My Grandmorher Minty Waller

1.2.5.1.2.1.7.6.4 Minty Ellen Sparks, daughter of Fred and Catherine (Kegley) Sparks, was born on November 10, 1881, in Elliott County. She was married at her parents' home to James Henry Waller on April 17, 1901, by Elliott Rice. James was born on June 29, 1881, in Greenup County. He died on December 13, 1958, and Minta Ellen died on July 11, 1961. They were buried in Boyd County. They had twelve children.

1.2.5.1.2.1.7.6.4.1 William James Waller was born April 9, 1902, in Greenup County. He died on December 15, 1944.

1.2.5.1.2.1.7.6.4.2 Minty Ann Waller was born February 27, 1904.

1.2.5.1.2.1.7.6.4.3 Allen Arnold Waller was born March 30, 1905. He died on April 2, 1963, in Boyd County.

1.2.5.1.2.1.7.6.4.4 Mary Ellen Waller was born April 13, 1907. She married William White.

1.2.5.1.2.1.7.6.4.5 Elzie Roy Waller was born July 27, 1909. He married Gladys Stambaugh.

1.2.5.1.2.1.7.6.4.6 Ruby Lee Waller was born June 15, 1911. She married Orville Potts.

1.2.5.1.2.1.7.6.4.7 Clifton Edward Waller was born August 17, 1913. He married Irene Lowe on August 10, 1940. She was born April 22, 1922. She and Clifton had three children:

1.2.5.1.2.1.7.6.4.7.1 Gerald Waller,
1.2.5.1.2.1.7.6.4.7.2 Billy Ray Waller, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.7.6.4.7.3 Jeffrey Waller.

1.2.5.1.2.1.7.6.4.8 Verna Elberta Waller was born August 15, 1915. She married Arthur Daniels.

1.2.5.1.2.1.7.6.4.9 Lloyd Ishmael Waller was born January 18, 1918, in Boyd County. He married Roberta Lowe.

1.2.5.1.2.1.7.6.4.10 Helen Louise Waller was born May 2, 1920. She married Fred Jasper Bayless on January 6, 1940, in Boyd County. He was born March 17, 1918. He and Helen had four children:

1.2.5.1.2.1.7.6.4.10.1 Gary Bayless,
1.2.5.1.2.1.7.6.4.10.2 Nancy Bayless,
1.2.5.1.2.1.7.6.4.10.3 Lynda Bayless, and
1.2.5.1.2.1.7.6.4.10.4 Cody Bayless.

1.2.5.1.2.1.7.6.4.11 Delilah Frances Waller was born April 10, 1922. She married James H. Lawson.

1.2.5.1.2.1.7.6.4.12 Dorothy Catherine Waller was born May 4, 1924. She married Arnold G. Tufts, and they live in Alaska.

MY great grandfather

1.2.5.1.2.1.7.6 Frederick ["Fred"] Mauk Sparks, son of Nelson and Peggy (Mauk) Sparks, was born on May 1, 1853, in Carter County. On January 21, 1875, he married Elizabeth Catherine Kegley in Elliott County. It was the first marriage for both. Catherine (as she was called) was born April 20, 1855, in Wythe County, Virginia, and was a daughter of Joel and Delilah (Hounshel) Kegley, natives of Wythe County. When the 1880 census was taken of Elliott County, Fred and Catherine were shown as having three children, two sons and one daughter.

Sometime in the 1890s, Fred Sparks joined the Christian Church, probably during a revival meeting, and his wife persuaded him to leave Elliott County and the temptations set before him by his friends and drinking companions. Accordingly, in 1897, he bought land at Rice, Kentucky, in Greenup County. (The post office no longer exists.) There he built a log house, and in the late fall he moved his family from Gimlet, Kentucky, to the newly-built home. It was there, on November 2, 1897, that the picture was taken of the entire family which is reproduced below.

THE FAMILY OF FRED & CATHERINE SPARKS

Back row, left to right:	William Nelson Sparks, Joel Washington Sparks, and James Alpha Musser (husband of Laura).
3rd row, left to right:	Elizabeth Ann Sparks, Minty Ellen Sparks, and Laura Belle Sparks.
2nd row, left to right:	Mary Frances Sparks and Lucy Lavinia Sparks.
Front row, left to right:	Delilah Margaret Sparks, Frederick Mauk Sparks, Elizabeth Catherine (Kegley) Sparks, and Sarah Jane Sparks

(Picture)

Frederick Mauk Sparks was a good man in every sense of the phrase. An interesting biographical account of him was written by a granddaughter, Anna Musser Bradley, and she has given us permission to use it here. She wrote:

All I know of Grandpa Sparks is what my mother and her two younger sisters told me and, naturally, they praised him highly. He died when I was just a year old. He was converted during a revival meeting in Elliott County, shortly after his marriage, and he joined the Christian Church before he moved to Greenup County. Ultimately, he was ordained a minister of the Christian Church, and it is told that he preached sermons in the grove near the Sparks Cemetery. This area is now called Happy Ridge because the Sparks family sang the oldtime gospel songs with such a fine spirit that the neighbors would gather in and sing and rejoice with them.

Grandpa was an industrious farmer, and he planted an orchard. He also could do all sorts of handy work and had a blacksmith shop. He kept seasoned hand-planed walnut boards in the loft of the shop which he used to make homemade coffins, and Grandma kept suitable cloth materials to cover, pad, line, and decorate the coffins for friends, neighbors, and relatives.

Grandpa also donated land for a cemetery. He was a good hand to wait on the sick and help the needy, and he was a good father as well. His grave was the second one prepared in the cemetery for which he gave land. He died on May 20, 1906, just a few days after he reached his 53rd birthday.

After the death of her husband, Catherine Sparks continued to live at Happy Ridge. Most of her children were married, or would soon marry, with families of their own, but she and the youngest children kept the home place together. She survived her husband for over forty years, dying on December 23, 1946. She was buried beside him in the Sparks Cemetery at Happy Ridge. She and Fred had eleven children, including an unnamed daughter who died at birth.

Jonas Sparks Daniel Boone

Whole Number 45

1.2.5.6 JONAS SPARKS (DIED 1805)
OF ROWAN COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
AND HIS DESCENDANTS

by Russell E.

---

---

(Compiler's Note: A number of people have contributed valuable information for the preparation of this sketch. William P. Johnson has done extensive research in North Carolina, while Paul E. Sparks has searched many Kentucky records. Louise Jones of Salt Lake City, Utah, a descendant of Jonas Sparks through his son David, has helped immeasurably; among her contributions has been the portrait of Mary Sparks Hunter, daughter of David. Helen Sparks of Los Angeles and Col. Leonard C. Sparks of Washington, D.C., both descendants of Jonas' grandson, Cornelius Sparks, have contributed valuable data and very kindly read and corrected the manuscript for this sketch.)

1.2.5.6 Jonas Sparks was a resident of Rowan County, North Carolina, from ca. 1760 until his death in 1805. He lived in that portion of Rowan County that became Davie County in 1836, often referred to in early records as 'the forks of the Yadkin,' about ten miles from Salisbury. Jonas Sparks was, in all probability, closely related to 1.2.5.1 Solomon Sparks, 1.2.1.2.2 Matthew Sparks, and 1.2.1.2 William Sample Sparks who moved from Frederick County, Maryland, to Rowan County, North Carolina, in the late 1750's and early 1760's.

