John Wesley Sparks, Sr

Notes:

http://sparksfamilytree.net/family_tree/wga84.html#I19638

See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, December 1956, Whole No. 12, p. 94:

"SPARKSES IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION by William PerryJohnson
(Editors note: In the following documents, capitalization and punctuationhave been modernized for the sake of clarity, but no changes have beenmade in spelling or content. The file number given to the applicationpapers of John Sparks in The National Archives is S-7580.)


REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION APPLICATION OF JOHNSPARKS


"State of North Carolina) SS.
County of Wilkes


"On this 30th day of October 1832 personally appeared in open Courtbefore the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions of the County of Wilkes &State of North Carolina, now setting, John Sparkes Esquire, a resident ofthe County of Wilkes & State of North Carolina., aged seventy-nine years,who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, make thefollowing declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act ofCongress passed June 7th 1832.


"That he was born on the 25th day of February 1753 in the County ofRowan in the State of North Carolina, where he lived until he removedwith his father to what is now Wilkes (then Surry) County, N.C., aboutthe year 1772. He resided in Wilkes until the commencement of theRevolution, and about the year 1775 or 1776 he volunteered himself andentered the service of the United States in Captain Jesse Walton'scompany of minute men who had volunteered for two years.


"Soon after the company was organized, they were called upon to goagainst the Scotch & Tories who were said to be committing greatdepredations in the country around Cros's Creek or Fayetteville. At thetime the company marched, this Deponent happened to be from home, but assoon as he returned, and being informed that they had gone, he took hishorse & pursued with all speed, but did not overtake them; having heardthat the Tories were suppressed and the troops on their return, heimmediately turned about & returned home. Soon after this he was orderedout by Captain Walton., to take command of a scouting party & scour thecountry around through Surry & Wilkes & to suppress the Tories or tobring in such as was supposed to be disaffected. In these littleexpeditions, he supposes he was in service two or three weeks.


"After remaining at home some months, orders were received from Col.Martin Armstrong to repair and rendezvous at the head of the Yadkin,preparatory to marching against the Cherokee Indians. They didrendezvous at or near the head of Yadkin, and there remained until theybuilt Fort Defiance where Genl. Wm. Lenoir now lives, during which timethis Deponent had the command of the company, Capt. Walton having beenappointed a Major.


"About the time the Fort was completed, orders were received fromMajor Walton for the company to return home and prepare for an expeditionagainst the Cherokee Indians. This Deponent and the company under hiscommand did return home having been gone about a month, and prepared withall possible dispatch to go against the Indians, and in a few daysmarched to headquarters at the Pleasant Gardens where they joinedGenl.Rutherford, at which time the company, under the command of thisDeponent, was attached to the company under the command of Capt. Benj.Cleveland, and the entire command transferred to Capt. Cleveland.


"After organizing at headquarters, they marched immediately to theCherokee Towns of Watauga, Cowee, Oconoluftee, Hiwassee Tuckaseegie & BigChota, with some others not recollected. This deponent was detailedwhile in the Nation, with others, to act as a spy, and on one occasiontheir party fell in with a small body of Indians on the Hiwassee, withwhom they had an engagement in which they killed ten & took threeprisoners, without losing any men on their side.


"After this little skirmish they returned to the main army with theirprisoners and delivered them up to Genl. Rutherford. The main body ofIndians having fled and abandoned the country, it was thought unnecessaryto pursue them, and after burning their houses, destroying their corn,and committing such other depredation upon them as they could, theyreturned to North Carolina, where they were discharged and returned home,having been gone about three months.


"Soon after the return of this Deponent, he was again called out andserved in various short expeditions against the Tories, but theparticular periods of each cannot now be recollected. About the timeLord Cornwallis was approaching North Carolina from the South, thisDeponent was again called upon and marched, under the command of Colo.Benjamin Herndon, in pursuit of Lord Cornwallis as he was on his marchfrom Cowans Ford on the Catawba to Guilford, and occasionally annoyed andkept in check his out-posts and foraging parties, one of whom theycaptured amounting to twenty or thirty men and detailed them prisonersuntil they were sent off to Virginia.


