WILLIAM
SPARKMAN & ROSANNA WILLIAMS RECORDS
Hertfort and
With their
roots in the burnt
(Parent of
MATTHEW TOBIAS SWANNER deed to WILLIAM BUSH,
carpenter, 20 Nov. 1732; £220 for
200 acres on north side of Wiccacon Creek at
NICHOLLAS TOOPE deed to CHRISTOPHER SEGRO
(SEGAR) 14 Sept. 1733; £50 for
100 acres on
ABRAHAM BRAWLER deed to CHRISTOPHER SEGAR
May 1736; £4 for 25 acres
adjacent SEGAR, JOSEPH TOMSON and WILLIAM WARRANT. JOHN WYNNS (jurat) and THOMAS CREW,
witness. Entered May
ABRAHAM BRAWLER deed to CHRISTOPHER SEGAR, blacksmith, 14 Mar.
1739; £70 for 195 acres at west side of Holly Swamp, Northern Branch of William
Creek at Reedy Branch adjacent WILLIAM WARREN’s land adjacent GODWIN’s land and
ISAAC BRAWLES at Flatt Swamp. JOHN WYNNS
(jurat) and WILLIAM SPARKMAN, witness.
Enter May
ISAAC BRAWLER, yeoman, deed to CHRISTOPHER SEGAR, blacksmith,
14 Apr. 1740; £100 for 320 acres on west side of Holly Swamp, North Branch of
Wiccacon Creek adjacent JONATHAN GILBERT at Flatt Swamp. THOMAS DIXON (jurat), JOHN DEW, MR. SHIVERS,
witness. Entered May
PAUL PENDER deed to THOMAS SPARKMAN of
Chowan Co. 18 Oct. 1754, £26 plus
£4 “in credit paid in goods at
(NOTE:
Thomas Sparkman was named as a son of John Sparkman of Chowan, presently
Gates, Co. in John’s 19 Apr. 1738 will proved 14 July 1739. John, a younger man who died leaving orphans,
further mentions son John and “my seven children”.)
JOHN (x) BROWN, gentleman, deed to JOSEPH MOORE, planter, 24
Aug. 1758, £40 proclamation for 157 acres.
JAMES SPARKMAN and JOSHUA LEE, witness.
Entered Oct.
THOMAS SPARKMAN of Chowan Co. deed to JAMES SPARKMAN of Bertie
16 Apr. 1759; £18 proclamation for 175 acres adjacent Wiccacon Creek,
CHRISTOPHER (x) SEGUR deed to JAMES SPARKMAN 16 Aug. 1758; £1
proclamation for 100 acres adjacent Reedy Branch, WILLIAM WARRIN, GABRIEL
MANLEY,
THOMAS SPARKMAN of Chowan Co. deed to JOHN BROWN of Bertie Co.
16 Apr. 1759; £18 proclamation for 175 acres adjacent Wiccacon Creek, JAMES
SPARKMAN, Deep Branch, LAZAROUS THOMAS, WILLIAM WARRIN, Holly Swamp, part of 1
Mar. 1721 patent to JOHN EARLY JR.
THOMAS HARRELL and JAMES SPARKMAN, witness. Entered Apr.
CHRISTOPHER (x) SEGUR deed to JOHN BROWN 19 Aug. 1758; £5
proclamation for 110 acres adjacent GILBERT,
(Notes as to the four
consecutively entered deeds: Thomas
Sparkman at this period was establishing himself and his family on a 290 acre
plantation on Cypress Creek in Chowan, presently Gates, Co. known as the Banks
of Italy. Tax rolls indicate that only
James Sparkman and his brother William inhabited the 175 acres Thomas purchased
in Bertie, presently Hertford,
Affidavit of ALEXANDER COTTON, age 48, that ROBERT WARRIN is
heir to WILLIAM WARRIN, deceased, and that WILLIAM WARRIN owned land for 20
years adjacent Wiccacon Creek,
Affidavit of BENJAMIN WYNNS, age 43, that ROBERT WARRIN is heir
to WILLIAM WARRIN, deceased, and that WILLIAM WARRIN owned land for 20 years
adjacent Wiccacon Creek,
(Parent of
16 Aug. 1758. JAMES SPARKMAN records his mark – a crop in
the right ear and a swallow fork in the left.
