| 1. | (daughter) Sparks was born about 1666 in Maryland; died before 1709. Notes:
http://sparksfamilytree.net/family_tree/wga80.html#I18631
(Continued at p. 1384 Sparks Quarterly from notes of William Sparks)
County Deed Book 53 p. 336) (Emory, in his history of Queen Anne'sCounty, p. 49, notes that Samuel Withers "erected a brick house sometimeprior to 1724 on Island Creek.")
"The first official record of a son of William Sparks was recorded inOctober 1695 when he and his son, William Sparks, Jr., were witnesses tothe will of John Ellet in Talbot County. (Maryland Calendar of Wills,Vol. 2, p. 109) From this we may infer that William Sparks, Jr., was theoldest son of William Sparks and was probably born twenty-one or moreyears earlier, or at least by 1674. If this inference is correct, we mayspeculate that William and Mary had been married about 1670-173.
"In 1696, William Sparks was elected a warden of St. Paul's Parish.The territory of this parish comprised the lower part of what is nowQueen Anne's County and the upper part of Talbot County. This parish hadexisted many years prior to 1692 when the act establishing the AnglicanChurch in the province was passed by the General Assembly, but thereafterrecords seem to have been kept for the first time. Edward Tomlins wasthe other warden in 1696. William Sparks was succeeded in 1698 bySolomon Wright.
"On December 2, 1696, both William Sparks and his son William Sparks,Jr., signed an interesting document addressed to the King of England,William III. In the previous February there had been an assassinationplot to restore King James II to the throne. The plot was betrayed, mostof the conspirators were arrested, and eight of them were put to death.Stating that the news had "here Arriv'd of the horrible intendedConspiracy agains his Royal person," the justices of the province alongwith the civil officers and military officers of each county, sidned an"address" of congratulations to their "Dread Soverain." The signersprofessed their loyalty to King William and promised to "Stand by &Assist Each other to the Utmost of our power in the Support and Defenceof Yor Mats Governmt against the late King James and all hisAdherents..." William Sparks's name appears among the 29 "CivillOfficers and Magistrates" of Kent County who signed this address, and thenames of both William Sparks and his son, William Sparks, Jr., wereincluded among the 62 "Military Officers of Kent County." (A number ofother individuals were listed among both the civil and military officers,including John Hunter and John Hamer, thus we can be quite sure that theWilliam Sparks in both lists was the same person.) Why William Sparksand his son were listed among the officials of Kent County rather thanTalbot County, we cannot be sure. Talbot County had been cut off fromKent County in 1662, although Kent Island remained part of Kent Countyuntil 1695. Histories of the province have frequently pointed out,however, that the boundaries between the counties were often indefiniteduring the 1600's and early 1700's. This is proven by a deed datedJanuary 27, 1701, by which William Sparks and his wife Mary sold to JohnHamer for 4000 pounds of tobacco the tract of land which Williain Sparkshad purchased in 1691 from Robert and Ann Smith called "Wright's Choice"located on Ellis Branch of Island Creek. (Kent County Land Records JD #1,P. 79-81) The 1691 deed was recorded in Talbot County but in 1701 thedeed was recorded in Kent County and William and Mary Sparks wereidentified therein as "of Kent County." (The tract was described as ithad been in 1691, except that the "South-East Branch of Island Creek" wasnow called "Ellis Branch." The tract was identified as "being lately inthe tenure or occupation of the sd. William Sparks.") It is possible.,of course, that the family had moved over the line from Talbot Countyinto Kent County, but it seems more probable that their land holdingswere located so nearly on the dividing line between Kent and TalbotCounties that there was some confusion regarding their exactwhereabouts. Even after Queen Anne's County was cut off from Talbot in1706, the boundary between Kent and the new county seems not to have beenclearly determined.
"In this 1701 deed., William Sparks was identified as "William Sparks,Senr."; as was his custom, he signed by mark as while his wife Marysigned as "M". The witnesses were Edward Goding and Thomas Hawkins.
