John Clerke (abt. 1557 - 1604)

Born about 1557 in Benington, Hertfordshire, England [uncertain]

Ancestors

Died 14 Jun 1604 at about age 47 in Benington, Hertfordshire, England [uncertain]

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Biography

John Clarke was born about 1557 (probably at Walkern or Benington, Hertfordshire), because his record in Alumni Cantabrigienses, page 342, says that he was 16 years old when he was admitted in May 1573. It also states the he may have been admitted to Gray's Inn in 1577 (and there was a John Clarke admitted to Gray's Inn on 19 June 1577).

John Clarke of Wymondley, Hertfordshire, and his wife Edith appear in a 1596 Feet of Fines record. Source: The Herts Genealogist and Antiquary, Volume 3, page 225. At St. Peter's Church in Benington, in the nave on the east wall, to the north of the chancel arch, are two brasses, with inscriptions to William Clarke, 1591, and his son John Clarke, 1604. Source: The Victoria history of the county of Hertford (page 76 ?).

John's will was written in November 1603 and probated on 26 June 1604 (wife Edith named as executrix and brother George named as overseer). The will mentions a son William and daughters Anne, Edith and Elizabeth. All these children were under the age of 16. NOTE: The maiden name Cole for his wife Edith has not yet been confirmed with a reliable source (but it appears as Cole on many online trees).

Sources

• Page 342 of Alumni Cantabrigienses : a Biographical List of All Known Students, Graduates and Holders of Office at the University of Cambridge, from the Earliest Times to 1900. Volume 1 Part 1. From the Earliest Times to 1751.

• Will of John Clerke, Gentleman of Bennington, Hertfordshire (PROB 11/104/243), 26 June 1604. http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D940025

• The Herts Genealogist and Antiquary, Volume 3, page 225.

This person was created through the import of alma clark williams Family Tre (2).ged on 13 May 2011. The following data was included in the gedcom. You may wish to edit it for readability.

Ancestral File Number

Ancestral File Number: N8JV-FP

• WikiTree profile Clerke-56 created through the import of Ed_s tree_2008-10-18_2011-07-29.ged on Jul 29, 2011 by Alexis Connolly. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Alexis and others.

John Clerke was detached from parents: George Clerke and Elizabeth Wilsforde due to lack of source evidence. If you have any supporting documentation, please feel free to reverse this change and add the corresponding source.

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Clerke-50 created through the import of Ed_s tree_2008-10-18_2011-07-29.ged on Jul 29, 2011 by Alexis Connolly.