Thomas Gilbert (Clark) Clarke (1809 - 1901)

Born 16 Jun 1809 in Franklin, New London County, Connecticut, United States

Ancestors

Died 16 Mar 1901 at age 91 in Canterbury, Windham County, Connecticut, United States

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Biography

Thomas Gilbert Clark (later known as "Clarke") was born in Franklin, Connecticut, on June 16, 1809. He was a son of Allen Gates Clark and Celinda (Darling) Clark. ^[1]

Thomas G. Clark and Asa F. Clark (his brother) were admitted into membership of the Congregational Church in Canterbury on 4 September 1831; the church record is annotated to indicate that they had been baptized in infancy.^[2]

He taught school in the winter time from the age of 16 to 21,^[1] then prepared for study at the Theological Institute of Connecticut (which later became Hartford Theological Seminary) at East Windsor, from which he graduated in 1840.^[3] He and his brother Asa Franklin Clark were among that year's nine graduates. Thomas G. Clark's presentation at the graduation exercise was on "Piety of the Seventeenth Century."^[4]

He served as a preacher in Scotland, Connecticut, and other locations^[3] until health failed. He then settled in Canterbury, Connecticut, and became a farmer. He also served four years in the Connecticut state legislature. ^[1]

Thomas G. Clark married Cressa Judson in Pomfret, Connecticut, on 19 September 1854.^[5][6] Secondary sources give the date of their marriage as September 1844^[1] or September 1856, in Canterbury;^[3] neither of these dates is consistent with other information, including the 1850 census and the birth dates of the couple's children.

The children of Thomas G. Clark and Cressa Judson were:^[1]

1. Rebecca Clark
2. Isabella Clark
3. Josephine J. Clark,
4. Andrew T. J. Clark
5. Allen Gates Clark
6. John Darling Clark.

The 1860 U.S. Census recorded 49-year-old farmer Thomas G. Clark in Canterbury, Connecticut,, head of a household that also included Cressa W. Clark, 34 (his wife), Rebecca Clark, 5, Isabella Clark, 4, Josaphene Clark, 2, Rebecca Judson, 67, Allen G. Clark, age 75 (his father), Jemimah Clark, 62 (his father's wife?), Elijah Green, 25, Mary Quin, 17, and Daniel Higgins, 15. All were recorded as natives of Connecticut except for Mary Quin and Daniel Higgins, who were born in Ireland. Thomas G. Clark held $2100 in real estate and $2500 of personal estate.^[7]

Cressa Clarke died in 1866, and Thomas married Sarah Johnson as his second wife in April 1870. ^[1]

In 1870 the U.S. census recorded Thomas G. Clark, 56, described as a retired farmer, in Canterbury, Connecticut, with Sarah J Clark 39; children Rebecca C. Clark, 15, Isabella S. Clark 14, Josephine J. Clark, 11, Andrew T. J. Clark, 9, Allen G. Clark, 7, and John D. Clark, 4; and Catherine Doyle, 18, a domestic servant. All were born in Connecticut except Catherine Doyle, who was born in Ireland. Thomas and Sarah had married in April of that same year. Thomas reported $3400 in real estate and $15,000 personal estate.^[8]

The 1880 U.S. census recorded Thomas G. Clark, age 70, a farmer in Canterbury, Connecticut, with wife Sarah J. Clark, 49, and son John D. Clark, 14. All were born in Connecticut. Thomas's father was born in Connecticut and his mother in Rhode Island; the others had two parents born in Connecticut.^[9]

In 1881, the Historical Catalogue of the Theological Institute of Connecticut recorded him as living in Canterbury, Connecticut. ^[3]

In 1900, the U.S. census recorded Thomas Clark, age 90 (born June 1809), a widower, in Canterbury, Connecticut. He was born in Connecticut to a father born in Connecticut and a mother born in Rhode Island. He was farmer and he shared his home with Addie H. Bingham, 24, recorded as "housekeeper."</ref>

Thomas G. Clarke died in Canterbury on 16 March 1901^[10] and was buried in Hyde Cemetery, Canterbury, Connecticut. His gravestone shows his life dates of 1809-1901.^[11][12]

