Matthew Jefferson Sparks, Sr

http://www.sparksfamilytree.net/family_tree/wga91.html#I21421

    See THE SPARKS QUARTERLY, December, 1956, Whole No. 16, pg 177 (andalso the issue of December 1997, Whole No. 180, p. 4965):

SPARKSES IN THE AMERICANREVOLUTION:
"(Editor's Note: We believe that the following pension papers ofMatthew Sparks (529) (1759-1841) are among the most interesting of thosewhich have been published thus far in the QUARTERLY, for in hisapplication Matthew Sparks goes into considerable detail regarding hisexperiences in the Revolution).
"According to his own statement, Matthew Sparks [Jr.] (529) was bornJanuary 20, 1759, in Rowan County, North Carolina. He died on August 14,1841, in Clinton County, Illinois. Records gathered by the officers ofthe Association over a period of several years reveal that the father ofMatthew Sparks was also named Matthew (256); in order to distinguishbetween father and son in this preliminary sketch, the father will bereferred to as Matthew Sparks, the Elder.
"Matthew Sparks, the Elder, and his wife Sarah (whose maiden name issaid by descendants to have been Thompson), is believed to have migratedfrom Maryland to North Carolina about 1758. The earliest record ofMatthew Sparks the Elder in Rowan County found thus far is a deed datedApril 4, 1761, by which he purchased 372 acres of land from Sir JohnCarteret, Earl of Granville. (Here article provides facts about childrenfor which see the notes of the children of Matthew Sparks)
"From the pension papers of Matthew (529) and William (333), it isapparent that their father Matthew Sparks the Elder, moved from RowanCounty, N.C., to Wilkes County, N.C., with his family before theRevolution, settling on New River near the present town of Jefferson inAshe County. (Ashe County was cut off from Wilkes County in 1799 and theland on which Matthew Sparks the Elder had lived became part of AsheCounty.) Apparently several of the sons served in the Revolution (notethat William refers to his brother John as having been a lieutenant).Family tradition indicates that all of the sons of Matthew Sparks theElder had red hair.
"Following the Revolution, Matthew Sparks, the Elder and most of hissons moved to Georgia, settling eventually near the present city ofAthens in what is now Clark County, then Franklin County. Here thefamily and other settlers built SPARKS FORT as protection against theCreek Indians. For a number of years, the Creek Indians, under theirfamous chief, Alexander McGillivray, were an almost daily menace. InNovember, 1793, Matthew Sparks, the Elder, was killed by the Indians.The family gradually scattered, a number of the sons settling inTennessee as was indicated above. Sarah Sparks, widow of Matthew Sparks,the Elder, was living as late as September, 1828, in Tennessee.According to a letter written by a granddaughter in 1899, Sarah Sparks isburied in "Old Pleasant Grove."
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The following feature article about Matthew Sparks in SQ June 1961Whole No. 34, page 556, is clarified in the Dec 1989 issue, Whole No.148, at page 3500, with corrections pointing out that Matthew was a sonof William Sample Sparks and a brother of William Sparks who died in 1801in Surry Co. NC.
SPARKS QUARTERLY June 1961, Whole No. 34, pg 556:
"In the December, 1956, issue of the Quarterly (Vol. IV, No. 16, p p.177-78), we designated Matthew Sparks as "the Elder" to distinguish himfrom his son, also named Matthew, whose Revolutionary War pension paperswe published. Here it has been thought best to refer to the elderMatthew simply as Matthew Sparks, and to refer to his son as Matthew,Jr.
"An important source for our research on Matthew Sparks and hisdescendants has been a letter written by one of Matthew's descendants,Bettie C. Smith, on March 11, 1899. Mrs. Smith was an old lady in 1899and wrote this letter to her nephew, Sam Sparks, of McKinzie, Tennessee,to tell him what she remembered regarding her ancestors. A copy of thisletter was placed in the Tennessee State Library several years ago whereit has been copied a number of times and has been used as a basis forresearch by a number of Matthew Sparks's descendants. Unfortunately,Bettie Smith made a serious error in her letter that has caused a greatdeal of confusion ever since when she mentioned her great-grandfather,Matthew Sparks, she erroneously gave his name as "John." The fact thatMatthew had a son named Matthew, as well as a son named John, may havecaused this confusion, but more probably, Mrs. Smith just made a "slip."In reducing Bettie Smith's letter here, it has seemed best to substitutethe correct name of her great-grandfather than to perpetuate themistake. Following is Bettie C. Smith's letter, with notes:
"Sammie: The older ones are, or will soon be all gone; when you getto be older, you will want to know more than now, who was your ancestors.When I was a child old Uncle Mathew Sparks made his home with hisbrother, Isaac, but spent much of his time with Father and Mama. Ilearned of him more than from anyone else. His Father was named Matthew(see explanation above) his mother was Sarah Thompson (Sally Tyson, wasnamed for her), he crossed the waters, I never have known where he wasraised; Sally Tyson thought he came from Wales. I do not know where hemarried. He went out to kill a turkey one morning, and was shot byIndians. He left eleven children, nine red-headed boys, and two girls.Here are the names of the boys: David, James, William, Mathew, Absolom,Jessie, Nathan, Baily, Hardy and Isaac. The girls names were Eady andAnn, one of them married a Traylor. Mathew fought in the Revolution,don't know how many more. They fought the Tories for all they wereworth. John, Captain and Mathew Lieutenant.
"They got up one morning, horses all gone but one, (I guess that wasin Georgia) they sit Granny, and a bed on her (the horse) and started forthe fort, twenty-five miles bare-headed; there they stayed seven years.Uncle Isaac was five years old, and brother and sister swung by his armall the way. Old Grandma buried at Old Pleasant Grove; the piece ofshirt the ball went through when her husband was killed, was buried withher. I do not know so much of Thompson kin; Grandma Thompson wasElizabeth Suduth; Grandma Sparks was Nancy Hancock. My notion is that ifwe have any mean streaks in us, it did not come through the Sparks',while many of them have become adulterated; but the good ones were sureenough good. You may not care to ever read this, but I don't care, I amgoing to send it anyway.
March 11, 1899 Signed: Bettie C. Smith.'
"Notes on the above letter: We have not succeeded in getting in touchwith any of the descendants or close relatives of Bettie C. Smith, andavailable census and official records have failed to reveal positivelywho she was. There seems little doubt, however, that she was agreat-granddaughter of Matthew and Sarah Sparks. Nathan Sparks, one ofMatthew's sons, had a son named Isaac, born about 1805, who was marriedto Orpha Thompson in Wilson County, Tennessee, in 1824 (bond datedSeptember 27). When Isaac's estate was settled in Carroll County,Tennessee, following his death in 1878, one of his daughters was listedas Elizabeth E. Smith. Although in her letter of 1899, Bettie's middleinitial appears as a "C", we are inclined to believe that she was thedaughter of Isaac and Orpha. If this is correct, her statement that"Grandma Thompson was Elizabeth Suduth" and "Grandma Sparks was NancyHancock" refers to Isaac's and Orpha's mothers. It seems certain, in anycase, that she was not referring to the family of Sarah Thompson, wife ofMatthew. We have numerous records to prove that Matthew's wife was namedSarah, but Bettie Smith's letter is our only record that her maiden namewas Thompson. It was Sally Tyson who, according to Mrs. Smith, was namedafter Sarah (Thompson) Sparks, was a daughter of Isaac Sparks, who was ason of Matthew and Sarah. A marriage record on file in Carroll County,Tennessee, reveals that a Sarah Sparks and Samuel Tyson were marriedJanuary 8, 1845.
"Betty Smith was confused regarding the part the family played in therevolution. Matthew Sparks was killed by the Indians in 1793, long afterthe close of the Revolution. Likewise, Mrs. Smith seems to have beensomewhat confused when she listed the names of the children of Matthewand Sarah. She stated that there were eleven children in all, but gavethe names of twelve. From other sources, we know also that there was ason named John whom she failed to mention, making thirteen in all.
"Although Bettie Smith stated that Sally Tyson had thought MatthewSparks had come to America from Wales, it is probable that he was born inthis country -- perhaps one of Matthew's ancestors had come over fromWales. Although we have no positive proof, we believe that MatthewSparks was living in Frederick County, Maryland, before he moved to RowanCounty, North Carolina. He and his wife Sarah, were probably marriedabout 1754. There can be no doubt that Matthew was closely related toWilliam Sample Sparks and Solomon Sparks who came from Frederick County,Maryland, to Rowan County, North Carolina, in the early 1760's. (MatthewSparks sold land to his brother William Sparks on April 10, 1765, shortlyafter William's arrival in Rowan County.) Matthew, William Sample, andSolomon were all of the same generation --all were born about1725-35--and they may have been brothers. [JS Note: The fact is, WilliamSample and Solomon were cousins and Matthew was William Sample's son.]If so, they were probably sons of Joseph and Rachel Sparks. JosephSparks died in Frederick County, Maryland, in 1749; he did not leave awill, but the inventory of his estate names William Sample Sparks (JS:his nephew) and Rachel Sparks as his next of kin.