"This deponent and the troops with whom he was associated, pursuedtheir march until they reached Genl. Green's army at the high rock onHaw River, where they remained several days after which Genl. Greendischarged them, and they returned home, having been gone in thisexpedition at least one month. In a few days after their return home,this Deponent was again called out with others to march in pursuit ofLord Cornwallis who had retreated to Wilmington. They marchedimmediately and rendezvoused under Genl. Rutherford some distance onthis side of Fayetteville.


"After organizing, Genl. Rutherford detached near four hundredmounted men, of whom this Deponent was one, and placed them under thecommand of Colo. Smith & Major Graham, and ordered them to proceed downon the south side of Deep & Cape Fear Rivers until they reachedWilmington while he (Genl. Rutherford), with the balance of the troops,crossed the river and proceeded down on the north side. Previous totheir arrival at Wilmington, they heard that Cornwallis had left theplace, but that he had left a portion of the British troops to keeppossession of the town. Before, however, they reached the town, a smalldetachment was sent ahead to reconnoitre and ascertain the situation ofthe place. When they returned, it was ascertained that most of thetroops were on the northern side of the river but that a small body hadbeen left on the south to act as a piquet guard, upon whom Col. Smithmarched and surprised and succeeded in killing and taking every manwithout surprizing the camp.


"In a day or two, Genl. Rutherford arrived on the north side of theriver, about which time the news of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis wasreceived, upon which the British troops immediately evacuated the townand made their escape down the river in the night. The small pox havingbeen left in Wilmington by the British, it was deemed unsafe for thetroops to enter the place, and a discretion was given to the troops toreturn home or remain with Genl. Rutherford.


"Many did return home, of whom this Deponent was one, having been gonein this expedition nearly three months, (& having volunteered for threemonths would have remained that length of time, but for the smallpoxbreaking out as before Mentioned.) The capture of Lord Cornwallis beingconsidered the closing scene of the war, this Deponent was not againcalled upon to perform any other service. He has no documentary evidenceto prove his services, nor never received a written discharge that he hasany recollection of. He refers to Captain Samuel Johnson as a witnesswho can testify to part of his services. And he also refersto CaptainSamuel Johnson & Reuben Sparkes as persons to whom he is well acquaintedin his neighborhood, and who.can testify as to his character forveracity, and their belief of his services. This Deponent has no recordof his age, but the information herein given on that subject was derivedfrom his mother many years ago, and he believes it to be correct. Hehereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity exceptthe present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of theagency of any state.


Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.


signed: John Sparks
signed R. Martin, Clk.
On the day and year aforesaid., personally appeared in open Courtbefore the Court aforesaid. Capt. Saml. Johnson, who being first dulysworn according to law, deposeth & saith that he served with JohnSparkes, Esqr., the above Applicant, during the three months tourperformed under Genl. Rutherford to the Cherokee Nation, and furtherthat the said three months tour as set forth & specified in the foregoingdeclaration as having been performed by the said John Sparks, Esqr., wasperformed by him.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.


signed: R. Martin Clk. signed:Saml Johnson


We, Saml. Johnson & Reuben Sparkes., residents of the County of Wilkes &State of North Carolina, do hereby certify that we are well acquaintedwith John Sparkes, Esqr., who has subscribed & sworn to the abovedeclaration--that we believe him to be seventy-nine years of age--that heis reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have beena soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
signed: Saml Johnson signed: Reuben Sparks


And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after theinvestigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatoriesprescribed by the War Department that the above applicant was aRevolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the Court furthercertifies that it appears to them, that Capt. Saml. Johnson and ReubenSparkes who have signed the preceding certificate are residents of theCounty of Wilkes and are credible persons, and that their statement isentitled to credit.


signed: Jno Walsh Ck Ct


Amended Declaration
State of North Carolina)
Wilkes County ) Personally appeared before me, theundersigned., a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid,John Sparkes, Esqr., who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith that byreason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swearpositively as to the precise length of his service, but according to thebest of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentionedbelow, and in the following grades: For 'Eight Months and twenty-onedays" I served as a Private, and for such service I claim a pension.This deponent further saith by way of amendment to the foregoingdeclaration, that there is no clergyman residing in his neighborhood norany within a reasonable distance whose testimony he could procure infavour of his veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier ofthe Revolution.


