This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: MichaelSPRACKLING Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.england.dor.general/110.1037.1.2.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I have John SPRANKLING m. Mary BURDEN 4 Dec 1800 Lady St Mary's, Wareham. So she is presumably the widow aged 74 in the 1851 Census and also appears in the 1841 and 1861 Censuses. She may have been the d. of Thomas BURTON & Mary FALL, m. 24 May 1773 Lady St Mary's, Wareham. However, I don't know where John came from. He had died before 6 Jun 1841. He may have been a brother of George SPRANKLIN who died Dec qtr 1838 Wareham &c district, VIII 79. and bur. 25 Oct 1838 Lady Mary's, Wareham, aged 62. Descendants of John & Mary moved to Southampton and I have them on file through to the present day. SPRANKLIN(G) is a variant of SPRACKLING and was found mainly in SE Dorset before migrants left for Southampton and the Isle of Wight. The earliest examples I have of SPRANKL~ are Rowman bap. 14 Oct 1610 Warminster, s. of Rowman SPRANKLIN & Annes JOANES and Robert bap. 24 Apr 1615 Fordington, Dorset, s. of John SPRANKLYN. Having said that, the spelling was essentially that of t! he local clerk. My great grandfather died as Isaac SPRACKLING having been variously spelt during his lifetime. He had seven children each baptised in different parishes in Dorset and Hampshire and each spelt differently. With an unfamiliar name spoken by an illiterate in a strong Dorset accent it's not surprising that the clerk just wrote down what he heard. Michael Sprackling Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.