Re-Thinking Edward CLARK by Linda Sparks Starr FEB 1996 [I'm embarrassed to say Doug Tucker located a significant record which changes my thinking about Edward Clark -- "embarrassed" be cause the book is in my personal library and I hadn't looked this up! Before I get started, though, I want to point out the sig nificance of two neighbors in the following record: Mr. David Crawford's daughter is the wife of Col. Nicholas Meriwether; I THINK the daughter of this Thomas Reynolds is the wife of Charles "M" Moorman. LSS] per Nell Nugent's Cavaliers and Pioneers, vol. III, page 84: Francis CLARKE 282 acs. New Kent Co, St. Peter's Parish, 26 APR 1704 (p. 602) Beginning at Thomas & Michael Tucker down the trupers br. to mouth in Black Cr; to Thomas Reynolds & Mr. David Crawford to Goodly Hole Br for transp. six persons: Benj. Sharp, Robt. Townsend, Henry Baly, John Eastmore, Edwd CLERK, Eliz. CLERK Doug offers the following as "proof" this is the same property on which Edward Clark paid the 1704 quit rent (in 1703) and is the same property Edward's name is on when the parish line was drawn when St. Paul's was formed in 1704. (1) 282 acres -- an unusual number when 50 acres was given for each person "transported". (2) Francis' property line is on the parish boundary line, not Edward's. Based on Nugent, vestry books, and VA topographical maps, Doug plotted where each CLARK lived by physical / geographical references in his or his neighbor's property description. Later refe- rences to Francis' neighbors put them on the parish boundary line. This record also gives us Francis' age -- 21 by APR 1704. The only constant in law seems to be the "age of majority" for males -- when he can own and sell land in his own right -- 21 years old. Thus Francis was born 1683; my guess is late March to some time in April IF he did all the necessary surveying and paper work before hand. That brings us to the Edward and Elizabeth "transported" by Fran cis. (I doubt any one is troubled by CLERK instead of CLARK.) Doug thinks Edward could be an older brother, but more likely an uncle, who came to Virginia as guardian of CLARK minor brothers, Christopher and Francis. This is certainly plausible, and in light of the above patent, I think we do have to change Edward as older than Christopher instead of the younger brother I last had him. I, too, lean toward "uncle" rather than "brother" for Edward surely was acting like a guardian or trustee over Francis' future property. Somehow, I don't see a "not much older than Chris topher" Edward in that role. Also, in light of the transporta tion reference, he didn't come with his parents/father to VA. Un less he was a much older son, I think he would have traveled with them. I also have to agree with Doug -- the just turned 21 year old Francis did not come up with the money to transport these six people. I think it's reasonable to say their way (or at least the first four) was paid by someone else, most likely Francis' father who didn't get around to patenting the land before his un timely death. Edward and Elizabeth's way may / or may not have been paid by the father's estate. Giving Francis credit for their transportation, instead of taking it for themselves, suggests "the estate" paid. Just when did Edward come to VA? Or put another way, when did the father of Christopher and Francis die? I think I can pinpoint the latter as after MAY 1689, but before mid-to-late 1691. I'll get to my reasoning for after MAY 1689 later; for now, Mary Stewart told me I should rethink "the Sexton as poor" bit. Her dictionary definition for sexton is: "employee or officer of a church who is responsible for the care and upkeep of church property and sometimes for ringing bells and digging graves." She knows of one mid-17th century example where a man of property and active in county affairs was paid as a sexton of the local parish for 30 years. I, too, had begun to wonder after seeing a woman as sexton in my recently ordered Fredericksville Parish vestry books. In light of the above, and since we haven't uncovered another Ed ward Clark in St. Peter's Parish in this time frame, I think we have to conclude the sexton