"In the Revolutionary War pension application of William Sparks, sonof Matthew, he refered to "my uncle James Sparks" who he stated was amember "of the foot company from Wilkes County."If this statement byMatthew's son is correct, then Matthew had a brother named James Sparksin North Carolina. (The 1774 tax list of Surry County, North Carolina,"Benjamin Cleavland's District", contains the name James Sparks. In afragment that is preserved of the 1779 tax list of Wilkes County, "Capt.Allen's District," the name of "James Sparkes" is listed with hisproperty valued at 100 pounds. What became of this James Sparks after1779 is not known.)
"The earliest official record pertaining to Matthew Sparks found thusfar in Rowan County, North Carolina, is the recorded deed dated april 4,1761, by which he purchased 372 acres of land from John Carteret, thefirst Earl of Granville. (The Earl was a great-grandson of Sir GeorgeCarteret, one of the original Lords Proprietors of the Colony of NorthCarolina; he owned vast tracts of "vacant land" which he gradually soldto planters for relatively small sums.) Matthew Sparks paid only tenshillings sterling for his 372 acres. The tract was described as followsin the deed (see Rowan County Deed Book 4, page 514): 'that tract orParcel of Vacant Land, Situate Lying and Being in the Parish of St. Luke,in the County of Rowan, in the Said Province, Lying in the forks of theYadkin River, Running up the south Yadkin N.20 x W.20 Chain to a hickery,then N.38.W.10 ch: to a Gum, then N.42.W.20 Ch: to a hickery, thence DueNorth, 90 chain to a black Oak, then Et. 40 Ch: to a White Oak on theBank of the Main River, Then Down river to the beginning containing inthe Whole Three Hundred and Seventy-two acres of Land.'
"This tract of land is easy to locate from the description given inthe deed--it is located in what is now Davie County at the point wherethe South Yadkin flows into the Yadkin River.
"On April 10, 1765, Matthew Sparks and Sarah, his wife, sold 200 acresof this tract to William Sparks for 50 pounds (See Rowan County Deed Book6, page 139). The witnesses to this deed were William Frohock, JohnHuston, and Thomas Frohock. Matthew and Sarah both signed by mark.(William S. Sparks sold this same tract of 200 acres to William Frohockfor 150 pounds on January 27, 1773--see Rowan County Deed Book 8, page104). On September 17, 1767, Matthew and Sarah sold the remaining 172acres of their tract to William Haden for 150 pounds (Rowan County DeedBook 6, page 482). The witnesses were Benjamin Taylor and JamesWhitafeur (or Whitakor?); Matthew and Sarah both signed by mark.
"Exactly when Matthew Sparks and his family came to Rowan County isnow known, but they must have come about 1758; their son Matthew Jr.,stated in 1832 that he had been born on January 20, 1759, "in RowanCounty near Salisbury." The earliest reference to Matthew Sparks in theRowan County Court Records is dated 1761 (page 335)-- he was listed asbeing on a jury. The first tax list of Rowan
County on which his name appears is that of 1761--Matthew Sparks, JonasSparks, and Solomon Sparks were all in Caleb Osborn's District. (JonasSparks, who died in Rowan County in 1805, may also have been a brother ofMatthew (JS: No, he was Solomon's brother)). Matthew Sparks was "on Jury"again in 1762 (page 385), in 1765 (page 522), and in 1766 (page 634). Aninteresting court record dated "Second Tues. in July 1763" (page 469)reads as follows:
'On Motion It is Ordered that a Waggon Road the Best and nearest andBest way from the Shallow ford upon the Yadkin River to the Town ofSalisbury and the following persons are appointed to lay off and mark thesame, to wit Samuel Bryan, Morgan Bryan, James Bryan, Roger Turner,Mathew Sparks, Edward Roberts, Daniel Boon, Barnet Stagner, DavidJohnston, James McMahen, Robert Furbush & Thomas Turner and accordinglythey appear upon Notice and be Qualified before the nearestMagistrate for their Faithfull discharge of this Office &c.'
"An undated entry in the Rowan County Court Records (page 608) foreither 1765 or 1766, records that Matthew Sparks and Daniel Lewis were"suretys in 100 pounds" for Gatry Willcocks (or Willcox), widow of IsaacWillcocks, and George Wilcox, administrators of the estate of IsaacWillcocks. The following court record, dated Thursday, February 4, 1773,is of interest (Book 3, 1773-1786, page 10):
'Overseer of Roads. Ordered on petition that the following jury layout and open a Road from the Shallow Ford to William Morrisons Mill UponThird Creek - Viz: Rodger Turner, Patrick Morrison, John Bryan, AndrewMorrison, James Willson, George Lock, Mathew Sparks, John Reed, JohnHerens, Jas Cooper, Isaac Holman & Moses Potts. Charles Vandever andJames Cooper are appointed Overseers of sd Road.'
"Two of the sons of Matthew and Sarah Sparks applied for pensions onthe basis of their service during the American Revolution. These twosons, Matthew Sparks, Jr. (1759-1841) and William Sparks (1761-ca.1848),gave information in their applications that helps to trace the activitiesof their parents, Matthew and Sarah. Matthew Sparks, Jr., stated that hehad been born in Rowan County, near Salisbury, on January 20, 1759, and"there lived with his father until he was between fourteen and sixteenyears old"--thus until 1773-1775, or just before the outbreak of theRevolution.
"He stated that the family moved from Rowan County to "New River inWilkes County" in North Carolina. William Sparks stated in hisapplication that he was "born within one mile of the town of Salisbury inthe County of Roan i.e. Rowan, State of North Carolina" on April 3,1761. He entered the service in 1778. William Sparks stated thatshortly before he entered the service, his father, Matthew Sparks, hadmoved from the Yadkin River "across the Blue Ridge to a place on NewRiver" in Wilkes County. Thus, the statements by Matthew, Jr., and hisbrother William, agree regarding the family's removal, although neithergave the exact date. The 1774 tax list of Surry County, which thenincluded the New River area of what later became Wilkes County, does notcontain the name of Matthew Sparks. However, his name does appear on the1775 tax list. He was listed in "Benjamin Cleaveland's List" as "MatthewSparks Sr." with three taxable polls, i.e., males over 16 and under 60.The two polls besides his own were given as "John Sparks and MatthewSparks Junr." From this it would appear that the family moved over onNew River in 1775, and that John, who was born in 1755, and Matthew, Jr.,who was born in 1759, were the two oldest sons of Matthew and Sarah.Apparently no other son had reached the age of 16 in 1775.
"Wilkes County was formed in 1777 from Surry County and the Districtof Washington. The area in which Matthew Sparks settled on New River hadbeen a part of Surry County and is now a part of Ashe County (Ashe Countyhaving been formed from Wilkes in 1799). Matthew lived near the presenttown of Jefferson in Ashe County.
"On March 3, 1779, Matthew Sparks obtained a grant of 400 acres inWilkes County "at the mouth of Little Naked Creek." (Here followsoriginal and corrected discription. Continuing on page 560:)
"The earliest extant complete tax list of Wilkes County, that of 1782,credits Matthew Sparks with the ownership of 650 acres of land, sixhorses, and eight cattle --the whole valued for tax purposes at $144.00.He was listed in Capt. Cleveland's District; his son, John Sparks, waslisted in the same district as owning livestock but no land. Likewise,James Sparks was listed as owning livestock but no land. We feel certainthat this James Sparks was Matthew's son, not his brother.
"An interesting picture of life in the New River Settlement during theRevolution was given by Matthew's son, William Sparks, in his pensionapplication. He stated that when he was in his seventeenth year hejoined a military unit which conducted a campaign against the CherokeeIndians. Apparently this was in 1778. "Upon my return from thiscampaign," William Sparks testified, "the military company in the boundsof which I resided, was organized into a company of mounted minute menunder Andrew Baker as Captain and my Brother John Sparks as Lieutenant.In this company I served till the close of the Revolution. We furnishedour own horses arms and equipments. Our part of the country was almostconstantly infested with robbing and murdering parties of tories, britishand Hessians, and I was constantly either out in pursuit of such parties,or, in obedience to the orders of my Captain, held myself in readiness tomarch at a moment's warning. Of the many and almost constant scoutingparties, pursuits, and expeditions in which I was engaged during thisperiod from my great age and infirmities I can recollect but one, so asto be able to state the particulars and that only from the personalinterest of my family in it, I will proceed to state it.
"In less than a year after my return from the campaign against theCherokees above detailed a party of tories, about 150 in number, robbedmy Father, taking a horse, saddle and bridle, six guns, all our pewter(we had no delf ware (i.e. delftware) in those days) and whatever elsethey could carry. My company was immediately called out and othersamounting in all to about one hundred and fifty mounted Gun Men under thecommand of Col. Benjamin Cleaveland. We pursued the above named tories adistance of between 60 and 70 miles and overtook them in Boxe'ssettlement near the Virginia line. They were feasting, frolicing andmany of them drunk.
