August 16, 2023
Pages 3584-3598
Whole Number 150
SOME DESCENDANTS OF 41. JOHN SPARKS, (DIED APRIL 8, 1710)
OF WINDSOR, CONNECTICUT
by Margaret B. Bock
[Editors Note: We are very grateful to Margaret B. Bock of Westbrook, Connecticut, 06498, for providing this record of an early Sparks family in New England. It will be noted that Ms. Bock has given her sources for the records she used in her research within the text of her article, including material provided to her by other researchers. A full list of these sources appears at the close of her article.]
41. John Sparks was born by 1669-70, estimated from the baptismal dates of his children, and he died in Windsor, Connecticut, on April 8, 1710. (See Henry R. Stiles, The Histories and Genealogies of Ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Including East Windsor, South Windsor, Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, and Ellington, 1635-1891 [1892] Vol. II, p. 694; source given as East Windsor Church Records.)
Neither the parents nor the place of birth of John Sparks are known. No records for him have been found at Ashford or Woodstock, Connecticut, nor at Dedham, Massachusetts.
41. John Sparks married Dorothy MNU before November 1694, time and place unknown. She was married secondly on May 27, 1712, to John Parsons (see Hartford Vital Records, D:28). The date of her birth is unknown, but she was deceased by June 7, 1714, when John Parsons exhibited a list of expenses in court from the estate of John Sparks, for which she had been administratrix. (See Charles W. Manwaring, A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records [19041 Vol. 2, p. 300, hereafter cited as Manwaring.) She owned the covenant at Hartford First Church on November 4, 1694. (See Lucius Barnes Barbour, Early Families of Hartford Connecticut, 1645-1825, [Baltimore, 1982] p. 554, hereafter cited as Barbour.)
John Parsons was born at Windsor, Connecticut, on July 29, 1678, to Ebenezer Parsons; he was married, first, at Hartford, Connecticut, on December 1, 1698, to Phillis Hills, daughter of William and Sarah (----) Hills. She was born at Hartford ca. 1669 and died there January 9, 1711/12. They were the parents of Isaac Parsons, born August 2, 1699; Jacob Parsons, born April 15, 1701; Moses Parsons, born December 21, 1702; Phyllis Parsons, born November 25, 1704; Aaron Parsons, born September 6, 1706; and Ruth Parsons, born April 6, 1711. (See Donald Lines Jacobus and Edgar Francis Waterman, Hale, House, and Related Families Mainly of the Connecticut River Valley, [Baltimore 1978] p. 583, hereafter cited as Hale, House.)
Probate records show that a bond was issued on July 3 (9), 1710, to Dorothy Sparks, widow, and Jabez Coult, both of Windsor. A second bond was issued on November 3, 1712, to Jabas Colt [Jabez Coult] of Windsor and to John Parsons of Hartford. A third bond was issued on August 5, 1725, to Noah Sparks and Jabas Colt, both of Windsor. The inventory of the estate of John Sparks, taken on May 20, 1710, by John Williams, Samuel Burnham, and Benjamin Coult, listed house and land, household items, farming tools and animals, with a value of 54 pounds, 14 shillings. On June 7, 1714, John Parsons exhibited in the right of his wife, Dorothy, now deceased, various accounts due, including one for himself for keeping two children about five years old from May 28, 1712, to January 21, 1712/13 (34 weeks), payable to Mrs. Wilson from the Sparks estate. [Mrs. Wilson was mentioned twice in the probate records.] John Sparks was described as "sometime of Hartford" meaning that he had moved away. (See Hartford Probate Records at the Connecticut State Library, "John Sparks, 1714, no town, #504BA"; also Manwaring; and page 982 of the June 1966 issue of The Sparks Quarterly, Whole No. 54, where your editor provided an earlier record of this family.)
The following list of the children of 41. John and Dorothy Sparks is based upon the probate records of John Sparks's estate, baptisms recorded at the Hartford First Church, Vol. 1, p. 40, and page-554 of Barbour.
41.1 Noah Sparks was baptized at Hartford on November 4, 1694; he died at Tolland, Connecticut, on August 12, 1767. (See Tolland VR, Vol. 1, p. 28.) In a document dated September 1, 1724, found among John Sparks's estate papers, Noah described himself as the eldest son of John Sparks and asked the Court to permit him to purchase from his siblings their share of their fathers land in order that it not be divided; the Court agreed. Noah Sparks may have been married twice, since he was in his 40s when he was married on July 29, 1736, to Margaret Strong; both were of Windsor at the time of this marriage (see Windsor VR Vol. 2, p. 199). His will was probated in Windsor; he left land to his wife, Margaret.