Oct.
Apr.
MISCELLANEOUS
1758 petition to form Gates Co. by residents
of northern Chowan Co.,
Land
Inquisitions & Fee Tails 1751-1774.
1764.
Hertford Co. Petition for JOHN MERRITT to sell 200 acres willed him by his
grandfather, ROBERT PATTERSON. Signed: ELIJAH HARRELL, JAMES OVERTON, JAMES
SPARKMAN, KERNEY (x) GODWIN, GILSTRAP WILLIAMS, JOHN (x) BEEMAN, JOHN BAKER,
Shr., JAS. BOON, CULLIN SESSUMS, JAMES HARRISON, WM. EARLY, JOHN EARLY, SAMUEL
(x) THOMAS.
(Note: Interesting among this list indicating
neighbors in 1764 are Cullin Sessums, son of Culmer Sessums, grandfather of
George Wynns Sessoms who relocated from Hertford to Williamson Co., Tennessee,
and married/2 Delilah Sparkman, daughter of Jesse Sparkman and Millie Ann, and
Kearney Godwin, believed to be the father of George Winn Godwin married Sarah
Sparkman who relocated from Hertford to Williamson Co. ca. 1815.)
Report of Estate Administration Bonds to the
Secretary of State,
1779 Tax List: JAS.
SPARKMAN, 175 acres land £1000,
2 horses £500,
6 Cattle £60,
Money £6,
Total: £1566.
Neighbors in District 4
include KEARNEY GODWIN and JAMES OVERTON.
1782 Tax List: JAS. SPARKMAN,
175 acres, 3 horses/mules, 10 Cattle, Amount carried out 126.
Neighbors in District 4
include KEARNEY GODWIN, JO. WITHERINGTON JR., WILLIAM WITHERINGTON, ABRAM
RHOADS and JAMES OVERTON.
"Not listed"
JAS. BROWN, son of JOHN.
(See Martin Co. Deeds below for connection to Abram Rhoads.)
1784 Tax List: JAMES
SPARKMAN, 175 acres, 1 free poll, 1 black poll.
Next Door: JAS. BROWN son of J. 100a.
Neighbors in District 4
include WILLIAM WITHERINGTON, HARDY WITHERINGTON, JOSEPH WITHERINGTON JR.,
KEARNEY GODWIN and THOMAS SPARKMAN (50 acres, 1 free poll).
MARRIAGE
RECORD
Affidavit
made by Rosanna Sparkman, widow of William Sparkman, in connection with a claim
under the Bounty Land Act of 1855:
State
of
On this 23rd day of April, A. D. one thousand eight
hundred and 55, aforesaid, ROSANNA SPARKMAN, aged 84 years, a resident of
Williamson County in the State of Tennessee.......declares that she is the
widow of WILLIAM SPARKMAN, deceased, who was a private in the company
commanded by Captain McMahan, in the regiment of Volunteers commanded by
General Coffee, in the war with Great Britain, declared by the United States on
the 18th day of June, 1812, that her said husband enlisted in Maury County on
or about the 15th day of September A.D. 1816, for the term of six months and
continued in actual service in said war for the term of six months and was
honorable discharged at Nashville, on the (blank) day of April, A.D. 1815. She further states that she was married to the said
WILLIAM SPARKMAN in Hertford County and State of North Carolina on the 3rd day
of December, A. D. 1789 by one ROBERT MONTGOMERY, a Justice of the Peace, and
that her name before her marriage was ROSANNA WILLIAMS; that her said husband
died at his residence on the 15th day of March, A. D. 1832, and that she is now
a widow.
Signed:
Rosanna [her mark] Sparkman
Seth
and Thomas W. attested as to Mother.
MARTIN
COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, LAND RECORDS
SAMUEL SMITHWICK deed to ABRAHAM RHODES of Hertford
Co. 13 Sept. 1786; £70 for
260 acres on southwest side of Smithwick Creek adjacent BENNNETT’s corner on
eastside of Hayses’ Swamp, THOMAS HOLLADAY, WOLLARD and COREY. HENRY HUNTER and MICHAEL CARTER, witness. Deed Book A, pg. 508.