"We killed and wounded 25 or 30 of them in a fight, made prisoners ofnearly all the rest, of whom hung five or six, the ballance of theprisoners were discharged by Col. Cleaveland upon their promise not tomolest the patriots for the future. In this expedition I was engagedthree weeks."
"The earliest mention of Matthew Sparks in the Wilkes County CourtRecords is dated June 3, 1778--he was among a group of men appointed tolay out a road. This record reads as follows:
'Ordered by the Court that Rowland Judd, John Robins Jur, JohnTyrah, William Owen Jur, John Shepperd, Nethaniel Judd, Barnet Owen,John Baker, Matthew Sparks, Andrew Baker Jur, Thomas Calloway, RobertBake, Zacariah Wells, Abel Penington, James Ward and James Lewis or any12 of them be a Jury to Lay out a Road the best and most Convenient wasfrom the Deep fourd on the Reddies River to Benjah Penington 's mill andmake Report of to the next Court.'(Bottom pg 560)
"On September 7, 1778, it was "Order'd that Matthew Sparks Snr. beappointed Overseer of the new marked Road from the Top of the Blue Ridgeto the Fourd on the south Fork of the new River, and all the handsConvenient work thereon." On December 10, 1778, it was "Ordered that allhands in Capt. Bakers Company Benjamin Taylors work on the Road underMatthew Sparks overseer." On June 7, 1780, it was "Ordered by the Courtthat Charles Rowland be appointed overseer of the Road in stead ofMatthew Sparks and all the hands work thereon."
"Exactly how long Matthew Sparks and his family remained on New Riverin Wilkes County (now Ashe County) is not known. Matthew's son, WilliamSparks, in his pension application, stated that he remained in WilkesCounty "till the close of the Revolutionary war when he removed with hisfather to what was then Franklin County, afterwards Jackson, and nowClarke County in the State of Georgia and settled about four miles fromAthens in that State."
"Matthew Sparks, Jr., in his pension application, stated that thefamily remained in Wilkes County "until three or four years after theclose of the Revolutionary War." The fact that on June 7, 1780, MatthewSparks was replaced as overseer for the new road may indicate the familywas making plans to move.
"They were still in Wilkes County in 1782, however, for on the taxlist of Wilkes County for that year Matthew Sparks, Jr., was listed inCapt. Sam Johnson's District as "single," without land--his taxableproperty consisted of one "horse or mule" valued at six pounds. MatthewSparks, Sr., was listed in "Capt. Cleveland's Dist." with taxableproperty consisting of 650 acres of land valued at 100 pounds, 6 horsesor mules valued at 36 pounds, and 8 cattle valued at 8 pounds, making atotal of 144 pounds of taxable property. Listed in the same district, asstated earlier, was James Sparks (with 5 cattle valued at 5 pounds) andJohn Sparks (with 2 "horses or mules" valued at 12 pounds and 5 cattlevalued at 5 pounds).
"A deed by which Matthew Sparks sold 400 acres of land to Edward Crosswas proven in the Wilkes County Court on October 27, 1784, by JamesBunyard. The fact that Matthew Sparks himself did not appear in court toprove the deed may mean that he had left the county by the fall of 1784.Unfortunately, the deed itself was not recorded--we have only the courtrecord of its being proved. Neither Matthew Sparks nor his sons appearedon the 1784 tax list of Wilkes County.
"From the pension papers of Matthew's two sons, we know that he, withmost of his sons, were among the first settlers in the lands east of theOconee River in Georgia, which, prior to the close of the Revolution, hadbelonged to the Creek Indians. This vast area was given to the State ofGeorgia and in February, 1784, the Georgia Legislature passed an actthrowing open to settlement this newly acquired territory. It wasdesignated as Washington and Franklin Counties. (Many squatters had movedinto the area, however, prior to February, 1784, and perhaps MatthewSparks was among them.)
"The Creek Indians strongly protested the loss of their land and,under their able leader Alexander McGillivroy, a half-breed with Scottishancestry, they kept up for several years, in that irregular, desultorymanner so common in Indian wa rfare, a series of depredations on thewhite settlements along the Georgia frontier. Spain also claimed thisland and signed a treaty with McGillivroy in 1784 under which the Spanishgave the Indians aid and encouragement. This struggle, which lastedtwelve years, is called the Oconee War.
"Matthew Sparks, Jr., in his pension application, stated that soonafter coming to Georgia, he, "with his father and other settlers, erecteda fort which was then and probably still is called "Sparks Fort. " Hemade this statement in 1832. This was probably the fort to which BettieSmith referred in her letter.
"During the years that Matthew Sparks lived in Georgia (from about1784 to 1793), the constant Indian depredations and unsettled timesresulted in few records being maintained. Fortunately for our research,during the period of many years following the death of Matthew Sparks,his heirs made a number of claims against both the Federal and Stategovernment for the losses that the family had suffered.
"From these claims and the surviving correspondence involving them, weare able to gain some knowledge of Matthew's closing years. Some ofthese documents are contained in a file called "Indian Depredations" inthe Georgia Department of Archives and History, Atlanta. Others havebeen preserved by a greatgreat- grandson of Matthew and Sarah Sparks, J.Kent Sparks of Linden, Tennessee.
"The document that provides the most detailed account of Matthew'stroubles with the Creek Indians is a statement sworn to by Nathan Sparks,son of Matthew, in Wilson County, Tennessee, in September, 1828. Thisdocument reads as follows:
"Matthew Sparks lived in the State of Georgia in the year 1786 until1793 and was killed by the Indians in Franklin County near where Atheans(sic) now is and in said date 1786 McGilbrey, i.e. MeGillivroy, and hiswarriors made their first brake on Sparks's property (To Witt)
2 Spinning Whells one large patch one Garden and
other things (too tedious to mention) value of---------------30.00
In the year 1787 one Sorrel mare was stolen to the value of 200.00
one large Bell also ------------------------------------------ 2.00
one Eagle Horse ---------------------------------------------- 100.00
one Roam Mare ------------------------------------------------ 100.00
one Black I ------------------------------------------------70.00
1Brown Bay Horse -------------------------------------------- 75.00
In the year 1788 one Fort burnt
3 dwelling Houses one Block House and all the
stockading around said Fort to the value of ------------------175.00
Also the fencing around 20 Acres was
burnt at the same time to the value of ----------------------- 70.00
Also in the year 1790 one large hewn log house
burnt by said Indians to the value of ------------------------ 50.00
Also about 20 large hogs end many small ones of the
same gang was stolen about the same time val of --------- 90.00
In the year 1793 one Bay horse Stolen to the value of ------------- 100.00
Also one Brown mare ----------------------------------------------- 50.00
Also the said Matthew Sparks was in service of the United States inthe Year 1792 and his horse died to the value of 100 Dollars while inservice.
State of Tennessee
Wilson County County Court Sept. Term 1828
This day Nathan Sparks appeared in open Court, and made Oath thatthe foregoing is a fair and correct Schedule of the property, whichMatthew Sperks was in possession of and was the rightful owner of, andwhich was destroyed by the Creek Indians, under the command of McGilbrytheir Cheif & others who first attacked the whites on the frontiersettlements of Georgia - in the year 1786: and the Creek Indianscontinued their depredations from the year1786 up to the year 1793, andthe said Matthew Sparks was killed in the Month November 1793, after thegreat part of his property was either stolen or destroyed by the Creeks.The sorrel mare mentioned in the foregoing schedule as having been stolenin the year 1787 was an animal of uncommon value in those times, and thisaffiant knows that a negro boy about fourteen years of age was offeredfor said mare and refused to be taken by said Matthew Sparks. Thisaffiant also states that the rates at which the several items of propertyare estimated he believes to be upon a fair and reasonable calculation.Septr. 23rd. 1828
signed, Nathan Sparks.
Note: On November 6, 1828, Nathan Sparks and William Sparks, sons ofMatthew, appeared in Baldwin County, Georgia, and swore to the above.From this claim, it is apparent that the family suffered most severely in1788 when what must have been Sparks Fort was burned, along with their "3dwelling Houses." Again in 1790 they appear to have been burned out, andfinally in November, 1793, Matthew Sparks was killed by the Indians.Bettie Smith, it will be recalled, stated that he "went out to kill aturkey one morning, and was killed by the Indians.' It is not clear,however, to what Bettie Smith referred when she stated that "they got upone morning, horses all gone but one ... they sit Gramy, and a bed on herother horse, and started for the fort, twenty-five miles bare headed;there they stayed seven years." Perhaps this was in 1786 when the Indiansfirst attacked.
(These notes are continued under his wife's name because of lack ofspace here.)
spouse: Thompson, Sarah (~1739 - 1831)