We have not been able to determine exact birth dates for any of these Sparks pioneers, but judging from the birth dates of their children, it appears that all four were born between 1725 and 1740. We are certain that William Sample Sparks was a son of 1.2.5 Joseph Sparks, whose wife's name was Mary and who died in Frederick County, Maryland, in 1749.

[NOTE: We now know that 1.2.1.2 William Sample Sparks was a nephew of this 1.2.5 Joseph Sparks, his father, 1.2.1 William Sparks, Jr., being a brother of 1.2.5 Joseph Sparks.

We now know also that Jonas Sparks, who died in Rowan County, North Carolina, in 1805, was a son of Joseph Sparks (died 1749). Thus, 1.2.5.6 Jonas Sparks and 1.2.1.2 William Sample Sparks were first cousins, although William Sample Sparks was about a generation older than Jonas.]

1.2.5 Joseph Sparks did not leave a will and his widow, Mary Sparks, was appointed administratrix. The inventory of his estate was taken on May 1, 1749. William Sample Sparks and Rachel Sparks signed this inventory as kinsmen. It seems probable because of the close association of Solomon Sparks, Matthew Sparks, William Sample Sparks, and Jonas Sparks after they came to North Carolina that they were all brothers, or at least closely related. A son of Matthew Sparks, who made application for a pension for his service in the Revolution, referred to his Uncle James Sparks--probably still another brother of the four just named. (See the Quarterly of June, 1961, Whole No. 34, pp. 556-566, for data on Matthew Sparks, and the Quarterly of December, 1955, Whole No. 12, pp. 97-98, for data on Solomon Sparks.

Our earliest record of Jonas Sparks in Rowan County is the tax list of 1761--in Caleb Osborn's District the name of Jonas Sparks appears along with that of Matthew Sparks and Solomon Sparks.

The earliest record of Jonas Sparks acquiring land in Rowan County is a deed dated January 1, 1763, by which he purchased for 20 pounds a tract of 130 3/4 acres from Solomon Sparks. (See Rowan County Deed Book 5, p. 275.) This was the lower portion of a 290-acre tract of 'vacant land' which Solomon Sparks had purchased on August 28, 1762, from the Right Honorable John Earl Granville. (Rowan County Deed Book 5, p. 228.) This land was located, according to the description in the deeds, on the south side of the Yadkin River just opposite the point at which Muddy Creek flows into the Yadkin. On the same date that Solomon Sparks sold this portion of his tract to Jonas Sparks, he sold the remaining 159 1/4 acres to Valentine Vanhouser. In 1761, Solomon Sparks had purchased a tract of 250 acres on the south side of the Yadkin (Rowan County Deed Book 4, p. 389) immediately below the mouth of Muddy Creek, and it was on this tract that Solomon lived for a number of years before moving to what is now Yadkin County, then a part of Surry County, North Carolina. Thus, Jonas and Solomon lived on adjoining land for several years after 1763.

In 1764, Jonas Sparks served on a jury in Rowan County, as did also Solomon Sparks and William Sample Sparks.

Whether Jonas Sparks was married when he came to North Carolina, we have not been able to determine, nor do we know the date of birth of his oldest child. We know that his daughter Elizabeth Sparks was born in 1765. It is possible that she was the oldest of his children. No record of the name of the wife of Jonas Sparks has been found. He married a second time in 1786, but it was his unknown first wife who was the mother of his children.

A few years before the Sparkses moved from Maryland to North Carolina, a family that was later to become famous in American history had settled along the Yadkin River. This was the Boone family, Squire Boone, father of Daniel, having moved there with his family from Pennsylvania in May, 1750. Another prominent family that had preceded the Sparkses to the Yadkin River was that of Morgan Bryan who had moved there from Virginia in 1748. (Daniel Boone, the famous frontiersman, married Rebecca Bryan, daughter of Morgan Bryan, in 1755.) [NOTE: Rebecca Bryan was not a daughter of Morgan Bryan but was a daughter of Joseph Bryan who was a son of Morgan Bryan. See SQ p. 3885.]

These three families, the Boones, the Bryans, and the Sparkses, became close friends, and on September 25, 1773, members of all three of these families set out to find a new home in the wilderness of what is now Kentucky. Daniel Boone had spent two years exploring (from May, 1769, to March, 1771) and, according to his autobiography which he wrote with the aid of John Filson in 1784, when he returned home he was 'determined to bring them [his family] as soon as possible at the risk of my life and fortune, to reside in Kentucke, which I esteemed a second paradise.' He then relates that he sold his farm on the Yadkin 'and what goods we could not carry with Us; and on the 25th of September 1773, we bade farewell to our friends and proceeded on our journey to Kentucke, in company with five more families .' The other five families were those of his brother, Squire Boone, Jr., James, Morgan, Jr., and William Bryan (all brothers), and Jonas Sparks. Each of these men was accompanied by his wife and several children, some of whom were approaching maturity. According to Dr. J. Bryan, whose article on this migration was reprinted in the Quarterly of September, 1953 (pp. 13-16, Whole Number 3), enough of the sons were old enough to carry rifles so that there was a total of some twenty armed men. The path followed by this emigration party has become known in American history as the Wilderness Trail.

When they reached Powell's Valley, which is located near the present border between Western Virginia and Tennessee, they were joined by five other families, including forty well-armed men. The following description of the events which followed is taken from Dr. Bryan's article: 'The daily order of march was for the armed men to take the lead, then came the women and children on horseback, then the cattle and young stock driven by the older boys and young men, who thus brought up the rear, and acted as a rear guard. In this order, they took their daily march, and proceeded without incident worthy of note until October 10th, when they were crossing Powell's River for the last time, as they approached 'Cumberland Gap.' While moving, the cavalcade would stretch out on the road for a mile or so. The armed men had forded the river and were halted and formed in line to proteot the company, expecting attack, if at all, from the front. While the main force were thus on guard, other men were helping the women and children to ford the river. The time consumed in fording the river had brought the rear guard up to within half a mile or less cf the river. While some of the women and children were still in the midst of the stream, the entire company was startled by a sudden and heavy fireing in the rear Some of the armed men hastily mounted and rushed back across the river, and as they got fairly on the bank, met one of the young men, wounded, dashing up, who reported that they had been fired on from ambush. The men soon came upon the indians, and after a sharp fight, drove them off, to find the other six young men dead. All had received fatal wounds at the first fire, showing the Indians had lain in the thicket at the roadside, and, as the company was too strong for them, they had allowed the cavalcade to pass by, but when the seven young men came up, it was too tempting for Indian enmity to resist. They evidently each picked his man, took deliberate aim, and but one, sent their bullets but too true, killing outright the six and wounding the seventh.'

According to Dr. Bryan, Elizabeth Sparks, daughter of Jonas, who was then about nine years old, was one of those 'still in the midst of the stream' when the attack was made. She 'was riding a gentle horse and carrying a baby brother before her.'

One of the six young men killed was Daniel Boone's eldest son, James. After burying their dead, the group decided not to proceed any further until Spring. In his autobiography, Boone stated: 'Though we repulsed the enemy, yet this unhappy affair scattered our cattle, brought us into extreme difficulty, and so discouraged the whole company, that we retreated forty miles to the settlement on the Clench River. We had passed over two mountains, Powell's and Walden's, and were approaching Cumberland Mountain, when this adverse fortune overtook us.'

