CLARK, James ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11}

  General Notes:

James Clark was the original settler of New Haven, CT. I have found two possible ancestrys listed for him. The one presented most often is James as the son of William and Mary Saxby Clarke/ grandson of George and Elizabeth Wilsforde/ gr.grandson of James and Elizabeth Ferrers/ gr.gr.grandson of Esquire John Clerk and Lucia Moyle/ g.g.gr grandson of John Clerke and Alice Tatesham/ and g.g.g.gr grandson of John Clerk of Ford, Wrotham, co.Kent, England living in the first half of the 15th century. I have found this lineage repeated in info. from Sylvia Gidley, an Ancestral file and Maude Arunedell-Ross's research. Earl P. Campbell's research that sources the Jan. 1920 article in the NEHG Register, follows this line down corrrectly until it gives the original James as married to a Hannah and dying in London, England in 1649. This last source is considered much more reliable. Upon checking the NEHG, 1920, the following will is attributed to this James Clark, "The Will of James Clarke, Citizen and Grocer of London, dated 6 December 1647. To wife Helen a one-third part of all my goods, another one-third part to my children, James, Mary, and Anne Clarke, and the remaining one-third part to my brother Richard Clarke, and, if he die, to his children. To my son James the lease of my house where I now live. To wife Helen the lease of the house where Joe Nutt, the drugster, dwells, and after her death, to my daughters, Mary and Anne. Executrix: wife Helen. Proved Sept. 10, 1649." (P.C.C., Fairfax, 137)? After studying this will which would fit James and his brother Richard (children of William and Mary Saxby Clarke) and the names of our James's children, I think it unlikely that this lineage belongs to our James. (F-533)

The other is from a published Chatterton ancestry entitled "Founders of Early American Families" by Colkef that states he is the POSSIBLE son of Mate Thomas Clark of the "Mayflower" but gives no proof for it's theory. (F-405) The Mate Thomas Clark suggestion goes no farther back at this point.

James in both cases was born in England. He and his young family came over on the "Hector" arriving on Jun 26, 1637 in Boston, MA according to "Founders of Early American Families." He came with Davenport's party in the group from Coleman St., St. Stephen Parish, England. (F-80) He and this party settled in New Haven the following year in 1638. He is thought to be a brother to John Clark, also of New Haven. (F-69) James Clark signed the "Fundamental Agreement" at New Haven on the 4th of (Jan.?), 1639 and an oath of loyalty in July 1644. He was on the New Haven list of 1641 and in 1643 court records with 4 persons in his family. He was a surveyor of highways by trade.

James appears to have had at least 2 wives. His first wife was ill in July of 1648. If this is Sarah Harvey then she had died by the time he remarried again on 17th Oct. 1661. He lived in Stratford after 1661. The children's mother was listed as Sarah Harvey in all sources I've found. (F-457) Sylvia Gidley's letter had Sarah's marriage date as Apr. 11, 1654 to James. If this was true, then Sarah would not be the mother of James children. I consider it more likely that this was a transcription error, as this marriage record has the same date as a christening record listed for this James Clark on Automated Archives CD-100. Sylvia's first letter also stated he possibly had two other wives... a Mary to begin with and an Elinor Wright. I have seen no verification of this elsewhere. (F-457)

There are three very different death dates that have been published for him. It is listed in the Ancestry of Lorenzo Ackley & Emma Bosworth as 1689 because his name is found in a probate index for that year. The original probate page is missing. That particular author also has him listed as a highway surveyor in April, 1680 and fenceviewer in April, 1682. He had 2 family members listed in the Dec. 1680 Division list. This information came from the New Haven Colony Records and New Haven Town Records. (F-131) The 1689 date is also in CD-100. The second date in some sources is 1662. I have chosen the most specific date, sent to me by Sylvia Gidley because it gave both the date and place, which usually is supported by an actual record, Dec. 19 1674. (F-457)

With the various guesses as to his birth date, death date and his wives, it is possible that there are two James Clarks. The best evidence that there is only one, is the fact that the children basically have the same names in all references to the James Clark who first settled in New Haven, CT. In a Jacobus work on the Hale family, I have also found one of his children named just Ebenezer who had the same parent, spouses, and dates that I take to be his son, Benjamin Ebenezer Clark.

James married Ann UNKNOWN on Oct 17, 1661 in , New Haven, CT, USA. (Ann UNKNOWN was born in 1622 and died in 1695.)

James next married Sarah HARVEY on Nov 7, 1633 in London, Middlesex, ENG. (Sarah HARVEY was born in , , , England and died before Oct 17, 1661 in New Haven, New Haven, CT, USA.)

  Marriage Notes:

Sylvia Gidley says this occured on Apr. 11, 1652 in New Haven, the same day as CD-100 gives a baptismal date for James Clark. I've sent a letter to check on this. (F-457)