Clark Abbot (abt. 1811 - 1880)

Born about 1811 in New Hampshire, United States [uncertain]

Husband of Betsey Jennings (Crouch) Abbott — married 6 Oct 1833 in Orwell, Rutland, Vermont, United States

Husband of Sarah H Moore — married 3 Jan 1849 in Kendall, Illinois, United States

Husband of Mary B (Cox) Abbott — married 21 Oct 1858 in Whiteside, Illinois, United States

Descendants

Died 4 Dec 1880 at about age 69 in Garden Plain, Whiteside, Illinois, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Christine Goodenough [send private message]

Biography

Clark Abbott's birthplace and birth date are uncertain, and his parents are unknown. (But see Research Notes for a theory regarding his parents).

Clark married Betsey Jennings Crouch on 6 October 1833 in Orwell, Rutland, Vermont.^[1]

Clark and Betsey's first child, Miriam, was born 12 Sep 1834 in Rutland.^[2]

Records for their second child, Olive, vary for her birthplace. Some census records say she was born in New York, while others say she was born in Vermont. Her obituary provides her birth date, 5 July 1836, and states that she was born in Vermont.^[3]

By 1837, Clark and Betsey moved to Chautauqua County, New York. On 15 December 1837, Clark Abbott of Chautauqua County purchased 100 acres (part of Lot 10, Township 1, Range 15) in Chautauqua County, New York.^[4]

Clark and Betsey's third child, Llewelyn, was born in New York about 1838.

In the 1840 census Clark and Betsey were living in Busti, Chautauqua, New York. The household includes one male and one female between 20-29 (Clark and Betsey), one female aged 5-9 (Miriam), one female under 5 (Olive) and one male under 5 (Llewelyn).^[5]

Clark and Betsey's next two children, Horace (1840) and Albert (1842) were also born in New York.

On 30 September 1843, Clark and Betsey of French Creek, Chautauqua County, New York, sold the property that they purchased in 1837.^[6]

Clark's wife Betsey died on 10 August 1845, most likely in Kendall County, Illinois.^[7] Although she is named on her husband's tombstone in Whiteside County, Illinois, Clark and his family were living in Kendall County, Illinois in the 1850 census. The record of her death on Clark's tombstone in Whiteside County is probably a cenotaph.

It does not make sense to think that Clark and Betsey went from New York to Whiteside County, and then after Betsey's death, Clark went back further east again to Kendall County, and then back to Whiteside County. Further supporting this theory is a book section on Clark and Betsey's son Horace Abbott, which says he came to DeKalb County, Illinois with his parents in 1842, and then to Whiteside County in 1853.^[8]More support for this conclusion is in a book section on Clark and Betsey's son Albert, which says that Clark was born in New Hampshire, and came to Aurora, Illinois in 1843, and then Whiteside County in 1852.^[9]

Also in the Fulton Cemetery in Whiteside County, Illinois, is a record of their son, Clark Jr., who was born in 1844 and died just a month after his mother, on 10 September 1845. He was probably born and died in Kendall County, Illinois. ^[10]

Clark married his second wife, the much younger Sarah Moore, on 3 January 1849 in Kendall County, Illinois, United States.^[11]

In the 1850 census Clark (age 37), Farmer, was living with his wife, Sarah in Little Rock, Kendall, Illinois.^[12]

Clark and Sarah had one daughter, Helen Ella, who was born in 1850 in Kendall County. She died of diptheria in November 1860 in Whiteside County, Illinois. She is buried in Fulton Township Cemetery. ^[13]

Clark's wife Sarah Moore died in October of 1857 and was buried in Fulton Township Cemetery, Fulton, Whiteside County, Illinois.^[14]

Clark married Mary Wilson (nee Cox) on 21 October 1858 in Whiteside, Illinois.^[15]

In the 1860 census Clark (age 47), Farmer, and his wife Mary, were living in Garden Plain, Whiteside, Illinois.^[16]

In the 1865 census Clarke was in Garden Plain, Whiteside, Illinois.^[17]

In the 1870 census Clark (age 57), City Marshall, was in Fulton, Whiteside, Illinois.^[18]

