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Matthew Sparks I

One of the early settlers would have been Matthew Jefferson Sparks, II, who arrived in Georgia about 1785 with his father, which is according to his Revolutionary War Application (RWPA), written many years later.  His father, Matthew Sparks I, had moved to Georgia in 1785 from Wilkes County, North Carolina, via Wilkes County, Georgia.  Matthew Sparks I eventually settled about 4 miles from present day Athens, Clarke County, Georgia, which at the time of settlement was Franklin County. In 1796, that portion became Jefferson County, then in 1801 changed to Clarke County.   

Matthew Sparks I (1733-1793) was most likely born in Queen Annes County, Maryland, being the great-grand son of one William Sparks who came to America in 1663 from Hampshire County, England[1].  Eventually Matthew moved to Wilkes County, North Carolina in 1774, the New River area where he received at least one land grant.  He was married to Sarah Thompson and they had 13 children:

1. John SPARKS                                 b: 1755

2. Ann SPARKS                                  b: Abt. 1757

3. Matthew Jefferson SPARKS II        b: January 20, 1759 in Rowan County, NC

4. David SPARKS                                b: 1761

5. William SPARKS                             b: April 03, 1761

6. Eady SPARKS                                b: Abt. 1763

7. Bailey SPARKS                               b: Bet. 1764 - 1767

8. James SPARKS                              b: 1768

9. Absalom SPARKS                           b: 1771

10. Jesse SPARKS                               b: July 23, 1773

11. Nathan SPARKS                             b: 1775

12. Isaac SPARKS                                b: Abt. 1780

13. Hardy SPARKS                               b: Abt. 1782

Matthew SPARKS I owned land in both Franklin and Wilkes Counties from about 1785-1793.  He built “Sparks Fort” about four miles west of present day Athens, Georgia, to protect the land and he and his family from hostile Creek Indians.  Unfortunately, he was killed by those very Indians in November 1793 while out hunting for turkey.[2]   Other relatives were recorded as living on what was then called Big Shoal Creek, now in Clarke County.  His children Bailey, Absalom, Nathan, Jesse and William were all living in that area from until about 1798.

Matthew II lived in Wilkes County, Georgia at the same time as Bud might have arrived, 1785-1787, where they were both recorded as paying taxes in 1787, Matthew, Jr. for his father on the land he owned, and Bud just one poll.  Bud and Matthew were also approximately the same age.  Did Bud know Matthew Sparks II from Wilkes County, North Carolina and move down to Georgia with the Sparks family?  It is not likely.  Matthew was born near Salisbury, Rowan County and moved to Wilkes where he served in the Revolutionary War.  Bud was living further east.

Matthew Sparks II    John II & Elizabeth Mullins    Jesse Walton    Thomas II & Lucy Mullins

1. The Sparks Quarterly, Official Publication of the Sparks Family Association, Vol. XXXII, No. 3, September 1984, pg. 2646

2. The Sparks Quarterly, ibid, Vol. IX, No. 3, June 1961, pg. 556