Author: George Sproule, Esq., Surveyor General , New Brunswick - SPROULE (Sprowle), GEORGE, army officer, surveyor, office holder, and politician; b. c. 1743 in Athlone (Republic of Ireland), eldest son of Adam Sproule and Prudence Lloyd; d. 30 Nov. 1817 in Fredericton, N.B. George Sproule was born into a military family. After receiving his early education in Athlone and nearby Dublin, he joined the British army in 1762 as an ensign in the 121st Foot and trained as a surveyor and engineer. He eventually attained the rank of captain and was referred to by that title until his death. Sproule – “that correct, faithful & devoted officer,” as Edward Winslow described him – was one of New Brunswick’s most influential and active government officials during the first decades after the creation of the new province. Not only did he carry out his surveying assignments in an efficient manner, but he further assisted the government by interesting himself in public works. George Sproule’s long, distinguished career as a surveyor, soldier, and administrator deserves recognition. To New Brunswick he brought valuable experience and a capacity for leadership that greatly helped the young province during its early stages of development. He served as surveyor general for 33 years; the office was to change hands nine times in the three decades after his death in 1817.

Source: Robert Fellows, “SPROULE, GEORGE,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 5, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed February 18, 2014, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/sproule_george_5E.html.

Location at Grand Manan Archives : Large Map Cabinet : Drawer 5 / Folder 1 ; 2 copies mounted on foam board, stored in Drawer 5 / Folder 4
Previous identifying numbers: E-M-6 ; and 2 mounted copy C-E-M6