SQ 805: "Minus Lafayette Sparks (also called Miner and Minnie), son ofDavid and Mary (Little) Sparks, was born in Rowan County, North Carolina,about 1811. He remained at home with his parents and did not marry untilafter 185O. He died on April 23, 1889, at Crainesville (now Hornsby),Hardeman County, Tennessee. He marrried about 185O or 1851 Sarah (Sally)Cherry, who was part Indian; she was born about 1826. They were theparents of the following children: [here lists 7 children]."

SPARKS QUARTERLY, September 1984, No. 127, pg. 2665:

"Miriam Beale Sparks, daughter of John and Sarah (Brooks) Sparks , wasborn on February 10, 1824. She is probably the Maryann Sparks whomarried Israel Gambol on February 15, 1846, in Tallapoosa County,Alabama. We have no further information on this couple."

SPARKS FAMILY QUARTERLY, June 1985, Whole No. 130, pg 2747:

"Missouri Elida Sparks, daughter of Billy and Minerva (McKay) Sparkswas born in January 1852. She was married to Everett J. Parrent about1867. He was born in November 1842 in Texas. When the 1900 census wastaken of McLennan County, Everett and Missouri were living in the samedwelling as Missouri's parents, Billy and Minerva Sparks. Living at homewere four children of Everett and Missouri, and there were probably otherchildren: (1) Frank M. Parrent was born in February 1878. He marriedElla A. --- about 1899; (2) William H. Parrent was b. April 1880; (3)Thomas W. Parrent was b. December 1883; (4) Nellie Parrent was b.January, 1888.

A photograph of another Mitchell Sparks appears on the cover of the June,1961 issue of the Sparks Quarterly, Whole No. 34, p.549 bearing thefollowing caption: MITCELL SPARKS, Prominent Nineteenth-Century Merchantof Fort Smith, Arkansas, Born February 4, 1811, Died November 16, 1864.His relationship to this Mitchell Sparks, if any, is unknown. The elderMitchell was a native of Dublin, Ireland, and migrated to the US in1836.

!NOTES:
SQ 101: "Mittie Sparks, born about 1828; married 1846, James Durh am."

.
!NOTES:
His grandfather was Garrett Sparks (820) and his grandmother was Elizabeth (Boggs) Sparks. He was a 5th ggrandson of William thru Jose phSparks and Cora was a 6th ggranddaughter of William through Willia m IV.Thus, Cora Lyon was his sixth cousin, once removed.

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, p. 398:

"Moses Sparks, son of Solomon and Isabella (Swaim) Sparks, was born inWilkes County, North Carolina, about 1812. He had died by 1854 when hisfather made his will. In THE HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY, INDIANA(Chicago, Brant & Fuller, 1887), page 748, appears the following:

"In 1834 Moses Sparks, a native of North Carolina, moved to thetownship of Rock Creek and settled a short distance southwest of Markle,where he located and improved a small farm." From the will of SolomonSparks, it would appear that Moses left two children."

*******

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, September, 1971, Whole No. 75, p. 1421:

MOSESSPARKS, born 1815, died 1840

In the QUARTERLY of June 1959 (Vol. VII, No, 2, Whole No. 26) wepublished an article (page 395 and following) on Solomon Sparks, who wasborn in Wilkes Co., North Carolina, about 1792 and died in Wells Co.,Indiana, on April 28, 1854. He married Isabella Swaim. One of the sons ofSolomon and Isabella (Swaim) Sparks was Moses Sparks, born in 1815 (seep. 398), At the time we published this article, we did not know when hedied nor his age at the time of his death. Recently one of ourcorrespondents, Marjorie Crosbie, discovered his tombstone in a cemeteryin Huntington Co., Indiana, near the town of Markle, (The cemetery islocated on the bank of Rock Creek, 3 miles east and 4 miles south ofMarkle.) According to his tombstone, Moses Sparks died November 11, 1840,aged 25 years & 16 days. This would mean that he was born October 25,1815. On this same stone are recorded the deaths of two daughters ofMoses Sparks, Both died in 1845; Catherine Sparks died September 15,1845, aged 11 years and 6 months, and Elizabeth Sparks died September 2,1845, aged 12 years and 6 months. The widow of Moses Sparks, whose namewas Abigail, married Robert Roberts in Wells County, Indiana, on April21, 1841.

**********

See also THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, p. 1601 for several dates and burialinformation.

**********
See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, Whole No. 189, pp.5292-3:

Moses Sparks, second son of Solomon and Isabella (Swaim) Sparks, was bornon October 25, 1815. In the History of Huntington County, Indiana,published in Chicago in 1887, it is stated (p.748): "In 1834 MosesSparks, a native of North Carolina, moved to the township [Rock Creek]and settled a short distance southwest of Markle, where he located andimproved a small farm."

When he made his will on April 14, 1854, Solomon Sparks, father of Moses,made no mention of Moses, but four days later, on reflection, he added acodicil stating: "I do hereby give and bequeath to the heirs of my sonMoses Sparks. namely Albert Sparks and Mary Jane Sparks, the sum oftwenty dollars to be equally divided between them."

Moses Sparks had been dead fourteen years when his father wrote his will,and Solomon probably had little contact with Moses' children, hence hisnot thinking of them when he signed his will. Moses Sparks had died onNovember 11, 1840, and had been buried in a cemetery in HuntingtonCounty, Indiana, located on the bank of Rock Creek, three miles east andfour miles south of the town of Markle. On his gravestone are carved,also, the record of the deaths of two Sparks children, but their ages atdeath precludes their being children of Moses. While we cannot identifythem, we note them here:

Elizabeth Sparks died on September 2, 1845, age 12 years and 6 months;
Catherine Sparks died on September 15, 1845, age 11 years and 6 months.