An Indian war now broke out, known as Lord Dunmore's War, and the emigrants remained in their settlement on the Clinch River for two years. During this time, Daniel Boone served the government of Virginia in various ways, including the building of a fort on the Kentucky River which was called Boonesborough. Finally, on June 14, 1775, he returned to his family and led those who wished to continue to Kentucky to the new fort.

Jonas Sparks did not remain in Kentucky, but sometime prior to 1778 he returned with his family to their old home on the Yadkin. Several members of the Bryan family also returned to Rowan County. In 1778, Jonas Sparks was taxed in Rowan County on property valued at 4 pounds, 3 shillings and 6 pence. He moved back on the farm that he had purchased originally from Solomon Sparks and did not acquire additional land for a number of years. In 1784, for example, he was taxed 17 shillings on this farm of slightly over 130 acres.

Sometime prior to 1786, 1.2.5.6 Jonas Sparks' first wife died. Possibly she died in Kentucky before the family returned to North Carolina. On September 5, 1786, Jonas Sparks obtained a marriage bond in Rowan County to marry Mary Eakle. The bond was signed by Peter Little, while Hugh Magoune signed as witness. Mary Eakle had been twice a widow when she married Jonas Sparks. Her first husband, whom she married ca. 1751, was Capt. Daniel Little (born in 1731, died December 10, 1775), who was a prominent citizen of Salisbury in Rowan County. (He held numerous high offices in Salisbury: Constable, Jailer, Commissioner, High Sheriff, Justice of the Peace, and Captain of the Militia.) Daniel and Mary Eakle Little had seven children:

Peter Little;
Daniel Little, Jr.;
John Little,
Henry Little,
James Little,
Lewis Little, and
Mary Little.

In 1779, Mary Little, widow of Daniel Little, married as her second husband, Jacob Eakle (also spelled Eckle); the Rowan County marriage bond was dated January 5, 1779, and Mary's name appeared as Anne Mary Little; the bondsman was John Lewis Beard, while the witness was William R. Davis. Jacob Eakle (or Eckle) died, date not known, and Jonas Sparks became Mary's third husband.

According to a tradition among the descendants of Jonas Sparks's son, David Sparks, this second wife was a 'Dutch woman,' (that is, German), and David, who would have been about eighteen years old at the time, strongly objected to his father marrying her. Later, however, David married the 'Dutch woman's' pretty daughter, whose name was Mary Little. A descendant who could remember Mary recalled many years ago that she had a German accent. Daniel Little is said to have come to Rowan County from Pennsylvania ca. 1750. Without doubt, both he and Mary, his wife, were Pennsylvania Dutch.

On May 3, 1788, 1.2.5.6 Jonas Sparks again purchased land from Solomon Sparks, who had moved by this time to Surry County, North Carolina (that part which became Yadkin County). On this date, for 150 pounds, Solomon deeded to Jonas 82� acres on the south side of the Yadkin River opposite the mouth of Muddy Creek, just below and adjoining his earlier purchase from Solomon. This was a portion of the tract of 250 acres purchased by Solomon in 1761. The deed (see Rowan County Deed Book 11, p. 436) was signed by mark by Solomon and his wife, Sarah, and was witnessed by two of Solomon's sons (Solomon Sparks, Jr., and Joseph Sparks) and by Jonas's son, David Sparks. One year earlier, 1.2.5.1 Solomon and Sarah had sold the lower portion of this tract, comprising some 160 acres, to Zephemiah Harris (Rowan County Deed Book 11, p. 271). Also in 1788, Jonas Sparks purchased from James Lindsey for 80 pounds a tract of 330 acres 'in the Forks of the Yadkin' (Rowan County Deed Book 11, p. 630), and the following year sold to Roland Jones for 35 pounds a portion of this land comprising 111 acres (Rowan County Deed Book 11, p. 747). On October 29, 1789, Jonas Sparks sold to his son, William Sparks, for 40 pounds, the tract of 82� acres on the Yadkin River that he had bought from Solomon Sparks in 1788. (See Rowan County Deed Book 11, p. 835.)

The 1790 census of Rowan County, North Carolina, lists three Sparkses living in the Salisbury District as follows:

Jonas Sparks	2 males over 16	3 males under 16	3 females
David Sparks	1 male over 16	2 males under 16	1 female
William Sparks	1 male over 16	2 males under 16	3 females

The extra male over 16 years of age living with 1.2.5.6 Jonas Sparks was his son, 1.2.5.6.2 Jonas Sparks, Jr., who did not marry until 1796. Perhaps the three males under 16 were his wife's children by one of her previous marriages, since Jonas's will makes it clear he had only three sons. David and William were his other two Sons; both of whom had married and had children prior to 1790.

On August 17, 1804, Jonas Sparks sold to Lewis Little, his stepson, a tract of 100 acres for 100 pounds (Rowan County Deed Book 19, p. 194). Then, on May 3, 1805, just a few days before writing his will, Jonas Sparks sold 120 3/4 additional acres of his land on the Yadkin River to his son William for 600 pounds.

On May 11, 1805, Jonas Sparks made his will. He described himself as 'very weak in body' and he apparently died soon afterward. He signed with his mark, probably because of his illness. It reads as follows: (See Rowan County Will Book D, p. so.)

In the name of God, Amen, the 11th of May 1805. I Jonas Sparks, of Rowan being very weak in body but of perfect mind and memory, thanx be to God for it, therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make [and] ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say principally and first of all I give & recommend my soul unto the hands of God who gave it & for my body I recomend it to the earth to be buried in a descent and christian like maner at the discretion of my executors nothing doubting, but at the general resurrection, I shall receive the same again, by the mighty power of God and as touching such worldly estate, where with it had pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give, devise and dispose in the following manner and form:

I give & bequeath unto my well beloved wife Mary Sparks, the dwelling house where I now live and a sufficient maintenance of the plantation during widowhood or lifetime, one desk, a bay mare & six pewter plates & two pewter basons, one flax wheel, one bottle, one pot, one old small pot, one looking glass, one coffee mu, one corner cuberd, one grddel, pare of dogs, one old coper kettel, one stillard.

I give & bequeath unto my son Jonas Sparks, junr., dec[eased] widow, Anna Sparks during her widowhood the land & plantation where she now lives.

Item, I give & bequeath unto my grandson Joseph Sparks, son of Jonas Sparks, jun. & his heirs forever all the land & plantation and premisses with all the pertanning their unto where I now live.

Item, I give & bequeath unto my daughter Rachel Griggs one silver dollar & no more.

Item, I give & bequeath unto my daughter Easter Caton one silver dollar & no more.

Item, I give & bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Bryant one silver dollar & no more.

Item, I give & bequeath unto my son William Sparks one silver dollar & one half of the waggon which we have now in use between us for the use of both the plantation and one third of the fishery.

Item, I give & bequeath unto my son David Sparks one silver dollar & one third of the fishery.

Item, I give & bequeath unto my three grand children, my son Jonas Sparks children, Elizabeth Sparks, Jamixnah Sparks and Joseph Sparks, the balance of all my stock of every kind with the ballance of my house hold furniture & plantation utintinals to be equally davided between them three children. And further I do by this present, constitute and appoint my son David Sparks & Josuah Caton my whole & sole executors and administrators & I do utterly disallow, revoke and disanull every other former testaments, wills, legacies & executors by me in any way before this time named, willed & bequeathed ratify & confirming this & no other to be my last will & testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this day & year above written.

