January 22, 2022
Pages 1705-1706
Whole Number 88
ARTICLE PLANNED ABOUT SPARKSES OF ADAIR COUNTY, KENTUCKY
Plans are underway to publish an article within the near future about the Sparks family of Adair County, Kentucky. The article will be concerned primarily with the descendants of two Sparks men whom we believe were brothers (Note: 20.1 would be 17.2.6). They were 20.1 William Sparks and 17.2.7 Josiah Sparks, and we believe that they were sons of 20. William Sparks of Prince Georges County, Maryland. (or Josiah would be 20.2) - but we know Josiah is the son of 17.2 Matthew
The first of these men to come to Kentucky was 20.1 William Sparks who settled ca. 1798 in a part of Green County which became Adair County in 1801. 20.1 William Sparks was born ca. 1760, probably in Prince Georges County, Maryland, and he probably moved with his parents to Pittsylvania County, Virginia, ca. 1777. He lived for a short time in North Carolina before coming to Kentucky. He had at least nine children; there may have been others. These nine were:
20.1.1 Matthew Wright Sparks
20.1.2 Sarah Sparks
20.1.3 Mary ["Polly"] Sparks,
20.1.4 Elizabeth Sparks
20.1.5 Selah Sparks
20.1.6 John Sparks
20.1.7 Elihu Sparks
20.1.8 Cynthia Sparks
20.1.9 Catherine Sparks
20.1.10 Jehu Sparks.
Some of William's descendants went to Morgan County, Illinois, and then on to Jasper County, Iowa.
17.2.7 Josiah Sparks did not join his brother, 20.1 William Sparks, until ca. 1827. Josiah was born ca. 1760, probably in Prince Georges County, Maryland. In 1794 Josiah Sparks married Susan Ann (or Susannah) Phillips in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, and soon thereafter he moved to Union County, South Carolina. by 1816, his son, 17.2.7.1 Thomas Sparks, had moved westward to Jefferson County, Tennessee. In 1823, Thomas Sparks joined his uncle (?), 20.1 William Sparks, in Adair County, Kentucky. Then in 1827, Thomas was joined there by his father and his brothers. 17.2.7 Josiah Sparks had at least nine children; there may have been others.
17.2.7 Josiah Sparks was born August 26, 1761 in Prince Georges County, Maryland. He married Susannah Phillips in Pittsylvania County, VA and soon thereafter moved to Union County, South Carolina. by 1816, his son, 17.2.7.1 Thomas Sparks, had moved westward to Jefferson County, Tennessee, then to Adair County, KY. In 1827, Thomas was joined there by his father and his brothers. 17.2.7 Josiah Sparks had at least nine children.
These nine were:
17.2.7.1 Thomas Sparks
17.2.7.2 John Sparks
17.2.7.3 Samuel Sparks
17.2.7.4 Truelove Sparks
17.2.7.5 Jane Sparks Phillips
17.2.7.6 Josiah Sparks, Jr.
17.2.7.7 Elizabeth Sparks
17.2.7.8 Martha Sparks
17.2.7.9 Sarah Sparks.
Correction from Whole No. 108:
17.2.7.1 John Sparks, born ca. 1796
17.2.7.2 Thomas Sparks was born on October 27, 1798.
17.2.7.3 Samuel Sparks born September 27, 1800;
17.2.7.4 Sarah ["Sally"] Sparks; she married FNU Phillips,
17.2.7.5 Truelove Sparks, born ca. 1804; and
17.2.7.6 Josiah Sparks, Jr. born January 24, 1806.
Some of Josiah's descendants went to Sangamon County, Illinois, and then on to Jasper County, Missouri.
Descendants of Josiah Sparks are urged to share in the proposed article. Data concerning the descendants of these men will be most welcome. In particular, old pictures and documents, such as old letters, are needed to illustrate the article.
In a later article, it was determined that 17.2.7 Josiah Sparks was really the son of 17.2 Matthew and Elinor Sparks.