Sworn to & subscribed this 23d day of May 1833 before me, M. H. Wheatley,J.P.


signed: John Sparks


See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, December 1956, Whole No. 12, pp 97-104:


THE GENEALOGY OF JOHN SPARKS,REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSIONER OF WILKESCOUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA ByWilliam Perry Johnson:


"As John Sparks stated in his pension application, he was born on the25th of February 1753, near Salisbury, Rowan County, North Carolina, andremoved with his father to what is now Wilkes (then Burry) County, NorthCarolina, about the year 1772. John Sparks did not identify his fatherin his application, but other records prove that his name was Solomon Sparks.

SOLOMON SPARKS:
Surry County was formed from Rowan County in 1770, and the Surrytax 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 taxlist enumerated four Sparks families; William Sparks, with 1 poll; WillSparks and son Matthew., 2 polls; James Sparks, 1 poll; and SolomonSparks, with sons Joseph and John, 3 polls. These four families wereundoubtedly closely related, but this account will be limited to thefamily of John Sparks, son of Solomon. (The Matthew Sparks who is listedin the 1774 tax list with his father, Will Sparks, was thegreat-great-grandfather of our Vice-President., Oral A. Sparks.)


"Solomon Sparks lived in Maryland before settling in North Carolinaand was very probably the son of Joseph Sparks who died intestate inFrederick County, Maryland, in 1749. (Note that Solomon named his eldestson Joseph, probably for his father. Note also that the Solomon Sparkswhose pension application was reproduced in the March, 1955, issue of theQULRTERLY was born in Frederick County, Maryland., in 1758.)


"On the 20th of March 1750, Solomon Sparks patented 93 acres inFrederick County, Maryland,, and gave his land the descriptive name ofCold Friday. This land was located on Beaver Dam Branch., a tributary ofLinganore Creek. On the 20th of June 1753, Solomon Sparks and wife "Sarah, sold these 93 acres for 34 Pounds, to Mathew Howard. Solomon isdesignated in this deed as a "farmer". If Solomon Sparks and wife Sarahwere living in Frederick County, Maryland., as late as June 20, 1753, asthis deed would indicate, then their son John, born Feb. 25, 1753, wasborn in Frederick County, Maryland, rather than in Rowan County, NorthCarolina, and was carried to North Carolina as a babe in arms. Althoughwe cannot be sure of the exact date, it is reasonably certain thatSolomon Sparks removed with his family sometime in 1753 to nearSalisbury, Rowan Co., N.C. (Rowan County was formed April 12., 1753, fromAnson County.)


"The following description of Salisbury is found in a letter writtenon November 24, 1755,, by Governor Arthur Dobbs: "The Yadkin here(Trading Ford) is a large beautiful river where is a ferry. It is near300 yards over, it was at this time fordable scarce coming to the horsesbellies. At 6 miles distance I arrived at Salisbury the County town ofRowan., the town is but just laid out., the Court House built and 7 or 8log 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 milesnorth of Salisbury, in what is now Davie Co, N.C. Solomon Sparks obtaineda land grant in 1761, for 250 acres in Rowan County, on the west side ofthe Yadkin River, opposite the mouth of Muddy Creek. In 1762 he obtaineda grant for 290 acres on the south side of the Yadkin River, whichadjoined his other land. In 1763 Solomon sold 130 and 3/4 acres to JonasSparks, and 159 and 1/4 acres to Valentine Vanhouser. According to thestatement -.made by John Sparks in his pension application, SolomonSparks and his family removed from Rowan County to "what is now Wilkes(then Surry), N.C. about the year 1772.11 In 1787, as residents of SurryCo., N.C., Solomon and SarahSparks sold 160 acres in Rowan County toZephemiah Harris, and in 1.788 they sold 170 (?) acres in Rowan County toJonas Sparks. Solomon and Sarah Sparks disappear from North Carolinarecords after 1788. Solomon does not appear on the 1790 census, andthere is no will, no intestate record, and no record of Solomon and SarahSparks buying or selling land in Surry or Wilkes Counties, although whenthe Surry--Wilkes County Line was surveyed in 1778 it mentioned theplantation of Solomon Sparks. A full copy of this interesting documentis given below:


