Pages 3085-3118
Whole Number 139
By Thomas F. and Virginia N. Howard
the March, 1987, issue of The Sparks Quarterly dealt with the Henry Sparks lineage which began in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, and then went to Rhode Island and Connecticut. The article focused only on one son of 43.2.2 Samuel and Margaret (Lorton) Sparks, that of 43.2.2.6 John Sparks. This issue will follow the lineage of 43.2.2.5 Asa Sparks, a second son of Samuel and Margaret, who went to Berkshire County, Massachusetts, and whose descendants went to Connecticut, New York, Michigan, Ohio, California, and Minnesota.
Asa Sparks probably was born in Scituate, Rhode Island, ca. 1745. Family tradition simply stated that Asa went west. West in the late 1760s apparently meant New York State or Western Massachusetts. It is possible that he traveled west with his brother Henry and sister Margaret. Asa and Margaret both settled in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, while Henry is found in Washington County, New York. On 28 May 1770 Asa married Abigail Sage in Sharon, Connecticut. That record listed both Asa and Abigail as being of the Oblong. The Oblong was a disputed territory that included the entire western border of Connecticut and New York, as well as the southwestern border of Massachusetts and New York.
Asa's Revolutionary War service consisted of three separate enlistments according to Massachusetts Archives records. He enlisted from December 16, 1776, to March 15, 1777, and was present at Ticonderoga in February of 1777. Second, he enlisted from July 8, 1777, to July 27, 1777, as part of the Berkshire County militia. Third, he enlisted from October 23, 1780, to October 25, 1780, as part of a march from Mount Washington to Bennington, Vermont, to guard the frontiers on an alarm.
Abigail Sage was the daughter of Allen and Abigail (Willard) Sage; she was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, on 4 August 1754 and was baptized in the Cromwell, Connecticut, First Congregational Church on 11 August 1754. Allen Sage became an original proprietor of Taconic Mountain, Massachusetts, later named Mount Washington. He and his son Daniel also served in the Revolutionary War. It was from his father-in-law that Asa Sparks purchased his first tract of land in 1775 in Mount Washington.
Asa's land purchases expanded. He bought land that extended from the mountain top of Mount Washington east to the swamps of Sheffield, Massachusetts. His land holdings also extended south into the northern Connecticut town of Salisbury. He was a yeoman and in the town of Taconic Mountain in the 1790 federal census. From 1792 to 1814, he was listed in the assessor's reports of Sheffield, Massachusetts. About 1800, Asa Sparks became involved in the iron ore industry of the area. He purchased an iron forge from Calvin Loring, et al., in the northern part of Salisbury that abutted the Massachusetts line. In the account book of Captain Abel Thorp, a neighbor of Asa's in Sheffield, Asa is shown as often paying his debts with materials made of iron, presumably made at his forge. The forge was sold to his son-in-law, David Chapin, in 1807. David died, however, in 1812, and the forge returned to Asa who leased a portion of it for a six-year period to Isaac Bartlett of Salisbury. The remainder of the land was sold to David Chapin's brother Phineas in 1812.
The latter years of Asa's life were probably spent as a retired farmer. Among Asa's probate papers there is a statement by his son Benjamin that he, Benjamin, ran the farm as "a hired hand" from February 15, 1806, to June 1, 1814. At Asa's death, it was Benjamin who received the family homestead and served as executor of his father's estate.
Asa died on June 8, 1814, in Sheffield, Massachusetts. His place of burial is unknown. It is likely, however, that he was buried either in the SageCandee Cemetery that would have abutted his property on the east side or the Churchill Cemetery in which many of his descendants were buried. Abigail, his wife, survived until at least 1830, and it is probable that she died and was buried in New York.
Asa Sparks wrote his last will and testament on July 4, 1813, saying that he was "infirm of body and threatened with death tho thro the mercy of God of sound mind and memory." The probate records provide a complete list of Asa's children. He listed ten children in his will. However, the probate documents acknowledge that three children predeceased Asa. His will was proved in Sheffield, Massachusetts, on August 4, 1814.
The first ten children of Asa Sparks were probably all born in Mount Washington, Massachusetts. The vital records of Mount Washington for that period are very scarce. The 1790 federal census lists two males over 16, five males under 16, and 4 females. The youngest three were probably born in Sheffield, Massachusetts.
43.2.2.5.1 William Sparks
43.2.2.5.2 Lemuel Sparks
43.2.2.5.3 Daniel Sparks
43.2.2.5.4 Sabra Sparks
43.2.2.5.5 Matilda Sparks
43.2.2.5.6 Comfort Sparks
43.2.2.5.7 Abigail Sparks
43.2.2.5.8 Joseph Sparks
43.2.2.5.9 Benjamin Sparks
43.2.2.5.10 Talbert Sparks
43.2.2.5.11 Luanna (or Louise) Sparks
43.2.2.5.12 Asa Sparks, Jr.
43.2.2.5.13 Clarissa Sparks43.2.2.5.1 William Sparks was almost certainly the oldest surviving child of Asa and Abigail (Sage) Sparks. He was the first son to be counted as a poll in Sheffield, Massachusetts, in the year 1795, according to the assessor's reports, and the first son to have children before 1800. It is believed that William was born before 1773. He married Abigail ----- ca. 1794. In the 1800 federal census for Berkshire County in Sheffield, William had three males under 10 and one female under 10, while he and an adult female were listed as being between 26 and 45. He left Sheffield between 1808 and 1810. By the 1810 federal census, he was listed with 2 males between 16 and 26, 3 males between 10 and 16, and 2 males under 10, as well as one female from 16 to 16, one female from 10 to 16, and 2 females under 10. In 1810, William Sparks was living in Mount Washington, Massachusetts, adjoining the minister's lot. He was the head of a committee in 1816 which leased the said lot for the purpose of bringing a minister to the town. After 1816, he was no longer listed in the town meeting records, and in 1817 he transferred the lease of the minister's lot to another committee member.
William Sparks moved his family to Oswego County, New York, where he was listed in the 1820 federal census in the town of Richland. Three sons remained in Berkshire County. By 1830, William was listed in the town of Orwell, New York. He apparently died between 1830 and 1840, for only his widow, Abigail, was listed in the 1840 census. In 1850, Abigail, whose birthplace was listed as Massachusetts, was living with her son-inlaw and daughter, Abel and Melissa Darrow, as well as her niece, Sabra Cushman. She was still alive in 1855 according to the New York State census, where her age was given as 77, as well as the 1860 federal census where she was listed as 83. Also in the town of Orwell, there was a Major Sparks whose birthplace was given as Massachusetts. Both Abigail and Major arrived in the area of Orwell ca. 1819. Other Sparkses who are found in Oswego County, New York, in the 1830 and 1840 federal censuses include Samuel and Henry Sparks in the town of Scriba, and Harry Sparks in the town of Sandy Creek. Their exact relationship to William and Abigail is as yet undetermined. Only those children who can reasonably be connected to William and Abigail are listed here.
43.2.2.5.1.1 Otis Sparks, the oldest child of William and Abigail Sparks, was born ca. 1795, probably in Sheffield, Massachusetts. He married Ruth Lee, the daughter of William and Prudence (Acley) Lee, ca. 1816, probably in Mount Washington, Massachusetts. Otis Sparks was listed in the 1820 federal census as a resident of Mount Washington, Massachusetts. He moved, however, to Richmond, Massachusetts, Washington, Massachusetts, and finally to Becket, Massachusetts, where he settled down and spent the rest of his life as a farmer. Otis Sparks died in Becket, Massachusetts, on 30 May 1866. Ruth G. (Lee) Sparks died in Becket on 3 October 1871. Both were buried in the Becket Center Cemetery.
Otis and Ruth (Lee) Sparks had six children. Fortunately, the probate records that Otis and his oldest son left behind provide a great deal of information about them.
43.2.2.5.1.1.1 Storrs Sparks was born ca. 1817 in Mount Washington, Massachusetts. He married Lorinda Shaves (or Shaver), the daughter of Peter Shaves (or Shaver) of Mount Washington, ca. 1839. Storrs was a collier. He died in Becket, Massachusetts, on 18 May 1853. His probate records indicate he was residing with his father, Otis Sparks, at the time of his death. Lorinda predeceased him on January 16, 1853, just two weeks after the birth of a child. Storrs and Lorinda orphaned five children. One child predeceased them.
43.2.2.5.1.1.1.1 Theodore R. Sparks, the oldest child, was born ca. 1840. In 1855 he went to Otis, Massachusetts, under the guardianship of Chester Cornwell. He was probably dead by June 1866.
43.2.2.5.1.1.1.2 Maria Hannah Sparks was born 28 October 1843 in Washington, Massachusetts. After 1855, she was sent to Lanesborough, Massachusetts. By 1866, she married FNU Harris.
43.2.2.5.1.1.1.3 Adaline R. Sparks was born 5 April 1845 in Becket. She remained in Becket after 1855. In 1866, she married FNU Barnum. On 27 March 1868, she married (second) Charles O. Kingsley. Adaline died in Becket on 13 February 1881 and was buried in Chester, Massachusetts.
43.2.2.5.1.1.1.4 Margaret Abilene Sparks was born in 1849 in Becket, Massachusetts. She died September 1, 1851 in Becket.
43.2.2.5.1.1.1.5 Alice E. Sparks was born February 15, 1851 in Becket, Massachusetts. In 1855 she went to Otis, Massachusetts, and became the ward of Chester Cornwell. On 26 July 1866, she married John Coy of Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
43.2.2.5.1.1.1.6 Lucy Jane Sparks was born December 31, 1852. In 1855 she was legally adopted by Chester Cornwell of Otis, Massachusetts.
43.2.2.5.1.1.2 Chalker A. Sparks was born ca. 1822. In the Washington, Massachusetts, town records it is stated that he was enrolled in the militia in 1843. He was married ca. 1850 to Huldah Ross of Great Barrington, Massachusetts, and moved to Lee, Massachusetts in 1851. By 1860, according to the census of that year, he and Huldah were living in Great Barrington. Chalker was listed in his father's probate record of 1866, and a Chalker Sparks was on the militia lists in Lenox, Massachusetts, until almost 1900. Huldah was in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in 1900 living with her son-in-law, Frank J. Sharley. Chalker and Huldah Sparks had six known children. Their first child died in Lee, Massachusetts; the remaining five were probably born in Great Barrington.
43.2.2.5.1.1.2.1 Isaac C. Sparks was born in May 1851 and died on 13 September 1851.
43.2.2.5.1.1.2.2 Jasper Sparks was born ca. 1853.
43.2.2.5.1.1.2.3 Polly Sparks was born ca. 1855.
43.2.2.5.1.1.2.4 Columbus Sparks was born ca. 1857.
43.2.2.5.1.1.2.5 Stores Sparks was born 25 June 1860.
43.2.2.5.1.1.2.6 Anna H. Sparks was born ca. 1862 and married Frank Scharley in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on 17 September 1886. He was the son of Peter and Elizabeth Shearer Scharley.43.2.2.5.1.1.3 Julian F. Sparks was born in June 1828 in Richmond, Massachusetts. He married (first) Sarah M. Guile, the daughter of Gordon and Sarah Guile. Sarah died in Peru, Massachusetts, on May 22, 1881. They had no surviving children, but a daughter, Ellen J. Sparks, was born to Julian and Sarah in 1859. Julian married (second) Esther E. LNU and was living in Chester, Massachusetts, in 1900.