41.2 Esther Sparks, daughter of John and Dorothy Sparks, was born ca. 1695. Her age was given as 18 in May 1713 when she chose Samuel Wells to be her guardian. She was married on December 6, 1717, to Joseph Fox in Glastenbury, Connecticut. He had been born on August 7, 1695, a son of Richard and Beriah (Smith) Fox of Glastenbury. (See Glastenbury VR 1:40 where she was called "Esther Sparks, daughter of John, deceased, of Hartford"; also the Rev. Alonzo B. Chapin, Glastenbury for Two Hundred Years [South Glastenbury, 1976] p. 189, which calls her daughter of Joseph in error.) The children of Joseph and Esther (Sparks) Fox were:
41.2.1 Hosea Fox, born ca. 1720, died April 4, 1802, aged 82 (gravestone). He married Jennett Hollister, daughter of Ephraim and Elizabeth (Green) Hollister. She was born ca. 1723 and died in Glastonbury on March 17, 1785, aged 62. (Cemetery records and Hale, House, p. 631)
41.2.2 John Fox, born ca. 1726.
41.2.3 Noah Fox, born ca. 1728; died June 5, 1749.
41.2.4 Samuel Fox.
41.2.5 Joseph Fox, born ca. 1733; died March 25, 1756.41.3 Martha Sparks was born ca. 1697. Her age was given as 16 years on May 4, 1713, when she chose her stepfather, John Parsons, as her guardian. She was baptized on May 1, 1698. She was married at East Hartford, Connecticut, in January 1725/26 as the second wife of John Abbe, son of Samuel and Mary (Knowiton) Abbe, who was born at Salem, Massachusetts, on June 4, 1692, and died at East Hartford, Connecticut, on October 30, 1790. He had been married first to Naomi Kilbourn, daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Hills) Kilbourn, who had been baptized on June 4, 1693, and died prior to 1725. The Abbe children named John, Sarah, and Naomi were probably by John Abbe's first wife. (Hale, House, p. 660)
41.4 Ruth Sparks was born ca. 1700.
41.5 John Sparks, shown above, was the second son of John and Dorothy Sparks. As noted above, he probably was born in 1702; he died prior to June 27, 1746, when his estate was probated. He lived in Windsor, Connecticut, with his parents, but may not have been born there. The Court appointed John Parsons, his mother's second husband, as his guardian on May 4, 1713. He was living in Glastonbury, Connecticut, in July 1730 when his daughter, Susannah was born. He may have been a sailor, since the inventory of his estate referred to his Cape Breton wages. He did not leave a will.
The inventory of John Sparks's estate also included a loom and yarn, which could mean that he was a weaver, but it is more likely that these were used by his wife to make clothing and bedding for the family. Among the few surviving records pertaining to John Sparks is a church record indicating that on December 22, 1740, he was chosen to take care of the meeting house, and on December 17, 1741, he was voted a sum of money. (See Glastonbury, Buckingham, and Eastbury Congregational Church Records, 1731-1873, First Society, Vol. 1, pp. 36 & 38, hereafter cited as GBE Ch Rec.)
41.5 John Sparks married Susannah MNU (her maiden name was probably Webster according to Richard Hart). She died in 1752. She was called "late of Hartford" when the inventory of her estate was taken on January 19, 1753. Since Ezekiel Webster was surety for the probate of John's and Susannah's estates, this strengthens the possibility of her surname having been Webster. (Ezekiel Webster was born in 1712, the son of Jonathan and Esther Webster. Probate records for Jonathan Webster (1758, #5770, Hartford District) show a wife named Esther, a son named Ezekiel, but no daughter named Susannah.)
Glastonbury Probate Records (CSL, 1746, #5049) show that a bond was given to Susannah Spark of Glastonbury and Ezekiel Webster on July 1, 1746. The inventory of June 27, 1746, included a weaver's loom, farm tools, and yarn, and the estate was valued at 40 pounds, 2 shillings, and 3 pence. On April 7, 1747, Susannah requested the Court to appoint commissioners to adjust the claims against her husband's estate, "the estate being insolvent," whereupon the Court appointed Richard, Juduthan, and Manoah Smith of Glastonbury "to adjust the claims of the creditors." On November 1, 1750, the inventory was set at 64 pounds, 6 shillings, and 1 pence. On January 1, 1748, a Court order gave all moveables to the widow.
The names of the following children of 41.5 John and Susannah Sparks, with their dates of birth, are based upon the Vital Records of Glastonbury.
41.5.1 John Sparks, born ca. 1728.
41.5.2 Susanna Sparks, born at Glastonbury, Connecticut, on July 31, 1730 (VR 2:42); she died, probably at Glastonbury, after 1778. She was married there on August 24, 1757, to Samuel Rice, son of John and Mary (Eastman) Rice, who was born at Ashford, Connecticut, on November 8, 1730; he died after the 1790 census was taken. He was a member of the First Society, Glastonbury Church, and served in the American Revolution. The children of Samuel and Susanna (Sparks) Rice were as follows, names and birth dates being taken from the Glastonbury Vital Records, 2:42, 109):
41.5.2.1 John Rice, born June 25, 1758, died May 20, 1802. he was married on July 10, 1783, to Elizabeth Ferris (or Forrest). (See Glastonbury, Connecticut VR, 2:43). Margaret Buckridge Bock, author of this article, descends from this line.
41.5.2.2 Isaac Rice, born August 18, 1760, died in Glastonbury on August 23, 1760.
41.5.2.3 Elizabeth Rice, born December 1, 1761.
41.5.2.4 Samuel Rice, born August 31, 1763, died February 28, 1792, at Glastonbury; he was married there on November 23, 1785, to Deborah Taylor, daughter of John Taylor. (VR 2:109)
41.5.2.5 Isaac Rice, born April 8, 1765.
41.5.2.6 Philip Rice, born November 16, 1767.
41.5.2.7 Elijah Rice, born May 21, 1769, died June 18, 1769.
41.5.2.8 Elijah Rice (second of this name), born April 5, 1771.
41.5.2.9 Sarah Rice, born February 27, 1774.
41.5.2.10 William Rice, born May 17, 1776, died at Glastonbury February 28, 1777.
41.5.2.11 David Rice (twin), born February 8, 1778.
41.5.2.12 William Rice (twin and 2nd child named William), born February 8, 1778.41.5.3 Jonathan Sparks was born ca. 1734. He was 13 years old when his mother was appointed to be his guardian on January 6, 1746/7.
