John O Clark

Information and research from descendant of Lavinia Mary Clark Williams

D Betschart added note to further explain original sources note about Scots heritage, living in Ireland from:

Ancestry Weekly Journal, Points to Ponder and Sharing Family Lore

Your Quick Tips, Ethnicity vs. Nationality by Jacqueline Buzbee Davis

December 22, 2007

...Don't confuse ethnicity with nationality. Virtually all nations, even the seemingly most homogeneous, are made up of more than one ethnicity. Ethnicity implies a certain cultural heritage. That may or may not change with movement to a different country.

Case in point, the Scots-Irish. Ethnic Scots, for various reasons, were induced to move to Ireland. The English government evicted the ethnic Irish to lease the land to the incoming Scots. After going on about 200 years in Ireland, groups of these ethnic Scots immigrated to the New World to escape economic and religious discrimination by the English authorities in Ireland. In the United States, we usually call them the Scots (or Scotch)-Irish. The ones left in the Old World are known as the Ulster Irish. While in Ireland, these ethnic Scots had few dealings with the ethnic Irish. They had different religions, different customs, and a huge difference of opinion about who should be occupying that land. In close to 200 years, the ethnic Scots became Irish in nationality, but not in ethnicity.

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Clark From Page 40 Genealogy Chapter, " History of Colrain Mass" by Lois McClellan Patrie.

Although much time and energy have been expended on the Clark family of Colrain by those who have gone before me, I cannot begin to do justice here to the great work they have done, for to give a complete account of this prolific family would be to fill a whole volume. It is therefore necessary for me to delete some portions which seem less relevant to the story of Colrain.

Lieutenant John Clark was the son of John Clark of Ballyruff, Coleraine, Ireland, and Anne Horseman, Dau. of the mayor of Carrick-Fergus. He came to America with his wife Agnes Adams, and seven sons and two daughters, in the company of Rev. Mr. Boyd, reaching Boston 4 Aug 1718 and proceeding to Worcester with little delay. They remained in that vicinity for twenty years. In 1738 Lieut. John and several of his sons began to buy lots in Township #2, the Lieutenant purchasing from the proprietors the lot directly south of the meetinghouse lot, where he lived until the Indian troubles became to serious for him. He moved to South Hadley some time before June 1, 1748. However, his youngest son George lived out his days on this same lot.

Lieut. John was b. abt. 1660 in Ireland; d. South Hadley before May 19, 1750. He is believed to have married Agnes Adams in Ireland abt. 1697. He may have won his title of Lieutenant at the siege of Londonderry. His wife died later in 1750.

From Page 19 " History of Colrain Mass" by Lois McClellan Patrie.

Genealogical information from Page 40, " History of Colrain, Mass." by Lois McClellan Patrie

1. 1) By 1718, LT John Clark and his wife, Agnes Adams, decided with others of the Presbyterian Faith to join the Scotch - Irish migration from Ulster, to America. He is said to have been a member of a sept of Confederate Clan Chattan, a Highland clan, and under head of Macintosh, his ancestors having come to Ireland from Argylllshire, Scotland. He was the son of John and Ann (Horsman) Clark of Ballyruff and grandson of William Clark of Antrim, Ireland. He lived for sometime in Londonderry, Ireland, and probably received his lieutenant's commission there at the time of the siege. He came to American about 1718, lived in Worcester from 1718 and was in that town when the church was destroyed. He moved to Colrain and bought several of the first settling lots, 1739/1740. He seems to have been one of the wealthiest of the first settlers. He was first treasurer and collector of the settlements. He died at South Hadley about 1750, aged 90. His wife was Agnes Adams, whom he married about 1697, probably in Londonderry, Ireland. His son Matthew was killed by Indians in 1746, leaving a large family from whom most of our present day Clarks in the neighborhood are descended. Matthew's sons were scouts in the French and Indian War.

They came to America with seven sons and two daughters, in the company of the Reverend Mr. Boyd, reaching Boston, August 4th1718 and proceeding to Worcester with little delay. They remained in that vicinity for twenty years. In 1738 LT John and several of his sons began to buy lots in township #2. The LT purchasing, from the proprietors, the lot directly south of meeting house lot, where he lived until the Indian troubles became too serious for him. He moved to South Hadley, MA sometime before June 1, 1748. However, his youngest son George lived out his days on this very same lot.

LT John was born about 1660 in Ireland; died in South Hadley, MA before May 19, 1750. He is believed to have married Agnes Adam in Ireland about 1697. He may have earned his title of Lieutenant in the siege of Londonderry. His wife died later in 1750.

John O. Clark of Ballyruff, Coleraine, County Londonderry, b. abt. 1660, son of John Clark and Anne (nee Horseman); mar. Agnes Adams; father of Alexander Clarke who was b. 1711 http://earliestclarksinireland.blogspot.com/