November 15, 2020
Pages 1510-1512
Whole Number 79
SPARKS FAMILIES LISTED ON THE 1840 CENSUS OF NORTH CAROLINA
In previous issues of the Quarterly, we have published a listing of persons named Sparks as found on the 1790 census of North Carolina (See the issue for March 1953, Vol. 1, No. 1, Whole No. 1, p. 5-6) and that for the 1850 census (see the issue of December 1961, Whole No. 36, p. 599-609). In 1790, 86 persons were enumerated as living in Sparks households in six of the fifty-tour counties of North Carolina. by 1850, 282 persons with the name Sparks were living in eighteen of the 79 counties of the state. Here we list the 35 Sparks households as found on the 1840 census. Living in these 35 households were 122 males and 114 females.
Unlike the 1850 census, which included the name, age, and place of birth of all members of each household, the 1810 census gives only the name of the head, followed by an enumeration of the members according to age category. The federal census record. for 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820 and 1830 used a similar listing. On the 1840 census, males and females were divided into 13 age categories. We may assume that in most households, the man named as the head was the oldest enumerated male, while the oldest enumerated female was his wife. If the head was a woman, as in the case of Temperance Sparks in Wilkes County, we can usually assume that she was the oldest female enumerated. Likewise, we can assume that in most cases the younger members of the household were children of the head. In some instances, however, aged relative. might be living in the household, as well as yoimg apprentices, servants and hired hands, orphaned neighbor children, in-laws, etc. The attempt was to count the members of each household, not to limit the enumeration to the members of the same family.
Slaves and free blacks were also counted In 1840, but they were listed in much broader age categories than the white people. Only three of the Sparks families listed in 1840 in North Carolina owned slaves. These are identified in the following list, with the enumeration of the slaves and free blacks in these households given at the end.
The original documents from which these census records have been copied are preserved in the National Archives. The Genealogic Company, Cendex Division, in Austin, Texas, recently made an index to the 1840 census of North Carolina. Carrie Grant Heppen, using the results of a search of that Index, has copied for us a full enumeration of each Sparks household.
| Males | Females | Slaves | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 5 |
5 10 |
10 15 |
15 20 |
20 30 |
30 40 |
40 50 |
50 60 |
60 70 |
70 80 |
80 90 |
90 100 |
+ 100 |
||| | 0 5 |
5 10 |
10 15 |
15 20 |
20 30 |
30 40 |
40 50 |
50 60 |
60 70 |
70 80 |
80 90 |
90 100 |
||
| Anson County | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Sparks (p.47) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Burke County | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| James Sparks (p.315) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wm. Sparks (p.338) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jas. Sparks (p.342) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Absolem Sparks (p.350) | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cherokee County | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Athy Sparks (p.242) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Davie County | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joseph Sparks (p. 204) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Franklin County | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stephen Sparks (p.60) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Rutherford County | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wm. Sparks (p.263) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Thos. Sparks (p. 265) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Barnett Sparks (p. 265) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| William Sparks (p.148) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Am. P. Sparks (p. 278) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Surry County | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thomas Sparks (p. 120) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1.2.1.2.1.5.1 William Z. Sparks (p. 120) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| George Sparks (p. 121) | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Russell Sparks (p. 122) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Benjamin Sparks (p. 122) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joel Sparks (p. 126) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wilkes County | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Solomon Sparks (p. 73) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Temperance Sparks (p.75) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Samuel Sparks (p. 75) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Richmond Sparks (p. 76) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Coleby Sparks (p. 77) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Solomon Sparks (p. 80) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Reuben Sparks (p. 82) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John M. Sparks (p. 82) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daniel Sparks (p. 84) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Solomon Sparks (p. 84) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Emanuel Sparks (p. 84) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wm. R. Sparks (p. 84) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jonas Sparks (p. 84) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joel Sparks (p. 85) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mathew Sparks (p. 106) | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yancy County | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thos. M. Sparks (p. 268) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||| | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Slaves owned by Joseph Sparks of Davis County: | |||
| Males: | Females: | ||
| under 10 years | 4 | under 10 years | 2 |
| 10 to 24 years | 1 | 10 to 24 years | 2 |
| 24 to 36 years | 1 | Total female slaves | 4 |
| 36 to 55 years | 1 | ||
| 55 to 100 years | 1 | ||
| Total male slaves | 8 | ||
| Slaves owned by Stephen Sparks of Franklin Co. | |||
| Males: | Females: | ||
| 24 to 36 years | 1 | 10 to 24 years | 1 |
| Free blacks in household of Stephen Sparks of Franklin County: | |||
| Males: | Females: | ||
| under 10 years | 1 | under 10 years | 1 |
| 10 to 24 years | 3 | 10 to 24 years | 2 |
| 36 to 55 years | 1 | 36 to 55 years | 1 |
| Total free males | 5 | Total free females | 4 |
| Slaves owned by Samuel Sparks of Wilkes County: | |||
| Female: | |||
| 36 to 50 years: | 1 | ||