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Page Eleven
What little is known about the Sparkes settlers is a tragic tale. When Ambrose Sparkes15a arrived in Lance Cove he was given a parcel of land by George Hiscock, who seemed ever ready to share what he had with newcomers. Ambrose, by marrying Susanna Kennedy, daughter of William and Ann Kennedy, had married into the Hiscock family. Susanna's brother, John William, married Ann, a daughter of George Hiscock. William Sparkes had five sons and one daughter, Suse Ann. William was a member of the Church of England, but like with Stoyles and Hammond, the love of an Irish lass led him into the Roman Catholic fold. This happy couple must have had great joy in their five young sons, and one can only imagine the grief they endured when the dreaded disease, diphtheria, struck their home. In a matter of a few short days, four of their sons were dead. One survived, only to follow his brothers when he was a very young man. Mercifully, Suse Ann was spared to comfort her father in his latter days. William Sparkes carried his grief on the inside, and for many years manned his punt, “cross-handed” on the fishing grounds off Lance Cove. He is remembered as a tough old man with a strong voice, a hearty laugh, and a great love for little children. After his wife, Margaret, died, he went to live out the remainder of his days with "his Suse Ann” who had married William Kent and was living at the Mines. William Clements15b arrived from Cornwall to join the little band of settlers at Lance Cove c. 1825. Very little is definitely known about him that I could find, other than that his wife, Mary, nee Somerton, Portugal Cove, whom he married in 1822, died in 1899 at the grand old age of 97 years. She is buried in the Church of England cemetery. Both his son William E., 1832-1909, and his grandson William T., 1865-1943, operated a mail and passenger packet on the tickle, as well as keeping the post office. “Uncle Billy” the third was a great fiddler, and his home was a popular gathering place for “janneys” (mummers) at Christmas time. The Clements did not clear much land or go into farming on a big scale, but they did keep sheep and cows which thrived on the salt flavoured grass in the wild meadows and marshes at the back of the island. In the old pioneer cemetery, there is a headstone in the memory of Robert Casely, who died May 3rd, 1822, aged 46 years. As of this date, I have not been able to find any other information concerning this person. It could be that he was an employee of Pitts' who never married, since his is the only Casely name asociated with Lance Cove.
15a. Ambrose died age 73 and was buried at Lance Cove, Oct. 6,1869, by Rev. William Swansborough. 15b. William died age 83 and was buried at Lance Cove , June 25, 1871, by Rev. Thomas Boone.
  
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