41.5.4 Dorothy Sparks was born ca, 1737. She was 10 years old when her mother was appointed to be her guardian on January 6, 1746/7.41.5.5 David Sparks was born ca. 1740. He was 7 years old when his mother was appointed to be his guardian on January 6, 1746/7. He was probably the David Sparks who appeared on the 1800 and 1810 censuses of East Hartford, Connecticut. (See The Sparks Quarterly of March 1985, Whole No. 129, page 2730.)
41.5.6 Eunice Sparks was born ca. 1744. She was 3 years old when her mother was appointed to be her guardian on January 6, 1746/7.
41.5.7 Anne Sparks was born ca. 1746. She was described as "about 6 years of age" when Ezekiel Webster was appointed to be her guardian on May 11, 1752.41.6 Anne Sparks was born ca. 1704. She may possibly have been married to John Hazeltine on February 10, 1729/30, according to a handwritten note on the Jacobus manuscript.
41.7 Dorothy Sparks was born ca. 1706. She may have been the daughter married to John Hazeltine according to Richard Hart.
41.8 Thomas Sparks was born ca. 1708. He was described as 16 years old on September 1, 1724, when his brother, 41.1 Noah Sparks, was appointed to be his guardian. 41.8 Thomas Sparks was shown under "H." in the list of the children of John and Dorothy Sparks appearing above. He was their youngest child, having been born ca. September 1, 1708. On May 4, 1713, John Parsons, the second husband of Dorothy, mother of Thomas, was named as his guardian. Thomas Sparks died September 15, 1741. He lived in Glastonbury where he was elected to take charge of the school funds for that town on December 24, 1750; he was also mentioned in the votes taken on December 24, 1753, and December 26, 1754, defining the boundary of the school. He was named Chorister on December 9, 1756, and was voted a sum of money on December 19, 1758. (GBE Ch Rec., lSoc: 71,74,77,80. )
According to information supplied by Richard Hart and Tom Richter, Thomas Sparks married Sarah Hollister Keeney ca. 1771. She was born ca. 1712 and died October 24, 1794, aged 82 years. (GBE Ch Rec. 2:133, called widow, no first name given.)
Joseph House sold 101 1/4 acres of land in Eastbury, Connecticut, for 110 pounds to Thomas Sparks on November 27, 1738. (See Hale, House, p. 334) Thomas Sparks sold land in Glastonbury to his brothers-in-law, Thomas and Richard Keeney, and to I. Mosly, in 1758. (Chapin, p. 200, and p. 85; LR 6:112)
There is a manuscript at the Connecticut Historical Society that was prepared a number of years ago by one of the most respected genealogists of the 20th century, Donald Lines Jacobus, which contains information on this branch of the Sparks family. Noting that Thomas Sparks had been born at Windsor, Connecticut ca. 1708, Mr. Jacobus concluded that he had died in 1760 while a soldier in the French and Indian War. He wrote:
Thomas Sparks enlisted, 5 April 1760, in the 12th Co., 1st Regt., Conn. Troops, for service in the French and Indian War; "Time of Death or Discharge" 15 September 1760 [Conn. Hist. Soc. Collections, 10, 191.] Since most of the men in this Company were discharged 25 November 1760, and the inventory of [the estate of] Thomas Sparks was taken 24 November 1760, we conclude that he died 15 September 1760 while in service.
Administration on the estate of Thomas Sparks of Glastonbury was granted, 5 May 1761, to Sarah Sparks and Amos Hollister of Glastonbury, with Jonathan Hollister surety. The inventory, taken 24 November 1760, amounted to L163.15.0. Distribution was made 29 and 30 December 1762 to:
"Sarah Widow of Said Deceasd.
Reuben only son to said Deceasd.
Anne Sparks Daughter of sd Deceasd.
Molle Daughter to said Deceasd.
Sarah Bidwell Daughter of sd Deceasd.
Lucy Loveland Daughter to sd Deceasd
Ruth Loveland Daughter to sd Deceasd."[Hartford Probate District, File No. 5051]
As noted in the above list of heirs, Thomas and Sarah H. (Keeney) Sparks had only one son, 41.8.4 Reuben Sparks, at the time of Thomas's death in 1741. An older son, 41.8.1 Isaac Sparks, had died in 1757. The complete list of the children of Thomas and Sarah follows.
41.8.1 Isaac Sparks was born ca. 1732; he died May 28, 1757, and was buried in the Green Cemetery, Glastonbury. (Cemetery Records 1)
41.8.2 Sarah Sparks was born ca. 1734; she died August 26, 1822, at the age of 88, according to her headstone. She was married, first, in Glastonbury to Samuel Bidwell on November 7, 1751. He was a son of Nathaniel Bidwell. (VR 1:125) He had been born ca. 1728 and died in Glastonbury on April 14, 1799, aged 71 (headstone). Sarah was married, second, to Samuel Stratton on January 5, 1806. (Hale, House, p. 472, issue given.)