Edward is the same person as Uncle / older brother of Christopher and Francis. If we all agree on that point, then I think the sexton, given such responsibility, is not an older brother, but an uncle (or close relative) of Christopher and Francis. Perhaps he was "given" the job in recog- nition for him leaving his home (?in Barbadoes) to raise his or phaned nephews. Certainly there's nothing in the patent record to confirm Barbadoes, but given the family legend ... So we have Edward with wife Elizabeth -- not stated, but "implied" by the patent record. We also have the 1700 Quaker Mar- riage certificate signed by Edward, Elizabeth and Christopher Clark. Others have suggested Elizabeth was wife of Christopher because they signed together and Edward separately. Sue Wright, after checking the reference in Hinshaw, suggests we look at the actual record before we draw any conclusions. Does anyone know where the actual record is located and how to access it? We have two references to Edward Clark as "sexton of ye uper church" -- 20 DEC 1692 and 23 OCT 1693 -- for which he was paid 250 lbs tobacco from the parish levy each year. The next reference to Edward in Chamberlayne's The Parish Register of St. Peter's, New Kent Co. 1680-1787 is helping to clear roads with Christopher Clark in 1698. He is most likely the Quaker Edward in 1700 and is the same Edward who paid the 1704 rent (Smith, The Quit Rents of VA 1704) on Francis's 282 acres (in 1703). Again, it's Edward's land which is specifically mentioned when the bound- ary line between St. Peter's and St. Paul's parishes was drawn in 1704 (found in both vestry book abstracts by Chamberlayne). In my "Edward Clark: Father or Brother ... Other Possible Sib lings ..." I chose to ignore the Edward Clark Jr. in the parish records as mentioned in the genealogy of Edward Clark of Mid dlesex Co. That was very stupid of me. The specific reference in St. Peter's vestry book: 29 AUG 1704 charges to vestry: Edwd CLERK Jr. for pilateing Surveyor 100 lbs tobacco. Surely this refers to the new parish boundary line survey. Clearly, this is a young man who has lived in the area long enough to know his way around the swamps. And with CLARK as a sur- name, has to be kin to Francis on whose land they were walking. He is either a younger brother or cousin. I THINK this Edward Jr. is the youngest brother of Christopher and Francis; but he could be the only son of Edward Sr. For this to work, Edward Sr. would have to die shortly after AUG 1704. 1704 is the only year two Edwards appear in official county and parish records. Unless one died, one had to move. Records prove the younger Edward stayed in the area. Christopher is appointed overseer in 1708, but Edward and Francis had to wait until 1711 for their appointments. I also think this Edward is younger than Francis, for his land was not taxed in 1704. Therefore, I place the birth year for this Edward (Jr.) as c1685, or two years after Francis' "proven" birthyear. And, even though only last weekend I was thinking differently, I now agree with earlier researchers who posit Christopher's birthyear as c1681. Let me rehash for a minute: I'm saying "Uncle" (or close rela tive) Edward and his wife Elizabeth came to VA prior to 1691 to take care of nephews Christopher, Francis and Edward and any sisters they MAY HAVE had. Perhaps the reason they could "up and leave" when Edward's relative died (father of the boys) is that they had no children of their own? Edward Sr. arrived sometime before the beginning of 1692 -- he was paid for his "past" serv ice as sexton DEC of that year. I would move his arrival back to at least mid-1691 for he had to become known to the "powers who appoint sextons". He was last paid for his services as a sexton OCT 1693. Is this when he "saw the Quaker light or truth"? He is the Edward Clark of record through 1704, but had probably left the county / parish by JAN 1707 when only one Edward Clark was ordered to assist Christopher with building a bridge. Certainly he was gone by the orders to procession 1708. I THINK Uncle Edward and Elizabeth returned to their former home, or, more likely, they moved into an adjoining