Deborah Clarke

Not the wife of Jonathan Clark

Biography

Deborah Gedney, daughter of Bartholomew Gedney and his wife Hannah Clarke, was born before 25 Nov 1677 at Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts, and died there in 1747.

Essex Institute Historical Collections, Volume 16, By Essex Institute. Page 270-271. < GoogleBooks >

THE FAMILY OF FRANCIS CLARKE.

1 Francis Clarke, said to have been born in England, married 16 Oct., 1701, Deborah Gedney (Bartholomew2, John1) bapt. in Salem, 25 Nov., 1677 (see the account of the Gedney Family). His wife, as we have seen, inherited a portion of her father's moiety of the Clarke Farm near the borders of Lynn (now Lynnfield), while the other portion fell to her sister Bethia Gedney, who, in her deed of 22 Sept., 1703, conveyed to Francis Clarke, of Boston, merchant, one-half of a farm lately of Peter Twist, "which is part of a farm commonly known by y name of Clarks Farm," "allotted to me as my part of the estate of my honored deceased father Bartholmew Gedney Esq' as by agreement between me my brothers and sisters bearing date 3a of Nov 1701 upon record"

Whether this Mr. Francis Clarke, who thus became possessed of the moiety of Clarke's Farm and who married Susanna Gedney, bore any relation to Mr. William Clarke, the grandfather of this lady and the original grantee and proprietor of this farm, has not yet been ascertained. His granddaughter, Mrs. Anderson, said that he was born in England. He is known to have been a merchant in Boston, where he filled the office of Selectman in 1712, was afterwards of Salem, where he died, 9 May, 1727, administration on his estate being granted to his widow, Mrs. Deborah Clarke, 5 Aug., 1727. An inventory of his estate, sworn to 19 Aug., 1727, was presented 20 Jan., 1727–8, and claims against it allowed 17 April, 1729. Among the items was one "To Jo Clarke 280 being a bond given by said Clarke & Mr. Sam" Waldo to Indemnitie Sheriff Winslow or to refund to said Winslow Just so much that he might not be a sufferer in Levying an Execution for the dec'd Francis Clarke, while living, on a parcel of Goods of that value originally attached in Dorothy Ackland's shop to satisfie a debt due from her husband Richard Ackland to said Francis Clarke-vide sa Clarke's acct." The estate was declared insolvent 6 April, 1733.

The children of Francis and Deborah (Gedney) Clarke were:

1. John, m. Ann Furneaux (or Furness).
2. Hannah, b. 2 Sept., 1704; d. 21 Dec., 1713.
3. Deborah, b. 31 Oct., 1705; d. in infancy.
4. Deborah, b. 31 Jan., 1708; m. William Fairfax, Esq.
5. Gedney,* b. 5 April, 1711; m. Mary
6. Francis, b. 16 May, 1713; d. 10 Dec., 1713.
7. Hannah, m. John Cabot.

concerns

The birth dates of this Deborah's attached children indicate that she was the concurrent mate of both Jonathan Clark and Francis Clarke. That could not have been the case; this Deborah is probably erroneously identified as the wife of one of her attached husbands - but which one? Further research is warranted.

Resolved March 2024. The Essex Collection shows this Deborah Gedney as wife of Francis Clarke of Salem; biography added to “about.”

sources

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "Pedigree Resource File," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:3S3Q-V6T : accessed 2016-04-14), entry for Deborah /Gedney/.
• Essex Institute Historical Collections, Volume 16, By Essex Institute. Page 270- . < GoogleBooks >
• https://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I2497...