"Wilkes Co., N.C., Court Minutes, 1778 - "A Return of the Proceedingsof the Commissioners who were appointed to Run the Deviding line betweenthe County of Surry and Wilkes - (To Wit) Beginning on Rowan County 'Lineabout half a mile below Daniel Rashes at a White Oak Standing in the headof a Branch of Hunting Creek thence North Crossing the mulberry FieldRoad about half a Mile below Ha.mlin's Old Store House thence throughSolomon Sparke's Plantation leaving the said Sparks House in Surry Countythence Crossing the Brushey mountains at the head of the north fork ofSwan Creek thence Crossing the Yadkin River a little below Capt Parkesand through the Lower end of Carrols Plantation on the north side of sdRiver, then crossing the Big Elkin at the long sholes thence Crossing thesouth fork of Mitchels River about half a mile above Riggs's Road, thenceCrossing Mitchels River a little bellow John Scott's Crossing the Top ofthe Piney Knob to the main Ridge of the Mountains about Two miles west ofFisher Peak thence to the Virginia line. The above line being Runexactly Twenty Six miles west of Surry Courthouse agreeable to Act ofAssembly.'


"Thus, Solomon Sparks lived just south of the village of Swan Creek inthe western part of Surry (now Yadkin) County., North Carolina., withland in Wilkes as well as in Surry. Around 1800 the Sparkses and theirconnections awned land for several miles along the Surry (nowYadkin)-Wilkes County line, and there are still many descendants in thatarea today.


"It is believed that Solomon and Sarah Sparks were both deceased by1800, or possibly by 1790. Since neither of them left a will, and nofamily Bible or other record has been located, it has been difficult toascertain the names of the children of this couple. However, a power ofattorney recorded in Wilkes County, N.C., Court Minutes, on Tuesday,August 4, 1801, gives what we feel certain is a listing of at least eightof the children of Solomon and Sarah Sparks. This instrument reads asfollows.- "A Letter of Attorney from John Sparks, Reuben Sparks, SolomonSparks, Mary Jacks, Hannah Denny, Susannah Johnson, and Joseph Sparks toAbel Sparks, dated 31st July 1801, was proven by Thomas Benge."(Susannah (Sparks) Johnson and her husband, Charles Johnson., are thegreat-great-great-great-grand- parents of William Perry Johnson " authorof this sketch. We know that John Sparks was born in 1753 and that AbelSparks was born in 1767, so assuming that the eight persons named in theabove power of attorney were listed in their order of birth, which isquite possible, we would have: (1) John., born 1753; (2) Reuben, bornabout 1755; (3) Solomon., Jr., born about 1757; (4) Mary, born about1759; (5) Harmah., born about 1761; (6) Susannah, born about 1763,married Charles Johnson in Wilkes Co., N.C., in 1784; (7) Joseph, bornabout 1764; and (8) Abel.19 born 1767. There may have been otherchildren of Solomon and Sarah Sparks who were living far removed fromthis area in 1801, or others may have been deceased. It is known thatthe eight named in the power of attorney were all living in Surry (nowYadkin) and Wilkes Counties, N.C., at that time. Of course, since then,branches of the family have scattered from coast to coast.


