Notes for Thomas CLARK

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Notes for Thomas CLARK

C.C.Gardner, page 61: "Thomas 3 Clark, son of Thomas 2 and Hannah Clark, was born in E.T. in 1700-1. He is said to have lived at Wheatsheaf, between Elizabeth and Rahway, and was tax-collector for E.T. in 1739, and Justice of the Peace the same
year. As a Justice of the Peace, he sat in Court of Quarter Sessions at Newark in 1740. In 1747, he was one of the managers of a Lottery for building a parsonage at Rahway, and was an Alderman from the date of the E.T. Charter, to his death.
"He had only one child, Abraham, the signer of the Declaration of Independence."
"He seems to have been twice married, but we have no trace of the identity of his first wife. His second wife was Elizabeth ----. His will dated Sept. 10, 1765, and probated Oct. 1, 1765, mentions grandsons Abraham, Aaron, and Thomas. The
will of Mr. Clark would seem to show that Elizabeth was his second wife. His first wife is thought to have been a daughter of Samuel Winans of E.T." [end of quote from C.C.Gardner].
On 31 October 1750 Thomas Clark, Esq. sold his half interest in 6 acres, a saw mill, and a grist mill, owned in partnership with his brother James, to Daniel Sayre for "133 pounds at eight shillings the ounce". This land was located on the Rahway
River. The deed was witnessed by Ephraim Terrill and John Joline. [Union Township Historical Society - transcript received 11/4/98].
***
Sinclair : Arc 1:24:620 and ClaU 114
Arc = Archives of State of NJ; 1st series c 1-42; 2nd series v 1-5.
ClaU = Hist. of Union & Middlesex Cos. - Clayton.
***
1748 Janr 23 Hampton Hamton Andrew of Elizabeth Town Essex Co yeoman will of Children Andrew Abner Jacob Hannah and Margaret last three under age Plantation given me by my father Andrew Hampton deceased of Elizabeth Town joining lands of Thomas Clark
and John Terrill land bought of John Ryno at Ash Swamp Middlesex Co Executors wife Mary and friend Joseph Cory Witnesses John Pike Abraham Clark Jona Hampton Proved Dec 26 1748 Lib E p 233 1748 Nov 18 Inventory 311.00 04 Includes bonds from John
Terrill Sam ll Brooks Andrew Bryant Samuel Olliver Elnathan Cory Nath U Clarke Ro Drummond Made by Thomas Clark and Jona Hampton [Calendar of New Jersey wills, administrations, etc, Volume 30 By New Jersey Historical Society, Elmer T. Hutchinson (ed.)]
*****
1738 Oct 1 Hamton Andrew of Elizabeth Town Essex Co tailor will of Wife Margaret the money due her from Josiah Terrill Children Johannah Lambert widow Elizabeth Oliver Thomas Andrew John and Margaret Hamten Land Joining land of Thomas Clark land I
bought of James Hind Executors Joseph Tooker and Thomas Clark Grandsons Isaac Terrill Jonathan Hampton Witnesses Joseph Clark John Terrill Mary Clark Proved Jan 30 1738 Lib C p 247 1738 9 Jan 18 Inventory 170.04 includes debts due from Jonas Wood
Leonard Miles Joseph Hetfield Peter Simons widow Mitchel Made by John Spining and Andrew Joline
*****
Need to check Deed Book B [Essex County deeds?], p. 35 for deed of Thomas Clark of Elizabethtown to Isaac Hetfield [Thomas' son Abraham's father-in-law?] (8 acres) bordered by Daniel Ross, George Ross, Benjamin Clark and John Winans. Not certain that
it is THIS Thomas Clark, but very likely! Date? This is probably in Newark or at NJ Archives.
Stories about Capt. Thomas Clark, son
Letter by William H. Clark, b. 1847
Abraham Clark's son, Captain Thomas, was very active in army movements
in New Jersey, was well acquainted with the whole countryside, was an
expert horseman, had a horse that was well trained but would not be
handled by anyone else but his owner. Captain Clark being well fitted
with for such duties was recommended to General Washington for scout
duty, and was used by him for such work. He was taken prisoner twice,
escaping both times, once imprisoned at New Brunswick, being captured
with his horse. He had to be released to care for his horse. He was
under strict guard all the time. When captured he was charged with
being a spy and was in danger of bring shot as such when tried. The
officer in charge one day told him of this danger and together they
arranged a plan for his escape. It was the custom every day to take
the horses of the post down to the Raritan River to water. Captain
Clark was to let his horse get as far from shore as possible, while
the officer would get the attention of the guard diverted, when
Captain Clark would signal his horse to make for the opposite shore.
