William and Mary (Palmer) Sparks
©Donna Meszaros
Mary Palmer, daughter of Reverend Joshua Palmer, was born 6 July 1779[1], probably on the land her father owned near Camden, South Carolina.[2], [3], [4] The family moved to Cheraw District about 1784, where Joshua acquired several parcels of land.[5], [6], [7], [8] They were in Laurens County by 1793, when Joshua became pastor of Upper Duncan’s Creek Church.[9] Mary married William Sparks, probably in Laurens County, about 1795.[10] William was born in South Carolina on 16 August 1772, the son of Zachariah Sparks.[11]
William’s father may have been the Zachariah Sparks who, on 5 March 1754, was granted 150 acres in Berkeley County on the south side of the Collins River, bounded on the northwest by land belonging to Jacob Pennington. Collins River is an old name for the Enoree River. Berkeley was one of the four original counties of South Carolina. Zachariah’s land was probably in what is today Newberry County. He may not have taken up this land, since the same property was in 1766 granted to Charles King, son-in-law of Jacob Pennington. On 5 February 1771, Zachariah Sparks was granted 100 acres on the south side of the Enoree River, bounded on the east by John Clark and on the northwest by Aubry or Avery Nolen. Zachariah and his wife, Mary, sold that land in 1775 to William Wadlington, with Mary signing by mark.[12]
Zachariah is said to have fought in the American Revolution. His grandson related the following:
William’s father may have been the Zachariah Sparks who, on 5 March 1754, was granted 150 acres in Berkeley County on the south side of the Collins River, bounded on the northwest by land belonging to Jacob Pennington. Collins River is an old name for the Enoree River. Berkeley was one of the four original counties of South Carolina. Zachariah’s land was probably in what is today Newberry County. He may not have taken up this land, since the same property was in 1766 granted to Charles King, son-in-law of Jacob Pennington. On 5 February 1771, Zachariah Sparks was granted 100 acres on the south side of the Enoree River, bounded on the east by John Clark and on the northwest by Aubry or Avery Nolen. Zachariah and his wife, Mary, sold that land in 1775 to William Wadlington, with Mary signing by mark.[12]
Zachariah is said to have fought in the American Revolution. His grandson related the following:
Zachariah Sparks, a native of South Carolina, was an officer in the American Army in the War of Independence, and had many interesting and thrilling experiences and lost his life in that struggle. On one occasion he was taken prisoner by soldiers of Cornwallis and in the march which followed, while he and others were prisoners, the British encamped near his home. It is related that his wife went to the British camp at night and cut loose the bonds that bound her husband and several other prisoners who made their escape. Not long after this remarkable escape, Zachariah Sparks re-entered the army and was again taken prisoner. Pretending to be reconciled to the situation he was given much liberty and was finally placed on guard duty, but he had no intention of remaining with the enemy in his country and soon found an opportunity to escape to the American lines. His escape was attended by unfortunate results. As he approached the American lines he was taken for the enemy and fired upon, receiving a severe wound in the hip. After his recovery from the wound he served under General Greene with whom, it is related, he was quite intimate. One day while Mr. Sparks was being visited in his home by General Greene, the former was given, as a keepsake, a coat the latter had worn. Putting it on, Mr. Sparks stepped outside his home quite early the next morning and was immediately shot down by an enemy who had the view of shooting General Greene. Thus Zachariah Sparks’ life was sacrificed and General Greene’s saved.[13]
|
No confirmation of Zachariah’s service has been found, but apparently he did die during the Revolution or shortly thereafter. His place of residence at that time must have been Laurens County. In 1786, Francis and Mary Luffsey were appointed administrators for the estate of Zachariah Sparks. Their bondsmen were Edward Gideon and Alexander Menary, and the inventory was made by Adam Gordon, Joseph Glenn, and Andrew Endsley.[14], [15] All of the above-mentioned men are enumerated on the 1790 census of Laurens County.[16]
It appears that Zachariah’s widow remarried to Francis Luffsey or Lovesey. On the 1790 census of Laurens County, Francis is enumerated next to William Sparks. Francis is head of a household with two males age 16 and over and two females.[17] William’s household consists of one male age 16 and over, one male under 16, and two females.[18] Was this 18-year-old William or perhaps an uncle or cousin of the same name? Further down the same page is the family of Robert Glidewell, who was married to Joanna Lovesey.[19] She was probably Francis’s daughter. In 1793, Francis “Lufey” and Robert Glidewell were witnesses to a deed in which Thomas and Jenny McClurkin sold 100 acres on Beard’s Fork of Duncan’s Creek to William Glidewell, Robert’s brother.[20]
The Loveseys and the Glidewells were from Halifax County, Virginia. A 1762 deed from Nash “Glidwell” to Thomas Tindall describes the land as on the north side of the Hico (Hyco) River adjoining the property of Francis Lovesay.[21] The next year, 1763, Francis Nash sued Francis Lovesay and Joseph Gill for debt.[22] In 1774, Francis and wife Mary sold 100 acres in Antrim Parish to Moses Fountain.[23] Francis is not listed as a head of household on the 1800 census of Laurens County, so he may have been dead by then.