41.8.3 Ruth Sparks was married at Glastonbury, Connecticut, on May 17, 1758, to Elizur Loveland, son of Lot Loveland (VR 2:73) and Rebecca (Risley) Loveland. (See Hale, House, p. 703, which lists their children.)
41.8.4 Reuben Sparks, son of Thomas and Sarah H. (Keeney) Sparks, died ca. 1829. He was a soldier in the American Revolution and was a member of the Second Ecclesiastical Society in Glastonbury, Connecticut, giving the oath in 1777. (See Chapin, p. 102) He was chosen "collector" on December 7, 1767, and was mentioned in the votes of December 5, 1768, December 11, 1769, and December 5, 1774. On December 16, 1771, and on October 6, 1801, he was voted sums of money. (1 Soc: 105, 111, 115, 120, 125, 195)
Reuben Sparks married Mary MNU, who was admitted to full communion on May 4, 1800. (GBE Ch Rec. 2:141, where Mary was called wife of Reuben.)
Reuben Sparks was listed in the 1790 census of Glastonbury (1:442) with a household consisting of one male over 16 (himself), and two males under 16, who were doubtless his sons Nathan and Elijah. Also enumerated were 5 females, who were doubtless his wife, Mary, and daughters Mary Ann, Honor, Hannah, and one other. Three of his children died in October 1779, undoubtedly from a contagious disease. In 1800, he was listed on the census of Glastonbury with a family of six (1:189) and in 1820 with a family of two, his age being over 45 in 1820. (1:833)
Reuben Sparks's will dated April 25, 1826, named his son, Elijah, and his daughter, Hannah Griswold (Glastonbury Probates 1829). The son Nathan, who was still living at the time of his father's death, was not mentioned.
Reuben and Mary Sparks were the parents of the following children (baptisms from GBE Ch Rec; information supplied by Richard Hart; and deaths from Louis Marinus Dewey, "Inscriptions from Old Cemeteries in Connecticut" in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 86, pp. 162-3, hereafter cited as Glast. Inscr. and Glastonbury Cem Rec. 187):
41.8.4.1 Thomas Sparks was born August 24, 1769, and was baptized on September 24, 1769. (2:1). On March 11, 1793, he was voted his Society rate (GBE Ch Rec., 1 Soc.:181). He probably died before 1800, since there was no listing for him in the Glastonbury, Connecticut, census of that year, nor was he mentioned in his fathers will of 1826.
Thomas Sparks married Jemima Fox in Glastonbury, Connecticut, on August 5, 1784. (See Frederic M. Bailey, Early Connecticut Marriages as Found on Early Church Records Prior to 1800 [Baltimore, 1968] 5:106; GBE Ch Rec. 2:74). She died October 7, 1793, at the age of 22 years (ibid, 2:132) (This is probably in error as it would have meant that she was only 13 at the time of her marriage.) She may have been the Jemima Fox who was born March 6, 1767, in Glastonbury (VR 2:72), daughter of Jonah and Susannah (Wood) Fox.
On the 1790 census of Glastonbury, Connecticut, Thomas Sparks was shown as heading a household consisting of 4 males under sixteen (one of whom was surely Reuben); one male over sixteen (himself); and one female (his wife, Jemima). (1:442)
The probable children of Thomas and Jemima (Fox) Sparks were:
41.8.4.1.1 Son1 Sparks, not identified, born ca. 1785 (between 1774-1790).
41.8.4.1.2 Son2 Sparks, not identified, born ca. 1787 (between 1774-1790).
41.8.4.1.3 Reuben Sparks, born ca. 1788 (between 1774-1790). He married Lucetta Rice.A birth record for Reuben or other positive proof that he was a son of Thomas Sparks has not been found, however, his parentage seems established by the following facts: when, for the 1880 and the 1900 censuses, 41.8.4.1.3.1 Reuben Sparks, Jr., son of Reuben and Lucetta (Rice) Sparks, was asked where his father had been born, he answered "Connecticut"; the father of Thomas Sparks was named Reuben, so it was not surprising for Thomas to name a son in his father's honor; Reuben's son, Amos Sparks, named a daughter Jemima, probably after his grandmother. Thomas Sparks had four males under 16 in his household when the 1790 census was taken, six years after his marriage, so it seems logical to assume that these were his sons. (The name Amos had not been used previously in this branch of the Sparks family, but Jemima (Fox) Sparks had a brother named Amos.) Although Jemima died young, she was still living in 1788, the assumed date of Reuben's birth. (This information from Carol Austin, Garden Grove, California, 92644, hereafter cited as Austin.)
Reuben Sparks, who was doubtless named for his grandfather 41.8.4.1.3, was born in Connecticut ca. 1788; he died in Bedford, Ontario, Canada, on November 17, 1836.
[Editors Note: Most of the information that we have regarding Reuben Sparks (ca. 1788-1836) is found in the application for a War of 1812 pension which his widow, Lusetta (Rice) Sparks, made in 1875 and renewed in 1883. In this, she claimed that her husband had served in the War of 1812, but, because no proof of such service could be found, her application was rejected in both 1875 and 1883. In her application, as will be seen below, Lusetta referred to Reuben as "of Jefferson County, New York" and that it had been in the town of Watertown in Jefferson County that they had been married on January 24, 1814. The evidence found thus far, however, indicates that Reuben Sparks had lived in Canada for many years prior to his death in 1836. In fact, he was probably a pioneer in the area that became the town of Henrietta, about 30 miles from Canandaigua, as early as 1806. We have found him in no U.S. census, although he may well have returned to the state of New York at different times-to serve in the War of 1812, for instance, and to be married in 1814. Perhaps Lusette stated that he was "of Jefferson County, New York" in order that her application would not be rejected automatically because she applied from Canada. It was doubtless true that Reuben was "of Jefferson County, New York" before moving to Canada.]
