Check this out . . . James CLARK b. 1704, VA, m. Abt 1726, Elizabeth SUMMERS b. Abt 1706, Probably VA, d. 1781, VA. James died 1778, VA. Spouse Notes: the name of Clark means a learned person- that is, one who could read and write, which was a rare accomplishment in the olden times. As a surname, Clark and Clarke appears frequently, from LeClere; and medieval bearers of the name were very proud of it. The name took several compounds which are: Beauclark - the good Clark; Mauclerk - the bad Clark; Kenclerk- the knowing Clark; and Petyclerk - the little Clark. the name of Clark, in its various forms, is one of great antiquity, having probably been used in Great Britain as early as the eleventh century. Since the name implied literacy, its use as a name was eagerly coveted; hence it frequent use. Many people added "le clerk's to their names. The "let' was finally dropped, and only Clerk was left or, as it was pronounced, Clark. The final "e" is an addition in later times. In the fifty years following the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth and the English in Virginia, many persons of the name of Clark left England for the New World. Some of them, like Richard Clarke, who was a passenger on the Mayflower, left no children, but it was the good fortune of others to found families who have been active in the early New England settlements and the Virginia pioneers who so bravely established homes in the wilderness. There is a very strong tradition which says that our paternal ancestor who came to this country, emigrated from England to Virginia, and that his name was John. He came from the County of Kent, England and settled at Jamestown between 1630 and 1635. tradition is that he settled on the James River and became a planter; that either on the vessel coming over, or soon thereafter, he met, and fell in love with a Scotch girl, Hannah Wiatt, who became his wife. John died in Jamestown c. 1645. The pioneer ancestor of the Monroe County, (West) Virginia line was James Clark of Augusta County, who according to tradition, was the son of John Clark, third in descent from John Clark the immigrant . James CLARK James Clark settled in Augusta County, Virginia in 1740. He was one of William Beverley's land agehis name frequently appears in the records of the county. He owned a large plantation (800) acres some nine miles southwest of Staunton, near the old Glebe Cemetery, and in th area of the old North Mountain Meeting House. The land is called "James Clark's Old Plantation" in the Augusta County Courthouse records. The old home was demolished c. 1928. Records show that James was a member of Captain John Willison's Virginia Militia of 1742; and that he also served his country in the French and Indian War in 1758. (Hening, Volume 7, Augusta County Section). James married Elizabeth Summers, who died in 1781. James died in 1778; his will dated 20 Aug, 1774; proved 17 Mar 1778 is recorded in Augusta County Will Book 6, Page 4, at the Courthouse in Staunton, Virginia. All the children are listed in Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia 1745-1800, Vol. III, p.150 Will Book No. VI (p. 4), by Lyman Chalkley Vol. III, Genealogical Publication, Baltimore, Md. James Clark's Will. James Clark purchased from William Beverley, Esq. on 14 May 1746, 380 acres of land "... on the head branch of Middle River in Beverley Manor ". He later transferred, by deed in Augusta County, Virginia, this tract of land to three of his sons as follows: 20 Aug 1765 to John Clark eighty Acres . . ." Deed Book 12, p. 108. 20 Aug 1766 to Samuel Clark eighty-four Acres . . ." Deed Book 13, pp. 45 and 46. 