Records pertaining to Estate of
Andrew Jackson Sparks

Nacogdoches County, Texas
Index to Inventories, Vols A,B,C 1840-1896
Vol B, P 221-222
Be it remembered that on the 17th August, 1857, a petition was filed in the Clerk's office of the County of Nacogdoches County, Texas, In terms as follow, to wit:
State of Texas)
Nacogdoches County) County Court having jurisdiction over estates of Decedants and Wards, August, 1857.

To his Honor, the Judge of said Court, the petition of Mary A. Sparks, a resident of said County and State, respectfully represents that she is the surviving wife of Andrew J. Sparks, deceased, who departed this life at his residence in said County on August 6th, 1857, intestate, leaving a considerable amount of property.  That your petitioner as such ____desire to manage such community estate agreeably to the supplementary Act entitled "An Act better defining the marital wrights (sic) as parties approved August 26, 1856". Wherefore she prays that your Honor appoint three suitable persons to appraise the aforesaid Community property in order that she may be enabled to file in your Court an Inventory as prescribed in said Act, and as in duty bound your petitioner will ever pray, etc. Sig: Mary A. Sparks
Filed August 17, 1857, A. S. Holmes, Clerk County Court, Nacogdoches County, and on the 17th August, 1857 an entry was made in the minutes of said Court as follows: "On Petition of Mary A. Sparks, widow of A. J. Sparks, dec'd., it is ordered by the Court that David E. Bates, Benj. F. Whitaker, and J. Garnett do appraise at cash valuation the Community Estate of said A. J. Sparks, deceased and said Mary A. Sparks, and make return of their appraisement on oath to the Clerk's office of our Court according to law. Sig: Bennett Blake, Chief Justice

And on the 29th of August, 1857, an inventory and appraisement was filed in said Clerk's office in the words and figures following, to wit:

The following is a list and appraisement of the Community property belonging to the estate of Andrew J. Sparks, deceased and the undersigned, his widow, Mary A. Sparks

Two yoke of oxen, valued at 40$ & 50$ = 90.00
40 head of stock cattle, more or less, at 6$ per head=240.00
1 stallion =175.00
1 bay mare= 75.00
1 gray mare & colt=100.00
1 gray mare & colt= 80.00
1 old sorrel mare & colt=60.00
1 bay filly 2 years old=50.00
1 gray horse colt 1 year old=40.00
1 bay horse colt 1 year old=40.00
1 old gray horse=25.00
40 head of stock hogs, more or less=90.00
1 ox wagon=100.00
Farming utensils=35.00
Household Kitchen Furniture=175.00
The present crop of corn & cotton =220.00
Total=$1600.00
Signed: Mary A. Sparks

The State of Texas)
County of Nacogdoches) We and each of us do solemnly swear that the amounts set opposite to each of the above item is a true cash valuation thereof to the best of our knowledge and belief>
Sig: B. F. Whitaker, D. E. Bates
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 28th day of August, 1857, J. N. Bullock, Justice of the Peace, Beat B, N.C
I do solemnly swear that the foregoing is a full and complete inventory  of the community property belonging to myself and Andrew J. Sparks. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 28th day of august, 1857. J. N. Bullock, JP, Beat B. No. 2, N.C.
Filed Aug. 29, 1857 A S Holmes, Clerk County Court Nacogdoches County

Nacogdoches County, Texas, Index to Bonds, Oaths, Etc Vol A,B,C, D 1837-1895
Vol B P 325
William Anderson appointed Administrator of Estate of Andrew J. Sparks, Deceased, by the Chief Justice of the County of Nacogdoches.
Administrator's Bond, in the penalty of $15,000. filed, with John W. Crain, & John M. Sparks, Securities.  Filed 29th March, 1859

Index to Inventories, Vols A,B, C & D 1840-1895 Nacogdoches Co, Tx
Vol B, P 299-300
Estate of A. J. Sparks, Deceased
Inventory of the community property belonging to the Estate of Andrew J. Sparks, deceased, reduced to possession by the Administrator, William Anderson:

