Notes for John CLARK

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Notes for John CLARK

John Clark operated a tavern in Elizabethtown called the Sign of the Unicorn, located at the north corner of Broad and East Jersey Streets, which he may have built in the 1750's. It was a well known meeting spot in the community.
"Other taverns dating back to Governor Belcher's time were the Sign of the Unicorn and the forst Sign of the Nag's Head next to the old mill. The Sign of the Unicorn on the north corner of Broad and East Jersey streets was built in the 1750's by Dr. John Clark who operated it until his death. In 1770 his widow married William Graham and for the next twenty years this famous tavern was known as Graham's Tavern as well as the Sign of the Unicorn." [partially incorrect, as there is no evidence that the John Clark that ran the tavern was a physician].
Mr. Clark made his will 2 March 1769. In it he bequeathed his home lot to be divided equally between his two sons, gave each of his two daughters L25 when son John reached the age of twenty one, and gave son William L30 when he was twenty one. His son John was given 'My Lot of Meadow Lying by the Town Creek', and William 'My Lot of Meadow Lying Near the one Tree Ridg, adjoining Abner Woodruff and Others'. His executors were also given power to sell 'All or so much (of Two Certain Tracts of Land (Viz) one peice of Land Adjoining to Samuel Ogden and Others, Also one other Peice of Land Adjoining Caleb Brown and Others) as they shall think Suffisshent to pay My Just Debts'. His wife Sarah was given 'All My Personell Estate to Bring up My Children'. Executors were his wife and 'Trusty friend' Isaac Arnett. Witnesse were William Harriman, Nehemiah Wade, and Nathan Woodruff. The will was admitted to probate by Governor Franklin 29 March 1771.
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"In the Name of God Amen The second day of March in teh Ninth Year of the Reign of Our Soverign Lord George the third King of Great Britain etc And in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred & Sixty Nine
I John Clark of the Borough of Elizabeth in the County of Essex And Province of East New Jersey, Yoman, Being somewhat unwell and Infirm of Body, But through Divine goodness of Sound Mind & Memory do Make this My Last Will and Testament in Manner and form following Viz.
First I Commit My Soul into the Hands of God who gave it And My Body to the Dust to Receive a Decent Buriel [sic], And as for My Temporal Estate I Dispose of the same as Follows
Imprimis First I will and Ordain that all My just Debts and Funeral Expenses be first paid out of My Movable Estate by My Executors hereafter Named
Item I give and Bequeath unto My Wife Sarah the Sole use and Improvement of all my Real Estate, till my Two Sons Hereafter Mentioned shall arive to teh age of Twenty one years, Provided She remains My Widow (She Keeping the Same in Tenantable Repair).
Item I give and Bequeath unto My Beloved son John all my houses, Barn etc. Where I Now Live Begining on John Nutmans Line four Rods from Isaac Arnetts Corner, then to Run Straight through the Middle of the Well in the Mowing Lot to the Newark Road, And to him and to his heirs and assigns forever.
Item I give and Bequeath unto My Beloved son William [all this?] Remainder of My Home Lot that I have Not above Disposed of, And to him and to his heirs and Assigns forever.
Item I Give and Bequeath unto My Two Daughters (Viz.) Sarah and Abigail, the Sum of Twenty Five Pounds Lite Money Each, to be paid by My Son John when he arives [sic] to the age of Twenty one years And in Case Either of My Said Daughters should so hapin [sic] to Die before my son John arives [sic] to the age of Twenty One years, then it is My Will that the Surviver [sic] Shall Receive her part, Provided the Deceas'd has No Issue, But if Issue then her heirs to Receive the Same Bennifit [sic] as if she has Surviv'd
Item I Order and it is My Willl that my Son John Pays unto My Two Daughters (Viz.) Sarah and Abigail the sum of Twenty five Pounds Light Money Each when he arrives to the Age of Twenty one years.
And further it is My Will that My son John pays unto My Son William the sum of Thirty pounds Lite Money When My Son William Arives [sic] to the age of Twenty one years.
Item I give and Bequeath unto My son John all that My Lot of Meadow Lying by the Town Creek And to him and to his heirs And assignes forever.
Item I give and Bequeath unto My Son William all that My Lot of Meadow Lying Near the one Tree Ridg, Adjoining Abner Woodruff and others, And to him and to his heirs and Assigns forever.
Item My Will further is, And I do hereby Ordain give and grant unto My Executors herin after mentioned And to the survivers or surviver of them or their heirs full Power and Authority in fee simplem to sell and Dispose of all or so much (of Two Certain Tracts of Land (Viz.) One Piece of Land Adjoining to Samuel Ogden And others, Also one other Piece of land Adjoining Caleb Brown And others) as they shall think Suffishent [sic] to pay My Just Debts.
Item My will is that the Above Two pieces of land shall be first Sold in order to pay My Just Debts, Before any of My Personal Estate is Disposed of for that Purpose.
Item I give and Bequeath unto My Beloved Wife All My Personal Estate to Bring up My Children and that at her Discression [sic].
Item I Will and appoint My Well Beloved Wife Sarah Clark and My Trusty friend Isaac Arnett the Executors of this My Last Will and Testament Desireing them Duly to Execute the same And to pay them selves out of My Estate such sums as is Reasonable for all their Trouble in preforming the Trust Reponsd. in them And Do Hereby Revoke And Disanul and Make Void all other Wills and Testaments Made by Me hertofor
And Do Declare this And no Other to be My Last Will and Testament In Testimony Whereof I the Testator have hereunto Sett My hand And Seal the Day And year above Writen.
Note the Word (Each) Beign first Enterlined Between the Third and fourth Line of the Second Collum Before the Sealing and Delivery of these Presence.
[Signed] John Clark [no "e" on end]
Signed Sealed and Published Pronounced And Declared by the Testator to be his Last Will & Testament in Presence of us Witnesses
Note the Words (when he) Being first Enterlined Between the fifth and Sixth Line from the Bottom of the first Collum being first Done Before the Sealing & Delivery of this Presence.
Wm Harriman
Nehemiah Wade
Nathan Woodruff
[Essex County, New Jersey Wills, Book K, p. 313]
[Note: This may be the Nehemiah Wade [1736-1776] who was Second Major in the First Regiment of Essex County Militia in the Revolutionary War. He is supposedly buried in St. John's Churchyard, Elizabeth, NJ. His wife was Abigail Mulford [1746-1783]].
[Note: A Nathan Woodruff [died 20 March 1801 at age 71 years] is buried in the First Presbyterian Churchyard in Elizabeth next to his wife Jane [died 18 June 1758 in the 20th year of her age]
[Note: A William Harriman - [28 April 1718-9 March 1811] also lies buried in the First Presbyterian Churchyard in Elizabeth; this may be the witness above].
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Item
It is interesting to note that in the ledger book of Graham's Tavern [NJHS], there is a notation next to "The Estate of John Clark" - "1771 Apr 8 To Benjamin Clark for excess $ Rec 2.10.0". Could this possibly have been his brother? He is the only Clark mentioned.

References:
- Badgley Genealogy by Maxine Phelps
- "The Way We Were, the Story of Old Elizabethtown", by Murray
- Baptismal Records of St. John's Church, Elizabethtown, New Jersey

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