Margaret (Sample) Sparks (abt. 1676 - abt. 1729)

Born about 1676 in Talbot County, Province of Maryland

Ancestors

Wife of William Sparks Jr. — married 1695 in Talbot County, Province of Maryland

Descendants

Died about 1729 at about age 53 in Queen Anne's County, Province of Maryland

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Biography

Margaret was at one time thought to be Margaret Hamilton, daughter of Josiah Hamilton, but it was found to be incorrect (“Josiah” being confused with her mother’s name of “Josine,” per the (sparksfamilyassn.org) Dec 2000 paper. It can be found in various genealogies as still incorrectly Hamilton. Note: Rachel Mary Sample married Joseph Sparks (Sr., her husband William's brother). They were probably sisters (or half sisters) who married brothers. Also note: Margaret's son (William Sample Sparks) married a Rachel Hamilton...these ladies can all be confused if not careful.

Margaret was born circa 1680, probably in Queen Anne’s County, MD. Margaret died circa 1729 in Queen Anne’s County, Maryland, American Colonies at the age of about 69. Margaret and William’s children were: WILLIAM SAMPLE Sparks (b. ca. 1700): JOHN (b. ca. 1705); BENJAMIN (b. ca. 1715); JAMES (b. ca. 1720); ABIGAIL (b. ca. 1720); and, SARAH (b. ca. 1725.)

Margaret's (and Rachel's?) parents were William Sample and Josine Boyer Sample, sometimes found as "Sempell" or "Semple." Josine (b. ca. 1650) was Dutch and Swedish. She is also found as Josyn, Joslyn and once Usyn. Her maiden name was Boyer (or “Boeyar” or “Boeyer”) but her first husband was John Marshall, with whom she had a number of children. John died prior to 1675. One of Josine's children with John was Cataline, who later took the last name of her second husband William Sample (Sempell/Semple). [Cataline later married a Jonas Wright]… could this also be the case of Rachel Mary?

William was a magistrate of New Castle when Margaret was born. [Note: To confuse the issues more, after William died, Josine married a third time to a ___ Hamilton. See below.]

Josine had a colorful career. In Nov. 1678 (when Wm Sample was a magistrate) she was accused of "unhandsome and ill behavior" against Rynier VanderCoelen (VandenBurg.) In a court record of Nov. 3, 1680, it is stated that "...both & each of them bound in a bond of 40 (pounds) for their good behavior till then, hee wch first breakes the peace and affronts the other shall be Imediately Imprizoned & pay the sd 40 pounds." In 1681 records, Josine's brother John (Jan) brought "In an action of Slaunder" against Rynier's brother Hendrik on Josine's behalf of the earlier action. Needless to say, she was very outspoken for her time. She even convinced the court that she should be the executrix of William Sample's will, even though two men were designated as his executors. With Williams's death, Josine was no longer considered an English citizen. She became one of 71 inhabitants of New Castle County who applied for "nauralization" (and only 1 of 2 females on the list); her name was listed as Josyn Sempill.

Because of her father William's will, Margaret inherited 400 acres of land when she became of age. Josine inherited 600 acres. (Josine also owned land from her first husband John Marshall.) When Margaret became of age, her mother had already married her third husband ____ Hamilton. (It was implied in the article that Josine married the third time so she could bypass the red tape in becoming or remaining an English citizen or that the naturalization process was taking too long for her liking and marrying again was a much simpler approach to the problem.) In a deed dated in 1696 it was indicated that Margaret was a "daughter of Josine Hamilton..." which was/is the cause of much confusion about Margaret's correct last name. Another problem was that “Josine” was often confused with the name “Josiah”... clerks of the time found it hard to believe that a woman could own the land that Josine did and so put her name down as the masculine “Josiah” upon occasion. As far as the sparksfamilyassn.org can tell, there never was a Josiah Hamilton.

Rachel Mary Sample was not mentioned in William Sample’s will by name … which seems curious. Was Rachel Mary Sample really Margaret’s half sister by Josine’s first husband (Marshall) - as was Cataline - who took the last name of her stepfather William Sample? This seems very probable.

Children of William Sparks Jr. & Margaret Sample

1. William Sample Sparks, b. 1700, Queen Annes Co., MD d. 1765, Rowan Co., NC
2. Benjamin Sparks, b. Abt. 1715.
3. James Sparks, b. Abt. 1715.
4. Abigail Sparks, b. Abt. 1725.
5. Sarah Sparks, b. Abt. 1725.

Sources

• https://www.geni.com/people/Margret-Sparks/6000000004123646434)
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/171234855/margaret-sparks
• http://www.sparksfamilyassn.org/pages/192-D.html
• https://www.geni.com/people/Margaret-Sparks/6000000000037864616