20 Aug 1766 to Robert Clark Two hundred and sixteen Acres Deed Book 13, pp. 47 and 48. ". . . of land lying in the County Augusta on the head branch of Middle Riverof Shanandore (Shenandoah) in Beverley Mannor being a part of a larger tract of three hundred and eighty Acres first made over to the said James Clark by William beverley, Esq. by Deeds of Lease and Relase dated the fourteenth and fifteenth days of May one thousand Seven hundred and forty six . . . " Will of James Clark In the Name of God Amen "I James Clark of the County of Augusta and Colony of Virginia being Sick of body but of perfect Judgment and memory do appoint this to be my Last will and testament in the manor following and first I commit my body to the Earth to be buried Decently at the Discresion of my Executors hereafter Named and my Soul to God who gave it fully persuaded of a general Resurection and as touching my worldly Estate I apoint that all Debts and funeral charges be first paid and that all the Remainder of my Estate be divided in the following manor. Item: I give and bequeath to my Daughter Jean Clark two shillings Star I give Likewise to my daughter Elizabeth Regh two Shilings Star and Likewise my Daughter Sarah Clark two Shillings Star and Likewis to my son John two shillings Star and Likewis to my son James two Shillings Star and Likewise to my son William Heir five Shilings Starling and my Daughter Ane Dunlap two shillings Star and to my son Alexander two shillings Star and to my son Samuel two shillings Starling and to my son Robert two shillings Star and to my Dater Marget two shillings Starling and all the Remainder of my Estate both money and goods I leave to my well beloved wife for her support and at her Disposal and I do here-by constitut ordain and appoint my well beloved son William Regh and my well beloved wife Elisabeth to Executors of this my Last will and testament and I formerly Revoke Disanull and mak void all for-mer wills gifts Legeicys mad or done by me and do Ratify and con-firm this to be my Last Will and testament give under my hand and Seal this 20th Day of Agust and in ye year of our Lord 1774" James Clark Signed Sealed in the presents of: James McCleery John McCleery Jas. Ewing At a Court held for Augusta County March the 17th 1778 This last Will and Testament of James Clark dec'd was proved by the Oaths of Jas. McCleery and James Ewing two of the witnesses thereto and Ordered to be Recorded and on the motion of the Executor therein named who made Oath according to Law Certificate for Obtaining a probat thereof in due form is granted them, they having acknowledged their bond according to law." Spouse Research: 1. Information submitted to the Green County Historical and Genealogical Society (Arkansas) Quarterly Summer 1988, by Helen Wood Brown. pg. 82/83 Information found 1993. 2. Chalkey vol. 111, p. 150 in Will Book V1 on page 4, 20 Aug 1774. Will proved 17 Mar 1778 Children: Jane (Jean) Elizabeth Sarah John G James William Ann Alexander Samuel Robert Margaret I. Jane (Jean) CLARK b. 1726, Augusta Co., VA, m. William ELLIOTT b. Abt 1720, Rockbridge Co., VA, d. 7 Jul 1771, Augusta Co., VA. Jane died 11 Jan 1780, Augusta Co., VA. William: Best guess for birth date & location... II. Elizabeth CLARK b. Abt 1730, Augusta Co., VA, m. William RHEA b. Abt 1725, Probably VA. Elizabeth died Probably KY. Best guess for birth date & location... Moved to Kentucky... William: Best guess for birth date & location... III. Sarah CLARK b. Abt 1730, Augusta Co., VA, m. 1748, in Probably VA, Archibald ELLIOTT b. Abt 1725, Probably VA. Best guess for birth date & location... Archibald: Best guess for birth date & location... IV. John G. CLARK b. Abt 1730, Augusta Co., VA, m. Frances McCLINTIC b. Abt 1725, VA. Best guess for birth date & location... He served in the Virginia Colonial Militia. Frances: Daughter of William McClintic of Rockbridge Co., VA. Best guess for birth date & location... V. James Jr. CLARK b. Abt 1735, Augusta Co., VA, d. Cir 1792, Bath Co., VA. Best guess for birth date & location... Unmarried... He served in Captain John Stuart's company at the battle of Point Pleasant in 1774. See The Dunsmore's War, page 410.... VI. William CLARK b. 1738, Augusta Co., VA, m. 1760, in Probably VA, Margaret McCUTCHEN b. Abt 1740, Probably VA. William died 1766. VII. Ann CLARK b. 1740, Augusta Co., VA, m. 1761, in Probably VA, John DUNLAP b. 1748, Probably VA, d. 5 Feb 1804. Ann died 