"The last time that William Sparks purchased land was on February 2,1707, when John and Elizabeth Hamer of Kent County sold him two tracts inwhat had just become Queen Anne's County (formerly Talbot County). (BookA, Lieber EF, p. 16) In this deed, William Sparks was identified as beinga resident of Queen Anne's County. One tract comprised 249 acres and theother 199 acres; both were located on the south side of Chester River onIsland Creek. Solomon Wright and John Salter signed as witnesses onFebruary 13., 1707. At the same time, in a separate transaction, Williamand Mary Sparks (her name appeared in the deed as "Marah", but hersignature was clearly "Mary") sold 480 acres in Queen Arme's County toJohn Hamer, Sr., for the same amount, 22,000 pounds of tobacco. (Book A,Lieber EF, p. 12) Frederick Emory, who wrote a history of Queen Arme'sCounty in 1950, noted (P. 39) that this deed contains the earliestreference to Royston's Creek, this being a tract laid out by RichardRoyston.) The witnesses were again Solomon Wright and John Salter, andsince they signed both deeds on February 13, even though one was datedFebruary 2 and the other October 3, it is apparent that John Hamer andWilliam Sparks were actually trading tracts of land.
"Two years later, when William Sparks made his will., he left thetract that he had purchased from Hamer to his son John Sparks. However,he stated that if Hamer should be dispossessed from the land whichWilliam Sparks had sold to him, then Hamer would have the right to takeback the other tract. It would appear that William Sparks was uncertainof his title to the tract that he had sold to Hamer, perhaps becauseof his wife's dower rights. On March 15, 1716, William and John Sparks,identified as "Planters of Queen Anne's County ... fulfilling the lastWill and Testament of their father William Sparks" gave a new deed toJohn Hamer, Sr., for those two tracts called "Harden" and "Higate". Thenon April 22, 1722, John Hamer, Sr., gave William Sparks, Jr., a new deedfor the 480-acre tract of Royston's Creek which he had sold to WilliamSparks, Sr., in 1701; however, William Sparks, Jr., had to give Hamer 700pounds of tobacco for the new deed.
"On March 25, 1707, William Sparks gave a tract of land to his son,George Sparks. Perhaps this was a wedding present. In this deed, whichis recorded in Kent County (Book C., p. 187) William Sparks wasidentified as "of said County, Planter." He stated that "I, WilliamSparkes as well for and in Respect of the Love I bear unto my Son GeorgeSparkes of said County as also for other divers good Causes andConsiderations me at this time Especiall moving have given ... unto thesaid George Sparkes one hundred and fifty acres of Land part of a tractof Land called Sparks Choice." This tract of 150 acres was the remainingportion of the 250-acre tract Called "Sparks Choice" which WilliamSparks had acquired in 1681. He had sold the other 100 acres to SamuelWithers in 1691.
"Our last record of William Sparks disposing of property is a deedrecorded in Kent County dated April 16, 1707 (Book C, p. 227-235). Inthis deed, William Sparks and his wife, Mary, along with John Hamer andhis wife Elizabeth, sold a tract of 250 acres To James Wyat for 7,500pounds of tobacco. All parties in this deed were Identified as "of KentCounty." We have found no record of Sparks and Hamer having accuired thisland, although it is probable that it relates to the exchange of tractsbetween them two months earlier. This tract is described in this deed ofApril 16, 1707, as "situate and being in Kent County on the South side ofChester River and on the upper side of Royston Creek, Beginning at abounded pine Tree standing on the River side a little below a small Marshbeing the Second bounded Tree of the said Land called Royston and runningthence South and by East three hundred perches to Royston's branch thenby and with the said branch down to the River and then by and with thesaid River up to the afsd (aforesaid) pine containing by Estimation twohundred and fifty acres more or less." William Sparks signed this deedwith his usual mark (an X in a circle) and Mary Sparks signed as "M" aswas her custom. John and Elizabeth Hamer both signed their names, as didthe three witnesses C. Wright, Nathaniel Wright, and Flower Wattes.
"On June 21, 1709, William Sparks made his will, signing by his usualmark (an X in a circle). Four months later his will was probated, onOctober 24, 1709. This proves that he died between June 21 and October24, 1709. From his will, given below, certain inferences can be made.He was obviously quite ill at the time he made his will, apparently quitecertain that he would die. His son William Sparks, Jr., whom he named toserve as executor with his wife, was obviously his oldest son. Heprobably named his other children in the other of their birth. Georgemust have been the second son--he had obviously married and had childrenby 1709. Apparently the next oldest child was a daughter who had marrieda man named Hynson and had a son named Charles Hynson by 1709 to whomWilliam Sparks willed a heifer. He also gave a heffer "to the daughterof his son William Sparks, Jr. John Sparks his third son, was apparentlyat least 21 years old in 1709 and to him William Sparks left the landwhich he had purchased from John Hamer in 1707, although he realizedthat, there was apparently some doubt about the title to that land and heprovided an alternative inheritance for John if that proved to be thecase. To his eldest son, William Sparks, Jr, and to his youngest son,Joseph Sparks,who was not yet of age in 1709, William Sparks left theplantation "that I now live on called hills adventure and Sparkesoutlet." It thus appears that William Sparks's home was either on the 100acre tract called "Adventure" (or "Hill's Adventure") which he hadpurchased from Michael Hackett in 1681, or on the 114-acre adjoiningtract called "Sparks Outlet" which he had purchased in 1687 from ThomasSmithson. He made the customary provision for his wife, providingcarefully for her so long as she. did not remarry and assuring that hersons should not take any advantage of her.