[Witnesses:] Rowland Jones Jacob Hill

his Jonas X Sparks(Seal)       mark

As was noted earlier, the wife named Mary whom Jonas Sparks named in his will, was his second wife, and he had no children by her. We may assume that he named all of his living children in his will, as well as his deceased son, Jonas, Jr. It is possible, however, that there was a daughter omitted, perhaps because she had died earlier without issue. Lewis Little, born November 4, 1770, a son of Daniel Little and his wife Mary (who became Jonas Sparks's second wife), is known to have married a Tabitha Sparks. Since there was this family connection and because Jonas Sparks sold land to Lewis Little in 1804, it is possible that Tabitha was another daughter of Jonas; perhaps she had died prior to 1805.

We have not been able to determine the order of birth of the children of Jonas Sparks named in his will. We know that Esther was born in 1770 and Elizabeth in 1765, but since he named Esther before Elizabeth in his will, it is apparent that Jonas Sparks did not name them in the order of their birth. Following are the data we h

Sparks

October 7, 2013

Pages 4756-4757
Whole Number 176

AN INDIAN LEGEND OF ELLIOTT COUNTY, KE

---

---

Reference has been made frequently in the preceding article (pp. 4714-4755) to the Sparks-Lawson Cemetery on Big Gimlet Creek in northeastern Elliott County, Kentucky. An interesting sidelight about this cemetery centers around fragments of a tale that have been handed down to some descendants of George and Nancy (Short) Sparks, involving an Indian named John Casteele. As well as it can be pieced together, the story is as follows:

John Casteele was a Cherokee Indian who came to Lawrence County, Kentucky, in the early 1800s, perhaps with settlers from Surry and Wilkes Counties, North Carolina. In his declining years, he apparently lived near the Sparks families on Big Gimlet Creek in Elliott County. He was termed a "medicine man" and earned his support by doctoring with herbs.

On his deathbed, Casteele asked for his body to be wrapped In cloth that was dyed a red color and to be placed in a homemade coffin that was also to be painted red. He asked for his tombstone to be made of native stone, and it, too, was to be painted red. The inscription on the stone was to include his name and years of birth and death.

John Casteele was "laid out" (an expression used in eastern Kentucky for burial preparation) by Levi Sparks, a son of George and Nancy Sparks, and a Baptist preacher. Levi also dug John's grave, preached at his funeral, and erected the tombstone. The inscription on the stone is quite simple: "Indian / Jno. Casteele / B. 1764 / D. 1877 "

The same legend also tells of some Indian mounds located in neighboring Carter County and which were known as the "Casteele Hills."

An item from a newspaper, the Portsmouth [Ohio] Republican, tends to give some support to the validity of the legend, although there are obvious factual errors therein. Dated November 21, 1868, the item reads as follows:  There lived on Buffalo Creek, Kentucky, an aged citizen named John Casteel, aged 111 or 112. When Geo. Washington was first elected, he was 32 years of age. He cast his vote then for Gen. Washington and in the present campaign, he voted for Gen. Grant. He was married 7 times and is the father of 47 children. He was born in South Carolina. There is a Buffalo Creek in northwestern Carter County, Kentucky.

