Hello, I've told my grandmother's story many times; it's a long, complicated story. She was twice-orphaned in or near Boston, MA, before and after being adopted by John and Mary (CLARK) DEXTER in MA in 1892. They were long-time residents of Killingly, CT, and moved to MA ~1885. But, I haven't mentioned the CLARK part of the story in a long time. A researcher reminded me a few months ago that there were CLARK families in and near Killingly in the mid-1800's. I haven't had time to look into this, but I'm doing it this morning. The beginning part of the story is that Mrs. Mary "Molly" DEXTER was born in Westport, MA, ~1836 as Mary Anna CLARK. She had been abandoned by her father, James CLARK, when she was about 10. James was her mother's 2nd husband. Her mother at this time was Mrs. Rhoda (MANCHESTER) (LAVARE) CLARK, and she had 3 LAVARE children. All 4 children grew up in Westport. James CLARK is one of my "concrete-block walls put together with reinforced cement." We have no clue as to where he was born. If he was the same age as Rhoda, he was born 1790-1800. I'll explain what I know at the bottom of the message. To start with, we also have no clue as to how Mary CLARK from Westport met John DEXTER from Killingly. (They married ~1855 and possibly in Stonington, CT, but lived their early married life in Killingly.) So, someone has suggested that "perhaps" Mary's father, James, came from a CT family, and maybe she had visited his family after he had deserted her ~1845. I just checked census information, and, as most people know, CLARK, is a very difficult surname to research. In 1800, there were 444 CLARK families in CT, in 7 different counties, with 57 of them in Windham Co. There was one family in Killingly and a few in Brooklyn. In 1820, there were 483 CLARK families in CT, with 72 of them in Windham Co. Now there are Benjamin and Jacob in Killingly. Up to 1860, there are 1189 CLARK's in CT, with 74 of them in Windham Co. There were 2 men in Killingly and a few in Brooklyn. Up to 1880, there were ~4000 CLARK's in CT, with 214 of them in Windham Co. Mary "Molly" CLARK would have been in Westport, MA, from ~1835 until ~1855 when she married in CT. (I'll check my notes on her possible marriage date.) And, then John and Molly lived in Killingly where they had 3 daughters. So, IF Molly had met John in CT, perhaps she was visiting the CLARK families in Windham Co. in the 1840's. And then she would have been in closer contact with them during 1850's until 1880's (when couple moved to MA). Just wondering if researchers think this is a possibility. (For newcomers, see the archives of the Lists for further information.) Betty (near Lowell, MA) FYI: James CLARK was prob. born 1790-1800 - somewhere ! He "appears" in Little Compton, RI, ~1827 and marries in nearby Westport, MA, in 1829. He fathers a daughter there ~1835, and then "disappears" in 1840's. He might have been the James who got on a ship in New Bedford, MA, which was heading out to the Indian Ocean. He deserted in Australia in 1845. (He might have also been the James who was on a small ship in the St. Lawrence River in Canada in 1825. If so, he was a "travelin' man.") ** New Lists to consider joining: New England Railroads, New England Societies, New England Memories www.rootsweb.com Find a List -- or Index (search for "New England")

Hi Betty, I am a descendant of another one of those John Clark's. I have collected data on my line of Clarks and will be happy to send you the lineage if you e mail me privately.   Nancy Tourjee Mauro www.Tourjee.net Unit 7199-400 Lemmon Ln.S. Ellijay, Ga 30540 706-636-2657 ONE FLAG...ONE LANGUAGE ...ONE NATION .............39 + million illegals....definately impact our economy. -------Original Message------- From: Betty Date: 7/29/2009 6:51:52 AM To: GenConnecticut-L@rootsweb.com; ct-windhamco@rootsweb.com Subject: [CT] CLARK, 1790 to 1890's (DEXTER) Hello, I've told my grandmother's story many times; it's a long, complicated story. She was twice-orphaned in or near Boston, MA, before and after being adopted by John and Mary (CLARK) DEXTER in MA in 1892. They were long-time residents of Killingly, CT, and moved to MA ~1885. But, I haven't mentioned the CLARK part of the story in a long time. A researcher reminded me a few months ago that there were CLARK families in and near Killingly in the mid-1800's. I haven't had time to look into this, but I'm doing it this morning. The beginning part of the story is that Mrs. Mary "Molly" DEXTER was born in Westport, MA, ~1836 as Mary Anna CLARK. She had been abandoned by her father, James CLARK, when she was about 10. James was her mother's 2nd husband. Her mother at this time was Mrs. Rhoda (MANCHESTER) (LAVARE) CLARK, and she had 3 LAVARE children. All 4 children grew up in Westport. James CLARK is one of my "concrete-block walls put together with reinforced cement." We have no clue as to where he was born. If he was the same age as Rhoda, he was born 1790-1800. I'll explain what I know at the bottom of the message. To start with, we also have no clue as to how Mary CLARK from Westport met John DEXTER from Killingly. (They married ~1855 and possibly in Stonington, CT, but lived their early married life in Killingly.) So, someone has suggested that "perhaps" Mary's father, James, came from a CT family, and maybe she had visited his family after he had deserted her ~1845. I just checked census information, and, as most people know, CLARK, is a very difficult surname to research. In 1800, there were 444 CLARK families in CT, in 7 different counties, with 57 of them in Windham Co. There was one family in Killingly and a few in Brooklyn. In 1820, there were 483 CLARK families in CT, with 72 of them in Windham Co. Now there are Benjamin and Jacob in Killingly. Up to 1860, there are 1189 CLARK's in CT, with 74 of them in Windham Co. There were 2 men in Killingly and a few in Brooklyn. Up to 1880, there were ~4000 CLARK's in CT, with 214 of them in Windham Co. Mary "Molly" CLARK would have been in Westport, MA, from ~1835 until ~1855 when she married in CT. (I'll check my notes on her possible marriage date.) And, then John and Molly lived in Killingly where they had 3 daughters. So, IF Molly had met John in CT, perhaps she was visiting the CLARK families in Windham Co. in the 1840's. And then she would have been in closer contact with them during 1850's until 1880's (when couple moved to MA). Just wondering if researchers think this is a possibility. (For newcomers, see the archives of the Lists for further information.) Betty (near Lowell, MA) FYI: James CLARK was prob. born 1790-1800 - somewhere ! He "appears" in Little Compton, RI, ~1827 and marries in nearby Westport, MA, in 1829. He fathers a daughter there ~1835, and then "disappears" in 1840's. He might have been the James who got on a ship in New Bedford, MA, which was heading out to the Indian Ocean. He deserted in Australia in 1845. (He might have also been the James who was on a small ship in the St. Lawrence River in Canada in 1825. If so, he was a "travelin' man.") ** New Lists to consider joining: New England Railroads, New England Societies, New England Memories www.rootsweb.com Find a List -- or Index (search for "New England") ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to GENCONNECTICUT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ____________________________________________________________ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: 270.13.35/2270 - Release Date: 07/29/09 06:12:00