43.2.2.5.1.1.4 William L. Sparks was born July 4, 1831 in Richmond, Massachusetts. He was probably the William L. Sparks who married (first) Lucy Belcher in Lanesborough, Massachusetts, on 27 November 1853. Lucy was the daughter of Sabre Belcher of Lanesborough. William L. Sparks married (second) Mary N. Anthony, the daughter of Abram and either Martha or Adaline Anthony of Adams, Massachusetts, on December 31, 1868. William died in Becket, Massachusetts, on 11 August 1888 while Mary died there on October 25, 1889. William was the father of seven children. The first two children were by his first wife and were probably born in Lanesborough. The remaining children were born in Becket by his second wife.
43.2.2.5.1.1.4.1 Ellen F. Sparks was born in 1857. She married Curtis Farnham ca. 1875. Ella and Curtis Farnham had three sons. However, only two survived to adulthood.
43.2.2.5.1.1.4.1.1 A first male child was born July 1, 1876 and died 5 July 1876.
43.2.2.5.1.1.4.1.2 William H. Farnham was born in Otis, Massachusetts, ca. 1878 and married Emma E. Pelkey on 6 October 1900 in Canaan, New York.
43.2.2.5.1.1.4.1.3 Archie J. Farnham was born in Otis, Massachusetts, ca. 1879 and married Helen L. Harris on 6 October 1900 in Canaan, New York.Ellen F. (Sparks) Farnham died on April 21, 1883, and was buried in Becket, Massachusetts.
43.2.2.5.1.1.4.2 Charles Henry Sparks was born in 1858. He married (first) Emma Louise Hotchkiss ca. 1876. Emma was a daughter of Clark and Marie Hotchkiss. Emma died at the age of 30 on 13 July 1889 in Becket, Massachusetts. Charles Sparks married (second) Etta Farnham. Charles and Emma had six children, only two of whom survived infancy. All of the children were born in Becket, Massachusetts.
43.2.2.5.1.1.4.2.1 Lucy May Sparks was born January 17, 1877.
43.2.2.5.1.1.4.2.2 An unnamed male child was born January 22, 1878 and died February 10, 1878.
43.2.2.5.1.1.4.2.3 Martha M. Sparks was born January 18, 1879 and died February 13, 1881.
43.2.2.5.1.1.4.2.4 Laurie Josephine was born January 24, 1880.
43.2.2.5.1.1.4.2.5 A son was stillborn on July 30, 1881.
43.2.2.5.1.1.4.2.6 Arthur Sparks was born May 13, 1889 and died May 20, 1889.43.2.2.5.1.1.4.2.7 Everette L. Sparks, son of Charles Sparks and his second wife, Etta (Farnham) Sparks, was born in Becket, Massachusetts; he died January 17, 1892.
43.2.2.5.1.1.4.2.8 Theodore Henry Sparks was born November 24, 1893 in Becket; he married Bertha Eckert on August 17, 1912 and died in Lee, Massachusetts, on 16 June 1962.43.2.2.5.1.1.4.3 William E. Sparks was born October 10, 1869. He married (first) Della Broga on July 9, 1891 and (second) Susan B. Phelps on September 18, 1899.
43.2.2.5.1.1.4.4 Sarah E. Sparks was born 28 August 1878. When orphaned in 1889, a petition for guardianship of Sarah E. was filed by Edward Anthony, probably a brother of Mary.
43.2.2.5.1.1.4.5 Ruth Ann Sparks was born October 14, 1871 and died on July 29, 1873.
43.2.2.5.1.1.4.6 Arthur (or Anthony) Sparks was born January 4, 1873 and died January 5, 1873.
43.2.2.5.1.1.4.7 Lilla Bell Sparks was born July 2, 1874 and died 2 October 1874.
43.2.2.5.1.1.5 Charles A. Sparks was born in Washington, Massachusetts, ca. 1836. He married Mary Ann Cofflin, the daughter of Robert Cofflin, on December 31, 1861. She was born in Chester, Massachusetts. They had at least three children, all born in Becket, Massachusetts.
43.2.2.5.1.1.5.1 Theodore O. Sparks, born November 2, 1862.
43.2.2.5.1.1.5.2 Julia F. Sparks, born in 1864.
43.2.2.5.1.1.5.3 Mabel Sparks, born May 6, 1867.43.2.2.5.1.2 Frederick Sparks was born ca. 1800, probably in Sheffield, Massachusetts. He married Lydia Morse (or Moore), daughter of William Morse (Moore), before 1820. She probably was born in New York. He was living in Mount Washington, Massachusetts, in 1820 and in Richmond, Massachusetts, in 1830. The family spent some time between 1830 and 1840 in Austerlitz, New York, but ca. 1842, Frederick purchased land in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, from his brother William, and he and his family moved there ca. 1842. Between 1848 and 1850, five members of this family died of a fever. Frederick died 6 October 1849 while Lydia died 13 or 15 April 1878. Both were buried in the Village Protestant Cemetery in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, with four children. Frederick was a collier, as were two of his sons. Frederick and Lydia (Morse) Sparks had eight known children.
43.2.2.5.1.2.1 Francis W. Sparks was born November 4, 1821 (?). The West Stockbridge vital records list three birthplaces for Francis: Salisbury, Connecticut; Mount Washington, Massachusetts; and Hillsdale, New York. In the Mormon International Index (IGI), there is listed a Francis Sparks, male, christened March 12, 1820, a child of Frederick Sparks and Laddy Moore in Columbia County, New York, in Churchtown. He married (first) Clarissa MNU ca. 1851. Clarissa was born in New Lebanon, New York.
He married (second) Elizabeth Sophia Curtis of Stockbridge, Massachusetts, late in 1861 in New York. His marriage was registered in West Stockbridge on January 20, 1862. Elizabeth was the daughter of Elisha and Lydia (Lester) Curtis. Francis died in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, on 19 February 1876. His occupation was that of a coal dealer. His widow and younger children continued to reside in West Stockbridge at least until 1880. All known children were born in West Stockbridge.
43.2.2.5.1.2.1.1 Charles F. Sparks was born possibly October 21, 1852. An unnamed male son of Francis and Clarissa Sparks was born that date, but Charles was listed as 22 years of age in his father's probate record in 1876. He was living in Albany, New York, at that time.
43.2.2.5.1.2.1.2 Susan S. Sparks was born December 9, 1857. She was identified in her father's probate record of 1876 as 19 and a resident of Binghampton, New York.
43.2.2.5.1.2.1.3 William H. Sparks was born October 15, 1863 and died 9 February 1864.
43.2.2.5.1.2.1.4 Abigail Sparks was born November 24, 1864. She was not listed in her father's probate record.
43.2.2.5.1.2.1.5 Jane J. Sparks was born October 6, 1867 and was in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, in 1880.
43.2.2.5.1.2.1.6 Lester G. Sparks was born January 2, 1870 and was in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, in 1880.
43.2.2.5.1.2.1.7 Harry A. Sparks was born December 4, 1871. In 1880 he was living in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts. In 1900 he was living in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
43.2.2.5.1.2.2 Mary Ann Sparks, daughter of Frederick and Lydia Sparks, was born January 3, 1823 in Mount Washington, Massachusetts. She married Amos Fish on June 4, 1845 in New Lebanon, New York. Mary Ann and Amos had two daughters:
43.2.2.5.1.2.2.1 Emma Fish, born in 1848, and
43.2.2.5.1.2.2.2 Ella Fish, born in 1849.Mary Ann died October 16, 1849 and was buried in West Stockbridge. Amos moved to Lee, Massachusetts, and remarried. The daughters of Mary Ann and Amos lived with Lydia Sparks, their grandmother, from at least 1850 until 1860.
43.2.2.5.1.2.3 Frederick C. Sparks was born August 14, 1826 in Salisbury, Connecticut, or in Mount Washington, Massachusetts. He married Mary E. MNU ca. 1855. Mary E. was born in Massachusetts. Frederick and Mary had two known children. Frederick died in 1889 in Binghampton, New York, and Mary died in 1860 in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Frederick Sparks was a coal dealer. His two daughters were:
43.2.2.5.1.2.3.1 Nina E. Sparks, born in January 1856; she died of lung fever on November 10, 1857. Both her birth and death occurred in West Stockbridge.
43.2.2.5.1.2.3.2 Ella Sparks, born September 22, 1857 in West Stockbridge.
43.2.2.5.1.2.4 Betsy E. Sparks was born in Mount Washington, Massachusetts, and died 1 November 1849 in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
43.2.2.5.1.2.5 Horace Sparks was born in Salisbury, Connecticut, on September 2, 1828 and died December 11, 1848 in West Stockbridge. He was unmarried.
43.2.2.5.1.2.6 An unnamed child of Frederick and Lydia Sparks was born in February 1832 and died in Richmond, Massachusetts, on 1 November 1832.
43.2.2.5.1.2.7 Abigail Sparks was also born in 1832. She married William H. Crampton of West Stockbridge ca. 1852. In the 1860 census of Massachusetts, in West Stockbridge, they were listed with a daughter, Inez Crampton, age 7. In November of 1886, they were residents of Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio.
43.2.2.5.1.2.8 Jane E. Sparks was born in 1835 in Austerlitz, New York, and died January 1, 1850 in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
43.2.2.5.1.3 William Sparks was born ca. 1805 in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts. In 1842, he sold to his brother Frederick land in the northwest section of West Stockbridge between the railroad tracks that in effect is part of the Massachusetts Turnpike today. He married Hannah Elizabeth Bradley, a daughter of Jared and Phebe Bradley ca. 1830. They had seven known children. All were born in Lee, Massachusetts. They were in Lee when the 1850 census was taken.
43.2.2.5.1.3.1 Harriet Helen Sparks was born November 4, 1831.
43.2.2.5.1.3.2 Jared Bradley Sparks was born February 10, 1833 and died March 21, 1839.
43.2.2.5.1.3.3 George Henry Sparks was born September 11, 1834.
43.2.2.5.1.3.4 An unnamed child was born in April 1838 and died 8 August 1838.
43.2.2.5.1.3.5 William Sparks was born October 12, 1841.
43.2.2.5.1.3.6 Munson B. Sparks was born ca. 1844.
43.2.2.5.1.3.7 Mary Bradley Sparks was born February 5, 1848.The whereabouts of this family after 1850 is unknown.
43.2.2.5.1.4 Sabra Sparks, probably the oldest daughter of William and Abigail Sparks, married Nathaniel Beadle, a son of Nathaniel and Merub (Hitchcock) Beadle in Orwell, Oswego County, New York. They had only one child, a daughter named
43.2.2.5.1.4.1 Julia Beadle.
Nathaniel married (second) Catherine MNU.
43.2.2.5.1.5 Mary Ann Sparks was born ca. 1815 in Massachusetts. She married Harvey Cushman, a son of John Cushman of Pawlette, Vermont, in Orwell, New York. Mary Ann and Harvey had only one daughter. Mary Ann probably died shortly thereafter. Harvey, who was born January 21, 1815, died in June 1846. Sabra moved in with her aunt, uncle and grandmother and was with them in 1850 according to the New York federal census of that year and again in 1855 according to the New York State census.
43.2.2.5.1.5.1 Sabra Cushman was born ca. 1836 in Orwell, New York. She married Alden D. Bonner on May 10, 1860. Alden and Sabra had two children,
43.2.2.5.1.5.1.1 Roscoe C. Bonner and
43.2.2.5.1.5.1.2 Ella L. Bonner.43.2.2.5.1.6 Major Sparks was born ca. 1810 in Massachusetts, probably in Mount Washington. He married Caroline Stowell, who was born in Connecticut ca. 1816. They were in Orwell, Oswego County, New York, in 1850 according to the federal census of that year and still there in 1855 according to the New York State census. On the 1855 state census, Major Sparks was reported to have been a resident of Oswego County for 36 years. He was listed as a laborer. After 1855, Major and Caroline Sparks moved to Sandy Creek, New York. They had eight known children, all of whom were probably born in Orwell, New York.
