Richard Clarke Jr. (abt. 1661 - bef. 1743)

Born about 1661 in Southampton, Suffolk, New York

Husband of Hannah (Norris) Clarke — married 1688 in Southampton, Suffolk Co, New York

Descendants

Died before 17 May 1743 before about age 82 in Elizabethtown, Essex, New Jersey

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Biography

Richard Clark, Jr. was born about 1661 in Southampton, Long Island, Province of New York (see deposition below). He was the son of Richard and Elizabeth Clark.^[1]

"The eldest child of Richard Clark was born in 1661/2, apparently at Southampton. . ."

In a deposition dated 3/22/1741, Richard stated that he was born, "as he hath heard", in Southampton, Long Island and was brought to Elizabethtown by his parents at age 16-17, hence about 1678.^[2]

Deposition of Richard Clark^[2]
-----Richard Clarke, aged about four score [80] years being sworn upon the Holy Evangelicals saith, that he hath not one foot of land within the claim of Eliz. Town; nor is he to his knowledge, obliged to warrant or defend any lands or interest in any real estate there; nor is he obliged to make good any title of any lands or real estate there to his Knowledge or belief; says that he formerly had lands there, but he has conveyed them by Deed of Gift, Release or Quit-Claim, to his sons and others, some years ago, and some within a year; and further says, that he was born, as he hath heard, at South-Hampton on Long-Island; and that he was brought to Eliza. Town by his father, named Richard Clarke, when he was between sixteen and seventeen years of age; says, that the Eliz. Town people about the time of his first coming to Eliz. Town, said, that they had purchased from Raritan River up to Snake Hill; that afterwards he was present in Governor Lowry's time, when there was a dispute between the Govenor and the people of Eliz. Town, about the extent of their bounds; and one of the Indians, an old man that had first sold the land, was present; the said Indian said the other two were dead, he called himself Segamore, or King; and hearing of the said dispute, he expressed some anger; and declared, that the said Indians had sold to the people of Eliz. Town, all the lands from Raritan River up to Snake Hill; that the place where this was spoken, was at Capt. John Baker's House; which John Baker was, as this deponent has heard, the English Interpreter when the first Eliza. Town purchase was made, and one of the Grantees in Governor Nicholls's Grant to the People of Eliz. Town. And further says, that there was then present another Indian, who they then said was the Indian Interpreter at the same time that the said purchase was made by the People of Eliz. Town, of the said Indians; and that Governor Lowry was present at that time, and the Indian chiefly directed his discourse to him; and further said, throwing out his arms, that the Eliz. Town purchasers were to have the lands by their purchase aforesaid, twice as far back into the Country as their aforesaid bounds from Raritan Rivers up to Snake Hill aforesaid; and further said, that he would send his cousin Wewanaso with the Eliz. Town People to mark the trees as far as any could go one day and come back the next, and would deliver them that in the lieu of room of the whole; and expressing much anger at the disputes between the proprietors and the people of Eliz. Town, said, that is the English would give them leave (meaning the Indians) they would drive all the scots folks into the sea and drown them, or drive them onto their own Country again: And further says, that this discourse was quickly after Governor Lowry's coming into the Country; says, that the Indian explained the course back to be a North West course to the best of his memory. And this deponent further saith, that either the next day or within a few days, his father being desired, with others, by the purchaser to go with the Indian Wewanaso, his said father being indisposed, desired the deponent to go in his room, which he accordingly did with the said Capt. John Baker, James Wood, and Stephen Osborn, and Joseph Mecker, and Joseph Wilson and two lands, Richard Baker and John Cromwell, who went to see the woods. And further saith, that before they did set out the old Indian aforesaid, who sold the land, directed Wewanaso to go so far as a plain back of Piscataway, to find a marked tree with some stones about it, and a stake by the tree, and then to go so much farther, as by marking the trees he might come back to Eliz. Town the next day; that accordingly they set out and found the tree directed to by the said old Indian, and went forward towards the Green River, near where it comes out of the mountain, and lodged by the river side that night, and the Indian marked some trees; and the next day they made a circle or compass along the foot of the mountains, by the directions of the Indian, till they come to the Minisink Path, and then came down to Eliz. Town.
-----And further says, that the old Segamore who sold the land to the people of Eliz. Town, in the contention aforesaid with Governor Lowry, said, that the compass should not be their bounds, but only to give a possession of that, in part of the whole of the lands granted to the people of Eliz. Town, or in words to that effect; And further says, that at that time, nor for thirty years afterwards, he never heard the least pretence that the compass, or circuit, was intended for the extent of the Eliz. Town bounds; and further says, that he is assured, that at that time both in the intention of the Indians declared by their actions and words, and in the common understanding of the people of Eliz. Town, that the circuit or compass was made, that the Indians might give, and the Eliz. Town purchasers take the possession of part in the name, place, or stead of the whole lands granted to them. And furthers says, that anciently the persons following were deemed the associates of the first purchasers or grantees of Eliz. Town and allowed among the proprietors of Eliz. Town as such, (to wit) Benjamin Price, John Woodruff, Bernard Headly, Mr. Hopkins, Isaac Whitehead, William Mecker, Joseph Mecker, Benjamin Mecker, Henry Norris, Hur Thompson, John Wilson, Moses Thompson, Joseph Bond, Joseph Sears, Stephen Crain, Robert Morse, Peter Moss, Aaron Thompson, Nathaniel Tuttle, Barnaby Hines, Jonas Wood, George Ross, and Samuel Mars, James Haynes, Charles Tucker, Humphry Spinage, John Winans, William Johnson, Mathias Hatfield, Jeffrey Jones, Robert White, Stephen Osbern, William Letts, Jonathan Ogden, and Joseph Ogden, William Cramer and Richard Clarke; all which, and believes some more, were admitted to share and divide the lands in Eliz. Town. And being cross examined, further says, that after he came to Elizabeth Town, there was a division made of some lands within the claim of Eliz. Town, by the people of Eliz. Town, about the time of Bass being Governor, but whether before or after cannot tell; and that there were three divisions before said deponent came to said town, the first was a house lot and pitle, the second another lot, and then an out-lot of a greater quantity; and further, that the old Indian in his quarrelling with Governor Lowry, and in giving his instructions aforesaid, discoursed sometimes in broken English, sometimes in Dutch by his interpreter,and sometimes in Indian: Capt. Bakers was the Dutch interpreter, and an Indian interpreted the Indian language into Dutch to said Capt. Baker, who again interpreted to English. And said deponent further saith, that he did not then understand the Dutch language, and said Indian interpreter could speak broken English so as to be understood if acquainted with him, but not above one word in twenty plain, and that some part of it could be understood by this deponent: And further, that an Indian who had used the sea, and understood the compass, was sent by said old Indian to observe the compass in running up towards the mountain; and when they was at said stake he remembers the compass was there set, and the same Indian then taking an observation towards said gap in the mountain, which they followed, but did not sue it as he remembers at any other place afterwards: And further, that said compass was a large pocket compass. and further this deponent saith not.
-----Richard Clarke.
-----Sworn this 22d of March, 1741.