Research Notes

Canterbury, Connecticut Biographies. From: History of Windham County, Connecticut, Bayles, Richard M.; New York: W.W. Preston, 1889. T. G. Clarke was born in Franklin, Conn., June 16th, 1809. His parents were Allen G. and Celinda (Darling) Clarke, and his grandparents were Asa and Rebecca (Allen) Clarke. Mr. Clarke taught school in the winter time from the age of 16 to 21, then prepared for the theological seminary at East Windsor, from which he graduated and preached until health failed. He then engaged in farming. He was a member of the legislature four years. He married for his first wife Cressa Judson, in September, 1844, and by her had the following children: Rebecca, Isabella. Josephine J., Andrew T. J., Allen G. and John D. Mr. Clarke has been deacon of the Congregational church 34 years.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} Canterbury, Connecticut Biographies. From: History of Windham County, Connecticut, Bayles, Richard M.; New York: W.W. Preston, 1889.
2. ↑ Records of The Congregational Church in Canterbury, Connecticut, 1711-1844 (Finlay Brothers, Hartford, 1932), page 139.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} Historical Catalogue of the Theological Institute of Connecticut
4. ↑ "Theological Institute of Connecticut," Vermont Chronicle, 19 Aug 1840, page 3, citing Conn. Obs.. Accessed on Newspapers.com at https://www.newspapers.com/image/489366912/
5. ↑ "Connecticut Marriages, 1630-1997", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7GQ-NM9 : 31 March 2016), Thomas G. Clark and Cressa Judson, 1854. [No record image].
6. ↑ Connecticut: Vital Records (The Barbour Collection), 1630-1870 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011.) From original typescripts, Lucius Barnes Barbour Collection, 1928. Pomfret, page 43: Clark/Clarke, Thomas G., m. [____] Judson, b. of Canterbury, [Sept. 30, 1854], by Rev. D. Hunt
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1860," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBG-LMH?cc=1473181&wc=7QCB-JBW%3A1589422516%2C1589423512%2C1589424341 : 24 March 2017), Connecticut > Windham > Canterbury > image 8 of 40; from "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing NARA microfilm publication M653 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
8. ↑ United States Census, 1870. Enumeration Sheet for https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7602/images/4118745_00382. Accessed on Ancestry.com at https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7163/images/4263340_00132.
9. ↑ United States Census, 1880, Enumeration sheet for Canterbury, Windham, Connecticut; Roll: 110; Page: 510D; Enumeration District: 135. Accessed on Ancestry.com at https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6742/images/4240022-00464; indexed at https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/24893591:6742
10. ↑ Connecticut Vital Records — Index of Deaths, 1897-2001, https://www.ctatatelibrarydata.org/death-records/, indexed at https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/673045:70866
11. ↑ Hale Collection of Cemetery Inscriptions and Newspaper Notices, 1629-1934, Connecticut State Library; Hartford, Connecticut. Connecticut Headstone Inscriptions Vol 08, page 108. Accessed on Ancestry.com at https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1237595:2900.
12. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/68016602/thomas-gilbert-clarke: accessed 02 November 2023), memorial page for Thomas Gilbert Clarke (16 Jun 1809–1901), Find a Grave Memorial ID 68016602, citing Hyde Cemetery, Canterbury, Windham County, Connecticut, USA; Maintained by wcclark (contributor 47298356). Includes gravestone photo.

