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Francis Clark Sr. (1684 - bef. 1770)

Francis Clark Sr.
Born in Hanover Parish, Richmond, Virginiamap [uncertain]
Ancestors ancestors
Son of and [mother unknown]
Brother of and
Husband of — married 20 Jan 1705 in New Kent, Virginiamap
Descendants descendants
Died before before age 86 in Louisa, Virginiamap
Profile last modified | Created 5 Jul 2011
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US Southern Colonies.
Francis Clark Sr. resided in the Southern Colonies in North America before 1776.
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Contents

Biography

Francis was a Friend (Quaker)
U.S. Southern Colonies Project logo
Francis Clark Sr. was a Virginia colonist.

Francis is believed born 1684 in Hanover Parish, Virginia Colony. See the discussion of his documented brothers under Known Brothers. Francis Clark married Cordelia Langford 12 Dec 1704.[1]

In 1704 both Francis and Cordelia were members of the New Kent Preparatory Meeting in Henrico County. [2]

Brothers Christopher (who practiced law and farmed) and Francis moved their households from New Kent to South Anna in the early 1720s. They settled on Fork Creek about five miles south and west of present day Cuckoo, Louisa County. Francis led in founding the Quaker worship here which eventually became Fork Creek Friends Meeting.[3] By 1722, Francis and Cordelia had four boys: Francis, Jr., John, Benjamin, and Thomas.[4] Francis and Cordelia lived out their lives at Fork Creek. Francis passed away sometime before 8 Jan 1770, the date his will was proved.

Will

Francis the elder, the subject of this profile, had his will proved 8 Jan 1770[5], Louisa County, Virginia Colony in which are named sons Joseph, Thomas, Isaac, Francis, Christopher, and John; daughters Agnes, Elizabeth, Sarah and Ursula and two grandchildren. Abstract: oldest son Joseph Clark, two hundred acres; Isham Haley, one hundred acres of land adjoining my son Joseph two hundred acres to him and his heirs forever; daughter Agnes Haley, one hundred acres of land she now lives on to her and her heirs forever, also, one Negro girl named Beck during her natural life until her death. I give this Beck to my granddaughter Cordelia Haley to her and her heirs forever; daughter Elizabeth Haley (wife of William Haley) 5 shillings; son Thomas Clark, 5 shillings; son Isaac Clark, 5 shillings; son John Clark, 5 shillings; son Francis Clark,5 shillings; son Christopher Clark, 5 shillings; daughter Sarah Moreman, 10 pounds gold money; grandson Francis Clark, son to John Clark, two hundred acres of land being on the head of Cross Creek to him and his heirs forever. Item: My will and desire is that my executor do sell in fee simple my tract of land on Piney Run in Hanover County to the best bidder and my will and desire that the money arising from such sale be equally divided among my five sons: viz. Tho's, John, Isaac, Francis and Christopher. All the rest and lands of my estate real and personal that is to say lands, mill, Negroes, household goods, debts, money and other estate whatever proceeds bequeath and devise to my daughter Ursurla Clark during her life and until death......continued. Signed Francis Clark; witnesses were R. Phillips, Junr,, John Haley and Arminisby Crew. Executors, three sons Jos Clark, Tho' Clark, Isaac Clark.[6]

Known Brothers

His only known and documented brothers were Christopher Clark and Edward. All others are being detached until sufficient documentation can prove otherwise.

Historian John Boddie[7] draws together records of the Clark family and that of the Moorman family with which it was closely associated over time in piecing together the origins of Francis Clark. Boddie believes the brothers Christopher, Edward and Francis Clark are the son of Edward Clark (who also had brothers Christopher and Francis) who married Ann Allison (also seen Allinson, Alanson) at Christ Church, Middlesex County 13 Apr 1681.[8] This scenario is highly unlikely. No birth records for the brothers have been found in the parish register, but there are records for Edward and Ann's other children, suggesting that they were not his parents.