On 18 December 1790 a plat for 63 acres on a branch of Duncan’s Creek was surveyed for William Sparks by Robert Hanna.[24] This is probably the same William Sparks who appears on the 1790 Laurens County census. Was this 18-year-old William or an older relative? In 1793 Reverend Joshua Palmer purchased 46 acres in Laurens County from Thomas and Ruth Adkins; one side of the parcel was bordered by land owned by William Sparks.[25]
Aaron Harlan was a neighbor to the Palmers and the Sparkses. In 1793 he purchased 100 acres from Thomas Adkins, part of the same parcel purchased by Joshua Palmer.[26] In 1806, Aaron sold land on Duncan’s Creek to his son, Samuel; one side the land bordered William Sparks.[27] Joshua Palmer and William Sparks witnessed the will of Aaron Harlan on 24 July 1806, with Joshua signing his name and William signing by mark.[28] The Harlan-Sparks connection would continue in Indiana. Samuel Harlan’s son and daughter, Stephen and Elizabeth, married Mary and John Sparks, children of William and Mary (Palmer) Sparks.
William Sparks appears as the head of a household on the 1800 census of Laurens County with two males under 10, 1 male 16-25, 1 male 26-44, and one female 16-25.[29] These must be William and Mary and their two oldest sons, Zachariah and Joshua, born about 1796 and 1798. The male 16-25 has not been identified. Listed directly above William Sparks is his brother-in-law, William Palmer, and listed below is James Conaway. James was married to Sarah Sparks, perhaps a sister or other relation to William.[30]
When the Palmers moved to Indiana, the Sparkses and the Glidewells went with them. It is not certain whether they all made the journey at the same time, but William Sparks was there by 19 July 1809, when he purchased land in section 34 in Township 11 North, Range 2 West (today Liberty Township in Union County).[31] He received a final certificate for the property on 1 November 1810.[32] The parcel was about four miles south of land in section 11 entered by Rev. Joshua Palmer and his son, Joshua Jr.[33] On the same date William entered land in section 20 in Township 11 North, Range 1 West (Center Township),[34] about three miles southeast of the Palmers’ land. He received a final certificate for this property on 5 May 1813.[35]
In 1809, William Sparks, Joshua Palmer, and Robert Glidewell were all signers of a petition to Congress by the citizens of Indiana Territory to be granted to right to vote.[36] In 1811, Joshua Palmer, Joshua Palmer Jr., William Palmer, and William Sparks were all included on Franklin County’s first tax list.[37]
William and Mary only remained in Union County a few years. In 1811, William purchased land in section 36 of what is now Connersville Township in Fayette County.[38] In 1814 he purchased additional land in sections 19 and 30.[39] In that year he was appointed supervisor of a crew required to maintain the road in his neighborhood.[40] William and Mary did not sell their property in Union County until a few years later. In 1817 they sold the land in section 20 of Center Township to Caleb Wickersham.[41] They sold their land in section 30 of Liberty Township to Noah Beauchamp in 1818.[42] William and Mary signed by mark on both deeds.
William Sparks is enumerated on the 1820 census of Connersville Township with 3 males under 10, 2 males 10-16, 1 male 16-26, 1 male 45 and over, 1 female under 10, 1 female 16-26, and one female 26-45.[43]
William’s mother, Mary Lovesey or Luffsey, is believed to be the Mary Luffsey who married Joshua Palmer (Mary’s father) in Franklin County, Indiana on 8 September 1811.[44] (Union County was formed from Franklin County in 1821). Joshua was probably dead by 1820; he is not listed as a head of household on the 1820 census. Mary Palmer died in Union County 27 January 1823 and James Conaway, probably her son-in-law, administered her estate.[45]
Just a week before Mary Palmer’s death, on 18 January 1823, William and Mary Sparks sold the land they had bought in Liberty Township in 1809 to James Bates.[46] Nine months later, on 15 October, they sold part of the east half of section 11 (94 acres) to Reuben Scurlock for $400.[47] This was apparently part of the 162 acres entered by Rev. Joshua Palmer in 1807 and may have been their inheritance.
Between 1821 and 1837, William Sparks “of Fayette County” received patents from the federal government nearly 1,200 acres of land in Bartholomew, Rush and Hancock counties:
It appears that Zachariah’s widow remarried to Francis Luffsey or Lovesey. On the 1790 census of Laurens County, Francis is enumerated next to William Sparks. Francis is head of a household with two males age 16 and over and two females.[17] William’s household consists of one male age 16 and over, one male under 16, and two females.[18] Was this 18-year-old William or perhaps an uncle or cousin of the same name? Further down the same page is the family of Robert Glidewell, who was married to Joanna Lovesey.[19] She was probably Francis’s daughter. In 1793, Francis “Lufey” and Robert Glidewell were witnesses to a deed in which Thomas and Jenny McClurkin sold 100 acres on Beard’s Fork of Duncan’s Creek to William Glidewell, Robert’s brother.[20]
The Loveseys and the Glidewells were from Halifax County, Virginia. A 1762 deed from Nash “Glidwell” to Thomas Tindall describes the land as on the north side of the Hico (Hyco) River adjoining the property of Francis Lovesay.[21] The next year, 1763, Francis Nash sued Francis Lovesay and Joseph Gill for debt.[22] In 1774, Francis and wife Mary sold 100 acres in Antrim Parish to Moses Fountain.[23] Francis is not listed as a head of household on the 1800 census of Laurens County, so he may have been dead by then.