In the 1880 census Clarke (age 68), Farmer, was the married head of household in Garden Plain, Whiteside, Illinois.^[19]

Clark died on 4 December 1880 and was buried in Fulton, Whiteside County, Illinois.^[20]

Clark's estate passed probate on 20 December 1880 in Whiteside County, Illinois.^[21]

Research Notes

The marriage record for Clark Abbott and Betsey Crouch has been mis-transcribed in some sources (on both Ancestry and FamilySearch), causing many online trees to incorrectly reflect Clark's name as William Clark Abbott. The original marriage record says "Mr. Clark Abbot and Miss Betsey J Crouch". The record has the same "Mr." and "Miss" for each of the four marriages on the page for October and November 1833 (see uploaded photo of the original entry). The notation "Mr." has been mistaken for "Wm". This mis-transcription has also caused some trees to record parents for a different person, William Abbott, which are not Clark Abbott's parents.

As a descendant of Clark, I (Christine Goodenough Roberts) have identified many DNA matches who come from him, and also many who come from Kneeland Abbott and Elizabeth Stanley. In addition, I have many matches to the ancestors of Elizabeth Stanley as well (the Stanleys and Lovejoys).

The History of Whiteside County says Clark's father was Moses. This may or may not be true. But there is a marriage of a Moses Abbott to Mary Clerk on 12 October 1797 in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, in the general area where Kneeland Abbott and Elizabeth Stanley lived.^[22] It's possible that Mary's surname was Clark (misspelled or mis-transcribed as Clerk), and hence they named their son Clark.

See Abbott-15393 for the profile of Moses Abbott, son of Kneeland Abbott.

Moses Abbot is enumerated in the 1800 U.S. Census, married with a female child under 10 years old, in Hillsborough, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire.^[23] The child is undoubtedly Lucy, daughter of Moses Abbott & Mary Ann Abbott, born on 26 May 1799 in Hillsboro, New Hampshire, United States.^[24]

Interestingly, in addition to Moses and his family, the four page 1800 census record for the town of Hillsboro includes Kneeland Abbott, the father of Moses, as well as Abiel Abbott, a son of Kneeland and brother to Moses.

Both Kneeland and his son Moses are listed on a tax list for the Town of Hillsorough in 1795.^[25]

Another child was born to the same couple in 1803: Moses, son of Moses Abbott & Mary Ann Abbott, was born on 3 December 1803 in Hillsboro, New Hampshire, United States.^[26]

Because of the above evidence, my current hypothesis is that Clark's father was Moses, son of Kneeland Abbott and Elizabeth Stanley. Kneeland Abbott's profile is Abbott-8123.

If you descend from Clark and you've tested your DNA, please leave a message in the comments. Perhaps we can work together to confirm Clark's ancestry this way. Goodenough-407 20:00, 3 May 2023 (UTC)