The ruse succeeded but the guard discovered the attempt. But their
horses would not swim readily and Clark's horse was making rapid
progress. They opened fire but horse and rider with heads only out of
water escaped. Reaching the other shore they were soon on friendly
territory and safe.
At another time Captain Clark was captured and imprisoned on the
British prison ship Jersey off Staten Island. His sufferings here were
intense but it was claimed that one dark night he slipped off the ship
and swam to the Staten Island shore and again escaped.
One time when British troops were after him, they came to his home
where his wife and infant son, John, were at this time. Captain Clark
at this time, it was said, was secreted in the garret, but the search
of the troopers failed to find his hiding place.
Letter by William H. Clark, b. 1847
History Of Union &Middlesex Counties, Clayton P. Woodward, 97-F.B.L.,
p. 527
Abraham Clark was born in the home of his ancestors, midway between
Elizabeth and Rahway on February 15, 1726. As a surveyor and
conveyancer he aided his neighbors with gratuitous advice, and became
known as the "Poor Man's Counselor." He was later the author of
"Clark's Practice Act," which tended greatly to modify the common law
forms of pleading, and seriously affected the fees of lawyers. About
the year 1749 he married Sarah Hatfield, eldest daughter of Isaac
Hatfield. Ten children were the result of this union. In 1764 he was
appointed by the legislature one of the commissioners to survey and
divide the common lands of old Bergen township. He was appointed
Sheriff of Essex County in 1767, and Clerk of the Colonial Assembly.
He warmly espoused the cause of the Revolution, acting as a member of
the Committee of Observation &Correspondence, December 1774, and was
subsequently Secretary. He was a member of the Provincial Congress of
1775, and as a member of the Continental Congress signed the
Declaration of Independence. He served until April 3, 1778 and again
appears as a member in 1780, 1781, 1782, 1786, 1787, 1788. He was
present at the Annapolis Convention of 1786, and although elected to
the Constitutional Convention of 1787, did not attend owing to ill
health. He was a member of the Second and Third Congresses under the
new Federal Constitution, dying before the completion of his last
term. Abraham Clark died from sunstroke upon the 15th of September,
1794, and was buried in the Presbyterian Church Yard, in Rahway.
********
NYHS
The bill of complaint in the Chancery of New-Jersey, brought by Thomas Clarke, and others, against James Alexander, Esq; and others, commonly called the Proprietors of East New-Jersey : wherein the title of the people of Elizabeth-town, to the
controverted lands, is fully exhibited, and the objections of the pretended proprietors, stated, and refuted : now published from the original filed in the Court of Chancery, in 1754, to satisfy many who are curious to know the foundation of a private
debate of the greatest importance in America.
Publisher [New York] : Printed by William Weyman, in New-York, 1760.
Description [2], 3-20 p., [1] leaf of plates : 1 map (copper engraving) ; 39 cm. (fol.)
Notes Signed at end: William Livingston, William Smith, jun., John Morin Scott, of the council for the complainants.
Printed in two columns.
Map shows boundaries of disputed area; bears number "No. 1."
Signatures: pi1 [A] B-D E1.
Printer's ornaments and rules on t.p.; catchwords.
Library copy inscribed on t.p.: Wm. Samuel Johnson's, the gift of Wm. Smith, Decr. 1765; N. York Historical Society from Docr. Wm. Saml. Johnson, Hartford Connecticut. Septemr. 1810.
Watermarks (laid): on map: [Pro patria]; "C S", on B2 and C2, respectively.
Title-page and last leaf of Library's copy repaired along margins before rebinding; signs of staining, p. 3-10.
Indexed by Sabin 53075
**********
From East Jersey Deeds,Liber E,pg 217,by Nelson
1687-88 Feb 14 Will of John Weinans of Elizabeth,weaver. Wife Susannah;children- Samuel,Johannes,Couradus,Jacob,Isaac,Elizabeth,Johanna,Susanna Baker,,Real and personal Estate. The wife executrice. Witnesses-- George Ross,Humphrey Speining,Edward Gay.
Testator signed Jan Winans. Proved Jan 15,1694-95
1695 May 17. Letters testimonial with preceding will annexed,issued to Henry Baker and wife Susannah; Ebenezer Lyon and his wife Elizabeth, all of Elizabethtown.

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