Many years ago Mrs. Iva Lane of Marion, Indiana, (from whom we last heardin 1988) who descended from Moses Sparks's brother, Isaac B. Sparks,shared with us letters that had been written by Amos Redding of Blufflon,Indiana, providing biographical and genealogical information on thefamily of Moses Sparks. Mr. Redding was a member of the Redding family towhich Moses' wife had belonged. We believe that his information isaccurate.

Moses Sparks was married to Abigail Redding "by David M. Steward, aPresbyterian minister" on February 20, 1838, in Rush County, Indiana.(See Rush County Marriage Book 1, p.17.) Abigail had been born onDecember 12, 1815, a daughter of Isaiah Redding.

Moses Sparks was only 25 years old when he died on November 11, 1840. Hisson, Albert Sparks, was still an infant, and his daughter, Mary Jane,would be born posthumously. On April 21, 1841, Moses' widow was marriedin Wells County, Indiana, to Robert Roberts, whose first wife, Nancy(Brown) Roberts, had died in 1840, as had Moses Sparks. Robert Robertshad been born on February 23, 1811, and died on February 5, 1880. Abigailwas the mother of five Roberts children (John, Martha, Nathan, Elizabeth,and Robert); she died on April 8, 1862.

(1) Albert Sparks, son of Moses and Abigail (Redding) Sparks,was born on November 24, 1839, according to a biographical sketch of himappearing in the 1887 history of Huntington County cited earlier(pp.704-05). Amos Redding, mentioned above, however, gave his date ofbirth as December 24, 1838. He died on June 17, 1923. He was a farmer inRock Creek Township in Huntington County, having inherited the farm thathis father had purchased shortly before his death. A record of his lifeand children appeared in the QUARTERLY of December 1973, Whole No.84,pp.1601-03.

A photograph of Albert Sparks and his second wife, Martha (Roberts)Sparks, taken on their 50th wedding anniversary, appears on the cover ofthe December 1973 issue of the QUARTERLY, pg 1599.

(2) Mary Jane Sparks, born after her father had died, did notmarry, according to the records of Amos Redding.
**********

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 2781: Myrtle Sparks was married twice. Her first marriag ewas to a man named Lott; her second was to a man named Everetts.

.
!NOTES:
SQ pg 3944: Myrtle's mother, Polly Carpenter, was a widow with tw ochildren when she married Tillman Sparks. Myrtle's half-sisters we reTetsie Carpenter and Rhoda Carpenter.

!NOTES:
SQ 3795: Nancy Sparks, believed to have been a daughter of Willia mand Ann
Sparks, born ca. 1756. She was married to William Wilcockson (someti mes
spelled Wilcox and Wilcoxon). Shortly after he served as an executo r ofthe
estate of William Sparks, they moved to Green County, Kentucky, the n toBarren
County, Kentucky, where he died in 1828. Their children were:
(1) Thomas Wilcockson; (2) Daniel Wilcockson; (3) Mary ("Polly") Wilcockson.
She was married to John Masters; (4) George Wilcockson; (5) William Wilcockson,
Jr.; (6) Sarah ("Sally") Wilcockson. She was married to Horatio Shor t;(7)
Nancy Wilcockson. She was married to William Mann on April 4, 1808 ; (8)Rachel
Wilcockson. She was married to John Tibbs; (9) Martha ("Patsy") Wilcockson.
She was married to David Caldwell in 1810; (10) Isaac Wilcockson. H edied
before his father; (11) Catherine Wilcockson, born November 7, 1798 .She was
married to her first cousin William Wilcockson in 1818.

SQ 3795: Married to Alexander Smith in 1796.
**********
SQ p. 5355-6:

Nancy Sparks, eldest daughter of Matthew and Eunice Sparks, was bornabout 1777. She was
married to Alexander Smith in 1796. Their marriage bond in SurryCounty, North Carolina, was
dated July 22, 1796, with Joseph Smith serving as bondsman. We havenot succeeded in locating
any descendants of Nancy (Sparks) Smith, and cannot even be certainthat she had children.

As was noted on page 5346 of the present issue of the QUARTERLY,Matthew Sparks sold 100
acres of his land to Alexander Smith for 20 pounds in 1797. Thistract adjoined land owned by
Joseph Smith who, also in 1797, sold Alexander a portion of land(130 acres) that he owned
adjoining the land Alexander had purchased from his father-in-law.On October 9, 1801, Alexander
sold both of his tracts to Charles Worth for 115 pounds. Both Smithand Worth were identified in the
deed as being of Surry County. (Deed Book M, pp.64-65) The witnesseswere Tristram Coggshall,
John Whitlock, and Matthew Sparks. For some reason, this deed wasnot recorded officially until
August 3, 1808, when Matthew Sparks appeared before the Surry CountyCourt to swear that he
had witnessed his son- in-law sign it. This suggests that AlexanderSmith was no longer a resident
of Surry County in 1808; had he been, he would have been the one toacknowledge the deed's
validity before the Court.