1809. John: He was a son of Alexander Dunlap of Rockbridge Co., VA He was a soldier in the American Revolution. VIII Alexander CLARK b. 1736, Augusta Co., VA, m. 1763, in Probably VA, Sarah LAFFERTY b. Abt 1743, Probably VA. Alexander died 1794, Greenbrier Co., VA. Grenbrier County, VA (now Monroe County, WV)... Will of Alexander Clark In the name of God Amen. This Twelfth Day of June one Thousand seven hundred and ninety four, I Alexander Clark of Greenbrier County and State of Virginia now in the Evening of my days but of perfect mind and memory thanks be to God. I therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my Body knowing that is appointed for all men once to die, to make and order this my last will and Testament that is to say Principally and first of all I recommend my Soul to God who gave it and for my Body I recommend it to the Earth to be Buried in a Christian like manor at the Discretion of my Executors nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God, and as Touching such worldy Estate where with it hath pleased God to bless me with in this Iife I give Devise and idspose of the same in the following manner and form "IMPRIMIS it is my will and I do order that in the first place all my Just Debts and funeral charges to be paid and satisfied. To my son James Clark one Cow and Calf one two year old and one year old heifer and four heads of sheep also. To my sons William, Ralph, Alexander, John, and Samuel Clarks I leave to Each one shilling Sterling. I also to my Daughters Rebecca and Martha I leave to each one shilling Sterling. "I give and bequeath to Sarah Clark my beloved wife the Plantation where I now live which she is to sell and dispose of how and when she thinks proper and also I give and Bequeath to Sarah Clark my Beloved wife the Disposal of all my Cash my household Furniture and likewise my stock and all my Worldly Estate which she is also to dispose how and when she thinks proper. "And also I constitute and appoint my Dearly beloved wife and my son James to be my Executors of this my last will and Testament and I hereby utterly Disallow Revoke and Disannull all and Every other Testament made before this whether gifts grants or legacies whatsoever Ratifying and Confirming this to be my last will and Testament and Declare the same before the under Evidences and have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above mentioned." Attest: Alexander Clark Seal Samuel Clark Mathias Ballinger Thomas Fulton Sarah: Daughter of Ralph LAFFERTY of Cowpasture, Bath Co., VA A. James CLARK b. Abt 1765, VA. B. William CLARK b. Abt 1765, VA. C. Ralph CLARK b. Abt 1765, VA. D. Alexander CLARK b. Abt 1770, VA. E. John CLARK b. Abt 1770, VA. F. Samuel CLARK b. Abt 1770, VA. G. Rebecca CLARK b. Abt 1770, VA. H. Martha CLARK b. Abt 1770, VA. IX. Samuel CLARK b. Abt 1745, Augusta Co., VA, m. 1779, in Probably VA, Margaret BURGAN b. Abt 1759, Bath Co., VA. Best guess for birth date & location... Margaret: Best guess for birth date & location... X. Margaret CLARK b. Cir 1746, Probably VA, m. Samuel Jr. KINCAID b. 1734, Probably VA, d. 23 Jan 1819, Probably WV. Margaret died 26 Jun 1834, WV. Samuel: Moved to Anthony Creek, Greenbrier County, (West), VA... Samuel rendered civil service to the cause of the American Revolution... XI. Robert CLARK b. 1748, Augusta Co., VA, m. in Augusta Co., VA, Elizabeth Agnes GAY , b. Abt 1758, Rockbridge Co., VA. Robert died Jan 1801, Bourbon Co., KY. He served in the Revolution as a Lieutenant in Captain Cunningham's Company... Info on this line from: Pat <[email protected] & "David Moore" <[email protected]> (for descendants)... Elizabeth: Daughter of William Gay Jr. of Rockbridge Co., VA & Margaret WALKUP.. Best guess for birth date & location... A. Mary CLARK b. 1786. B. John CLARK b. 1770. C. Margaret CLARK b. 1771. D. Robert CLARK b. 1773. E. Sarah CLARK b. 1774. F. Elizabeth CLARK b. 2 Jun 1776. G. Isabella CLARK b. 1778. H. James CLARK b. 1779. I. Nancy Agnes CLARK b. 22 Apr 1782. J. Ann CLARK b. 1784. --------------------