October 6, 2023
Pages 294-298
Whole Number 22
18. JOSIAH SPARKS OF BALTIMORE COUNTY, MARYLAND,
AND HIS DESCENDANTS
In 1890 a descendant of 18. Josiah Sparks, John F. Kaufman of Baltimore, Maryland, prepared a record of the branch of the Sparks family to which his grandmother, 18.1.7 Elizabeth (Sparks) Kaufman, belonged. A copy of this manuscript came into the possession of another descendant of Josiah Sparks, Mr. Laban Sparks of Baltimore. In 1932 Major Charles H. Smith of Pittsburgh obtained a copy of this record from Laban Sparks and has since turned it over to The Sparks Family Association. This genealogy of the family of Josiah Sparks is far from complete and it is poorly organized, but the data which it contains seem to be accurate. It is partially presented below, with additions from other sources. Very few dates were given by Mr. Kaufman--it has been possible to provide some from other sources. Major Smith copied the inscriptions of some tombstones in St. James Churchyard in the town of Mockton near Baltimore which have been incorporated below.
The order of birth of the five sons of Josiah Sparks is not positively known. They were born between 1749, the year he married, and 1765, the year he died. Exact birth dates are known for only two, Elijah Sparks, born in 1754 and Thomas Sparks, born in 1758. These appear on their tombstones. It seems probable, however, that they were born in the following order:
18.1 Francis Sparks,
18.2 Josiah Sparks, Jr.,
18.3 Elijah Sparks, born 1754,
18.4 Thomas Sparks, born 1758, and
18.5 Matthew Sparks.
Mr. Kaufman attempted to trace the descendants of each of these five sons. Of the descendants of the son 18.5 Matthew Sparks, however, Mr. Kaufman was able to learn little because this family had moved many years earlier to Indiana. Fortunately, Mary Turner Jones (3344 Steele Street, Denver 5, Colorado), a great-great-granddaughter of Matthew Sparks, has been able to supply a detailed record of Matthew's descendants through his son Lemuel. Mrs. Jones was assisted by two other members of the Association, Mrs. Ethel Lawler of Wheaton, Illinois, and Mrs. Florence K. Rode of Los Gatos, California.
A word of explanation of the system used to number the descendants of Josiah Sparks is probably necessary. Josiah Sparks has been assigned number '18'. In the number for each of his sons, Josiah's number is repeated, followed by a number to represent the order of birth, believed to be correct, of these sons. Thus, the number '18.5' is used for Matthew Sparks because he is believed to be the fifth son of Josiah. Matthew's oldest son, Levi, thus receives the number '18.5.1'. The number for Mrs. Jones is '18.5.2.7.2.2'.
18. Josiah Sparks, the earliest ancestor of this branch of the Sparks family about whom definite information has been obtained, was born ca. 1729. The earliest official record which has been found pertaining to Josiah Sparks is that of his marriage. In the records of St. Anne's Parish, Annapolis, in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, is the following: 'Josiah Sparks married July 15, 1749, to Penelope Brown, by the Rev. Mr. Andrew Lendrum.' One deed involving Josiah Sparks is on record in Anne Arundel County. It is dated December 9, 1749, and records the sale of fifty acres of land by Josiah Sparks to Doctor James Doull. This tract of land was called 'Hunting Park' and was located in Frederick County, Maryland. Doctor Doull, who was a resident of Frederick County, paid 'twelve pounds Maryland currency' for the tract. Josiah Sparks was identified in this deed as being a 'planter of Ann Arundale County in the province of Maryland.' How he had come into the possession of this land has not been learned--perhaps he was a resident of Frederick County at an earlier date.
by 1759 Josiah Sparks had moved to Baltimore County, Maryland, for in that county on August 7, 1759, he received a mortgage from Gale Frizell. In all probability, Josiah Sparks was a son of 17.1 Thomas Sparks who purchased 162 acres of land in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, in 1748. Thomas Sparks moved to Baltimore County between 1752 and 1756. The last record among the Baltimore County land records pertaining to Thomas Sparks is a certificate dated 1760 which he held for 38 acres in Baltimore County called 'Hawk's Nest.' A patent was not issued for some reason, so he was never actually granted the land. Thomas Sparks was still alive in 1765 when he was named as Josiah's only relative 'in this province' when the latter's estate was settled. (In this connection, widows and children were not considered as 'relatives.') (See The Sparks Quarterly, Whole No. 11, September, 1955, pp. 79 and 80, for additional notes on Thomas Sparks.)