Less than two weeks after Alexander Smith sold his land to CharlesWorth, Joseph Smith sold to
David Walker the remaining 117 acres that he had retained out of thetract from which he had sold
Alexander 130 acres in 1797. In this deed, dated October 20, 1801(Book K, p.79) Joseph Smith
was described as "of the County of Rowan." On October 2, 1802,"Joseph Smith of Rowan County"
sold to Charles Worth for 100 pounds, 200 acres near the land he hadsold to Walker in 1801. (Surry
Co. Deed Book L, p.14)

There seems little doubt that Alexander Smith had also moved toRowan County after selling his land in Surry County. In fact, onMay 24, 1800, Alexander had obtained from the state a grant of 118 acres in Rowan County "on Cabin Creek adjoining Elisha Shamwell, EbenezerParks, Anthony Peeler, and David Cox." Cabin Creek is located inthe part of Rowan County that was cut off to form DavidsonCounty in 1822. It flows into the Yadkin River about five miles abovethe south end of Davidson County. While we cannot be certain, it isprobable that Joseph Smith was a brother of Alexander; his marriagehad takenplace in 1791. Families named Smith are difficult to research,but, fortunately, the fore name "Alexander" was then fairly unusual.A possible clue for the identity of Alexander Smith is that in aRowan County will of a James Smith dated March 11, 1826, and probated inMay of the same year (Rowan Co. Will Book H,p.352) reference wasmade to James's "natural brothers: Luis Smith, Joseph Smith,Alexander Smith, and Thomas Smith." A tax list of Salisbury in RowanCounty (Capt. Jetter's Company) taken in 1823 includes the name"Alexander Smith" with one white poll (himself). (SeeRowanCountyRegister, August 1998, Vol. 13, p.3036)

There is also a will recorded in Rowan County for an Alexander J.Smith dated March 11, 1830, and
probated the following year. In his will this Alexander J. mentionedhis wife, Nancy, who was to serve
with Henry Smith as executors of his estate. He also mentionedhaving a share in the lands of Jacob
Hartman, deceased. There is no reference to children. Our onlyreason for believing that this might
have been the Alexander Smith who had been married to Nancy Sparksin 1796 is that, in his will, he
gave his wife's name as Nancy.

***********************

Continuation of Article on Matthew Sparks (page 5349) carried from notesfor Eunice Nicy:

"On January 12, 1807, Matthew Sparks purchased a remarkably small plot ofland comprising only five acres, for which he paid ten dollars. (DeedBook L, pp. 297-98) The deed traces this plot's ownership history fromthe time it had been granted to David Allen by the state on September 20,1779; then it was described as located near "a certain iron mine pit nearThomas Yates' house." What use had been made of it through the years isnot revealed. On January 23, 1811, Matthew sold it to his son, MatthewSparks, Jr., for five pounds. (Book 0, p.375)

The 1810 census again provides us with a glimpse of Matthew Sparks'shousehold. Again, only the head of each household was named on thiscensus; its members were then enumerated in the same form as in 1800.Matthew and Eunice were, as in 1800, the male and female shown as overthe age of 45. The two males living with them who were between 16 and 26were probably their sons, William D. and John. Matthew Sparks, Jr. hadbeen married to Sarah Elmore in 1808 and was shown on the 1810 census, ashead of his own household, which included his wife and two small sons.

As noted above, on the 1810 census Matthew Sparks was shown as thenowning one slave. From a bill of sale dated June 14, 1800, and recordedin Surry County's Will Book 2, p.50+, we know that this was the "Negrogirl, Tamer, aged five years" whom Matthew had purchased for $100 fromAaron Moore. The bill of sale was witnessed by Oby Martin and JamesSparks, brother of Matthew. It was unusual for a record of the purchaseof slaves to be recorded in Surry County, but for some reason a number ofsuch sales were copied in 1810. We may wonder why little Tamer's purchasewas recorded as well as what Matthew's reason may have been for acquiringa female slave only five years old. Aaron Moore lived in Stokes County,North Carolina; he owned one slave when the 1800 census was taken there.

On the Surry County tax list of 1815, Matthew was required to pay a polltax for two slaves, and in 1816 for three. Under a North Carolina lawthen in effect, all slaves, male and female, between the ages of 12 and50, were taxed as "Black Polls." As will be noted in Matthew's will andthe settlement of his estate, his total number of slaves was six in 1819.

It was on March 26, 1819, that Matthew Sparks made his will. He must haveknown that death was fast
approaching because two days earlier, on March 24, he signed deeds givingtracts of land to each of his five sons, "in consideration of the naturallove and affection that a parent hath towards a child," a phrase repeatedin each deed. Throughout the descriptions of the land in these deeds, hereferred to the North Branch of Hunting Creek simply as Hunting Creek.

To his son William D. Sparks (he called him simply William in the deed)he gave 70 acres that constituted the upper northwest corner of hisplantation, which was part of the tract on which his father had"squatted" in 1773. To his son Joel Sparks he gave 60 acres, being themiddle part of this original tract. Matthew Sparks, Jr. received 90 acresthat was largely part of Matthew's patent of 1800. To his son GeorgeSparks, Matthew gave 100 acres which was essentially the west half of the200-acre tract that he had purchased from Thomas Yates in 1780, includingthe grist- mill. To his youngest son, John Sparks, Matthew gave 50 acresconstituting the northeast corner of his plantation adjoining the 60-acretract given to Joel Sparks. According to Matthew's calculations, thesegifts to his sons left 352 acres that in his will were to be held andused by his wife, Eunice Sparks, throughout her lifetime.