Jay Worrall, Jr in the Magazine of Virginia Genealogy[4] writes that by 1700, Quaker Clarks were found living north of the James River and were members of Black Creek Friends Meeting of New Kent County. Brothers Christopher, Edward and and Francis Clark are found here. In 1742 Christopher and his family moved on to the 13,762 acre tract in what was soon to become Albemarle County.

Children

See will transcript above for children which are presently documented:

Research Notes

The following children are not documented and have been detached from Francis Clark and Cordelia Langford as parents. They should not be reattached absent primary source documentation and discussion with the US Southern Colonies Project.

Sources

  1. Haverford College; Haverford, Pennsylvania; The Record Book, 1699-1757; Collection: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Minutes; Call Number: 1116/203. Henrico Monthly Meeting Minutes
  2. Hinshaw, William Wade. Marshall, Thomas Worth, comp. Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy. Volume IV. Washington, D.C.: n.p. 1948.pg 163 subscription needed
  3. Hinshaw, William Wade. Marshall, Thomas Worth, comp. Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy. Volume IV. Washington, D.C.: n.p. 1948.pg 234, pg 283
  4. 4.0 4.1 Worrall, Jay, Jr., The Albemarle Quakers, 1742-1754, Virginia Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol 22 No 3, pp 22-25. [1] Subscription needed
  5. Courthouse of Louisa County, Virginia, Book 2, page 75.
  6. Abstract made in the 1970s by WikiTree member Thomas Gilbert
  7. Boddie, John Bennett, Historical Southern Families, Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore, 1978, Vol XXII, pp 196-200
  8. The parish register of Christ Church, Middlesex County, Va., from 1653 to 1812, W E Jones, Richmond, 1897 pg 19




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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Francis by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. Y-chromosome DNA test-takers in his direct paternal line on WikiTree: It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Francis:

Have you taken a DNA test? If so, login to add it. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA.



Comments: 11

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I do have an image without a subscription necessary for the second source cited for Henrico Monthly Meeting Source Information Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy. Vol. VI: (Virginia) page: 163

I just "tagged" both Frances and Cordelia on FamilySearch with the uploaded image as they are mentioned in the right most column toward the top beginning with the date 1703, 10, 10 and followed immediately by a 1704 entry- This link should take you right to the image so please let me know if it doesn't. I realize it is already cited but thought it might be nice to see since I learned my lesson below about trusting magazines or databases that offer details but really don't.?

https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/122945015

posted by Becky Simmons
There is an issue of the published monthly Quaker meeting listing December 16, 1704 as the marriage of Cordelia Lankford and Francis Clark - also lists residence of Charles City, VA but says the marriage occurred in New Kent.

I decided to comment here when I looked at my Ancestry page for Cordelia and under "Hints" the same information is listed as being found in the "Virginia, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1660-1680" catalogue but I haven't paid my latest renewal and can't see the precise citation- if anyone has a paid membership I'd think there is a way to view my account notes and sources (?) Regardless it does list the same dates/location as the Quaker meeting notes from the Quaker Meeting Records. If more information is needed please message me or email- Thanks! Becky Elizabeth (Simmons-11603) I am trying to work out details and "kinks" in this area of my family tree as they are 7th great grandparents of mine but I see conflicting info about both of their parents...

posted by Becky Simmons
I just checked it. It is a database only record which provides the following information:

Name: Cordelia Lankford Spouse: Francis Clerk Marriage Date: 17 Dec 1704 Marriage Location: Henrico County, Virginia

The original data source is described as: " Dodd, Jordan, comp.. Virginia Marriages to 1800. Electronic transcription of marriage records held by the individual counties in Virginia."

Further information on this data source: About Virginia, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1660-1800 This database of Virginia marriages to 1800 contains over 85,000 names. Each entry includes groom, bride, marriage date, county, and state. Every name is indexed so you can search for one name, or two names that are linked.

