Clark of Rumney Research

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]

Elizabeth (Clark) Preston (1760-1807)

The purpose of this page is to consolidate research concerning the ancestry of various Clark men and woman of Rumney, Grafton County, New Hampshire.

WIP

Contents 1 Haddam Land Records (9:184) 2 Rumney Families, apparent heirs of Joseph Clark of Haddam 3 Haddam Clark records 4 Conjecture and Identity Conflicts 5 Sources

Haddam Land Records (9:184)

Was the father Joseph Clark 2d of Haddam? The transcribed Haddam Vital Records from Barbour mention children of Joseph Clark 2d, generally calling out wife Elizabeth, include reports about Charles Clark, born Haddam, 23 May 1747; Susannah Clark, born Haddam, 28 April 1748; Joseph Clark, born Haddam, 10 April 1750; Jonathan Clark, born Haddam, September 1751; Michael Clark, born Haddam, 19 August 1753, died there 3 September 1753; Michael Clark, born Haddam, 9 October 1754, surely the "Mical" baptized Haddam, 17 November 1754^[1] ("Mical ye child of Joseph & Elizabeth Clark").

A will or probate record for this Joseph Clark 2d has not been located. Haddam Land Records include a 1775 record (referenced as 9:184),^[2]

Know ye by these Presents that we Elizabeth Clark, Joseph Clark, Jonathan Clark and Michael Clark, all of Rumney in the Province of New Hampshire, Grafton County by these Presents constitute and appoint Charles Clark of Rumney aforesaid our Lawful Attorney to act in all Respects to Sell & take the Pay or security for the pay in all the affair Relating to the Interest or Estate of Joseph Clark of Haddam in Conncticut in the County of Hartford deceased to Settle all our affairs in sd Haddam as fully as were we their Personally Present. In witness whereof we have herunto set our hands this 9th day of January in the year 1775. Elizabeth Clark, Joseph Clark, Jonathan Clark, Michael Clark, Susannah Clark [their mark, X, each name].

The "Elizabeth Clark" listed first in this entry could have been a widow or a daughter; the record is not clear. Separate research into the Clark families of Rumney indicates strong onomastic clues, so that if the "Elizabeth" above was not the person who later became Elizabeth (Clark) Preston, she was surely closely related to those whose names appear. ^[3]

Rumney Families, apparent heirs of Joseph Clark of Haddam

Charles Clark, and wife Molly [Grafton Co. Deeds] had known children at Rumney:
.....Charles Clark, Jr., d. 1798 [Grafton Co. Deeds]
.....Molly Clark, b. 24 Sept 1767, Rumney [NH VR]
.....Olive Clark, b. 13 Jan 1779, Rumney [NH VR]
.....Joseph Clark b. 28 Jan 1781, Rumney [NH VR]

Appears the family, as below, 1790 US Census, Rumney, New Hampshire [Ancestry.com]:
.....Clark, Charles 3-1-3 (7); three males 16 or older, 1 male under ae 16, and 4 females

Charles Clark's wife's full name given as "Molly Brown" in Farwell, _The Farwell family ..._, vol. 1 (1929), pg. 107 (Ancestry.com) [8]. Farwell reports three sons: Jonathan, Michael and Charles, Jr.

The son Charles Clark, Jr. m. Sarah Greenough, dau. of William Greenough, who became guardian of Charles, Jr.'s daus. Sarah Clare and Sena [Asenath] Clark by 1808 [_New Hampshire Gazette_, Jun 21, 1808, page 4 (Genealogybank.com)].

Susannah Clark of Rumney m. Benjamin Wells, s/o Winthrop and Dorothy (Healey) Wells

Salisbury, Mass., US GenWeb, provides a family group sheet by John Wells (2002) for Benjamin Wells of Plymouth, New Hampshire, b. c1747 at Chester, New Hampshire, citing _History of Plymouth_ and NH VR, "Benjamin m1 Lydia Wesson who died 28 Sept 1776; he m. 2 to "Susannah Clark of Rumney, NH" on 6 Feb 1777," reports that Benjamin and Susannah Clark Wells had one child, Susannah b. 28 Sept 1777, d. 3 Oct 1777.