"FolIowing is the full text of the will of William Sparks:
The Last Will of William Sparks of Queen Anne's CountyMaryland
Maryland. In the Name of God Amen I William of Queen Annes Countybeing Sick in body but of Sound and perfect, memory but knowing theuncertainty of Life and being Desirous to --?-- my Estate do make andConstitute and order this to be my last will and Testament hereby makeingVoid all and every will or wills heretofore by me made.
first I bequeath my Soul into the hands of God beleiving by the merrittsof Jesus Christ to receive pardon of all my Sins and my body to theEarth to be Decently buried in such Decent manner as my Exrs hereafternamed Shall think of it and as to the worldly good it has pleased God tobestow upon me my will in they be Disposed of in Manner and formsfollowing --
Item I will that all my Just Debts and funerall Necessary Charges befirst paid
I give to my Son George Sparks one fether bed and bolster two blanketsand one Rugg being the same he use to lye on the same to be Delivered tohim presently after my Decease & that my Son George and his wife andChildren Shall have Liberty to live three years with his mother on my nowDwelling plantation in my now Dwelling house to make a crop of Corne andTobO be laying in five barrens of Indian corne every year dureing thesaid time and to take due care of his mothers Stock and for so doing tohave his and his wife and Children's accomodations and to pay no rentdureing the sd Time
Item I give to my grandson Charles Hynson one two year old heffer withall her female Increase and the male Increase to them who Shall take Careand Look after the Same the Said heffer to be marked for him Immediatelyafter my Death
I give to my Daughter that is to say my grand Daughter being the Daughterof my Son Wm Sparks one year heffer with all her female Increase to bemarked and
Delivered for her use presently after my Death the males to go to him heror
them that Shall or does take care of the same.
My will is that my Loveing wife Mary Sparks Shall have possess and Injoymy now Dwelling plant with all it's appurts during her widow hood but notto protest her son William Sparks but then he Shall have the same LibertyAs he has now what is ordered before for George Sparks Excepting thatneither the said Wm nor George do molest or disturb their mother dureingher widowhood but if my said wife Mary Sparkes does marry again then tohave no more than her thirds of my Said Land and plantation dureing herlife and the thirds of my personall Estate but Dureing her widowhood SheShall have the Disposall of all my personall Estate Except as beforeExcepted and if she does happen to die before she marries then to Disposeof it as she will but if She marrys my personall Estate Except her thirdsto be Equally divided among all of my Children.
Item I give and bequeath to my Son John Sparks that planta and tract ofLand with all its appurts thereunto belonging formerly John Hamers to himand to his heires forever
Item I give to my Sons Wm Sparks and Joseph Sparks all my planta and Landthere unto belonging that I now live in Called hills adventure andSparkes out let and my will is that if the planta late John Hamers abovegiven to my Son John Should be Returned again to the sd John Hamers as mysaid Son is obliged to do if John Hamer Shall be Legally Disposest of theLand he now lives on part of 10'S he had of me in Exchange for the saidplanta then my will is that my Son John Shall Come in with his twobrotbers Wm and Joseph and Shall have Equall Share and proportion of theSaid Land and Shall be Equally Divided among them & Shall have hold &Enjoy the same to them and their heires forever.
I will that if my Son Joseph Shall happen to die before he comes to agethen his part of Land to fall to my Son William and his heires forever hepaying to my Son Geo Sparks his heires and assignes the Sume of twothousand pounds of Tobo.
I give to my Son Joseph Sparks one Yearling heffer
I do hereby appoint my wife Mary Sparks and my Son William to be the Exrsof this my Last will and Testamt.