child: Sparks, John (1755 - 1831)

child: Sparks, Matthew J. (1759 - 1841)

child: Sparks, William (1761 - 1848)

child: Sparks, Eady (~1763 - )

child: Sparks, Ann (~1766 - )

child: Sparks, James (1768 - )

child: Sparks, Absolom (~1771 - 1829)

child: Sparks, Jesse (1773 - 1858)

child: Sparks, Nathan (1775 - 1844)

child: Sparks, Bailey (1778 - >1832)

child: Sparks, Isaac (1780 - )

child: Sparks, Hardy (1783 - )

Matthew Jefferson Sparks (sometimes found as "Sparkes") was believed to have migrated from Maryland, American Colonies, to North Carolina in about 1758. He married Sarah Thompson (b. ca. 1739) in about 1754. They had 14 children; family tradition indicated that all of the sons had red hair.

Matthew was an engineer of sorts and helped to lay out many roads. In July 1763, he helped build a "wagon road" with Daniel Boone. On March 3, 1779, he obtained a grant of 400 acres in Wilkes Co, NC. The family moved to Georgia after the Revolutionary War to what is now Clark County. There, they built "Sparks Fort" as protection against the Creek Indians. (The Creeks were under Chief Alexander McGillivray.) A 12-year-long war with the Creek Indians was called the Oconee War; the Creeks were an almost daily menace. In November 1793, Matthew was killed by the Creek Indians in Athens, Franklin Co. (later Jackson, now Clarke Co.), Georgia.

Matthew's land purchases of many acres and at many places are listed in the June 1961 issue in sparksfamilyassn.org. It is interesting to note that he always signed by mark; his wife signed her name.

Matthew and Sarah's children are: 1) JOHN Sparks, (Sr) (b. Feb.22, 1755, Salisbury, Frederick Co, MD, American Colonies). He was married twice (order unknown) to Margaret Hampton and Mary "Mollie" Parmely. More of his life can be found in sparksfamilyassn.org, Dec. 1955 issue (p.97-104). It is said he was a Captain in the Revolutionary War. Some of his children may have been participants in the War of 1812. John died in Feb. 1831 in Russellville, Franklin, Co.,AL

2) ANN "Annie" (b.ca. 1757 or 1784, near Salisbury, Rowan Co. NC.) She is listed twice (years of birth very far from each other) in Matthew's list of children so the order may not be correct. No other information is given for her.

3) MATTHEW Jefferson, Jr. (b. Jan. 20, 1759 near Salisbury, Rowan Co. NC, American Colonies.) He married Margaret Traylor. Matthew was a Lieutenant in the Revolutionary War and received a pension for same (Pensioner #S31385) They had three daughters: Jane, Hannah, and Peggy. In 1825, Matthew and his brother Absolom were among a group of "inhabitants of that part of Miller County, in the Territory of Arkansas, ceded and confirmed to the Choctaw Nation of Indians by treaty in 1825" who signed a petition protesting this action saying that it would result in their being driven from "the farms and improvements we have laboured for years to make." See June 1954 and December 1956 issues in sparksfamilyassn.org for more information. Matthew, Jr, died in the home of his daughter, Jane, in Clinton Co., Illinois on Aug. 14, 1841.

4/5) Twin: DAVID J. (b. Apr. 3, 1761, near Salsibury, Rowan Co., NC, American Colonies) married Margaret. He died Aug. 14, 1841 in Clinton Co., Illinois.

4/5) Twin: WILLIAM C.(b. Apr. 3, 1761, near Salsibury, Rowan Co.,NC, American Colonies) married Mary "Polly" Fielder in about 1787 in Newton, Jackson Co., GA. William was in the Revolutionary War as a Volunteer and applied for a pension for same but was denied (#9960) because he was without proof of service even though he had several people vouching for him. (See June 1954 and Dec 1956 issues in sparksfamilyassn.org.) He died Sept.14, 1846 at Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches County, TX.

6) EDITH "Eady" (b.ca.1763 near Salsibury, Rowan Co., NC, American Colonies) married Randolph Traylor (probably brother to Margaret who married Matthew Jefferson, my direct line.) She died before 1784.

7) JAMES (b.Apr.14, 1768, Rowan Co., NC, American Colonies) he was probably married however in freepages.etc. they have his own name listed as who he was married to. James died about 1836 in Burke Co.,NC.

8) ABSALOM (b.ca.1771, Rowan Co., NC, American Colonies) married Mary Lydia Elsberry (sister of the second wife of Nathan Sparks, Absalom's brother) in about 1790 in Franklin CO., GA. (See brother Matthew's note about the petition they signed.) In the 1790 census, Absalom was a slave-owner (4, 5 or 9 slaves) His son Elsberry (b.1793/94) was in the War of 1812. Absalom died about 1830 in Pope Co., Arkansas.

9) JESSE (b.Jul.23, 1773, Rowan Co, NC, American Colonies) married first Elizabeth Jones and had 18 children. He then married Susan May. According to sparksfamilyassn.org, Dec. 1990 issue, Jesse's daughter Eady (Sparks) Hale was newly-widowed and the estate of her deceased husband (John Hale) was sold at an auction. Jesse bought the household furniture and two cows and returned them to his daughter. Jesse and his brother Nathan were granted power-of-attorney for his mother asking the government to reimburse them for the loss of certain property during the Oconee War in Georgia during the period 1784-1796. The account of their petition and the delays which caused it to drag out until 1835 is given in the June 1961 issue of the sparksfamilyassn.org quarterly. Jesse died Jan. 5, 1858 in Perry Co., TN.

10) NATHAN (b. Oct.29, 1775, Rowan Co, NC) first married Nancy Hancock then Married Sarah "Sally" Elsbery (sister of Mary Lydia, his brother Absalom's wife.) In the 1790 census, it appears that Nathan may have been a slave-owner. Nathan was postmaster of Sparks, TN, in the 1830s. He died Sept. 4, 1844 in Wilson Co. TN.

11) ISAAC H. (b. Jul. 15, 1780, Wilkes Co., NC) married Wilmoth Knowland in about 1806, Hickman Co, TN. He and his brother Matthew lived together after their father's death. Isaac died about 1869 in Carroll Co., TN.

12) HARDY (b. May 23, 1783, Wilkes Co., NC) married Mary Hale. (My direct line and have their own entries.)

13) ANNIE (this is the second entry for her. See #2 above.)

14) BAILEY N.(b.May 3, 1788, Rowan Co., NC) married Martha Noland in about 1813. He died in Carroll Co, TN, in 1831.

1.2.1.2.2 MATTHEW SPARKS (died 1793) OF NORTH CAROLINA & GEORGIA A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Compiled by Russell E. Bidlack and William P. Johnson

In previous issues of the Quarterly, we have made reference to 1.2.1.2.2 Matthew Sparks who was born during the early 1700's, probably in Maryland, migrated to North Carolina about 1758, and died in Franklin (later Jackson, now Clarke) County, Georgia, in 1793. We have been collecting data on Matthew Sparks and his family for a number of years. More information will be found later, but we believe that the time has come when we should make available to the members of the Association the information gathered thus far.

In the December, 1956, issue of the Quarterly (pp. 177-78, Whole No. 16), we designated Matthew Sparks as "the Elder" to distinguish him from his son, also named 1.2.1.2.2.2 Matthew, whose Revolutionary War pension papers we published. Here it has been thought best to refer to the elder Matthew simply as 1.2.1.2.2 Matthew Sparks, and to refer to his son as 1.2.1.2.2.2 Matthew, Jr.

