Sgt. John Clark, of the New Haven Colony

Sgt John Clark

• Born (abt 1610-15) in England
• Died before May 13, 1648 in New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut
• Parents Unknown

Spouse

1. Mary (abt 1615-8) m. unknown. Name seen as Mary Harvey, Mary Walker, Mary Lambert, Mary Lamberton, Mary Coley, etc. As of June 2015, they are considered "unknown and "unconfirmed." She might not even be a Mary, we just know she was deceased as of the date of the inventory taken 13 May 1648.

Children

1. John Clark (b 1637 - d. 1719). Married 1) Sarah Smith of New Haven, CT 2) Mary Walker Brown. Died in West Haven.
2. Samuel Clark (b 1639 - unknown).
3. Abigail Clark (b 1641 - ) Married Samuel Beardsley of Stratford, CT.
4. Esther Clark (b 1645 - ). Married Isaac Nichols of Stratford, CT, then Derby, CT.

comments

As of June 2015, there is not the evidence to support Thomas Clarke as his father. Disconnected & "unknown parent" placeholder profiles created.

biography

FOUNDER OF WETHERSFIELD, CT & NEW HAVEN COLONY, removed to NEW HAVEN in 1638-9.

From DESCENDANTS OF JOHN CLARK OF NEW HAVEN CONNECTICUT WHO CAME ON THE SHIP "ELIZABETH" IN 1634 FROM IPSWICH, COUNTY SUFFOLK, ENGLAND, COMPILED BY LLOYD WALTER (CLARK) HOAGLAND, 1990

DESCENDANTS OF JOHN CLARK OF NEW HAVEN CONNECTICUT

• pages 2-4
• FIRST GENERATION

FAM 1 JOHN #1 CLARK Sergeant, son of ?

• b. about 1612, probably (Unknown) County, England.
• d. 1648, New Haven, Connecticut, inventory dated May 13, 1648.
• m. MARY(?)?
  • dau. of (Unknown)
  • she was b. (Unknown)
  • d. May 13, 1648, New Haven, Connecticut.
• Regarding Mary being a Lamberton: Notes on the Lamberton Family, page 283, of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, July 1984, shows seven of George Lamberton's children the eldest being born about 1632, much to young to be John Clark's wife.

John Clark is supposed to have come, at the age of 22, to the New England Colony on the ship "Elizabeth" from Ipswich, in County Suffolk, England to Boston, Massachusetts and to have married before he joined the New Haven Colony in 1639. New Haven Colony is now part of the state of Connecticut. John Clark of Hartford, Saybrook, Milford is said to have come in 1632 to Newtowne (now Cambridge, MA).

The following was written by Flora Alice (Clark) Gardner about 1950. She is a daughter of Charles Henry Clark Sr. and Margaret Jane (Morris). She was born 1891. Lived in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

"John Clarke came from England to America, at age 22, on the ship Elizabeth, in the year of 1634. (See History of New Haven, Connecticut, by Atwater, page 712). Historian James Savage says "came from Ipswich, in County Suffolk, England. He is said to have lived in the Massachusetts Colony for a short time before going "west" to and through the Connecticut country".

Historian Donald Lines Jacobus says. "This John Clark was undoubtedly one of the founders of Wethersfield Connecticut. He sold his holding there in 1638. It is known that a number of planters from Connecticut Colony joined the New Haven company from the start, and the Wethersfield John Clark was undoubtedly one of these. His knowledge of the Indian tongue, and the fact that he was very early appointed an officer of the New Haven Train Band and saw service in the Pequot Indian war".

"That John Clarke's education was above the average for his time is shown by two circumstances,... He was one of the first Secretaries of the New Haven Colony and the fact that he was able to compete with older men for an office of such importance proves that he had an excellent education and that he was highly respected by the Colonial authorities".

"This John Clarke served the New Haven Colony as its Intrepretor when the Colony purchased a large area of land for its use in the earliest days. His signature and those of two Indian Chiefs are the only ones that appear on this important document".

