David Clarkson Sr. (1694 - 1751)

Born 19 Jan 1694 in New York, Province of New York

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 7 Apr 1751 at age 57 in New York, Province of New York

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Biography

Baptism: 19 Aug 1694, Reformed Dutch Church, New York, NY (wit: Charles Lodowyck, Margareta Meynards) see Charles Lodowyck (Lodewick-6 )

David Clarkson was born in New York City and raised there by his maiden aunt, Margarieta Goosense Van Schaick, who later became his mother-in-law. In 1718 he was in mercantile business in England, later became a wealthy merchant of New York City. He was a member of the State Assembly, 1739-1751. He became patentee of pew No. 6 in Trinity Church, New York City, in June 1728 and is buried in it's churchyard. He lived in Flatbush, LI. Clarkson Avenue off Nostrand Avenue was named for the family.

David was born in New York in 1694. He may have been educated in England. By 1718, he was a merchant in London. He returned to America within the next six years and married Ann Margaret Freeman in 1724. "David continued to trade with profit and advantage in the colony," states "The Clarkson Family of Potsdam." "Besides having a joint interest in other vessels, he owned several of his own and carried on trade principally in European and East Indian goods." David and his wife had four children - Freeman (1724-1770), David M. (1726-1782) from whom some of the Potsdam Clarksons are descended; Matthew (1733-1772) who married Elizabeth Depeyster and whose son David M. (1760-1815) was one of the original purchasers of the Town of Potsdam in 1802; and Levinus (1740-1798).

In his will, he wrote: ...I, Daniel Clarkson, of New York, merchant, being in health. I leave to my wife, Anne Margaretta, all her jewels, gold watch, and wearing apparell, to dispose of as she may think fit, and what I shall bequeath to her is by agreement between us. I leave to my eldest son, Freeman Clarkson, now in England, all my printed books, or Library, but if he shall not return then to my son David. Within six months my books of account are to be posted and ballanced to the day of my death and transferred to new books by Mr. Abraham Lott, Jr., who now lives with me, for which and for assisting my ex- ecutors I give him £50. My executors are to sell all goods and movables, and shares of movables. All the rest of my estate I leave to my wife and my four sons, Freeman, David, Matthew, and Levines. My wife is to have the use of all my farm or Plantation at Flatbush, in King's County, with the houses and the woodland and meadow I bought of Cornelius Suydam, and the piece of land I bought of Adrian Hegeman, with the cattle and improvements, and my household goods and plate in my house in New York, and elsewhere. After her decease, all to be sold, and the money to be paid to my children. And whereas I have already given some of my children considerable sums of money, and other effects in order to begin the world, they are charged with the same, so that they may not have more than the others. I make my wife and sons, executors. Dated August 31, 1749. Witnesses, Beverley Robinson, Walter Hyer, Andrew Gautier. Proved, June 27, 1751. David Clarkson was a distinguished mercerchant in New York, his home being several lots on the north side of Pine street, a little east of Pearl street.-

Inscription: CLARKSON VAULT 1767 Trinity Churchyard Find A Grave Memorial# 46569373

Sources

The Ancestry and Posterity of Matthew Clarkson (1664-1702) Compiled by J. Robert T. Craine, Harry W. Hazard, Ed. Published by J. Robert T. Craine, 1971 599 Pages

Memoirs of Matthew Clarkson of Philadelphia, 1735-1800, and of his brother Gerardus Clarkson, 1737-1790; by John Hall and Samuel Clarkson Published 1890