JOHN SPARKS, son of SOLOMON AND SARAH
"John Sparks, son of Solomon and Sarah, lived in Surry County, NorthCarolina,, from the time he removed there with his father about 1771,until 1786. By 1782 John Sparks had purchased 200 acres of land inSurry, on Brushy Mountain, and was taxed with 200 acres and 1 poll, 2horses (or mules) and 6 cattle. In 1784 he was taxed with 200 acres and1 poll; same for 1785 and 1786. He does not appear on the Surry Countytax lists for 1787, 1788 or 1789, and he is given on the 1790 census ofWilkes County, rather than Surry. There is no record in Surry of JohnSparks 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 Sept. 1785. (Land Grant Office, Raleigh,N.C.., Book 59, page 253.) The 1790 census of Wilkes Co. lists JohnSparks with a total of eight persons in his family, apparently himself.his wife, four sons aged under 16, and 2 daughters. (The other JohnSparks on the 1790 census of Wilkes Co. is thought to be the John Sparkswho married in Wilkes in 1781 Mary Parmely; however, it,is possible thatJohn, son of Solomon, was listed twice, which happened occasionally.There was no John Sparks given on the 1790 census of Surry County.)


"John Sparks had married in Surry County about 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., nowstands. Sarah is named as Sarah Sparks in the will of her mother,Susannah Shores, probated in 1806 in Surry County, N.C. (Susannah Shoreswilled 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 JohnShores, Elizabeth Westmoreland, Sarah Sparks, Reuben Shores, SimeonShores, Rebecca Mosley, David Shores, Rhoda Philips, Abiram Shores andLevi Shores.")


"Soon after removing to Wilkes County, John Sparks became active inthe civil affairs of Trap Hill, the community where he had settled, abouttwenty miles north-east of Wilkesboro. He became a justice of the peaceand performed marriages, listed taxes, and so on. On the 1800 tax listof Wilkes County, he is listed as John Sparks, Esquire, with 260 acresand 1 poll. (The title of Esquire was bestowed only on those of somestanding in the community.) John Sparks was an active member of the OldRoaring River Baptist Church in Wilkes County, having joined on January12,, 1789 "by experience and baptism." According to the Church records,on April 10, 1790, "the church set apart Brother John Sparks to walkbefore 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 "delegateto association," and on June 11., 1791, his wife, "Sister Sarah Sparks,was baptised. Like most other church members of the time, John Sparkswas occasionally called to account for failing to live up to the strictBaptist rules. For instance, in August,, 1791, he was found guilty ofgameing" but was pardoned. In 1794 he was accused of drunkenness, acharge which John Sparks denied and later "gave church satisfaction."


"John Sparks was listed on the 1840 census of Wilkes County as aRevolutionary War pensioner,and at that time he was living in the home ofhis son, Reuben Sparks. According to census records, John's wife, Sarah(Shores) Sparks, died sometime between 1830 and 1840. The date of deathfor John Sparks is not given on the Agency Books in Washington, D.C., butthe last payment of his pension was made 3rd Quarter (Sept.) 1840, so itis apparent that he died sometime between then and March 1841, when thenext payment fell due. His age at the time of his death was either 87 or88. After his death, his heirs did not claim his pension, which amountedto $29 per year. His pension application in the National Archives is theone and only application from a John Sparks who served in the Revolutionfrom North Carolina.


"John Sparks, son of Solomon, is sometimes confused with another JohnSparks who served in the Revolutionary War from South Carolina. Thissecond John was born in 1755 (supposedly in North Carolina), and iied in1834 in Washington County,, Georgia. There is no record in the NationalArchives of his ever having applied for a pension, yet a number of hisdescendants have joined the D.A.R. through the pension application ofJohn Sparks of Wilkes County, N.C. (An article on the genealogy of
this John Sparks of South Carolina and Georgia is planned for a futureissue of the QUARTERLY. (Note: see the issue for September 1964., Vol.XII, No. 3, 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 grandchildrenare gone, and there are but two or three of his great-grandchildrenliving. His grave, near Trap Hill, North Carolina, is marked with aRevolutionary Soldier marker, but it does not give his date of death norany other data that we do not already have. We have endeavored tocompile a list of the children of John and Sarah (Shores) Sparks, fromliving descendants, census, court, church, and other extant records. Weare fairly certain of eight children, but there may have been a total often or twelve.


"The following record has been worked out by our President, Paul E.Sparks:
John Sparks, son of Solomon and Sarah Sparks born 25 Feb. 1753, in RowanCounty, North Carolina died 1840-41, in Wilkes County, North Carolina,married about 1777, in Surry County, North Carolina, toSarah Shores,daughter of Reuben and Susannah Shores born about 1757 (?) place notknown, died between 1830 and 1840 in Wilkes County, North Carolina.(Here, commencing on p. 100 are the descendants of John and Sarah(Shores) Sparks.)


