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Note: N1296 Name, date (1748-1749) and location of birth and date and location of death from posting on RootsWeb Sprowls Message Board ("Sprowls in Washington Co., PA" posted by Sandee Cogan on July 13, 2000). Location of birth, county of death and location of interment from posting on RootsWeb Sprowls Message Board ("Sprowls" posted by Nova Weller on October 23, 2000).
Immigrated in the late 1790's per an email from Ruth Sprowls on May 4, 2003. His date of birth is given as 1749 in this correspondence.
Given name (John), surname (Sprowls) and location (North Ireland) of birth from 20th century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, Joseph F. McFarland, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1910, pages 886-887, page 928
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"In the year 1794, John Sprowls of near Enskillen, Ireland, feeling that he could better his condition and at the same time be free from the political and religious questions which were then disturbing that unfortunate country, determined to emigrate to America. He at the time resided on a farm. He, with his wife and family, consisting of eight children, sailed from Louderry in 1794. After a voyage of about three months, they arrived at Philadelphia--from this place they all went to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where they remianed about two years. It was then concluded to go farther west, and as steam or electricity were unknown as a means of transportation, they were compelled to use horses to transport themselves and such things as were actually needed. Finally, they landed in this county, near what is now known as the town California, where they lived until 1810, when they moved to Finley Township.
All the members of John Sprowls family went with him to the last named place. In this Township, John Sprowls, because (sic) the owner of a farm located about one and one half miles south of what is known as the village of Good Intent. The Christian name of John Sprowls' wife was Elizabeth--but her maiden name has not been established to the satisfaction of the Committee. As far as we know there is no family record in this country and her maiden name has variously been handed down as Love, Loney, or Lunney. Her real maiden name can only perhaps be ascertained from records which were doubtlessly kept in Ireland, as it is known that when John Sprowls left Ireland, his mother and a number of sisters were living, and that he kept up correspondence with them for a number of years.
When John Sprowls located in Finley, it was a wilderness. He, with the assistance of his sons built a log house, and as glass was then scarce, difficult to get, and very expensive, the openings in the house intended for windows were covered as best they could, and it was not an uncommon occurance (sic) we are told, for the inmates to be awakened at night by the howling of wolves in the forest surrounding them.
John Sprowls was a large muscular man, plain and direct of speech, but was respected on account of his sturdy honesty and strict integrity.
As other pioneers were required to do, he, by unremitting toil, cut and cleared fields on the farm, which he had purchased and made for himself and family a pleasant and happy home. He died upon this farm in 1845, about ninety six years of age--his good wife having preceded him to the grave Aug. 10, 1818, age fifty-seven--they are both buried on the farm which they conqurred from the wilderness in what is known as the Sprowls gravyard on land lately owned by W. W. Sprowls in East Finley Township.
The children born to John and Elizabeth Sprowls were as follows--Arthur, Jane, Nancy. John, Edward, James, Elizabeth, Henry, William, and Mary--the first eight of whom were born in Ireland, and the last two in America, one in Carlisle, Pa., the other in Finley Township.
Taxing up and considering these children we find:
1. That Arthur married Catherine Wallace to whom were born the following children:
John, who married Margaret Carr.
Rachel, who married William Camp and moved to Ohio--we have no information as to the number or names of their
descendents.
William, who married Ann Montgomery.
Elizabeth, who married Laban Sampson, and moved to Ohio, we have no knowledge of the number or names of their
descendents.
Fannie, who married David Sampson.
Mary, who married James Sammons and moved to Ohio; we have no information as to the number or names of their
descendents.
Catherine, who married Jesse Montgomery.
Silas, who married Christina Ealy.
2. Jane Sprowls, daughter of John and Elizabeth Sprowls, married William Carr and moved to Ohio. We have no knowledge
of their descendents.
3. Nancy, daughter of John and Elizabeth Sprowls, was never married--is dead and buried in the Sprowls Cemetery to which
reference has been made.
4. John, son of John and Elizabeth Sprowls, married Margaret Greadon, and the names of their children are as follows:
Eleanor, who married John Ealy.
William, who married Mariah Newland.
James, who married Elizabeth Montgomery."
Source-"Sprowls History", pages 2 and 3 (Louis Sprowls letter dated February 20, 2004)
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John Sprowls was the first pioneer of his name to locate in East Finley township, Washington Co., Penn. He was a native of Enniskillen, Ireland, and in 1784 was there married to Elizabeth Love (also of Irish birth), who bore him the following children: Arthur, Jane, Edward, John, Henry, James, Elizabeth, Nancy, William and Mary, the latter two being born after their arrival in America. In 1793 the family emigrated from Ireland, and landing at Philadelphia, pushed westward to Carlisle, Cumberland Co., Penn., where they remained some time, thence removing, in about 1795, to Washington county, Penn. Mr. Sprowls located near California, West Pike Run township, and soon afterward went to Allen township, but finally settled in East Finley township, where, in the midst of an unbroken wilderness, he erected a log cabin, about three quarters of a mile southeast of the present postoffice of Good Intent. In this humble little home John and Elizabeth Sprowls passed the remainder of their lives; and having well begun the herculean task of establishing a home in the desert wilds for his descendants, the courageous pioneer left the completion of his work to his children; he died September 6, 1845, and was laid to rest in the land of his adoption. Mrs. Sprowls died August 10, 1818. The two daughters, Elizabeth and Nancy, never married, and passed their lives on their fatherÕs farm.
Source - Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893, page 653
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SPROWLS
The descendants of John and Elizabeth Sprowls will hold a reunion at the West Alexander Fairgrounds Saturday, August 5.
John and Elizabeth Sprowls came to the United States from Euskillen, Ireland in 1794 and originally settled in East Finley Township.
Reunions of the clan were held in 1902, 1903, 1912 and 1928.
Committees have been making plans for this reunion for several weeks and a large gathering is anticipated.
In keeping with the custom of former reunions souvenir badges have been secured to give to all who attend.
A picnic dinner will be served at noon. The Rev. John H. Debolt of the West Alexander Methodist Church will give the invocation.
Each family is to take a picnic dinner and table service. Ice cream, coffee and soft drinks will be available.
Following dinner the following program will be presented with William Sprowls presiding.
Opening son (sic), America.
Invocation, the Rev. John Debolt.
Group singing, Opal Winnett, leader.
Greetings and recognition of ...
Source - Clipping from unknown newspaper, papers of Ralph E. and Margaret B. Porter
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The following information is found at the Washington County PAGenWeb Genealogy Project - Cemeteries - Sprowls Family Graveyard, Copyright © 1999 by Mary McKain, http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/pa/washington/cemeteries/sprowlscem01.txt:
John Sprowls - 1749-1845
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Monument located in Sprowls Family Graveyard, East Finley Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania. This monument was photograohed by Mark Welsh.
In memory
[--?--]
JOHN SPROWLS
DIED
Sep. 6, 1845
Aged [--?--} yrs.
[--?--]
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