An important source for our research on 1.2.1.2.2 Matthew Sparks and his descendants has been a letter written by one of Matthew's descendants, Bettie C. Smith, on March 11, 1899. Mrs. Smith was an old lady in 1899 and wrote this letter to her nephew, Sam Sparks, of McKinzie, Tennessee, to tell him what she remembered regarding her ancestors. A copy of this letter was placed in the Tennessee State Library several years ago where it has been copied a number of times and has been used as a basis for research by a number of Matthew Sparks's descendants. Unfortunately, Bettie Smith made a serious error in her letter that has caused a great deal of confusion ever since--when she mentioned her great-grandfather, Matthew Sparks, she erroneously gave his name as "John." The fact that Matthew had a son named Matthew, as well as a son named John, may have caused this confusion, but more probably Mrs. Smith just made a "slip." In reproducing Bettie Smith's letter here, it has seemed best to substitute the correct name of her great-grandfather rather than to perpetuate the mistake. Following is Bettie C. Smith's letter, with notes:

Sammie: The older ones are, or will soon be all gone; when you get to be older, you will want to know more than now, who was your ancestors. When I was a child old Uncle 1.2.1.2.2.2 Matthew Sparks made his home with his brother,1.2.1.2.2.10 Isaac, but spent much of his time with Father and Mamma. I learned of him more than from anyone else. His Father was named 1.2.1.2.2 Matthew (see explanation above), his mother was Sarah Thompson (Sally Tyson, was named for her), he crossed the waters, I never have known where he was raised; Sally Tyson thought he came from Wales. I do not know where he married. He went out to kill a turkey one morning, and was shot by Indians. He left eleven children, nine red-headed boys, and two girls. Here are the names of the boys:

David Sparks, James Sparks, 1.2.1.2.2.3 William Sparks, 1.2.1.2.2.2 Mathew Sparks, 1.2.1.2.2.6 Absolom Sparks, 1.2.1.2.2.7 Jessie Sparks, 1.2.1.2.2.8 Nathan Sparks, 1.2.1.2.2.9 Baily Sparks, 1.2.1.2.2.13 Hardy Sparks & 1.2.1.2.2.10 Isaac Sparks. The girls names were Eady and Ann, one of them married a Traylor. Mathew fought in the Revolution, don't know how many more. They fought the Tories for all they were worth. John, Captain and Mathew Lieutenant.

(Webmaster Note: here is the proper list: 1.2.1.2.2.1 John Sparks 1.2.1.2.2.2 Mathew Sparks 1.2.1.2.2.3 William Sparks, David Sparks, James Sparks, 1.2.1.2.2.6 Absolom Sparks, 1.2.1.2.2.7 Jessie Sparks, 1.2.1.2.2.8 Nathan Sparks, 1.2.1.2.2.9 Baily Sparks, 1.2.1.2.2.10 Isaac Sparks 1.2.1.2.2.13 Hardy Sparks & Eady Sparks and Ann Sparks

They got up one morning, horses all gone but one, (I guess that was in Georgia) they sit Granny, and a bed on her [the horse] and started for the fort, twenty-five miles bare-headed; there they stayed seven years. Uncle Isaac was five years old, and brother & sister swung by his arm all the way. Old Grandma buried at Old Pleasant Grove; the piece of shirt the ball went through when her husband was killed, was buried with her. I do not know so much of Thompson kin;

Grandma Thompson was Elizabeth Suduth; Grandma Sparks was Nancy Hancock. My notion is that if we have any mean streaks in us, it did not come through the Sparks', while many of them have become adulterated; but the good ones were sure enough good. You may not care to ever read this, but I don't care, I am going to send it anyway.

March the 11th, 1899 [signed] Bettie C. Smith.

Notes on the above letter: We have not succeeded in getting in touch with any descendants or close relatives of Bettie C. Smith, and available census and official records have failed to reveal positively who she was. There seems little doubt, however, that she was a great-granddaughter of 1.2.1.2.2 Matthew and Sarah Sparks. 1.2.1.2.2.8 Nathan Sparks, one of Matthew's sons, had a son named 1.2.1.2.2.8.x Isaac Sparks, born ca. 1805, who married Orpha Thompson in Wilson County, Tennessee, in 1824 (bond dated September 27). When Isaac's estate was settled in Carroll County, Tennessee, following his death in 1878, one of his daughters was listed as Elizabeth E. Smith. Although in her letter of 1899, Bettie's middle initial appears as "C", we are inclined to believe that she was the daughter of Isaac and Orpha. If this is correct, her statement that "Grandma Thompson was Elizabeth Suduth" and "Grandma Sparks was Nancy Hancock" refers to Isaac's and Orpha's mothers. It seems certain, in any case, that she was not referring to the family of Sarah Thompson, wife of Matthew. We have numerous records to prove that Matthew's wife was named Sarah, but Bettie Smith's letter is our only record that her maiden name was Thompson. The Sally Tyson who, according to Mrs. Smith, was named after Sarah (Thompson) Sparks, was a daughter of Isaac Sparks, who was a son of 1.2.1.2.2 Matthew and Sarah. A marriage record on file in Carroll County, Tennessee, reveals that Sarah Sparks and Samuel Tyson were married January 8, 1845.

Bettie Smith was confused regarding the part the family played in the Revolution--Matthew Sparks was killed by the Indians in 1793, long after the close of the Revolution. Likewise, Mrs. Smith seems to have been somewhat confused when she listed the names of the children of Matthew and Sarah. She stated that there were eleven children in all, but gave the names of twelve. From other sources, we know also that there was a son John whom she failed to mention, making thirteen in all.

Although Bettie Smith stated that Sally Tyson had thought Matthew Sparks had come to America from Wales, it is probable that he was born in this country--perhaps one of Matthew' s ancestors had come over from Wales. Although we have no positive proof, we believe that Matthew Sparks was living in Frederick County, Maryland, before he moved to Rowan County, North Carolina. He and his wife, Sarah, were probably married about 1754. There can be little doubt that 1.2.1.2.2 Matthew was the son of 1.2.1.2 William Sample Sparks (Note: this is a correction from the original stating they were closely related) and closely related to Solomon Sparks who came from Frederick County, Maryland, to Rowan County, North Carolina, in the early 1760's. (Matthew Sparks sold land to William S. Sparks on April 10, 1765, shortly after William' s arrival in Rowan County.) Matthew, William S., and Solomon were all of the same generation--all were born ca. 1725-35--and they may have been brothers. If so, they were probably sons of Joseph and Rachel Sparks. 1.2.5 Joseph Sparks died in Frederick County, Maryland, in 1749; he did not leave a will, but the inventory of his estate names 1.2.1.2 William Sample Sparks and Rachel Sparks as his next of kin. In the Revolutionary War pension application of William Sparks, son of Matthew, he referred to "my uncle James Sparks" who he stated was a member "of the foot company from Wilkes County." If this statement by Matthew's son is correct, then Matthew had a brother named James Sparks in North Carolina. (The 1774 tax list of Surry County, North Carolina, "Benjamin Cleavland's District", contains the name James Sparks. In a fragment that is preserved of the 1779 tax list of Wilkes County, "Capt. Allen's District," the name "James Sparkes" is listed with his property valued at 100 pounds. What became of this James Sparks after 1779 is not known.)

[NOTE: See the Quarterly for December, 1989, Whole No. 148 p. 3483. This article concluded that 1.2.1.2.2 Matthew Sparks and the above 1.2.1.2.x James Sparks were sons of 1.2.1.2 William Sample Sparks and nephews of 1.2.5.1 Solomon Sparks, son of 1.2.5 Joseph Sparks who died in Frederick County, Maryland, in 1749. William Sample Sparks and Solomon Sparks were first cousins].

The earliest official record pertaining to Matthew Sparks found thus far in Rowan County, North Carolina, is the recorded deed dated April 4, 1761, by which he purchased 372 acres of land from John Carteret, the first Earl Granville. (The Earl was a great-grandson of Sir George Carteret, one of the original Lords Proprietors of the Colony of North Carolina; he owned vast tracts of "vacant land" which he gradually sold to planters for relatively small sums.) Matthew Sparks paid only ten shillings sterling for his 372 acres. The tract was described as follows in the deed (see Rowan County Deed Book 4, page 514): "that tract or Parcel of Vacant Land, Situate Lying and Being in the Parish of St. Luke, in the County of Rowan, in the Said Province, Lying in the forks of Yadkin River, Running up the South Yadkin N.20 x W.20 Chain to a hickery, then N.38.W.lO ch: to a Gum, then N.42.W.20 Ch: to a hickery, thence Due North, 90 chain to a black Oak, then Et. 40 Ch: to a White Oak on the Bank of the Main River, Then Down River to the beginning, Containing in the Whole Three Hundred and Seventy-two acres of Land."

This tract of land is easy to locate from the description given in the deed--it is located in what is now Davie County at the point where the South Yadkin flows into the Yadkin River.