Susannah's mother-in-law, Dorothy Healey (1724-aft.1797) was the older sister of Hannah (Healey) Preston (1734-1812), the mother-in-law of Elizabeth (Clark) Preston (1760-1807). William and Elizabeth (Clark) Preston named their seventh born son, Wells Preston.

Susannah's only known child, Susannah Wells, was born in 1777 and survived but a few days. For some Wells genealogy, see Ezra S Stearns, History of Plymouth, New Hampshire, 2 vols. (Cambridge: University Press, 1906), 2:726-735 (Thomas Wells and some descendants) at 727 (Winthrop Wells) and 727-728 (Benjamin Wells); digital images, InternetArchive,

Winthop Wells ... m. Dorothy Healey, dau. of William and Mary (Sanborn) Healey of Chester. He settled in Candia, removing to Plymouth, 1765. He purchased of Abel Wester a right in the township ... He was a lieutenant. He d. 1797.

[Children],

1. Benjamin Wells
2. Paul Wells
3. Hannah Wells ... m. ... William Greenough
4. Sally Wells; m. Enoch Merrill
5. Susannah Wells ... m. ... Peter Cline
6. Winthop Wells
7. Phebe Wells ... m ... John Abbott.

Benjamin Wells ... b. Chester, about 1747. m. in Plymouth, May 11, 1768, Lydia Wesson, dau. of Ephram Wesson ..., [she] d. Sep. 28, 1776. He m. second, Feb 6, 1777, Susannah Clark. He was a soldier in the Revolution (see vol I.)

[Children],

1. Lydia Wells ...  ; m. David Alls
2. Nathan Wells, b. June 3, 1771, d. Sept 1771
3. Ludy Wells, b. June 7, 1772; m. Enoch George
4. Susannah Wells, b. Sept 29, 1777, d. Oc 3, 1777

Benjamin-Susannah seem the family below, 1790 US Census, Plymouth, NH [Ancestry.com]:
.....Wells, Benjamin 1-0-3 (4); 1 male 16 or older; 3 females

Joseph Clark had wife Hannah and known children:
.....Hannah Clark, b. 25 Feb 1783, Rumney [NH VR]
.....Polly Clark, b. 25 Sept 1785, Rumney [NH VR]

Appears the family as below, 1790 US Census, Rumney, New Hampshire [Ancestry.com]:
.....Clark, Joseph 1-0-4 (5); 1 male 16 or older; 4 females

Jonathan Clark and wife Ruth had known children:
.....James Clark, b. 23 Oct 1774, Rumney [NH VR]
.....Mary Clark, b. 18 Jul 1776, Rumney [NH VR]
.....Michael Clark, b. 26 April 1779, Rumney [NH VR]
.....Susannah Clark, b. 24 Mar 1781, Rumney [NH VR]
.....Sarah Clark, b. 09 Dec 1783, Rumney [NH VR]
.....Jonathan Clark, b. 14 Jun 1784, Rumney [NH VR]

Appears the family, as below, 1790 US Census, Rumney, New Hampshire [Digital images; Ancestry]:
.....Clark, Jonathan 2-2-4 (8); 2 males over 16, 2 males under 16, 4 females
This Jonathan Clark was ae 67 on 7 July 1819 [Rev. War Pension file, S45680], thus b. c1752. His daughter Sarah m. unknown Piper [Rev. War Pension file (NH), S45680]. Same source reports another dau. married David Craig of Rumney.

Maj. William Preston, and his son, Joseph Preston, both provided declarations that are contained in this Jonathan Clark's Rev. War Pension file; both declarations concerned the value of Jonathan Clark's land but do mention they have long known him.

Noteworthy: Barbour records report the marriage of one "Jonathan Clarke & Ruth Clarke," Oct 1773 [7]--but which Jonathan?

Elizabeth Clark (possibly) born 22 February 1760 [Rumney VR], died Rumney, 19 Jun 1807 [Rumney VR]; married William Preston. Twelve children, see Elizabeth (Clark) Preston (1760-1807).