ABRAHAM RHOADS of Hertford Co. deed to WILLIAM
SPARKMAN 31 Jan. 1791; £70 for
260 acres adjacent BENNETT’s corner on southwest side of Smithwick Creek,
Hayses Swamp, THOMAS HOLLADAY, WOOLARD and CARREY. JAMES SPARKMAN, witness. Deed Book C, pg. 439.
WILLIAM SPARKMAN and RICHARD TAYLOR witness deed 20
Jan. 1792 from JOHN (x) WOOLLARD of Beaufort Co. to THOMAS SPARKMAN of Beaufort
County; £22 for 150
acres on the east side of Literal Stump Pocosin adjacent THOMAS MARTIN’s corner
in the Great Branch and Henry’s branch.
Deed Book C, pg. 125.
WILLIAM
SPARKMAN and RICHARD TAYLOE witness deed 21 Jan. 1792 from JOSEPH WETHINGTON to
THOMAS SPARKMAN; £60 for 100 acres south of Smithwick Creek beginning at Bennett’s
Branch along line agreed to between THOMAS MARTIN and SAMUEL WOOLLARD. Deed Book C, pg. 129.
WILLIAM
SPARKMAN and BENJAMIN WOOLARD witness deed 23 Aug. 1792 from JOHN COREY SR. to
MARTIN COREY; £25 for 30 acres beginning at TAILOR’s corner, adjacent HARDY
HOLLADAY, Hases Swamp, SWAINS’ corner.
Deed Book C, pg. 183.
WILLIAM
SPARKMAN, MARMADUKE (x) ROBISON and MARTIN (x) COREY witness deed 3 Sept. 1792
from RICHARD TAYLOE joined by WINEFRED
TAYLOR to WOOLARD COREY; £40 for 50 acres on west side of Haises Swamp
adjacent DANIEL ROBASON, Hardy’s Branch.
Deed Book C, pg. 533.
WILLIAM
SPARKMAN deed to JAMES DANIEL 7 May 1793; £10 for 100 acres on line agreed to
between RICHARD TAYLOR and WILLIAM SPARKMAN adjacent WOOLARD’s line and
SPARKMAN and JOSEPH WETHERINGTON’s corner.
RICHARD TAYLOR and THOMAS WYNN, witness.
Deed Book C, pg. 844.
WILLIAM
SPARKMAN deed to RICHARD TAYLOR 24 Sept. 1795; £32 for 130 acres adjacent
THOMAS HOLADAY, JAMES DANIEL’s corner and JOSEPH WETHERINGTON. MARTIN (x) COREY and WILLIAM (x)
WILLIAM
SPARKMAN deed to JOSEPH WITHERINGTON 14 Sept. 1796; £60 for 130 acres on east
side of Hayses Swamp adjacent RICHARD WOOLARD, CARRAWAY and THOMAS
BENNETT. WILLIAM WYNN and WILLIAM
DANIEL, witness. Deed Book C, pg. 385.
WILLIAM
SPARKMAN witnesses deed 7 Oct. 1796 from JAMES DANIELS to RICHARD TAYLOR; £10
for 50 acres on DANIEL’s line on west side of
WILLIAM
SPARKMAN witnesses deed 7 Oct. 1796 from JAMES DANIEL to RICHARD TAYLOR; £10
for 50 acres adjacent DANIEL and
[Date not noted
– 1797-98] Appointees to view whether road from
(Parent of
WILLIAM
T. LEWIS of
(Note: This is the same
tract surveyed and entered by Major William Terrill Lewis February 21, 1797, as
assignee of William Sparkman 26 Dec., 1796, of Joseph Witherington’s military
land warrant – see land warrant on Sparkman Cemetery page.)
CLAIBORNE WILLIAMS
deed to JOHN ROBERTSON [ROBINSON] 7 Feb. 1803; $160 for 137 acres being a part
of 274 acres formerly belonging to WILLIAM T. LEWIS adjacent WILLIAM
SPARKMAN. JO. HERNDON, witness. Entered 23 Apr. 1803. Deed Book A1, pg. 300.
(Note: Any relationship
between Claiborne Williams and Rosanna Williams is unknown. Claiborne is found in Mississippi in the 1850
census, in which he is reflected as having been born in
WILLIAM SPARKMAN
deed to JAMES WALDRIP 22 Jan. 1805; $40 for 30 acres on Leepers fork adjacent
SPARKMAN. JOHN MOORE and THOMAS LATTA,
witness. Entered 23 Aug. 1805. Deed Book A1, pg. 661.
