Pages 566
Whole Number 34
By Charles Hughes Hamlin
The Land Patents and the Land Grants of Virginia are among the most valuable sources of genealogical material and information that we have. Many counties in Virginia have had a total loss of their records by reason of fire, damage, neglect, war, and other causes, but the records of the Land Office are complete and intact from about the year 1623 until the Civil War. In most cases the writing is a beautiful script and a photostatic print is very ornamental when framed or included in a family album or history. There are about 42 books of the Patents under the Regal Government and about 78 books of Grants under the Commonwealth (until 1803). There are also quite a few books containing the "Northern Neck Grants" under the Lord Proprietors, Culpeper and Fairfax. Fortunately, they are all indexed.
LAND PATENTS OF VIRGINIA - 1623-1774.
Book 1, page 239:
June 3, 1635 - 750 acres of land at the head of' Pagan Creek granted to JOHN SPARKES for the transportation of 15 persons. (Included are himself, GRACE SPARKS, and MARY SPARXES, relationship not stated. Pagan Creek is in ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY. 150 acres of this tract was granted to Mrs. Ann Pitt on 19th October 1665, Book 5, p. 521.)
Book 13, page 414:
September 27, 1729 - 1000 acres of land granted to JAMES SPARKS of St. George's Parish in Spotsylvania on the north side of the Rappidan River in the Parish and County aforesaid. Signed by William Gooch.
LAND GRANTS OF VIRGINIA - 1779-1803.
Book E, page 441:
September 1, 1780 - 305 acres of land granted to MATHEW SPARKS in the County of Pittsylvania on the branches of Sandy River - adjoining lands of William Wilson, Richardson, Nehemiah Norton, etc. Signed by Thomas Jefferson.
Book E, page 451:
September 1, 1780 - 137 acres of land granted to THOMAS SPARKS in the County of Pittsylvania, on the branches of Strawberry Creek, adjoining lands of Adam Larkey and Jonathan Thomas. Signed by Thomas Jefferson.
Book E, page 923:
February 1, 1781 - 569 acres of land granted to EDWARD SPARKS, for three pounds sterling, in the county of Pittsylvania on Rutledge's Creek, adjoining lands of Bynum, Yeates, etc. Signed by Thomas Jefferson.
Book H, page 250:
July 3, 1783 - 496 acres granted to Matthew Sparks, for 2 pounds 10 shillings sterling, in the County of Pittsylvaniaon both sides of Morton's Spring Branch of Sandy River, adjoining lands of Beck, Morton, etc. Signed by Benjamin Harrison.
Book 16, page 809:
May 23, 1788 - 100 acres of land granted to DANIEL SPARKS, Assignee of James Sullivan, attorney for Daniel Sullivan, by virtue of' and in consideration of Treasury Warrant number 11317 issued 9th March 1782, the land being in the County of Jefferson (now Kentucky) on the waters of Beargrease (?) and the waters of Asturgas Run, adjoining lands of John McManxiess, Daniel Sullivan, Kites, James Asturgas, etc. Signed by Edmund Randolph.
Book 34, page 634:
September 28, 1796 - 60 acres of land granted to WILLIAM SPARKS, Assignee of James Cordell, in consideration of Treasury Warrant number 13215 issued 3d August 1782, situated and being in the County of Montgomery on Big Fox Creek, a branch of New River, adjoining land of Baxter Davis, etc. Signed by Robert Brooke.
Book 51, page 388:
July 6, 1803 - 52 acres of land granted to THOMAS SPARKS in consideration of Treasury Warrant number 14050, issued 30th August 1782, lying and being in the County of Pittsylvania on Bean's Creek Mountain, adjoining land of McGuffords, Drury Pulliam, Davis, Price, Trahun, etc. Signed by John Page.
NORTHERN NECK GRANTS
Book R, page 20:
November 16, 1778 - 103 acres of land in Culpeper County granted to THOMAS SPARKS of Culpeper County, on the south side of Stonehouse Run, adjoining lands of the said THOMAS SPARKS, etc. Granted by Thomas, Lord Fairfax, Baron of Cameron in that part of Great Britain called Scotland, Proprietor of the Northern Neck of Virginia, etc.