On 18 December 1790 a plat for 63 acres on a branch of Duncan’s Creek was surveyed for William Sparks by Robert Hanna.[24] This is probably the same William Sparks who appears on the 1790 Laurens County census. Was this 18-year-old William or an older relative? In 1793 Reverend Joshua Palmer purchased 46 acres in Laurens County from Thomas and Ruth Adkins; one side of the parcel was bordered by land owned by William Sparks.[25]
Aaron Harlan was a neighbor to the Palmers and the Sparkses. In 1793 he purchased 100 acres from Thomas Adkins, part of the same parcel purchased by Joshua Palmer.[26] In 1806, Aaron sold land on Duncan’s Creek to his son, Samuel; one side the land bordered William Sparks.[27] Joshua Palmer and William Sparks witnessed the will of Aaron Harlan on 24 July 1806, with Joshua signing his name and William signing by mark.[28] The Harlan-Sparks connection would continue in Indiana. Samuel Harlan’s son and daughter, Stephen and Elizabeth, married Mary and John Sparks, children of William and Mary (Palmer) Sparks.
William Sparks appears as the head of a household on the 1800 census of Laurens County with two males under 10, 1 male 16-25, 1 male 26-44, and one female 16-25.[29] These must be William and Mary and their two oldest sons, Zachariah and Joshua, born about 1796 and 1798. The male 16-25 has not been identified. Listed directly above William Sparks is his brother-in-law, William Palmer, and listed below is James Conaway. James was married to Sarah Sparks, perhaps a sister or other relation to William.[30]
When the Palmers moved to Indiana, the Sparkses and the Glidewells went with them. It is not certain whether they all made the journey at the same time, but William Sparks was there by 19 July 1809, when he purchased land in section 34 in Township 11 North, Range 2 West (today Liberty Township in Union County).[31] He received a final certificate for the property on 1 November 1810.[32] The parcel was about four miles south of land in section 11 entered by Rev. Joshua Palmer and his son, Joshua Jr.[33] On the same date William entered land in section 20 in Township 11 North, Range 1 West (Center Township),[34] about three miles southeast of the Palmers’ land. He received a final certificate for this property on 5 May 1813.[35]
In 1809, William Sparks, Joshua Palmer, and Robert Glidewell were all signers of a petition to Congress by the citizens of Indiana Territory to be granted to right to vote.[36] In 1811, Joshua Palmer, Joshua Palmer Jr., William Palmer, and William Sparks were all included on Franklin County’s first tax list.[37]
William and Mary only remained in Union County a few years. In 1811, William purchased land in section 36 of what is now Connersville Township in Fayette County.[38] In 1814 he purchased additional land in sections 19 and 30.[39] In that year he was appointed supervisor of a crew required to maintain the road in his neighborhood.[40] William and Mary did not sell their property in Union County until a few years later. In 1817 they sold the land in section 20 of Center Township to Caleb Wickersham.[41] They sold their land in section 30 of Liberty Township to Noah Beauchamp in 1818.[42] William and Mary signed by mark on both deeds.
William Sparks is enumerated on the 1820 census of Connersville Township with 3 males under 10, 2 males 10-16, 1 male 16-26, 1 male 45 and over, 1 female under 10, 1 female 16-26, and one female 26-45.[43]
William’s mother, Mary Lovesey or Luffsey, is believed to be the Mary Luffsey who married Joshua Palmer (Mary’s father) in Franklin County, Indiana on 8 September 1811.[44] (Union County was formed from Franklin County in 1821). Joshua was probably dead by 1820; he is not listed as a head of household on the 1820 census. Mary Palmer died in Union County 27 January 1823 and James Conaway, probably her son-in-law, administered her estate.[45]
Just a week before Mary Palmer’s death, on 18 January 1823, William and Mary Sparks sold the land they had bought in Liberty Township in 1809 to James Bates.[46] Nine months later, on 15 October, they sold part of the east half of section 11 (94 acres) to Reuben Scurlock for $400.[47] This was apparently part of the 162 acres entered by Rev. Joshua Palmer in 1807 and may have been their inheritance.