top

John Sparks

HomeTOPENDContents by TopicsContents by IssueSearch March 17, 2020 Pages 97-104 Whole Number 12 THE GENEALOGY OF 1.2.5.1.2 JOHN SPARKS REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSIONER OF WILKES COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA by William Perry As 1.2.5.1.2 John Sparks stated in his pension application, he was born February 25, 1753, near Salisbury, Rowan County, North Carolina, and removed with his father to what is now Wilkes (then Surry) County, North Carolina, about the year 1772. John Sparks did not identify his father in his application, but other records prove that his name was 1.2.5.1 Solomon Sparks. Surry County was formed from Rowan County in 1770, and the Surry tax lists for 1771 and 1772 have been preserved. On the 1771 tax list, Solomon Sparks is listed, with 3 polls, and William Sparks, with 1 poll. In 1772 only Solomon Sparks is listed, with 3 polls. The 1774 Surry tax List enumerated four Sparks families: William Sparks, with 1 poll; Will Sparks and son Matthew Sparks, 2 polls; James Sparks, 1 poll; and 1.2.5.1 Solomon Sparks, with sons: 1.2.5.1.1 Joseph Sparks and 1.2.5.1.2 John Sparks, 3 polls. These four families were undoubtedly closely related, but this account will be limited to the family of John Sparks, son of Solomon. (The Matthew Sparks who is listed in the 1774 tax list with his father, Will Sparks, was the great great-grandfather of our Vice-President, Oral A. Sparks.) 1.2.5.1 Solomon Sparks lived in Maryland before settling in North Carolina and was very probably the son of 1.2.5 Joseph Sparks who died intestate in Frederick County, Maryland, in 1749. (Note that Solomon named his eldest son Joseph, probably for his father. Note also that the 1.2.5.2.5 Solomon Sparks whose pension application was reproduced in the March, 1955, Whole No. 9, of the Quarterly was born in Frederick County, Maryland, in 1758. Webmaster Correction: born June 13, 1760. On the 20th of March 1750, Solomon Sparks patented 93 acres in Frederick County. Maryland, and gave his land the descriptive name of Cold Friday. This land was located on Beaver Dam Branch, a tributary of Linganore Creek. On the 20th of June 1753, Solomon Sparks and wife, Sarah, sold these 93 acres for 34 Pounds, to Mathew Howard. Solomon is designated in this deed as a "farmer". If Solomon Sparks and wife Sarah were living in Frederick County, Maryland, as late as June 20, 1753, as this deed would indicate, then their son 1.2.5.1.2 John Sparks, born February 25, 1753, was born in Frederick County, Maryland, rather than in Rowan County, North Carolina, and was carried to North Carolina as a babe in arms. Although we cannot be sure of the exact date, it is reasonably certain that Solomon Sparks removed with his family sometime in 1753 to near Salisbury, Rowan Co., N.C. (Rowan County was formed April 12, 1753, from Anson County.) The following description of Salisbury is found in a letter written on November 28, 1755, by Governor Arthur Dobbs: "The Yadkin here (Trading Ford) is a large beautiful river where is a ferry. It is near 300 yards over, it was at this time fordable scarce coming to the horses bellies. At 6 miles distance I arrived at Salisbury, the County town of Rowan, the town is but just laid out, the Court House built and 7 or 8 log Houses erected," (The Colonial Records of North Carolina, Vol. 5, page 355 ) The 1950 populatIon of Salisbury was 20,102. The Sparkses settled in the Forks of the Yadkin, less than ten miles north of Salisbury, in what is now Davie Co., N.C. Solomon Sparks obtained a land grant in 1762. for 250 acres in Rowan County, on the west side of the Yadkin River, opposite the mouth of Muddy Creek. In 1762 he obtained a grant for 290 acres on the south side of the Yadkin River, which adjoined his other land. In 1763 Solomon sold 130 and 3/4 acres to Jonas Sparks, and 159 and l/4 acres to Valentine Vanhouser. According to the statement made by John Sparks in his pension application, Solomon Sparks and his family removed from Rowan County to "what is now Wilkes (then Curry), N.C., about the year 1772." In 1727, as residents of Surry Co., N.C., 1.2.5.1 Solomon and Sarah Sparks sold 160 acres in Rowan County to Zephemiah Harris, and in 1768 they sold 170 (?) acres in Rowan County to Jonas Sparks. Solomon and Sarah Sparks disappear from North Carolina records after 1788. Solomon does not appear on the 1790 census, and there is no will, no intestate record, and no record of Solomon and Sarah Sparks buying or selling land in Surry or Wilkes Counties, although when the SurryWilkes County Line was surveyed in 1778 it mentioned the plantation of Solomon Sparks. A full copy of this interesting document is given below: Wilkes Co., N.C., Court Minutes, 1778 - "A Return of the Proceedings of the Commissioners who were appointed to Run the Deviding line between the County of Surry and Wilkes - (To Wit) Beginning on Rowan County line about half a mile below Daniel Rashes at a White Oak Standing in the head of a Branch of Hunting Creek thence North Crossing the mulberry Field Road about half a Mile below Hamlin's Old Store House thence through Solomon Sparke's Plantation leaving the said Sparks House in Surry County thence Crossing the Brushey mountains at the head of the north fork of Swan Creek thence Crossing the Yadkin River a little below Capt. Parkes and through the Lower end of Carrols Plantation on the north side of sd River, then crossing the Big Elkin at the long sholes thence Crossing the south fork of Mitchels River about half a mile above Riggs's Road, thence Crossing Mitchels River a little below John Scott's Crossing the Top of the Piney Knob to the main Ridge of the Mountains about Two miles west of Fisher Peak thence to the Virginia line. The above line being Run exactly Twenty Six miles west of Surry Courthouse agreeable to Act of Assembly." Thus, Solomon Sparks lived just south of the village of Swan Creek in the western part of Surry (now Yadkin) County, North Carolina, with land in Wilkes as well as in Surry. Around 1800 the Sparkses and their connections owned land for several miles along the Surry (now Yadkin) -Wilkes County line, and there are still many descendants in that area today. It is believed that 1.2.5.1 Solomon and Sarah Sparks were both deceased by 1800, or possibly by 1790. Since neither of them left a will, and no family Bible or other record has been located, it has been difficult to ascertain the names of the children of this couple. However, a power of attorney recorded in Wilkes County, NC., Court Minutes, on Tuesday, August 4, 1801, gives what we feel certain is a listing of at least eight of the children of 1.2.5.1 Solomon and Sarah Sparks. This instrument reads as follows: "A Letter of Attorney from John Sparks, Reuben Sparks, Solomon Sparks, Mary Jacks, Hannah Denny, Susannah Johnson and Joseph Sparks to 1.2.5.1.8 Abel Sparks, dated 31st July 1801, was proven by Thomas Benge" (Susannah (Sparks) Johnson and her husband, Charles Johnson, are the great-great-great-great- grandparents of William Perry Johnson, author of this sketch). We know that John Sparks was born in 1753 and that 1.2.5.1.8 Abel Sparks was born in 1767, so assuming that the eight persons named in the above power of attorney were listed in their order of birth, which is quite possible, we would have: (Webmaster Note: From Whole No. 142, we have changed the birth order to: 1.2.5.1.1 Joseph Sparks, born ca. 1750; 1.2.5.1.2 John Sparks, born February 25, 1753, married Sarah Shores; 1.2.5.1.3 Reuben Sparks, born ca. 1755; 1.2.5.1.4 Mary Sparks, born ca. 1759; 1.2.5.1.5 Susannah Sparks, born ca. 1763, married Charles Johnson in Wilkes Co., N.C., in 1784; 1.2.5.1.6 Hannah Sparks, born ca. 1761; 1.2.5.1.7 Solomon Sparks, Jr., born ca. 1757; 1.2.5.1.8 Abel Sparks, born January 8, 1767 (from Whole No. 26). There may have been other children of 1.2.5.1 Solomon and Sarah Sparks who were living far removed from this area in 1801, or others may have been deceased. It is known that the eight named in the power of attorney were all living in Surry (now Yadkin) and Wilkes Counties. N.C., at that time Of course, since then, branches of the family have scattered from coast to coast. 1.2.5.1.2 John Sparks lived in Surry County, North Carolina, from the time he removed there with his father ca. 1771, until 1786. by 1782, John Sparks had purchased 200 acres of land in Surry, on Brushy Mountain, and was taxed with 200 acres and 1 poll, 2 horses (or mules) and 6 cattle, In 1784 he was taxed with 200 acres and 1 poll; same for 1785 and 1786, He does not appear on the Surry County tax lists for 1787, 1788 or 1789, and he is given on the 1790 census of Wilkes County, rather than Surry. There is no record in Surry of John Sparks purchasing or selling his 200 acres. (In those unsettled times, many, many deeds failed to get taken to the county seat for recording.) On 17 May 1780, John Sparks entered 200 acres of land in Wilkes County, which was issued to him 22 September 1785. (Land Grant Office, Raleigh, N.C., Book 59, page 253.) The 1790 census of Wilkes Co. lists John Sparks with a total of eight persons in his family, apparently himself, his wife, four sons aged under 16, and 2 daughters. (The other John Sparks on the 1790 census of Wilkes Co. is thought to be the 1.2.1.2.2.1 John Sparks who married Mary Parmely in Wilkes in 1781; however, it is possible that John, son of Solomon, was listed twice, which happened occasionally. There was no John Sparks given on the 1790 census of Curry County.) 