CLARKE FAMILY
Anne Shercliffe, youngest daughter of John Shercliffe, immigrated to Md. in 1653. She mar. first, Lt. Wm. Evans by Jan 1651; mar. second, Edward Clarke by 1663 and lived at Clarke's Rest in Newtown Hundred; and mar. third, John Dobridge Court and had at least two children: Elizabeth and John Dobridge Court II.[1]
Ann and Edward Clarke's children were Edward Clarke, the first son, who d. c1676 and Edward Clarke Jr., the second son, who d. by 1714.[2] Edward Clarke had 50 acres of land laid out in 1667. He was educated at a Benedictine seminary in Douai or Paris, France, as these institutions were named residuary legatees in his will. Edward Clarke directed that his wife save his books for his young son and not to "lend or dispose of any of them for feare that any of them should be lost." He left his only son to "his wife's tender care," but provided if she marry an abusive husband, the boy should be cared for by overseers of the will "to breede him up in the feare of God & with learning."[3]
Edward Clarke Jr. [the second son] was a minor in 1676, not yet old enough to read. He mar. Mary Kirkely and was dead by 1714. His sons from his will were (a) John Clarke (b) Edward Clarke (c) Clement Clarke. His daughters were (d) Mary Clarke [ m. Edward Cole] and (e) Henrietta Clarke.
Will of Edward Clarke Jr. of St. Mary's Co Md. - Apr 30, 1713/prob. June 24, 1714:
- To wife Mary, extrx. & residuary legatee, empowered to sell my land viz. 202 acres of "Turvey," 25 a. of "Houndslow's Addition," but if lands are not sold, they pass at death of wife to three sons.
"If my son JOHN CLARKE go to live at plantation, he is to take his sister *HENRIETTA with him."
- To sons JOHN, EDWARD, & Clement and dau MARY CLARKE, certain stock.
- Witnesses: Robt. Ford, John Jones, James Thompson.[4]
"History of Robert Clarke the Immigrant & Surveyor"
The Clarke Family history begins with ROBERT CLARKE, who was born near London, England, c1610-11. He was the son of Walter Clarke. Robert Clarke transported himself to Md. in 1637 and "he demandedth the five acres of town land and one hundred acres of free land due him for transporting himself into the Province.[6]
Robert Clarke, like John Shercliffe, arrived in St. Mary's Co on the ship "Unity" in 1637. The Unity sailed from the Isle of Wight on Nov 28, 1637. He came with the Jesuits. They had fled from anti-Catholic penal statutes of England. The Jesuits became free holders of land under Lord Baltimore's general distribution of lands to freemen. Freemen were entitled to attend the GENERAL ASSEMBLY. At the Freemen's request, ROBERT CLARKE accepted their proxies, represented them, and voted for them in the General Assembly. Being an educated man: engineer & surveyor, he was appointed by Gov. Leonard Calvert, Lord Balto's brother, as SURVEYOR-GENERAL of MD. This made him ex-offico, a member of the PRIVY-COUNCIL.[7]
Robert Clarke lived in NEWTOWN MISSION, established between 1638-1640. The Church located on Little Bretton Manor was granted by CECILIUS, Lord Balto, to WM BRETTON July 10, 1640. The manor was a rich neck of farm land reaching into the Potomac River between Bretton Bay and St. Clement's Bay. It was the FIRST SETTLEMENT after St. Mary's City.[8]
Robert Clarke's first wife is unknown. It is thought his first two children were by this marriage. At her death, me married secondly WINIFRED GREEN c1651, widow of GOV THOMAS GREENE, 1647-1649. Children of ROBERT & WINIFRED GREEN CLARK: (a) JOHN b. bef 1646 (b) Mary b. 1646 (c) ROBERT b. 1652 and (d) Thomas b. 1654. John & Mary Clarke were thought to be children by his first wife. He then married Jane Hicks Cockshott Causine, widow of Nicholas Causine, on Oct 1, 1656. Robert & Jane Clarke had no children unless a son, (e) ROBERT CLARKE, named in his mother's will.[9] Robert Clarke died in c1664 in St. Mary's. He did not attend the September Assembly Meeting.
In the Morse Papers at the Maryland Historical Society in Baltimore is the following bibliography of the Hon. Robert Clarke:
The Hon. Robert Clarke arrived within four years of the settlement of St. Mary's with a shipment of goods for the Indians. He was a friend of Father Copley, a Jesuit priest. In 1639, he represented a Roman Catholic Missionary. Since there was such persecution of the Catholics in early years, Father Copley took several names. Robert Clarke was prominent in the colony and sat as a FREEMAN in the legislature.