Sources

1. ↑ Marriage to Betsey Crouch: Records of the Town Clerk of Orwell, Rutland County, Vermont; marriage of Mr. Clark Abbott and Miss Betsey J. Crouch, 6 Oct 1833.
2. ↑ Daughter Miriam's Gravestone: "U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current"
   Find a Grave. Find a Grave®. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi; URL: Find A Grave: Memorial #85099773
   Ancestry Record 60525 #8692170 (accessed 3 May 2023)
   Miriam S Ustick burial (died on 22 Dec 1903) in Lower Valley Memorial Gardens, Sunnyside, Yakima County, Washington.
3. ↑ Daughter Olive's Obituary: "U.S., Newspapers.com™ Obituary Index, 1800s-current"
   The Daily Times; Publication Date: 20 Apr 1911; Publication Place: Davenport, Iowa, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/302307017/?article=70183eeb-bff0-445b-9127-6937f91252df&focus=0.2949699,0.76568335,0.42965257,0.9689433&xid=3355
   Ancestry Record 61843 #572530289 (accessed 3 May 2023)
   Name: Johnson Johnson; Gender: Female; Death Age: 75; Birth Date: 5 Jul 1836; Birth Place: Vermont; Marriage Date: 6 Dec 1854; Residence Place: Illinois; Death Date: Abt 1911; Death Place: LeClaire; Obituary Date: 20 Apr 1911; Obituary Place: Davenport, Iowa, USA; Newspaper Title: The Daily Times; Spouse: John D. Johnson; Child: Wallace Johnson Clarke E. Johnson Harry Johnson Austin Toole E. J. I.anca William Johnson; Siblings: J. Anient.
4. ↑ Land Purchase: Chautauqua County, New York, Deeds, Book 30 p. 226; "United States, New York Land Records, 1630-1975," database with images, FamilySearch.org, Chautauqua > Deeds 1839-1861 vol 28-30 > image 691 of 850; citing Chautauqua County Courthouse, Mayville, New York.
5. ↑ 1840 Census: "1840 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1840; Census Place: Busti, Chautauqua, New York; Roll: 271; Page: 82; Family History Library Film: 0017182
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8057 #2346073 (accessed 3 May 2023)
   Clark Abbott in Busti, Chautauqua, New York.
6. ↑ Land Sale: Chautauqua County, New York, Deeds, Book 35, p. 240; "United States, New York Land Records, 1630-1975," database with images, FamilySearch.org, Chautauqua > Deeds 1841-1866 vol 34-36 > image 423 of 834; citing Chautauqua County Courthouse, Mayville, New York.
7. ↑ Betsey Crouch Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #19016386 (accessed 3 May 2023)
   Memorial page for Betsy Crouch Abbott (1816-10 Aug 1845), citing Fulton Township Cemetery, Fulton, Whiteside County, Illinois, USA (plot: N 14); Maintained by Burt (contributor 46867609).
8. ↑ Book: Chapman Brothers, Historical and Biographical Portrait of Whiteside County, Illinois (Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1885), p. 228; digital image, Internet Archive.
9. ↑ Book: William W. Davis, History of Whiteside County, Illinois, From Its Earliest Settlement to 1908 (Chicago: Pioneer Pub. Co., 1908), pgs. 852-857; digital image, Internet Archive.
10. ↑ Clark Abbott Jr Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
    Find A Grave: Memorial #27978939 (accessed 3 May 2023)
    Memorial page for Clark Abbott (1844-10 Sep 1845), citing Fulton Township Cemetery, Fulton, Whiteside County, Illinois, USA; Maintained by Ken (contributor 46953017).
11. ↑ Marriage: "Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940"
    citing Kendall, Illinois, United States, county offices, Illinois; FHL microfilm 1,403,534.
    FamilySearch Record: KFLZ-4F5 (accessed 3 May 2023)
    FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GB2G-9S2T Image number 00097
    Sarah H Moore marriage to Clark Abbott on 3 Jan 1849 in Kendall, Illinois, United States.
12. ↑ 1850 Census: "1850 United States Federal Census"
    The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: Little Rock, Kendall, Illinois; Roll: 113; Page: 225b; Line Number: 2
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8054 #16332238 (accessed 3 May 2023)
    Clarke Abbott (37), Farmer, in Little Rock, Kendall, Illinois, USA. Born in Vermont.
13. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (no image)
    Find A Grave: Memorial #19016391 (accessed 3 May 2023)
    Memorial page for Ella Abbott (Apr 1850-1860), citing Fulton Township Cemetery, Fulton, Whiteside County, Illinois, USA; Maintained by Burt (contributor 46867609).
14. ↑ Burial of wife Sarah Moore: "U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current"
    Find a Grave. Find a Grave®. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi; URL: Find A Grave: Memorial #19016411
