Notes for John CLARKE

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Notes for John CLARKE

John Clark was probably the 'John Clark, son of John' baptised at St.Johns Church in Elizabethtown 17 September 1758. As per the will of his father he was bequeathed 'the place where I live', 'all the meadow by the Town Creek' and L30 when age 21 by his fathers' will. The 'place where I live' can be identified in a 1882 map of Old Elizabethtown by Engineer Ernest L. Meyer as lying next to the land of John Nutman and Isaac Arnett as stated in the will.
Dr. Clarke, (who signed his name with the 'e)', was a physician in Elizabethtown. It is not known where he learned his profession. His residence and office were located in an old-fashioned wooden house with a bow front window in the middle of town. He displayed his apothecary items in the window as was the custom of the day. In 1777 he accompanied Dr. John Barnett to North Providence, Rhode Island to superintend the arrangement of a small pox hospital. At that time he became acquainted with his future wife, and their marriage very likley took place in at the home of Ezek Hopkins in North Providence. ["Dr. John, of New Jersey and Amey Hopkins, dtr of Esek., Esq.", as mentioned in the Providence Gazette of 9 Aug 1777]. The couple returned to Elizabethtown where he continued his practice of medicine. He died Sunday evening, 27 April 1794. His estate was administered by his wife, Matthais Williamson, Junior, and William Shute. Guardians of the children were his wife, and friends Benjamin Bowne and William Shute. The will was witnessed by John Chetwood, Jr., John Burrowes, and Ichabod C. Ross. It was probated 7 June 1794 and an inventory was made 5 May by William Woodruff and Aaron Lane.
The local paper advertised a vendue, or auction at 'his late dwelling house' on May 23rd in which many household goods and livestock were offered for bid. Robert Halsted bought the apothecary goods and advertised them in the local paper several days later. Dr. John Chetwood was appointed to take the doctors' place as Surgeon in the local militia led by Colonel Crane. It is probable that Dr. Clarke participated in the Revolutionary War, at least on a professional level. It is also possible that he was a descendant of Richard Clark of Elizabethtown, and possibly a second cousin to Abraham Clark, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence from New Jersey, but this has yet to be proven. If this proves to be the case his descendants can claim relationship to two signers of the Declaration from different states.
On 4 August 1795 Amy Clark, William Shute and Matthias Williamson, as administrators of John Clarke's will, sold a parcel of land to Joseph Lyon for $1500, which was the same parcel that Dr. Clarke inherited from his father John by his will of 2 March 1769. John and Amey had sold it to his mother Sarah Forrest "mother of the said John Clark" on 2 April 1787, but as she died intestate it returned to John (1/2 of it). It consisted of a little over an acre of land.

References:
Will of John Clark (Liber 33, p. 381, File 7888-7903G NJ Wills); "New Jersey Journal" - 28 May 1794, 27 April 1794.

William Hall wrote a series entitled "Former Physicians of Elizabeth" for the Elizabeth Daily Herald - the 3 February 1875 installment mentions Dr. John Clark. If the entire body of this article can be found it may offer clues to this Clark family and their relationship to the early Clarks of Elizabethtown. Need to check files at NJHS of person who wrote about the early physicians of NJ. He may have used this article for reference, and a copy may exist, as the paper itself is not extent.

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