Where is Michael Clark? See Haddam Land Records for notice of "Michael Clark" of Rumney, 1775.

Haddam Clark records

Conjecture and Identity Conflicts

Immigrant William Clark (abt.1610-1681) (PGM) has son Joseph Clark (1653-1723) who married Ruth (Spencer) Clark (1654-1744). From an associations standpoint, the descendants of this immigrating ancestor would be good candidates as the Rumney Clark's parentage, given the connection between the Spencers and the Brainerds, and the connection between the Brainerds and the settlement of Rumney.

Have adopted the profile of their son, Joseph Clark (abt.1683-1750), who WikiTreers say is the man who married Susannah Sheather. His profile and those of his parents, etc. all lack historical support.

2d doesn't always mean Jr.; Jr. doesn't always mean Jr.

Two men Joseph Clark.

There are TWO Joseph Clarks of Haddam who could be easily confused. See [1] Coralynn Brown, "Haddam Vital Records from Barbour, 1668-1852,"" online vital record transcriptions, Dunham-Wilcox-Trott-Kirk (http://dunhamwilcox.net/barbour/haddam_barbour_c.htm : accessed 14 October 2008), for various entries

Joseph Clark, 2d, "m Elizabeth ______," 26 June 1746
Joseph Clark, Jr. "m. Lydia ______," 9 Nov 1749

What records would distinguish Joseph Clark 2nd from Joseph Clark, Jr.???

See (if you can find), GeneJ, "[CLARK-WM-HADDAM] Two men, Joseph Clark, both of Haddam 1740-1750 +," post of 31 October 2008 to CTMiddle-L (Rootsweb); web content [links no longer functioning]; archival copy in possession of GeneJ. From the archival copy,

Joseph Clark, 2d, "m Elizabeth ______," 26 June 1746 ^[4] and had apparent:
.....Charles, son Joseph, 2d,& Elizabeth, b May 23, 1747^[5]
.....Susanna, dau Joseph 2d, b Apr 28, 1748^[6]
.....Joseph, son Joseph 2d, b Apr 10, 1750^[7]
.....Jonathan, son Joseph 2d, b Sept __, 1751^[8]
.....Michael, son Joseph, b Aug 19, 1753^[9]
.....Michael, son Joseph, died Sept 3, 1753^[10]
.....Michael 2d, son Joseph, b Oct 9, 1754^[11]
....."Mical ye child of Joseph & Elizabeth Clark," bap. 17 Nov. 1754^[12]

