John Michael Sparling in NJ

I've culled the internet for references to Jan Michiel Sperling, hoping to verify any connection between him and Daniel, Isaac, Leah or George Sparling (Sperling). I haven't...yet. What I have found is a community of Dutch immigrants who gather in their churches, where the young folk meet, mingle and eventually marry and build families of their own. In the meanwhile, they brew ale, mend shoes and pots and are farmers and, when they have to be, soldiers.

Below is my attempt to organize (what I hope are) relevant bits of information.

New Jersey-only references to John (Jan, Johannes) Michael (Michiel) Sparling (Sperling) arranged by date

.

Dec 10, 1709. A marriage recorded in the Dutch Reformed Church between Jan Michiel Sperling and Geertie Pieters. Location: Hackensack, Bergen, NJ (Residence: Acquiggenock [Passaic])

between 1720-1748. Head of family, Jan Sperling, joins the Reformed Dutch Church. Location: Six Mile Run, Somerset, NJ

1730. John Michael Sperling serves as the appraiser for the will of Charles Androvet. Location: Six Mile Run, Somerset, NJ

Jun 18, 1752. John Michael Sperling serves as witness of the will of John Vleet. Location: Six Mile Run, Somerset, NJ

1752. Daniel Sperling and Johannes Sperling appear on a list of freeholders in the source, "First Settlers of Piscataway and Woodbridge," p551, O.E. Monette. Location: New Brunswick, Somerset, NJ

1752-1772. Two, individual John Sparlings appear on John Piatt's "Cobbler Census." Location: Somerset, NJ

NJ militia. George, Abram, Isaac, James, Joseph, Peter and John Sparling appear on the Revolutionary War Rolls.

Sarah 1793-1867. The inscription on the gravestone of Sarah Van Pelt reads, "wife of John Sparling." Location: Dayton, Middlesex, NJ

1813. John Michael Sperling serves as a witness to the will of Abraham Sperling. John Gilliland Sperling is Abraham's son mentioned in the will. Location: North Brunswick, Middlesex, NJ

If you can add to this list, amend, correct or help me make any connections, the help is warmly appreciated. In the interest of clarity, I omitted my sources, but can provide them on request. In addition to the names above, there is a host of associated Van Pelts, Van Cleefs (Van Cleaves), Gillilands, Vliets (Vleets, Fleets), Vunks (Vonks), Piatts and others who may have known or married Sperlings over the course of the 18th century in New Jersey. I have more information to offer anyone who is interested.

Loyalists and Revolutionaries

My Sparling lineage seems to have come through New Jersey, as does that of the Palatinate line, many of whom traveled north to Canada. My reading leads me to believe that the Palatinate Sparlings went north due to Loyalist sympathies. However, records show that George Sparling, my ancestor, born 1750, fought in the Revolutionary War in the service of the 1st regiment, New Jersey militia. His alliance with the revolutionaries is some evidence (though by no means conclusive) that George (b.1750) was not directly connected to the Canadian line.

Another Sparling, John, also served in the Revolutionary War and is listed along with George. He may have been a relative. If these two men weren't related to the Canadian family, then they might not have come to America via Ireland, as those Palatinate families did who traveled on. That's why I'm still looking askew at that Daniel Sparling, b. Limerick, Ireland, who is listed as George's father.

I'm having a heck of a time finding any Daniel Sparlings at all during that time. There is a reference to a Daniel and Johannes Sparling in a book, "First Settlers of Piscataway and Woodbridge," by O.E. Monette, and I'm trying to get a look-up of these "freeholders in 1752", but without success so far.

Jan Michiel Sperling is listed as Daniel's father, and of the father I find some evidence. His marriage to Geertie Pieters was recorded in the Reformed Dutch Church of Hackensack, NJ, as Dec. 10, 1709. A marriage in Hackensack throws suspicion on a Irish birth for a subsequent son, Daniel. I also find "John Michael" Sperling as an appraiser on a 1730, Somerset Co, NJ will.

Any help in this area is warmly appreciated. I am, as always, happy to share all the information I have.