Pioneers of St. Clair County, Michigan - Person Sheet
Pioneers of St. Clair County, Michigan - Person Sheet
NameMary SPROAT 
2390, email,2391,1105
2390, email,2391,1105Birthabt 17401003, p 4, note 4,2392, email
Memodied age about 71 years
Death25 May 1811, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada1003, p 4, note 4,1006, p 4,2390 Age: 71
Burial28 May 1811, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada1003, p 4, note 4,2390
FlagsBrick Wall
Individual Notes
• In the register of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church – burial of Mary, “wife of Isaac Roberts” died 26 May 1811 age about 71 years. One of the witnesses at this burial was Jonathan Eckart who is not otherwise identified but who was probably the Father of WRE who had married Elizabeth Roberts in 1794.1003, p 4; Note 4
• PUTATIVE: Mary Sproat leaves William Nelson and goes to live with neighbor Isaac Roberts, ca. 1772. They have children of their own, so now it’s a blended family.1105
• Then, William (Guillaume) Nelson dies c. 1791. Yay! So now Mary Sproat is free to marry and she and Isaac Roberts get married in 1792. She is listed as a spinster, not a widow.1105, email
• PUTATIVE: Mary Sproat leaves William Nelson and goes to live with neighbor Isaac Roberts, ca. 1772. They have children of their own, so now it’s a blended family.1105
• Then, William (Guillaume) Nelson dies c. 1791. Yay! So now Mary Sproat is free to marry and she and Isaac Roberts get married in 1792. She is listed as a spinster, not a widow.1105, email
Spouses
Individual Notes
• Then, William (Guillaume) Nelson dies c. 1791. Yay! So now Mary Sproat is free to marry and she and Isaac Roberts get married in 1792.1105, email
Marriageabt 17601105
Marr Memoputative
ChildrenJames (~1762-)
Mary (~1766-1829)
Henrietta Nailer (1769-1789)
Birthabt 17371003, p 4, note 5
Memoage 80 years at death
Death23 Jan 1817, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada1003, p 4, note 5; gives 24 Jan,2389 Age: 80
Burial26 Jan 1817, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada1003, p 4, note 5,2389
FlagsBrick Wall
Individual Notes
• ROBERTS, Isaac. Purposing to go to England and requests settlement with all concerned. Quebec Gazette, 4 Oct 1781.1006, p 4
• ECKART, Jonathan and Elizabeth, his wife. Both deceased. Isaac Roberts, guardian to their minor children, requests settlement with all concerned in their estate. Quebec Gazette, 27 Feb 1812.1006, p 2
• ECKART, Jonathan and Elizabeth, his wife. Both deceased. Isaac Roberts, guardian to their minor children, requests settlement with all concerned in their estate. Quebec Gazette, 27 Feb 1812.1006, p 2
Marriage21 Jan 1792, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada1003, p 4; note 4; marriage only,2391, p 1,1105
Marriage Notes
• The Roberts children are all illegitimate but only the later ones are marked as such, because immediately post-Conquest, the Anglicans are disorganized and overworked (?)1105, email
• As for your comment about Mary Sproat leaving her marriage, I agree, I don't see why that would be legally recorded anywhere. However, at her 1792 marriage to Isaac Roberts she was called a spinster, which I thought was reserved for women who had never been married? I'm not very familiar with Anglican church formulae but certainly the RC church is very particular about such things, so she would have been specifically identified as a widow in the register if it were a Catholic ceremony. The Anglican population of Quebec City was pretty tiny at the time so it seems unlikely that the community was unaware of her situation; but on the other hand, it was poor old de Montmollin who performed the ceremony, and he apparently spoke little English and wasn't, perhaps, a very good priest, so the wording can probably be overlooked in any case.1101
• As for your comment about Mary Sproat leaving her marriage, I agree, I don't see why that would be legally recorded anywhere. However, at her 1792 marriage to Isaac Roberts she was called a spinster, which I thought was reserved for women who had never been married? I'm not very familiar with Anglican church formulae but certainly the RC church is very particular about such things, so she would have been specifically identified as a widow in the register if it were a Catholic ceremony. The Anglican population of Quebec City was pretty tiny at the time so it seems unlikely that the community was unaware of her situation; but on the other hand, it was poor old de Montmollin who performed the ceremony, and he apparently spoke little English and wasn't, perhaps, a very good priest, so the wording can probably be overlooked in any case.1101
ChildrenElizabeth (Illegitimate) (~1773-1812)
Marguerite (Died as Child) (1775-<1777)
Marguerite (Illegitimate) (1777-)
Isabella (Illegitimate) (~1779-1819)
William (Illegitimate) (1780-)