Mary Sparke (Basset)

Mary Basset, fourth daughter, who in 1631 married Jonathan Sparke of Plymouth, who was the second son of John Sparke (c.1574-1640) of The Friary, in the parish of St Jude, Plymouth, Devon, Member of Parliament for Mitchell. Jonathan Sparke's mother was Deborah Rashleigh, a daughter of John Rashleigh (1554–1624), of Menabilly, a cousin of Mary Basset. Mary's eldest son was Sir John Sparke (1636-1680), MP, of the Friary, Plymouth, who is mentioned in the Travel Journal of Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (1642-1723) who was visiting Plymouth on 5 April 1669:

"On the 5th of the same month Sir Jonathan Spark came to pay his respects to the serene prince, accompanied by his son. This gentleman is an inhabitant of Plymouth, in the neighbourhood of which he possesses an estate of a thousand pounds a year; consequently he is considered the principal person of the place".