43.2.2.5.1.6.1 William E. Sparks was born April 13, 1834. He married Orilla Myers, a daughter of Joseph and Phebe Myers, on January 1, 1855. Orilla was born in Oneida County, New York, ca. 1837. In 1855, William Sparks was listed as a cabinet maker. William Sparks served in Company K of the 147th Regiment New York Infantry of the Union Army in the Civil War. (See page 3121 of this issue of the Quarterly for an abstract of his pension file.) When the 1880 New York census was taken, William Sparks was shown as 46 years old and Orilla as 44; they were living with Willie, a son, age 7; and George Shelah, grandson, age 5. The HISTORY OF ORWELL, NEW YORK lists four children for William and Orilla. William E. Sparks died in 1911 and Orilla died in 1917; both were buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in Orwell, New York. Their children were:
43.2.2.5.1.6.1.1 Eva Sparks, born 8 December 1854.
43.2.2.5.1.6.1.2 Caroline [ "Carrie" ] Sparks, born 27 June 1858.
43.2.2.5.1.6.1.3 William Sparks who died in 1863.
43.2.2.5.1.6.1.4 William R. Sparks, born January 8, 1873. He married Josephine Archibee; he died at age 98 in Orwell, New York.43.2.2.5.1.6.2 Carlos Sparks was born ca. 1836.
43.2.2.5.1.6.3 Lucius Sparks was born ca. 1838.43.2.2.5.1.6.4 Nelson Sparks was born ca. 1841. He served in the 110th Regiment New York Infantry of the Union Army in the Civil War. (See page 3120 of this issue of the Quarterly for an abstract of his pension file.) Prior to enlisting in the military service, he married Mary (Lampman) Taylor on October 3, 1861, in Oswego County, New York. They apparently had no children. Nelson died on July 8, 1889, and Mary died on December 21, 1915.
43.2.2.5.1.6.5 James Sparks was born ca. 1845.
43.2.2.5.1.6.6 Samuel C. Sparks was born ca. 1846.
43.2.2.5.1.6.7 Almira Sparks was born ca. 1849.
43.2.2.5.1.6.8 Abagail Sparks was born ca. 1852.43.2.2.5.1.7 Melissa Sparks was born ca. 1823 in Oswego County, New York. She married Abel Darrow ca. 1850; he had been born in Oneida County, New York, ca. 1815.
43.2.2.5.2 Lemuel Sparks was the second child of Asa and Abigail (Sage) Sparks. In many of the early records, his name appears to be spelled "Semuel." Lemuel Sparks spent much of his life in manufacturing rather than in farming, and it was he and his sons who appear to have been primarily involved in his father's Iron Works. In 1810, while living in Washington, Massachusetts, he and another member of the family were listed as being in manufacturing.
Lemuel Sparks was born ca. 1775 in Mount Washington, Massachusetts. He appeared for the first time in the Sheffield, Massachusetts, assessor's reports in 1796. He left Sheffield, Massachusetts, and moved to Washington, Massachusetts. He moved back to Sheffield shortly before his father died in 1814. Lemuel married ca. 1793 Sally Palmatier (or Parmenter), the daughter of Daniel and Judith (MNU) Palmatier (or Parmenter) of Sheffield, Massachusetts. Sally was born ca. 1776 and died on 10 March 1842. Lemuel married (second)Mrs. Hannah Ingram of Canaan, Connecticut, on September 1, 1844. They moved for a short time to Salisbury, Connecticut, where he appeared on the 1850 census. Hannah died on 10 July 1880. Lemuel died on April 22, 1852. Lemuel, his first wife Sally, and many of their sons are buried in the Churchill Cemetery in Sheffield, Massachusetts. A photograph of Lemuel's and Sally's gravestones taken by Thomas and Virginia Howard appears on the cover of this issue of the Quarterly. Close-up photographs, also taken by the Howards, appear on the following page. The epitaph on Sally's stone reads:
She is gone and Oh! Why should we mourn or weep
For the souls that in Jesus have fallen asleep
She has gone to a world to partake of that bliss
And to share in those joys that she knew not in thisLemuel's probate record provides an excellent account of his children and, in some cases, of his grandchildren. Lemuel and Sally (Palmatier/Parmenter) Sparks had twelve children. They are listed here in the order in which they appeared in their father's probate record.
Gravestones of Lemuel & Sally (Palmatier/Pamenter) Sparks
in the Churchill Cemetery in Sheffield, Massachusetts
(Photographs taken by Thomas & Virginia Howard)
(View photograph) (View photograph)
43.2.2.5.2.1 Rebecca Sparks was born in Sheffield, Massachusetts, ca. 1795. She married William Whitney of Salisbury, Connecticut, on November 2, 1819 in Mount Washington, Massachusetts. The service was performed by her uncle, Merritt Smith, justice of the peace. William and Rebecca were residents of Salisbury the remainder of their lives. They were both buried in the Churchill Cemetery in Sheffield, Massachusetts. Rebecca died on November 7, 1850, and William died on June 6, 1853. They were the parents of nine children.
43.2.2.5.2.1.1 Sarah A. Whitney was born ca. 1821. She married (first) Seth P. Huntley on May 19, 1841, and (second) Rufus J. Lyman on March 26, 1859. She died June 5, 1892 and was buried in New Hartford, Connecticut.
43.2.2.5.2.1.2 Orin Whitney was born ca. 1825 and was living in Canaan, Connecticut in 1854. An Orrin Whitney and wife Lydia were residents of New Milford, Connecticut, in 1866.
43.2.2.5.2.1.3 Harriet Whitney was born ca. 1827 and was living Sharon, Connecticut, in 1854.
43.2.2.5.2.1.4 Emmeline Whitney was born ca. 1829 and was living in Sharon, Connecticut, in 1854.
43.2.2.5.2.1.5 Jarvis (or Jarius) Whitney was born ca. 1831 and was living in Ancoram, Columbia County, New York, in 1854. His occupation was that of forgeman.
43.2.2.5.2.1.6 Smith (or William L.) Whitney was born ca. 1833. He was listed in his grandfather's will of 1852, but not in his father's distribution of 1854.
43.2.2.5.2.1.7 George Whitney was born ca. 1836. He was listed in his grandfather's will in 1852, but not in the distribution of his father's estate in 1854.
43.2.2.5.2.1.8 Frances E. Whitney was born in 1838. She was listed in the will of her grandfather in 1852, but not in her father's distribution of 1854.
43.2.2.5.2.1.9 Horace Whitney was buried in the Churchill Cemetery in Sheffield, Massachusetts, but dates for his birth and death are not known.
43.2.2.5.2.2 Aurelius Sparks born ca. 1794 in Sheffield, Massachusetts. He was a farmer all of his life. He married Susan Eliza Parsons shortly after the intention was published on 22 September 1820 in Sheffield, Massachusetts. She was born ca. 1794 in Massachusetts. Aurelius died 15 October 1865 and Susan died 19 March 1878. Both were buried in the Churchill Cemetery in Sheffield. Aurelius' probate records list four children.
43.2.2.5.2.2.1 Osborne E. Sparks was born ca. 1821. He married Sarah M. Taylor of Litchfield, Connecticut, on September 2, 1846. Osborne and Sarah were listed in the census for Connecticut (Litchfield County) in both 1850 and 1860. Some of their children were born in Massachusetts. Osborne was buried in the Center Cemetery in Sheffield. Osborne and Sarah had eight known children.
43.2.2.5.2.2.1.1 Edward S. Sparks was born ca. 1853. He married Emma Smith on May 15, 1879 in Salisbury, Connecticut. Edward's occupation was listed as carpenter. He died January 26,1891 in North Canaan, Connecticut. Later, Emma married (second) Arthur Silvernail. Arthur and Emma were residing in Salisbury, Connecticut, in 1900. Edward and Emma had six children, all of whom were born in Salisbury.
43.2.2.5.2.2.1.1.1 Maude Sparks was born April 27, 1880.
43.2.2.5.2.2.1.1.2 William O. Sparks was born July 2, 1881.
43.2.2.5.2.2.1.1.3 Edward S. Sparks was born December 19, 1882.
43.2.2.5.2.2.1.1.4 Hannah Sparks was born May 23, 1885.
43.2.2.5.2.2.1.1.5 Mary Sparks was born in May 1887.
43.2.2.5.2.2.1.1.6 Clifford Sparks was born in 1889.All of these children of Edward S. and Emma (Smith) Sparks, except Clifford, were listed on the 1900 census of Salisbury.
43.2.2.5.2.2.1.2 Rosa A. Sparks was born ca. 1848 in Massachusetts. She married Henry F. Smith ca. 1870 a son of John H. and Celastina Smith. They were residing in Scotch Plains, New York, in 1880.
43.2.2.5.2.2.1.3 William H. Sparks was born September 20, 1860. He was residing in Sheffield in 1880.
43.2.2.5.2.2.1.4 Ida Sparks was born ca. 1853 in Connecticut and died on June 12, 1866 in Sheffield, Massachusetts.
43.2.2.5.2.2.1.5 Charles Sparks was born ca. 1857 and died before 1880.
43.2.2.5.2.2.1.6 John Sparks was born ca. 1858 and died October 2, 1865 in Sheffield, Massachusetts.
43.2.2.5.2.2.1.7 Frederick Sparks was born 8 October 1864 in Sheffield, Massachusetts, and died there on 4 October 1865.
43.2.2.5.2.2.1.8 An unnamed female child was born in Sheffield, Massachusetts, on 29 September 1869 and died on 17 October 1869.43.2.2.5.2.2.2 Elizabeth Mary Sparks was born September 1826 in Sheffield, Massachusetts. Elizabeth married William N. Pitcher of Pine Plain, New York, on September 24, 1850 in Sheffield, Massachusetts. He was the son of William and Betsey Pitcher. The family was in Salisbury, Connecticut, in 1860, but by 1880 they were residing in Pine Plains, New York. They had five known children.
43.2.2.5.2.2.2.1 Richard Arthur Pitcher was born May 31, 1851.
43.2.2.5.2.2.2.2 Elsie E. Pitcher was born February 6, 1853 in New York. She married in 1879, but the name of her husband is not known.
43.2.2.5.2.2.2.3 Alice Louisa Pitcher was born March 11, 1855 in Massachusetts. She married on March 15, 1876, but the name of her husband is not known.
43.2.2.5.2.2.2.4 Ella Cynthia Pitcher was born April 1, 1857 and she was married November 26, 1878. The name of her husband is not known.
43.2.2.5.2.2.2.5 Richard Edward Pitcher was born February 2, 1862.43.2.2.5.2.2.3 Edward S. Sparks was born ca. 1838 and died September 10, 1861. He was buried in the Churchill Cemetery in Sheffield.
43.2.2.5.2.2.4 Judith Sparks was born ca. 1833 in Sheffield, Massachusetts. She married Nelson T. Jennings on January 14, 1852. He was the son of John W. and Lucretia Jennings, who was born in Cornwall, Connecticut. Nelson T. Jennings was a blacksmith and living in Milton, Massachusetts, at the time of his marriage to Judith.
43.2.2.5.2.3 James Sparks was born 18 September 1802 in Connecticut. He married Aspasia Candee, the daughter of Zacheus Candee and Hannah Whitney, on August 26, 1824 in Sheffield, Massachusetts. James and Aspasia lived in Sheffield and in Salisbury, Connecticut. They had six known children. Both James and Aspasia were buried in the Churchill Cemetery in Sheffield. James died on October 22, 1861 and Aspasia on February 5, 1881.
