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are about the town clerk. His son, John, who was also a writer, can be distinguished from his father when he is designated as "Junior" or "the
Younger". "Bass John" is readily identifiable when he is identified as an apothecary or a merchant of Glasgow. The other John Spreull who was a merchant of Glasgow seems to have led a very quiet life, so he is naturally named less frequency in any records.
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A difficulty in presenting the story of Mr. John
Spreull, Town Clerk of Glasgow, is that for a portion of his life there is the danger of confusing him with his "cousin"*, another John Spreull, an apothecary of Paisley and then an apothecary and merchant of Glasgow. The latter became known as "Bass
196:
When original documents speak of "Mr. John
Spreull", it is as good as certain that the records refer to the town clerk. Again if the records speak of John Spreull "Senior" or John Spreull "the Elder", and additionally state that he was a "writer" (lawyer), there is little doubt that the references
684:
Cobbett's complete collection of state trials and proceedings for high treason, and other crimes and misdemeanor from the earliest period to the present time ... from the ninth year of the reign of King Henry, the Second, A.D. 1163, to ... [George IV, A.D.
165:
An elderly and frail Spreul returned to
Scotland, hoping to remain at home in peace. However, the government, instigated by the bishops, had him imprisoned at the Tollbooth of Edinburgh. He refused to hear the curates. He was therefore sent to the
170:
by the Privy
Council on 28 July 1683, where he lay for some years. After petitioning to the council to be more compassionate towards his old age and frailty, an order was issued for his liberation, and he died within a year or two.
85:, where he completed his Master of Arts degree in 1635. His father was the Provost of Renfrew and an MP for Renfrew. After university, he thought about becoming a church minister but could not, in good conscience, sign the
505:
The history of the sufferings of the church of
Scotland from the restoration to the revolution, with an original memoir of the author, extracts from his correspondence, and preliminary dissertation
452:
The history of the sufferings of the church of
Scotland from the restoration to the revolution, with an original memoir of the author, extracts from his correspondence, and preliminary dissertation
400:
The history of the sufferings of the church of
Scotland from the restoration to the revolution, with an original memoir of the author, extracts from his correspondence, and preliminary dissertation
753:
133:. However, he was then induced to subscribe to it, at which point he was released. Spreul and Graham had worked together and fought together. They both represented Glasgow during the time of
428:
The life of Mr. Robert Blair, minister of St. Andrews, containing his autobiography, from 1593-1636 : with supplement of his life and continuation of the history of the times, to 1680
657:
604:
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188:
John". The fact that the town clerk had a son also named John and that there was another John
Spreull who was a merchant of Glasgow adds further complications. (p 86)
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On 14 September 1660, Spreul was imprisoned in
Edinburgh, along with Provost John Graham, for refusing to subscribe to the bond condemning the
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James Richard Sproule wrote an extensive study on the Spreul family, in which he distinguished John Spreul from his "cousin" or relative
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in September 1645. Spreul became town clerk of Glasgow on 21 October 1645. He fought for the Scottish Covenanters in the
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which would make him a senior lawyer. He became unpopular with some Glaswegian magistrates because of his opposition to
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Emeralds chased in Gold; or, the Islands of the Forth: their story, ancient and modern. [With illustrations.]
121:. He is reported to have had a very long beard and to have been mocked for it before the Privy Council of Scotland.
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Historical Notices of Scotish Affairs: Selected from the Manuscripts of Sir John Lauder of Fountainhall
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508:. Vol. 3. Glasgow: Blackie, Fullarton & co.; and Edinburgh: A. Fullarton & co. pp.
455:. Vol. 2. Glasgow: Blackie, Fullarton & co.; and Edinburgh: A. Fullarton & co. pp.
403:. Vol. 1. Glasgow: Blackie, Fullarton & co.; and Edinburgh: A. Fullarton & co. pp.
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243:. Vol. 2, 1630-1662. Edinburgh: Originally published by Scottish Burgh Records Society. 1881
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Catalogue of the printed books in the Library of Society of Writers to H.M. Signet in Scotland
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Extracts from the Records of the Old Tolbooth from The book of the Old Edinburgh Club
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After being banished from Scotland for nonconformity, he lived for some years at
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in 1644. He was a writer which is a Scottish term for a lawyer. For example
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476:. Vol. 1. Edinburgh: T. Constable, printer to Her Majesty. pp.
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Some Remarkable Passages of the Lord's Providence towards Mr John Spreul
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688:(vol. 10 (1680–85) ed.). London: T. C. Hansard. pp. 725–792
529:. Edinburgh and London: Oliphant, Anderson & Ferrier. p. 232
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Society of Writers to H.M. Signet (Great Britain) Library (1871).
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This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
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This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
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History of Glasgow; & of Paisley Greenock, & Port-Glasgow
81:(born 1616) was a town clerk in Glasgow who was educated at the
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361:. Vol. 1. Glasgow: printed by William Paton. p. 131
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A history of the county of Renfrew from the earliest times
713:. Edinburgh: Printed for the Society by Neil. p.
105:. According to rumours, he potentially fought for the
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Surname is sometimes spelled "Spreull" or "Sprewll"
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278:John Spreull, (1616 – 1690?) Town Clerk of Glasgow
631:The Bass rock: Its civil and ecclesiastic history
579:The Bass rock: Its civil and ecclesiastic history
240:Extracts From the Records of the Burgh of Glasgow
554:(Vol. 8 ed.). Edinburgh: The Club. p.
333:. Edinburgh: Haig & Brunton. 1833. pp.
203:Cobbett's complete collection of state trials...
113:. Spreul and John Graham fought together at the
89:. He was converted after hearing a sermon from
201:Perhaps understandably, Thomas Howell, in his
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628:M'Crie, Thomas, D.D. the younger (1847).
582:. Edinburgh: J. Greig & Son. p.
576:M'Crie, Thomas, D.D. the younger (1847).
681:Howell, Thomas Bayly, ed. (1768–1815).
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1028:Covenanting Prisoners of the Bass Rock
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306:. Paisley: A. Gardner. p.
275:Sproule, James Richard (2012).
449:(1835b). Burns, Robert (ed.).
397:(1835a). Burns, Robert (ed.).
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217:. 1635–1664. Edinburgh. 1832.
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16:17th c. Glasgow Town Clerk
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788:Robert Bennet of Chesters
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502:; Burns, Robert (1835c).
330:The Scots weekly magazine
192:James Sproule continues:
958:John Spreul (town clerk)
953:John Spreul (apothecary)
548:Fairley, John A (1916).
523:Dickson, John (1899).
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87:Five Articles of Perth
56:Mr. (being a graduate)
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470:Laing, David (1848).
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115:Battle of Philiphaugh
83:University of Glasgow
281:. online. p. 86
131:Western Remonstrance
99:Writer to the Signet
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161:Return to Scotland
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928:Thomas Ross
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883:William Lin
813:Robert Dick
763:Covenanting
720:16 February
642:22 December
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107:Covenanters
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79:John Spreul
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858:John Greig
222:References
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868:Peter Kid
767:Bass Rock
685:1820]
652:cite book
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175:Relatives
168:Bass Rock
151:Newcastle
137:'s rule.
913:John Rae
873:John Law
561:16 March
421:(1848).
69:Children
533:3 March
425:(ed.).
155:Holland
109:at the
39:Glasgow
61:Spouse
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484:2 May
480:, 408
365:1 May
340:3 May
247:3 May
209:Works
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149:and
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