    Ancestry Record 60525 #86427762 (accessed 3 May 2023)
    Sarah Abbott burial (died in 1857) in Fulton Township Cemetery, Fulton, Whiteside County, Illinois, United States of America.
15. ↑ Marriage to Mary Cox: "Illinois, U.S., Marriage Index, 1860-1920"
    Illinois State Marriage Records. Online index. Illinois State Public Record Offices
    Ancestry Record 60984 #17103 (accessed 3 May 2023)
    Clark Abbott marriage to Mary Wilson on 21 Oct 1858 in Whiteside, Illinois, USA.
16. ↑ 1860 Census: "1860 United States Federal Census"
    The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: Garden Plain, Whiteside, Illinois; Roll: M653_237; Page: 987; Family History Library Film: 803237
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7667 #37533147 (accessed 3 May 2023)
    Clark Abbott (47), Farmer, in Garden Plain, Whiteside, Illinois. Born in Vermont.
17. ↑ 1865 Census: "Illinois, U.S., State Census Collection, 1825-1865"
    Illinois State Archives; Springfield, Illinois; Illinois State Census, 1865; Archive Collection Number: 103.010; Roll Number: 2185; Line: 9
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1079 #1455383 (accessed 3 May 2023)
    Clarke Abbott in Garden Plain, Whiteside, Illinois, USA.
18. ↑ 1870 Census: "1870 United States Federal Census"
    Year: 1870; Census Place: Fulton, Whiteside, Illinois; Roll: M593_290; Page: 65A
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7163 #16952758 (accessed 3 May 2023)
    Clark Abbot (57), City Marshall, in Fulton, Whiteside, Illinois. Born in Vermont.
19. ↑ 1880 Census: "1880 United States Federal Census"
    Year: 1880; Census Place: Garden Plain, Whiteside, Illinois; Roll: 258; Page: 13C; Enumeration District: 197
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6742 #47100471 (accessed 3 May 2023)
    Clarke Allott (68), married, Farmer, head of household in Garden Plain, Whiteside, Illinois, USA. Born in New Hampshire.
20. ↑ Burial: "Web: Illinois, Find A Grave Index, 1809-2012"
    Find A Grave. Find A Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi: accessed 25 January 2013; URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19016387/ab
    Ancestry Record 70509 #1555508 (accessed 3 May 2023)
    Clark Abbott burial (died on 4 Dec 1880) in Fulton, Whiteside County, Illinois, USA.
21. ↑ Probate: "Illinois, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1772-1999"
    Probate Records, 1852-1904; Author: Illinois. County Court (Whiteside County); Probate Place: Whiteside, Illinois
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 9048 #2345077 (accessed 3 May 2023)
    Clark Abbott probate on 20 Dec 1880 in Whiteside, Illinois, USA.
22. ↑ Moses Abbot Marriage: "New Hampshire, U.S., Marriage Records Index, 1637-1947"
    FHL Film Number: 1001120
    Ancestry Record 2554 #92319 (accessed 3 May 2023)
    Moses Abbott marriage to Mary Clerk on 12 Oct 1797 in Hillsboro, Hillsborough, New Hampshire.
23. ↑ 1800 Census: "1800 United States Federal Census"
    Year: 1800; Census Place: Hillsborough, Hillsborough, New Hampshire; Series: M32; Roll: 20; Page: 536; Image: 317; Family History Library Film: 218679
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7590 #201687 (accessed 3 May 2023)
    Moses Abbot in Hillsborough, Hillsborough, New Hampshire.
24. ↑ Birth of Moses' daughter Lucy: "New Hampshire, U.S., Birth Records, 1631-1920"
    Birth Certificates, 1631-1919; Archive: New Hampshire Department of State; Location: Concord, New Hampshire; Credit: The Original Document May Be Seen At the New Hampshire Department of State
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 61833 #2565 (accessed 3 May 2023)
    Lucy Abbott born on 26 May 1799, daughter of Moses Abbott & Mary Ann Abbott, in Hillsboro, New Hampshire, USA.
25. ↑ Tax List: George Waldo Browne, The History of Hillsborough, New Hampshire, 1735-1921, Vol. 1 (Manchester, NH: John B. Clarke Co., 1921), p. 176; digital image, Internet Archive.
26. ↑ Birth of Moses' son Moses: "New Hampshire, U.S., Birth Records, 1631-1920"
    Birth Certificates, 1631-1919; Archive: New Hampshire Department of State; Location: Concord, New Hampshire; Credit: The Original Document May Be Seen At the New Hampshire Department of State
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 61833 #2665 (accessed 3 May 2023)
    Moses Abbott born on 3 Dec 1803, son of Moses Abbott & Mary Ann Abbott, in Hillsboro, New Hampshire, USA.