An abstract of the application of Lusetta (Rice) Sparks appeared in the Sparks Quarterly of September 1962, Whole No. 39. We repeat it here because of its significance to this study.
Pension File WO 11 488. On June 7, 1875, Lusetta Sparks, widow of Reuben Sparks, made application for a pension under the Congressional Act of February 14, 1871. She stated that she was a resident of Ivermay in the County of Bruce, Province of Ontario, Canada, and that she was 87 years old. She stated that Reuben Sparks had enlisted in the United States service and served at Sackets Harbour, New York, during the War Against Great Britain of 1812-15, "and was honorably discharged at the close of each one of two periods of enlistment in the said service; that she cannot now remember under what captain or in what company, regiment, brigade or division the said service was performed." She stated that her name before her marriage had been Lusetta Rice and that she married Reuben Sparks on January 24, 1814, by the Rev. Mr. Warner at Watertown, Jefferson County, New York, and that Reuben Sparks died at Bedford, Ontario, on November 17, 1836. Lusetta Sparks signed her application by mark. Reuben Sparks and Abraham Neelands signed as witnesses; both were residents of the township of Arran, Province of Ontario. (Although the relationship of this younger Reuben Sparks is not stated in the application, there can be little doubt that he was a son of Reuben and Lusetta [Rice] Sparks.)
On July 3, 1875, the U.S. Pension Office informed Mrs. Sparks that before any action could be taken on her application, she would have to furnish the names of the officers under whom her husband had served. She replied on October 15, 1875: "I cannot remember the name of the company my husband served in. I think the Captain's name was Bremner, I cannot [be] sure. He served as a volunteer, there never was any Land Warrant received."
A search was made by the U.S. Treasury Department for proof that Reuben Sparks had served in the War of 1812 as his widow claimed, but, although it was found that a company had been commanded by a Capt. Andrew Bremner, the name of Reuben Sparks did not appear on the roster of his company. The application of Lusetta (Rice) Sparks was rejected by the U.S. Pension Office on December 28, 1875, on the basis of the lack of evidence that Reuben Sparks had ever served as claimed.
On September 26, 1883, Lusetta Sparks, now a resident of Westport, Mendocino County, California, appointed W. T. Fitzgerald of Washington, D.C., as her attorney to re-open her application. She signed this document by mark, as she had the earlier application. Again, Reuben Sparks (who was surely her son) signed as a witness, indicating that he, too, had moved from Canada to California. Because still no evidence of her husband's service in the War of 1812 could be found, Lusetta's application was rejected again.
No record of the children of Reuben and Lusetta (Rice) Sparks has been found, although there is ample circumstantial evidence to identify two of their children. There may well have been others.
41.8.4.1.3.1 Reuben Sparks, Jr. was born in March 1824 according to the 1900 census of California where he was living at that time. In 1850, he was living with his brother, Amos Sparks, in the village of Port Huron in St. Clair County, Michigan, according to the census of that year. His age was given as 23 and his place of birth as Canada. This would place his birth as ca. 1827. It is not believed that he had children, although he was described as a widower on the 1900 census. No record of death has been found for him-we know only that he died after 1900. (See also the following article devoted to his brother, Amos Sparks, beginning on page 3599 for further information regarding him.
41.8.4.1.3.2 Amos Sparks was born in 1823 or 1824 in Canada. An article regarding him and his family begins on page 3599.
41.8.4.1.4 Male, not identified, born ca. 1789-90 (between 1774-1790).
41.8.4.1.5 Thomas Sparks, born ca. 1791, died October 15, 1794, aged 3 years.
(GBE Ch Rec. 2:133)
41.8.4.1.6 Thomas Sparks (second child given this name), baptized October 20, 1794. (GBE Ch Rec. 2:124). He died young.41.8.4.2 Sarah Sparks was born in 1768 and was baptized on September 24, 1769. (2:1, 70) She died October 22/3, 1779, at the age of 11 and was buried in the Eastbury Cemetery, Glastonbury.
41.8.4.3 Isaac Sparks was born in 1771; he was baptized on April 19, 1772 (2:4, 701); and he died October 29, 1779, at the age of 8 years. He was buried in the Eastbury Cemetery, Glastonbury.