WILLIAM SPARKMAN and MICHALL ROBINSON
witness deed 28 Nov. 1808, from DAVID ROBINSON to JESSE WHITE; $400 for 160
acres on Leeper’s fork adjacent WILLIAM SPARKMAN. Deed Book B, pg. 333.
WM. SPARKMAN and
JOSEPH ROBINSON witness deed 7 Dec. 1811, from JOHN ROBINSON (Maury) to THOMAS
MORTON; $410 for 137 acres on branch of Leipers ford of the
JAMES WALDRIP
(Maury) deed to JESSE WHITE 17 Sept. 1811; $30 for 30 acres on Leipers fork
adjacent WM. SPARKMAN and JAMES WALDRIP.
JAMES SKELLY, THORNTON PERRY, WM. THOMPSON and CORNELIUS WHITE, witness. Enter 28 Nov. 1814. Deed Book D, pg. 49.
CHARLES ROBINSON
and WILLIAM SPARKMAN witness deed 1 Jan. 1814, from ALEXANDER CROFFORD (Maury)
to ANDREW ROUNDTREE; $4.40 for 11½ acres on Bear Creek of Murfrees Fork
adjacent CROFFORD’s 22 acres survey. Entered
3 Nov. 1815. Deed Book D, pg. 207.
CHARLES ROBINSON
and WILLIAM SPARKMAN witness deed 1 Jan. 1814, from ALEXANDER CROFFORD (Maury)
to ANDREW ROUNDTREE; $4.40 for 10 acres on Bear Creek of Murfrees Fork adjacent
CROFFORD. Entered 3 Nov. 1815. Deed Book D, pg. 208.
WM. SPARKMAN and
THOMAS WREN witness deed 4 Mar. 1816 from WM. ELLIS to JOSEPH WITHERINGTON;
$500 for 94 acres on Pond Branch of Leepers Lick adjacent Ellis’ house, JOHN
CROFFORD. Entered 6 May 1816. Deed Book D, pg. 367.
WM. SPARKMAN and
HENRY RUSHTON witness deed 11 Mar. 1817, from JESSE WHITE to WM. T. NORTHERN;
$100 for 75 acres on Leipers Fork adjacent DAVID ROBINSON, WM. SPARKMAN and
BEARD’s 640 acres tract. Entered 10 June
1817. Deed Book E, pg. 106.
WILLIAM SPARKMAN
and SETH SPARKMAN witness deed 19 Apr. 1819 from GEORGE ROPER to STEPHEN PIGG;
$150 for 50 acres on the head waters of Lick Creek lying on both sides of the
William Sparkman, 1813, 50 acres, District G, Maury
Co., Book G, pg. 556, #5082
William Sparkman, 1827, 200 acres, District M, Maury
Co., Book 7, pg. 781, #6310
William Sparkman, 1827, 400 acres, District M, Maury
Co., Book 7, pg. 815, #6345
William Sparkman, 1828, 50 acres, District M,
Williamson Co., Book 10, pg. 658, #8643
Oct.
Court, 1805. (i) WILLIAM SPARKMAN
appointed overseer of public road from intersection of the
Inventory
Book I, Page 156; Jan. Court, 1807.
Inventory of the Property of CATHERINE MOORE, dec'd.; estate sale 27
Nov. 1806; buyers include JOHN MOORE, JESSE SPARKMAN, THOMAS LATTA, JESSE
WHITE, CHARLES ROBINSON, WILLIAM SPARKMAN, BETSY MOORE, HENRY MOORE, DAVID
ROBINSON, WILLIAM SIMPSON, ALEXANDER MOORE, JOHN ROBINSON. DAVID ROBINSON & JOHN MOORE, Admr.
WILLIAM SPARKMAN summoned
for jury duty Jan., 1807, Apr., 1807, July, 1807, Oct., 1807,
Jan., 1809.
July Court, 1810. JOHN ASHHURST vs. JOHN ARMSTRONG, $100 Debt
with $50 in damages; defendant is surrendered by JESSE WHITE, one of
defendant's bail, in discharge of himself and of WM. SPARKMAN; plaintiff’s
attorney prays custody of plaintiff by sheriff.
