John R. Sparkman (1801 - 1884)

Born 1801 in Bertie, North Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Regina (Nicely) Sparkman — married 27 May 1821 in Grainger, Tennessee, United States

Husband of Lavina (McElroy) Sparkman — married about 26 May 1834 in Van Buren, Tennessee, United States

Descendants

Died 13 Sep 1884 at about age 83 in Bone Cave, Van Buren, Tennessee, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Patricia Thomas [send private message]

Biography

In 1831 John Sparkman and Elizabeth "Betsy" Ray were indicted in Grainger County for the murder of said John Sparkman's wife Regina (a.k.a. Rachel) Nicely Sparkman. Regina had just given birth a few days before she was poisoned with Arsenic. They stood trial, and were acquitted in 1832. After the trial, John Sparkman relocated to the Warren County/White County area of Tennessee and married Lavina McElroy.

Jonas Nicely, Regina's father was the prosecutor at least for one of the trials.

The alleged 'murder' of Regina Nicely Sparkman (wife of John "Jacky" Sparkman of Grainger County, Tennessee) happened August 3, 1831. The first trial in this case was in the October court term, 1831, The second trial -and acquittal- was at the April court term, 1832, Apparently, as soon as the acquittal for murder was announced in 1832, TRESPASSING charges were then immediately filed against John "Jacky" Sparkman. The charges were brought by Jesse Ray, Thomas Ray, Samuel Ray, and James Yates. [Through habit I assumed that TRESPASSING would have been an issue about treading on someone's land without permission. It has been recently brought to my attention, however, that the term TRESPASSING could also apply to inappropriate contact with someone's BODY.] Could this charge have been about John "Jacky" Sparkman TRESPASSING on the body of the plaintiffs' kinswoman Elizabeth Ray? John "Jacky" Sparkman had made his exit from Grainger County, Tennessee before the October court term of 1832, and was 'not to be found' to answer the TRESPASSING charges. John "Jackie" Sparkman became Sherriff later in Van Buren Co., TN.

In the 1860 Census in Van Buren Co., TN, John R. Sparkman & Lavina (McElroy) Sparkman are living next door to James Madison Sparkman & Eliza (McElroy Sparkman. John R. is brother to James Madison Sparkman & Lavina is sister to Eliza (McElroy) Sparkman.

Sources

• http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/f/i/s/Ruth-B-Fisher/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0443.html
• Tennessee, Marriages, 1796-1950 (For Regina Nicely)
• https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:39P9-SV9
• Findagrave.com http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Sparkman&GSiman=1&GScid=15407&GRid=5824280&
• http://genforum.genealogy.com/rhea/messages/1436.html
• http://genforum.genealogy.com/rhea/messages/1426.html
• 1850 U.S. Census. Van Buren Co., TN. John Sparkman 49 born in NC. Wife, Lavina 39 born in GA. Children all born in Tennessee: William 22 (Regina's son). John 18 (Regina's son). Caroline, 15. Andrew 15. Jane 13. Louisa E. 12. Nancy 10. Solomon C. 7. Adaline 4. Morandy 3.
• 1860 U.S. Census Van Buren Co., TN. John Sparkman 56; Wife, Leviney Sparkman 47. Children: Solomon 16; Eliza 20; Nancy 18; Adaline 14; Miranda 13. All children born in TN.
• 1870 U.S. Census Tennessee. John Sparkman 67 born in NC. His wife, Vina [Lavina] Sparkman 58 born in Georgia. Daughter, Nancy Sparkman 22 born in TN.