41.8.4.4 Nathan Sparks, son of Reuben and Mary Sparks, was born October 17, 1774 (Hale, House, p. 120). He was baptized on December 4, 1774. (2:8) He died March 8, 1832, at the age of 57. He was buried in the Wassaic Cemetery in Glastonbury. (Glastonbury Cem. Rec. 161; Glastonbury Inscr. 318; Hale, House, p. 120)
Nathan Sparks was married on December 3, 1797, to Lucinda Hale, daughter of Jonathan and Mary (Clark) Hale. She had been born in Portland, Connecticut, on September 6, 1778, and had been baptized on November 16, 1779, "on behalf of its [her] Grandfather David Hale." She died at Glastonbury on February 5, 1868, at the age of 89 and was buried with her husband. (Glastonbury Cem. Rec. 161; Glastonbury Inscr. 60:318; Hale, House p. 120)
On February 21, 1800, Nathan Sparks and his wife were admitted to full communion. In this record, Lucinda's name appears (or has been copied) as "Philena." This may have been merely a copying error, or perhaps her full name was "Lucinda Philena." On February 1, 1825, Nathan and Lucinda were shown as members of the Methodist Church in Glastonbury, in full communion, but under "watch and care." On March 14, 1825, this "watch and care" was withdrawn. (GBE Ch Rec. 2:141, 2A:56-57)
Nathan Sparks was listed as head of a household on the 1820 census of Glastonbury, Connecticut, aged 45 and upwards, with a family of 10 and in 1830 as over age 50 with a family of 6.
Nathan's will, dated July 3, 1831, and proved in Court in 1832, named his wife, Lucinda, his daughters Caroline and Laura Sparks, as well as his married daughters Honoria Andrews, Julia Ingraham, and his sons Edward Sparks, William Sparks, and Chauncey Sparks. The daughters were not named in the distribution of his property on July 15, 1833. A guardian bond was posted by David Andrews and William Sparks, both of Glastonbury, for Chauncey Sparks in 1833, and permission to sell his land for his education was granted on April 6, 1833.
The children of Nathan and Lucinda (Hale) Sparks were as follows, based on family records appearing in Hale, House, p. 120, and Glastonbury VR 2:184.
41.8.4.4.1 Edward Sparks was born October 7, 1798; he was baptized on February 23, 1800. (GBE Ch Rec. 2:146, mothers name not given.) He married Esther Burr on November 27, 1828.
41.8.4.4.2 Honoria Sparks was born June 3, 1802. She was married on December 30, 1819, to David Andrews. (Glastonbury VR 2:187) She was married, second, to Andrew Ingraham.
41.8.4.4.3 William C. Sparks was born March 17, 1804, in Glastonbury, Connecticut, (VR 2:184) and died there on October 1, 1882, age 78. He was buried in the Nipsic Cemetery (Glastonbury Cem Rec., 171; Glastonbury Inscr. 322).
William C. Sparks was married, first, to Emeline Wadsworth in Glastonbury on April 6, 1825 (VR 3:83), who had been born in 1806; she died April 3, 1850, at the age of 44. She was buried beside her husband (Glastonbury Inscr. 322). He was married, second, to Mary M. Buck of Manchester, Connecticut, on January 4, 1852, in Glastonbury (VR 3:223); she was born ca. 1815 and died April 22, 1885, age 70, and was buried near her husband and his first wife ibid 322).
On the 1830 census of Glastonbury, William C. Sparks was shown as in his 20s with a family of three. On the 1840 census, he was shown as in his 40s, although he was actually 36, and with a family of twelve, which probably included his mother, Lucinda. On the 1850 census of Glastonbury, his age was given as 45, his occupation as "Farmer," and his household of fifteen included his mother,
Lucinda, age 67;
Pamelia Sparks, age 62 [the widow of his Uncle Elijah Sparks];
Emeline, age 10;
Helen, age 18;
Jennette C., age 13;
Laura M., age 16;
Mary A., age 23; and
Ruannah, age 20.Others listed in the household were of various surnames and were probably farm laborers.
The following list of children of William C. Sparks and his first wife, Emeline (Wadsworth) Sparks, is based upon the 1850 census, deaths from Glastonbury Inscr. 318 and 322, and Glastonbury Cem Rec. 161,171.
41.8.4.4.3.1 Mary A. Sparks was born ca. 1827.
41.8.4.4.3.2 Caroline M. Sparks was born ca. 1829; she died April 25, 1829, age 10 weeks, and was buried in the Nipsic (sometimes called Wassaic) Cemetery, Glastonbury.
41.8.4.4.3.3 Daughter Sparks, name unknown, died in 1830 as an infant; she was also buried in the Nipsic Cemetery.
41.8.4.4.3.4 Ruannah Sparks was born ca. 1830.
41.8.4.4.3.5 Helen Bailey Sparks was born in 1832-3; she died March 14, 1856, age 23; she was buried in Albany, New York. (Her age was given as 18 on the 1850 census.)
41.8.4.4.3.6 Laura M. [or W.] Sparks was born in 1834-5; she died August 4, 1863, age 28. (Her age was 16 on the 1850 census.) She was buried with her parents.
41.8.4.4.3.7 Jennette E. Sparks was born ca. 1837; she died December 8, 1922, at the age of 85; she was buried with her parents.
41.8.4.4.3.8 Emeline M. Sparks was born ca. 1840; she died January 25, 1861, age 21. She was buried with her parents.41.8.4.4.4 Julia Sparks was born May 27, 1806. She was married on December 25, 1828, to Elias Ingraham of Marborough (ibid, 3:96).
41.8.4.4.5 Mary Ann Sparks, daughter of Nathan and Lucinda (Hale) Sparks, was born on August 18, 1810; she died June 7, 1826, at the age of 16 and was buried with her parents in Glastonbury. (Glastonbury Cem Rec. 161; Glastonbury Inscr. 318)
41.8.4.4.6 Caroline Sparks was born on September 6, 1812. She was married, first, to Horace Abbey of Enfield, Connecticut, on March 29, 1837, (Glastonbury VR 3:140); she was married, second, to James Watson.