1 ox waggon=100.00
2 yoke oxen =85.00
Farming tools=15.00
The following is a list of the separate property of A. J. Sparks, deceased:
A tract of land in Nacogdoches County, containing four hundred eighty seven and a half acres, part of a grant to Antonio F. Zambano and improvement: =1800.00
A Negro man Emanuel aged about 31 years=1300.00
A Negro boy Bill aged about 17 years=1200.00
a Negro woman Sarah aged about 24 years=1100.00
a Negro child Sam aged about 2 years=300.00
A Negro girl Clarissa aged about 13 years=800.00
Total =6700.00

We do solemnly swear that we have valued and appraised the foregoing property at its cash value to the best of our judgment and that the sums set opposite each item is the true value thereof.  Sworn to and subscribed before me as witness my hand and seal this 29th day of March, 1859. (LS) Charles S. Taylor, Not. Pub, Nac Co

The State of Texas)
Nacogdoches County) I, William Anderson, do solemnly swear that the within Inventory contains a full list of the property, Community or Separate, belonging to said Estate reduced by him to possession. Signed: William Anderson
Sworn to and subscribed before me as witness my hand and seal this 29th day of March, 1859. (LS) Charles S. Taylor, Not Pub Nac Co Filed March 29th, 1857, James S. Hunter, Clerk County Court, Nacogdoches County

Nacogdoches County, Texas-Index to Account Sales, Vols A,B,C & D (1840-1895)
Vol B P 278-279
On the 6th day of October, 1859, a petition filed in County Clerk's Office in terms following, to wit:
The State of Texas)
County of Nacogdoches)  In Vacation, October 5th, AD, 1859
To the Hon. Bennett Blake, Chief Justice in and for said County:
The petition of William Anderson, Administrator of the Estate of Andrew J. Sparks, deceased respectfully represents that there is now belonging to said estate some property of a wasting and perishable nature (Viz) One ox wagon, two yolk of oxen and a lot of farming utensils.

Requests permission to sell at the courthouse in Nacogdoches on Tuesday the 18th instant.
Permission granted.  Sold to highest bidder,  October 18th, 1859, which are as follows:
1 ox waggon sold to William A. Power for $100.00
1 yoke of oxen sold to William A. Power for 40.00
1 yoke of oxen sold to William A. Power for 56.00
1 c--ting knife to William A Power  for 10.00
1 lot farming tools to R J Caddell for 12.00

Filed for record, Nov 1, 1859 by James F Hunter, Clerk County Court, Nacog. Co

Rusk County, Texas
Probate Court Records
Vol F, P 794
Estate of Andrew J. Sparks, Dec'd
Property appraised in Rusk Co, Texas, April term, 1860, total valuation being more than $6,000,
which included Negro slaves:
Bill, 20 yrs old, $1400.
Sarah, 25 yrs old, $900.
Clarinda, age 15 yrs, $900.
John, age 1 1/2 yrs, $300.
Ch. of Sarah, 6 weeks old, $150.

Horses: $1285.

Interest of 2/3 of a tract of land, containing 487 Ac, part of headright of Antonio F. Zombrano, in Nacogdoches Co, and included homestead of A. J. Sparks $1100.

list of debts owed estate included R. J. Caddell, $12.00, John M. Sparks, $217.80; H M Miles, $50.00, etal

William Anderson, Administrator, states Sparks children attending Mt. Enterprise school

Book F, P. 200-201
Final Accountings
Nacogdoches Co., Texas

On the 21st day of June, 1860, AD, an entry was made in the minutes of the County Court for Nacogdoches County, Texas, in terms following, to wit: No 389. on settlement docket, On the account in final settlement presented by William Anderson, Administrator of the Estate of Andrew J. Sparks, deceased.   It is ordered by the Court that notice of the intention to settle at the next July term be given by publication for at least twenty days in the Nacogdoches Chronicle, the newspaper published in our County, and on July 31, 1860, an account in final settlement and vouchers were filed in said office in terms following, to wit:

Dr. Account in final settlement of the Estate of A. J. Sparks, dec'd., rendered by William Anderson, Admr.