On April 10, 1765, Matthew Sparks and Sarah his wife sold 200 acres of this tract to William Sparks for 50 pounds (see Rowan County Deed Book 6, page 139). The witnesses to this deed were William Frohock, John Huston, and Thomas Frohock. Matthew and Sarah both signed by mark. (William S. Sparks sold this same tract of 200 acres to William Frohock for 150 pounds on January 27, 1773--see Rowan County Deed Book 8, page 104.) On September 17, 1767, Matthew and Sarah Sparks sold the remaining 172 acres of their tract to William Haden for 150 pounds (Rowan County Deed Book 6, page 482). The witnesses were Benjamin Taylor and James Whitafeur (or Whitakor?); Matthew and Sarah both signed by mark.

Exactly when 1.2.1.2.2 Matthew Sparks and his family came to Rowan County is not known, but they must have come about 1758; their son, 1.2.1.2.2.2 Matthew, Jr., stated in 1832 that he had been born January 20, 1759, "in Rowan County, near Salisbury." The earliest reference to Matthew Sparks in the Rowan County Court Records is dated 1761 (page 335)--he was listed as being on a jury. The first tax list of Rowan County on which his name appears is that of 1761--Matthew Sparks, Jonas Sparks, and Solomon Sparks were all listed in Caleb Osborn's District. (Jonas Sparks, who died in Rowan County in 1805, may also have been a brother of Matthew.[NOTE: It was later determined that Jonas was a brother of Solomon]) Matthew Sparks was "on Jury" again in 1762 (page 385), in 1765 (page 522), and in 1766 (page 634). An interesting court record dated "Second Tues. in July 1763" (page 469) reads as follows:

On Motion It is Ordered that a Waggon Road the best and nearest and Best way from the Shallow ford upon the Yadkin River to the Town of Salisbury and the following persons are appointed to Lay off and mark the same, to wit Samuel Bryan Morgan Bryan James Bryan Roger Turner Mathew Sparks Edward Roberts Daniel Boon Bernet Stagner David Johnston James MeMahen Robert F'ur bush & Thomas Turner and accordingly they appear upon Notice and be Qualified be fore the nearest Majistrate for their Faithfull discharge of this Office &c.

An undated entry in the Rowan County Court Records (page 608) for either 1765 or 1766, records that Matthew Sparks and Daniel Lewis were "suretys in £100" for Gatry Willcocks (or Willcox), widow of Isaac Wilcocks, and George Wilcox, administrators of the estate of Isaac Willcocks. The following court record, dated Thursday, February 4, 1773, is of interest (Book 3, 1773-1786, page 10):

Overseers of Roads. Ordered on petition that the following jury lay out & open a Road from the Shallow Ford to William Morrisons Mill Upon Third Creek - Viz: Roger Turner, Patrick Morrison, John Bryan, Andrew Morrison, James Wilison, George Lock, Mathew Sparks, John Reed, John Heren [?], Jas Cooper, Isaac Holman & Moses Potts.

Charles Vandever and James Cooper are appointed Overseers of sd Road.

Two of the sons of Matthew and Sarah Sparks applied for pensions on the basis of their service during the American Revolution. These two sons, 1.2.1.2.2.2 Matthew Sparks, Jr., (1759-1841) and 1.2.1.2.2.3 William Sparks (1761-ca.1848), gave information in their applications that helps to trace the activities of their parents, Matthew and Sarah. (The pension papers of William Sparks were published in the Quarterly of March and June, 1954 [Whole Nos. 5 & 6]; those of Matthew Sparks, Jr., appeared in the issue of December, 1956. [Whole No. 16]) Matthew Sparks, Jr., stated that he had been born in Rowan County, near Salisbury, on January 20, 1759, and "there lived with his father until he was between fourteen and sixteen years old"--thus until 1773-1775, or just before the outbreak of the Revolution. He stated that the family moved from Rowan County to "New River in Wilkes County" in North Carolina. William Sparks stated in his application that he was "born within one mile of the town of Salsbury [i.e. Salisbury] in the County of Roan [i.e. Rowan], State of North Carolina" on April 3, 1761. He entered the service in 1778. William Sparks stated that shortly before he entered the service, his father, Matthew Sparks, had moved from the Yadkin River "across the Blue Ridge to a place on New River" in Wilkes County. Thus, the statements by Matthew, Jr., and his brother, William, agree regarding the family's removal, although neither gave the exact date. The 1774 tax list of Surry County, which then included the New River area of what later became Wilkes County, does not contain the name of Matthew Sparks. However, his name does appear on the 1775 tax list. He was listed in "Benjamin Cleaveland's List" as "Matthew Sparks Sr." with three taxable polls, i.e., males over 16 and under 60. The two polls besides his own were given as "John Sparks and Matthew Sparks Junr." From this it would appear that the family moved over on New River in 1775, and that John, who was born in 1755, and Matthew, Jr., who was born in 1759, were the two oldest sons of Matthew and Sarah. Apparently no other son had reached the age of 16 in 1775.

Wilkes County was formed in 1777 from Surry County and the District of Washington. The area in which Matthew Sparks settled on New River had been a part of Surry County and is now a part of Ashe County (Ashe County having been formed from Wilkes in 1799). Matthew lived near the present town of Jefferson in Ashe County.

On March 3, 1779, Matthew Sparks obtained a grant of 400 acres in Wilkes County "at the mouth of Little naked Creek." Following is the description of this land taken from the file in the Land Grant Office, Raleigh, North Carolina:

Wilkes County, North Carolina. File No. 22. Warrant No. 163 -- to Matthew Sparkes -- 400 acres "on the North side of New River Begining on Little Naked Creek Runing Down Including his Impt. [i.e.improvement]" 5 November 1778.

Surveyed 21 December 1778. "Beginning at the mouth of little naked Creek Running South Fifty five degrees along the line of Andrew Baker Seventy one pole thence with sd Bakers line South forty one degrees East thirty two pole to a stake thence North Twenty eight degrees East Eighty four pole to two Chesnuts thence with the line of land of William Sturdie North Seventy four Degrees East fifty two pole to two white oak Saplins near the bank of the South fork of New River thence down the several Courses of the river to the mouth of a Small Branch thence West Eighty pole to a red oak thence South twelve degrees East to the Beginning." (signed) Joe. Herndon, C .S. Chain Carriers: James Vaningle

Matthew Sparkes, Jur.

By 1797 the above land was in the possession of a man named John Dick. In 1797, Dick petitioned the North Carolina General Assembly to the effect that the land, as described, embraced only about half of the 400 acres. Thus in the foregoing File 22 there is a resurvey of the 400 acres dated November 2, 1797, which reads as follows:

"By Order of Court ReSurveyed for Mathew Sparks -- 400 acres now deeded to John Dick: Begining at a Stake at the Mouth of little Naked Creek a branch of the South fork of New River runing South 12° East 71 pole to a Stake then South 55° East 71 pole to a White Oak then South 41° West 32 pole to a Stake then South 28° East 84 pole to Two Chesnuts then North 70° East 52 pole to Two White Oak Saplings on the Point of a Hill on the West side of the South fork of New River then down the Meanders of said River to a Locust at the Mouth of a Small branch then North 100 pole to a Spanish Oak then West 80 pole to a White Oak then to first Station. (signed) Robt. Nall, D.S. for H. Roussau, C.S.

This Grant is issued under the authority of a resolution of the General Assembly pass'd. at Raleigh 1797."

The earliest extant complete tax list of Wilkes County, that of 1782, credits Matthew Sparks with the ownership of 650 acres of land, six horses, and eight cattle--the whole valued for tax purposes at $144.00. He was listed in Capt. Cleveland's District; his son, John Sparks, was listed in the same district as owning livestock but no land. Likewise, James Sparks was listed as owning livestock but no land. We feel certain that this James Sparks was Matthew's son, not his brother.

An interesting picture of life in the New River Settlement during the Revolution was given by Matthew's son, William Sparks, in his pension application. He stated that when he was in his seventeenth year he joined a military unit which conducted a campaign against the Cherokee Indians. Apparently this was in 1778. "Upon my return from this campaign," William Sparks testified, "the military company, in the bounds of which I resided, was organized into a company of mounted minute men under Andrew Baker as Captain and my Brother John Sparks as Lieutenant. In this company I served till the close of the revolution. We furnished our own horses arms and equipments. Our part of the country was almost constantly infested with robbing and murdering parties of tories, british and Hessians, and I was constantly either out in pursuit of such parties, or, in obedience to the orders of my Captain, held myself in readiness to march at a moment's warning. Of the many and almost constant scouting parties, pursuits, and expeditions in which I was engaged during this period from my great age and infirmities I can recollect but one, so as to abe. able to state the particulars and that only from the personal interest of my family in it, I will proceed to state it. In less than a year after my return from the campaign against the Cherokees above detailed a party of tories, about 150 in number, robbed my Father, taking a horse saddle and bridle, six guns, all our pewter (we had no delf ware [i.e. delftware] in those days) and whatever else they could carry. My company was immediately called out and others amounting in all to about one hundred and fifty mounted Gun Men under the command of Cob. Benjamin Cleaveland. We pursued the above named tories a distance of between 60 and 70 miles and overtook them in Boxe's settlement near the Virginia line. They were feasting, frolicing and many of them drunk. We killed and wounded 25 or 30 of them in a fight, made prisoners of nearly all the rest, of whom hung five or six, the ballance of the prisoners were discharged by Colo. Cleaveland upon their promise not to molest the patriots for the future. In this expedition I was engaged three weeks."