41.8.4.4.7 Chauncey H. Sparks was born December 21, 1814, according to the Vital Records of Glastonbury, but his tombstone in the West Cemetery located on the west side of Bristol, Connecticut, gives his date of birth as December 23, 1813. He died, according to his tombstone, on May 16, 1883. [Editors Note: We are grateful to Gary M. Sparks of Bristol, Connecticut, who copied the inscriptions on Sparks tombstones in the West Cemetery for us in 1983.]
The 1850 census of Glastonbury gives Chauncey Sparks's occupation as "Spinner," but when the 1870 census was taken, he was shown as living in the town of Bristol with the occupation of "Stocking manufacturer" with real estate valued at $7,000 and personal estate at $20,000. He was married on December 22, 1836, in Glastonbury to Elizabeth K. Buckingham according to the Columbian Register, issue dated December 31, 1836. Their known children were (there may have been others):
41.8.4.4.7.1 Nathan Sparks was born September 3, 1839, and died October 28, 1880, according to his tombstone in the West Cemetery in Bristol, Connecticut. His wife, Martha LNU, was buried beside him: she was born August 23, 1845, and died January 4, 1917. Also buried near Nathan and Martha was a daughter,
41.8.4.4.7.1.1 Maude Sparks (1871-1876) and a son,
41.8.4.4.7.1.2 Hubert Sparks (1877-1881).41.8.4.4.7.2 Josephine Sparks was born ca. 1841. She was shown as 9 years old on the 1850 census.
41.8.4.4.7.3 Frank E. Sparks was born January 17, 1846, and died June 2, 1789, according to his tombstone in the West Cemetery in Bristol, Connecticut.
41.8.4.4.7.4 Noble C. Sparks was born March 28, 1848, and died October 11, 1928, according to his tombstone in the West Cemetery in Bristol, Connecticut. When the 1870 census was taken, he was still living with his parents in Bristol and his occupation was given as "Works in clock factory." The Helen U. Sparks buried beside him was probably his wife. The dates on her tombstone are: born July 16, 1851, died September 26, 1889.
41.8.4.4.7.5 Milton B. Sparks was shown in the household of Chauncey Sparks when the 1870 census was taken in Bristol. He was 13 years old, so born ca. 1857 and was "attending school." We assume that he was the youngest child of Chauncey and Elizabeth Sparks.
41.8.4.4.8 Lucinda Sparks, daughter of Nathan and Lucinda (Hale) Sparks, was born on July 18, 1818. She married Mark E. Perkins of Bristol, Connecticut, on March 29, 1837. (Glastonbury VR 3:140)
41.8.4.5 Abigail Sparks was born in 1777 and was baptized on February 22, 1778 (2:84, 701); she died October 9, 1779, at the age of 2 years and was buried in the Eastbury Cemetery, Glastonbury.
41.8.4.6 Mary Ann Sparks was baptized on August 6, 1780 (2:16). She was married at Eastbury on January 31, 1802, to Israel Holmes (2:89), son of Appleton and Lydia (Goodrich) Holmes. He was born May 1, 1781. (See Hale, House, p. 33)
41.8.4.7 Honor [or Connor] Sparks, daughter, was baptized on September 22, 1782 (2:20).
41.8.4.8 Elijah Sparks was baptized on October 18, 1785. (GBE Ch Rec. 2:25); he died in Glastonbury, Connecticut, on February 25, 1848, at the age of 62, and was buried in the Buckingham Cemetery (ibid 2A:47; Glastonbury Inscr 171, and Cem Rec. 193 where his age at death was given as 63.)
Elijah was married, first, ca. 1811, to Deborah Hurlbut. She was born ca. 1791 and died in Glastonbury on May 16, 1824, at the age of 33; she was buried in the Eastbury Cemetery, Glastonbury (Cem Rec. 185; Glastonbury Inscr. 60:141, 162). Elijah was married, second, on May 1, 1826, to Pamela Fox in Glastonbury (VR 3:89); she had been born ca. 1787 and died April 6, 1863, at the age of 76. She was buried beside Elijah (ibid 171). On February 10, 1830, Elijah's wife was mentioned in a charge against Jonathan Strickland (GBE 2A:64). Bond was issued to Ruhannah F. Tryon of Glastonbury and Francis Swan of Hartford on May 19, 1864 (Glastonbury Probates, 1864).
Elijah Sparks was listed on the 1820 census of Glastonbury where his age category was marked as between 26 and 45 as was that of his wife, and there were five children in their household. His name was recorded as "Abijah" on the 1830 census, at which time he and his wife were both between 40 and 50, and there were five females in their household ranging in age from the category of 20-30 to under 5. On the 1840 census of Glastonbury, Elijah and his wife were enumerated as between 50 and 60 with but one female child was still living at home, aged 10-15. There was also a female enumerated as between 80 and 90 whom the census taker identified as Mary F. Sparks, age 81. This was doubtless Elijah's mother. (See the Quarterly of March 1985, Whole No. 129, pages 2730-34 for these census records.)
Elijah Sparks's estate was valued at $2,190.00 (Glastonbury Probates, 1848). The distribution made on May 15, 1849, mentioned his son. Henry Sparks, daughter Ruhannah Sparks; the widow, Pamelia; Emily M., wife of William H. Brainard; Marice A., wife of David L. Curtis; and Mary Ann, wife of Osmer P. Curtis.
