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Hi Mike,
I believe we are from the same Sparks line. My Mother has some pages of info on her Mother's Sparks line. Sadly we don't know the source of the information. I don't know if it came from a book, some kind of gene publication etc. but it was sent to my Grandmother by a relative years ago.
From here on I'm copying this and if anyone recognizes this research I'd love to know so I can give them credit for their research!
Sparks Family
1685 or 1695 and carried thru to the present.
Simon Sparks, an immigrant from England or Ireland, was born sometime between 1685 and 1695. He had a brother Henry.
Simon Sparks settled in New Jersey sometime before 1739. A Sparks was said to be at Jamestown when colonists settled there, but can't be sure who it was.
On March 4, 1778, Simon Sparks made his will which was entered for probate on March 28, 1779. He was described as of "Deptford Township, Gloucester Co., New Jersey". He left his plantation upon which he lived to his wife Jane -- until such a time as his son Henry, became 21. His other children were:
John, Richard, Thomas, Robert, Elizabeth, Agnes, Mary.
In Middlesex Co., New Jersey and Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania Richard Sparks born 1720 died 1800 - must have been Simon's son, Richard.
The earliest record of a Richard Sparks in New Jersey is dated June 3, 1739; on which date, Simon Sparks, Thomas Sparks, Richard Sparks, William Weatherby and Nathanial Box witnessed the will of John Bradway of Alleways Creek Precinct, Salem Co., New Jersey.
The Richard Sparks is known to have been a son of Simon Sparks. He married Elizabeth Weatherby, daughter of William Weatherby, about 1740. It appears that he continued to live in Deptford Township, Gloucestor Co. for a number of years. He seems to have been called upon to witness wills or take inventory of estates quite often.
In 1763 he was a resident of Salem Co., New Jersey. The name Richard Sparks appears in a number of Salem Co. records during the 1790's, but we cannot be sure whether it was this elder Richard, son of Simon, or the younger Richard, son of Thomas who was the elder Richard's brother.
A Richard Sparks died in Salem Co., in 1800 and this must have been the elder Richard, son of Simon. He did not leave a will, so on April 5, 1800, Ann Sparks was appointed administrator of this estate. If this was the elder Richard, son of Simon, as we believe, he must have been married twice for Ann Sparks was his widow.
Five sons of elder Richard have been identified:
James, born early 1750's
Benjamin 1754
Richard Jr. abt 1757
Walter abt 1760
Daniel abt 1763
There were probably daughters but their names have not been found.
James, eldest son, (Mike your line) applied for Revolutionary War Pension in 1832. He stated he was born near the village of Cranberry, New Jersey.
Richard Jr.,(Mike this is my line)third son - stolen by Shaunee Indians between 1763 and 1765. Raised as an Indian as adopted son of Chief Pukeesheno, father of the famous Tecumseh. Richard Jr. was married to Frances Nash. (There is a whole story about his life that my Mom has, it's really interesting)
When the first federal census of 1790 was taken, Richard, the elder, was listed as well as two of his sons, Richard Jr. and Benjamin.
Listed as follows:
In 1790
Richard Sparks - 1 free white male over 16 (himself), 0 free white male under 16, 4 females, all ages.
Richard Sparks - 2 free white males over 16 (one himself),
0free white males under 16, 5 females, all ages
Benjamin Sparks - 1 free white male over 16 (himself),
3 free white males under 16, 2 females, all ages.
The other sons, James, Walter and Daniel had gone to Kentucky.
The census taker did not say which Richard was the father. There is no record of the elder Richard Sparks after 1791; there is strong reason to believe that he died in 1791 or 1792. The last reference to a Richard Sparks in New Jersey is his subscription of 3 pounds on February 6, 1758, towards the building of the Parsonage of the Presbyterian Church in the village of Cranberry in Middlesex Co., N.J. on King George's Road. He probably belonged to this church, but very few early records survive.
The exact whereabouts of the Richard Sparks family between 1758 in New Jersey and 1773, our first written reference to him in Pennsylvania is sort of a mystery. We do know that early in the 1760's the family was living somewhere on western frontier in an area frequented by the Shauneee Indians, for it was there that a very young son, 3 or 4 years old, was stolen by Indians, the Shaunee, between 1763 and 1765. He was adopted by Chief Pukeesheno, father of the famous Tecumseh, until they were defeated in October, 1774, at the battle of Point Pleasant, after which they were forced to give up their captives. Richard's family came to claim him but he didn't know them and didn't want to go with them. His mother recognized him by a birth mark. He retained many of his Indian habits for many years, but eventually joined the Army and rose to the rank of Colonel.
By 1783, the Jersey settlement had become, under Pennsylbania law, a part of Rostraver Township in Westmoreland County. The tax list for 1783, contained names of 3 members of Sparks families.
Well, Mike that's the three pages I have copies of but my Mom may still have the rest of the copies that were sent to my Grandma (deceased). Years ago I borrowed some of the other info and typed it into my family tree which I still have.
If any Sparks researchers can verify or point out errors in this research I'd really love to hear from any of you!
Thanks,
Marsha
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