1.2.5.1.2 John Sparks had married in Surry County ca. 1777, Sarah Shores, a daughter of Reuben and Susannah Shores of Surry (now Yadkin) County. Reuben Shores owned large tracts of land where Jonesville, N.C., now stands. Sarah is named as Sarah Sparks in the will of her mother, Susannah Shores, probated in 1806 in Surry County, N.C. (Susannah Shores willed her "household and kitchen furniture" to her youngest daughter, Nancy Rousau. The other children listed in her will, to whom she left "one shilling Sterling each," were named as follows: "William Shores, John Shores, Elizabeth Westmoreland, Sarah Sparks, Reuben Shores, Simeon Shores, Rebecca Mosley, David Shores, Rhoda Philips, Abiram Shores and Levi Shores.") Soon after removing to Wilkes County, John Sparks became active in the civil affairs of Trap Hill, the community where he had settled, about twenty miles north-east of Wilkesboro. He became a justice of the peace and performed marriages, listed taxes, and so on. On the 1800 tax list of Wilkes County, he is listed as John Sparks, Esquire, with 260 acres and 1 poll. (The title of Esquire was bestowed only on those of some standing in the community.) John Sparks was an active member of the Old Roaring River Baptist Church in Wilkes County, having joined on January 12, 1789 "by experience and baptism." According to the Church records, on April 10, 1790, "the church set apart Brother John Sparks to walk before the church until next meeting as deacon," and on August 12, 1790, he "set forward to do work of deacon." In 1790 and 1791, he was "delegate to association," and on June 11, 1791, his wife, "Sister Sarah Sparks," was baptised. Like most other church members of the time, John Sparks was occasionally called to account for failing to live up to the strict Baptist rules. For instance, in August, 1791, he was found guilty of "gameing" but was pardoned. In 1794 he was accused of drunkenness, a charge which John Sparks denied and later "gave church satisfaction." 1.2.5.1.2 John Sparks was listed on the 1840 census of Wilkes County as a Revolutionary War pensioner, and at that time he was living in the home of his son, 1.2.5.1.2.10 Reuben Sparks. According to census records, John's wife, Sarah (Shores) Sparks, died sometime between 1830 and 1840. The date of death for John Sparks is not given on the Agency Books in Washington, D.C., but the last payment of his pension was made 3rd Quarter (September ) 1840, so it is apparent that he died sometime between then and March 1841, when the next payment fell due. His age at the time of his death was either 87 or 88. After his death, his heirs did not claim his pension, which amounted to $29 per year. His pension application in the National Archives is the one and only application from a John Sparks who served in the Revolution from North Carolina. 1.2.5.1.2 John Sparks, son of 1.2.5.1 Solomon Sparks, is sometimes confused with another 36. John Sparks who served in the Revolutionary War from South Carolina. This second John was born in 1755 (supposedly in North Carolina), and died in 1834 in Washington County, Georgia. There is no record in the National Archives of his ever having applied for a pension, yet a number of his descendants have joined the D.A.R. through the pension application of John Sparks of Wilkes County, N.C. (An article on the genealogy of this John Sparks of South Carolina and Georgia is planned for a future issue of the Quarterly. (Note: see the issue for September 1964, Whole No. 47, pp. 835-39.) Like his father, John Sparks of Wilkes County left no will, and his family Bible cannot be located. All of his children and grandchildren are gone, and there are but two or three of his great-grandchildren living. His grave, near Trap Hill, North Carolina, is marked with a Revolutionary Soldier marker, but it does not give his date of death nor any other data that we do not already have. We have endeavored to compile a list of the children of John and Sarah (Shores) Sparks, from living descendants, census, court, church, and other extant records. We are fairly certain of eight children, but there may have been a total of ten or twelve. The following record has been worked out by our President, Paul E. Sparks, great-great-great-grandson of John Sparks: 1.2.5.1.2 John Sparks born February 25, 1753, in Rowan County, North Carolina died 1840-41, in Wilkes County, North Carolina married ca. 1777, in Surry County, North Carolina, to Sarah Shores, daughter of Reuben and Susannah (MNU) Shores born ca. 1757 place not known, died between 1830 and 1840 in Wilkes County, North Carolina. Children: [Webmaster Note: Corrected list from Whole No. 113: 1.2.5.1.2.1 Levi Sparks, son of John and Sarah (Shores) Sparks, was born October 2, 1778, Surry Co., N.C.; died October 21, 1851, Lawrence Co., KY. He was married twice, first, ca. 1801, to FNU Walsh, and second, ca. 1805, to Sarah Lyon, born ca. 1781 in N.C. He served as deputy sheriff in Wilkes Co., N.C.; removed to Kentucky ca. 1821 with Jesse Lyon, John Holbrook and four other Lyon brothers (including Redheaded Bill) and two of his own brothers, George and Colby Sparks. Colby and three Lyon brothers returned to North Carolina. Levi Sparks taught school in Kentucky. He appeared on the following censuses: 1810 and 1820 of Wilkes County, North Carolina; 1830, 1840, and 1850 of Lawrence County, Kentucky. Children: (by first wife, FNU Walsh) 1.2.5.1.2.1.1 Garrett Sparks, (spelled Jarett on his marriage bond) born September 15, 1802; married, 1825, Elizabeth Boggs. 1.2.5.1.2.1.2 Sidney Sparks (daughter), born ca. 1804; died young, in North Carolina. Children: (by second wife, Sarah Lyon) 1.2.5.1.2.1.3 Calvin Sparks, born November 9, 1806; married 1828, Sarah Lyon. 1.2.5.1.2.1.4 Wiley Sparks, born March 3, 1808; married 1832, Sintha Holbrook. 1.2.5.1.2.1.5 Sinay Sparks, born ca. 1812; married 1833, Ira Ison. 1.2.5.1.2.1.6 Sarah Sparks, born ca. 1814; married 1835, Tillman Craft. 1.2.5.1.2.1.7 Nelson Sparks, born ca. 1818; married 1843, Margaret Mauk. 1.2.5.1.2.1.8 John L. Sparks, born ca. 1820; married Mary Hays. 1.2.5.1.2.2 Robert Sparks, son of John and Sarah (Shores) Sparks, was born ca. 1780 in Curry Co, N.C.; died ca. 1815; married Margaret Pigg. This couple did not remain in Wilkes Co., N.C., but it is not known where they settled. The children lived in Kentucky. Children: (not all of these have been proven to be children of Robert & Margaret) 1.2.5.1.2.2.1 Wesley Sparks, born ca. 1805; married 1835, Nancy Kosee. 1.2.5.1.2.2.2 Nancy Sparks, born ca. 1810; married 1829, Martin Ison. 1.2.5.1.2.2.3 William Sparks, born ca. 1812; married ca. 1834, Mary Lyon. 1.2.5.1.2.2.4 Joel Sparks married Mary Grow. 1.2.5.1.2.2.5 Isaac Sparks 1.2.5.1.2.2.6 Reuben Sparks 1.2.5.1.2.2.7 Solomon Sparks 1.2.5.1.2.3 Mary Sparks, daughter of John and Sarah (Shores) Sparks, was born ca. 1782, Surry Co., N.C.; lived in Wilkes Co., N.C., near Trap Hill; married ca. 1800, Robert Bauguess, son of Richard Bauguess, born June 12, 1776, in Va.; died ca. 1872 in Wilkes Co. Children: (all born in Wilkes Co., N.C.). 1.2.5.1.2.3.1 Nancy Bauguess, born March 23, 1802; married Thomas Bryan. 1.2.5.1.2.3.2 Robert Bauguess, Jr., married Nancy Sparks. 1.2.5.1.2.3.3 Solomon Bauguess. 1.2.5.1.2.3.4 Samuel Bauguess, married Yates. 1.2.5.1.2.3.5 Mary ["Polly"] Bauguess, born February 25. 1.2.5.1.2.3.6 Jane ["Jennie"] Bauguess, born November 14, 1810; married John Holbrook. 1.2.5.1.2.3.7 Lewis Bauguess; married FNU Holloway. 1.2.5.1.2.3.8 Richard Bauguess; married FNU Hurst. 1.2.5.1.2.3.9 Sarah ["Sally"] Bauguess; married FNU Rousseau. 1.2.5.1.2.3.10 Lydia Bauguess. 1.2.5.1.2.3.11 David Bauguess; married FNU Hall. 1.2.5.1.2.3.12 John K. Bauguess; married FNU Forrester. 1.2.5.1.2.3.13 Fannie Bauguess 1.2.5.1.2.4 Joel Sparks, son of John and Sarah (Shores) Sparks, was born ca. 1784, Surry Co., N.C.; died ca. 1850 in Wilkes Co.; married July 27, 1814 (date of Wilkes Co. marriage bond) Nancy Blackburn, born ca. 1791, N.C. She survived her husband. He appeared on the 1820, 1830, 1840, and 1850 censuses of Wilkes County, North Carolina. Children: 1.2.5.1.2.4.1 Richmond Sparks, born ca. 1815; married ca. 1835 Sarah Priutt. 1.2.5.1.2.4.2 Dau1 Sparks married 1830-40 . 1.2.5.1.2.4.3 Melinda Sparks, born ca. 1818; married 1838, Meredith Lyon. 1.2.5.1.2.4.4 Nancy Sparks, born ca. 1820; married Meredith Lyon. 1.2.5.1.2.4.5 Robert Sparks, born ca. 1824; married Susan A. MNU 1.2.5.1.2.4.6 Joel Sparks, born ca. 1826; married 1846, Charlotte Durham. 1.2.5.1.2.4.7 Mittie Sparks, born ca. 1828; married 1846, James Durham. 1.2.5.1.2.4.8 Hugh Sparks, born ca. 1833; unmarried in 1860. 1.2.5.1.2.5 John Sparks, Jr., son of John and Sarah (Shores) Sparks, was born ca. 1785, in Wilkes Co., N.C.; he married ca. 1816, Mary Fields, daughter of Isaiah and Nancy (Burcham) Fields, born ca. 1795 in N.C. This couple resided in Wilkes Co., N.C. He appeared on the 1820,1830, 1840, and 1860 censuses of Wilkes County, North Carolina. Children: 1.2.5.1.2.5.1 Sarah Sparks, born October 8, 1817; married William Holbrook in 1844. 1.2.5.1.2.5.2 Tennessee Sparks, born November 6, 1818; married Joseph Spicer in 1849. 1.2.5.1.2.5.3 Nancy Sparks, born ca. 1820; unmarried in 1860. 1.2.5.1.2.5.4 Mary Sparks, born ca. 1822; unmarried in 1860. 1.2.5.1.2.5.5 Phoebe Sparks, born ca. 1825; married George W. Spicer in 1864. 1.2.5.1.2.5.6 James Sparks, born August 2, 1827; married Charlotte Dickinson in 1850. 1.2.5.1.2.5.7 Colby Sparks, born ca. 1830; married Mary ["Polly"] Burchette. 1.2.5.1.2.5.8 Reubin Sparks, born ca. 1839; married Elizabeth J. Billings in 1862. 1.2.5.1.2.6 Daughter1 Sparks was born ca. 1787. 