The earliest mention of Matthew Sparks in the Wilkes County Court Records is dated June 3, 1778--he was among a group of men appointed to lay out a road. This record reads as follows:

Ordered by the Court that Rowland Judd John Robins Jur John Tyrah William Owen Jur John Shepperd Nethaniel Judd Barnet Owen John Baker Matthew Sparks Andrew Baker Jur Thomas Cailoway Robert Bake Zacariah Wells Abel Penington James Ward and James Lewis or any 12 of them be a Jury to Lay out a Road the best and most Convenient way from the Deep fourd on Reddies River to Benajah Penington's mill and make Report there of to the next Court.

On September 7, 1778, it was "Order'd that Matthew Sparks Snr. be appointed Overseer of the new marked Road from the Top of the Blue Ridge to the Fourd on the south Fork of the new River, and all the hands Convenient work thereon." On December 10, 1778, it was "Ordered that all hands in Capt. Bakers Company below Benjamin Taylors work on the Road under Matthew Sparks overseer." On June 7, 1780, it was "Ordered by the Court that Charles Rowland be appointed overseer of the Road in stead of Matthew Sparks and all the hands work thereon."

Exactly how long Matthew Sparks and his family remained on New River in Wilkes County (now Ashe County) is not known. Matthew's son, William Sparks, in his pension application, stated that he remained in Wilkes County "till the close of the Revolutionary war when he removed with his father to what was then Franklin County, afterwards Jackson, and now Clarke County in the State of Georgia and settled about four miles from Athens in that State." Matthew Sparks, Jr., in his pension application, stated that the family remained in Wilkes County "until three or four years after the close of the Revolutionary War." The fact that on June 7, 1780, Matthew Sparks was replaced as overseer for the new road may indicate the family was making plans to move. They were still in Wilkes County in 1782, however, for on the tax list of Wilkes County for that year Matthew Sparks, Jr., was listed in Capt. Sam Johnson's District as "single," without land--his taxable property consisted of one "horse or mule" valued at six pounds. Matthew Sparks, Sr., was listed in "Capt. Cleveland's Dist." with taxable property consisting of 650 acres of land valued at 100 pounds, 6 horses or mules valued at 36 pounds, and 8 cattle valued at 8 pounds, making a total of 144 pounds of taxable property. Listed in the same district, as stated earlier, was James Sparks (with 5 cattle valued at 5 pounds) and John Sparks (with 2 "horses or mules" valued at 12 pounds and 5 cattle valued at 5 pounds).

A deed by which Matthew Sparks sold 400 acres of land to Edward Cross was proven in the Wilkes County Court on October 27, 1784, by James Bunyard. The fact that Matthew Sparks himself did not appear in court to prove the deed may mean that he had left the county by the fall of 1784. Unfortunately, the deed itself was not recorded--we have only the court record of its being proved. Neither Matthew Sparks nor his sons appeared on the 1784 tax list of Wilkes County.

From the pension papers of Matthew's two sons, we know that he, with most of his sons, were among the first settlers in the lands east of the Oconee River in Georgia, which, prior to the close of the Revolution, had belonged to the Creek Indians. This vast area was given to the State of Georgia and in February, 1784, the Georgia Legislature passed an act throwing open to settlement this newly acquired territory. It was designated as Washington and Franklin Counties. (Many squatters had moved into the area, however, prior to February, 1784, and perhaps Matthew Sparks was among them.)

The Creek Indians strongly protested the loss of their land and, under their able leader, Alexander McGillivroy, a half-breed with Scottish ancestry, they kept up for several years, in that irregular, desultory manner so common in Indian war, a series of depredations on the white settlements along the Georgia frontier. Spain also claimed this land and signed a treaty with MoGillivroy in 1784 under which the Spanish gave the Indians aid and encouragement. This struggle, which lasted twelve years, is called the Oconee War.

Matthew Sparks, Jr., in his pension application, stated that soon after coming to Georgia, he, "with his father and other settlers, erected a fort which was then and probably still is called Sparks Fort." He made this statement in 1832. This was probably the fort to which Bettie Smith referred in her letter.

During the years that Matthew Sparks lived in Georgia (from about 1784 to 1793). the constant Indian depredations and unsettled times resulted in few records being maintained. Fortunately for our research, during the period of many years following the death of Matthew Sparks, his heirs made a number of claims against both the Federal and State government for the losses that the family had suffered. From these claims and the surviving correspondence involving them, we are able to gain some knowledge of Matthew's closing years. Some of these documents are contained in a file called "Indian Depredations" in the Georgia Department of Archives and History, Atlanta. Others have been preserved by a great-great-grandson of Matthew and Sarah Sparks, J. Kent Sparks of Linden, Tennessee.

The document that provides the most detailed account of Matthew's troubles with the Creek Indians is a statement sworn to by Nathan Sparks, son of Matthew, in Wilson County, Tennessee, in September, 1828. This document reads as follows:

Matthew Sparks lived in the State of Georgia in the year 1786 untill 1793 and was killed by the Indians in Franklin County near where Atheans sic. flOW i.S and in said date 1766 McGilbrey ci.e. McGillivroy, and his warriors made their first brake on Sparks's property (To Witt) 2 Spinning Whells one large patch, one Garden other things (too tedious to mention) value of 30.00 In the year 1787 one Sorrel mare was stolen to the value of 200.00 one large Bell also 2.00 one Eagle Horse 100.00 one Roam Mare 100.00 one Black " 70.00 1 Brown Bay Horse 75.00 In the year 1788 one Fort burnt 3 dwelling Houses one Block House and all the stockading around said Fort to the value of 175.00 Also the fencing around 20 Acres was burnt at the same time to the value of 70.00 Also in the year 1790 one large hewn log house burnt by said Indians to the value of 50.00 Also about 20 large hogs and many small ones of the same gang was stolen about the same time val of 90.00 In the year 1793 one Bay horse Stolen to the value of 100.00 Also one Brown mare 50.00 Also the said Matthew Sparks was in service of the United States in theYear 1792 and his horse died to the value of 100 Dollars while in service. 100.00 State of Tennessee Wilson County County Court September Term 1828

This day 1.2.1.2.2.8 Nathan Sparks appeared in open Court, and made Oath that the foregoing is a fair and correct Schedule of the property, which Matthew Sparks was in possession of and was the rightful owner of, and which was destroyed by the Creek Indians, under the command of McGlibry their Cheif & others who first attacked the whites on the frontier settlements of Georgia - in the year 1786: and the Creek Indians continued their depredations from the year 1786 up to the year 1793, and the said Matthew Sparks was killed in the Month November 1793, after the great part of his property was either stolen or destroyed by the Creeks. The sorrel mare mentioned in the foregoing schedule as having been stolen in the year 1787 was an animal of uncommon value in those times, and this affiant knows that a negro boy about fourteen years of age was offered for said mare and refused to be taken by said Matthew Sparks. This affiant also states that the rates at which the several items of property are estimated he believes to be upon a fair and reasonable calculation. Septr. 23rd. 1828 [signed] Nathan Sparks.

[Note: On November 6, 1828, 1.2.1.2.2.8 Nathan Sparks and 1.2.1.2.2.3 William Sparks, sons of Matthew, appeared in Baldwin County, Georgia, and swore to the above.]

From this claim, it is apparent that the family suffered most severely in 1788 when what must have been Sparks Fort was burned, along with their "3 dwelling Houses." Again in 1790 they appear to have been burned out, and finally in November, 1793, Matthew Sparks was killed by the Indians. Bettie Smith, it will be recalled, stated that he "went out to kill a turkey one morning, and was killed by the Indians." It is not clear, however, to what Bettie Smith referred when she stated that "they got up one morning, horses all gone but one ... they sit Granny, and a bed on her [the horse,, and started for the fort, twenty-five miles bare headed; there they stayed seven years." Perhaps this was in 1786 when the Indians first attacked.