See more at SQ p 2269 and, concerning his status as a revolutionarysoldier, p. 4965.

spouse: Shores, Sarah (~1757 - )
- m. ABT. 1777 in Surry Curry, NC
----------child: Sparks, Levi (1778 - 1851)
----------child: Sparks, Robert (~1780 - ~1815)
----------child: Sparks, Mary (~1782 - <1860)
----------child: Sparks, William (~1782 - )
----------child: Sparks, Joel (~1784 - 1849)
----------child: Sparks, Jonathan (~1788 - )
----------child: Sparks, Solomon (~1790 - ~1860)
----------child: Sparks, Sarah (~1792 - >1860)
----------child: Sparks, John Jr. (~1794 - ~1865)
----------child: Sparks, George G. (1796 - 1879)
----------child: Sparks, Reuben (1799 - 1878)
----------child: Sparks, Colby (~1801 - ~1869)

John married Sarah Shores in 1777 in Surry Co, North Carolina. Sarah was born about 1757 in Surry Co, North Carolina; died after 1830 in Wilkes Co, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Levi married Sarah Lyon about 1805. Sarah was born about 1781 in North Carolina; died after 1821. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Levi married (..) Walsh, Miss in 1801 in Wilkes Co, North Carolina. (..) was born about 1781; died after 1810. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Mary married Robert Bauguess about 1800 in Near Trap Hill, Wilkes Co, North Carolina. Robert was born on 12 Jun 1776 in Virginia; died about 1872 in Wilkes Co, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Robert married Margaret Pigg about 1804. Margaret was born about 1782; died after 1814. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1820, Wilkes Co, North Carolina
• Census: 1840, Spicers District, Wilkes Co, North Carolina
• Census: 1840, Surry Co, North Carolina; another Joel?

Notes:

From Andrew Jackson Sparks bio in History of Johnson county, MO, pp.733-34: His father Joel Sparks, was a native of North Carolina...Joel Sparks was a leading man in moral reforms, and worked in the Sunday Schools of Carolina. He served in the War of 1812, came to Missouri (Lafayette) in 1844, dying in 1861 at the age of 87 years.


Purchased 80 acres of land on 7/1/8145 in Lafayette county, MO.

On Aug. 13, 1855, Joel Sparks of Bates county, MO applied for bounty land under the Congressional Act of March 3, 1855. He stated that he was 62 years of age (although from other records it would appear that he must have been several years older than this) and that he had served as a private in Capt. Witcher's Company in a regiment of North Carolina Militia commanded by a Col. Adkinson in the War of 1812; that he was drafted at Surry County, NC, in the fall of 1814 for the term of 6 months, but that he served only 14 days; that he was honorably discharged at Hillsborough, NC, on or about Dec. 1, 1814. he signed the application as "Joel Sparks"' the witnesses were Ms. M. Briseve and Geo. C. Pulliam. Squire G. Allen signed as a justice of the peace.


The Treasury Department reported that no record could be found of Joel Spark's service.

In 1857 Joel Sparks asked that his application be re-examined and he submitted as proof of his service a statement made on March 27, 1857 , by his brother William Sparks of Cooper County, Missouri. This document reads as follows:


"State of Missouri, County of Cooper: On this 27th day of March AD 1857, personally appeared before me the Clerk of the County Court within and for the County of Cooper aforesaid, William Sparks who having been by me first duly sworn on his oath states that ---(a fold in the paper has made this line illegible) sixty seven years--who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Witcher, in the 13th Regiment of the North Carolina Militia, Commanded by Col. Atkinson in the war with Great Britain, declared by the United States on the 18th day of June, 1812; that he was drafted on or about the month of July AD 181 (sic) for the time of six months and continued in actual service in said War for the term of more than fourteen days.