On Aug 11, 1648, he was appointed Surveyor-General of all singular castles, lordships, manors and forests and to enjoy all rights and privileges of that office.
Robert Clarke was described as a Gentleman of high caliber, integrity and ability. He was a member of the Assembly when the TOLERATION ACT was passed in 1649; in 1651, he occupied the post of Steward with power to hold Court Baron for CALVERTON, a manor of ten thousand acres for the secure habitation of six nations of Indians who desired to put themselves under government protection.
During the Puritan ascendancy, he openly confessed his faith in the Catholic church. He surrendered at the BATTLE OF SEVERN, 1655, and was taken PRISONER by the PURITANS. He was treated as a REBEL and SENTENCED to be HANGED. He was saved by PETITION, fined 10,000 pds. of tobacco. Unable to pay, he surrendered his plantation having REFUSED TO RENOUNCE his church. A year later, when Clarke was found to be in dire distress, the Protestant court reduced his fine & restored his plantations.[10]
Several genealogies in the St. Mary's Co. Historical Society Library give additional lineage on Robert Clarke's descendants. Since he had three wives, it is unknown which children belonged to each marriage. It is supposed that Edward Clarke was related to Robert Clarke, but so far proof is not forthcoming. Edward Clarke is mentioned in Newtown Hundred Rent Rolls: "Minsterdam," 64 acres surveyed Apr 29, 1667, for Peter Mills adjoining EDWARD CLARKE. Another clue, there was fifteen years between survey of "St. Lawrence's Freehold" in 1652 for Robert Clarke and Edward Clarke's "Downham" in 1667. A more important clue from the Rent Rolls is that ROBERT CLARKE surveyed "Clarke's Rest" in 1674 in Newtown Hundred, the MANOR which EDWARD CLARKE left to his wife, ANN SHERCLIFFE CLARKE, in his will dated 1675, one year after survey. It seems likely that EDWARD CLARKE coming to Md in 1667 was either the BROTHER of ROBERT CLARKE or his SON. Age differences make is seem likely that he was a son. Robert Clarke came to Md. in 1637 while Edward Clarke appeared in Md. records in 1662 when he witnessed the will of Robert Cole of St. Clement's Bay.[12] Best guess is that since EDWARD CLARKE was educated in a Benedictine monastery in France, he was in France before he joined his father in Maryland Colony.[13][14]
Who were the parents of ROBERT CLARKE Jr. who witnessed the will of JOHN FENWICK, March 20, 1720.[15] Possibly he was the son of Jane Causine Clarke, second wife of Robert Clarke, named in mother's will.
PLANTATIONS in NEWTOWN HUNDRED:
- 1704 Rent Roll, "St. Lawrence's Freehold," 100 a. survey 1652 for
ROBERT CLARKE.
- 1704 Rent Foll, "Downham," 100 a. survey 1667 for EDWARD CLARKE.
- 1704 Rent Toll, "Turney," 350 a. survey for EDWARD CLARKE in 1674.
- 1704 Rent Roll, "Clark's Rest," 300 a. survey ROBERT CLARKE in 1674
PLANTATIONS IN RESURRECTION HUNDRED:
- 1704 Rent Roll, "Addition," 100 a. survey ROBERT CLARKE.
- 1704 Rent Roll, "Clark's Freehold," 50 a. survey ROBERT CLARKE.[5]
Footnotes:
1. Jourdan, Elise Greenup, "Early Fams of S. Md," Vol 3, p. 245.
2. Ibid., p. 245.
3. Cotton & Wright, "Md. Calendar of Wills," Vol 1, p. 185.
4. Ibid., Vol IV, p. 22.
5. Jourdan, op. cit., p. 247.
6. Rowe, Ella Harrison, "Clarke, Rigdon, Wilson Families," privately
published manuscript, 1987, p. 1.
7. Ibid. pp. 1 & 2.
8. Ibid.
9. Ibid. p. 3.
10. Ibid. p. 1.
11. Jourdan, op. cit, p. 247.
12. Jourdan, op. cit., p. 246.
13. Pepenfuse, Edward C. et al, "A Biographical Dictionary of Md
Legislature, 1635-1789," Vol 1:A-H, p. 225.
14. Beitzell, Edwin, "Jesuit Missions of SMCo Md," 1960, privately pub.,
pp. 24-27.
15. Maryland Wills: Vol. 15, p. 339.
Return to Spalding of Maryland