Col. Richard Sparks

DAR Ancestor #: A107894

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=45332618

Richard was about five years old, when he was stolen by Shawnee Indians near his family home and kept until he was 17 or 18. He was reared as an Indian and given the name Shawtunte.

"The release of Richard Sparks, Jr had come in Feb 1775, following the Battle of Point Pleasant fought in the previous October, during the colonial war, known as Lord Dunmore's War (Lord Dunmore was then the Royal Governor of VA and his troops were Virginians). After their severe defeat in this battle, the Shawnees agreed to give up all white captives. Word went out that this release would take place the following February at Point Pleasant and families journeyed from afar hoping to find their lost ones.

Having forgotten his parents, Richard recalled that when his mother recognized him and began to cry, he thought he was going to be burned at the stake! - the only occasion when he had seen an Indian woman cry. Taking him home to what is now Forward Twp in Allegheny County, PA, his parents and siblings set about "civilizing" him".

"Eighteen years had passed between young Richard's release from the Shawnees and the death of his father, during which he was much involved in military affairs largely as a scout for the Americans in fighting the Indians during and following the Revolution. He had been married in 1782 to Frances Nash, a young woman living with her parents in the 'Jersey Settlement', and in the following year the first of their six children was born. Frances died with the birth of their sixth child in 1794. Richard found it impossible to live the routine life of a farmer like his father and his brother Benjamin".

1791 - he was commissioned a Captain in the PA Militia 1792 - he was commissioned a Captain in the regular Army of the U.S. 1794 - the year his wife died, he was with Gen Wayne at the Battle of Fallen Timbers where he commanded a company. 1797 - he was married to Ruth Sevier, daughter of Gen John Sevier, a famous Indian fighter and hero of the American Revolution, who had become governor of the new state of Tennessee in 1796 1806 - he was promoted to the rank of Major in the U.S. Second Infantry 1809 - he advanced to Lt Col 1812 - he became a full Colonel. 1814 - he suffered a severe stroke and was forced to resign his commission

Richard died 2 Jul 1815 in Mississippi.

(Sparks paper)

"The release of Richard Sparks, Jr had come in Feb 1775, following the Battle of Point Pleasant fought in the previous October, during the colonial war, known as Lord Dunmore's War (Lord Dunmore was then the Royal Governor of VA and his troops were Virginians). After their severe defeat in this battle, the Shawnees agreed to give up all white captives. Word went out that this release would take place the following February at Point Pleasant and families journeyed from afar hoping to find their lost ones.

Having forgotten his parents, Richard recalled that when his mother recognized him and began to cry, he thought he was going to be burned at the stake! - the only occasion when he had seen an Indian woman cry. Taking him home to what is now Forward Twp in Allegheny County, PA, his parents and siblings set about "civilizing" him".

"Eighteen years had passed between young Richard's release from the Shawnees and the death of his father, during which he was much involved in military affairs largely as a scout for the Americans in fighting the Indians during and following the Revolution. He had been married in 1782 to Frances Nash, a young woman living with her parents in the 'Jersey Settlement', and in the following year the first of their six children was born. Frances died with the birth of their sixth child in 1794. Richard found it impossible to live the routine life of a farmer like his father and his brother Benjamin".

1791 - he was commissioned a Captain in the PA Militia 1792 - he was commissioned a Captain in the regular Army of the U.S. 1794 - the year his wife died, he was with Gen Wayne at the Battle of Fallen Timbers where he commanded a company. 1797 - he was married to Ruth Sevier, daughter of Gen John Sevier, a famous Indian fighter and hero of the American Revolution, who had become governor of the new state of Tennessee in 1796 1806 - he was promoted to the rank of Major in the U.S. Second Infantry 1809 - he advanced to Lt Col 1812 - he became a full Colonel. 1814 - he suffered a severe stroke and was forced to resign his commission

Richard died 2 Jul 1815 in Mississippi.

(Sparks paper)

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Apr 12 2018, 16:54:07 UTC