"This affiant further states that at the time he was drafted as aforesaid and in the County of Surry and State of North Carolina, his brother Joel Sparks--whose claim No. 207 286 for bounty land is said to be suspended - was drafted and to the Certain Knowledge of this affiant served as a private in the same Company same Regiment and same war for a period of more than fourteen days. And that whilst said service was being performed by said Joel Sparks as aforesaid, he said Joel, became so disabled on account of a rising in left leg near ancle as to be unable to continue in said service. And that on account of said disability said Joel Sparks was honorable discharged by said Commander of said Regiment.This affiant was present and saw said Joel Sparks honorably discharged for the reason aforesaid, in the town of Hillsboro in Orange County and State of North Carolina, and that he saw the said discharge afterwards in the possession of said Joel Sparks, and that he has no interest in the claim of said Joel Sparks for bounty land. And further this affiant saith not. (signed) William Sparks." This statement was sworn to before Henry C. Levens, Clerk of the County Clerk, who certified that "I have long known the said William Sparks personally and that he is a credible person."


"Another document that Joel Sparks submitted with his request that his application be reconsidered, was a sworn statement by his daughter, Nancy Ashcraft, who appeared before A. S. Pulliam, a justice of the peace of Cass County, Missouri, on April 11, 1857. The document read as follows:


"On this 11th day of April AD 1857, personally appeared before me A.S. Pulliam a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Cass, and State of Missouri, Nancy Ashcraft who having been by me first duly sworn on her oath Stats, that she is the oldest child of Joel Sparks and that she is forty Eight or nine years of age, that she was knowing to her Father Joel Sparks Enlisting in the war with Great Britton declared by the United States, 18th of June 1812 for the term of six months, she does not no how long he Continued in the servis. This Affeant further States at the time her Farther Joel Sparks Enlisted that he lived in the County of Surry in State of North Carolina and that she has frequently saw her father's Discharge and that she has no Interest in the Claim of said Joel Sparks for Bounty Land." Nancy Ashcraft signed this statement by mark.


"On May 16, 1857, the Treasury Department re-examined the bounty claim of Joel Sparks but reported that, whereas the name of William Sparks was on the Roll of Capt. John Witcher's Company of North Carolina Militia as having served from November 28, 1814 until Feb. 22, 1815, the name of Joel Sparks did not appear, and he did not receive bounty land.


"(Editor's Note: Joel Sparks was a son of Matthew and Eunice Sparks of Surry County, North Carolina, and a (great) grandson of William Sample Sparks who came from Frederick County, Maryland, to North Carolina about 1760. Matthew Sparks, father of Joel, made his will in Surry County on March 26, 1819; he named his children as: (1) Joel Sparks; (2) George Sparks; (3) Matthew Sparks, Jr.; (4) William Sparks; (5) John Sparks; (6)Nancy Smith; (7) Sally Bray; (8) Peggy West. Joel Sparks, who appears to have been Matthew's oldest son, was married twice. By his first wife, whose name we have not found, Joel Sparks is said to have had nine children; the following are known to have been among these nine: Nancy, who married ---Ashcraft; John C. Sparks, born 1815; William W. Sparks,born about 1817; and Joel Sparks, Jr., born 1824.


"Prior to 1850, Joel Sparks moved to Lafayette County, Missouri; by 1855 he was living in Bates County, Missouri. His first wife died in Surry County, N.C., prior to 1846, and as his second wife, he married in Wilkes County, N.C., Mary Shatley. The marriage bond for this second marriage is dated Nov. 23, 1846. By his second wife, Joel Sparks had three sons : Andrew J. Sparks, born about 1848, David Francis Sparks,born about 1849 and Solomon Sparks, born about 1851.)


Abstracted from son?s biography: John C. Sparks was a son of Joel Sparks, Sr., who was born in Surry County, North Carolina; he moved to Lafayette County, Missouri, prior to 1850, where he died about 1861.