April Court,
1811. JESSE C. SPARKMAN elected
constable in CAPT. SPARKMAN’s company; $625 bond, WM. SPARKMAN and JESSE WHITE,
securities.
(Note: Jesse is the brother of
William, and the foregoing is one of several records from the period to William
Sparkman’s captaincy in the
CHARLES ROBINSON, JESSE SPARKMAN and WM.
SPARKMAN summoned for jury duty July, 1812, Oct., 1812; William Oct., 1813.
(Note: William Sparkman named his son born in 1804
Charles Robinson Sparkman.)
July Court,
1813. (i) State v. EDWARD GOSSAGE,
assault and battery, appearance bond, $250.
$82 bond each MOSES CHAMBERS, KENNETH MORRISON and ISAIAH COTES. WILLIAM SPARKMAN and BERRY DONALDSON
appearance bond, $50, to testify for State against defendant. (ii) WILLIAM
SPARKMAN and JOSEPH ROBINSON prove deed from JOHN ROBINSON to THOMAS MORTON for
137 acres.
July Court, 1815. (i) CHAS. ROBINSON and WM. SPARKMAN prove
deed from ALEXANDER CRAFFORD to ANDREW ROUNDTREE for 11½ acres. (ii) WM. SPARKMAN granted letters of
administration on estate of WM. WITHERINGTON, deceased; $8000 bond, CHARLES
ROBINSON and ANDREW ROUNDTREE, securities; inventory produced (livestock,
household items). (Inventory Book II,
pg. 149.)
Oct. Court, 1815. WM. SPARKMAN, administrator, produces
inventory (livestock, farm tools, furniture & etc.) and account of sale of
estate of WILLIAM WETHERING/WETHERINGTON, deceased. (Inventory Book II, pg. 166; account of sales
Inventory Book II, pg. 177.)
(Note: William Witherington, son of Joseph
Witherington and Isabel Taylor, married William’s daughter Celia Sparkman and
died in War of 1812 service while his wife was pregnant with her second daughter. The daughter was named William Ann
Witherington.)
Oct. Court, 1816.
Account of sales of estate of JAMES SKELLY, dec’d. Buyers include FRANK SECREST, JOHN WAUTLIN,
STEPHEN PIGG, JESSE WHITE, JOHN PIGG, WM. SPARKMAN, WM. DEMOSS, WM. HENDLEY, JOSEPH
WITHERINGTON, HENRY LESTER, ALEXR. THOMPSON, SARAH SKELLY, JOHN McCASLIN,
NICHOLAS BRANCH, HANNER HAMILTON, JOHN THOMAS, WM. BLYTHE, THORTON PERRY,
ALEXANDER HAVERSON, CHAS. WHITE, ABRAHAM WETHERINGTON, GEO. WRENN.
Inventory Book II, pg. 368; Jan. Court, 1818. Estate settlement of WILLIAM WETHINGTON,
dec’d, WM. SPARKMAN, administrator; payments to NOAH WALKER, BURKEW &
BRADLEY, DOCTOR GEO. BENNETT, ABRAHAM WERTHINGTON, ANDREW ROUNDTREE, WM.
SIMPSON and ALEXANDER THOMPSON.
Inventory Book II, pg. 412; Oct. Court, 1818. Inventory of Estate of N.P. HARDEMAN, dec’d,
includes a note on WM. SPARKMAN.
Other reported court
records: Goodspeed’s History of Williamson County (pg.795) references the
arraignment of Binkley Donaldson in 1816 for the murder of James Skelley,
resulting in a conviction of felonious slaying.
Donaldson “prayed for the benefit of the clergy” and his sentence was
being branded with the letter “M” in his left hand. Skelley’s estate was settled in October term,
1818, and Skelley researchers have reported that William Sparkman was appointed
guardian for Skelley’s orphans Keziah, Sparkman, William, Samuel and Nancy
until guardianship was relinquished to Skelley’s widow Sarah (nee Pigg, m/2 James
Baker in Williamson 10 Nov. 1818) in 1826. Noting that religious disputes were beginning
to arise within the Baptist church at this time over Campbellite doctrine and
William’s charter membership in the Leipers Creek
NEWSPAPER
ARTICLES
Genealogical Abstracts
from
(NOTE: It is interesting
to note and speculate as to what appears to be a family letter in the Franklin
post office a little over a month after their brother Thomas Sparkman of
Edgecombe County, NC, "being in a weak and declining state of
health", wrote his last will and testament.)