We know that the four oldest sons of Matthew and Eunice were present whenthese deeds were drawn up by Thomas Wright, long a friend as well as thesheriff of Surry County. These four sons took turns witnessing eachother's deeds. John Sparks, the youngest son, was probably also present,but being then under the age of 21, he was too young to serve as awitness to a legal document.

Matthew Sparks died sometime between March 24, 1819, and the May 1819meeting of the Surry County Court in May 1819 when his will was enteredfor probate.

The will of Matthew Sparks was duly recorded in Surry County's Will Book3, pp. 140-41, but the original,
bearing Matthew's actual signature, has also been pre served at the NorthCarolina State Archives. Many years ago, William Perry John son obtaineda photostat copy of this original. Matthew's signature on his will isreproduced below from this negative photostat; the text of his willfollows on page.

Matthew Sparks's Last Will and Testament, March 26, 1819.

In the Name of God, Amen. I Matthew Sparks of the County of Surryand State of North Carolina
being weak in Body but of sound mind and Memory Blessed be God, dothis 26th day of March in
the year of Our Lord 1819 make and publish this my last will &testament in manner following, that is
to say --

First I lend unto my beloved Wife Nice Sparks, the whole of my tractof land & plantation, together
with my Household furniture & plantation Tools, the whole of mystock of Every description & two
stills, also three Negros to wit, Cate, Stephen & Joan during hernatural life -- after her decease the
said Estate above mentioned to be sold and equally divided among myChildren herein named, that
is to say, Joel, George, Matthew, William, John, Nancy Smith [and]Sally Bray -- At the same time
authorising my said wife in her lifetime, if she sees cause to giveunto my Daughter Peggy West, of
the above property put in her possession such sum or sums notExceeding one Hundred dollars at
her discretion. My will and desir [sic] is that the Ballance of mynegro property not already named
shall after my decease be sold and the proceeds of such sale to beEqually divided among my
Children Above named, to wit, Joel, George, Matthew, William, John,Nancy & Sally.

I make and Ordain my Sons Joel Sparks and Matthew Sparks Executorsof this my last Will and
testament, and I do hereby Revoke all other wills by me made andAcknowledge this only to be my
last will and Testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto sit[sic] my hand and seal the day and
date above written -- Signed, Sealed and Acknowledged in presence of--

[signed] T. Wright Jurat[Signed] Mathew Sparks Seal
" J. B. Hampton

The following statement was added at the end of the recorded copy of thisSurry County's Will Book 3,
pp.140-41:

State of North Carolina Surry County May Session 1819

Thomas Wright one of the subscribing Witnesses to the forgoing Lastwill and testiment of Matthew
Sparks Decd Made Oath in Open Court that he saw Matthew Sparks SignPublish and Declare the
same to be his last will and Testament that he was of sounddisposing mind and memory. That he
did it freely and without compulsion and that he saw John B. Hamptonat the same time, sign the
same as subscribing witness thereto whereupon it was ordered to berecorded. Recorded
accordingly.
(signed] Jo. Williams CC

In the minutes of the Surry County "P's & Q's" Court, the following entryappears for the session of the Court for May 12, 1819:

The last will & testament ot Matthew Sparks dec'd was duly proven in opencourt by the oath of Thomas B. Wright & ordered to be recorded. JoelSparks one of the executors therein named qualifyed agreeable to law.Matthew Sparks the other executor refuses to qualify and it is ordered tobe recorded.

Why Matthew Sparks, Jr. refused to be an executor with his brother in theprobat ing of their father's estate is not known. The Court did notappoint a replacement for him, and Joel acted as the sole executor. Inaccordance with the law, Joel proceeded to prepare an inventory of hisfather's estate, all of which his father's will had directed to beretained in his widow's possession for her natural lifetime. (As seen,Matthew had called Eunice by her nickname, "Nice," in his will)

Joel Sparks completed the inventory in time for it to be presented to theCounty Court when it met for its August 1819 session. During its meetingon August 11, 1819, the following entry was made in its minutes: "Aninventory of the estate & account of sales of Matthew Sparks dec'd wasreturned & ordered to be recorded." This document, in Joel Sparks's ownhandwriting, has been preserved. A copy was made by William Perry Johnson(one of the founders of the Sparks Family Association) with the followingnotation: "Transcribed at Dobson, Surry Co., N.C., August, 1952, Officeof Clerk of Court."

No better word-picture of Matthew and Eunice Sparks's living style couldbe found than this inventory of their possessions at the time ofMatthew's death in 1819. It is apparent from this that he was no longerin the milling business then. He was "well off" by the standards of thetime, and Eunice could be assured of a comfortable living during herwidowhood. Matthew owed no debts when he died. Four of his sons owed himmoney for which he held their notes. Three of his slaves were on loan,also, to sons Joel, William, and George; and in accordance with his will,they were now to be sold and the proceeds divided among his children(except his daughter (Peggy). Two neighbors owed him money: DanielWilcockson $41.00 for a desk and Joshua' Hendrick for a "yoke of steers"worth $25.56.

As has been noted, Matthew had made deeds of gift to each of his fivesons before making his will. As
calculated by Joel Sparks in preparing the inventory, "the land nowremaining" comprised 300 acres, to be managed by Eunice Sparks during herlife time. From his will and the inventory, we know not only the numberof slaves that Matthew owned when he died (six), but their names as well:Cate, Stephen, and Joan to be held by Eunice during her lifetime, andCaty, Fanny, and Judy on loan to sons. (Caty was also called "Cit," andFanny was called "Fann."