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/8580857/person/-927191595/story/7da914c7-2f31-4ede-bafa-ecafc50c0285?src=search

Census:
1820 Wilkes County North Carolina (pg 20)
John Blackborn
Name: John Blackborn (prob Nancy Blackburn's brother)
Home in 1820 (City, County, State): Wilkes, North Carolina
Enumeration Date: August 7, 1820
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25: 1
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture: 1
Free White Persons - Over 25: 1
Total Free White Persons: 2
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 2

Joel Sparkes
Name: Joel Sparkes (wife is Nancy Blackburn)
[Joel Sparks]
Home in 1820 (City, County, State): Wilkes, North Carolina
Enumeration Date: August 7, 1820
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44: 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 3
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25: 1
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture: 1
Free White Persons - Under 16: 4
Free White Persons - Over 25: 1
Total Free White Persons: 6
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 6


John Sparkes

John Sparker
..
..

John Sparkes



Census:
Name: Joel Sharks
[Joel Sparks]
Home in 1840 (City, County, State): Surry, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29: 2
Free White Persons - Males - 50 thru 59: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29: 2
Free White Persons - Females - 40 thru 49: 1
Persons Employed in Agriculture: 5
Free White Persons - Under 20: 4
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 5
Total Free White Persons: 10
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 10


Census:
William Blackburn

same page:
Joel Sparks
Name: Joel Sparks
Home in 1840 (City, County, State): Spicers District, Wilkes, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 50 thru 59: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 40 thru 49: 1
Persons Employed in Agriculture: 4
No. White Persons over 20 Who Cannot Read and Write: 2
Free White Persons - Under 20: 4
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
Total Free White Persons: 7
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 7

Joel married Nancy Blackburn on 27 Jul 1814 in Wilkes Co, North Carolina. Nancy (daughter of William Blackburn, (son of who?) (FFDNA-J) and Sarah Baird) was born in 1784 in Surry Co, North Carolina; died in 1846 in Wilkes Co, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Joel married Miry Lane on 5 Sep 1844 in Wilkes Co, North Carolina. Miry was born about 1820; died before 1845 in Wilkes Co, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Joel married Mary Shalley on 23 Nov 1846 in Wilkes Co, North Carolina. Mary was born about 1820; died after 1855. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 7 Aug 1820, Wilkes Co, North Carolina

Notes:

Census:
Name: John Sparker Junior [John Sparks]
Home in 1820 (City, County, State): Wilkes, North Carolina
Enumeration Date: August 7, 1820
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44: 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 2
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture: 1
Free White Persons - Under 16: 3
Free White Persons - Over 25: 1
Total Free White Persons: 4
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 4
(no mother here. 3 children have no mother.
so Mary Shields dead or 2nd wife?)

sequence:
Joel Sparkes
Name: Joel Sparkes [Joel Sparks]
Home in 1820 (City, County, State): Wilkes, North Carolina
Enumeration Date: August 7, 1820
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44: 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 3
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25: 1
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture: 1
Free White Persons - Under 16: 4
Free White Persons - Over 25: 1
Total Free White Persons: 6
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other:6


John Sparkes
John Sparkes Junior (see above)
Jesse Lyon ?
Joseph Smith ?
John Sparkes

John married Mary Fields about 1816 in Wilkes Co, North Carolina. Mary was born about 1795 in North Carolina; died after 1840. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Solomon married Julia A. (Judiah) (..) Sparks about 1824 in Wilkes Co, North Carolina. Julia was born about 1806; died after 1826. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Sarah married William Alexander on 18 Mar 1820 in Wilkes Co, North Carolina. William was born about 1798 in North Carolina; died after 1821. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

George married (..) Mainer, Miss about 1815 in Wilkes Co, North Carolina. (..) was born about 1796; died after 1817. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

George married Nancy Short on 7 Aug 1822 in Lawrence Co, Kentucky. Nancy was born on 7 Apr 1800 in of, Kentucky; died on 11 Jan 1879 in Lawrence Co, Kentucky. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Reuben married Phoebe Blackburn on 10 Oct 1828 in Wilkes Co, North Carolina. Phoebe was born on 14 Oct 1807 in Wilkes Co, North Carolina; died on 26 Nov 1892 in Near Trap Hill, Wilkes Co, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Colby married Sarah Pruitt on 28 Dec 1822 in Wilkes Co, North Carolina. Sarah was born about 1804 in North Carolina; died after 1840. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]