1.2.5.1.2.7 Solomon Sparks is thought to be the Solomon Sparks who married Isabella Swaim and removed to Wells Co., Indiana, and raised a large family of children. [Correction NOTE: It was later determined that the 1.2.5.1.7.2 Solomon who married Isabella Swaim was the son of Solomon, John Sparks's brother. See the December, 1970 issue, Whole No. 72, p. 1360. 1.2.5.1.2.7 Solomon Sparks, born ca. 1790 in Wilkes Co., N.C.; probably died ca. 1860; married (first) Unknown ca. 1811; married (second) Judah or Julia A. MNU ca. 1824. Appeared on the 1820 census of Wilkes County, North Carolina, and the 1850 census of Cherokee County, North Carolina. See the June 1959 issue, Whole No. 26, pp. 382-400.] Children: 1.2.5.1.2.7.1 Aaron Sparks. 1.2.5.1.2.7.2 unknown Sparks 1.2.5.1.2.7.3 unknown Sparks 1.2.5.1.2.7.4 unknown Sparks 1.2.5.1.2.7.5 unknown Sparks 1.2.5.1.2.7.6 unknown Sparks 1.2.5.1.2.7.7 unknown Sparks 1.2.5.1.2.7.8 unknown Sparks 1.2.5.1.2.7.9 Solomon Sparks. 1.2.5.1.2.7.10 Isaac B. Sparks; married in 1851, Cynthia A. Roberts. 1.2.5.1.2.7.11 John Sparks. 1.2.5.1.2.7.12 unknown Sparks 1.2.5.1.2.7.13 Jackson Sparks. 1.2.5.1.2.8 Sarah Sparks, daughter of John and Sarah (Shores) Sparks, was born ca. 1792 in Wilkes Co., N.C.; she married March 18, 1820 (date of Wilkes Co. marriage bond) William Alexander, born ca. 1798 in N.C. The 1850 census of Wilkes Co., N.C., shows Hulda Alexander, aged 9, and Nancy Alexander, aged 7. These were probably either children or grandchildren. It is believed that this couple raised several children and have many descendants in Wilkes County, North Carolina. 1.2.5.1.2.9 George Sparks, born November 9, 1796, died May 11, 1879; married (first) FNU Mainer or Maynard, ca. 1815; married (second) Nancy Short on August 6, 1822; appeared on the 1830 and 1850 censuses of Lawrence County, Kentucky, and on the 1860 census of Carter County, Kentucky. 1.2.5.1.2.9 George Sparks, son of John and Sarah (Shores) Sparks, was born November 9, 1796, in Wilkes Co., N.C.; died May 11, 1879 in Elliott Co., KY; married, first, ca. 1815, in Wilkes Co., N.C. Mainer; he married second, August 7, 1822 (date of Lawrence Co.KY, marriage bond) Nancy Short, daughter of Aaron Short, born April 7, 1800, died January 11, 1879. This couple resided in Lawrence Co., KY, and were great-great-grandparents of Paul E. Sparks, President of The Sparks Family Association. He appeared on the 1830 and 1850 censuses of Lawrence County, Kentucky, and on the 1860 census of Carter County, Kentucky. Children: (by first wife, N. C. Mainer) 1.2.5.1.2.9.1 Lucinda Sparks, born ca. 1816; married James Hanks in 1838. Children: (by second wife, Nancy Short) 1.2.5.1.2.9.2 John W. Sparks, born November 5, 1823; married Almeda Green. 1.2.5.1.2.9.3 Nancy Sparks, born ca. 1825; married John Hutchinson. 1.2.5.1.2.9.4 Cyntha Sparks, born July 16, 1827; died unmarried. 1.2.5.1.2.9.5 Hugh S. Sparks, born May 21, 1829; married Nancy Carnutte. 1.2.5.1.2.9.6 Levi H. Sparks, born May 31, 1834; married Nancy Lawson. 1.2.5.1.2.9.7 Emma Sparks, born June 16, 1839; married John Harper. 1.2.5.1.2.9.8 Colby Sparks, born ca. 1842; died young. 1.2.5.1.2.9.9 Mary ["Polly"] Sparks, born ca. 1844; married John Lawson. 1.2.5.1.2.10 Reuben Sparks, son of John and Sarah (Shores) Sparks, was born September 26, 1799 in Wilkes Co,, N.C.; he died March 9, 1878,in Wilkes Co., N.C.; he married October 10, 1828, in Wilkes Co., Phoebe Blackburn, born October 14, 1807, in Wilkes Co., died November 26, 1892, in Wilkes Co. Reuben and Phoebe Sparks lived at Trap Hill in Wilkes Co. and were honest, hard-working, God-fearing people. We are very much indebted to Mrs. Annie (Sparks) Wilson of Trap Hill, and her brother, Blame Sparks, for furnishing us with pictures of Reuben and Phoebe (their grandparents), and for being of invaluable assistance to us in the compiling of this record of the descendants of John Sparks, Revolutionary War soldier. He appeared on the 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, and 1870 censuses of Wilkes County, North Carolina. Children: 1.2.5.1.2.10.1 George Washington Sparks, born October 11, 1829; married in 1855, Elizabeth E. Johnson. 1.2.5.1.2.10.2 Lewis Williams Sparks, born May 23, 1831; married Martha Spicer. 1.2.5.1.2.10.3 Sarah Sparks, born November 29, 1837; died 1862; unmarried. 1.2.5.1.2.10.4 John Sparks, born August 6, 1841; unmarried. 1.2.5.1.2.10.5 William C. Sparks, born May 25, 1843; married Phoebe McCann. 1.2.5.1.2.10.1 George Washington Sparks and his brother, 1.2.5.1.2.10.4 John Sparks (sons of Reuben and Phoebe Sparks), were killed in service in 1863 in the Army of the Confederate States of America. Their brother, 1.2.5.1.2.10.5 William C. Sparks, fought with the Union Army, serving with Company H, 10th Regiment of Cavalry, Tennessee Volunteers. His honorable discharge, dated 1 August 1865, gives his description as follows: --- Said William Sparks was born in Wilkes County in the State of North Carolina, is twenty years of age, Six feet -- inches high, fair complexion, blue eyes, Black hair, by occupation, when enrolled, a Farmer." The following is taken from a newspaper clipping, dated 1863, from The National Tribune, printed in Washington, D.C. Some of the account is said to have been left out, but here is what remains and, although incomplete, it gives an interesting account of how William C. Sparks escaped and avoided capture during the War: ---William Sparks also belonged to the company of stampeders, but being sick, he was in the house when the excitement occurred in the yard, and he asked Mrs. Bell to conceal him, She immediately raised a plank from the kitchen floor, and he crept under the kitchen, where he remained until the rebels had finished their bloody work and returned to burn the house, which they first commenced by piling up clothes in the center of the floor, and setting them on fire, just over the cellar where the sick man had been concealed. The clothes not burning fast enough, they procured a straw-bed, and, placing it on the floor, they put a chunk of fire into it: the smoke began to ascend in clouds, when they were compelled to go out into the front yard to obtain fresh air, There were two doors to the kitchen, and the wind passing through closed the door next to the rebels, which gave Sparks an opportunity to make his escape from the house. He crept out of the cellar through the smoke, and went through the back yard about ten steps from the house and concealed himself under some dry weeds and vines in the garden where he remained until the buildings were consumed, suffering intensely from the terrible heat of the fire. ---The rebels now went up the valley among their murdered victims for the purpose of stripping them of their clothing. Miss Elizabeth Morrison, who lived in the neighborhood, and was at Bell's house during the whole time of the dreadful excitement, procured a lady's dress, took it to the garden where Sparks was concealed, and told him to put it on, and thereby most admirably disguised his sex. She then told him to walk along slowly across the fields and go to her father's house, telling him when he got to the house her father would conduct him to a place of safety. She said all of her family would at once know her bonnet, and that would furnish them sufficient evidence that he was not a traitor. Sparks went on as the kind lady directed him, and was concealed and saved; but he had been so terribly frightened that he did not recover his proper faculties of mind for several days. The horrid scenes he witnessed on that dreadful day surely can never be erased from his memory until death shall have closed his earthly existence. 1.2.5.1.2.11 Colby Sparks, son of John and Sarah (Shores) Sparks, was born ca. 1801, in Wilkes Co., N.C.; died ca. 1869 in Wilkes County; he went to Kentucky in the 1820's but returned to North Carolina; he was married in Wilkes County in 1822 (marriage bond dated December 28, 1822) to Sarah Pruitt, daughter of John Pruitt; she was born ca. 1814 in North Carolina. Colby Sparks was a Baptist preacher of local reputation. He appeared on the 1830, 184o, 1850, and 1860 censuses of Wilkes County, North Carolina. Children of Colby and Sarah (Pruitt) Sparks: 1.2.5.1.2.11.1 Mahala ["Hulda"] Sparks, born ca. 1824; married Williford Privett, Jr., in 1848. 1.2.5.1.2.11.2 Irena R. ["Rena"] Sparks, born ca. 1826; married James H. Billings in 1860. 1.2.5.1.2.11.3 Christena Sparks; born ca. 1828; unmarried in 1870. 1.2.5.1.2.11.4 Sarah ["Sallie"] Sparks, born ca. 1830; married John Durham, born in 1851. 1.2.5.1.2.11.5 Nancy Sparks, born ca. 1833; unmarried in 1870. 1.2.5.1.2.11.6 Leah Sparks, born ca. 1836; married FNU Crawford. 1.2.5.1.2.11.7 Ruth Sparks, born ca. 1839; unmarried in 1870. 1.2.5.1.2.11.8 Julia Sparks, born ca. 1842; unmarried in 1870. 1.2.5.1.2.11.9 Naomi Sparks, born ca. 1846; married FNU Stamper. There was a son who died young. The above record of John Sparks, his ancestry and descendants, is very incomplete, but it is hoped that the publishing of this material will bring in additions and corrections from our readers. Corrections to print copy of this article: [Webmaster Note: WRONG - Jonathan Sparks, probably a son of John and Sarah (Shores) Sparks, was born ca. 1788 in Wilkes Co., N.C. He is probably the Jonathan Sparks on the 1820 census of Wilkes Co., N.C.; he left Wilkes Co. before 1830. ] [Webmaster Note: 1.2.5.1.2.3 William Sparks, NOT a child of John and Sarah (Shores) Sparks. May have been born ca. 1782, Surry Co., N.C. There is a tradition in the family that there was a son by this name, but if so, it has not been possible to identify him among the many persons of that name. He removed from Wilkes Co., N.C. ] top