In presenting Joel Sparks's inventory of his father's possessions here,some punctuation has been added for the sake of clarity, but spelling hasnot been corrected.

The Inventory of Matthew Sparks's Estate

Land now remaining 300 [acres]
One neagro woman named Cate
One neagro boy named Steve
One neagro girll named Jin
Two Stills & 15 Stands & 2 barrels &
3 Caggs [kegs]
Four head of horses
17 head of Cattle
27 head of hogs
11 head of Sheep
1 Book Case & Desk
1 Crunk [trunk]
1 trumpetet [sic]
1 Candle stick
1 looking glass
15 pounds of taller
1 par of Stellards
3 iron pots & hooks
2 iron ovens and leads [lids]
3 Iron Skillets
1 Spice morter & pesel
1 tea kittle & lead [lid]
2 Smothing irons
2 tin buckets
6 tin Cups & 1 tin quart & 1 tin funnel
6 Earthen Crocks
3 Earthen Jugs
1 man Saddle & Saddle bags & one
woman Saddle
3 Bridles
2 flax wheales
1 cotton wheal
l3 par of Cardes
1 Check real
6 Chears [chairs]
1 hackle
1 meal Sifter
1 par of Spoon moles
1 iron Shovel
Some spun thread
2 Small sides of Tand leather
I raw hide
1 headed hoghead
1 Cors-Cut Saw
2 hands Saws
1 foot adds & iron Squar
3 Skraw Augurs
1 Iron potrack
1 par of Sheap Shears
1 larg hous bible
1 Small bible
1 hime Book
1 Book by the name of Wesleys
works
1 Shygar canester
2 water vesels in the hous
1 Churn
1 Sithe & Cradle
2 Sithe blades
1 Cutting box & nife
3 Chopping axes
2 mattucks
1 Sprowting hough
2 plouglis & 2 Cuters & 2 irond
swingel trees
3 weading

1 Chist (chest]
2 Firer locks & one Shot bag
3 Beds & stids & firniture
2 tables1 loom & 9 Slays [?]&
two par of harnis
16 puter plates
5 puter plates
8 puter basons
1 slate
1 lantern
1 par of Candle moles
2 iren wedges
1 par of iron Stretchers & one
1 log Chain
2 par of iron gears
1 iron frow
2 drawing nives
1 par of Comperseses [7]
1 long jointer & coopers adds
1 broad chizzel
4 reap hooks.
1 bar or iron
1 Ox carte
10 barrels of corn
7 bushels of wheat
200 pounds of bacon
1 Small Coberd
3 Small cobberd
3 Small tubes [tubs]
Som ry in a small tube
3 small firkins with som fat in
all of them
20 pounds of Coton
16 pounds of wool
4 bee hives
1 grindstone
1 half bushel
20 gallons of vineger
a small parcel of roted flax
1 note of hand on George Sparks for $42.94
1 note on Joel Sparks for $50
1 note on Joel Sparks for $20
1 Note on Matthew Sparks [Jr.] for $9
1 note on Wm. D. Sparkes for $24
Joel Sparks, one neagro girl named Caty $350
William Sparks, one neagro girl named Fanny $351
George Sparks, one neagro girl named Judy $280
These last three named neagro girls to be sold that ismenshend in the will Cit & Fann & Jude
Daniel Wllcockson to one Desk $41
Joshua Hendrick to one yoke of steers $25.56

Matthew Sparks's name had appeared on the annual tax lists of SurryCounty for the last time in 1818. More information was now recordedbecause of taxes being levied on the value of land in addition to thepoll tax Matthew's plantation was valued at $1,110 in 1818. As had beentrue since 1791, he was not taxed as a poll, but there were two Blackpolls (slaves) in his household for whom he was taxed.

As provided in his will, his wife, Eunice Sparks, was to possess whatremained of his plantation (350 acres), Matthew having given a portion ofit to each of his sons before he made his will. So it was that when the1819 tax lists were prepared for Surry County, "UnicySparks" was listed(in Capt. Denney's District) as a taxable landowner for 350 acres now inher name and valued at $700.00. A tract of land adjoining each taxpayerwas recorded in 1819--Peter Mock's 310 acres to the south adjoined bothEunice Sparks and the land Matthew had given his son, Matthew Sparks, Jr.As a white female, Eunice did not have to pay a poll tax, but she wastaxed for two "Black polls." The tax collected in Surry County in 1819was in accordance with the following Court order:

....eight cents on every hundred dollars value of land; eight centson every hundered dollars value of town property, and twenty five centson each and every white and black poll. [Also] to aid the funds alreadyprovided for erecting a jail, the sum of fifteen cents on every hundreddollars value of land, fifteen cents on every hundred dollars value oftown property, and thirty cents on every white and black poll.

A curious reference to Eunice Sparks was entered into the minutes ofSurry County's Court of "P's & Q's" during its August 1820 session, asfollows:

Ordered by the court that the sheriff be directed to summon a juryto inquire into the state of mind of Nicey Sparks & make report to nextcourt.

We can only guess the meaning of this order for there was no subsequentreference the matter. Was there the question in the all-male courtwhether an elderly woman was capable of managing a plantation? If thesheriff made such a report when the Court met the following February, nonote was made of it in the Court's minutes.

When the 1820 census was taken, "Unicyy Sparks" was shown as head of herhousehold consisting only of herself and her three slaves. She wasenumerated in the same "over 45" category as earlier.