Between 1821 and 1837, William Sparks “of Fayette County” received patents from the federal government nearly 1,200 acres of land in Bartholomew, Rush and Hancock counties:
6 November 1821
6 November 1821 5 December 1821 10 March 1825 10 March 1825 10 March 1825 2 October 1834 2 October 1834 10 August 1837 |
East half of the northwest quarter of Section 9, Township 10 North, Range 6 East (80 acres)[48]
West half of the northwest quarter of Section 9, Township 10 North, Range 6 East (80 acres)[49] Southwest quarter of Section 36, Township 14 North, Range 10 East (160 acres)[50] Southeast quarter of Section 17, Township 14 North, Range 10 East (160 acres)[51] Southeast quarter of Section 7, Township 14 North, Range 10 East (160 acres)[52] Northwest quarter of Section 7, Township 14 North, Range 10 East (155.08 acres)[53] West half of the northeast quarter of Section 22, Township 17 North, Range 8 East (80 acres)[54] Northwest quarter of Section 22, Township 17 North, Range 8 East (160 acres)[55] Southeast quarter of Section 34, Township 17 North, Range 8 East (160 acres)[56] |
On 24 July 1824, William and Mary were among the founders of the Village Creek Baptist Church in Connersville Township. The church was organized at the home of Robert Gilky and became part of the Whitewater Primitive Baptist Association. Members of neighboring churches came to assist in the inauguration. These included Minor Thomas, James Thomas, and John Miller from Lick Creek Church; Jonathan Hougham, Matthias Dosson and Joseph White from New Bethel Church; and Joseph Billings, William Ewing and Bennett Langston from New Hope Church. The charter members of the church, besides William and Mary Sparks, included Mary Denman, William Denman, Robert Gilky, Sarah Gilky, Mary Harlan, Stephen Harlan, Hannah McCray, Phineas Sparks (sic, probably Phineas McCray), Sarah McCray, Thomas Wolverton and Jane Wood.[57] William and Mary had the satisfaction of seeing two of their sons, John and William, become Baptist preachers.
William is listed among the taxpayers of Fayette County in 1829.[58] In 1830 he is enumerated in Connersville Township in 1830 with 1 male 5-10, 1 male 15-20, 1 male 50-60, 1 female 10-15, and one female 50-60.[59] In 1840 the household of William Sparks Senr consisted of 1 male 15-20, 1 male 60-70, and one female 50-60.[60]
Mary Palmer Sparks died in Indiana on 6 July 1848, her 69th birthday.[61] She is buried in the Village Creek Cemetery near Connersville, Indiana.[62] After Mary’s death, William continued to reside on the home farm with his youngest son, Hiram. He is enumerated in Hiram’s household in the 1850[63] and 1860[64] censuses. In 1852 he sold the south half of the southeast quarter of section 36 to Hiram.[65]
William died 31 January 1862 at age 89[66] and is buried next to Mary in the Village Creek Cemetery.
Children of William and Mary (Palmer) Sparks:
1. Zachariah Sparks, born about 1796, probably Laurens County, South Carolina; married Elizabeth Carter, 16 May 1815, Franklin County, Indiana
2. Joshua Sparks, born about 1798, probably Laurens County, South Carolina; died 20 April 1850, Rush County, Indiana; married (1) Rachel McCray 9 April 1818, Franklin County, Indiana; married (2) Sarah (____) Cross, 23 September 1847, Rush County, Indiana
3. Jane Sparks, born 22 December 1800 or 1801, Laurens County, South Carolina; died 12 December 1864, Brown Township, Hancock County, Indiana; married Moses McCray 16 February 1817, Franklin County, Indiana
4. Mary Sparks, born 6 February 1802, probably Laurens County, South Carolina; died 23 November 1887, Brown Township, Hancock County, Indiana; married Stephen Harlan 19 December 1821, Fayette County, Indiana
5. John Sparks, born 6 December 1806, Laurens County, South Carolina; died 8 March 1863, La Fontaine, Wabash County, Indiana; married Elizabeth Harlan 2 November 1826, Fayette County, Indiana
6. Stephen Sparks, born 6 July 1808, Laurens County, South Carolina; died 11 February 1899, Easton, Leavenworth County, Kansas; married (1) Essenith (Green) Woolverton 10 July 1828, Fayette County, Indiana; married (2) Emma Piper, about 1859, Leavenworth County, Kansas; married (3) Elizabeth (Hutchcraft) McGee, 15 October 1860, Fayette County, Indiana
7. William Sparks, born 16 August 1812, Franklin County, Indiana; died 12 May 1891, Fayette County, Indiana; married Elizabeth Webb 5 September 1833, Fayette County, Indiana
8. Matthew Sparks, born about 1815, Indiana; died young
9. Joseph Sparks, born about 1819, Indiana; died young
10. Hiram Sparks, born 2 October 1821, Fayette County, Indiana; died 2 March 1902; married Elizabeth Stoops 17 February 1842, Fayette County, Indiana
_________________________________________________________________________________________
[1] "Hiram Sparks," Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1899), 897. The book states that Mary Palmer died on her birthday, 6 July 1848, at the age of 69.
[2] South Carolina, “Colonial Land Grants (Copy Series),” database, South Carolina Department of Archives and History (http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/Default.html accessed 30 September 2009), entry for Joshua Palmer, 1762, citing series S213184, vol. 7:267, item 1.
[3] Ibid, entry for Richard Marks, 1764, vol. 10:238, item 2.
[4] Ibid, entry for Joshua Palmer, 1767, vol. 19:40, item 2.
[5] South Carolina Land Plats 7Q:91, 8 January 1785. FHL microfilm 22619.
[6] Ibid, 6:5, 4 July 1785, FHL microfilm 22546.
[7] Ibid, 24:379, 6 October 1788, FHL microfilm 22552.
[8] South Carolina Land Plats 27Q:431, 20 October 1791, FHL microfilm 22624.
[9] Leah Townsend, South Carolina Baptists, 1670 to 1805 (1935; reprint; Baltimore: reprinted for Clearfield Co. by Genealogical Publishing Co., 1990), 227.
[10] Their oldest son, Zachariah, was born about 1796.
[11] "Hiram Sparks," Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1899), 896.