Some of the information that follows on the children of James and Aspasia Sparks has come from the CANDEE GENEALOGY by Baldwin, written in 1882.
43.2.2.5.2.3.1 Warren C. Sparks was born ca. 1829 and married Lucy Ann Murphy, a daughter of James and Lovica (Snydam) Murphy, on July 22, 1869 in Salisbury, Connecticut. Warren died October 19, 1877, and Lucy died 9 February 1896, both in Salisbury.
43.2.2.5.2.3.2 Ezra Sparks was born ca. 1831 and was living in Dover, New York, in 1881.
43.2.2.5.2.3.3 Edgar Sparks, a twin, was born ca. 1833. He married Sarah Garrison in Hillsdale, New York, on January 22, 1859; he died April 3, 1885 in Salisbury, Connecticut.
43.2.2.5.2.3.4 Edwin Sparks, a twin of Edgar, was born ca. 1833; he died July 30, 1883 in Salisbury, Connecticut. He may have been the Edwin who enlisted from New Milford, Connecticut, on 21 September tember 1861, mustered on the same date, was transferred to Company D, 132nd Regiment Batt. VRC on January 24, 1864, and discharged September 21, 1864. Edwin Sparks died and was buried in Sheffield on December 18, 1839.
43.2.2.5.2.3.5 Lucinda Sparks died before 1881 in Falls Village, Connecticut.
43.2.2.5.2.4 Horace Sparks was born ca. 1800 in Connecticut or Massachusetts. Horace was a farmer. He resided in Sheffield, Massachusetts, his entire life and was involved in the creation of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Sheffield. He married Delia Cook in Sheffield on December 27, 1825. She was the daughter of Atwater and Mary Cook. Horace died on April 19, 1852, while Delia died on December 8, 1882. Both were buried in the Churchill Cemetery in Sheffield. Horace and Delia had six children.
43.2.2.5.2.4.1 Mary Sparks, daughter of Horace and Delia Sparks, was born ca. 1827 in Sheffield. She married Ashahel Lyman Bartholomew, son of Andrew and Abigail (Savage) Bartholomew, in Sheffield on December 16, 1846. Mary and Ashahel traveled to Stockton, California, ca. 1852 and were residing there when the 1860 census was taken. At that time they had two daughters, Anna, born in 1849 in Massachusetts, and Emma, born 1857 in California. In 1885, Ashahel was living in Mercer, California, and claimed that he and Mary had seven children. By 1882, Mary had married (second) FNU Gahan and was living in Northern Pacific Junction, Minnesota.
43.2.2.5.2.4.2 Luther Sparks, son of Horace and Delia Sparks, was born March 2, 1830 and moved to Colebrook, Connecticut. He married (first) Susan MNU in 1855 and (second) Caroline Hoffman before 1892. There were no children of Luther by his first marriage; a son named
43.2.2.5.2.4.2.1 Wesley Earl Sparks was born to his second wife on March 30, 1892 and died April 21, 1892.
Luther died on August 1, 1907 and was buried with his second wife, Caroline, in the Center Cemetery in Colebrook, Connecticut.
43.2.2.5.2.4.3 Franklin Sparks, son of Horace and Delia Sparks, was born ca. 1832. In Delia's probate record of 1883, he was listed as of Nashville, Tennessee.
43.2.2.5.2.4.4 Thaddeus Atwater Sparks, son of Horace and Delia Sparks, was born ca. 1835 in Sheffield, Massachusetts. Thaddeus married Sarah M. Smith, daughter of Eli and Mary Smith, in Sheffield on November 21, 1865. They moved to Canaan, Connecticut, and it was there that Thaddeus died on May 11, 1885. His wife died on March 14, 1923. Both were buried in the Center Cemetery in Sheffield, in a plot which includes Sarah's mother and father. It appears they had no surviving children.
43.2.2.5.2.4.5 Sarah Elizabeth Sparks, daughter of Horace and Delia Sparks, was born ca. 1839. She married FNU Perry by 1852. She was of Stockton, California, in 1852 and of Cheralan, California, in 1883.
43.2.2.5.2.4.6 Washington Irving Sparks, son of Horace and Delia Sparks, was born March 3, 1848 in Sheffield, Massachusetts. He spent most of his life in Connecticut and was actively involved in business. In Winsted, Connecticut, he was a partner with James E. Larkin in a general store and was also a stockholder in the Standard Mfg. Co., a manufacturer of plated table knives. He married (first) Dillie L. MNU, by whom he had a son named Clarence Irving Sparks born November 15, 1876. Dillie died on June 1, 1890 and was buried in Canaan, Connecticut. Clarence died on September 15, 1927. Washington Irving Sparks married (second) Cora E. Brown ca. 1893, and in the 1900 census he was living in Norfolk, Connecticut, with a son named LeRoy F. Sparks, born in February 1895. Washington Irving Sparks died in Easthampton, Massachusetts, on July 4, 1915 and was buried in Canaan, Connecticut.
[Editor's Note: A granddaughter of Washington Irving Sparks is a member of our Association. She is Mary Jane (Sparks) Iffland of Kalamazoo, MI 49007. She reported in 1969 that her father was Leroy Frank Sparks, son of Washington Irving and Cora (Brown) Sparks. He was born in Winsted, Connecticut, on February 26, 1895, and died on December 2, 1968. He married Marguerite Stauss on June 29, 1918. He was Physical Director of the Battle Creek, Michigan, Sanitarium for 17 years and was with the Battle Creek Public Schools as Director of Physical Education for Junior Highs. He and Marguerite had two daughters, Mary Jane (Sparks) Iffland and Marguerite Ann (Sparks) Orange.]
43.2.2.5.2.5 Merritt Smith Sparks, son of Lemuel and Sally Sparks, was born ca. 1804 in Connecticut. He married Angeline (or Emeline) Thompson in Sheffield, Massachusetts, on September 22, 1829. He spent much of the 1830s in Mount Washington, Massachusetts, but went west and settled in Wayne County, New York. In 1850, he was living in the town of Galen and in 1870 in the village of Newark as a "retired farmer." They continued to live in Wayne County until after the 1880 census was taken. Merritt Smith Sparks died 19 August 1891 in Newark. From census records, it appears that Merritt Smith and Angeline (Thompson) Sparks had two children.
43.2.2.5.2.5.2 Jane A. Sparks was born ca. 1837. She married Abram H. Vanderbilt ca. 1859, and when the 1860 census was taken, they were living in the household of her parents. By 1880, Jane and Abram had three children:
43.2.2.5.2.5.2.1 Emma J. Vanderbilt,
43.2.2.5.2.5.2.2 Oscar T. Vanderbilt, and
43.2.2.5.2.5.2.3 Cora S. Vanderbilt.43.2.2.5.2.5.2 Merritt Thompson Sparks was born ca. 1844 in the state of New York.
43.2.2.5.2.6 Calvin Sparks was born ca. 1806 in Sheffield, Massachusetts. Calvin seems to have been involved in the Iron Works; he deeded what he owned of the company in the 1840s, and then settled into farming. Calvin Sparks spent most of his life in Salisbury, Connecticut, although his children were born in Sheffield, Massachusetts. He was guardian for his brother Lemuel's children. On 21 December 1831, he married Eleanor Harris, daughter of Milo and Abigail Harris, in Salisbury. He lived in Sheffield for a time but returned to Salisbury where he died on 3 April 1872; Eleanor died also in Salisbury on 26 September 1889. Both were buried in the New Cemetery near the center of town. They had three children, but only one survived to adulthood. (All information on the family of Frances and Hiram Tripp, see below, has been taken from the TRIPP GENEALOGY compiled by George L. Randall.)
43.2.2.5.2.6.1 Frances Augusta Sparks was born August 14, 1836 in Richmond, Massachusetts. She married Hiram Tripp, son of Daniel Tripp, on December 21, 1853 in Sheffield, Massachusetts. Hiram had been born on November 24, 1830. All seven of their children were born in Salisbury, Connecticut. Frances died in Watertown, Connecticut, on February 22, 1911, and Hiram died in Waltham, Massachusetts, on March 30, 1918.
43.2.2.5.2.6.1.1 Luella Tripp was born July 8, 1855 and married Delton Ostrom on October 27, 1875. She died May 16, 1917 in Goshen, Connecticut. They had no children.
43.2.2.5.2.6.1.2 Frank Edwin Tripp was born November 18, 1858; he married Virginia Nichols on September 21, 1881 in Greenfield Hill, Connecticut. They had two children.
43.2.2.5.2.6.1.2.1 Luella Almira Tripp, born November 28, 1882; she married Henry G. Whittaker on December 19, 1900.
43.2.2.5.2.6.1.2.2 Glenwood J. Tripp, born February 18, 1891; he married Pearl Wismar on February 2, 1912.43.2.2.5.2.6.1.3 Burton Hiram Tripp was born April 7, 1868; he married Elizabeth Hannah, daughter of John and Elizabeth Hannah, on December 23, 1890 in Poughkeepsie, New York. Elizabeth had been born in Poughkeepsie on August 7, 1868. Burton was a mechanical engineer. There is no record of any children.
43.2.2.5.2.6.1.4 Eleanor Tripp was born October 30, 1869. She married William Freeman Decker of Pulver Corners, New York, on August 14, 1894 in Sheffield, Massachusetts. They had three children by 1903.
43.2.2.5.2.6.1.4.1 Percy William Decker, born June 24, 1898.
43.2.2.5.2.6.1.4.2 Malcolm Llewellyn Decker, born October 24, 1900.
43.2.2.5.2.6.1.4.3 Donald Julian Decker, born April 30, 1903.43.2.2.5.2.6.1.5 Fred Calvin Tripp was born November 3, 1872. He married Julia Wakeley on September 3, 1891, and they had a daughter:
43.2.2.5.2.6.1.5.1 Bessie Eleanor Tripp.
43.2.2.5.2.6.1.6 Caroline Rebecca Tripp was born October 25, 1874. She married, in Sheffield, Massachusetts, Edwin Henry Peck on October 15, 1895. Edwin was born in Joliet, Illinois, on April 18, 1866, the son of Charles W. and Emily (Northrup) Peck. This family lived in Watertown, Connecticut. Caroline died there on May 1, 1914. There were two children.
43.2.2.5.2.6.1.6.1 Gladys Winifred Peck, born November 7, 1900 in Litchfield, Connecticut.
43.2.2.5.2.6.1.6.2 Irving Leroy Peck, born July 29, 1913 in Watertown.43.2.2.5.2.6.1.7 Harry Philander Tripp was born April 29, 1879. He married on 29 September 1900, in Litchfield, Connecticut, Grace Elizabeth Pierce, daughter of Hiram and Jennie Pierce. She was born September 6, 1881 in Cornwall, Connecticut. Their children were:
43.2.2.5.2.6.1.7.1 Leslie Hiram Tripp, born December 28, 1901.
43.2.2.5.2.6.1.7.2 Florence Lillie Tripp, born April 20, 1905.
43.2.2.5.2.6.1.7.3 Edna May Tripp, born May 16, 1909.
43.2.2.5.2.6.1.7.4 Edwin Harry Tripp, born September 8, 1916.
43.2.2.5.2.6.1.7.5 Caroline Elmore Tripp, born February 28, 1920.43.2.2.5.2.6.2 Miles H. Sparks was born ca. 1838 and died in Salisbury, Connecticut, on December 9, 1841. He was buried in Salisbury.