In Wittness hereunto I have Set my hand and affixed my Seale the Twentyfirst day of June 1709.
his
Signed Sealed and pronouncedWm X Sparks (seal)
Declared to be my Last will & mark
Testament in the presents of
(signed) John Salter his
Wm A Boulton
Jno Hamer, Junr mark
his
Thomas O Trickee
mark
Octr 24, 1709
Then came John Salter, John Hamer Junr and Thos Trickey three of theEvidences to the above will made oath upon the Holy Evangelist aht theysaw the Teste Wm Sparks Seal pronounce and Declare the above writeing tobe his Last will and Testamt and tht he was at the time of a Sound &Disposeing mind and memory before me
Evan Thomas Dty County.
The above will has been copied from the copy that was made in the WillBook of Queen Anne's County, Liber 13, folio 4.
As noted earlier in this article, William Sparks and his family weremembers of St. Paul's Parish. Unfortunately, the records of birth,marriages, and deaths of this parish do not survive. In 1729, however,St. Paul's Parish was divided and the descendants of William Sparksbecame members of the new parish known as St. Luke's. The church forthis parish was (and is) located at Church Hill; it was long known as"Up-River Chapel." Its records have been preserved beginning in 1728(although some pages have been lost). A careful search of the births,marriages, and death records of St. Luke's has been made for us by JohnFrederick Dorman, and the Sparks entries from this record appearhereafter.
We have found no record of the death of Mary Sparks, widow of William.From his will and other records, we know that William and Mary Sparkswere the parents of four sons and one daughter. In subsequent issues ofthe QUARTERLY, we plan to publish additional material on these sons andtheir descendants. The names of these children were: (for which seefamily sheet).
[Returning to p. 4028: One of the most important documents found thusfar to provide insight into the life of William Sparks is his will datedJune 21, 1709, and probated on October 24, 1709. (From these dates weknow that William Sparks died between June 21 and October 24, 1709.)The full text of William Sparks's will was transcribed on pp. 1387-88) ofthe March 1971 issue [and set forth above]. In his will William Sparksprovided for each of his four sons (William Sparks, Jr. born about 1674;George Sparks, born about 1678; John Sparks, born about 1680; and JosephSparks, who was not yet of age when his father made his will in 1709.)William Sparks also provided for a grandson named Charles Hynson, who wasapparently the child of a deceased daughter of William and Mary Sparks.We have not discovered the daughter's name.
Charles Hynson, grandson of William and Mary Sparks, was probably thesame Charles Hynson who was married to Phebe Carvill on November 30,1739. This marriage was recorded in the register of St. Paul's Parish.The births of five children of Charles and Phebe are also recorded inthis parish register: (1) Charles Hynson, Jr., born December 11, 1743,called their "first born son"; (2) John Carvill Hynson, twin of Charles,Jr., called their "second son" born also on December 11, 1743; (3) MaryHynson, born May 21, 1746; (4) Phebe Hynson, Jr., born December 3, 1747;and (5) Richard Hynson, born February 3, 1749.
We know from a number of sources that the wife of William Sparks hadthe given name Mary, but we have found no clue by which we can identifyher maiden surname. She was living at the time that William Sparks madehis will, and he provided for her in a way that was typical at the time.
After the payment of his debts, of which there were very few, and thedistribution of his specific bequests, William Sparks directed thatone-third of his remaining personal estate be inherited by his wife, butshe was to have the control and use of all of his personal property solong as she remained his widow, that is, so long as she did not remarry.She was also to have possession of what William Sparks described as "mynow Dwelling planta[tion], with all its appurts (i.e. appurtenants) andthe Land belonging to the Same ... dureing her widowhood." He added,however, that "if my said wife, Mary Sparkes, does marry again then tohave no more than her third of my Said Land and plantation dureing herlife..." At the close of his will, William Sparks appointed "my wife,Mary Sparks, and my Son, William Sparks, to be the Exrs. [i.e. executors]of this my Last will and Testamt."
Since preparing the 1971 article, cited earlier, in which we gave thefull text of the will of William Sparks, we have obtained copies ofadditional documents contained in the probate file of his estate. Thesepapers were maintained originally by the Queen Anne's County ProbateCourt, but they are now preserved at the Maryland Hall of Records inAnnapolis.
(A continuation of this article at pg 4029 appears under notes for GeorgeSparks for space reasons).
(daughter) married (..) Hynson about 1686. (..) was born about 1666; died after 1687. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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Abt 1666 - Bef 1709 (~ 43 years)
(1.(daughter)1) was born about 1700; died before 1709. 