Brown Family Tree - Person Sheet
Brown Family Tree - Person Sheet
NameJohn Sprowls 
, M
, MBirth Date1749
Birth PlaceEnniskellen, Fermanagh, Ireland
Death Date6 Sep 1845 Age: 96
Death PlaceEast Finley, Pa
Country of birthIreland
FatherWilliam Sprowls (Sproule) , M (1720-1806)
MotherElizabeth Watson , F (1725-1794)
Spouses
Birth Date12 Jan 1761
Birth PlacePuncknowle, Dorset, England
Death Date10 Aug 1818 Age: 57
Death PlaceEast Finley, Pa
Burial Date12 Jul 1761
Burial PlacePuncknowle, Dorset County, England
Country of birthEngland
FatherMatthew Love , M (1740-)
MotherMary Bartlett , F (1740-1781)
Marr Date30 Nov 1773
Marr PlaceSt. Mary, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
Notes for John Sprowls
John Sproule, son of Wm. and Elizabeth Watson Sproule was born in 1749. He married Elizabeth Love (Lonney). They lived near Enskillen, Ireland. In the year 1793, 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 Londerry in 1793. After a voyage of about three months, they arrived in Philadelphia. The children, who came with them were: Arthur, Jane, Edward, John, Henry, James, Elizabeth and Nancy. Wm. and Mary were born in America.
In Philadelphia, he located in South Ward, purchasing property from Ann Armitt on the South East corner of Plumb St. and 5th. St. in August 8, 1793. We have a copy of this deed and it lists John as being a shallopman. From Philadelphia, they moved to Carlisle, Pa., where they remained about two years. It was then concluded to go farther west. Finally, they landed in Washington County, Pa., where they lived until 1810, when they moved to Finley Twp., Wash. Co., Pa. All the members of John Sprouls family went with him to the last named place.
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 occurrence we are told, for the inmates to be awakened at night by the howling of wolves in the forest surrounding them. The farm was known as the “Allen” farm about 1.5 miles from Good Intent.
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 August 10, 1818, age fifty-seven--they are both buried on the farm which they conquered from the wilderness in what is known as the Sprowls graveyard (township road #406) on land lately owned by W.W. Sprowls in East Finley Township.
Text taken from page 653 of Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).
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 Johnand 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 father’s farm.
From the book "History of the City of Washington and Wash. Co. PA" page 928:
The founder of the family to which Mr. Sprowls belongs, was John Sprowls, a native of Ireland, who emigrated to American and settled in what is now East Finley Township. He was succeeded on his estates by his son, James Sprowls, who led a purely agricultural life and in turn was succeeded by his son, Simeon Sprowls, who also spent his life in East Finley Township.
In Philadelphia, he located in South Ward, purchasing property from Ann Armitt on the South East corner of Plumb St. and 5th. St. in August 8, 1793. We have a copy of this deed and it lists John as being a shallopman. From Philadelphia, they moved to Carlisle, Pa., where they remained about two years. It was then concluded to go farther west. Finally, they landed in Washington County, Pa., where they lived until 1810, when they moved to Finley Twp., Wash. Co., Pa. All the members of John Sprouls family went with him to the last named place.
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 occurrence we are told, for the inmates to be awakened at night by the howling of wolves in the forest surrounding them. The farm was known as the “Allen” farm about 1.5 miles from Good Intent.
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 August 10, 1818, age fifty-seven--they are both buried on the farm which they conquered from the wilderness in what is known as the Sprowls graveyard (township road #406) on land lately owned by W.W. Sprowls in East Finley Township.
Text taken from page 653 of Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).
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 Johnand 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 father’s farm.
From the book "History of the City of Washington and Wash. Co. PA" page 928:
The founder of the family to which Mr. Sprowls belongs, was John Sprowls, a native of Ireland, who emigrated to American and settled in what is now East Finley Township. He was succeeded on his estates by his son, James Sprowls, who led a purely agricultural life and in turn was succeeded by his son, Simeon Sprowls, who also spent his life in East Finley Township.