|
|
Greetings,
Below
is an email that I sent to my sister Rhonda. This information was gleaned from a
variety of sources (and a lot of imagination). If anyone has comments or more
information on these ideas, please let me
know.
Thanks,
Les
---------
Rhonda,
In the
process of looking for information on how Godfrey got to the colonies, I bought
a book titled 'The Original Scots Colonists of Early America' by David Dobson.
It's a huge list of people (7,180 of them) and information on when they left
Scotland for the colonies.
There is only one listing for an Andrew
Sproule in the 1770s. But there are some other interesting
things...
Setting the stage here is the information from other sources
showing four possible sets of parents for Godfrey (assuming he was born around
1650):
1) Johne Sprewll and Cathrien Mershall - m 1640
2) Johne
Sprewll and Heleine Muir - m ? - (Three kids listed - 1649-1660)
2) Johne
Sprewll and Jeane Syme - m ? - (Three kids listed - 1647-1651)
2) Androw
Sprewll and Margret Drew - m 1646
From the book:
1) There was a
Covenanter* named John Marshall from Lanark, transported (deported) in June of
1684 on board the ship 'Pelican'. Our Cathrein Mershall was from Glasgow,
Lanark.
2) There was another Covenanter* named James Muir transported in
May of 1684. He is listed as being from Lesmahagow Lanarkshire. He was sent to
New York.
3) Three people named 'Syme' of Eaglesham, Refrewshire (near
Paisley where Bass John lived), were all transported on the 'Pelican'. All three
were Covenanters.
4) No records of any Drews in the correct time
frame.
All of the information about the Covenanters was listed in the
'Register of the Privy Council of Scotland', Third Series, Edinburgh. You should
see if you can find a copy of this.
You also need to see if you can find
the manifest for the ship Pelican for 1684. Some information might be available
in "Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Glasgow", Volume 1 (Minutes &
Accounts, 1573-1641), if you can find it. It lists the "Pelican, of Glasgow" on
page 187. It also lists:
Spreull, Henry - 110, 183, 190
Spreull,
Henry, deacon of the coopers - 164
Spreull, John, of Ladymuir -
176
Spreull, Patrick - 2
Spreull, William - 175, 190, 204
Sproull, John
- 26(2), 29
and a rash of Muirs, a Drew and a couple of
Symes.
David Dobson also wrote the "Directory of Scots Banished to
American Plantations", 1650-1775. Genealogical Pub. Co., Inc. 1983.
After
all, Godrey might well have hitched a ride with his cousins...
Les |
To
answer your question as to who I think Godfrey or his parents are…
John
Spruell of "Trial of John Spreull - Tourture of the Boot - 1677" was an
Apothecary, a pharmacist specializing in medicinal herbs. The Henrico minute
book orphans court (page 332) records that on June 2, 1690 Doctor Spruell, along
with John Cannon, Philemon Childers, and Robert Sharp were appointed appraisers
of Herbert Powell's estate. Memories and Records of Eastern North Carolina by
Mary Weeks Lambeth records: "At a Vestry meeting of St. Paul's Parish, on the
9th day of March, 1703-4, it was ordered that "Dr. Spruill be paid 5 pounds for
the cure of Eleanor Adams, and on the 2nd day of March 1713-14, 12 pounds for
the cure of Ebenezer Aldridge, …". Medical licensing was not the same as today…
an apothecary would well be the closest thing to a doctor in the new
world.
John Spreull's trials were in part because he would not reveal
where his father was...I've often wondered if Godfrey was a middle name, his
mother's families’ name, or an alias used to protect his family/estate from
persecution. Godfrey's son, Samuel Spruill, married Elizabeth Swaine, of New
England fame. (Richard Swaine was married to Elizabeth Jane Bunker, widow,
believed by many to be the former Elizabeth Jane Godfrey.) The name Godfrey is
noticeably absent in the Scottish records of the Glasgow area for that time
period. A Godfrey Spreull should stand out like a sore thumb in the records if
he were not using a middle name, etc.
I think its' entirely possible that
Godfrey was the father/uncle of John Spreull, Apothecary, or as you suggested
one of the John/Robert Spreull’s of the area. The most interesting name(s) on
the passenger list of the Pelican was the two Henry Spreulls. Henrie Spreull of
Middleton (Edinburg), Scotland was married to Jonet Rodger, and had a son name
Henrie, christened 10 Nov 1661. Jonet is the Scottish version of Joan/Joanna
(Joanna was the wife of Godfrey). Henrie & Jonet resided in Middleton,
again, where the Earl of Middleton tried John Spruell.
Beyond that I need
to look at your names and do some comparison with the Spreull families of
Scotland. If you wish to do your own search, Scottish Origens will let you
search the Registry of Scotland for about $10-12.00 US. Of particular interest
would be the families of Patrick and Henry because of their unusual names. I’ll
email you in Word format a couple of the files that I have on the Spreulls of
the area for your perusal.
One
of the problems with Godfrey -- for whom we have been searching for 20 years!!
-- is that his 21 October 1684 land grant indicates that the new land "adjoins
said Spruell's plantation." So the question, of course, is where he got the
FIRST plantation? Any ideas?
Land
adjoins Spruill Plantation could have been through land grants or possibly from
someone leaving. A lot of that was done on the south shore where Dr. Godfrey
later settled, lived and died. From the date:Oct. 1684 (posted by Rhonda
Spruiell)Dr. Godfrey had settled on the Scuppernong River near the mouth of the
Albemarble Sound, established his plantation 43. Years later in his will (copy
from NC Archives) that was handwritten by Dr. Godfrey, he left over 1,600 acres
plus his plantation (acres unknown) to his sons, grandson and a daughter
Susanna. Also, he signed the will Spruill. Hope this information will help you. Source: genealogy.com/
|
and/or