The 1830 census provided for the enumeration of households in 13 agegroupings. On this census, Eunice Sparks was shown as between 70 and 80years old, thus born be tween 1750 and 1760. Living also in her householdin 1830 was a white male between 20 and 30, and two white females between30 and 40. We do not know who these individuals were. Eunice now ownedsix slaves according to the 1830 census, the increase in number probablyhaving resulted from children being born to one or both of her femaleslaves. The age categories for slaves differed from those of free whitepersons on census records. The six owned by Eunice in 1830 wereenumerated as follows:

1 female --- 36 to 55
1 male --- 24 to 36
1 female --- 10 to 24
2 males --- under 10
1 female --- under 10

Besides paying taxes, landowners were required on occasion to form a juryto survey the route for a new road; neighbors owning land through or nearwhich the road had been surveyed were then required to help build andmaintain it. A woman was not expected, of course, to perform this kind ofservice herself, but if she was a land owner, she was required to providea male substitute. During the August 1831 session of the Surry CountyCourt, it was determined that the road from the Wilkes County line to"Hendrick's Old Field" was in need of repair. Hiram Sales, a nearneighbor of Eunice, was appointed as overseer of the group of men whomthe Court ruled should contribute to this repair work. "Eunice Sparks'Stephen" appears in this list. Some have assumed that Stephen was a sonof Eunice, but it will be recalled that one of Matthew's slaves given toEunice for the period of her widowhood was named Stephen--it was he who"contributed" Eunice Sparks's share of labor for the road repair--he wasdoubtless the slave enumerated on the 1830 census as being in the 24 to36 age category.

Eunice Sparks's name, usually spelled "Unicy," continued to appear onSurry County's tax lists for nearly twenty years following her husband'sdeath. Her last entry was on the list for 1837, and in her place in 1838appeared "M. Sparks heirs." From this we know that Eunice died either inlate 1837 or early in 1838. She must have been over 80 years of age atthe time of her death. There was no probating of her estate because inMatthew Sparks's will in 1819 he had stated:
"First I lend unto my beloved Wife Nice Sparks the whole of my tract ofland & plantation.. .after her decease the said Estate.. .to be sold andequally divided among my Children herein named..."
On May 28, 1839, Joel Sparks, "Exr. (Executor] of Mathew Sparks, Senr.Decd." sold to Miles Wells the land on which Joel's mother had continuedto live following her husband's death in 1819. Both Joel Sparks and MilesWells were identified in the deed (see Surry Co. Deed Book 3, pp.11-12)as residents of Surry County. Wells paid Joel Sparks, in his role asexecutor of his father's estate, "Seven Hundred dollars Cash in hand" forwhat was described as 352 acres. The lengthy description of this tractbegins: "... at a double white oak running thence South Sixty four polesto an old stump in the edge of the public road...." This was the roadpassing through Matthew Sparks's land that had been surveyed by the roadjury on which Matthew had served in 1791 and for the building of which hehad been appointed overseer. As noted above, the slave named Stephenlater helped to repair the road on which his master had helped to buildsome twenty years before.

Miles Wells continued to own this land until his death in 1849. In hiswill dated July 25, 1849, he referred to his "Mat. Sparks tract of land."

Matthew and Eunice Sparks were the parents of eight children who lived toreach adulthood. Census records suggest that there may have been a son,possibly two, who died in childhood, but we have found no other record tosuggest this. There can be no doubt that their first three children weredaughters named Nancy, Margaret (called Peggy), and Sarah (called Sally).The births of five sons followed those of the three daughters; they werenamed in Matthew's will in the order of their births: Joel, George,Matthew, Jr., Wiffiam D., and John. In future issues of the QUARTERLY wewill publish in detail the information that we have on these sons andtheir descendants, but here we note only basic information.

The dates of the marriage bonds of some of the children of Matthew andEunice help to determine their
probable dates of birth. For detailed information about marriage bonds,the reader may wish to read an article written by William Perry Johnsonfor the SPARKS QUARTERLY of December 1954, Whole No.8. Briefly stated,the marriage bond law in North Carolina was in effect from 1741 until1868. Under this law, the clerk of the County Court was required tomaintain a register of each marriage license that he issued along with arecord of the marriage bond that enabled him to issue the license. Toobtain a marriage bond, the prospective groom was required to provide abond "with sufficient security." Initially, the bond was to be in theamount of $250; later it was increased to $500, then to $2,500, and after1837 it was set at$1,000.; In obtaining the bond, the groom guaranteedthat both he and his bride were legally free to marry, i.e. that theywere both white and of legal age to marry (or, if under age, had writtenpermission from a parent or guardian), and were both single. It was notsufficient for the groom to be his own bondsman--an adult male withproperty was required to required to fill this role--usually a closerelative of either the groom or the bride, or a near neighbor.

The marriage ceremony could take place at any time after the issuance ofthe license. Rarely do we have the exact date. If the groom could find noone able or willing to serve as bondsman, the couple could be married bythe "crying of the banns." This required that a public announcement ofthe intended union be made in church on three successive Sundays or beposted for the same period in public view, such as on the door of thecourthouse. No license was involved in this type of marriage, nor was anyofficial record made of its occurrence."

[Note: Here ends the article on Matthew Sparks. Information on theirchildren can be found under their notes.]

THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, March 1994, Whole No. 165, p. 4274 states:
" Nancy Sparks, daughter of James Sparks, was born about 1794,probably in North Carolina, although her birthplace was given as Virginiaon the 1860 census of Johnson County, Kentucky. She married JoshuaPennington in 1815 in Lee County, Virginia. He was born about 1790 inVirginia. It seems quite probable that Joshua and Nancy followed herfather to eastern Kentucky where they settled in that part of FloydCounty which became a part of Johnson County in 1843. It was there thatNancy died on March 15, 1878. According to her death record, she was 87years old.
"In all probability, Joshua and Nancy (Sparks) Pennington, had eightchildren, or perhaps more. We have been able to make positiveidentification of only four of them, but have included three others inthe following list whom we believe were probably theirs. (Here provides7 names and info for which see notes under respective names.)

!NOTES:
SQ pg. 8O1: "Nancy Sparks, daughter of William Sparks. She marrie dWilliam
Griggs or Greggs, in Jefferson County, Kentucky, on August 1, 1822 . Inthe
settlement of the estate of her brother Hampton in 1865, reference wa smade to
Nancy Grigg's heirs. This was probably the Wiley and Nancy Griggs wh owere
living in Hardeman County, Tennessee, in 185O. (His age was given a s53, hers
as 45, and the birth place of each was given as North Carolina.) Livi ngwith
them was E. H. Sparks, aged 24, born in Tennessee, and by professio n a"clerk".
He was probably a nephew of Mary."

.

!NOTES:
See SPARKS QUARTERLY, p. 4270: "A daughter whom we have been unabl e to
identify was born about 1805. She may have been the Nancy Sparks, bo rn
1800-10, listed on the 1830 census of Lee County, Virginia."

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, September, 1997, Whole No. 179, p 4858-9:
"Nancy Sparks, daughter of Robert (Pigg) Sparks, was born about 1809in North Carolina. She accompanied her brothers to Kentucky and it wasthere, on February 19, 1830, that she was married to Martin Ison inMorgan County. He had been born in Washington County, Virginia, about1804, and was a son of Archibald and Mary (Gilliam) Ison. He was abrother of Ira Ison who was married to Loucina Sparks in 1833.
"Martin and Nancy (Sparks) Ison lived near Newcombe on Ison Creek inpresent- day Elliott County. We have found no records of their deaths,which apparently came to Martin about 1850 and to Nancy sometime after1880. They had eight children."

!NOTES:
SQ 101: "Nancy Sparks, born about 1820; married Meredith Lyon." (T hisspouse
is same name as spouse of Nancy's sister Melinda (832)--must be error)

SQ 3206: "Nancy Sparks, youngest child of John and Elizabeth (Rose)Sparks, was born on April 27, 1824, probably in Wilkes County, NorthCarolina. (The 1850 census of Wilkes County has her birthplace as AsheCounty.) She married Robert Bauguess, Jr., probably about 1846. He hadbeen born on December 23, 1823, and was a son of Robert and Mary (Sparks)Bauguess ; Mary was a daughter of John and Sarah (Shores) Sparks; see pg.101 of the December 1955 issue of the SQ, Whole No. 12.) Robert andNancy (Sparks) Bauguess were listed on the 1850 census of Wilkes County.Both were 23 years of age according to this census, and with them was aone-year old girl, Mary Bauguess. Nancy died on March 22, 1897, and wasburied in the Old Roaring River Baptist Church Cemetery at Traphill,North Carolina. Robert died on June 26, 1914, and was buried beside hiswife Nancy."

See the SPARKS QUARTERLY, p. 886 for the following marriage informationfrom Lawrence County, Kentucky, Marriage Bonds (1822- 1865):
Nancy Sparks & John Hutchison, March 21, 1847. (Book II, p. 112)Consent of her father, George Sparks. His father, Peter Hutchison.Married by William Barker. Witnesses: William Green & James Mason.

See the SPARKS QUARTERLY, p. 886 for the following marriage informationfrom Lawrence County, Kentucky, Marriage Bonds (1822- 1865):
Nancy Sparks & Nelson White, January 8, 1857. (Book II, p. 106)

SQ pp 4862-3"

"Nancy Sparks, daughter of Bill and Polly (Lyon) Sparks, was born onMay 18, 1834. She may have been named for her father's sister, Nancy(Sparks) Ison. On January 8, 1857, she was married to Nelson T. White inLawrence County. He had been born on October 4, 1831, in Virginia, andwas a son of James Claiborne and Susan (Green) White. He served in the68th Regiment Kentucky Militia of the Union Army during the Civil War.He and Nancy lived on White Creek (sometimes referred to as WhitesCreek), a tributary of Little Fork. Nancy died there on January 18,1908, and Nelson died there on August 29, 1912. They were buried in theWhite Cemetery on White Creek. They had eight children."

SQ p4852:
1. Nancy Sparks, daughter of Wes and Nancy (Kozee) Sparks, was bornabout 1836 in Lawrence County. She was married to Daniel Stephens, a sonof Thomas Stephens. We have no further information about this couple.

The 1850 census for Lawrence County, KY, does not show a NancySparks but does show a Mary Sparks, age 14 indicating a birth date about1836.

SQ 3187:

"Nancy Sparks, daughter of Solomon and Malinda (Caudill ) Sparks wasborn about 1836 in Wilkes County, North Carolina. She married Jesse N.King in 1854, and they had at least three children:

John S. King,
William J. King
Mary King."