Sources

1. ↑ Mical Clark 1754 baptism, The two hundredth anniversary of the First Congregational Church of Haddam, Connecticut ... (Haddam, 1902), 259; digital images, InternetArchive
2. ↑ Carolyn Porter-Fraher, "[CTMD] Haddam Land Records," post of 13 January 2001 in CTMiddle-L Archives; web content [links no longer functioning]; archival copy in possession of GeneJ.
3. ↑ GeneJ, "Joseph Clark 2nd, Joseph Clark Jr. -- 1740"s at Haddam," post of 7 November 2008 to CTMiddle-L (Rootsweb); web content [links no longer functioning]; archival copy in possession of GeneJ.
4. ↑ Coralynn Brown, "Haddam Vital Records from Barbour, 1668-1852,"" online vital record transcriptions, Dunham-Wilcox-Trott-Kirk (http://dunhamwilcox.net/barbour/haddam_barbour_c.htm : accessed 14 October 2008), various entries.
5. ↑ Coralynn Brown, "Haddam Vital Records from Barbour, 1668-1852,"" online vital record transcriptions, Dunham-Wilcox-Trott-Kirk (http://dunhamwilcox.net/barbour/haddam_barbour_c.htm : accessed 14 October 2008), various entries.
6. ↑ Coralynn Brown, "Haddam Vital Records from Barbour, 1668-1852,"" online vital record transcriptions, Dunham-Wilcox-Trott-Kirk (http://dunhamwilcox.net/barbour/haddam_barbour_c.htm : accessed 14 October 2008), various entries.
7. ↑ Coralynn Brown, "Haddam Vital Records from Barbour, 1668-1852,"" online vital record transcriptions, Dunham-Wilcox-Trott-Kirk (http://dunhamwilcox.net/barbour/haddam_barbour_c.htm : accessed 14 October 2008), various entries.
8. ↑ Coralynn Brown, "Haddam Vital Records from Barbour, 1668-1852,"" online vital record transcriptions, Dunham-Wilcox-Trott-Kirk (http://dunhamwilcox.net/barbour/haddam_barbour_c.htm : accessed 14 October 2008), various entries.
9. ↑ Coralynn Brown, "Haddam Vital Records from Barbour, 1668-1852,"" online vital record transcriptions, Dunham-Wilcox-Trott-Kirk (http://dunhamwilcox.net/barbour/haddam_barbour_c.htm : accessed 14 October 2008), various entries.
10. ↑ Coralynn Brown, "Haddam Vital Records from Barbour, 1668-1852,"" online vital record transcriptions, Dunham-Wilcox-Trott-Kirk (http://dunhamwilcox.net/barbour/haddam_barbour_c.htm : accessed 14 October 2008), various entries.
11. ↑ Coralynn Brown, "Haddam Vital Records from Barbour, 1668-1852,"" online vital record transcriptions, Dunham-Wilcox-Trott-Kirk (http://dunhamwilcox.net/barbour/haddam_barbour_c.htm : accessed 14 October 2008), various entries.
12. ↑ First Congregational Church, The Two Hundredth Anniversary of the First Congregational Church of Haddam, Connecticut ... (1902); digital images, Goggle Books (http://books.google.com : accessed 7 October 2008), page 255-298 for Baptisms; entry at page 259 from Middle Haddam Church Record for 17 November 1754 baptism of "Mical ye child of Joseph & Elizabeth Clark."

• Coralynn Brown, "Haddam Vital Records from Barbour, 1668-1852,"" online vital record transcriptions, Dunham-Wilcox-Trott-Kirk (http://dunhamwilcox.net/barbour/haddam_barbour_c.htm : accessed 14 October 2008), various entries

• First Congregational Church, The Two Hundredth Anniversary of the First Congregational Church of Haddam, Connecticut ... (1902); digital images, Goggle Books (http://books.google.com : accessed 7 October 2008), page 255-298 for Baptisms; entry at page 259 from Middle Haddam Church Record for 17 November 1754 baptism of "Mical ye child of Joseph & Elizabeth Clark."

• First Congregational Church, The Two Hundredth Anniversary of the First Congregational Church of Haddam, Connecticut ... (1902); digital images, Goggle Books (http://books.google.com : accessed 7 October 2008), page 255-298 for Baptisms; entry at pg 263, for "Record kept by Record kept by Rev. Eleazer May," reporting baptism April 1760 of on Elisabeth, the dau. of Joseph Clark." See also note [__], below

• Lucy Abigail Brainard, _The genealogy of the Brainerd-Brainard family in America : 1654-1908_ (1908), vol. I-part III (Joshua), pages 44-5 (Daniel and Esther); 52-3 (Asahel and Hannah Presson/Preston); digital images, Hathi Trust.

• John Scribner Jenness, _Notes on the first Planting of New Hampshire._ (1895) [digital images at Google books], pgs 484 (Olmstead group) and 488 (Brainard group).

• Carolyn Porter-Fraher, regarding the estate of Joseph Clark "in Hadam" in "Haddam Land Records," message board posting, Connecticut Middle-List dated 13 Jan 2001, archive online, Rootsweb.com (http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/CTMIDDLE/2001- 01/0979416705 : accessed 14 October 2008; as transcribed by Carolyn on 12 June 1997 at Haddam Town Hall.

• "Early Connecticut Marriages," transcription of original by Frederick Bailey 1896-1901, described as "Marriage performed by Rev. Eleazer May of the Congregational Church between 1756 and 1799"; online derivative, Jane Devline (http://dunhamwilcox.net/ct/haddam_rev_may_marr.htm : 20 Oct 2008)

• John Dennis Farwell, _The Farwell family : a history of Henry Farwell..._ (1929); digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 October 2008), page 1: 187, entry for Molly Brown