John's father, Richard, died in September of 1742. Richard left his estate to his son John, though he stipulated that John pay annuities to his sisters. Unfortunately, Richard's will does not provide specific details about any land he owned.
John and Susannah had six children:
- Susannah, born in 1743 married Daniel Digance in 1785, and died in 1821
- Ann, born about 1745, married John Balchin in 1766 and died in 1770
- Elizabeth, born about 1746, married George Smallpiece in 1769 and died in 1827
- Mary, born 1750, married Edward London Jr. in 1771 and died in 1832
- John, born 1753, married Mary Davis in 1776, and died in 1804
- Richard, born 1756, married Frances Pace in 1785, and died in 1838.
In 1746, John leased "the capital messuage and farm of Wintershall and lands including the Harcroft, the Scotchcroft, the Longdown, the Scotchfield, the Wheatham, the Baldingscombe, the Hallowcombe, the Broadown, the Broomedown, the Three Hangers, the Northcroft, the Warefield, the Pigeon House, the Callbottom, the Meakehams, the Brookefield, the Pondground, the Poundmead and the North Brookefield, all in Bramley, for £80 pa."
In 1765, John leased the "Messuage or farm called Tilthams and land: The Bromfield; The Barnfield ; the Middle Field; the Potterton Field; close adjoining Tilthams Farm all in the parish of Shalford adjoining the common called the Peasmarsh on several sides and the King's Highway from Guildford to Godalming on the other . . . Farm and six closes of land; Bird Mead; Tiltham's Field near Unstead Bridge; the Crooked Field on south side of the river adjoining lands belonging to the Poor of Godalming, all in the parish of Shalford. Meadow called Pain's Mead in parish of Godalming . . . Four closes of land and an adjoining meadow and the parcel of land lying on the west side of the meadow, all at Tilthams in the parish of Shalford. Consideration: £1,199."
In the 1774 electoral register, John is listed as living at Bramley.
John Sparkes of Bramley, yeoman, wrote his will 17 Mar 1772. He died in 1776 and left "my tenement, part of a messuage divided into 2 tenements, on east side of Bramley Street," to his wife for life, and then his son John. He left his leasehold in Compton Street, Soho Square, Middlesex to his son Richard. He left his leasehold in Worplesdon to his daughter Susannah.
He directed that the following bequests be made:
He appointed his son John Sparkes as executor and named "my brother in law John Smallpiece and my friend Thomas Mellersh of Bramley aforesaid yeoman and John Smithen of Loo in Bramley" to invest funds on behalf of his children and assist his son John in the exceution of the will, which was proved in Prerogative Court of Canterbury.
John was buried October 2, 1776 at Holy Trinity, Bramley. His wife Susanna died December 14, 1789 and was also buried at Holy Trinity, Bramley.
In 1765, John leased the "Messuage or farm called Tilthams and land: The Bromfield; The Barnfield ; the Middle Field; the Potterton Field; close adjoining Tilthams Farm all in the parish of Shalford adjoining the common called the Peasmarsh on several sides and the King's Highway from Guildford to Godalming on the other . . . Farm and six closes of land; Bird Mead; Tiltham's Field near Unstead Bridge; the Crooked Field on south side of the river adjoining lands belonging to the Poor of Godalming, all in the parish of Shalford. Meadow called Pain's Mead in parish of Godalming . . . Four closes of land and an adjoining meadow and the parcel of land lying on the west side of the meadow, all at Tilthams in the parish of Shalford. Consideration: £1,199."
In the 1774 electoral register, John is listed as living at Bramley.
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| Holy Trinity, Bramley, where several children were baptized and where John and wife Susannah are buried |
John Sparkes of Bramley, yeoman, wrote his will 17 Mar 1772. He died in 1776 and left "my tenement, part of a messuage divided into 2 tenements, on east side of Bramley Street," to his wife for life, and then his son John. He left his leasehold in Compton Street, Soho Square, Middlesex to his son Richard. He left his leasehold in Worplesdon to his daughter Susannah.
He directed that the following bequests be made:
- £100 to his wife
- £3500 to his son Richard at the age of 21
- £1000 to his daughter Susannah
- £400 to grandson Richard Balchin & £200 at the age of 21
- £900 to be invested for his daughter Elizabeth Smallpiece
- £400 to daughter Mary London
- £500 to be invested for Mary London
- £100 annually to his wife as long as she remains unmarried
He appointed his son John Sparkes as executor and named "my brother in law John Smallpiece and my friend Thomas Mellersh of Bramley aforesaid yeoman and John Smithen of Loo in Bramley" to invest funds on behalf of his children and assist his son John in the exceution of the will, which was proved in Prerogative Court of Canterbury.
John was buried October 2, 1776 at Holy Trinity, Bramley. His wife Susanna died December 14, 1789 and was also buried at Holy Trinity, Bramley.