The children of Elijah Sparks by his first wife, Deborah (Hurlbut) Sparks, were as follows, although the exact order of their births is somewhat uncertain. This list is based upon the probate records pertaining to his estate and the Vital Records of Glastonbury.
41.8.4.8.1 Henry Sparks was born ca. 1812. He was married on March 2, 1834, to Clarissa B. Eames of Lisbon, Connecticut. (Glastonbury VR 1:31)
41.8.4.8.2 Emily M. Sparks was born ca. 1814. She was married on October 5, 1830, to William H. Brainard of Haddam, Connecticut. (Glastonbury VR 3:109)
41.8.4.8.3 Harriet M. Sparks was born ca. 1816. She was married on November 2, 1834, to Marvin T. Nash. (Glastonbury VR 3:128) She was not mentioned in the distribution of her father's estate in 1849.
41.8.4.8.4 Maria A. Sparks was born ca. 1818. She was married on March 22, 1840, to David Q./L. Curtis of Glastonbury. (VR 3:154) She was called "Marice" in the distribution of her father's estate.
41.8.4.8.5 Mary Ann Sparks was born ca. 1820. She was married on January 1, 1840 to Osman [or Osmer] P. Curtis of Glastonbury. (VR 3:153)
41.8.4.8.6 Fidealla Sparks was born in April 1821 and died July 3, 1821, at the age of 3 months. She was buried in the Eastbury Cemetery. (Glastonbury Cem Rec., 185 where the name was copied as "Eldealia." Glastonbury Inscr. 60:162)
Elijah Sparks and his second wife, Pamela (Fox) Sparks, were the parents of one child:
41.8.4.8.7 Ruhamah [or Ruhannah] Fidelia Sparks was born December 10, 1828; She was baptized on May 17, 1829. She died January 10, 1913, and was buried in the Old Church Cemetery in Glastonbury (Cem Rec., 120). She was married on September 17, 1856, to John E. Tryon of Glastonbury. (This was his second marriage.) He had been born on August 31, 1828, and died August 28, 1923 (ibid). He had been married, first, to Julia A. Stevens who had died September 3, 1853, age 24 (ibid). Rhuaman was admitted to the church in Canterbury on July 2, 1843, and was later dismissed. (GBE Ch Rec. 2A: 16, 34, 88b)
41.8.4.9 Hannah Sparks married FNU Griswold, according to the will of her father. No further information.
41.8.5 Anne Sparks. We have no further information.
41.8.6 Molle Sparks died soon after her marriage in August 1767 to Pelatiah Loveland, son of Elisha and Hannah (Hills) Loveland. He was born January 13, 1748, and died at Eastbury, Connecticut, on April 28, 1823, aged 76 (headstone). He was married, second, to Molly Goodale. (Hale, House, p. 700)
41.8.7 Lucy Sparks was married twice. Her first husband was Isaac Stratton. She was married, 2nd, to Elisha Loveland, son of Elisha and Hannah (Hills) Loveland, who was born May 4, 1738. (Hale, House, pp. 347 & 699, which gives issue.)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Frederick W. Bailey, Early Connecticut Marriages as Found on Early Church Records Prior to 1800 [Baltimore 1968].
Lucius Barnes Barbour, Early Families of Hartford Conn., 1645-1825 [Baltimore 1982].
Rev. Alonzo B. Chapin, Glastonbury for Two Hundred Years [South Glastonbury 1976]
Louis Marinus Dewey, "Inscriptions from Old Cemeteries in Connecticut" in New England Historical and Genealogical Register 60:141; 86:162, 171, 318, 322.
Glastonbury, Buckingham and Eastbury Congregational Church Records, 1731-1873 at the Connecticut State Library.
Donald Lines Jacobus and Edgar Francis Waterman, Hale, House and Related Families Mainly of the Connecticut River Valley [Baltimore 1978].
Donald Lines Jacobus, "Manuscript" at the Connecticut Historical Society.
Charles W. Manwaring, _A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records [1904].
Probate File at the Connecticut State Library to 1940 and in the Town of Glastonbury after 1850.
Chauncey Sparks, Glastonbury, 1833.
Elijah Sparks, Glastonbury, 1848.
John Sparks, 1714, no town, #5048A.
John Sparks 1724, Windsor, #5048.
John Sparks, 1746, Glastonbury, $5949.
Nathan Sparks, 1832, Glastonbury.
Pamela Sparks, 1864, Glastonbury.
Reuben Sparks, 1829, Glastonbury.
Susannah Sparks, 1753, Hartford, #5050.
Thomas Sparks, 1760, Glastonbury, #5051.
James Savage, _A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, on the Basis of Farmer's Register [Baltimore, 1977].
The Sparks Quarterly.
Henry R. Stiles, The Histories and Genealogies of Ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Including East Windsor, South Windsor, Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, and Ellington, 1635-1891 [1892].
Mary Kingsbury Talcott, "Records of the Church in Eastbury, Conn." in NEHGR 60:377, 380.
Correspondence with:
Carol Austin Garden Grove, CA 92644.
Richard Hart Riverwoods, IL 60015.
Tom and Virginia Howard East Granby, CT 06026.
Tom Richter, 395 Newtown Ave., Norwalk, CT 06861.