyPast.com), Charles Sprigg 1815

• 1824 Pigot's Directory of Dublin and Leinster https://www.failteromhat.com/pigot/0225.pdf

• South Australia Landowners 1835-1841, database, (FindMyPast.com), (https://www.findmypast.com.au/transcript?id=ANZ%2FSOUTHAULAND%2F2713), Charles Sprigg 1839.

• South Australia Landowners 1835-1841, database, (FindMyPast.com), (https://www.findmypast.com.au/transcript?id=ANZ%2FSOUTHAULAND%2F2715), Mrs Frances Sprigg 1839.

• South Australia Landowners 1835-1841, database, (FindMyPast.com), (https://www.findmypast.com.au/transcript?id=ANZ%2FSOUTHAULAND%2F2714), Mrs Frances Sprigg 1839.

• SA BDM Index - Death Certificate Bk. 59/280

• Thomas, Jan, South Australians 1836-1885, South Australian Genealogy and Heraldry Society,1990.

• Delhi 1839 from the BOUND FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA website, first accessed online on the 22nd of May, 2022 at: https://bound-for-south-australia.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/1839Delhi.htm

• Passengers for 18/08/1839 - 20/12/1839 from PASSENGERS IN HISTORY: An initiative of the South Australian Maritime Museum. first accessed online on the 22nd of of May, 2022 at: https://passengers.history.sa.gov.au/voyage-passengers-all/945552/18/08/1839%20-%2020/12/1839?title=&page=7

• Find a Grave, database and images accessed 22 May 2022, memorial page for Frances Sprigg (unknown–3 Sep 1874), Find a Grave Memorial ID Find A Grave: Memorial #202778057, citing Christ Church Cemetery, O'Halloran Hill, Marion City, South Australia, Australia ; Maintained by J (contributor 50048377) .