Josiah Sparks died in 1765 in Baltimore County. Unfortunately, he did not leave a will. His wife, Penelopy, was appointed administratrix. Her inventory of Josiah's estate has been preserved--it was dated June 17, 1765, and amounted to slightly over 84 pounds.
Penelopy (Brown) Sparks, widow of Josiah, was married, second, on April 10, 1770, to Aquilla Wyle. This marriage is recorded in St. John's and St. George's P. B. Church in Harford County, Maryland. (In 1770 Harford County was part of Baltimore County--it was cut off from Baltimore County in 1773.) by 1781 Penelopy and her second husband had moved to Shrewsbury Township, York County, Pennsylvania. Children:
18.1 Francis Sparks, believed to have been the eldest son of Josiah and Penelopy (Brown) Sparks, was born ca. 1750, married a Cassandra Wright, sister of the wife of his brother, Matthew, and lived near New Market, Baltimore County, Maryland. He was the father of eight children, order of birth not proven:
18.1.1 John T. Sparks, said to have moved to the central part of Kentucky; married and had one son named 18.1.1.1 George Sparks; removed to Mississippi between 1845 and 1850.
18.1.2 Thomas Sparks, according to Mr. Kaufman's account, moved to Ohio ca. 1834.
(Correction Note: He was probably the same Thomas Sparks who married Jennie Harwood - this is incorrect based upon a correction in Issue 133). He actually married Mary Elizabeth Pierce on December 24, 1824, in Baltimore County, Maryland; subsequently they lived in Butler County, Ohio, and in Jackson County, Indiana.He was born in Ohio, and settled at an early date in Sullivan County, Indiana, where he resided until his death ca. 1849. Thomas Sparks, according to Mr. Kaufman, had a son named 18.1.2.1 John who was living in Posey County, Indiana, in 1890. The History of Sullivan County, Indiana, by Thomas J. Wolfe, 1909, states that Thomas Sparks was the father of
18.1.2.2 Walter P. Sparks, born March 29, 1842, who married Martha J. Lisman.
18.1.2.3 Philip Sparks who married Mahala J. Capner and settled in Montgomery County, Indiana.[Webmaster Note: Please read the article from the Quarterly Whole No. 142 for the corrected list of children of 18.1.2 Thomas Sparks and 18.4.3 Thomas Sparks]
18.1.3 Josiah Sparks, died at his father's homestead near New Market while young.
18.1.4 Wright Sparks, the fourth and last son of Francis Sparks, was born ca. 1786. He moved to Franklin County, Indiana, prior to 1820; on the 1850 census of Franklin County his age was given as 64. Wright Sparks married Ann (Nancy Ann Magnus) and had sons named:
18.1.4.1 John Sparks,
18.1.4.2 Lemuel Sparks, and
18.1.4.3 William Sparks.[Webmaster Note: See Whole No. 53 for a complete list of children]
18.1.5 Mary Sparks, married, first, FNU Sharp (who was a son of Matthew Sparks's wife by her first husband, John Sharp); they had several children, including a daughter who married a man by the name of FNU Cardwell of Harrodsburg, Kentucky. Mary Sparks married, second, Isaac Decker by whom she had one son. They lived in Hancock County, Ohio.
18.1.6 Ruth Sparks, married Josiah Pearce in Baltimore County, Maryland, on December 5, 1816. He was a farmer and lived on Deer Creek in the Seventh District of Baltimore County. They moved to Crawford County, Ohio, thence to Holt County, Missouri. They had several children, the oldest son being 18.1.6.1 Silas Pearce who was living in Holt County, Missouri, in 1890, according to Mr. Kaufman.