These marriage records, compiled by Liahona Research at the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City, UT, unfortunately do not contain citations for the origin of each entry. The purpose of this database is to provide a time and place for as many marriages as possible. It is up to the researcher to examine original records (see the Family History Library Catalog--available at any LDS family history center-- under the heading "Vital Records" for the appropriate locality) and gather whatever additional genealogical information is desired.

  • * *

Finding the Original Marriage Record

Unfortunately, Liahona Research did not indicate which sources were used in this process, nor did they provide citations for the origin of each entry. However, careful researchers who wish to examine the original source will find sufficient information to lead them to that source. Most early American marriages were recorded by the county (except in the northeastern states) and this collection provides the county for virtually every marriage.

To find the original source, check the Family History Library Catalog under the name of the state, then the county and then the subject heading Vital Records. (The catalog is available at the library in Salt Lake City, and at more than 3,000 branches or family history centers throughout the world. Read through the catalog entries and locate one or more sources that include marriages for the year of interest. Obtain that source, and look for the marriage entry. In original records, most marriages are listed chronologically with the earliest date first. Also check for published books which may include the marriage entry. If none of the records listed under the county name include the marriage you are seeking, look in the catalog under the name of the state and the heading Vital Records. Some state-wide books may have been used to compile this collection.

posted by Scott McClain
Thanks for that very detailed response- I wasn't trying to be negligent nor...actually I was only offering what I hoped would be usable information. Unfortunately I was in the hospital for a bit and not able to visit our library and due to COVID the only place listed as a site to access some of the LDS material is still not open for visitors. However I have used some of what you wrote to obtain information on some of my other direct ancestors. I almost listed another on here but I am reading this for the first time...so I apologize for not replying earlier and I am sorry to have wasted your time in looking at the article and for writing that response. I don't know why it would have even been written as a source of information from the site (not another member) if it is useless. I really appreciate learning these things :) Becky
posted by Becky Simmons
No need to apologize! I wish I could take credit for writing that detailed response, but I was actually just cutting and pasting the explanation provided by Ancestry.com on what that database reflected & how to find the original records. Sorry for the confusion!
posted by Scott McClain
Hi managers, the U.S. Southern Colonies has been added as co-PM on this profile. There's a lot of misinfo floating around on this fellow and some of it stems from Boddie whose analysis of this family is questioned.

Todd has done a lot of work on the profile. Please review the above-noted children that are at present attached but have no proof of their relationship to this Francis Clark. If you have sources for any of these as his child, please provide it. If none is received, they will be detached with a note (and link) on their profile. Thanks.

posted by Darlene (Athey) Athey-Hill
edited by Darlene (Athey) Athey-Hill
Clark-4400 & Clark-16369 have the same name and roughly the same birth and death dates / locations. Although father Micajah is only connected on one profile, the other profile names him in the biography- same for other family members. I've had these set as Unmerged Matches for a while and figured I should push for a merge since there was no response. Thanks!
posted by Becky Simmons
Clark-4400 and Clark-16369 appear to represent the same person because: Clark-4400 & Clark-16369 have the same name and roughly the same birth and death dates / locations. Although father Micajah is only connected on one profile, the other profile names him in the biography- same for other family members. I've had these set as Unmerged Matches for a while and figured I should push for a merge since there was no response. Thanks!
posted on Clark-16369 (merged) by Becky Simmons
I descend directly from Militia Capt, Lawyer and Judge, Christopher Clark and his wife Penelope. {BTW , I believe that Christopher was born around 1678 due to later public works assignments that would have required him to be older than being born in 1681.} Anyway, Clark records are full of interactions with Francis Clark. I am hoping some of Francis's direct male descendant have done the Family Tree Y-DNA test to at least 67 markers, so we can prove a blood relationship between Christopher and Francis..... Alex Clark
posted by Alexander Clark

C  >  Clark  >  Francis Clark Sr.

Categories: Henrico Monthly Meeting, Sandston, Virginia | Virginia Colonists