[12] Russell E. Bidlack, “Zachariah Sparks (died ca. 1781) of South Carolina,” The Sparks Quarterly 9 (Sept 1961):570-571.
[13] "Hiram Sparks," Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1899), 896.
[14] Russell E. Bidlack, “Zachariah Sparks (died ca. 1781) of South Carolina,” The Sparks Quarterly 9 (Sept 1961):573.
[15] Willie Pauline Young, Abstracts of Old Ninety-Six and Abbeville District Wills and Bonds As On File in the Abbeville, South Carolina, Courthouse (Easley, South Carolina: Southern Historical Press, 1977), 296. The estate is filed in Box 86, Pack 2114.
[16] 1790 U.S. census, Laurens County, South Carolina, p. 11 (ink); digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 October 2009); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M637, roll 11. Andrew Endsley is listed in col. 1; Joseph Glenn, Edward “Giddeons,” Adam Gordon, and Alexander Menary are in col. 2
[17] 1790 U.S. census, Laurens County, South Carolina, p. 11 (ink), col. 2, Francis Lufsey; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 October 2009); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M637, roll 11.
[18] 1790 U.S. census, Laurens County, South Carolina, p. 11 (ink), col. 2, William Sparkes; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 October 2009); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M637, roll 11.
[19] The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [LDS], Pedigree Resource File,” database, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org : 9 October 2009), entry for Joanna Lovesy (PIN 829811); submitted by John D. Hoff, III, Tulsa, Oklahoma.
[20] Sara M. Nash, Abstracts of Early Records of Laurens County, South Carolina 1785-1820 with Name Index and Revolutionary War Service (Fountain Inn, South Carolina: S.M. Nash, 1982?), 89, citing Laurens County Deed Book E:37.
[21] Marian Dodson Chiarito, Halifax County Virginia Deed Books 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6, 1759-1767 (Nathalie, Virginia: Clarkton Press, 1986), 75.
[22] Halifax County, Virginia Court Orders 1763-1764 (Plea Book No. 4) (Miami Beach, Florida: TLC Genealogy, 1998), 50.
[23] Halifax County, Virginia Deed Book 9 (1773-1775) (Miami Beach, Florida: TLC Genealogy, 1990), 56, citing Deed Book 9:350.
[24] South Carolina, “State Plat Books (Charleston Series), 1784-1860,” database, South Carolina Department of Archives and History (http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/Default.html accessed 9 October 2009), entry for William Sparks, 1790, citing series S213190, vol. 25:292, item 2.
[25] Laurens County, South Carolina Deed Book, E:255; FHL microfilm 24,482.
[26] Sara M. Nash, Abstracts of Early Records of Laurens County, South Carolina 1785-1820 with Name Index and Revolutionary War Service (Fountain Inn, South Carolina: S.M. Nash, 1982?), 96, citing Laurens County Deed Book E:142.
[27] Ibid, 166, citing Laurens County Deed Book H.
[28] Alpheus H. Harlan, History and Genealogy of the Harlan Family and Particularly of the Descendants of George and Michael Harlan Who Settled in Chester County, Pa., 1687 (Baltimore: Lord Baltimore Press, 1914), 93-94. Joshua’s last name is printed as “Galmer” in this book.
[29] 1800 U.S. census, Laurens District, South Carolina, p. 209 (stamped), William Sparks; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 October 2009); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M32, roll 50.
[30] Alpheus H. Harlan, History and Genealogy of the Harlan Family, 532.
[31] Margaret R. Waters, Indiana Land Entries: Cincinnati District, 1801-1840 (1948; reprint; Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003), 66.
[32] William Sparks (Dearborn County) credit under file, credit v. 9:112, certificate no. 943, Cincinnati, Ohio, Land Office; Land Entry Papers, 1800-1908, Records of the Bureau of Land Management, Record Group 49, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
[33] Ibid, 65.
[34] Ibid, 26.
[35] William Sparks (Dearborn County) credit under file, credit v. 18:335, certificate no. 2852, Cincinnati, Ohio, Land Office; Land Entry Papers, 1800-1908, Records of the Bureau of Land Management, Record Group 49, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
[36] "Petition to Congress by Citizens of the Territory," Territorial Papers of the United States, Volume 7, The Territory of Indiana, 1800-1810 (Washington: GPO, 1939), 691.
[37] Willard Heiss, Indiana Source Book: Genealogical Material from the Hoosier Genealogist, 1961-1966 (Indianapolis: Genealogy Section, Indiana Historical Society, 1977), 184.
[38] Margaret R. Waters, Indiana Land Entries: Cincinnati District, 1801-1840 (1948; reprint; Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003), 85.
[39] Margaret R. Waters, Indiana Land Entries: Cincinnati District, 1801-1840 (1948; reprint; Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003), 84.
[40] Maurice Holmes, Court Records of Franklin County, Indiana (Shelbyville, Indiana: M. Holmes, 1987), 18, citing Common Pleas Court Minute Book B:129.
[41] Franklin County, Indiana Deeds D:324; FHL microfilm 1862070.
[42] Ibid, C:374-375.
[43] 1820 U.S. census, Connersville, Fayette County, Indiana, p. 16 (stamped), William Sparks; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 October 2009); citing National Archives microfilm M33, roll 15.
