Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 33707, for John Sparks, New Jersey
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service
New Jersey
Sparks, John
Number
S33707

contents (blank)
Page 2

1910
New Jersey
John Sparks
Col Shreeve
Captain
New Jersey Line    4
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War
Inscribed on the Roll of N Jersey - at the rate of 20 dollars per month, to commence the 23 of March 1808
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 of July 1808 and sent to H  For: Bloomfield
Burlington NJ
Arreared twelth of Sept 1808
Semi-an  ending
Mos  4/31 and 4/30   108.38

Revolutionary claim
Act 18th March, 1818

3 years

to 1780

Continued
Page 3

Notification sent 
Sep 18 1820
Zacheria Roy Esq
Salem N Jersey
Died Apr 30 1826
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John Sparks
1910
Salem boy
July 18


Sep 18
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District of New Jersey 88
Salem Inferior Court of Common Pleas June Session 1820
On this 14th day of June 1820 personally appeared, in open Court, before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, of the County of Salem, in the State of New Jersey, being a Court of Record, proceeding according to the course of the common law-having jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, and keeping records of its proceedings, and of those non pensioners and professing the pension John Sparks aged 63 years, resident in upper Acreeth in said county, who being first duly sworn according to law , doth, on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows; in Captain Toulkness company to Canada in 1776 and in the revolutionary army under Captain John Cummins as first Lieutenant of Regiment Commanded by Colonel Israel Shrieve Jersey line after the battle of Germantown promoted to a Captain in the same regiment and line that he has received a pension certificate 1910
And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the 18th day of March, 1818 and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled"An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary war", passed on the 18th day of March, 1818;and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or secureties, contracts, or debts, due to me;nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule following, and by me subscribed.
9 chairs 2 pine tables a dustray andirons shovel and tongs 7" 25
2 Iron pots and bake iron lot of blockersware 2 candle sticks 3.62
2 frigs a tea kettle a frying pan a tub 3 pales a cupboard 5"50
1 ax 1 candlestand a looking glass a cedar tub 1 pine chest books 5.6
John Sparks 8  22'00
That he is by occupation a carpenter but from bodily suffering he is not able to obtain a living without assistance that his family consists of himself aged 63 years his wife Sarah aged 50 years infirm and unable to labour one daughter named Sarah Ann aged 13 years
John Sparks
sworn to , and declared, on the 14th day of June before Jerediah Dubois Presiding Judge of Salem County
I , James Newell, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the Count y of Salem, in the State of New Jersey, do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereunder written, are truly copied from the record of the said court; and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said curt that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is twenty two dollars and - cents. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said court, on this 28th day of July 1820
James Newell
Clerk of the Court of the County of Salem
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Correct
J Bloomfield
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To the Honourable J C Calhoon Secretary of the War Department, Pension Office
State of Newjersey
Gloucester County 
On application to obtain a Pension for services rendered the United States
Be it made known that before me James Matlock one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in for the County  and State aforesaid personly appeared John Sparks a native of the County and state aforesaid, aged sixty one years last marchm who being duly sworn upon the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God did depose declare and say that from his reduced circumstances, he needs the assistance of his country for support, that he served in the war of the Revolution, on the Continental Establishment, a bout three years, that he entered the service as an Ensign in Captain W. Fortiner's Company in the second Regiment New Jersey line commanded by Colonel W. Maxwell in the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven or there a bouts that he resigned his commission and gave it up to the said W. Maxwell (then a general) who accepted the same and gave their deponant a discharge from the army a bout the year seventeen hundred and eighty which discharge is lost or mislaid; this deponant further saith that on his march to Quebec with the army he was promoted to second Lieutenant and after his return he was appointed first Lieutenant and during the time the British was in Philadelphia this deponant was promoted and appointed Captain of a Company in the second Regiment under the command of Colonel Israel Shreve and Inlisted about fifty men in the Town of Woodbury County and state a foresaid for the army; and remained in the service untill about the time the British left New York for little York-
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sworn and subscribed this twenty third day of March in the year of our LORD one thousand eight hundred and eighteen before ones attorney James Matlack John 'sparks
In testimony that the foregoing statement
of facts are true, I do hereby certify that he appears to my satisfaction that the said John Sparks served in the revolutionary war as within set forth against to common enemy. 
In testimony where of those hereunto set my hand I affixed my seal the day and year aforesaid written
James Matlack
State of New Jersey
I Thomas Hendry Clark of the Court of Common Pleas in for the county office do certify that James Matlack Esq. is in Commission as one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Common pleas in and for said county - my hand that of office Woodbury this tenth day of office AD Eighteen Hundred and Eighteen 
Hendry Clark
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State of New Jersey, Burlington County
Before one Thomas Adams one of the Judges of said county, appeared Capt Samuel Hendry of the revolutionary army, residing in the city of Burlington, and being duly sworn deposed that he was an officer in the second dept of Continental forces in the autumn of 1775 in New Jersey, where of William Maxwell was colonel, that John Sparks of the county of Gloucester in said state was an sabiltern in the service of Capt Faulkner and company, is said John Sparks, continued in service from the raising of the said regiments the summer of seventeen hundred seventy eight and further, this deponent saith not.
Samuel Hening
Sworn the 15 June 
Thos Adams
State of New Jersey Burlington County
Joseph McIlveeve clark of the inferior court of common states of the said county doth certify that the name of and subscribed to the deposition of Samuel Hendry is the hand writing of Thomas Adams Esq on of the Judges of said court to be at the date there known as Judge of the inferior court of common land
where of the hand 
this 24th day of Jan 1819
Wainey
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It appears from the written depostition of Capt Samuel Hendry, that John Sparks was an officer in 1775 and continued until the summer of 1778- and by a return of the commissioned officers in the New Jersey brigade, signed by Gen Maxwell, it appears that John Sparks is returned on Feb 5 1778.    in the 2d Reg. - I knew John Sparks a saFalkner died near Ticonderoga, on his march to canada in 1775-6- Capt Sparks was near three yards in in the N Jersey line of continental forces.
J Bloomfield
John Sparks see also Gen Elmer's cerificate
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August 7, 1939.

