As one story goes, Simon Sparks was born in a highland clan in Western Scotland. Others state that he was born in England or Ireland. According to the first source, Simon and his brothers, Jared and Richard, in the old Celtic tradition of fighting for a living. They became professional solders of fortune. Simon was 16 years old when he began his service and ended when he was 24. During those eight years, Simon fought at various times in the armies of the Kings. He was eventually granted a tract of land in Northern Ireland for "services rendered unto the Crown."
Regardless of how Simon reached Ireland, he settled down to farming. There he met and married Mary Jane McClane around 1717. Her father was William McClane, a wheelwright, who taught Simon the trade.
The earliest document found thus far pertaining to Simon was dated 3 June 1739. In it Simon was a witness to the will of John Bradway of Salem County, New Jersey. On 15 October 1739, Simon Sparks was appointed the administrator of the estate of William McClane of Salem County. Simon was described on this document as "of Salem Co., wheelwright."
Simon Sparks died in Gloucester County, New Jersey, in March 1748.
In his will, which was affirmed on 28 March 1749, he named his wife Jane and his sons John, Richard, Thomas, Robert and Henry. Robert and Henry were under 21 at the time. Simon also listed his daughters Elizabeth, Agnes and Mary.
Thomas Sparks, Sr. was born in October 1726, allegedly in Pittsgrove, Salem County, NJ.
The first Presbyterian church in Salem County, the "Piles Grove" Congregation was officially organized in 1741 when the Reverend David Evans was installed as pastor by the Presbytery of Philadelphia. It was unofficially begun in 1738 by Reverend Daniel Buckingham, a traveling missionary. Simon Sparks and his brothers, Thomas and Richard, were among the signers of the original covenant of the church.
The church also has other family connections. The original church building was constructed of cedar logs, built on land obtained from Louis DuBois, after he had emigrated from New Paltz, New York to Pittsgrove Township. As the congregation grew, a larger building was necessary. In 1767, under Reverend Nehemiah Greenman, the old log structure was taken down and a new brick church was built in its place, which still stand today.
In 1751, Thomas married Rachel Weatherby and they had about 9 children.
Thomas' name appeared on a petition dated 6 March 1786, to the Legislative Council from inhabitants of Salem County complaining of the length of the road from Pittsgrove to Burlington. It was stated that it could be shortened several miles.
Methodism was established in Salem County in the late 1700’s. Shortly after, it gained a foothold in Sharptown. At first, the Sharptown Methodists met in a brick farmhouse about one mile north of Sharptown on King’s Highway. When this private home became too small to accommodate the meetings, it was decided that a new building should be built. The first church, called the Pilesgrove Meeting House, was erected in 1795. This church was located a short distance outside of Sharptown, towards Penns Grove, as the village of Sharptown was considered too wicked for a church. Isaac Vannamen and Thomas' brother, Simon Sparks, were the principal men involved in the building of the meeting house. It was the first house of worship erected for the use of the Methodist Society was in the northern part of Salem County.
In the early days, the church belonged to the Salem Circuit, and regular preaching was heard during the week. At other times, preaching was done by men of the church. Simon's father-in-law, John Murphy, was a frequent speaker for ten to twelve years.
Several members of Sparks family, including Simon and Thomas, Jr., his wife and some of their children, were buried in the cemetery near the Meeting House. In 1905, the original wood church building was sold and the lumber was used to rebuild a house near Penns Grove. Today, all that remains are the tombstones.
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