DEVONCLK Devon, England CLARKs Submitted by David Goodwin [Dave sent this to me last spring; the wills were found in Devon, England by Arlene Anthony who HAS connected the ANTHONYs found in Exeter, England to those in Barbadoes and VA. As you will see below, these CLARKs are found in both Devon and Exeter records. I regret "sitting" on it for so long, but dealing with Visitation material seemed a daunting task, thus easy to put off. Although there is still no "proven" connections between the CLARKs in Devon, those in VA and others near London, some intriguing coin cidences do exist. I suggest you refer first to Dave's in depth discussion of heraldry in DVEGDWOM.asc; this picks up where that left off. As in other things, my comments will be within brackets [] and Dave's within parenthesis (). LSS] To begin, let's review the PURPORTED coat of arms for Capt. Chris- topher Clark of New Kent Co. VA. is described as: "Bend of blue. Three swans on the bend (which proceeds from the upper right of the shield as held by the bearer down to the lower left corner.)" ["Purported" because Nancy Jacob's, page 180, _Anthony Roots & Branches_ did not name her source for the shield.] Will of John CLARK dated 1614 Clarke, John, of Sandforde in Crediton, gent., weak in body. Date of will 22 MAY, 1614. Proved 14 OCT 1614 by Christopher Clarke. To be bur: in the church at Sandford. To poor of San ford 40/-. To my wife Margery C. for 30 years if she so long live, a rent of œ10 out of tenement of Widewell in Ingerleigh. [Dave adds note here that this is Margery DAVY; the marriage record is found in Parish records of Crediton/Sandford, Devon, about 11 miles above Exeter.] To son Thomas C., a rent of œ4 out of the sd. tenement for 30 years if my wife so long live, provided that he permits her peaceably to enjoy the copyhold tenement wherein my son Richard C. dwells in Sandford according to the covenants between him & me. To my son John C. œ5. To my 3 daughters Mary, Margery & Alice C. œ110 each. To my wife the use of furniture mentioned, including the great coffer in the study, the same to remain to my exor. at her death. To every of my servants 3/4d. To my John œ15 over & above former legacy. RESIDUE to my son Christopher C. whom I make my exor. (wit) Robt. Dowrich, Richard Clarke. Sign of Augustyne Parker. (P.C.C. 103 Lowe) Will of Christopher Clarke dated 1657 Clarke, Christopher, the elder of Exeter, Merchant. Dated 18 SEP 1657. Admon. cum Test 10 FEB 1678/9 to Sir Francis Clarke Kt. uncle & curator of Samuel Clarke, a lunatic To my grandchild Francis C. son of my son Francis C. œ1000 at 21, out of money in my sd. son's hands. To my son-in-law Nicholas Broking & his wife my house & gar den holden of Sr. John Yong, kt. by lease dated 1 OCT 1652 for the rest of my term, my daughter Alice C. to have all my household goods in the sd. house except one scriptory in the study which I give to my son Francis C. To my sd. son Broking & his wife œ20 a year out of my tuck ing mills until my grandchild Samuel C. son of my son Samuel C. dec'd is 21, & to my grandchild Sarah C. sister of sd. Samuel C. œ20 a year during the same period; & the rest of the rent of the sd. mills being œ9 a year beside the high rent which is 20/- a year to the City, as also the rent of my house wherein Philip Con- dey dwells in Olave's par: to be for the maintenance & education of my sd. grandchild Samuel C. until he is 21, & then to him ab solutely. To my sd. grandchild Samuel C. & heirs male of his body my two houses in Exeter, one in Olave's par: bought of John Follett & others & now in tenure of Philip Condey & the other in par: of Petrock's purchased of Robert & Zachary Taylor wherein Dorothy wife of John Lovering hath a life estate, remr. to my son Francis C. & his heirs male, remr. to my daughters Alice Broking & Mar garet Davie & heirs of their bodies. If my sd. grandson Samuel C. dies under 21, my two grandchildren Nicholas & John Broking or either of them surviving him, I give to my grandchild Christopher Broking the remr. of my estate in the sd. mills subject to pay ment of œ60 to my daughter Margaret Davie. My daughter Broking out of my chest in the fore chamber to take œ50 towards my funeral, œ20 for my daughter Davie, œ15 for my daugher-in-law Sarah C. & her children œ10 for Humphrey Levermore & œ10 for poor of Exeter. RESIDUE to my grandchild Samuel C. son of my son Samuel C. dec'd. whom I make my exor. Overseers, my son-in-law Mr. Nicholas Broking & Mr. William Davie & my son Francis C. & my nephew Mr. Christopher C. desiring them to see my grandchild well educated both in learning & carriage. (wit) Humphrey Levermore, Otho Bastard, Edward Eveligh, John