43.2.2.5.2.6.3 Robert Sparks was born July 21, 1843 in Sheffield, Massachusetts, and died in Salisbury, Connecticut, in an "accident" on 9 August 1850.
43.2.2.5.2.7 Sally Maria Sparks was born February 11, 1811 in Sheffield, Massachusetts. She lived in Sheffield her entire life and all her children were born there. She married Warren Candee, the brother of Aspasia and the son of Zaccheus and Hannah (Whitney) Candee, on 9 August 1830. She died on January 7, 1901 in Sheffield, and Warren died 4 June 1896, also in Sheffield. Both were buried in the Center Cemetery. They had six children.
43.2.2.5.2.7.1 Elizabeth M. Candee was born ca. 1832; she married John D. Noxon of Great Barrington, Massachusetts, on 6 June 1860. John and Elizabeth had two children.
43.2.2.5.2.7.1.1 Frederick Candee Noxon, born September 18, 1861.
43.2.2.5.2.7.1.2 Cora Belle Noxon, born September 18, 1863.43.2.2.5.2.7.2 Sally Candee was born ca. 1836 and died in 1838 in Sheffield.
43.2.2.5.2.7.3 Love A. Candee was born ca. 1838 and died in 1840 in Sheffield, Massachusetts.
43.2.2.5.2.7.4 Eleanor A. Candee was born ca. 1843; she married Franklin B. Hayes in Sheffield, Massachusetts, on March 25, 1874. Franklin was born in Granby, Connecticut, but was a resident of Southington, Connecticut, at the time of his marriage. It was his third marriage and her first. Franklin was the son of Roland and Patience Hayes.43.2.2.5.2.7.5 Theophilus Candee was born ca. 1841 and died in 1841 at the age of two months in Sheffield, Massachusetts.
43.2.2.5.2.7.6 Joseph W. Candee was born May 15, 1846 and married Eunice McArthur, daughter of Arthur and Louisa McArthur, on March 6, 1872 in Sheffield, Massachusetts. Eunice died in Sheffield on February 8, 1879, and Joseph died February 10, 1922, also in Sheffield. Eunice was born in Ancram, New York. They had a son:
43.2.2.5.2.7.6.1 Joseph Howard Candee, who was born in July 1876.
43.2.2.5.2.8 Julia Sparks was born ca. 1806 in Sheffield, Massachusetts. She married Ralph Mallory, son of Eliakim and Esther Mallory, on February 25, 1827. Ralph was of Salisbury, Connecticut, and it was there that Ralph and Julia settled. They remained there until their deaths. Ralph died there on March 14, 1879, and Julia died there on 20 December 1882. They had four known children. The oldest child was born in Massachusetts. The other three were born in Connecticut.
43.2.2.5.2.8.1 Esther Mallory was born ca. 1829; she married Philo Drum in Salisbury on 12 June 1850.
43.2.2.5.2.8.2 Ralph Mallory, Jr. was born ca. 1837.
43.2.2.5.2.8.3 Sarah C. Mallory was born ca. 1841 and died on August 23, 1842. She was buried in Sheffield, Massachusetts.
43.2.2.5.2.8.4 Ellen J. Mallory was born ca. 1845.43.2.2.5.2.9 Harriet Sparks married Daniel L. Parmenter of Wilmington, Vermont, on January 26,1836 in Sheffield, Massachusetts. They were listed on the Vermont census of 1840 in Wilmington; a male child under the age of 10 was in their household.
43.2.2.5.2.10 Caroline Sparks was born September 16, 1818 in Sheffield, Massachusetts. She married Augustus F. Brown on September 17, 1839. Augustus was from Boston, Massachusetts, and his occupation was that of butcher and he was also a lawyer. Both Augustus and Caroline died in Sheffield and were buried in the Center Cemetery there. He died on February 13, 1871, and she died on May 10, 1899. They had three children.
43.2.2.5.2.10.1 Richard Brown was born ca. 1840 in Sheffield, Massachusetts.
43.2.2.5.2.10.2 S. Ida Brown was born March 30, 1850, in Sheffield. She married Eugene J. Vosburgh in Sheffield; she died there on October 3, 1918.
43.2.2.5.2.10.3 Frederick Brown was born in 1851 in Sheffield, Massachusetts; he died there in 1853.
43.2.2.5.2.11 Amos Sparks was born ca. 1797; he predeceased his father. Amos married Huldah Parsons in Sheffield, Massachusetts, on October 27, 1819; he died 27 December 1826 leaving a widow and three young sons. Huldah and son John were residing in the town of Sheffield when the 1850 census was taken. Son Henry was then residing in Franklin County, Masssachusetts, while son Lyman was married and residing in Sheffield, Berkshire County.
43.2.2.5.2.11.1 Lyman Sparks was born ca. 1825 and married Mariette Ingraham in Sheffield, Massachusetts, on January 12, 1847. She was a daughter of Asahel and Hannah Ingraham. They had five known children, all born in Sheffield. In 1855, Lyman was a peddler; in 1860 he was a laborer; and in 1866 a farmer.
43.2.2.5.2.11.1.1 Louisa Estella Sparks was born January 3, 1850.
43.2.2.5.2.11.1.2 George W. Sparks was born June 15, 1855.
43.2.2.5.2.11.1.3 Frederick L. Sparks was born January 10, 1857 and died October 16, 1859 in Sheffield.
43.2.2.5.2.11.1.4 Minnie Sparks was born July 22, 1860.
43.2.2.5.2.11.1.5 Lilly Sparks was born August 11, 1866.The Sheffield Methodist Church records indicate that this family removed to Lyons, Wayne County, New York.
43.2.2.5.2.11.2 John P. Sparks was married in Lenox, Massachusetts, on January 30, 1856 to Jane McClish, who was born in Quebec, Canada.
43.2.2.5.2.11.3 Henry S. Sparks married Electa M. MNU before 1848. Henry was a shoemaker. They had a son:
43.2.2.5.2.11.3.1 Clarence Sparks, who was born in Buckland, Franklin County, Massachusetts, on June 1, 1848.
43.2.2.5.2.12 Lemuel Sparks, Jr. was born ca. 1815. He spent much of his life in Salisbury, Connecticut. He married Abigail Coon on June 2, 1842 in Sheffield, Massachusetts, and both of his children were born there. He died 24 or 25 July 1853, while Abigail died about six weeks earlier, on 11 June 1853. Their two young children were taken in by Lemuel's brother, Calvin Sparks. Lemuel, Jr. was a farmer.
43.2.2.5.2.12.1 Sarah P. Sparks was born July 24, 1844 in Sheffield, Massachusetts.
43.2.2.5.2.12.2 Walter Coon Sparks was born September 9, 1846 in Sheffield. It is believed that this Walter C. Sparks enlisted in the Civil War and that he died at Cold Harbor, Virginia.
43.2.2.5.3 Daniel Sparks was born ca. 1775 in Mount Washington, Massachusetts. He appeared in a land record dated 1796 as a grantor along with brothers William and Lemuel. He also was listed in the 1796 Sheffield, Massachusetts, assessor's report and was counted as a poll. He was a resident of Sheffield, Massachusetts, until 1808. (He was listed in the assessor's records until that date.) Gaps in the assessor's records were filled in by the Giles Andrews Account Book where he was listed as a debtor/creditor for the years 1802 to 1804. It is presumed that Daniel died before 1810, possibly by 1809, because there was no listing for him in either the 1810 census of Massachusetts or the assessor's reports for that year. It is almost certain that his wife was also dead by 1810. In his father's (Asa's) will of 1813, and in the ultimate distribution of Asa's estate, there was no mention of Daniel. However, the probate records note that Daniel's heirs were omitted from Asa's will and they were awarded their father's share of Asa's estate. The children were minors in 1820. Their guardians were Benjamin Sparks and Wilhemus Schutt. The death record of one of the daughters indicates that Daniel married Louisa MNU ca. 1796. His home was across the road from his father's and included land that went to the top of the ridge leading to Mount Washington, Massachusetts. He left four daughters.
43.2.2.5.3.1 Abigail Sparks was born ca. 1798. She was married by 1815 (first) to Chester Schutt, the son of Willhemus and Anna (Tyler) Schutt. In 1820, Chester and Abigail were living with Chester's parents and there appears to have been no children. Chester was born September 3, 1800 and died after September 16, 1824 when he was listed in the Giles Andrews Account Book settling his accounts. Abigail married (second) Levi Patterson, Jr. of Mount Washington, Massachusetts.
43.2.2.5.3.2 Maria Sparks was born ca. 1801 in Sheffield, Massachusetts. She lived there all of her life, and died there on June 15, 1880.
43.2.2.5.3.3 Angelina Sparks was born ca. 1804 in Sheffield, Massachusetts. In 1825, she was of Phelps, New York, and in 1831 she was of Elle Creek, Erie County, Pennsylvania, selling land through the power of attorney of Thomas Gorsuch.
43.2.2.5.3.4 Lavinia Sparks was born ca. 1807 in Sheffield, Massachusetts. In a May 1929 land record, she was listed as of Manchester, Ontario County, New York.
43.2.2.5.4 Sabra Sparks was born August 24, 1776 in Mount Washington, Massachusetts. She married Merritt Smith, son of Samuel and Sally Smith, before 1806. Merritt was born in New Milford, Connecticut, ca. 1773. Although census records indicate that there were young children in the household, Merritt's probate records indicate that there were no surviving children. He died on May 31, 1852 in Egremont, Massachusetts. From 1852 until she died on December 25, 1865, Sabra lived with her niece, Abigail Chapin Patterson. Merritt was prominent in Mount Washington's civil affairs from 1806 until 1840, serving as selectman, justice of the peace, town clerk, treasurer, assessor, constable, school committee member, and highway surveyor for portions of those years. Both Merritt and Sabra were buried in Egremont, Massachusetts.
43.2.2.5.5 Matilda Sparks was born ca. 1778 in Mount Washington, Massachusetts. She married Moses Chapin, probably in Sheffield, Massachusetts, ca. 1806. Moses had been born in Salisbury, Connecticut, on June 7, 1777, the son of Charles C. and Theodosia (Ferre) Chapin. After Asa's death, Matilda and Moses lived for a short time on the family homestead with Matilda's brother, Benjamin Sparks, and his family as well as her mother, Abigail. They then returned to Salisbury. Later they returned to Sheffield, and in 1827 they moved with two of Matilda's brothers to LeRoy in Genesee County, New York. They remained in Genesee County, but moved to Morganville after 1830. Matilda died on January 6, 1833 in Morganville, a village in Stafford, New York, and was buried there. Moses was in Batavia and Stafford, New York, after Matilda's death, dying in Stafford in December 1863. Matilda and Moses had three known children.
43.2.2.5.5.1 Henry Chapin was born ca. 1810, probably in Sheffield, Massachusetts. He was married ca. 1836 to Phylinda MNU, probably in Stafford, New York. Henry and Phylinda had at least three children:
43.2.2.5.5.1.1 Harriet Ann Chapin, who was buried in Morganville, New York;
43.2.2.5.5.1.2 Jerome Chapin, who was born ca. 1838; and
43.2.2.5.5.1.3 Mary M. Chapin, who was born ca. 1844.Henry and Phylinda lived in Stafford, New York, until 1867 when both Henry and his wife were listed as of Michigan.