From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Carter Waller, 27 July 1794

To Benjamin Carter Waller

Monticello July 27. 94.

Sir

Since my return to Virginia, it has not till lately been in my power to take a journey to that part of the country where Mr. Eppes resides, who has had the sole transaction of the business of Mr. Wayles’s estate. I communicated to him the object of your letter on the subject of Mr. Welsh’s account, and the purport of the answer I had written to you. The affairs of the estate being now too near a close to admit the interference of any other of the executors, Mr. Eppes undertakes to enter into arrangements with you relative to Mr. Welsh. Presuming that you must sometimes have business at Richmond or Petersburg, I cannot but hope you will find it convenient to call on Mr. Eppes, who is not far off the road between those two places: and that your powers are ample enough to meet him in such arrangements as will be just towards both parties. I shall chearfully approve whatever he does for the estate in general; or if, as was done by Farrel & Jones, our portions of the demand can be separated, I shall be ready to arrange with you my separate part. Referring therefore to the result of your communications with Mr. Eppes what is further to be done, and hoping to hear from you on that occasion, I am with great regard Sir Your most obedt. humble servt

Th: Jefferson

PrC (MHi); at foot of text: “Mr. Benj. Waller. Wmsburg.”; endorsed in ink by TJ.

your letter and TJ’s answer: see TJ to Benjamin Carter Waller, 21 Dec. 1793, and note.

Benjamin Carter Waller
Birthdate:	December 24, 1757 (49)
Birthplace:	Williamsburg, James City, Virginia
Death:	1806 (48) Williamsburg, Independent Cities, Virginia
Immediate Family:	Son of Judge Benjamin James Edmond Wallerand Martha Waller Husband of Catherine Waller Father of Robert Page Waller; Henry Waller; Charles Carter Page Waller and John Richard Waller Brother of Martha Hall Taylor; John Waller of "Enfield"; Dorothy Elizabeth Tazewell; William Waller; Robert Waller and 10 others Half brother of Elizabeth Waller; Ann Waller; Dorothy Goodloe and Pomfrett Waller
Occupation:	Lawyer