• Canterbury, Connecticut Biographies. From: History of Windham County, Connecticut, Bayles, Richard M.; New York: W.W. Preston, 1889. Published online by ConnecticutGenealogy.com.
• Historical Catalogue of the Theological Institute of Connecticut, Hartford: Press of the Case, Lockwood & Brainard Company, 1881. page 28.
• Lincoln, Allen B. Modern History of Windham County, Connecticut. Publication: S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, Windham, Connecticut Page: page 1732 - http://books.google.com/books?id=zqkyAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA1732 Data: Date: 1920 Text: HON THOMAS GILBERT CLARKE. In a history of Connecticut extended mention should be made of Hon Thomas Gilbert Clarke long a valued resident of Windham county. He was born in the town of Franklin on the 16th of June 1809, a son of Allen Gates and Celinda Darling Clarke. He spent the greater part of his life in the town of Canterbury and was ever a worthy representative of an honored and prominent family. His brother was the Rev Asa F Clarke who for many years was pastor of churches in Vermont and Massachusetts. His sister was Mrs Lucius Chandler who long resided in Pomfret, Connecticut, and who was the mother of Louise Chandler Moulton, the noted writer of Pomfret whose juvenile writings for many years were of keenest interest and benefit to children. Seven generations of the family to which belonged Thomas G Clarke are buried in Canterbury and upon the tombstone that stands at the head of the grave of Nathaniel Clarke in the old Brewster burying ground is the inscription He was a Zealous Defender of Christianity of Civil and Religious Liberty and of Good Order. A well founded tradition makes Nathaniel Clarke a descendant of the Thomas Clarke who came over in the Mayfiower and who gave his name to Clarke's island in Plymouth harbor. Thomas Gilbert Clarke whose name introduces this review studied theology in early life and preached to a limited extent but devoted the greater part of his life to the occupation of farming and became a prominent representative of agricultural interests in Canterbury. He owned and occupied at different times two well known places in Windham county, first the farm which was formerly the home of General Moses Cleveland the founder of the city of Cleveland Ohio. It was upon this place that all of his children were born. He afterward became the owner of the dwelling on Canterbury Green that is now the home of his son in law Andrew J Hetrick. It was in this place that Prudence Crandall was conducting a school which she changed from a school for white children into one for colored people and thus her name became widely known as people either endorsed or criticised the project. For many years Mr Clarke remained a leading factor in the life of Windham county 11 representative of one of the oldest and best known families of the state. He was called upon to represent the town of Canterbury in the state legislature on several occasions and was also a member of the state senate. He thus left the impress of his individuality and his ability upon the legislative history of the state for during his connection with the general assembly he gave the most thoughtful and earnest consideration to the various vital problems which came up for settlement. His first wife was Cressa Judson, a niece of Hon Andrew T Judson, who was appointed by President Andrew Jackson as United States judge for the district of Connecticut. He gained a wide and well earned reputation as a jurist leaving the impress of his individuality and ability in marked manner upon the judicial history of the state. The second wife of Thomas G Clarke was Sarah H Johnson a descendant of Captain Obadiah Johnson who was an officer under General Israel Putnam in the Revolutionary war. To the first marriage of Mr Clarke there were born six children five of whom survived at the time of his death. He had traveled beyond the ninety second milestone on life's journey ere the weary wheels of life at length stood still In his death there passed one who had been an historical character of the state not only by reason of the fact that he had reached a most venerable age but also by reason of what he had achieved in the course of his long useful and honorable life.
• Find A Grave Page: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=68016602&FLid=75449131& Data: Text: Birth: Jun. 16, 1809. Death: 1901. The Honorable Thomas Gilbert Clarke was born in Franklin, Connecticut, June 16th, 1809. His parents were Allen Gates and Celinda (Darling) Clark, and his grandparents were Asa and Rebecca (Allen) Clarke. His brother was the Rev. Asa Franklin Clark and his sister was Louisa R. Clark Chandler. Mr. Clarke taught school in the winter time from the age of 16 to 21, then prepared for the seminary. He graduated from the Theological Institute of Connecticut at East Windsor Hill, Connecticut in 1840. He preached in Scotland, Connecticut to a limited extent, due to failing health, but devoted the greater part of his life to the occupation of farming. He became a prominent representative of agricultural interests in Canterbury. He owned and occupied two well known places in Windham county - first the farm which was formerly the home of General Moses Cleveland, the founder of Cleveland, Ohio.It was upon this place all his children were born. He afterward became the owner of the dwelling on Canterbury Green that became the home of his son-in-law, Andrew J. Hetrick. It was in this place that Prudence Crandall opened a private school for white girls and then reopened it for black girls. Mr. Clarke was a deacon of the First Congregational Church of Canterbury for 50 years. He was a member of the legislature for four years. Thomas G. Clarke of Canterbury, Windham County, Conn. was a member of Connecticut state senate 17th District, 1884-85. He married for his first wife Cressa Judson, on September 1, 1844, and by her had six children. Cressa passed away in 1866. He was married in April, 1870, to Sarah H. Johnson. In addition to Sarah, he is survived by his children: Rebecca, Isabella S. Clark Kingsley (Walter), Josephine J., Andrew T. J.(Ella), Allen G. and John D. He had traveled beyond the ninety-second milestone of life's journey ere " the weary wheels of life at length stood still " .
• Hale Collection: Hyde Cemetery, Canterbury. Page: http://www.ctgenweb.org/county/cowindham/records/cemetery/canterbury/canthydecem.htm Data: Clarke, Thomas G., born 1809, died 1901

Acknowledgements

Clarke-4821 was created by Ellen Smith through the import of AsaClarkDescendants.ged on Sep 13, 2014.