[44] Willard Heiss, Indiana Source Book: Genealogical Material from The Hoosier Genealogist, 1973-1979 (Indianapolis: Family History Section, Indiana Historical Society, 1982), 36.
[45] Maurice Holmes, Court Records of Union Co. Indiana 1821-1845 (Shelbyville, Indiana: M. Holmes, 1988), 4-6, 72.
[46] Union County, Indiana Deed Book A:186; FHL microfilm 1571488.
[47] Union County, Indiana Deed Book A:261; FHL microfilm 1571488.
[48] Bureau of Land Management, “Land Patent Search,” database, General Land Office Records (http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/PatentSearch : accessed 20 October 2009), entry for William Sparks, Bartholomew County, Indiana, no. 162.
[49] Ibid, entry for William Sparks, Bartholomew County, Indiana, no. 163.
[50] Ibid, entry for William Sparks, Rush County, Indiana, no. 479.
[51] Ibid, entry for William Sparks, Rush County, Indiana, no. 5558.
[52] Ibid, entry for William Sparks, Rush County, Indiana, no. 5559.
[53] Ibid, entry for William Sparks, Rush County, Indiana, no. 5560.
[54] Ibid, entry for William Sparks, Hancock County, Indiana, no. 13849.
[55] Ibid, entry for William Sparks, Hancock County, Indiana, no. 13850.
[56] Ibid, entry for William Sparks, Hancock County, Indiana, no. 27320.
[57] H. Max Walters, The Making of Connersville and Fayette County: Stories About Its People, Places and Events (Baltimore, Maryland: Gateway Press, 1988), 1:230-231.
[58] Willard Heiss, Indiana Source Book: Genealogical Material from The Hoosier Genealogist, 1967-1972 (Indianapolis: Family History Section, Indiana Historical Society, 1981), 224.
[59] 1830 U.S. census, Fayette County, Indiana, p. 102 (in ink), William Sparks; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 October 2009); citing National Archives microfilm M19, roll 26.
[60] 1840 U.S. census, Connersville, Fayette County, Indiana, p. 148 (in ink), William Sparks; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 October 2009); citing National Archives microfilm M704, roll 79.
[61] "Hiram Sparks," Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana, 897.
[62] Daughters of the American Colonists, Indian Hill Chapter (Connersville, Indiana), Old Cemeteries, Fayette County, Indiana: a Record of the Known Cemeteries and Family Burying Plots in Fayette County, Indiana (Connersville, Indiana: Daughters of the American Colonists, [1964], 219.
[63] 1850 U.S. census, Connersville, Fayette County, Indiana, p. 362 (in ink), line 27, William Sparks; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 October 2009); citing National Archives microfilm M432, roll 144.
[64] 1860 U.S. census, Connersville, Fayette County, Indiana, p. 59, line 31, Wm Sparks; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 October 2009); citing National Archives microfilm M653, roll 256.
[65] Fayette County, Indiana Deed Book Q:539; FHL microfilm 469712.
[66] "Hiram Sparks," Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana, 897.
William is listed among the taxpayers of Fayette County in 1829.[58] In 1830 he is enumerated in Connersville Township in 1830 with 1 male 5-10, 1 male 15-20, 1 male 50-60, 1 female 10-15, and one female 50-60.[59] In 1840 the household of William Sparks Senr consisted of 1 male 15-20, 1 male 60-70, and one female 50-60.[60]
Mary Palmer Sparks died in Indiana on 6 July 1848, her 69th birthday.[61] She is buried in the Village Creek Cemetery near Connersville, Indiana.[62] After Mary’s death, William continued to reside on the home farm with his youngest son, Hiram. He is enumerated in Hiram’s household in the 1850[63] and 1860[64] censuses. In 1852 he sold the south half of the southeast quarter of section 36 to Hiram.[65]
William died 31 January 1862 at age 89[66] and is buried next to Mary in the Village Creek Cemetery.
Children of William and Mary (Palmer) Sparks:
1. Zachariah Sparks, born about 1796, probably Laurens County, South Carolina; married Elizabeth Carter, 16 May 1815, Franklin County, Indiana
2. Joshua Sparks, born about 1798, probably Laurens County, South Carolina; died 20 April 1850, Rush County, Indiana; married (1) Rachel McCray 9 April 1818, Franklin County, Indiana; married (2) Sarah (____) Cross, 23 September 1847, Rush County, Indiana
3. Jane Sparks, born 22 December 1800 or 1801, Laurens County, South Carolina; died 12 December 1864, Brown Township, Hancock County, Indiana; married Moses McCray 16 February 1817, Franklin County, Indiana
4. Mary Sparks, born 6 February 1802, probably Laurens County, South Carolina; died 23 November 1887, Brown Township, Hancock County, Indiana; married Stephen Harlan 19 December 1821, Fayette County, Indiana
5. John Sparks, born 6 December 1806, Laurens County, South Carolina; died 8 March 1863, La Fontaine, Wabash County, Indiana; married Elizabeth Harlan 2 November 1826, Fayette County, Indiana
6. Stephen Sparks, born 6 July 1808, Laurens County, South Carolina; died 11 February 1899, Easton, Leavenworth County, Kansas; married (1) Essenith (Green) Woolverton 10 July 1828, Fayette County, Indiana; married (2) Emma Piper, about 1859, Leavenworth County, Kansas; married (3) Elizabeth (Hutchcraft) McGee, 15 October 1860, Fayette County, Indiana
7. William Sparks, born 16 August 1812, Franklin County, Indiana; died 12 May 1891, Fayette County, Indiana; married Elizabeth Webb 5 September 1833, Fayette County, Indiana
8. Matthew Sparks, born about 1815, Indiana; died young
9. Joseph Sparks, born about 1819, Indiana; died young
10. Hiram Sparks, born 2 October 1821, Fayette County, Indiana; died 2 March 1902; married Elizabeth Stoops 17 February 1842, Fayette County, Indiana
_________________________________________________________________________________________
[1] "Hiram Sparks," Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1899), 897. The book states that Mary Palmer died on her birthday, 6 July 1848, at the age of 69.