43.2.2.5.5.2 Olive Chapin was born ca. 1815 in either Salisbury, Connecticut, or Sheffield, Massachusetts. She married Harry Lathrop, the son of Adgate and Martha (Moss) Lathrop, ca. 1831, probably in Stafford, New York. Harry Lathrop was born February 2, 1804. This area of New York was known as the "Connecticut Tract," and the Lathrops owned sizable pieces of land in Stafford, especially mills. Olive and Harry had five children, all born in Stafford. Olive died 7 June 1854 and was buried in the Lathrop Family plot in Morganville, New York. Harry moved to Michigan and died on 8 March 1900 in Otsego, Michigan. They had the following children:
43.2.2.5.5.2.1 Elsey Ann Lathrop was born May 16, 1833. She married E. A. Eldred and was living in Otsego, Michigan, in 1900.
43.2.2.5.5.2.2 Edward F. Lathrop was born November 26, 1835. He married Calista Barrett on September 23, 1858. He died on Ocotober 28, 1932 and was buried in Morganville, New York. Calista died September 18, 1921. There were no surviving children.
43.2.2.5.5.2.3 Male Infant Lathrop was born April 7, 1838 and died June 1, 1838; he was buried in Morganville, New York.
43.2.2.5.5.2.4 Harry Elbridge Lathrop was born May 1, 1849. He married Mary E. Russell on September 26, 1871. She died January 6, 1933. Harry was mentioned as a surviving brother in the obituary of his brother, Edward, in October 1932. Harry and Mary had two children:
43.2.2.5.5.2.4.1 Frank E. Lathrop was born February 11, 1873 in New York. He married Mary Lewis in 1903. They had three children.
43.2.2.5.5.2.4.1.1 Roy Frank Lathrop, born December 16, 1903, died September 3, 1906.
43.2.2.5.5.2.4.1.2 Fannie Irene Lathrop, born January 30, 1907; she married Clarence Aker.
43.2.2.5.5.2.4.1.3 Olive Frances Lathrop, born October 26, 1909; she married (first)Clarence Goodman, and (second) Randall Hint.43.2.2.5.5.2.4.2 Mary Olive Lathrop was born November 18, 1876; she died January 2, 1908.
43.2.2.5.5.2.5 James E. Lathrop was born May 14, 1854. In 1900 he was listed as E. J. Lathrop of Rochester, New York. In 1932 he was listed with other members of his family, and it was mentioned that he had recently celebrated his 58th wedding anniversary.
43.2.2.5.5.3 Jerome Chapin, son of Moses and Matilda (Sparks) Chapin, was born ca. 1816 in either Salisbury, Connecticut, or Sheffield, Massachusetts. He died at the age of 16 on November 25, 1832 in Morganville, New York. His mother, Matilda (Sparks) Chapin, died January 6, 1833, and was buried next to her son.
43.2.2.5.6 Comfort Sparks, son of Asa and Abigail (Sage) Sparks, was born on December 22, 1780 in Mount Washington, Massachusetts. [Editor's Note: This date of birth of Comfort Sparks appears in a document found among the Civil War pension application papers of his grandson, also named Comfort Sparks; see an abstract of these papers beginning on page 3118 of this issue of the Quarterly.] Comfort Sparks moved to Sheffield with his father, but removed to Salisbury, Connecticut, where he was listed on the 1810 federal census. It is presumed that he returned to Massachusetts when his father died. It is certain that by April 1817 he was again a resident of Mount Washington. He served the town between 1817 and 1822 as a tythingman, a selectman, a member of the school committee, and as a member of a committee designed to expand the ministry. It was also about this time that he became a deacon in the First Congregational Church in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. It was here that some of his children were baptized. Before 1840, he moved to Avon, Livingston County, New York, where he was listed on the 1840 federal census. He did not remain there long, however, for he died in Mount Washington on 30 May 1841. He and his first wife, Asenath, were buried in the BowWow Cemetery in Sheffield, Massachusetts.
Comfort Sparks married (first) Asenath Kelsey, daughter of Elisha Kelsey, ca. 1800, probably in Sheffield, Massachusetts. Asenath died on January 24, 1829. It has been difficult trying to reconstruct the family of Comfort and Asenath, but from checking the census records of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York, it is known that this couple had at least three sons and three daughters. The three sons were named George, Comfort, Jr., and Kelsey. It is possible that one of the daughters was Electa Sparks. She was married in Salisbury, Connecticut, between 1810 and 1820 when Comfort Sparks, Sr. was in that town. Comfort Sparks, Sr. married (second) Almira MNU ca. 1832, probably in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. There was at least one son by this second marriage. Almira either remained in Avon, New York, or returned there with her son, for she was enumerated with him and the family of Edward and Elizabeth Landon on the 1850 census. She left Avon, New York, with the Landons and was living with them in 1860, in the township of Tecumseh in Lenawee County, Michigan, when the census was taken that year. What relationship existed between the Landons and Almira Sparks is still unclear.
43.2.2.5.6.1 George Sparks was born ca. 1803, probably in Sheffield, Massachusetts. In Giles Andrews' Account Book in Sheffield, Massachusetts, on page 10, there is an entry for Comfort Sparks, Debtor, "to make George a pair of boots," dated February 1812. He married Adaline Kline before 1830 and was living in Egremont, Massachusetts, in 1830 with three males under 10 according to the census of that year. Between 1830 and 1840, he moved to New York and settled in the town of Phelps, Ontario County, before 1840. Also in Ontario County, in 1840, was Kelsey Sparks. George and his family moved further west and when the 1850 census was taken were living in the town of Vienna, Genesee County, Michigan. Also in Genesee County, in the township of Richfield, was a Mary Sparks, age 23, with a 3-month-old daughter, Jennett. It is possible that her husband was the third son of George and Adaline, possibly their oldest son. There were three other children named on the 1850 federal census of Michigan.
43.2.2.5.6.1.1 Henry Sparks was born ca. 1825. The 1850 census indicates that he was born in New York. On the 1880 census, however, he was listed as having been born in Massachusetts. He married Olive M. MNU who had been born in Canada. They had three sons.
43.2.2.5.6.1.1.1 Henry G. Sparks, born ca. 1868.
43.2.2.5.6.1.1.2 George A. Sparks, born ca. 1865.
43.2.2.5.6.1.1.3 John S. Sparks, born ca. 1877.43.2.2.5.6.1.2 Stiles Sparks was born ca. 1828 in New York according to the census records. Stiles married Synthia MNU. In 1880 and 1890 he was living in Ingersoll Township, Midland County, Michigan.
43.2.2.5.6.1.3 Adeline Sparks was born ca. 1843 in Michigan.
43.2.2.5.6.2 Comfort Sparks, Jr. was born December 7, 1812, probably in Salisbury, Connecticut. [Editor's Note: The date of birth of Comfort Sparks, Jr. appears in a document found among the Civil War pension papers of his nephew, also named Comfort Sparks; see an abstract of these pension papers beginning on page 3118 of this issue of the Quarterly.]
Comfort Sparks, Jr. was a student of the ministry and residing in Williamstown, Massachusetts, when he died in Lanesborough, Massachusetts, on 3 October 1838. His probate record indicates that his only heir was his father, Deacon Comfort Sparks, who was residing in New York. It is presumed that Comfort Sparks, Jr. died, therefore, unmarried and without issue. He was buried in the BowWow Cemetery in Sheffield, Massachusetts.
43.2.2.5.6.3 Kelsey Sparks was born in Massachusetts ca. 1815, probably in Mount Washington. He traveled to New York sometime before 1840 and was living in Ontario County, in the town of Richmond, when the 1840 census was taken. His age was 20-30 years, and there was a young male under the age of 5 in his household. His wife's name was Elizabeth Deal; she had been born in Pennsylvania ca. 1817 according to the census. He purchased 40 acres of land in Section 16 in Oshtemo Township, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, on 12 December 1848 and was residing in Oshtemo Township when the 1850 census was taken of Michigan. He was enumerated on the 1860, 1870, and 1880 censuses and continued to reside in Oshtemo the entire time.
[Editor's Note: The "young male" in the household of Kelsey Sparks, noted above, was his first child, Comfort Sparks, who had been born on December 16, 1839 and was doubtless named for his paternal grandfather. This information is contained in Comfort's Civil War pension papers, an abstract of which appears in this issue of the Quarterly, beginning on page 3118. From these papers, we know that Kelsey Sparks married Elizabeth Deal on December 6, 1838, and shortly after their marriage they moved westward to Ontario County, New York. It was there that their first two children were born, but by 1847 they were in Michigan and were listed on the 1850 census of Kalamazoo County.]
From census records, it appears that Kelsey and Elizabeth (Deal) Sparks had five children.
43.2.2.5.6.3.1 Comfort Sparks was born December 16, 1839 in the state of New York. [Editor's Note: His date of birth and our information regarding his marriages and children are found in his Civil War pension papers, noted above. He served in the 3rd Regiment Michigan Infantry in the Civil War.] He was married twice, first to Charlotte P. Finlay on September 5, 1867, and (second) to Laura Collum on April 12, 1891; Laura had been divorced from her first husband, Milo H. Casler on December 14, 1886. Comfort Sparks died on 18 February 1925 and was buried in Genesee Prairie. He had four children, all by his first wife.
43.2.2.5.6.3.1.1 Marion Francis Sparks, born August 26, 1870.
43.2.2.5.6.3.1.2 David Kelsey Sparks, born May 3, 1872.
43.2.2.5.6.3.1.3 Freddie J. Sparks, born June 26, 1877; died
prior to 1898.
43.2.2.5.6.3.1.4 Lydia Elizabeth Sparks, born March 4, 1883. She married Clayton Waugh.43.2.2.5.6.3.2 John K. Sparks was born November 3, 1841 in the state of New York. [Editor's Note: He gave this as his date of birth in an affidavit pertaining to his brother's (Comfort's) pension application.]
43.2.2.5.6.3.3 Mary J. Sparks was born in Michigan in 1848.
43.2.2.5.6.3.4 Jennie M. Sparks was born in Michigan in 1849.
43.2.2.5.6.3.5 Walter S. Sparks was born in Michigan in 1860.43.2.2.5.6.4 Luther Sparks was born ca. 1832, probably in Egremont or Great Barrington, Massachusetts. He was eighteen and single in 1850 according to the federal census that year of Avon, Livingston County, New York. He remained in New York and married Catherine MNU ca. 1853. He was recorded on federal censuses of 1860, 1870, and 1880 as living in Avon, New York. Catherine was born ca. 1831 in Holland. It is known that they had three children.
43.2.2.5.6.4.1 Mary E. Sparks was born ca. 1855 in New York. On the 1870 census, her age was given as 15 and she was a schoolteacher.
43.2.2.5.6.4.2 Franklin Sparks was born ca. 1868 in New York and was 12 years old when the 1880 census was taken.
43.2.2.5.6.4.3 Flora Sparks was born ca. 1871 in New York according to the 1880 census.43.2.2.5.6.5 Electa Sparks was married in Salisbury, Connecticut, on October 31, 1813 to Noah Selleck. Noah died only a year later, and apparently Electa decided to use her maiden name again, for an Electa Sparks was enumerated on the 1820 Massachusetts state census, residing in Mount Washington, Massachusetts. (Other records list Elisha Sparks, but the microfilm clearly reads "Electa.")
43.2.2.5.7 Abigail Sparks was born ca. 1783 in Mount Washington, Massachusetts. She married David Chapin, son of Charles and Theodosia (Ferre) Chapin and brother of Moses Chapin, on 23 March 1806 in Salisbury, Connecticut. In 1807 Abigail's father, Asa Sparks, sold David a considerable interest in his Iron Works in Salisbury. The Iron Works was the business in which David was involved until he died in Salisbury on 22 May 1812. Phineas Chapin, David's brother, then became the operator of the Iron Works. David Chapin was buried in the Candee-Sage Cemetery in Sheffield, Massachusetts, which is on the Connecticut-Massachusetts border. Abigail died before the writing of her father's will in 1813. The omission of her heirs was noted in the probate records of Asa. Abigail and David Chapin had two children.