Minnie Beal Miller
611 North Drake Avenue
Fullerton, California.

BA-J/ILL
John Sparks
S. 33707

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to Captain John Sparks, of the 2nd New Jersey Militia who resigned August 31, 1778.

The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 33707, based upon service of John Sparks in the Revolutionary War.

John Sparks was born in March 1757, in Gloucester County, New Jersey; the day of his birth and names of his parents are not shown.

He entered service in the fall of 1775 as ensign in Captain William Faulkner's company, Colonel William Maxwell's 2nd New Jersey regiment, was promoted while on the march to Quebec,
2" Lieutenant in that same regiment, after his return was promoted 1st Lieutenant, served in Captain John N. Cummins' company in that regiment, afterwards was appointed Captain and served under Colonel Israel Shreve in the same regiment until sometime in the summer of 1778, when he resigned.

[hand-written in margin:  Service can be verified in in {sic} Heitman Death date given in Heit-]

He was allowed pension on account of his service as an officer in the Revolutionary War on his application executed March 23, 1818. He resided then in Gloucester County, New Jersey.

In 1820, this officer stated that his wife, Sarah, was aged fifty years, but he did not give her maiden name, nor the date and place of their marriage. One daughter, Sarah Ann, aged
thirteen years, was the only child living at home then. He made
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no reference to other children. He died April 30, 1836,

It is suggested that further information regarding the the military record of this officer might be obtained from The Adjutant General, War Department, this city.

In order to obtain the name of the person to whom the last payment of pension was paid, you should address the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, this city, and cite the following.

John Sparks
Certificate #1910
Issued July 28,1818
Rate $20 per month
Commenced March 23,1818
Act of March 18,1818
New Jersey Agency.

