JAMES SPRATT .org

My name is Alison Spratt. I notice above, the mention of the names Harry and Doris, two very big names in our family. My grandfather, Harry George immigrated to Canada about 1910 or 11. It was an accdient, he was on his way to Australia but never got there. I have met a young Spratt lady (locally), who says that she is from a family of Spratts from Saskatchewan. I think she said that there were 6 brothers at one time (all farmers). In my family, there are no males left with the family name, but I kept Spratt when I got married back in 1979. I’m interested in hearing form other Spratts, espcially any from Rainham England or Essex. Sorry I don’t have a map or any idea of where these places are located. aspratt at shaw ca Rainham can be found here.

Follow up email from Alison: I have an incomplete record book in front of me. Grandma was from Rainahm, Grandpa was from Dagenham Essex, Harry George, born in 1886. The first son born here was Harry George (1911?), (he died of diptheria as an infant), as was my great and great, great grandfathers, they really hung on to that name. Grandpa’s younger brother named one of his four sons Harry Francis, and my brother was named Harry Ross. My dad was RCAF, Harry and his brother Cecil were RAF as was my uncle Howard. They all paid their own way over to join up. All three were shot down within 6 weeks of each other in the summer of 42. Cecil was buried in Germany, Howard survived and was carried thru the jungle for medical care only to perrish after a few days. (before the natives could get him help).  He’s buried in Burma. After 18 months MIA, Harry F., it turned out, was in a POW camp. He was in that forced march accross Germany in shackles. Weighed 87 pounds when freed. Swore he would never walk more than 1 mile at at time in his life agian. He kept that up until he sold his farm and got a job as a postman and loved it!!! LOL. (Spratts are stubborn!!!). Harry had two brothers that had to keep the farms going thru the war and they had no sons. Harry adopted a son in 1960, and he has two boys I’ve never met. My only brother was born when my dad was 45, and he died of cancer at 17. There are no males out of the 7 sons born in Canada! My girl cousin Wendy, became a Church of England priest about 5 – 6 years ago. (Grandma was COfE, Grandpa was Mehtodist). As she is not married and has no kids, she is the one with the resourses to sit down and is doing a family tree. It also helps that Aunt Doris, her mother, is the only surivivng member of that family at age 85. Mind as sharp as a tack! She went to England with her older sister Muriel at one point, in the early 80s. Dad went to England in 1957. Got treated badly because everyone thought he was ‘a Yank’, but the apologies came easily when people (strangers) found out he was Canadian. Americans are such a treat to deal with – I live 9 miles from the border and we’re accross the line there, quite often. It’s 1 pm here and I’m still in my pjamamas!  My husband is out walking my dog in the rain so I must go shower. BTW, we are in the warm part of Canada! Alison