John Clarkson (abt. 1730 - 1817)

Born about 1730 in Goochland County, Virginia [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 1817 at about age 87 in Franklin County, Virginia, United States

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Biography

John Clarkson served with Civil Service, Virginia during the American Revolution.

John Clarkson is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A022806.

John Clarkson may or may not be the son of John Clarkson of Goochland County, Virginia, who died in 1759.

He was a surveyor of roads during the American Revolution as per Amherst County, Virginia Order Book.

Chancery records in Louisa County, Virginia, show that John Clarkson married Mary Medlock, sister of George Medlock Jr, and had the following children from about 1755 to 1764:

• Fanny Carter
• Lucy Dodd
• Catherine Jones
• John Clarkson
• James Clarkson

Whether John Clarkson may have married a Judith Womack in Goochland who then died isn't known at this time, but John Clarkson later married a Susannah by 1767 when his daughter Polly was born.

Presumably by Susannah, John Clarkson had several more children, including the following:

• Polly Ballinger
• William Clarkson
• Anselm Clarkson
• David Clarkson
• Elizabeth Taylor

Though John Clarkson lived for much of his adult life in Amherst County, Virginia, he later moved to Franklin County, Virginia, where he died. His will was written on May 19, 1817, and was probated on August 4, 1817, in Franklin County.

His will giving slaves to his daughter Elizabeth, wife of Abraham Taylor, led to protracted litigation between her and the other heirs and their descendants. From these records, we know all of John Clarkson's children and some of his grandchildren.

Sources

Will of John Clarkson, 1817, Franklin County, Virginia.

John S Hale et al vs. John Wade et al, Franklin County, Virginia, Chancery Case, 1853-002 (Library of Virginia).

Heirs of George Medlock vs. John Dickinson et al, Louisa County, Virginia, Chancery Case, 1819-025 (Library of Virginia).