>From the book "History of Washington and Kent Counties, Rhode Island" by J.R. Cole, published 1889, New York, W.W. Preston & Company. Beginning on page 334. [xxx] respresents either notes or the page number. PELEG CLARKE. – John Clarke, the earliest representative of the Clarke family in America, came with Roger Williams from the county of Suffolk, England. His son, John Clarke, married Catherine Cook. Their son, Thomas Clarke, married Rose Perigo, whose son, Joseph, was the father of Joseph Clarke. Reverend Thomas Clarke, a son of the latter, was the father of Reverend Joseph Clarke. Reverend Joseph Clarke, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was the father of Thomas Clarke, whose son, Peleg Clarke, was born in 1794 in Newport, R.I., and at the age of twenty-four removed to Hopkinton, and Stonington, Conn., later became his home. He married Fanny, daughter of Captain Joseph Spicer, a popular landlord of Hopkinton City on the line of the New London and Providence turnpike. Their children were: Alfred, Peleg, Joseph, Fanny (Mrs. David Langworthy), Mary (Mrs. Jason P.W. Brown) and George, of whom one brother and two sisters survive. Peleg Clarke, of Westerly, was born December 25th, 1819, in Hopkinton, and in infancy removed to Stonington, his home for the succeeding thirteen years. He, until the age of sixteen, devoted the winter months to school and the remainder of the year to labor, his father being one of the most extensive farmers in the town. In 1835 the young man came to Westerly determined to master a trade. He was apprenticed to a carpenter and joiner, and such was his aptness at the work in hand that the end of the second year found him in charge of a gang of workmen. On completing his apprenticeship he began the business of contracting, his earliest order being the erection of the first church built by white residents in Charlestown. From this date his success as a skillful and reliable artisan was established and brought many large and important contracts. A great proportion of the buildings, both public and private, in the town are among his achievements, including the Stone mill at Potter Hill, built in 1847, the White Rock mill and village in 1849, the Dixon House in 1866, [335] many hotels at Watch Hill, and churches, banks, public schools and private residences in the town and vicinity. In 1843 he embarked in the lumber business, erecting for that purpose a planing mill and sash and blind factory. Mr. Clarke continued thus engaged until 1854, when he removed to Virginia as representative of the Melville Gold mining Company of New York, and continued this relation five years, meanwhile establishing a lucrative trade in lumber in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The years 1862 and 1863 were spent in Philadelphia, after which he returned to Westerly, resumed his vocation as a builder, and embarked in profitable speculations. He became identified with the interests of Messrs. Babcock & Moss, and also engaged in engineering and surveying. In 1869 Mr. Clarke was made a director of the Pawcatuck National Bank and a year later its president. He was one of the original stockholders, and is a director of the Westerly Gas Light Company, and one of the incorporators of the River Cemetery. In politics he affiliates with the republican party, but has never been an aspirant for office. His business ability, accurate methods and integrity have rendered his services much in demand as receiver, administrator and trustee, and made his advice invaluable with reference to investments. Mr. Clarke was in 1839 married to Mary T., daughter of Russell and Elizabeth Clarke of Newport. She died May 9th, 1888. Their children are: Mary Estelle (deceased, wife of Henry S. Mowry), Maria Arabella (Mrs. Perry R. Dellinger of Omaha), Frances Virginia (Mrs. William S. Briggs of Groton, Conn.) And Martha B. (Mrs. William S Eaton of Westerly).