Notes for Thomas CLARK

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Notes for Thomas CLARK

See GMNJ 7:93; NYGBR 63:96.
May 1, 1799 - Thomas Clark, Jr. of Essex County, ward, son of Thomas Clark, deceased, made choice of Jonathan Oliver as his guardian. Fellow bondsmen were William Oliver and Anthony Oliver. This should be investigated. [Liber 38, p. 266; File
9394-9397G, Essex County, New Jersey]
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The proposed descendants of Thomas Clark are VERY tentative, and are not accepted by the DAR as proof of descendancy from Abraham Clark. I personally think that Thomas Clark never married, and never had children. It has certainly never been proven that
Thomas Clark was married to Elizabeth Dixon. Ann Clark Hart was a major proponent of this line.
I feel that the father of these children was a man named David Clark, a soldier of the American Revolution who was probably from Morris County, New Jersey.
As mentioned, Ann Clark Hart of San Francisco conducted much research on this line, and published a book titled "Abraham Clark: Signer of the Declaration of Independence" in 1923.
She also published "The Family of Abraham Clark, Signer of the Declaration of Independence" in the Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey in 1932, and this has been used as a basis for many of the Signer's descendants. While the majority of her research
seems to be accurate, her supposition that Thomas Clark had children with Elizabeth Dixon is still very, very tentative.
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Need to check 1784 NJ Supreme Court case Capt. Thomas Clark v. Azariah Clark #6309
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CAPTAIN THOMAS CLARK IV Thomas Clark IV the son of Abraham Clark and Sarah Hatfield was born near Elizabeth Town, NJ about 1753. Thomas Clark married Elizabeth Dixon in about 1775. Thomas and Elizabeth Clark had three children; Jonathan born in 1776,
Abraham born in 1785, and David born after 1785. Thomas Clark was commissioned First-Lieutenant of the Continental Army on March 1, 1776, became Captain-Lieutenant and commanded a detachment at Blazing Star from July to November 1776. He fought in the
famous Battle of Trenton on December 26, 1776, and in the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777, where he succeeded Captain Neil who fell. The Battle of Trenton was the first major victory for General Washington, when he defeated the British and
Hessian forces on the day after Christmas. . Captain Thomas Clark most likely crossed the Delaware with General Washington. Thomas became Captain of Artillery, Continental Army on February 1, 1777 and fought at the battles of Brandywine, Germantown,
and Monmouth. He was later transferred to the Whaleboat Service, and was captured by the British and imprisoned on the infamous hellship Jersey. Knowing his father was a well known patriot, the British offered freedom for his son if he would abandon
the American cause, but Abraham Clark refused. Thomas was locked in a cell and received no food from his captors. His only food was what fellow captives were able to pass through the keyhole of his prison door. When other members of Congress heard of
the plight of Abraham's son they ordered George Washington to take a British officer as prisoner and to starve him to death in a dark hole. The mere communication of that congressional order to General Howe was enough to end the persecution of Thomas
and he survived his imprisonment. His life was saved but his health was permanently destroyed. After the war Thomas became Commissioner of Essex County in 1783 to settle payrolls for New Jersey revolutionary soldiers. He himself obtained 100 acres of
land in Washington County, Pennsylvania and moved there with his family in 1785 [needs further investigation]. His older brother, Aaron, had also settled in Washington County and his family remained there for many years. In 1785 Thomas and Elizabeth's
son Abraham Clark II, was born in Washington County. Captain Thomas Clark his health permanently ruined by his cruel treatment at the hands of the British died at the age of 35 on May 13,1789. He is buried next to his parents and grandparents in
Presbyterian Cemetery in Rahway, New Jersey. After Thomas's death, his widow Elizabeth moved to Selbysport, Maryland where she died.
Source:The New American and Mary Clark's website.
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To look up Abraham's mention of Thomas before Congress, available at any branch of the National Archives:
Microfilm ID M332
Previous ID T409
Record Group RG360
Title Miscellaneous Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. Physical Description 10 rolls ; 35mm.
Index Term Continental Congress
General Notes Roll 10 contains 19 additional documents which are not described in the pamphlet
Microfilm ID M247
Record Group RG360
Title Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. Physical Description 204 rolls ; 35mm.
Index Term Revolutionary War
Index Term Continental Congress
General Notes The index is in "Index, The Papers of the Continental Congress" (1978) 5 volumes (not on microfilm)
Descriptive Pamphlet Available? Yes
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See NJ Historical Society Proceedings ns:11:542-544
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NJDARM
Record Group: Department of Defense
Subgroup: Adjutant General's Office (Revolutionary War)
Series: Copies of Miscellaneous Records, 1774-1837
Accession #: Unknown
Series #: SDEA1004
Guide Date: Pre-1989
Volume: 0.75 c.f. [2 boxes]
Box 1
Rolls of Captain Thomas Clark's company of Artillery, 1777-1778.
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