Bridge Over Troubled Waters Traditional Cache

Your search will take you to a historic area of Queen Anne's County.

William Sparks came from Hampshire County, England, and settled in what was then Talbot County in about 1663. In mid-1681 he acquired a tract of 250 acres that became known as Sparks Choice, and that was located on the "east side of Chester River near the head of a small branch of Island Creek." On 16 August 1681 William purchased an additional tract of 100 acres, for 5,000 pounds of tobacco, that was described as lying on the south side of the Chester River and on the southeast side of Island Creek. On 10 September 1684 William Sparks obtained a patent from the Province of Maryland for another tract of land adjoining his home plantation comprising 100 acres. He named this new tract Sparks Own. It was described as "...all that tract ... called Sparks Oune lying in the county of Talbott on the east side of Chester River beginning at a marked oake standing neere the head of a branch on the north side of Island Creeke ..."

William Sparks, and his son John were parishoners of St. Luke's Church in Church Hill, the town a short distance away. John became owner of the Sparks tract and operated a mill a short distance up stream of Island Creek. John was born here and died on his plantation on 19 April 1737.

During that time, Island Creek was navigable and goods were transported by water from the mill to the Chester River and beyond. Unfortunately, over the years Island Creek has silted to the extent that it is now restricted waters. While the road you are on is Island Creek Road, the one a short distance to the South is Sparks Mill Road.

First-To-Find honors go to barbership2012. And a Happy Birthday to you.