43.2.2.5.7.1 Martin Charley Chapin was born March 22, 1809/1812 in Salisbury, Connecticut. He was a first sergeant in the U.S. Army and died in 1841.
43.2.2.5.7.2 Abigail Chapin was born January 24, 1811 in Salisbury, Connecticut. She married Levi Patterson, Jr., the son of Levi Patterson, Sr. They were married ca. 1827 and were living in Mount Washington, Massachusetts, when the 1830 census was taken. By 1840, they were in Lorain County, Ohio. Between 1840 and 1850, Abigail and Levi were divorced and Abigail returned to Egremont, Massachusetts. Levi married (second) 43.2.2.5.3.1 Abigail Sparks Schutt, the widow of Chester Schutt and the daughter of 43.2.2.5.3 Daniel Sparks. Abigail was a resident of Egremont, Massachusetts, until 1861 when she was listed as of Spencertown, New York, in her uncle Joseph Sparks's probate decrees. Abigail and Levi had two children.
43.2.2.5.7.2.1 David C. Patterson was born ca. 1828 in Mount Washington, Massachusetts. He married Catherine Doty, the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Doty, in Egremont, Massachusetts, on September 14, 1850 by a Hillsdale. New York, Methodist minister. By 1860, David and Catherine had five children, all born in Egremont.
43.2.2.5.7.2.1.1 Agnes A. Patterson was born November 12, 1851.
43.2.2.5.7.2.1.2 Smith Merrit Patterson was born November 18, 1853.
43.2.2.5.7.2.1.3 Imogene Patterson was born August 31, 1855.
43.2.2.5.7.2.1.4 Marietta Patterson was born in 1857.
43.2.2.5.7.2.1.5 Ezborn ["John"] Patterson was born October 19, 1859.This family was listed on the 1865 state census of Massachusetts for Egremont. It was shortly after this that David and his family moved to Hudson, New York.
43.2.2.5.7.2.2 Augusta H. Patterson, was born ca. 1832. She was married in Hillsdale, New York, to Theodore Kline on May 21, 1853. Theodore and Augusta resided in Egremont throughout the 1850s, but were not listed on the 1860 census of Egremont. By 1858, three children were born to Theodore and Augusta in Egremont.
43.2.2.5.7.2.2.1 Della L. Kline was born February 10, 1854.
43.2.2.5.7.2.2.2 A daughter was born November 24, 1856.
43.2.2.5.7.2.2.3 A son was born December 2, 1858.43.2.2.5.8 Joseph Sparks was born ca. 1785 in Mount Washington, Massachusetts. He died in Egremont, Massachusetts, on January 18, 1861 and was buried in Sheffield, Massachusetts. Joseph Sparks married before 1820 Rebecca MNU. In 1820, the family was in Sheffield, Massachusetts, in 1830 in Lenox, Massachusetts, and in 1838 in Mount Washington, Massachusetts. According to the 1850 census, Joseph was in Egrement, Massachusetts, but his wife Rebecca was still living in Lenox. Although census records indicate that there were small children in the Joseph Sparks household, there were no children mentioned in Joseph's probate records in 1861. Joseph's occupation was given as farmer throughout his life.
43.2.2.5.9 Benjamin Sparks was born ca. 1786 in Mount Washington, Massachusetts. He was the son who took over the running of the family farm in Sheffield. After his marriage, he continued to live with his father and mother and managed the farm. It was Benjamin who became the executor of his father's estate and inherited the bulk of his father's land. The older sons had either moved to other states or had already established farms of their own. It was Benjamin's record of his account as a "hired hand" that provided us with Asa's death date. Benjamin married (first) Betsey Churchill, daughter of Moses and Mary (Crosby) Churchill, on February 4, 1808 in Sheffield, Massachusetts. Betsey died before October 1816 because this is the earliest date found on which Olive (Chapin) Sparks has been given as Benjamin's wife. Olive was the daughter of Charles and Theodosia (Ferre) Chapin and a sister of David and Moses Chapin. In the probate records of Betsey (Churchill) Sparks's mother, Mary (Churchill) Royse, there was a listing of the heirs of Betsey Sparks. Benjamin and Betsey had four surving children. All were probably born in Sheffield, Massachusetts.
By June 1827, Benjamin and Olive Sparks were living in LeRoy, Genesee County, New York. Olive was dismissed from the Sheffield Congregational Church to a church in LeRoy and Benjamin was listed in the land records there. They were listed on the 1830 census of New York as living in the town of LeRoy; it is apparent that Benjamin's mother, Abigail, was with them there.
[Editor's Note: There is a deed recorded in Washtenaw County, Michigan, Book M, page 160, dated April 23, 1835, by which Benjamin Sparks and his wife, Olive, and Enoch J. Ely and his wife, Lucretia, all of LeRoy, Genesee County, New York, sold to Andrew Lincoln for $108 a tract of 87.12 acres in Washtenaw County. It would appear that this was land inherited by Benjamin and Olive Sparks and Enoch J. and Lucretia Ely.]
Land and church records indicate that Benjamin and Olive Sparks moved to Ontario, Wayne County, New York, later in 1835. By 1840, however, a son and a daughter were in Oshtemo Township, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, while another son was living in St. Joseph County, Michigan. By 1850, Olive and her step-son, Asa Sparks, were still living in Oshtemo Township, Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Olive died after 1870, probably in Oshtemo Township. It is still unknown whether Benjamin died in New York or in Michigan.
An interesting land record found in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, that may shed additional light on this family indicates that a Horace Sparks of Union County, New Jersey, who, as a grantor in 1880, sold land in Sheffield, Massachusetts, known as the Churchill farm.
43.2.2.5.9.1 Mary Ann Sparks was born ca. 1809. She married Ether Lake of Salisbury, Connecticut, in Sheffield, Massachusetts, on January 28, 1827. She moved with her father to LeRoy, Genesee County, New York, and was listed with her father and husband in land records there in 1835. Ether and Mary Ann/Maria Lake were in Oshtemo, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, by 1840, and were listed as the witnesses at her brother Asa's wedding.
43.2.2.5.9.2 Daniel Sparks was born ca. 1811 in Sheffield, Massachusetts. He moved to Genesee County, New York, with his father and step-mother and married there ca. 1834. He married Lucretia MNU, possibly Johnson, and moved to Florence, St. Joseph County, Michigan. Daniel and Lucretia were in Florence when the 1850 and 1860 censuses of Michigan were taken. Daniel probably died before 1870, because Lucretia was living with her son in Constantine, St. Joseph County, Michigan, in 1870. Daniel and Lucretia had one known child.
43.2.2.5.9.2.1 Charles Sparks was born ca. 1840 in Michigan. He married in 1860, in St. Joseph County, Mary MNU. On the 1870 census there was a son, 43.2.2.5.9.2.1.1 Eugene Sparks, age 9.
43.2.2.5.9.3 Asa Sparks was born ca. 1810 in Sheffield, Massachusetts. He also traveled to New York. He married Sabronia Scott on 18 November 1840 in Oshtemo Township, Kalamazoo County, Michigan. They continued to live in Oshtemo Township according to the federal censuses of Michigan from 1850 through 1880. Asa probably died sometime after 1870, because Sabra was living with her son and daughter-in-law in 1880 in Oshtemo Township. Sabra died 26 July 1893 and was buried in the Liberty Street Cemetery, Alamo Township, Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Asa and Sabra had three known children:
43.2.2.5.9.3.1 Munson B. Sparks was born ca. 1845 in Michigan and died April 27, 1857.
43.2.2.5.9.3.2 George Sparks was born ca. 1853 in Michigan; he had married Ella MNU by 1880.
43.2.2.5.9.3.3 Favilla Sparks was born ca. 1855 in Michigan.43.2.2.5.9.4 Martin Sparks was born before 1816. Only the probate record of his grandmother has provided us with any information on Martin.
There is no indication at this time that Benjamin had any children by his second wife, Olive.
43.2.2.5.10 Talbert Sparks was born ca. 1789, probably in Mount Washington, Massachusetts. He married Sally MNU ca. 1810, probably in Sheffield, Massachusetts. He paid a poll tax for the first time in 1811, according to the assessor's records for that year. Giles Andrews, in his account book, noted that Talbert Sparks owed him for shoes for his wife in November 1811 and for his son in January 1813. On the 1820 federal census of Sheffield, Massachusetts, Talbert was listed as between 16 and 45 and had in his household three males under 10 and two females under 10. The names below are probably two of those sons. The daughters are still unidentified.
Talbert Sparks traveled to Genesee County, New York, with his brother Benjamin and was recorded as a resident of the town of LeRoy in that county on the 1830 census. He probably also accompanied Benjamin to Wayne County, New York, ca. 1835. Talbert was residing in the town of Somerset, Hillsdale County, Michigan, in 1840. He probably died between 1840 and 1850 in Hillsdale County. It is probable that his wife Sally also died between 1840 and 1850 in the same location.
43.2.2.5.10.1 Andrew Sparks was born in 1811, probably in Sheffield, Massachusetts. He married 43.2.2.5.13.3 Abigail Moore, daughter of John and Clarissa (Sparks) Moore, in 1839 in Genesee County, New York, perhaps in the town of Covington. He was enumerated in the town of Covington on the 1840 census. He died on May 15, 1844 in Pavilion, Genesee County, New York, and was buried in the Pavilion Cemetery. His probate documents include a record of taxes paid on land in Lucas County, Ohio, which is just south of the state of Michigan. Abigail married (second) Henry Coe. (See below - family data on Abigail Moore, whose first husband was Andrew Sparks) Andrew and Abigail (Moore) Sparks had one son.
43.2.2.5.10.1.1 Wells C. Sparks was born in 1841 in Genesee County, New York. He married Nancy Louise Dutton, daughter of Calvin and Mehetabel (Rogers) Dutton, ca. 1865. This family resided in Pavilion, New York. Wells Sparks died in Pavilion on January 14, 1902, and Louise Sparks died there in 1921. Wells and Louise had two children.
43.2.2.5.10.1.1.1 Irving Sparks was born in 1866 and according to a history of Pavilion, New York, died there at the age of 101 years.
43.2.2.5.10.1.1.2 Harriet Sparks was born in 1877; she married FNU Sprague.
43.2.2.5.10.2 Newman Sparks was also born ca. 1811, in Massachusetts, and traveled with his family to New York. He remained in New York and was recorded on the 1850 census of Monroe County in the town of Wheatland/Scottsville. He married Mary MNU ca. 1833. The record of his family that follows is based upon the 1850 and 1880 Monroe County, New York, censuses.
43.2.2.5.10.2.1 Emily Sparks was born ca. 1835 in New York.
43.2.2.5.10.2.2 Sarah ["Sally"] Sparks was born ca. 1836 in New York
43.2.2.5.10.2.3 Talbert Sparks was born ca. 1838 in New York.
43.2.2.5.10.2.4 William Sparks was born ca. 1840 in New York. About 1864 he married Maggie B. MNU, who was born ca. 1844 in Pennsylvania. They had four children by 1880 who had been born in New York.43.2.2.5.10.2.4.1 William Sparks was born ca. 1865.
