Notes for William CLARK

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Notes for William CLARK

Named sole executor of his father-in-law's will. NJA 23:473.
William Clark born C. 1680'S, (?) Southampton, Suffolk Co., New York, married (1) c. 1709/10, in (?) Elizabethtown, Essex Co., New Jersey, Sarah Trotter, born c. 1690, died 10 October 1749, (?) Westfield, Essex Co., New Jersey, Buried: Colonial
Cemetery, Westfield, New Jersey, married (2) Deborah -----, born c. 1690, died 29 August 1758, (?) Westfield, Essex Co., New Jersey, Buried: S II, R G, G 29, Colonial Cemetery, Westfield, New Jersey. William died (?) Westfield, Essex Co., New Jersey.
William Clark was almost certainly the son of Samuel of Southampton. He probably came to Westfield c. 1731 after he sold land in Elizabethtown that he purchased of John Harriman in 1729. In 1749 he purchased 5 1/2 acres land in Westfield from
William Robinson, and in 1752 added 5+ more acres to his holdings (see below).
William was married to Sarah Trotter, daughter of Benjamin (-Samuel, -William). William Trotter was from Newbury, Massachusetts. The marriage most likely took place in Elizabethtown circa 1709.
According to Hatfield's "History of Elizabeth" Benjamin Meeker (probably the husband of Phebe (Clark) Meeker), and Benjamin Trotter built a barn for Rev. John Harriman in 1702 (p. 287). The "new barne" was "length 24 feet; breath 22, height 11
feet. It was built by "Benjn. Meaker and Benjn. Trotter". Phebe was Samuel Clark's daughter and this would establish a family relationship, albeit a weak one. The same work lists William as
constable of Elizabethtown in 1713 with Ebenezer Lyon.
The Clark-Dixon Family material (p.16) states that William was a tailor by trade and had a son named William. William, Sr. is described as a tailor in Benjamin Trotter's will, where he is also named as his son-in-law and executor of the estate.
Richard P. Greaves stated that he lived on Central Avenue in Westfield on the road to Rahway on the farm "where Abner Miller died in 1881". [Note: Abner Miller (#23686 in this program) had son, Abner Miller, Jr., who married Mary Price Clark,
daughter of David and Betsy (Woodruff) Price -- Mary was a great great granddaughter of William and Sarah (Trotter) Clark.]
[David Kane adds]: Recent research in Riverhead, New York reveals that James Clark described himself as a tailor in his will dated at Southampton 7 December 1715. As a confirmed son of Samuel the similarity in occupations would be another
clue that William is also Samuel's son.
The Alexander Library at Rutgers university provides further insight into this particular family. In "Genealogica Miscellany - Westfield Chapter DAR 1932" there is mention of three deeds to William Clark, which have been copied. They are the
following:
1) A deed of 3 February 1729 from John Harriman to William Clark, wit. John Clark and Daniel Ladner, for 4 1/2 acres of land bounded by Ebenezer Lyon, the Mill River, and William Clark's home lot. This 'John Clark' was almost undoubtedly the
son-in-law of John Harriman (married to his daughter Abigail), but no relationship to William Clark has been established, although there may be such a relationship.
2) Another deed dated 25 April 1749 from William Roberson and Elizabeth C. Roberson to William Clark - 5 1/2 acres of lot #138 of the Elizabethtown parcels bounded by Jonathan Marsh and William Marsh. This deed was witnessed by Henry Clark and
Henry Clark, Jr. William is described as a tailor (alias yeoman) in that deed. Was Elizabeth perhaps a 'Clark'?
3) A third deed for a piece of the same parcel from John Roberson and Elizabeth Roberson containing 5 acres and 13 square rods. It is dated 5 April 1750, and witnessed by Edward Griffith and Charles Clark. This John Roberson was almost certainly
the son of John and Mary Roberson. John Sr. made his will 7 April 1740. It was witnessed by William Clark. A comparison of the signature with the same of William Clark who was executor of his father Samuel's estate on Long Island in 1709 would prove
their relationship.
There may have been a daughter named Phebe who married Charles Hole. This has not been proven and further research is necessary.

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