William Sparks, Sr. "was probably born about 1640 in England, … was a member of the Anglican faith, and in 1696 was elected a warden of St. Paul’s Parish."^{16 At one time he 1709 when his will was probated.84,224 The first mention of a William Sparks in the area is in 1663 when Thomas Skillingham sold to George Richardson the land he had been granted for transporting six people including "Wm. Sparks" to the colony.224,228 He arrived in MD in 1662 according to a 1663 reference to "William Sparke" being a recent passenger from England.16 On 7/17/1672, William Sparks and Thomas Heather purchased 100 acres in Talbot Co, MD, for 5,600 pounds of tobacco. Until the late 1700s, tobacco was the chief currency in MD and VA.16 The land was described as being on the north side of St. Michaels River. (Talbot DB I, p213).224 This land is now located in the southern part of Queen Anne’s Co, MD. On 10/16/1677, Thomas Heather acknowledged that he owed William 20,000 pounds of tobacco. (Talbot DB 3, p93).16,224 On 8/16/1681, William Sparks bought 100 acres from Michael Hackett of Talbot Co for 5,000 pounds of tobacco. In 1670 this land had been given the name "Adventure". (Talbot Co DB 4, p68).224 Other records indicate that this land was located on the south side of Chester River and on the southeast side of Island Creek. Soon after 7/18/1681, William Sparks bought 250 acres known as "Sparks Choice" from Michael Hackett. The land was on the east side of Chester River near the head of a small branch of Island Creek. Rent rolls indicate that this was the tract on which William and his family lived.224 This area is about four miles northeast of what is now Centreville, Queen Anne’s Co, MD.224 On 9/10/1683, William Sparks bought a 100 acre tract adjoining his home plantation from William Coursey, Jr. He called this land "Sparks Own". (Talbot Co DB A, p507; Queen Anne’s Co Rent Rolls p242).224 On 10/22/1687, William Sparks had a 114 acre tract known as "Sparks Outlet" surveyed. A patent was issued for it on 6/12/1688. The land was near another of his tracts, near Chester River. (Talbot DB 2, p625).224 On 5/12/1689, William Sparks was named as the "true and lawful attorney" of Hannah Hamer in connection with the selling of some land. (Talbot DB 5, p232).224 On 6/1/1691, William Sparks sold lot #6 in the town of West Chester to John Salter, Joyner "for a valuable consideration by mee in hand allready received." (Talbot DB 7, p53).224 On 6/1/1691, William Sparks sold the 100 acre tract known as "Adventure" to Samuel Withers (Talbot Co DB 5, p336).224 On 10/20/1691, William Sparks bought 200 acres from Robert Smith for 8,500 pounds of tobacco. This was part of a larger tract known as "Wrights Choice", located on the south side of Chester River and on the north side of the southeast branch of Island Creek. (Talbot DB 5, p328).224 On 10/21/1691, William Sparks and his wife Mary sold 200 acres to Samuel Withers for 8,000 pounds of tobacco. The land was his 100 acre "Sparks Own" tract and a portion of his "Sparks Choice" tract. (Talbot DB 5, p336).224 In 1696, William Sparks was elected as a warden of St. Paul’s Parish, which is now in the southern part of Queen Anne’s Co and the upper part of Talbot Co. He held the position until 1698.224 On 7/21/1696, William Sparks, Sr. and his wife Mary sold the 100 acres for 10,000 pounds of tobacco.16,224 On 12/2/1696, the names of William Sparks and William Sparks, Jr. are found in a document addressed to the King of England, William III. In the previous February, there had been an assassination plot, attempting to restore King James II to the throne. Upon hearing the news in the colonies, civil and military officers in each county signed an "address" stating their loyalty to King William. The name of William Sparks appears among 29 civil officers of Kent Co, MD. Also, he and his son were included among the 62 military officers of Kent Co.224 On 1/27/1701*, William Sparks, Sr., and his wife Mary sold the 200 acres known as "Wrights Choice" to John Hamer for 4,000 pounds of tobacco. He signed with an "X" inside a circle, and she signed with an "M". (Kent Co JD Bk #1, p79-81).224 On 2/2/1707*, William Sparks of Queen Anne’s Co bought two tracts in the said county from John Hamer for 22,000 pounds of tobacco. One tract was 249 acres and the other was 199 acres. They were located on the south side of Chester River on Island Creek. (Q.A. Bk A, Liber EF, p16).224 On 2/2/1707*, William Sparks and his wife Mary sold 480 acres in Queen Anne’s Co to John Hamer for 22,000 pounds of tobacco. (Q.A. Bk A, Liber EF, p12).224 On 3/25/1707*, William Sparkes gave a tract of land to his son George. The land was the remaining 150 acres of the"Sparks Choice" tract. (Kent DB C, p187).224 On 4/16/1707, William Sparks and his wife Mary and John Hamer and his wife sold 250 acres to James Wyat for 7,500 pounds of tobacco. The land was on the south side of Chester River, on the upper side of Royston Creek. William and Mary signed with their usual marks. (Kent DB C, p227-35).224 On 6/21/1709, William Sparks wrote his will where he signed with his usual mark. The will was probated on 10/24/1709 in Queen Anne’s Co, MD.16,84,224 He mentioned his wife Mary, son George, grandson Charles Hynson, son William, son John, and son Joseph not yet of age. He left the land he had purchased from John Hamer in 1707 to his son John Sparks.224 His current plantation consisted of "Hills Adventure" and "Sparks Outlet" and were to go to sons William and Joseph.224 Records indicate that William had a brother John Sparks who left a will in Kent Co, MD, on 9/2/1699. John named his wife Ellinor and mentioned sons John and George Sparks who would receive his 100 acres of land known as "Bucks hill, provided either of them comes to enjoy it".84,224 Later documents, both in England and in MD, indicate that these two sons were living in England. However, they apparently never came to claim their inheritance because the land passed into the possession of his nephew William Sparks, Jr. (born 1674). On 3/6/1710, William Sparks, Jr., and his wife Margaret sold "Buck Hill" (Kent Co, MD, #N, p248-9).224 This record states that William would: for ever defend the before granted premises to the said William Comegys his heirs and assigns for ever against the heirs and successors of John Sparks deceased, onckle [or, uncle] to the afore named William Sparks as alsoe any other person or persons claiming right by heire ship from the said John Sparks deceased…. The location of the two sons of John Sparks may indicate the origin of this Sparks family. On 10/23/1716, while in England, they tried (apparently unsuccessfully) to sell their deceased father’s land in MD.224 They are addressed as: John Sparks of the Burrough of Christchurch Twyneham in the County of Southson in the Kingdom of England Butcher Eldest Son and heire and devisee of John Sparks late of Chester River in Kent County in Maryland in Virginia decs’d and George Sparks of the Burrough of Christchurch Twyneham aforesaid Glover one other of the sons and devisees of the said John Sparks deceased….} The letter was delivered to the Kent Co, MD, court about five months later on 3/19/1717*.224 This particular area in England is now known as Christchurch near Bournernouth in County Hampshire.224 Perhaps the early records of this region will reveal information on previous generations of the Sparks family. William Sparks, Sr, is very possibly the son of Thomas Sparks and Joanne Davis of Fareham Parish, Hampshire Co, England. "Records show that they had four sons: William, Francis, John, and Richard. The general time period of their births would coincide with our William and John who entered this country about 1662 into MD." Thomas Sparks was born about 1615, and Joanne Davis was born about 1619.86 They were married on 10/19/1635 in Fareham Parish, England.86,130 However, this link has not yet been proven.86,228 Source: ^{http://www.webjmd.com/ed5v1.html}