Born.1

Baptised in City of London, St Botolph Aldersgate.2,3

Father - Robert Harry Sparks
Mother - Ann Sparks

From the Parish Register .-
"John William Thomas, son of Robert Harry and Ann Sparks."

Freedom of the City of London.1,4

Admitted by Patrimony

From the Alphabets of Freedom of the City of London :-
"John William Sparks - Merchant Taylors - P"

From the City of London Freedom Admission Papers :-
"John William Sparks son of Robert Harry Sparks Citizen and Merchant Taylor of London came before the Chamberlain the Day and Year aforesaid and desired to be admitted into the Freedom of the City by patrimony in the said Company – because he is legitimate and was born after the Father is entered in the Book marked with the letter – and bears the date - …..
Copy 1794
Born 1795"

Mentioned in Will.5

of Thomas Sparks (d. 1822)
Annotated as - "my grandson John Sparks"

Licence obtained for marriage to Mary COOPER.17

APPEARED PERSONALLY John William Thomas Sparks Esquire and made Oath that he is of the Parish of Saint Botolph Aldersgate London a Bachelor of the age of twenty one years and upwards and intendeth to marry with Mary Cooper of the Parish of Saint James Westminster in the County of Middlesex a Spinster also of the age of twenty one years and upwards and that he knoweth of no lawful Impediment, by Reason of any Pre-Contract, Consanguinity, Affinity, or any other lawful Means whatsoever, to hinder the intended Marriage, and prayed a Licence to solemnize the same in the Parish Church of Saint James Westminster aforesaid and further made Oath , that the usual Place of Abode of her the said Mary Cooper hath been in the said Parish of Saint James Westminster for the Space of Four Weeks last past.
(Signed) J W T Sparks

Married Mary COOPER in Westminster, St James Piccadilly.21,22,23,24

From the Parish Register :-
Marriage 1818
"No. 197, John William Thomas Sparks Esquire of the Parish of St Botolph Aldersgate London a Bachelor Mary Ann Cooper of this Parish a Spinster were married in this Church by Licence this second day of June in the year of 1818 by me Gerard Andrews Rector .
This marriage was solemnized between us John W T Sparks, Mary Cooper
In the presence of us Philip Cooper, Robt Harry Sparks."

From the Times and the Morning Post :-
"On Tuesday, the 2nd inst., at St James's, by the very Revered the Dean of Canterbury, John W. T. Sparks, Esq., of St John-street, to Mary, second daughter of Philip Cooper, Esq., of Waterloo-place."

Research Note :-
This Parish Register is the only place that gives Mary Cooper's first name as "Mary Ann". Indeed she signed the Register as "Mary Cooper". Her Baptism record, her death record and her Will all gave her first name as being "Mary".

Mentioned in Will.6

Of David Cooper (1753-1819)
Annotated as
"my dear nephews and nieces ... Mary the wife of Mr. John Sparks"

Birth of son Thomas Philip SPARKS in City of London.18,19

Birth of son John SPARKS in City of London, St Sepulchre Holborn.9

Birth of son Charles Terry SPARKS in City of London, St Sepulchre Holborn.10

Birth of daughter Mary Harriet SPARKS.20

Died in St John Street.12,13,14,15,16

Suicide. Inquest verdict - "Temporary derangement" / "Insanity"

From the Morning Chronicle .-
"SUICIDE. - On Tuesday John Sparks, jun. Esq., of the firm of Sparks and Co., distillers, in St. John-street, Smithfield, in a fit of despondency, occasioned, as it is reported, by losses in his speculation in the Funds, particularly in Spanish Bonds, put an end to his existence by shooting himself through the head with a pistol, by which the greater part of his countenance was dreadfully lacerated. He fell on his face, and the report of the pistol not being heard by the family, the body was not discovered till two hours afterwards, when a surgeon was called in, who stated that the unfortunate young gentleman must have died instantly. - A Jury has since sat on the body, at the Windmill, St. John-street, and returned a verdict of Insanity. - The deceased has left a wife and four children. The melancholy intelligence was conveyed to her at the country residence in Edmonton."

From the Morning Post :-
"SHOCKING SUICIDE. - Mr. SPARKS, a respectable chemist and druggist, who resided in St. John-street, put an end to his life on Tuesday last, by blowing his brains out with a pistol : he was missing from two o'clock in the afternoon till five, when he was discovered by a bricklayer, who was at work in the house, in the garret with his head blown to pieces. An inquest was held on the body. Verdict - 'Temporary Derangement.'."

From the Morning Post :-
From the Times :-
On the 28th inst., John Sparks, Esq., of St. John-street, in his 29th year.

From Jackson's Oxford Journal :-
"John Sparks, Esq. of St. John-street, in his 29th year."

Occupation Druggist.7

Information from :-
1887 - Marriage details of Charles Terry Sparks & Juliet Ianthe Thomas

Occupation Merchant.8,9,10

Information from :-
1820 - Baptism details of John Sparks
1822 - Baptism details of Charles Terry Sparks
1857 - Marriage details of Charles Terry Sparks & Emma Newman

Resident (St Johns Street).9,9,10,11

Information from :-
1819 - Baptism details of Thomas Philip Sparks
1820 - Baptism details of John Sparks
1822 - Baptism details of Charles Terry Sparks
1823 - Baptism details of Mary Harriet Sparks

Occupation Distiller & Druggist.11

Information from :-
1823 - Baptism details of Mary Harriett Sparks