"He held several important and influential offices in the early Colony. He and his wife died rather early in life in the year of 1648, leaving four children who were reared by friends in the Colony".

At the seating of the Meeting House John Clarke sat with Marke Pierce on the men's side of the building and his wife Mary Clarke, David Atwater's wife, Mrs. Yale and Sister Osborne had seats together on the women's side of the building.

"The John and Mary Clarke home stood on what is now Meadow Street in New Haven". Unquote.

From Genealogies of Connecticut Families, from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Clark-Clarke Families of Early Connecticut, by Prentiss Glazier of Sarasota, Florida, pages 418-422.

Quote "A study of early probate and land records available at the Connecticut State Library in Hartford indicates that 25 separate groups of Clarks-Clarkes took part in the settlement and growth of Connecticut prior to 1750. Of these 25 heads of families, only two were known brothers, John and James of New Haven". Unquote. Page 419; John (ca. 1610-1649) of New Haven is believed to be brother of James. By an unknown wife he had; John, Samuel, Abigail and Hester. See Jacobus, op. cit. 2:403-7. This group had offshoots to Middletown and Woodbury.

NEW HAVEN: Named for New Haven on the south coast of England; was founded in 1638 by Puritans led by John Davenport and Theophilus Eaton. It was incorporated in 1638 and became part of Connecticut in 1662. The first mayor was Roger Sherman, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

The first settlement was called Quinipiac, an Indian name from the Algonquin tribe.

In the History of the Colony of New Haven, by Edward Atwater, 1902, page 729; it shows that John Clark arrived in 1639 with one child, lived on Meadow Street, was born 1615 and died 1648. On page 148 it says "John Clark who lived on Meadow Street, next south of Mr. Whitehead, was interpreter when the Montowese Indians sold their land to the English. He lived about four years in Massachusetts before he came to to Quinnipiac with the first planters".

In the Genealogical Guide to the Early Settlers of America, by Henry Whitmore, it says in part "John Clark may have come in the Elizabeth from Ipswich, in County Suffolk, in 1634, age 22 and made clerk of the Military Company, Feb. 1648".

In the Complete Book of Emigrants, 1607-1660, by Peter Wilson Coldham, published by Genealogical Publishing Co., 1978, page 114-115. "1634 30 April. Passengers from Ipswich embarked in the Elizabeth of Ipswich, Mr. William Andrews, for New England". Mr. Andrews was the Captain of the Elizabeth. One of the passengers John Clearke, age 22.

In the New Haven Colony Historical Society Ancient Town Records, 1649-1662, edited by Franklin Bowditch Dexter, printed 1917, page 15, says "An Inventory of the Estate of John Clarke, deceased, was presented in Court, 13th May, 1648". On page 378 a Meeting of ye Gouernours, Jan. 10, 1658. Mr. Gilbert, Mr. Wakeman, Samuel Whitehead, John moss, who were by ye Court, March 5, 1649 appointed as ouerseers of the children & estate of John Clarke, deceased, presented an account of ye Court, which being not fully prepared was respitted till another time. John Clarke, ye eldest sonne, being at ye age of 21 yeares, was now to recieve portion. Samuel Clarke & Abigaile his sister being either of 14 yeeres of age, with ye consent of the Court chose their guardians; Samuel chose Abraham Dowlittle; Abigaile chose Samuel Whitehead; both of whom accepted. Hester made choyce of Nicholas Elsy, she not being 14 yeares of age till March next. Page 358 Feb. 1658/9. The estate belonging to the children of John Clarke was ordered divided" There are other mentions on other pages.

the- Families of Ancient New Haven, page 403, it shows that John Clark died in 1649. The variation in dates could be a result of the "calender confusion." In Colonial times, March was the first month and February was the 12th month of the year.

References for the following: Families of Ancient New Haven, by Donald Lines Jacobus. Originally published as New Haven Genealogical Magazine, 1922-1932. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., 1974.

