Mostly we have entered on these pages the history of
the Sparks families but of course other families have made their
contribution to the make up of the Sparks genes. My Great Grandfather was a typical Devon man Having been brought up in an agricultural
environment. That is until his late teens when he arrived in South
Wales and became a coal miner. Now where he met his wife we have no idea or when he
got married. We think the marriage took place in 1859-1860 but
that is only an educated guess we have checked for a marriage record in
Pontypridd and Bridgend, Cardiff but up to now have failed mainly because
we do not know where Samuel Sparks met Johanna Scandling although we do
know a little about Johanna but due to other priorities we were unable
until recently to trace our Welsh And Irish line. We of course have known of Johanna for some time and
that she came from Ireland in fact before our research began we all thought
that we were of Irish decent. This was borne out by the fact that we where all dark
haired and with what is known as Irish tempers in the case of our sisters
they had the typical Irish eye’s and looks. We wasted a great deal of time in trying to trace Our non-existent Sparks line through to Ireland then
a fragment of memory put us on the right track it was our Great Grandmother
who was Irish not our Great Grandfather. We had to forget for the time being researching the
Welsh and Irish line in favour of our Devon roots But the time has come where we have to restart our
research into our Welsh and Irish connections. We are not too proud to ask for your help
(possible middle name Ethel) The name of our Great Grandmother we have often
wondered if this was a miss spelling of Scanlon but as both these names are
to be found in Ireland we believe that Scandling is the correct spelling. Johanna was born 1837 in Ballylongford Ireland a
village in the County of Kerry that is situated almost on the coast on
the Ballybunion to Tarbert road it is almost at the head
of the Estuary of the Shannon River. Nearby is Lislaughtin parish where there are the
ruins of a Franciscan Abby also nearby in the village of Aghavallen are the
ruins of the 15th century Carrigafoyle Castle the stronghold of
O’Connor Kerry this was attacked and destroyed by Cromwellian forces in
1649 when they invaded Ireland. I have wondered if any of our West country Sparks were with Cromwells forces for he
certainly recruited men from the West country to aid in the attacks on
Ireland and there are a number of Irish Sparks families. In the 1916 uprising in Dublin a man belonging to the
village by the name of O’Rahilly was killed so the area that Johanna was
born has a great deal of history attached to its villages. Unfortunately we have no information on Johanna prior
to 1860 so have no information on her life in Ireland. A family story said that she was from Hereford and
that she was in service the fact that we have proved beyond doubt that she
was Irish puts this story a little out of being true but we have not
discounted this altogether as most family stories are based on facts handed
down. We have therefore come to the conclusion that she
lived in Hereford and was in service there prior to going to live in South
Wales there are a great many Irish girls who came across to Seek employment
in service. The ages of Johanna’s children start from 1860 so we
assume she was married about 1859 or if Johanna had lost her first child
1858. At the time of 1860 Johanna lived in High street
Llantrisaint with her Husband Samuel Sparks. We know where they next moved to this was in
Llangeinor but again trying to find out information on where they lived was
pretty difficult until one found out that there where two valleys the
people of which claimed that they lived in Llangeinor. Johanna and her family lived in Cardiff street in the
Cwm Ogwr Ogmor vale.(Ogmor vale in
the Ogwr Valley) or as it is known Garw Valley Cardiff Street IS in Ogmor Vale so once we found out
this little controversy over the two valleys life was a little easier. We at last found the house that they had lived in Situated in a street of terraced houses two bedrooms
up two rooms down plus a scullery the street on a very steep hill how they
and other families of the day managed to live with big families and small
houses is a miracle. One huge problem we have encountered is that we
cannot find a marriage place for Johanna and Samuel we have tried Bridgend
Pontypridd Cardiff Caerphilly Neath register offices with no success. Hopefully we will overcome this problem with a little
help any ideas that would help would be welcome. JOHANNA HAD ELEVEN CHILDREN Margaret Sparks born 1859-1860. Mary Ann. Sparks born 1860 William. Sparks born
1861.
Edward. Sparks born. 1863 Samuel. Sparks born. 1864. Edmond. Sparks born. 1863 John. Sparks born,
1865.
Thomas. Sparks born.
1867 Christopher.
Sparks born. 1869. Johanna.
Sparks born. 1870 Frederick. Sparks born, 1874.
All where born in Llantrisaint South Wales Johanna was a widow of ten years when she died at age
63 of Diabetes At Cardiff street in January1900 Johanna lost a son James at age eleven due to Scarletina
fever in 1877 he is buried in St Illtyd
Llantrisaint Johanna lost another son but after her death he died
in Canada in 1904 in the Franks slide disaster If anyone has any information that would help Or if
you think you have connections with this family then please email the webmaster He will be
very pleased to accept any helpful Suggestions and to share family history
information he holds Samuel Sparks and his sons of age where all
coalminers and Probably worked in the local mines The Wyndham sunk1866 and
Western,sunk 1887 in Ogmore vale The Garw sunk in 1883 and Ffaldau sunk in 1877 in the Garw Valley
The Tasks accomplished
Johanna Scandling