18.1.7 Elizabeth Sparks, married Frederick Kaufman in Baltimore County, Maryland, on March 31, 1813. He carried on the saddlery and harness business in the Seventh District of Baltimore County. She died in 1828, and he died in 1858. They had four sons and one daughter:
18.1.7.1 Francis S. Kaufman,
18.1.7.2 James M. Kaufman,
18.1.7.3 Thomas Kaufman,
18.1.7.4 John P. Kaufman, and
18.1.7.5 Eliza Kaufman.It was John T. Kaufman who compiled the history of this Sparks family upon which the present account is largely based. He married Mary A. Bond of Baltimore City, Maryland, in 1856. His occupation was that of a saddle and harness manufacturer. He was living in the city of Baltimore when the record was compiled in 1890.
18.1.8 Prudence Sparks, married Richard Gasnell in Baltimore County, Maryland, on December 9, 1820. No further data.
18.2 Josiah Sparks, Jr., believed to have been the second son of Josiah and Penelopy (Brown) Sparks, was born ca. 1752. He served in the Whiskey Rebellion as well as in the War of 1812. He lived in the Tenth District, Baltimore County, Maryland, married, and was the father of eight children:
18.2.1 Aaron Sparks, born ca. 1787, died May 31, 1856. He was an orderly sergeant in the War of 1812. He married his cousin, 18.3.5 Elizabeth Sparks, daughter of 18.3 Elijah Sparks. She was born in 1803 and died July 10, 1883. Both are buried in St. James Churchyard, Mockton, Maryland. (Webmaster note: See below.) They were the parents of five children:
18.2.1.1 (18.3.5.1) Rachel Sparks, born ca. 1832.
18.2.1.2 (18.3.5.2) Josiah Sparks, born October 25, 1833.
18.2.1.3 (18.3.5.3) Francis Sparks, born ca. 1836.
18.2.1.4 (18.3.5.4) Mary Sparks, born ca. 1838.
18.2.1.5 (18.3.5.5) Marceline Sparks, born ca. 1840.18.2.2 Thomas Sparks, son of 18.2 Josiah Sparks, Jr., born ca. 1790, married, and had the following children:
18.2.2.1 Aaron Sparks
18.2.2.2 James Sparks
18.2.2.3 Elizabeth Sparks
18.2.2.4 Rachel Sparks18.2.3 Francis Sparks was born ca. 1792. He was a farmer and lived on 'My Lady's Manor,' a farm in the Tenth District, Baltimore County, Maryland. He was listed on the 1850 census as being 58 years old; his wife Betsy's age was given as 56. They had no children, according to Mr. Kaufman.
18.2.4 Matthew Sparks occupied and owned a farm in the Tenth District. He married and had four children, but their names were not given by Mr. Kaufman.
18.2.5 Daniel Sparks, also a farmer in Baltimore County, was living with his brother, 18.2.1 Aaron Sparks, in 1850--his age on the 1850 census was given as 56. He married and had two children, but their names were not given by Mr. Kaufman. (Webmaster note: See below.)
18.2.6 Sarah Sparks married, but died childless.
18.2.7 Ruth Sparks married a farmer named Pearce and lived in the Seventh District of Baltimore County, according to Mr. Kaufman. She had children, names unknown, some of whom lived in the 'Western States' in 1890.
18.2.8 Rachel Sparks married William Carland, a farmer. She had children, names unknown.
18.3 Elijah Sparks, son of Josiah and Penelopy (Brown) Sparks, was born in 1754 and died in 1812. He married Annie Anderson, who was born in 1756 and died in 1808. Both are buried in St. James Churchyard, Mockton, Maryland. Their birth and death dates are taken from their tombstone. Elijah and Annie Sparks were the parents of the following children:
18.3.1 Joshua Sparks (In Whole No. 171, an article about this Joshua shows his middle name as Low, as well as his children, now listed below), son of 18.3 Elijah Sparks, settled in Indiana near White Water, according to Mr. Kaufman. He was probably the Joshua Sparks who, with wife Rachel MNU, was living in Rush County, Indiana, in 1832 according to a deed. See Article 171-E for information on 18.3.1 Joshua Low Sparks.