While most online familytrees give Richard's wife as Hannah Norris, due to confusion of the wills of Richard Jr. (referred hereafter as Richard²) and his son Richard³ who names his wife, Hannah in his will. Richard² does not name a wife in his will, nor do we have any documented proof of who she was.

According to Charles Gardner: "One of the sons of Richard Clarke married Hannah, daughter of Henry Norris of E.T. The latter made his will in 1705,^[3] which names daughter -- Hannah Clark. Her husband was probably either Richard² , Ephraim, or Thomas. Richard ² , Clark named one of his sons Henry."^[4]

Children of Richard² Clark:

1. John Clark, b. abt. 1689, d. bef. 17 Jun 1745, when will was proved.^[5]
2. Richard³ Clark, b. abt. 1700; d. bef. 5 Nov 1743, when will was proved.^[6]
3. Jonathan Clark, d. bef. 14 Oct 1748, when will was proved.^[7]
4. Henry Clark
5. Hannah Clark
6. Elizabeth Clark
7. Abigail Clark

Richard² and his son Richard³ died within a year of each other. Richard² wrote his will on 17 Aug 1742, naming sons Richard, Henry and Jonathan as executors. His son Richard³ "being very sick for a long time, and still weak, desire my brothers to act without me," as executors of their father's will, which was proved following day, 17 May 1743. Son Richard³ made his will just three days later on 20 May 1743, which was proved 5 Nov 1743.

