Jeremiah Clemens (1732 - 1811)

Born 1732 in Hunterdon, New Jersey

Ancestors

Descendants

Died Nov 1811 at about age 79 in Amherst County, Virginia, USA

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Biography

Jeremiah Clemens (son of Ezekiel/Ezekall Clemens and Christina Castell/Castwell)) was born 1732 in Hunterdon, New Jersey, and died November 17, 1811 in Amhurst Co, Virginia. He married Elizabeth Moore on Abt. 1763 in Trenton, Burlington Co., NJ, daughter of Gersham Moore and Mercy Furman.

Notes for Jeremiah Clemens: After the 1788 decision Abraham's brother, Jeremiah and his sons, Ezekiel, Gershom and James began to cultivate the farm and cut trees on it. Robert Shaw in 1789 sued the 4 Clemens' for trespass. They responded in 1793 by saying that 'their right of possession is derived from said Abraham Clemens, heir at law of Abraham Clemens the elder and Ezekiel Clemens, deceased." The suit was finally dismissed in April 1800 after the land suit was settled and after the death of Robert Shaw.

In connection with this suit, Samuel Clemens, evidently of Rockbridge County, was summoned to appear at Staunton as a witness. "The Commonwealth of Virginia to the sheriff of Rockbridge County. Greeting, you are hereby commanded to summon Joseph Stricklin and Samuel Clements to appear...at the Courthouse in Staunton on the 4th day of Sept Court next to testify and the truth to say in behalf of Jeremiah Clements and others...in a certain matter...between Robert Shaw, plaintiff and said Jeremiah Clements and others. defendants...this 10th day of August 1791."

Samuel was born about 1770 and in 1789 was a minor, but by August 1791, he had reach 21. There is no record of what he said as a witness. On Aug 20, 1792, Jeremiah Clements, Ezekiel Clements, Gershom Clements, Major Dowell, Samuel Hite and John Purris were ordered to appear in court Sept 2, 1792 in the case of Clements vs. Shaw. One of them became ill and this letter, written by Samuel Clemens, grandfather of Mark Twain, is on file. The original is reproduced on the next page. There is a marriage bond for Samuel Clemens in Bedford County. 'My brother, being in company last Sunday, was a week then started, told me he was a-going to Richmond for papers respecting a suit in this court between Clemens and Shaw...After being gone for some days a messenger came to me and inforrmed me that he, my brother, was sick and requested me to come to him. I went and found him some what recovered. As he informed me, he also told me he had taken unwell after he started and proved unable to prosecute his journey. Samuel Clemens. Sworn to before me this 6th day of Sept 1792, Alex St. Clair. (St. Clair was a magistrate at Staunton)

Robert Shaw's claim to the farm was based on the following: October 18, 1753 - Robert McClenachan put in a claim for the Clements land, since Abraham Clements, in whom the said land is since become vested, (is) not, an inhabitant of this colony"...McClenachan was granted a patent Sep 16, 1765. In 1791, when he willed the farm to his son, Alexander, Robert Shaw was living on it. The long chain of events in both law suits covers the period 1739-1800. The final disposition was at Richmond on November 1, 1798.

About Jeremiah Clemens and Elizabeth Moore:Marriage: Abt. 1763, Trenton, Burlington Co., NJ.

Children of Jeremiah Clemens and Elizabeth Moore are:

1.Ezekiel Clemens, b. July 18, 1764, Amherst County, Virginia, d. 1809, South Carolina or Springfield.

2.Gershom Gillespie Clemens, b. March 22, 1766, Amherst Co., Virginia, d. January 29, 1839, Carrssvile, Livingston County, Kentucky.

3.James Clemens, b. 1768, d. 1811.

4.Samuel B. Clemens, b. 1772, Bedford County, Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, d. 1805, Madison Co./Macon Co, West Virginia.

5.Christina Jeanett Clemens, b. September 18, 1775, d. June 08, 1817, Henry County, Virginia. Mahlon Clemens, b. Abt. 1782, d. 1824, Amberst Co, VA.

6. Deborah Clemens, b. Abt. 1785, d. Aft. 1848, Amberst Co, VA.

7. Phoebe Clemens, b. Abt. 1787, Virginia, d. 1846.

Jeremiah Clemens was great grandfather to Samuel L. Clemens.

Sources