Following the death of Matthew Sparks in 1793, the family continued to live in what is now Clarke County, Georgia, for a number of years. In 1802, Matthew's son, 1.2.1.2.2.6 Absolom Sparks, still a resident of Georgia, made the following sworn statements State of Georgia, Clark Co. -

Personally appeared before me1.2.1.2.2.6 Absolom Sparks and made oath that sometime in 1793 about the firs [sic] week in November in said year he the Sd Sparks Lost one horse and in May 1794 he Lost one horse which property was taken by the Creek Indians which Creatures was taken upon the warters [sic] of the Oconee Franklin County Sparks fort Which property he has never recd. any sattisfaction for also his mother Sarray Sparks Lost about the year 1794 in the spring three head of horses which was taken on Shole Creek warters of Ocone franklin County & which property he the said Sparks has Jus [sic] Reason to beliave was taken by the Creek Indians & has Recd. no satisfaction for the same. Sworn to and subscribed befor me this 14th 1802

[month not given] his [signed] Absolom X Sparks Pr. by Jesse & Wm Sparks mark

Although, as seen in the above statement, sufferers from the Creek Indians made claims against the State as early as 1802, it was not until many years later that provision was made by the Federal government to pay these claims. By that time, the heirs of Matthew Sparks were scattered and some of the sons had completely lost track of some of the others. (This was by no means an unusual situation in the early nineteenth century when distances were greater, letter-writing more difficult, and mail service less dependable.) Five of Matthew's sons, Isaac, Hardy, Bailey, Jesse, and Nathan, along with their mother, Sarah, had settled in western Tennessee by 1828, in which year these heirs decided to make a serious attempt to collect their father's claims. Jesse Sparks, who was living in Hickman County, and Nathan Sparks, who was a postmaster in Wilson County, agreed to journey to Georgia in order to present their claims. Jesse Sparks was appointed administrator of his father's estate on September 14, 1829. By the following document (now in the possession of J. Kent Sparks, greatgrandson of Jesse Sparks), Jesse and Nathan were appointed the lawful attorneys of their mother and the other three brothers. This document reads as follows:

Know all men by these present that we Sarah Sparks, Isaac Sparks, Hardy Sparks, & Bailey Sparks have this day nominated constituted and appoint and do by these present nominate constitute and appoint Jesse Sparks of the County of Hickman and State of Tennessee, and Nathan Sparks of the County of Wilson and State aforesaid, our true and lawfull Attornies in fact for us and in our names and for our use and benefit, to demand and receive any sum or sums of money which may be due or coming to us or either of us, under or by virtue of any act of Congress in consequence of the destruction or loss of the property of Mathew Sparks by the Creek Nation of Indians and any sum or sums of money that may be due or coming to us or either of us, in any way from the Government of the United States or the agent there of, for the destruction of the property aforesaid or for the use of the same by the officers and soldiers of the United States in the year 1787 or at any other time, and we do hereby authorize and empower them or either of them to execute and deliver receipts and acquittances for the same. . .

In witness where of we hereunto set our hands and ff ix our seal this the11th day of September 1828 her [signed] Sary X Sparks (Seal) Test. [signed] Isaac Sparks mark Bailey Sparks Isaac Sparks (Seal) Hardy Sparks (Seal) Bailey Sparks (Seal)

The following agreement was then drawn up regarding the expenses of the journey of Nathan and Jesse Sparks (document in the possession of J. Kent Sparks):

Know all men by these present that we Sarah Sparks, Isaac Sparks, Hardy Sparks and Bailey Sparks do jointly agree hereby to give unto Jesse Sparks and Nathan Sparks for the trouble and expense in seeking after the property that was stolen and destroyed on the frontier of Georgia belonging to their father Mathew Sparks to give them one half of' what they can get out their expenses paid out of our part and if they get nothing they bear their own expenses and we do agree to pay the attorney that they employ as counsel for their fixing all these papers respecting to get pay for said property for which we bind ourselves and each of our heirs for that sum that they shall give said counsel and said fee to be paid out of our part. In witness we have hereunto set our hand and seals this 11 day of September 1828.

[signed] Isaac Sparks (Seal) Hardy Sparks (Seal) Bailey Sparks (Seal)

Nathan and Jesse Sparks were unsuccessful in their attempt to collect for their claims in 1828. In 1832, a member of Congress, Representative Cave Johnson, presented a petition to the House of Representatives from Jesse Sparks. (See Journal of the House of Representatives of' the United States, 22d Congress, page 293.) This brief record, dated February 6, 1832, reads as follows::

Mr. Cave Johnson presented a petition of Jesse Sparks, administrator of Matthew Sparks, deceased, praying indemnity for depredations committed on his own property, and on the property of his intestate, by Creek Indians. Ordered, That the said memorials and petitions be referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

On March 13, 1834, it was ordered "That the Committee on Indian affairs be discharged from the further consideration of the case of Jesse Sparks, and that it lie on the table." On September 22, 1835, Cave Johnson wrote on behalf of Jesse Sparks to the Commissioner of Indian Claims in Milledgeville, Georgia, as follows:

Dear Sir,

Two claims have been filed sent on from Washington City--a great part of which is on the Books of the Georgia Commissioners one claim in the name of the admr. of Mathew Sparks & one in the name of Jesse Sparks--Jesse Sparks has the control of the claims as Admr. of Matthew & in his own right--he is verry anxious to know what has been the decision & the amount allowed and desires me to ask of you the favor of informing him what has been done--he is now advanced in life & desires to avoid an useless trip & will be greatly obleged to know when the money is ready--be pleased to address Jesse Sparks Esqr. Duck River furnace, Hickman County, Tennessee.

I am verry respectfully Your friend C Johnson

The letter notifying Jesse Sparks that settlement had at last been made has been preserved by J. Kent Sparks. It reads as follows:

Executive Department Georgia Milledgeville, 20 November 1835.

Sir,

Your letter to Gov. Lumpkin dated 4th inst. reached this department today. About the date of your letter Gov. Lumpkin's official term expired and he has retired. Gov. William Schley directs me to give you the information requested in your letter.

By the report of the commission appointed to adjust the claims against the Creek Indians, Jesse Sparks is entitled to $70.00 principal and $17.25 interest making $87.25 and Mathew Sparks is entitled to $1112.00 principal and $316.10 interest making $1,428.10. If you apply in person, you will bring with you legal and satisfactory evidence that you are the administrator on the estate of Mathew Sparks dec., which will entitled you to draw the money due him. If you should not come in person you should send a duly executed power of attorney authorizing the person to draw your money and also one made by you as admr. of Mathew Sparks, and in this case be sure to send the evidence to show you are the adinr.

Respectfully, Your obt. serv. N.B. The money will be paid when called for. R. A. Green Secretary.

At about the same time that Cave Johnson wrote on behalf of Jesse Sparks, he wrote also on behalf of Sarah Sparks (widow of Matthew) and her son, Absolom. This claim pertained to Sarah's losses following her husband's death in 1793, and to Absolom's own losses. This was the claim made in 1802 and quoted earlier. Cave Johnson's letter, written at Clarksville, Tennessee, was dated July 13, 1835, and reads as follows:

John A, Cuthbert, Esqr.

Dr. Sir,

Sarah & Absalom Sparks are claimants under the late law authorizing Georgia to pay for Indian Depredations prior to 1800 & their names on the Books of the Georgia claimants & their papers also forwarded from Washington they are desirous of knowing what time the claims will be acted on & whether the money could be paid to me for them at Washington City, so as to save them the trouble of coming to Georgia--if it be necessary for them to come or send, be pleased to write me the time, they should be there.

I am verry respectfully

Your obdt. Servt C: Johnson.

No records have been found regarding the settlement of the claim of Sarah and her son, Absolom, but in all probability their claim was paid. Our knowledge of Sarah Sparks, widow of Matthew, is limited to the references contained in these claims and to Bettie Smith's statement that she was "buried at Old Pleasant Grove; the piece of shirt the ball went through when her husband was killed, was buried with her." We have not succeeded in locating "Old Pleasant Grove," but it was probably in Carroll County, Tennessee. The date of Sarah's death is not known. She was still living on September 11, 1828, when she signed (by mark) the document making her sons Jesse and Nathan the family lawful attorneys. Although from the above letter it would appear that Cave Johnson thought she was still living in 1835, it seems doubtful that she was, for she would have been close to 100 years old. She probably made her home with one of her children, but which one is not known.

Over a long period of time we have succeeded in collecting material on a number of the children of 1.2.1.2.2 Matthew and Sarah Sparks, although our data is far from complete. In future issues of the Quarterly we plan to publish what we have been able to collect on these children and their descendants.