(See also 1884 Nashville Banner article on William
Sparkman on Sparkman Cemetery page.)
CENSUS RECORDS
AND TAX LISTS
1790 Martin Co., NC, Census – William
Sparkman, 1 male over 16; 1 female
1805 Williamson Co., TN, Tax List - William
Sparkman, 1 Free Poll
1820 Williamson
Co., TN, Census (pg. 114) – William Sparkman, 1 male under 10; 2 males 10-15; 2
males 16-25; 1 male over 45; 1 female under 10; 2 females 16-25; 1 female over
45; 3 agriculture
1830 Williamson
Co., TN, Census (pg. 258) – William Sparkman, 1 male 15-29, 1 male 60-69, 1
female 15-19, 1 female 60-69
1840 Williamson Co.,
TN, Census (pg. 119) – Rosannah Sparkman, 1 male 20-29, 1 female 15-19, 1
female 50-59, 1 female 60-69, 1 male slave 10-23, 2 agriculture
1850 Williamson
Co., TN Census –
Pg. 142
Sparkman, Thomas W., 37, M, Farmer, 1500, TN
Nelly A., 27, F, TN
Sarah E., 6, F, TN
Jacob G., 5, M, TN
William M., 3 M,
TN
Outlaw W., 2, M,
TN
James S., 1/12, M,
TN
Thurman, Macharina, 20, F, TN
Sparkman, Rozana, 80, F, NC
1860 Williamson Co., TN, Census -
P047-19
SPARKMAN - Post Office,
Thomas W., 48, M, W,
Farmer, 4000, 4000, Tn
Nelly A., 37, F, W, Tn
Sarah E., 16, F, W, Tn,
School
Jacob G., 14, M, W, Tn,
School
William M. J., 12, M, W,
Tn, School
James S., 10, M, W, Tn, School
Lucius B. S., 8, F, W,
Tn, School
Maeurina, 6, F, W, Tn
Allen R., 4, M, W, Tn
McArnold A., 2, M, W, Tn
Charles N., 6/12, M, W, Tn
Rosanniah, 90, F, W, NC
JOSEPH WITHERINGTON – A PARALLEL PATH
On tax rolls of
“He was born in Hertford
County, State of North Carolina, on the 24th day of May, 1759, this he has
recorded in his own Bible, transcribed from a Book of his fathers called a Book
of Sermons, here he resided till he enlisted as abovementioned, he enlisted
with Winbon, or Winburn, as he then understood it for three years, or during the
War, but he afterwards learned that his enlistement was for three years only,
this mistake must have happened in the his transfer from Winburn to Capt.
Baker, He never enlisted for more than the one term, or but the one time. After
he returned home as above stated, he continued to reside in said Hertford
County untill about the year 1788, when he removed to Martin County N.
Carolina, where he resided till the year 1813, when he removed to this
Williamson County, Tennessee, where he has since resided.”
(See also Joseph Witherington & Isobel Taylor Records.)
WAR OF 1812 MILITARY SERVICE
Sparkman, William,
Corporal, 1st Regiment of
LEIPER’S FORK
According to an
article published by Leo Boles in the Gospel Advocate 11 Dec. 1930, John
Dobbins donated a plot of land for the construction of a religious meetinghouse
in Leipers Fork (Hillsboro) in 1815, named Union, which was dedicated to be
shared by all denominations with usage by the various groups an alternating
Sundays. Primitive Baptists dominated
both the community and usage of the meetinghouse in its early years. Dissension arose in their ranks in the
following years over the preaching of “Campbellism”, predominately by Baptist
ministers Andrew Craig and Joel Anderson, and, after being withdrawn by
neighboring congregations for preaching heresy in 1829, the two assisted in
forming a Christian church comprised of other excluded Baptists in the
community that would share usage of the meetinghouse, believed to be the oldest
Christian Church/church of Christ south of Nashville. The charter members signed the following
declaration on 2 Jan., 1830:
We, whose names
are hereunto subscribe, being the professed disciples of Jesus Christ in the
vicinity of Leiper’s Fork, do hereby agree to live together as a congregation
of the Lord, to be denominated “the church of Christ on Leiper’s Fork”, and we
do hereby agree to take the Bible to be the word of God in such a sense as to
hold ourselves bound to believe all its declares, do all that it requires of us
as Christians, as well as to abstain from all it forbids. We do consider it the only rule of faith and
practice in Matters of religion. So
there is no occasion for any other judge of controversies, or for creeds,
confession of faith, traditions, or acts of councils, to supply its supposed
defects. We take that Book for our creed
in all matters pertaining to us as a church and individuals.