---Aug. 17, 1742. Clark, Richard of the Borough of Elizabeth, Essex Co., ship carpenter; will of. Ch—Hannah, Richard, Abigail, Elizabeth, Henry, John, Jonathan. Land purchased of Sayre of about 200 aces. Real and personal estate. Executors—sons Richard, Henry, Jonathan. Witnesses—Edward Willmott, Edward Griffing, Nath'l Hubbell. Proved May 17, 1743. Lib. D. p58.
---Sept. 14, 1743. Inventory of personal estate (£40.06.05), including bond of Jonathan Clark; made by William Clark, George Ross.^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ Clark, Elmer Sayre. Clark of Elizabeth Town in New Jersey. Pontiac, IL: the author (1942). There are no page numbers. Internet Archive: accessed 8/29/2021. Hereafter referenced as "Clark."
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Board of Proprietors of the Eastern Division of New-Jersey. A Bill in the Chancery of New-Jersey, at the Suit of John Earl of Stair, and others, Proprietors of the Eastern-Division of New-Jersey; Against Benjamin Bond, and some other Persons of Elizabeth-Town, distinguished by the name of the Clinker Lot Right Ment. With three large maps, done from copper-plates. To which is added; The Publications of The Council of Proprietors of East New-Jersey, and Mr. Nevill's Speeches to the General Assembly, Concerning The Pretences of the Rioters, and their Seducers. These papers will give a better light into the history and constitution of New-Jersey, than any thing hitherto published, the matters whereof have been chiefly collected from records. Published by subscription: printed by James Parker, in New-York, 1747; and a few copies are to be sold by him, and Benjamin Franklin, in Philadelphia; price bound, and maps coloured, three pounds; plain and stitcht only, fifty shillings, Proclamation Money, [1747]. p. 115; Archive.org.
3. ↑ Nelson, William, ed., Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey, N.J Archives, 1st series, vol. 23; Calendar of New Jersey Wills, vol. 1, 1670-1730 (Paterson, NJ: State of New Jersey and New Jersey Historical Society, 1901), p. 341; Archive.org.
4. ↑ Gardner, Charles C. (1883-1960), Gardner Collection of New Jersey Families, 1600-1900 : family records taken from civil, court, land and probate records, etc. (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Library, MS on microfilm, 60 vols and card file.; FHL films 848919-849541)-- Notes posted on "Selected Genealogies of First Families of Westfield New Jersey", Richard Clarke.
5. ↑ Honeyman, A. Van Doren. Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. First Series---Vol. XXX. Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Administrations, Etc., Volume II—1730-1750. Somerville, NJ: The Unionist-Gazette Assoication (1918) p. 96. Calendar of Wills: accessed 8/29/2021.

   ---1744-5, Mar 9. Clarke, John, of the Borough of Elizabeth, Essex Co., yeoman; will of. Children—Jotham, Daniel, Phebe (wife of Joseph Hetfield), and Sarah Clark. Real and personal estate. Executors—wife, Deborah, and son, Jotham. Witnesses—Benjamin Wade, Samuel Wade, Benjamin Bonnel. Proved June 17, 1745. Lib. D., p. 298.

6. ↑ Honeyman.

   ---1743, May 20. Clark, Richard, Sen'r, of the Borough of Elizabeth, Essex, Co., yeoman; will of. Children—Richard [IV], Elisha, James, Ruben, Samuel, Thomas, Rachel (wife of William Lawrence), Jemima (wife of Daniel Kellsey), and Abigail Clark, at 18 years. Five sons under age. Land in Raway, which my father, Richard Clark, bought of Samuel Olliver; land joining lands of Joshua Marsh, Abraham Clark, Andrew Hampton, and John Craig; land taken up in right of Caleb Curwithy. Grandson, John Mills, son of daugther Hannah, deceased. Executors—wife, Hannah, and son, James. Witnesses—Abraham Clarke, John Craig, John Terrill. Proved Nov. 5, 1743. Lib. D, p. 97.

   ---1743, Nov. 2. Inventory of personal estate (£113.08.08), incl. bonds of Joseph Kelsey, Nathaniel Clarke and John Lee; made by Abraham Clarke and George Ross.

7. ↑ Honeyman.

   ---1748, Sept. 6. Clark, Jonathan, of the Borough of Elizabeth, Essex Co., cordwinder; will of. Children—Mathias, Sarah, David, and Jonathan Clark, all under age. Real and personal estate. Executors—brothers, and friends John Potter, weaver, and John Clark, cordwinder. Witnesses—Jonathan Allen, Caleb Osborn, Junr., Jno. Osborn. Proven Oct. 14, 1748. Lib. E, p. 405.

8. ↑ Honeyman, A. Van Doren, ed. Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey, First Series, Vol. XXX. Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Administrations, Etc., Vol. II. 1730-1750. p. 96.

Also see:

• U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900. Yates Publishing Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Original data - This unique collection of records was extracted from a variety of sources including family group sheets and electronic databases.

Acknowledgments

• Thank you to Jerry Powers, Tasha Hooker, and to all who contributed to this profile. Click on the Changes page for the details of edits and contributions.
• Thank you to John McVey for creating WikiTree profile Clarke-3814 through the import of Clarke-401.ged on Dec 9, 2013. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by John and others.