Very Truly yours,

A.D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator.
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[left side:]
33707
Revy INVALID
----------
File No. ___33, 787
___John Sparks____
___Capt Rev War____
-------------
Act: _____18" March 18"
Index: - Vol. ___8 [or 2? or S?]___, Page ___390__

[Arrangement of 1870.0]

[right side:]
1926 July 3. Hist to Mrs
Sam Bretch AN
1926 July 12 hist 
to Mrs Theodore S. Wood
MCS.
-------------------
1927 July 12 Hist to
Mrs Sam Bretch MCS
1927 - Nov. 10 - Mrs. Sam Bretch
fwd. hist and advised as
to correctness of former
hist. furnished her  MMSVF
---------------------
1939. Aug 7. Hist. to Minnie Beal
Miller JLL.
1926,
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New Jersey
Sparks, John
S33707
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State of New Jersey Cumberland County
I do hereby certify that I knew John Sparks of Woodbury in this State as an officer of the second Regiment in the New Jersey line of Troops in the revolutionary army;-That he first served as an in-sign and was promoted through the different grades to a captain previous to his resignation;- That I cannot recollect the precise period of his resignation, but that I am fully persuaded that he served in the different capacities nearly if not fully three years
Eben Elmer
June 8th 1818
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Nashua
Iona
May 28 1926
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Please may I have the Pension Record of John Sparks- in Revolutionary War of State New Jersey - he was a resident of Gloucester Co N. Jersey in 1775- and in 1820 Salem County New Jersey died April 1826
Mrs Theodore Wood
Nashua
Iona
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okla city july 2nd 1926
United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Pensions
 Winfield Scott
CommissionerJohn Sparks
Born 1757
Died in Salem Co N.J. on the 30 day of April 1826
His place of residence during Revolution was Gloucester N.J.
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Nancy Sparks Beal was the daughter of John Sparks You note that I only have the year of birth of John Sparks
would like the day of month than nothing telling of his wife. would like this information
Am inclosing (returned) information from General's office N.J. which may help you to get this office information
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any further information you can secure wil be appreciated-
Mrs Sam Bretch
1005 West  18th St
Oklahoma City - Okla
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Oklahoma City, July 8th 1927
Department of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions-
I am inclosing your letter of (this letter not enclosed) June23-1926 asking for further information- and I am inclosing information which I have received fromother sources- also my line of descent down to my revolutionary ancestor-"John Sparks Jr"
All that - I am now lacking to make my application complete to D.A.R. Is - the name of John Sparks Jr's wife and the date of the marriage of his daughter Nancy to George Beal.
Will you kindly return these copies to me when you have no further use for them - Respectfully - Olive Adella Bretch
(Mrs. Sam Bretch, 1005 W. 18th St Oklahoma City Okla.
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Oklahoma City Okla, Qug 17-27
To
The Department of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions
Will you kindly send me a copy of a pension of John Sparks Jr. and for his widow-
I have been requested to send a copy ofr these pensions- to Washington in interests of the D.A.R.
John Sparks Jr. enlisted the war in 1775-from Gloucester  County - New Jersey -search - until he resigned in 1778
over
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It is possible that John Sparks had more than one marriage It is the name of first wife that I am especially interested in - who was the brother of Nancy Sparks-
If there are any charges for these copies, I will gladly pay for them.
Yours very respectfully 
Mrs. Sam Bretch
1005 West  18 st
Oklahoma City Okla
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611  No Drake  Ave 
Fullerton  Calif 6/29- 1939
Veterans  Adm Bureau
I've spent much time at Los Angeles Genealogy Library also Sons  of Revolution Library and I am unable to learn much of my ancestor - Captain John Sparks. He served with the 2nd N.J. Militia and resigned 8/31 1778-but I wish to learn his wife's name - Where married and where did he die or recover to after the war - our family
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bible shows a daughter Nancy - who became the wife of my Gr. Grandfather George Beal - ut unless I can learn wifes name of Capt. Sparks I am unlucky, Thanking or paying for assistance - I will be pleased to do so 
Sincerely 
Minnie Beal Miller

Do not confuse the officer with a private of the same names.
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Oklahoma City - Okla

Oct 27 -1927
To the Department of the Interior- Bureau of Pensions
Will you kindly send me a copy of your letter written to me on July 7-1926, which I am inclosing, omitting the words which I have enclosed in brackets to "Aged fifty years and his daughter Sarah, aged thirteen years"  Simply stating that in 1820 he refered to his wife Sarah.
It appears fro other information that I have , that -John Sparks was married twice- 
I particularly wanted information in regard to his daughter Nancy.
Sincerely 
Mrs Sam Bretch 
1005 18th St Oklahoma City Okla
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REFER TO             3 - 1866
Rev. & 1812 Wars Section.
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
WASHINGTON 

July 7, 1926.

