1715-1726. "List of county clerks before the Revolution": John M. Sperling. Location: probably Flatbush
1719. J.M. Sperling witnessed the legal papers of Phebe? Schelling? of East Hampton, Suffolk Co. Location: ? (This reference needs more research.)
Apr 19, 1737. John Michael Sparling and Peter Sparling witness a deed transfer between Richard Lvanne[?] and Henry Hoogland. Location: Middlesex...county of Somerset.
Feb 28, 1787. "Daniel Sparling appeared before Jeremiah Manning and testified that he was familiar with the handwriting of the two witnesses and that 'one was his Father and the other was his brother,'" recorded -5 March 1787"
Feb 4, 1741. Inventory by William Walling and Jen. Sperling in regards to the will of Daniel Androvet of New Brunswick, Middlesex Co.
Nov 23, 1741. Witnesses to the will of Jan (John) Stryker of Six-Mile Run, Somerset Co.; Waiter Burnet, Pitue Poumil, John Michael Sperling. Proved 6 Aug, 1747.
Jan 22, 1750. Witness to the will of Albert Van Voorhees of New Brunswick, Middlesex Co.; Cornelius Cornel, Petrus Sperling, J.N. Sperling. Proved Dec. 2, 1734.
July 6, 1765. Extract from a List of Letters remaining in the General Post-Office, "Pursuant to orders from ....two of the judges of the court of common pleas for the county of Middlesex, made on the 18th day of July instant, John Sperling, John Lot., ...et al...all insolvent debtors, now confined in the gaol of Perth-Amboy, do hereby give notice to all their creditors, that they shew cause, if any they have, on the 10th day of August next, at Perth-Amboy, why...."
May 12, 1766. Extract from American Newspapers, Relating to New Jersey (Middlesex County); "Pursuant to an order of....two of his Majesty's Judges of the course of Common Pleas, for the county of Middlesex, upon the Petitions of Justus Walker and John Sparling, insolvent Debtors, and the Majority of the Creditors in Value: Notice is hereby...."
Sep 14, 1773. Warrant for the confiscation of goods of John Sparling or, in lieu of those goods, for his arrest for his debt to John Stoniker; receipted by John Sparling and Joacham Gulick. Location: New Brunswick.
Apr 22, 1796. Sperling, Daniel, of the Northward of New Brunswick, Middlesex Co.; will of. Wife, Jane, use of house with lot of land about house from ditch to Isaac Cheesman's lot and 1/2 profits of orchard, during her life. Son, James, use of remainder of land until wife's decease when estate is to be sold. Children, Andrea, James, Leah Gillaland, George and John, each one an equal share of estate after wife's decease. Executors--son, James, and Johnathan Combs, Jr. Witnesses--Johnathan Combs, Jr., Jane Combs and Winant Dehart. Proved Oct. 19, 1796.
1796, Sep 30. Inventory...made by Edmund Davis and Jonathan Combs.
This last, Daniel Sperling's will, I copied nearly in full because of its relevant importance to the questions I am asking. Also very useful is the record of 1787 in which Daniel Sparling identifies the signatures of his father and brother. Using family records of the Gilliland's and others in conjunction with the source records of various families, such as the DeHart's (records not presented), it has become possible to make educated guesses about the Sparling family line.
A few conclusions:
1. The first and most obvious conclusion is that Isaac Sperling was not the brother of Leah (Sperling) Gilliland as I suggested in my post, Issac and Leah Sperling. Yet, it's unlikely they were unrelated. Perhaps cousins.
2. The second, important piece of information is the identity of Daniel Sparling's father. Although it's not explicit, the dates for John Michael Sparling make him the better candidate. Therefore, Daniel's brother is Peter Sparling. (see the 1737 record and the record of 1787 associated with it.)
3. The dates of debtor's trouble ('65-'73) for John Sparling suggest he was the son John of Daniel or a cousin, rather than John Michael Sparling, the elder. It is, furthermore, out of character for a clerk and a man who regularly serves as witness to legal matters to be caught up in gaol.
4. At least one published family tree lists a son of Daniel Sparling as Andrew. I'm inclined to believe it was a daughter, Andrea, as listed in Daniel's will. If Andrea was a son, Andrew, then he was the oldest and would have most likely been granted primary use of the land as well as Executor. Instead, those honors went to James, probably the eldest son.
5. The George Sparling whose parents I have been attempting to identify might very well be Daniel's fourth child. Nothing yet suggests he is not; nothing verifies it either.
Much, much more family information can be pulled from these records in addition to records of associated families and from New Jersey tax lists, too numerous for this particular post. If you can add to these records or to my guesses or steer me in a different direction entirely, please feel free to make contact.