Catalogue of the Names of the Early Puritan Settlers of the Colony of Connecticut, by Royal R. Hinman. The Families of Old Fairfield, Connecticut, by Donald Lines Jacobus.

Middletown Upper Houses, by Charles Collaard Adamss, M.A., Secretary-Treasurer of the Society of Middletown Upper Houses.

Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, by James Savaaaage, Published by Genealogical Publishing Co., 1969.

Ancient Town Records, New Haven, 1649-1662, by Franklin Dexter.

History of the Colony of New Haven, by Edward E. Atwater.

Children of John #1 Clark and Mary ( ? ), 4:

• 1. John #2 ClarkFAM 2
  • b. 1637, bap. 1640, New Haven, Connecticut.
  • m. 1st, Sarah SMITH, Feb. 1, 1661, New Haven.

    ---

• http://trees.wmgs.org/getperson.php?personID=I31168&tree=Schirado
  • Donald L. Jacobus, (1922-1932).

_________________________________

YDNA Test Information

8th Generation Great-Grandchild, direct line

R-SK2109 (YDNA) is a Subclade of R-DF27

R-P312 > ZZ11 > U152 > DF27 > ZZ12 > ZZ19/ZZ20 > Z31644 > R-SK2109

Clark (FTDNA: 294795)

Clark Clarke YDNA Project Chestnut Group

GEDCOM Note

Category:Head of Line, Clark Name Study Category:New Haven,_Connecticut Category: England, Clark Name Study Category:Connecticut, Clark Name Study Category:Signers of the New Haven Fundamental Agreement Category:New Haven, New Haven Colony

Biography

"John Clarke came from England to America, at age 22, on the
ship Elizabeth, in the year of 1634. (See History of New Haven,
Connecticut, by Atwater, page 712) . He is said to have lived in the Massachsetts Colony for a short time before going "west" to and through the Connecticut country". Historian Donald Lines Jacobus says. "This John Clark was undoubtedly one of the founders of Wethersfield, Connecticut. He sold his holding there in 1638. It is known that a number of planters from Connecticut Colony joined the New Haven company from the start, and the Wethersfield John Clark was undoubtedly one of these. His knowledge of the Indian tongue, and the fact that he was very early appointed an officer of the New Haven Train Band and saw service in the Pequot Indian War". "That John Clarke's education was above the average for his time is shown by two circumstances,... He was one of the first Secretaries of the New Haven Colony and the fact that he was able to compete with older men for an office of such importance proves that he had an excellent education and that he was highly respected by the Colonial authorities"."This John Clarke served the New Haven Colony as its Interpreter when the Colony purchased a large area of land for its use in the earliest days. His signature and those of two Indian Chiefs are the only ones that appear on this important document". "He held several important and influential offices in the early Colony. He and his wife died rather early in life in the year of 1648, leaving four children who were reared by friends in the Colony".The John and Mary Clarke home stood on what was later Meadow Street inNew Haven"<ref>http://www.belizebreeze.com/bushongunited/pdfs/Descendants_of_John_...</ref> <!-- this quote is probably too long from a newer source. Needs a rewrite.--> John of New Haven, Connecticut, d 1648; a sargent in the train band; his wife Mary also died in 1648<ref name="Jacobus">Jacobus, Donald Lines (compiler). Families of Ancient New Haven, Vol I-VIII. and Index Vol IX New Haven: 1931. Reprint, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1974, 1981, 1997. Originally published as New Haven Genealogical Magazine, Volumes I-VIII. Rome, NY and New Haven, CT 1922-1932. p 408.</ref> An inventory of their estate was taken 13 May 1648, indicating that their deaths were in 1648, rather than 1649 as stated by Jacobus. The estate was valued at £144:08:03<ref>"Abstracts of the Early Probate Records of New Haven, Book I, Part I, 1647-1687." New England Historical and Genealogical Register 81:121. Boston: NEHGS, 1927. p 123</ref>