[2] South Carolina, “Colonial Land Grants (Copy Series),” database, South Carolina Department of Archives and History (http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/Default.html accessed 30 September 2009), entry for Joshua Palmer, 1762, citing series S213184, vol. 7:267, item 1.
[3] Ibid, entry for Richard Marks, 1764, vol. 10:238, item 2.
[4] Ibid, entry for Joshua Palmer, 1767, vol. 19:40, item 2.
[5] South Carolina Land Plats 7Q:91, 8 January 1785. FHL microfilm 22619.
[6] Ibid, 6:5, 4 July 1785, FHL microfilm 22546.
[7] Ibid, 24:379, 6 October 1788, FHL microfilm 22552.
[8] South Carolina Land Plats 27Q:431, 20 October 1791, FHL microfilm 22624.
[9] Leah Townsend, South Carolina Baptists, 1670 to 1805 (1935; reprint; Baltimore: reprinted for Clearfield Co. by Genealogical Publishing Co., 1990), 227.
[10] Their oldest son, Zachariah, was born about 1796.
[11] "Hiram Sparks," Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1899), 896.
[12] Russell E. Bidlack, “Zachariah Sparks (died ca. 1781) of South Carolina,” The Sparks Quarterly 9 (Sept 1961):570-571.
[13] "Hiram Sparks," Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1899), 896.
[14] Russell E. Bidlack, “Zachariah Sparks (died ca. 1781) of South Carolina,” The Sparks Quarterly 9 (Sept 1961):573.
[15] Willie Pauline Young, Abstracts of Old Ninety-Six and Abbeville District Wills and Bonds As On File in the Abbeville, South Carolina, Courthouse (Easley, South Carolina: Southern Historical Press, 1977), 296. The estate is filed in Box 86, Pack 2114.
[16] 1790 U.S. census, Laurens County, South Carolina, p. 11 (ink); digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 October 2009); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M637, roll 11. Andrew Endsley is listed in col. 1; Joseph Glenn, Edward “Giddeons,” Adam Gordon, and Alexander Menary are in col. 2
[17] 1790 U.S. census, Laurens County, South Carolina, p. 11 (ink), col. 2, Francis Lufsey; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 October 2009); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M637, roll 11.
[18] 1790 U.S. census, Laurens County, South Carolina, p. 11 (ink), col. 2, William Sparkes; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 October 2009); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M637, roll 11.
[19] The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [LDS], Pedigree Resource File,” database, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org : 9 October 2009), entry for Joanna Lovesy (PIN 829811); submitted by John D. Hoff, III, Tulsa, Oklahoma.
[20] Sara M. Nash, Abstracts of Early Records of Laurens County, South Carolina 1785-1820 with Name Index and Revolutionary War Service (Fountain Inn, South Carolina: S.M. Nash, 1982?), 89, citing Laurens County Deed Book E:37.
[21] Marian Dodson Chiarito, Halifax County Virginia Deed Books 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6, 1759-1767 (Nathalie, Virginia: Clarkton Press, 1986), 75.
[22] Halifax County, Virginia Court Orders 1763-1764 (Plea Book No. 4) (Miami Beach, Florida: TLC Genealogy, 1998), 50.
[23] Halifax County, Virginia Deed Book 9 (1773-1775) (Miami Beach, Florida: TLC Genealogy, 1990), 56, citing Deed Book 9:350.
[24] South Carolina, “State Plat Books (Charleston Series), 1784-1860,” database, South Carolina Department of Archives and History (http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/Default.html accessed 9 October 2009), entry for William Sparks, 1790, citing series S213190, vol. 25:292, item 2.
[25] Laurens County, South Carolina Deed Book, E:255; FHL microfilm 24,482.
[26] Sara M. Nash, Abstracts of Early Records of Laurens County, South Carolina 1785-1820 with Name Index and Revolutionary War Service (Fountain Inn, South Carolina: S.M. Nash, 1982?), 96, citing Laurens County Deed Book E:142.
[27] Ibid, 166, citing Laurens County Deed Book H.
[28] Alpheus H. Harlan, History and Genealogy of the Harlan Family and Particularly of the Descendants of George and Michael Harlan Who Settled in Chester County, Pa., 1687 (Baltimore: Lord Baltimore Press, 1914), 93-94. Joshua’s last name is printed as “Galmer” in this book.