43.2.2.5.10.2.4.2 Martin V. B. Sparks was born ca. 1866.
43.2.2.5.10.2.4.3 Al S. Sparks, a son, was born ca. 1868.
43.2.2.5.10.2.4.4 Lillian A. Sparks was born ca. 1871.43.2.2.5.10.2.5 Catherine Sparks was born ca. 1842 in New York.
43.2.2.5.10.2.6 Mary Jane Sparks was born ca. 1844 in New York.
43.2.2.5.10.2.7 Newman Sparks, Jr. was born ca. 1846 in New York. He married Kittie Murphy ca. 1865. Kittie was born in Ireland. By 1880, they had four surviving children, all born in New York.When the 1880 census was taken, three grandsons were listed with Newman and Mary Sparks in Wheatland, New York. They were: Edward Pero, age 17; Frank Sparks, age 9; and Hiram Sparks, age 6.43.2.2.5.10.2.7.1 Mary Sparks was born in 1867.
43.2.2.5.10.2.7.2 Stella Sparks was born in 1870.
43.2.2.5.10.2.7.3 Kittie Sparks was born in 1872.
43.2.2.5.10.2.7.4 Newman Sparks was born in 1874.43.2.2.5.11 Luanna (or Louise) Sparks was born ca. 1792, probably in Sheffield, Massachusetts. She married Ezra Fairchild Stevens, son of Ezra and Abigail (Fairchild) Stevens, ca. 1810, probably in Sheffield. Ezra Fairchild Stevens was born in Connecticut, probably in New Fairfield, ca. 1790. He moved to Mount Washington, Massachusetts, with his family and remained there until ca. 1816, when he traveled to Richland, Oswego County, New York. On the 1820 census of New York, he was listed next to William Sparks, his father, Ezra Stevens, and a Peter Stevens, who was probably his brother. On the 1840 and 1850 censuses of Oswego County, he was shown as living in Orwell, New York. On the 1850 census, his household was listed next to that of Abel and Melissa Darrow and Abigail Sparks. Ezra Fairchild Stevens was a farmer and probably died in Orwell, New York sometime between 1855 and 1860. Luanna probably died in Orwell sometime between 1850 and 1855.
The census records of New York indicate that Ezra Fairchild and Luanna (Sparks) Stevens had at least two sons and two daughters. Giles Andrew's Account Book lists Fairchild Stevens as a debtor in 1812--he charged him for a pair of boy's shoes in December 1812.
43.2.2.5.11.1 Myron Stevens was born ca. 1811, probably in Sheffield, Massachusetts. He married Sarah A. MNU ca. 1835. Myron was living in Orwell, New York, until at least 1860. By 1869, however, he was a resident of New Haven, New York.
43.2.2.5.11.1.1 John M. Stevens was born ca. 1837 in New York. In 1869, he was a resident of New Haven, New York.
43.2.2.5.11.1.2 Esther Stevens was born ca. 1843.
43.2.2.5.11.1.3 Russell Allen Stevens was born ca. 1844.43.2.2.5.11.2 Ezra Stevens was born ca. 1821, probably in Richland, New York. He married Huldah ca. 1841. According to census records, in 1850 Ezra was a shoemaker; in 1860 he was a farmer.
43.2.2.5.11.2.1 Mary Stevens was born ca. 1842.
43.2.2.5.11.2.2 Albert E. Stevens was born ca. 1844.
43.2.2.5.11.2.3 Marshall Stevens was born ca. 1847.
43.2.2.5.11.2.4 Abigail A. Stevens was born ca. 1851.
43.2.2.5.11.2.5 Lora A. Stevens was born ca. 1857.
43.2.2.5.11.2.6 Lizette Stevens was born ca. 1859.43.2.2.5.12 Asa Sparks, Jr. was the youngest son. He probably was born in Sheffield, Massachusetts, ca. 1791. He was not listed in his father's will, and he was listed in the assessor's reports only for the year 1812. No mention was made of any heirs of Asa Sparks in his father's probate papers.
43.2.2.5.13 Clarissa Sparks was born ca. 1794, probably in Sheffield, Massachusetts. She was married by 1813 according to her father's will. She married John Moore of Columbia County, New York, who was born ca. 1785. John and Clarissa spent most of their lives in Mount Washington, Massachusetts. It was there that John purchased a portion of what was once known as the Sparks Iron Works. He did not relinquish that ownership until ca. 1847. In 1831, in the Egremont, Massachusetts, Congregational Church, John and Clarissa had many of their younger children baptized. About 1847, John and Clarissa moved to Genesee County, New York, and purchased land in the town of Batavia. They were recorded in Batavia on the 1850 New York federal census. Clarissa died on 24 October 1850 in Batavia, while John died seven years later on September 3, 1857. Both were buried in Batavia. Because John died intestate, a clear record of their surviving children and the whereabouts of each in 1857 is known through John's probate records.
43.2.2.5.13.1 John Moore was born before 1810, probably in Columbia County, New York. In 1857, his father's probate records listed him as a resident of Jonesville, Hillsdale County, Michigan. A John Moore, believed to be this son, was found in the 1850 Michigan census in Hillsdale County in the township of Litchfield. He had been married ca. 1828 to Lydia MNU, who was born in New York. They moved to Michigan ca. 1840, and their last three children were born in Michigan. A John Moore was listed on the 1840 Michigan census in the town of Somerset. There were eight surving children of John and Lydia Moore when the 1850 census was taken.
43.2.2.5.13.1.1 Mary Jane Moore was born ca. 1829 in New York.
43.2.2.5.13.1.2 Daniel Moore was born ca. 1833 in New York.
43.2.2.5.13.1.3 Phebe Moore was born ca. 1836 in New York.
43.2.2.5.13.1.4 Eben Moore was born ca. 1837 in New York.
43.2.2.5.13.1.5 Enos Moore was born ca. 1837 in New York.
43.2.2.5.13.1.6 Cynthia Moore was born ca. 1841 in Michigan.
43.2.2.5.13.1.7 Orrin Moore was born ca. 1848 in Michigan.
43.2.2.5.13.1.8 Isaac Moore was born in 1850 in Michigan.43.2.2.5.13.2 Michael Moore was born ca. 1810. He moved to Luna, New York, before 1836 and then to Pembrooke, Genesee County, New York. Michael married (first) Sarah Ward, by whom there were no known children. He married (second) Nancy Ward and they had seven known children.
43.2.2.5.13.2.1 Franklin Moore.
43.2.2.5.13.2.2 Charles Moore married Rosabel Fenner and lived in Indian Falls, New York.
43.2.2.5.13.2.3 Elmer Moore.
43.2.2.5.13.2.4 Newton Moore.
43.2.2.5.13.2.5 Herbert Moore.
43.2.2.5.13.2.6 Watson Moore.
43.2.2.5.13.2.7 Elizabeth L. Moore married Cash M. Durham. She was born ca. 1868. On the 1892 New York state census, this family had two sons, Herbert Durham, age 2; and Elmer Durham, age 1. They were residents of E. Pembroke, New York.43.2.2.5.13.3 Abigail Moore was born February 23, 1813, probably in Mount Washington, Massachusetts. She married (first) 43.2.2.5.10.1 Andrew Sparks ca. 1839, probably in Genesee County. (See page 3113) Andrew Sparks died in Pavilion, New York, in 1844. There was one son 43.2.2.5.10.1.1 (43.2.2.5.13.3.1) Wells C. Sparks) by this marriage. She married (second) Henry Coe before 1850, probably in Pavilion, New York. Henry was the son of Jesse and Olive (Roberts) Coe. They had no surviving children. Both Abigail and Henry died in Pavilion, Abigail on November 15, 1885 and Henry on June 15, 1885. (See pages 3113 -14 of this issue of the Quarterly for a record of Wells C. Sparks, son of Abigail and her first husband, Andrew Sparks.)
43.2.2.5.13.4 Benjamin Moore was born ca. 1820, probably in Mount Washington, Massachusetts. He married in Mount Washington, Prudence Lee on February 23, 1843. By 1857, he had moved to Genesee County, New York. He was found on the 1860 census in the town of Batavia with his wife and a son, Harmon L. Moore, age 9. Harmon's birthplace was listed as New York.
43.2.2.5.13.5 Eloise (or Louisa) Moore was born ca. 1823, probably in Mount Washington, Massachusetts. She married Ensign Race on 19 February 1846 in Sheffield, Massachusetts. Ensign was the son of Philip and Eva Race of Great Barrington. Ensign and Louisa became residents of Egremont, Massachusetts, where Ensign died on 26 November 1863. He and two young sons were buried in Egremont. After Ensign's death, Louisa moved with her children to Genesee County, New York, and settled in the town of Batavia where she was living in 1866. Ensign and Louisa (Moore) Race had six known children, all born in Egremont.
43.2.2.5.13.5.1 George E. Race, born between November 27, 1846 and June 9, 1847.
43.2.2.5.13.5.2 Lorella (or Ellen) Race, born ca. 1848.
43.2.2.5.13.5.3 Clarissa L. Race, born September 22, 1850.
43.2.2.5.13.5.4 Alice A. Race, born August 12, 1854.
43.2.2.5.13.5.5 Joseph Race, born ca. 1855 and died in February 1856.
43.2.2.5.13.5.6 Charles Race, born ca. 1855 and died in February 1856.43.2.2.5.13.6 Betsy Moore was born ca. 1825, probably in Mount Washington, Massachusetts. She married William Young of Pavilion, Genesee County, New York, on January 20, 1847. They were in Pavilion according to the 1857 probate records of John Moore. William Young was a son of Sylvanus and Ruth (Burgess) Young.
43.2.2.5.13.6.1 John E. Young married Clara L. Calkins and had a daughter Edith.
43.2.2.5.13.6.2 William H. Young married Harriet C. Cone and had children named43.2.2.5.13.6.2.1 Ruth A. Young and
43.2.2.5.13.6.2.2 Hobart Young.43.2.2.5.13.7 Richard Moore was born before 1830 and was baptized in August 1831. He was not listed in John Moore's probate records.
43.2.2.5.13.8 Clarissa Moore was born ca. 1828. She married Sylvester Calkins of Batavia, New York, between 1850 and 1860.
43.2.2.5.13.9 Andrew L. Moore was born ca. 1830. He married Mary J. Lyman at Stafford, New York, on September 6, 1855 according to GENESEE COUNTY PEOPLE, a history of Genesee County settlers. They were living in LeRoy, New York, in 1857.
43.2.2.5.13.10 George L. Moore was born ca. 1833, probably in Mount Washington, Massachusetts. He married Almira MNU after 1850 and was living in Buffalo, New York, in 1857.
43.2.2.5.13.11 Sabra Ann Moore was born ca. 1838, probably in Mount Washington, Massachusetts. She married Mortimer E. Judson of Covington, New York, on September 6, 1855 in Stafford, New York, according to the history of Genesee County settlers cited above. They were living in Covington, New York, in 1857.
This completes the record of the descendants of Asa and Abigail (Sage) Sparks. The authors welcome correspondence with individuals who could provide additional information on this lineage.
There were many Sparks families in 1850 residing in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, and other states headed by men and women who listed Massachusetts as their birthplace when the federal census of that years was taken. These Sparks males may well have been grandsons of Asa Sparks. Your aid may prove that theory.
(Editor's Note: Again it is appropriate that we express our deep gratitude to Thomas and Virginia Howard for this, their second splendid contribution to our Quarterly. We are confident that many of our readers, present and future, will be aided in their own family research by this remarkable collection of data on the descendants of Asa and Abigail (Sage) Sparks. We know that we speak for the entire membership of our Association as we thank the Howards for their thorough and painstaking research and their careful compilation of the genealogical data discovered. We look forward to their next contribution on Sparks families having a New England origin.)