Mrs. Sam Bretch,
1005 W. 18 " St.
Oklahoma City, Okla.

Madam:

I have to advise you, that from the papers in the
Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 33707, it appears that John Sparks was born in Gloucester County, N.J. in March 1757, day of month not on record.

While living in said county, he entered the army in 1775 and served as Ensign, Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant, and Captain of the Second New Jersey Regiment, until he resigned in the summer of 1778.

He was allowed pension on his application executed March 23, 1818, while living in Gloucester County, N. J.  In 1820, he referred to his wife Sarah, (aged fifty years and his daughter Sarah, aged thirteen years.)

There is no further data on file as to family.

Respectfully,
Winfield Scott
WINFIELD SCOTT,
Commissioner.


[stamp:]. PENSION OFFICE U.S. OCT 31 1927
Page 27

MMHF

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section

November 10, 1927

Mrs. Sam Bretch
1005 W. 18th St.,
Oklahoma City, Okla.

Madam:

I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 33707 it appears that John Sparks was born in Gloucester County, New Jersey in March
1757.

While a resident of Gloucester County, New Jersey he entered the army in 1775 and served as Ensign, Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant and Captain of the Second New Jersey
Regiment; he resigned in the summer of 1778.

He was allowed pension on his application executed March 23, 1818 while living in Gloucester County, New Jersey.

In 1820 he stated that his family then consisted of himself, his wife, Sarah, aged fifty years, and one daughter named Sarah Ann aged thirteen years. This is the soldier's John Sparks' sworn statement. He died April 30, 1826, place not stated.

Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.
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Rev. & 1812 Wars Section.      MCS

July 12, 1927

Mrs. Sam Bretch
1005 W. 18th St.
Oklahoma City, Okla.

Madam:

I have to advise you that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 33707, that JOHN SPARKS was born in
Gloucester County, New Jersey, in March, 1757.

While living in said county he entered the army in 1775 and served as Ensign, Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant and Captain of the Second New Jersey Regiment; he resigned in the summer of 1778.

He was allowed pension on his application executed March 23, 1818, while living in Gloucester County, New Jersey.

In 1820 he referred to his wife, Sarah, who was then fifty years of age, and also to his daughter, Sarah Ann, who was thirteen years of age.

There are no more data on file relative to his  family.

Respectfully,

WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner

[hand-written on bottom of page:]He died Apr. 30 - 1826 (add next time)
from A.B.
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 [cut off] Section             MCS

July 12, 1926

Mrs. Theodore S. Wood
Nashua
Iowa

Madam:

I have to advise you that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 33707, that JOHN SPARKS was born in Gloucester County, New Jersey, in March, 1757, day of month not on record.

While living in said county he entered the army in 1775 and served as Ensign, Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant and Captain of the Second New Jersey Regiment; he resigned in the summer of 1778.

He was allowed pension on his application executed March 23, 1818, while living in Gloucester County, New Jersey.

In 1820 he referred to his wife, Sarah, who was then fifty years of age, and also to his daughter, Sarah Ann, who was thirteen years of age.

There are no more data on file relative to his family.

Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner
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[cut off] 1812 Wars Section.           AN

July 7, 1926.

Mrs. Sam Bretch,
1005 W. 18" St.
Oklahoma City, Okla.

Madam:

I have to advise you, that from the papers in the
Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 33707, it appears that John Sparks was born in Gloucester County, N. J. In March 1757, day of month not on record.

While living in said county, he entered the army in 1775 and served as Ensign, Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant, and Captain of the Second New Jersey Regiment, until he resigned in the summer of 1778.

He was allowed pension on his application executed March 23, 1818, while living in Gloucester County, N. J. In 1820, he referred to his wife Sarah, aged fifty years and his daughter Sarah Ann, aged thirteen years.

There is no further data on file as to family.

Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT,
Commissioner.

X