18.3.1.1 Elijah Brown Sparks. Undoubtedly, he was named for his uncle 18.3.3 Elijah Brown Sparks.
18.3.1.2 Mary Ann Sparks, married Isaac Armstrong,
18.3.1.3 Amy Sparks
18.3.1.4 Daniel Clifton Sparks
18.3.1.5 Sarah Ann Sparks,
18.3.1.6 Jane Clifton Sparks,
18.3.1.7 James Thomas Sparks,
18.3.1.8 Elizabeth Emily Sparks,
18.3.1.9 Albert LeRoy Sparks,18.3.2 Aquila Sparks moved to 'one of the Western States as a young man' according to Mr. Kaufman. An Aquihla Sparks, age 30, was living in Logan Township, Dearborn County, Indiana, in 1850--he was listed on the census as a teacher and his birthplace was given as Maryland.
18.3.3 Elijah Brown Sparks was born ca. 1808; he married Elizabeth Anderson and lived at Parkton, in the Seventh District of Baltimore County, Maryland. The following children were listed on the 1850 census:
18.3.3.1 William Sparks, born ca. 1835.
18.3.3.2 Elmira Sparks, born ca. 1838.
18.3.3.3 Rebecca Sparks, born ca. 1840.
18.3.3.4 Alice Sparks, born ca. 1843.
18.3.3.5 John Sparks, born ca. 1846.
18.3.3.6 Joshua Sparks, born ca. 1849.18.3.4 Edward Sparks, son of Elijah Sparks, married FNU Miles. He was sheriff of Baltimore City in 1860. In 1890 he was living in York County, Pennsylvania. No children.
18.3.5 Elizabeth Sparks married her cousin, 18.2.1 Aaron Sparks, son of 18.2 Josiah Sparks, Jr.. She was born in 1803 and died July 10, 1883.
18.3.6 Mary Sparks, married Matthew Drake, a hardware merchant of Baltimore City. No children.
18.4 Thomas Sparks, son of Josiah and Penelopy (Brown) Sparks, was born May 23, 1758, and died on January 19, 1815. He was married on August 16, 1779, in Baltimore County, Maryland, to Rachel Perdue, daughter of Laben Perdue. She was born August 13, 1758, and died January 17, 1815. Both are buried in St. James Churchyard in Mockton, near the city of Baltimore. Thomas and Rachel (Perdue) Sparks were the parents of the following children:
18.4.1 Laban Sparks married Sarah Green in Baltimore County, Maryland, on March 27, 1816. He was a farmer and lived in the Tenth District, Baltimore County. He was the father of the following children:
18.4.1.1 Rachel Sparks, born ca. 1818.
18.4.1.2 Shadrack Sparks, born ca. 1820.
18.4.1.3 Matilda Sparks, born ca. 1828.
18.4.1.4 Cecilia Sparks, born ca. 1834.18.4.2 Aquila (or Quila) Sparks married Dorcas Conway in Baltimore County on August 24, 1816. He settled in the city of Baltimore. No further data.
18.4.3 Thomas Sparks moved to Indiana. (Correction Note from Issue 133: Thomas married Jennie Harwood. He received bounty land based on his service in the War of 1812; these papers were abstracted and published in the Quarterly of June 1964, Whole No. 46, page 818.)
18.4.4 Walter Sparks moved to St. Michaels. No further data.
18.4.5 Sarah Sparks married Lawrence Cuddy in Baltimore County on July 30, 1805. No further data.
18.4.6 Penelopy Sparks married Charles Robinson on August 14, 1816, in Baltimore County. No further data.
18.4.7 Rachel Sparks married John T. Sumwalt in Baltimore County, on December 21, 1816. No further data.
18.5 Matthew Sparks, son of Josiah and Penelopy (Brown) Sparks. (See Mary Turner Jones's article which follows.)
ADDITIONAL NOTES ON THE DESCENDANTS OF 18. JOSIAH SPARKS.