county. I offered several possibilities in my earlier Edward Clark update. But before moving on, I need to insert this one Edward Clark "transported by Mr. Thomas Wright of New Kent Co. 21 OCT 1687" from Nugent's vol II, Cavaliers & Pioneers as a possible "Uncle" Edward. [I've learned my lesson!] Doug thinks the wives of Thomas (Jr) and Andrew MOORMAN (Sr) are CLARK sisters, Elizabeth and Sarah. If he is correct, these could either be daughters of Edward and Elizabeth CLARK or sisters of CLARK brothers, Christopher, Francis and Edward Jr. That will be most difficult to sort out. Now back to my thinking that Uncle Edward arrived after MAY 1689. "Thanks" goes to Dick Baldauf who mentioned this patent record in a recent letter, which I had noted, but not in a CLARK folder! Nugent, vol. III, page 21 in patent John Dennett of St. Peter's Parish, 26 APR 1698: "Beg at his own and land of Edward JOHNSON; on Powhick Swamp, on Pickanock (or Tickanock), Path to Bassett's and Astings lines to Brandy Br granted James Minge 1695 ...: Surely "Powhick" Swamp and "Powhite" Swamp are the same; John Den- nett and Brandy Branch confirm it. I won't go into the details here, but this Edward JOHNSON is the future father-in-law of Christopher Clark. The location of his land is very near Chris topher and Edward's lands as plotted by Doug Tucker. Doug's notes say John Dennett's land was adjacent to John White's land; John White was one of Edward Clark's nearest neighbors per procession ing orders 1711 to 1719. Going back in time with Edward JOHNSON, we come to Chamberlayne's St. Peter's Parish abstracts circa 4 MAY 1689: "ordered to procession ... Robert Chandler, Edward JOHNSON, Abram Veneable, Thomas MOORMAN, Jonas Renalls, Thomas CLARKE, Hen. Chiles ... and ye rest of the neighbors." Who is this Thomas CLARKE but the FATHER of Christopher, Francis and Edward? He's in the right place -- next to Edward JOHNSON whose land is near Edward and Christopher's land and in the midst of Thomas MOORMAN and Jonas RENALLS (Charles MOORMAN m. Elizabeth REYNOLDS although I think her father was Thomas) -- at the right time. Thomas Clark is not in the area 2 APR 1677 when neighbors met to sign grievances to the king; among those signing at that time were: David Crafford, Peter Massie, Thomas MOOREMAN, Edward JOHNSON and Richmond TERRELL. (Vestry Bk of Blisland Parish, New Kent & James City Co., VA 1721-1786 by Chamberlayne.) Could the above Thomas Clark be this one? page 42 of Weisiger's abstract Charles City Co. VA Court Orders under date 4 FEB 1688: "Court is of opinion that what est remains of Eliz. Hilman's, after debts...to be divided between Jno. Mekenny and Mary, his sister, now wife of Tho. CLARKE. Weisiger's abstract of Henrico Co. Wills 1677-1705 shows Alex. MaKeney as wit: to will John Pleasants dated 27 SEP 1690. Pleasants was a Quaker and Alexander McKenny COULD BE the New Kent Co. neighbor of Christopher Clark in early 1700's. Another Henrico Co. deed shows Thomas Massie (possible NK Co. neighbor of Edward CLARK) and Benjamin CLARK wit- nessing two deeds Alexander MacKenney to daughters of John Tandy in 1693. [See my other Edward Clark update for more on this Ben jamin Clark. Could he be another uncle? I no longer think he is a brother. LSS] The oldest LIVING son of Christopher and Penelope is Edward; however, Sue Wright and I've discussed the probability they married earlier than researchers have published. [Penelope being 26 when they married and he 29 just doesn't compute with the times.] They certainly COULD HAVE named an older son (who died before his name got into records) "Thomas" for Christopher's father -- and second son Edward for hers. Francis Clark d. 1769 Louisa Co. named son Thomas second in his will; I haven't seen it, but the wording of the abstract SUGGESTs Joseph (named first) might be the youngest. If so, Francis probably named his oldest son the name I'm putting forth as father of these three brothers. [Send me your comments -- both pro and con. None of this is in scribed in stone, but I feel "good" about the two Edwards. Ob viously, for those "in the know", I've backed away from the two Christophers theory. LSS]