Signed: JACOB CARL, NANCY BROWN, MARY HUGGINS,
FRANCES POTTER, POLLY MEADOR, ELIZABETH ALLEN, MERRITT BROWN, WILLIAM SPARKMAN,
BIRD DODSON, JUDAS DODSON, POLLY WALKER, ELIZABETH HUNTER and MARGARET DODSON.
(Note: Polly Walker is Mary, William Sparkman’s widowed daughter,
and it is interesting to note that although Rosanna Sparkman can later be
established as a member of the
WILL OF WILLIAM SPARKMAN
WILLIAM SPARKMAN, Deceased. Probated April Term 1832,
Dated April 18, 1829
In the name of God amen, I
WILLIAM SPARKMAN of Williamson County, State of Tennessee, being in perfect
mind and memory, blessed be almighty God for the same, considering the
certainty of death do make and publish this my last will and testament in
manner and form as follows, That is to say, first that all my just debts be
paid, Second, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, ROSEMERY SPARKMAN, the
plantation where I now live on containing one hundred and seven acres; also
fifty acres adjoining the same, and on the east, during her lifetime or
widowhood, and after her death or marriage, I give and bequeath the same land
and plantation to my youngest son, THOMAS WASHINGTON SPARKMAN, also give and
bequeath the same fifty acres lying on the east of said plantation. I also give and bequeath fifty acres of a
land adjoining William Johnson's tan yard tract, East and south of said tract
to THOMAS WASHINGTON SPARKMAN. Thirdly,
I give and bequeath to the rest of my children to be equally divided amongst
them that is to say, MARY WALKER, SELAH SPARKMAN, SETH SPARKMAN, WILLIAM
SPARKMAN, ELIZABETH VESTAL and CHARLES ROBERTSON SPARKMAN, JAMES COLDEN
SPARKMAN & DELANA SPARKMAN, certain lands lying in Maury County, one four
hundred acre tract on the water of Leepers Lick Creek, two hundred acres
joining the four hundred on the South; also one hundred joining the said four
hundred acres on the South, also on hundred in a survey with SETH SPARKMAN,
lying on the McCallisters branch.
Fourthly, my will and desire is that all my stock of every kind and
tools and house furniture with a wagon and gears, all to remain with my beloved
wife ROSEMARY SPARKMAN during her life and widowhood, and after her death or
widowhood, that ELIZABETH VESTAL, CHARLES R. SPARKMAN, JAMES C. SPARKMAN, SETH
SPARKMAN and WILLIAM SPARKMAN, if not done before and there the rest of my
personal property to be equally divided between MARY WALKER, SELAH SPARKMAN,
SETH SPARKMAN, WILLIAM SPARKMAN, ELIZABETH VESTAL, CHARLES R. SPARKMAN, JAMES
C. SPARKMAN and DELANA SPARKMAN, and I hereby appoint my son and son-in-law
SETH SPARKMAN and AARON VESTAL sole executors of my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and seal this 18th day of April 1829.
Attest: Michael Robertson William
Sparkman [seal]
John (x) Robertson
(Note: All references to Robertson are Robinson.)
RETURN
TO SPARKMAN CEMETERY HOMEPAGE
ADVANCE TO TOMBSTONE INSCRIPTIONS
ADVANCE
TO WILLIAM SPARKMAN & ROSANNA WILLIAMS FAMILY RECORDS
ADVANCE
TO JOSEPH WITHERINGTON & ISOBEL TAYLOR RECORDS
Please contact Kendall Sparkman with any additions, corrections or comments.