Elwill. (P.C.C. 15 King) Will of John Clark dated 1635 Clarke, John, of Exeter, marchant, (sic) weak in body. Date of Will 9 MAR 1635 Proved 7 MAY 1636 by Dorothy Clarke, oath coram magistro Jacobo Calthropp, B. C. L. To my dear & loving wife Dorothy œ2000. [Dave added Dod deridge as Dorothy's surname] To my daughter Frances œ1000 at 21 or marriage & in case of her death, my wife Dorothy & my living brother Samuel C. to share the same. The goods & marchandize (sic) I have now abroad at sea or beyond the seas. To Mr. Henry Paynter minister of God's Word at the par: of St. Petrock's œ5. To Mr. Short minister at Trinity 40/-. To my cousin & goddaughter Joan Martin 40/-. RESIDUE to my dear & loving wife Dorothy whom I make my ex ecutrix. Overseers, my dear father Christopher C., Mr. John Martin, Mr. Richard Crossing & Nicholas Brooking my brother-in-law. (wit) Christopher Clarke, John Martin, Amy Martin, Elizabeth Doddridge. (P.C.C. 60 Pile) [Dave points out here that CLARKs and MARTINs were neighbors in New Kent Co. late 1600s. The above Sir Francis Clark, of Putney, London claimed a coat of arms with the following description: "Argent, on a bend gules, three swans argent between three pel lets, two in chief, one in base." Dave goes into the differences between these and those reported for Capt. Christopher in the aforementioned DVEGDWOM.asc file. It's very close to the coat of arms which appears to have originated with the CLARKE family of Warwickshire. Descriptions are found pages 40-1 and 163, _London Visitation Pedigrees, 1664_ (no author given) LSS] CLARKE, 1. "John Clarke, of Exeter; d. 5 MAR 1635-6; bur. St. Petrock's. Execter; M.I. His wife's name was Dorothy. [2.] Samuel Clarke, of Exeter; matric. Oxford 1633, aged 16. [I can't duplicate the book's format in the following line of de scent; thus I will add Dave's estimates of birthyears and known deathdates which are quite helpful. Dates and comments in () below are Dave's; the others come from the book. LSS] John CLAKRE (b.c1545) of Inwardleigh, near Houldsworth, co. Devon= [had] Christopher Clarke (b. ca1570) of the City of Exeter, Ar. One of his Majesty's Justices of the peace. Mayor of Exeter. Died 1650, aged 80 or more co. Dorset. [He married] == Frances da. of Pitt of Weymouth co. Dorset (she d. 6 APR 1633). 2 wife [name not given LSS] [Christopher's children by Frances: LSS] Alice mar. Nich. Brooking of Exeter, Merchant, Mayor of said City 1655; died 13 OCT 1666, aged 68. (b. 1598) Margaret mar. Wm Davy of the Inner Temple, Barrister at law, and of Credy co. Devon. (m. 3 OCT 1648 St. Olaves -- note a 2nd CLARKE / DAV(E)Y marriage.) 1. John Clarke of Exeter ob. 5 MAR 1635, aged 23 = ... (Dorothy), da of (John) Dodderidge. [see page 163 above] [John's second wife was] Frances, died 24 APR 1636. 2. Samuel Clarke (b. 9 NOV 1617 St. Olave) ob. 1658 s.p. [see p163 above] 4. (sic) Daniel (b. 13 JUL 1623) died unmar. 3 Sir Francis Clarke (b. 17 MAY 1622, St. Olaves Church, Exeter) of London. Merchant 1664. Citizen and Draper. Free of the Drapers 1648. Aged 45, 1667-8. Knighted 1665. Buried 13 April 1690. Admon. 4 June 1690 & 4 Dec. 1708. (age 67). [He is the same Sir Frances who administered his father's estate above and who claimed the coat of arms. LSS] [He married 1st] Anne, dau of William Essington, Merchant, Cit. & Draper, of London, by his 2nd wife. Mar. at Wimbledon 24 July 1648; buried Putney 29 Nov. 1667 (age 26) [He married 2nd] Elizabeth, da of Henry Proby of Mortlake co. Surrey, Common Sergeant of City of London. Mar lic. 17 Jan. 1667-8, aged 30; living 1675. 2 wife [By Anne Sir Francis Clarke had: Francis Clarke, born 1652; John Clarke, and Josias Clarke. By Elizabeth, Sir Francis had: Elizabeth bapt 1673; Helen 1674; Theodosia 1675; Henry 1668; Charles 1670; James 1701; Mary d. 1700; Alice d.1713; Frances d. 1667 and Hannah b. 1663. LSS] [One last thing, from _The Visitation of Kent in 1663-1668_, page 36, shows the CLERKE coat of arms for the CLARKEs of Willoughby, Warwickshire & Ulcombe, Kent. A written description isn't provided, but the picture has three swans on a bend, etc. LSS] Edward Clerke of Willoughby in Com: Warw: Ar. [He had son] Henry Clerke of ye Cittie of Rochester, Serjeant att Law [who married] Grace, da. & sole heire of George Morgan of Rochester, descended from Kingsthorpe in Com. North'ton. [Son of Henry and Grace was:] Sr Francis Clarke of Rochester & Ulcomb, in Com: Kent, Knt 1663 Eliz: da. & solde heire of Jo: Cage of Britwell in Com: Bucks Ar. and married 2nd Mary, da. of Sr Robt Darrell of Cale hill in Com: Kent, Knt. With wife Mary, Sir Francis had: John, s. & h. aet. 12 Ano 1663 Christopher Frances Lucretia