Children:*John b. 1637 bap. 1640; d 22 Mar 1718/9 or perhaps the 23 m. Sarah b.1642 d. 25 July 1674 da. George and Sarah Smith<ref name="Jacobus" />

• Samuel b. 1639 bap 1640, d s. p. before 1672<ref name="Jacobus" />
• Abigail m. Samuel Beardsley.*Hester bap. 1 Mar 1645 m. 15 Aug 1672 Isaac Nichols<ref name="Jacobus" />

Distribution of the estate of John Clarke and wife ==="AT A COURT HELD AT NEWHAVEN THE 5TH OF MARCH 1649 An Inventory of theEstate of John Clarke deceased was prsented in Court, Amount to made the 13th of May 1648: prissed by Mathew Gilbert, John Wakeman, Jn: Moss and Samuel Whithead, vpon oath for ye vallew of ye Goods: they also as persons intrusted to looke after the said Estate, tooke oath, that the whole Estate of Jn Clarke is to the best of ther light and knowledge conteyned in ye parcells and particulates mentioned in the said Inventory.<ref name=Dexter1 />

"AT A MEETING OF YE COURT, AT YE GOUERNOURS, JAN. I0, 1658 Mr Gilbert,Mr Wakeman, Samuell Whitehead, John Moss, who were by ye Court, March5th, 1649, appoynted as ouerseers of the children & estate of John Clarke, deceased, prsented an acct to ye Court, wch being not fully prpared was respitted till another time. John Clarke, ye eldest sonne, being at ye age of 21 yeares, was now to receive his portion. Samuell Clarke & Abigaile his sister being either of them aboue 14 yeeres of age,wth ye consent of the Court chose their guardians; Samuell chose Abraham Dowlittle; Abigaile chose Samuell Whitehead; both whom accepted ofit. Hester Clarke made choyce of Nicho. Elsy, but she being not 14 yeares of age till March next, it was respitted till then; but the accounts being not issued it was referred to another time, at wch time ye children wth their guardians were desired to be prsent & to propound, as they shall see cause, for their sattisfaction about the account."<ref name=Dexter1>Dexter, Franklin Bowditch (editor) Ancient Town Records Vol 1. New Haven Town Records 1649-1662. New Haven: New Haven Colony Historical Society, 1917. pp. 15, 378, 379, 385</ref> "AT A MEETINGE OF YE COURT AT YE GOUERNORS, JAN. 12, 1658 After sundryquestions had beene propounded & answered concerning ye estate belonging to the children of John Clarke, it was found to amount to ye sommeof 171L, 14s, 11d, out of wch there was to be deducted 78L, 5s, 5d, by expences vpon the children, loss in cattell, &c., wch was cleared inye particulers of it to ye satisfaction of ye Court, so there remained 93L, 9s, 6d, wch being devided into 5 parts is, 18L, 13s, 11d, each part; of wch John the eldest sonne is to have 2 fift parts, wch is 37L, 7s, 10d, ye full issue of wch busines was referred to ye next Court.<ref name=Dexter1 /> Feb 1658/9. "The estate belonging to the children of John Clarke, amounting to the some of 93L, 9s, 6d, was ordered thus to be devided : vnto John, ye eldest sonne, 37L, 7s, 10d, wch he is now to receive; to Samuell Clarke 18L, 13s, 11d, wch is to be delivered to Abraham Dowlitle, his gardian; vnto Abigaile, 18L, 13s, 11d, wch is to remaine wth Samuell Whitehead, her guardian; to Hester, 18L, I3s, 11 d. Wch was comitted to Nicholas Elsy, whom she nominated for her guardian. The perticulers of this estate of 93L, 9s, 6d, are to be found in ye booke of wills & inventoryes."<ref name=Dexter1 />

Sources

• Families of Ancient New Haven, 1922, Pg. 408, Jacobus. See also
• Descendants of John Clarke of New Haven Connecticut, 1990, pg. 2.