To Amt. of aggregate valuation of the estate reported for distribution Feby 1st, 1860,

Mary A. Anderson: 2,561.43
Minors: 5, 134.90
Total Dr. 7,686.33

By Amt. paid Mary A. Anderson as per her receipt herewith filed: $2,565.36
By Amt. paid H C Hancock, for Advertisement: 2.50
Paid C S Taylor for services 5.00
Commissions: 6.00
B. Blake 3.25
James F. Hunter 9.32
By Amt. paid Thos. A. Sparks, William. R. Sparks, Odelia Sparks, and Benjamin Sparks as per Guardian receipt. 5,098.83
By Amt paid H C Hancock for advert. 2.50
C S Taylor for services 5.00
Commissions 6.00
B. Blake 3.25
Jas. F. Hunter 9.32
Total Cr. 7,686.33

I, William Anderson, Administrator of A J Sparks, dec'd, do solemnly swear that the foregoing account is just and true. Sworn and subscribed to before me this 30th day of July, 1860.  Signed: William Anderson (Seal)
James F. Hunter, Clerk County Court of Nacogdoches County
Filed July 31, 1860 James F. Hunter, Clerk County Court, Nacogdoches County

Nacogdoches July 30th, 1860
Rec'd of William Anderson, Admr. of A. J. Sparks, dec'd, the sum of Two Thousand five hundred thirty-five and 36/100 dollars in full of the amount (after deducting the expenses of Partition and Administration) set apart to me by the Commissioners as my share of the estate of A. J. Sparks, and Mary A. Anderson, by William Anderson, Agent.
Filed July 31, 1860-James F. Hunter, Clerk County Court, Nacogdoches County

Estate of Andrew J. Sparks, Deceased
Whereas William Anderson, Administrator of the Estate of Andrew J. Sparks, deceased, has presented his account in final settlement.  All persons interested in said estate are hereby requested to appear at the July Term, 1860 of the County Court of Nacogdoches County, Texas., and contest said account if they see proper.  By order of said Court. 
Test: James F. Hunter, Clerk County Court, Nacogdoches County, State of Texas

State of Texas)
County of Nacogdoches)
I,  H. C. Hancock, do solemnly swear that the attached notice has been published for four successive weeks in the Nacogdoches Chronicle, a newspaper published weekly in said County: Sig: H. C. Hancock, Publisher
Sworn and subscribed to before me this 30th day of July, 1860.
James F. Hunter, Clerk County Court, Nacogdoches County.

Receipts to William Anderson, Admin. of Est. of A. J. Sparks, dec'd.
$5.00 to H C. Hancock, Publisher
$10.00 to Charles S. Taylor, Attorney-At-Law
$12.00 to James F. Hunter, Clerk of Co. Court
$5.00 ditto
$5.00 Bennett Blake, Chief Justice
All filed July 31, 1860

Rec'd of William Anderson, Admr. of A. J. Sparks, dec'd, the sum of five thousand, and ninety-eight  83/100 dollars in full of the amount after deductions of the expenses of Partition and Administration, set apart to the minors, Thos. A. Sparks, William R. Sparks, Odelia Sparks, and Benj. J. Sparks, by the Commissioners as their share of the estate of A. J. Sparks, dec'd. Signed: William Anderson, Guardian
Filed July 31, 1860, James F. Hunter, clerk County Court

William Anderson, Administrator of Estate of A. J. Sparks, released from further duties pertaining to this estate, July 30, 1860.

See also Rusk County  Bk J, P 42, 208, and page after page of reports until Jan, 1868, involving Guardianship accounts of the Minor children of A J Sparks
Original spelling retained in all documents-sgs

HOME