Notes for Joseph CLARK

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Notes for Joseph CLARK

Mentioned in Will of Grandfather, Joseph Clark (#629) Rev. Joseph Clark, son of Joseph and Mary (Mersereau) Clark, was born at Rahway, Oct. 21, 1751. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary Army, and for a time he kept a diary, a portion of which has
been printed by the New Jersey Historical Society (NJHS Proceedings Vo. VII, No. 3, 1854). He was apprenticed to the carpenter's trade at the age of 17, and by dint of studying at night he was enabled to enter Princeton before the Revolutionary War,
but it was 1781 before he obtained his Bachelor's degree and two years later was duly licensed to preach the gospel. In Oct. 1783, he took charge of the Presbyterian Church at Allentown and in 1797 was transferred to New Brunwick. He was for many
years a Trustee of the College of New Jersey and a Director of the Princeton Theological Seminary. He continued at New Brunswick until his death, which occured Oct. 20, 1813. Md. Margaret Imlay. His diary 1777, says, "I stayed at my Mother's waiting
for the Company till Friday." thus showing his mother was then still living.
(N.J.H.S. Proceed. Vol. 7 pp 95). History of Flemington Church., C.C. Gardner, page 147.
"Mary Sherrerd Clark is represented by 14 items, 1885-1931, among which are letters concerning the Revolutionary War service of her ancestors and a copy of her obituary." [Rutgers University, Alexander Library, Special Collections - this needs to be
investigated to see exactly what she mentions about her ancestors - she married one of the sons, or more likely, grandsons (or great grandsons!), of Joseph].
Sinclair cites her as follows: c. 1860-1931. NJH ns:16:375. (ns=new series)
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http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/rul/libs/scua/womens_fa/wfa_c_d.shtml [accessed 11/2012]:
CLARK FAMILY.
Papers, 1776-1931 (bulk 1785-1895).
118 items (7 folders).
Family of northern and central N.J. whose members included Margaret (Imlay) Clark, her spouse the Rev. Joseph Clark (1751-1813), their three sons and selected other relatives.
Papers, including a 1791 legal document transferring ownership of Rose, "a Negro wench about twenty four years old," from Peter Imlay to his married daughter Margaret (Imlay) Clark without charge "in consideration of my duty & affection to my
Daughter." At the time of this transaction, both Margaret (Imlay) Clark and her father were residents of Monmouth County, N.J.
Publication: "Peter Imlay's Slave," Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey 71 (1996): 9.
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Sinclair: 1751-1813. Alex 208-209; Bio 465; NJH 1:7:92-110 (diary) Alex = Alexander, Princeton College During the eighteenth century; Bio = The Biographical ency. of NJ of the 19th cent. (Philadelphia 1877).
NJH: NJ History, Proceedings.
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Joseph Clark was deputy quartermaster on Gen Adam Stephen's staff He was muster master of Lafayette's Division and took part in the battles of Germantown and Monmouth [DAR application of mary Sherrerd Clark, DAR #3555]
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An abstract of this will appears in the NJ "Calendar of Wills
1814-1817", page 84. On 22 Feb 1802 Joseph Clark of Middlesex Co., NJ,
wrote his will:
"Being about to leave my home and family for a considerable time...I think
it expedient to express my will...wife Margaret; daughter Hannah, and sons
John Flavell, Peter, and William Patterson, all estate real and
personal. I appoint the members of the Session of the church, now in my
charge, Moses Scott, John Bayrd, John Neilson, Moses Guest, and John Pool
and Robert Imlay of Philadelphia (brother of my wife) as executors."
Witnesses: Moses JOnes, William P. Deare, Samuel S. Deare.
Proved 21 Feb 1814, when John Neilson, John Pool and Robert Imlay signed
as executors before John Heard, Surrogate, Middlesex County [File 10457L)
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http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/Dutch-Colonies/1999-11/0943158502
Another bill of sale has been sent to us by Miss Mary S. Clark, of Belvidere,
being almost seventy-five years later:
"Know all persons whom it may concern that I, Nelly Ten Eyck, of the County
of Somerset and State of New Jersey, widow, for and in consideration of the
sum of one hundred pounds (dollars at eight shillings), to me in hand paid by
the Rev'd Joseph Clark, of the County of Middlesex and State aforesaid, the
receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, have bargained, sold and delivered,
and by these presents, according to the due forms of law, do bargain, sell
and deliver, unto the said Joseph Clark, a Negro man, aged twenty-seven years
on the twenty-third day of April last past, named Jack: To have and to hold
the said bargained Negro man unto the said Joseph Clark, his executors,
administrators, heirs and assigns forever. And I, the said Nelly Ten Eyck,
for myself, my executors, administrators, heirs and assigns, the said
bargained Negro man unto the said Joseph
Clark, his executors, administrators, heirs and assigns, against all persons
whatever shall and will warrant and forever defend by these presents.
"In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twelfth day of
November, An. Dom. seventeen hundred and ninety-eight--1798.
her
"NELLY X TEN EICK [SEAL]
mark
"Sealed and delivered in the presence of
"G. W. TUNISON,
"CORNELIUS VAN DERVEER."
The grantor of and witnesses to this bill of sale were, we believe, residents
in what is now Branchburg township. Rev. Joseph Clark, the grantee, of an old
Elizabethtown family, was b. Oct. 21, 1752, and died at New Brunswick, Oct.
20, 1813. His wife was Margaret Imlay of Allentown, N. J. He was a student at
Princeton when the Revolutionary War broke out, and became Quartermaster on
Major-General Adam Stephen's staff. Before the close of the war he returned,
and graduated at Princeton in 1781. His "Diary" from May, 1778, to Nov.,
1779, has been published (N. J. Hist. Soc. Proc., First Series, Vol. VII, p.
95), preceded by a sketch of his life. At the time he purchased the "Negro
man," as recited above, he was pastor of the First Presbyterian church in New
Brunswick.
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Commenced labors as pastor in Allentown October, 1783, according to "The Historical magazine, and notes and queries concerning the antiquities ".
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Another source says that he was in AlLlentown 1788-1796. [History of the Old Tennent Church by Frank Rosebrook Symmes]
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