[29] 1800 U.S. census, Laurens District, South Carolina, p. 209 (stamped), William Sparks; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 October 2009); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M32, roll 50.
[30] Alpheus H. Harlan, History and Genealogy of the Harlan Family, 532.
[31] Margaret R. Waters, Indiana Land Entries: Cincinnati District, 1801-1840 (1948; reprint; Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003), 66.
[32] William Sparks (Dearborn County) credit under file, credit v. 9:112, certificate no. 943, Cincinnati, Ohio, Land Office; Land Entry Papers, 1800-1908, Records of the Bureau of Land Management, Record Group 49, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
[33] Ibid, 65.
[34] Ibid, 26.
[35] William Sparks (Dearborn County) credit under file, credit v. 18:335, certificate no. 2852, Cincinnati, Ohio, Land Office; Land Entry Papers, 1800-1908, Records of the Bureau of Land Management, Record Group 49, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
[36] "Petition to Congress by Citizens of the Territory," Territorial Papers of the United States, Volume 7, The Territory of Indiana, 1800-1810 (Washington: GPO, 1939), 691.
[37] Willard Heiss, Indiana Source Book: Genealogical Material from the Hoosier Genealogist, 1961-1966 (Indianapolis: Genealogy Section, Indiana Historical Society, 1977), 184.
[38] Margaret R. Waters, Indiana Land Entries: Cincinnati District, 1801-1840 (1948; reprint; Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003), 85.
[39] Margaret R. Waters, Indiana Land Entries: Cincinnati District, 1801-1840 (1948; reprint; Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003), 84.
[40] Maurice Holmes, Court Records of Franklin County, Indiana (Shelbyville, Indiana: M. Holmes, 1987), 18, citing Common Pleas Court Minute Book B:129.
[41] Franklin County, Indiana Deeds D:324; FHL microfilm 1862070.
[42] Ibid, C:374-375.
[43] 1820 U.S. census, Connersville, Fayette County, Indiana, p. 16 (stamped), William Sparks; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 October 2009); citing National Archives microfilm M33, roll 15.
[44] Willard Heiss, Indiana Source Book: Genealogical Material from The Hoosier Genealogist, 1973-1979 (Indianapolis: Family History Section, Indiana Historical Society, 1982), 36.
[45] Maurice Holmes, Court Records of Union Co. Indiana 1821-1845 (Shelbyville, Indiana: M. Holmes, 1988), 4-6, 72.
[46] Union County, Indiana Deed Book A:186; FHL microfilm 1571488.
[47] Union County, Indiana Deed Book A:261; FHL microfilm 1571488.
[48] Bureau of Land Management, “Land Patent Search,” database, General Land Office Records (http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/PatentSearch : accessed 20 October 2009), entry for William Sparks, Bartholomew County, Indiana, no. 162.
[49] Ibid, entry for William Sparks, Bartholomew County, Indiana, no. 163.
[50] Ibid, entry for William Sparks, Rush County, Indiana, no. 479.
[51] Ibid, entry for William Sparks, Rush County, Indiana, no. 5558.
[52] Ibid, entry for William Sparks, Rush County, Indiana, no. 5559.
[53] Ibid, entry for William Sparks, Rush County, Indiana, no. 5560.
[54] Ibid, entry for William Sparks, Hancock County, Indiana, no. 13849.
[55] Ibid, entry for William Sparks, Hancock County, Indiana, no. 13850.
[56] Ibid, entry for William Sparks, Hancock County, Indiana, no. 27320.
[57] H. Max Walters, The Making of Connersville and Fayette County: Stories About Its People, Places and Events (Baltimore, Maryland: Gateway Press, 1988), 1:230-231.
[58] Willard Heiss, Indiana Source Book: Genealogical Material from The Hoosier Genealogist, 1967-1972 (Indianapolis: Family History Section, Indiana Historical Society, 1981), 224.
[59] 1830 U.S. census, Fayette County, Indiana, p. 102 (in ink), William Sparks; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 October 2009); citing National Archives microfilm M19, roll 26.
[60] 1840 U.S. census, Connersville, Fayette County, Indiana, p. 148 (in ink), William Sparks; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 October 2009); citing National Archives microfilm M704, roll 79.
[61] "Hiram Sparks," Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana, 897.
[62] Daughters of the American Colonists, Indian Hill Chapter (Connersville, Indiana), Old Cemeteries, Fayette County, Indiana: a Record of the Known Cemeteries and Family Burying Plots in Fayette County, Indiana (Connersville, Indiana: Daughters of the American Colonists, [1964], 219.
[63] 1850 U.S. census, Connersville, Fayette County, Indiana, p. 362 (in ink), line 27, William Sparks; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 October 2009); citing National Archives microfilm M432, roll 144.
[64] 1860 U.S. census, Connersville, Fayette County, Indiana, p. 59, line 31, Wm Sparks; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 October 2009); citing National Archives microfilm M653, roll 256.
[65] Fayette County, Indiana Deed Book Q:539; FHL microfilm 469712.
[66] "Hiram Sparks," Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana, 897.
** NOTICE: The biographies on this web site were written and the color photographs were taken by Donna Meszaros. I don't mind if you make copies for your own personal use, but please ask permission before posting them to other web sites.**