SQ 3864: Nancy "Nan" Sparks was born in May 1867. She was married to
Lincoln Sparks about 1886. (They were first cousins. Lincolns fatherSamuel
(955) and Nancy's mother Dianna (958) were brother and sister. Dianna was
married to Thomas (212) who was her 2nd cousin, both having the samegreat-
grandfather, William IV (199).

SQ 3184: "Nancy Alice Sparks was born on September 24, 1880. She wasmarried to Linton Henry Roberts on August 15, 1900. He had been born onSeptember 13, 1879, in Dallas Center, Iowa. Nancy died on June 26, 1964,at Clarinda, Iowa, and was buried in the Old Memory Cemetary. Lintondied on January 20, 1968 and was buried beside his wife."

See the SPARKS QUARTERLY, p. 886 for the following marriage informationfrom Lawrence County, Kentucky, Marriage Bonds (1822- 1865):
Nancy Sparks & Isaac Lester, February 4, 1858. (Book II, p. 121) He bornin Tazewell County, Virginia, age 20 years. She 20 years old. Married athome of Garrett Sparks by Enoch Green, Baptist minister. Witnesses: R. R.Sparks & William Lyon.

SQ p. 4642:

"Nancy Artha Sparks, daughter of Garrett and Betsy (Boggs) Sparks, wasborn on June 7, 1837, in Lawrence County, Kentucky, and it was there thatshe was married to Isaac Lester on February 4, 1858. He had been born onSeptember 20, 1837, at Tazewell County, Virginia, and was a son ofWilliam and Rutha (Bishop) Lester, natives of Virginia. Isaac and Nancylived on the Raccoon Branch of Hood Creek. They had three children whenIsaac enlisted in the 68th Regiment Kentucky Infantry of the Union Armyon May 21, 1864. Many years later, he applied for an Invalid Pension forhis military service. It is from the materials in his pension file thatwe have learned a great deal about him and his family.

"Isaac Lester was an avid hunter and was accidentally shot and killedby his son, Lantford Lester, while they were squirrel hunting inPocahontas County, West Virginia. He died on October 12, 1908, and hisbody was brought back to Lawrence County. He was buried in theBishop-Lester Cemetery near Wilbur, Kentucky. Nancy died in 1914 and wasburied beside her husband. They had six children."

SQ p. 4641:

"Nancy Bell Sparks was born on December 27, 1876. She died ininfancy."

SQ p. 3631:

"...They were buried in the Larkin Cemetery near Bold Springs,Tennessee. They had at least two children."

On Jan 20, 2002 I received an email from Donald L. Smith(ndsmith@@imf.net), a grandson of Annie Ophelia Ayers Larkin, who was adaughter of Nancy Sparks Ayers. He furnished the names of the fourchildren of John and Nancy. He stated that someone earlier haderroneously changed the given name of his greatgrandfather from John toJames.

SQ p 3903: "Nancy Emeline Sparks, daughter of Matthew and Alsey (Osburn) Sparks, was born about 1850. She was married to William J.McKenzi e on Christmas Day 1873."

See SQ p. 232 for birth information.

See SQ p. 817 for marriage information.

SQ pg 2633: She was married four times. Her first marriage ended indivorce after only three weeks. She was married (2nd) to William E.Murphy. Following his death she married a man, name not known , who diedabout a year later. Her 4th husband was Walter Bailey. She had nochildren.

SQ pg 2749:

"Nancy J. "Maria" Sparks, daughter of James Hawkins and Elizabeth(McKnight) Sparks, was born about 1848. She was married twice. Her firstmarriage was to a man named Williams by whom she had three children:Durward Williams, Elizabeth Williams, and Edgar Williams . She married(2nd) W. M. ("Jim") Cobb."

SQ 3865: Nancy J. Sparks was born on April 20, 1855. She was marriedto William DeHart on December 11, 1878, in Elliott County, KY.

Information on the ancestors of James William Dehart and of thedescendants of James William and Nancy (Sparks) Dehard was received fromMargaret Ann Susan DeHart of Clifford DeHart of Benjamin Harrison DeHartof James William DeHart in December, 2000 via email.

!NOTES:
SQ 3866: Nancy J. Sparks was born in May 1866. She was married t oWilliam
Jesse Lemaster on March 9, 1883. He had been born in April 1862 an d wasa son
of Daniel Phillip and Phoebe (Bayes) Lemaster. William and Nancy ha d atleast
four children: Stelle, Linda, Genoa and Daniel.

See SQ p. 333 for birth information.

SQ 3861: Nancy Jane Sparks was born on September 15, 1853. She wasmarried to Reuben Phillips.

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, June 1969, Whole No 66, p. 1245:

DEATH TAKES NANCY JANE SPARKSSCAGGS

"We learned recently that on June 5,, 1968, death claimed anothermember of The Sparks Family Association, Mrs. Nancy Jane Sparks Scaggs.Mrs. Scaggs was a daughter of Levi Hansford and Nancy (Lawson) Sparks andwas born in Elliott County, Kentucky, on March 9, 1878. She was unitedin marriage to William Scaggs on May 20, 1897. To this union were born:Eva, Estill, Cecil, Joseph, Alma Lee, Nellie, Earnest, and Charlie. Mrs,Seaggs's paternal grandparents were George and Nancy (Short) Sparks. (Seethe December 1956 issue of the QUARTERLY, Vol. III, No. 4, Whole No.12., page 102.)"

Nancy ["Nannie"] Jane Sparks was born on September 8, 1885. She wasmarried to Lyon, and they lived at Blakeley, West Virginia