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- James Clark 1704-1778 settled in Augusta Co., Virginia in 1740. He was one of William Beverly's land agents and was frequently in the records of Augusta COUNTY. He owned an 816 acre plantation, approximately nine miles southwest of Staunon, near the old Glebe Cemetery in the area of the Old North Meeting House. ("Before Amanda" by Thomas Nathan Clark page 3:) "James CLARK Birth 1704, Jamestown, King & Queen County, Virginia Death 1778, Augusta County, Virginia Father Jonathan "John" CLARK (1662-1735) Mother Elizabeth Ann LUMPKIN (~1665-) Misc. Notes The name of Clark means a learned person - that is, one who could read and write, which was a rare accomplishment in the olden times. As a surname, Clark and Clarke appears frequently, from LeClere; and medieval bearers of the name were very proud of it. The name took several compounds which are: Beauclark - the good Clark; Mauclerk - the bad Clark; Kenclerk - the knowing Clark; and Petyclerk - the Little Clark. The name of Clark, in its various forms, is one of great antiquity, having probably been used in Great Britain as early as the eleventh century. Since the name implied literacy, it's use as a name was eagerly coveted; hence it frequent use. Many people added "le clerk's to their names. The "le' was finally dropped, and only Clerk was left or, as it was pronounced, Clark. The final "e" is an addition in later times. In the fifty years following the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth and the English in Virginia, many persons of the name of Clark left England for the New World. Some of them, like Richard Clarke, who was a passenger on the Mayflower, left no children, but it was the good fortune of others to found families who have been active in the early New England settlements and the Virginia pioneers who so bravely established homes in the wilderness. There is a very strong tradition which says that our paternal ancestor who came to this country, emigrated from England to Virginia, and that his name was John. He came from the County of Kent, England and settled at Jamestown between 1630 and 1635. Tradition is that he settled on the James River and became a planter; that either on the vessel coming over, or soon thereafter, he met, and fell in love with a Scotch girl, Hannah Wiatt, who became his wife. John died in Jamestown c. 1645. The pioneer ancestor of the Monroe County, (West) Virginia line was James Clark of Augusta County, who according to tradition, was the son of John Clark, third in descent from John Clark the immigrant. James Clark settled in Augusta County, Virginia in 1740. He was one of William Beverley's land agents, and his name frequently appears in the records of the county. He owned a large plantation (800 acres) some nine miles southwest of Staunton, near the old Glebe Cemetery, and in the area of the old North Mountain Meeting House. The land is called "James Clark's Old Plantation" in the Augusta County Courthouse records. The old home was demolished c. 1928. Records show that James was a member of Captain John Willson's Virginia Militia of 1742; and that he also served his country in the French and Indian War in 1758. (Hening, Volume 7, Augusta County Section). James married Elizabeth Summers who died in 1781. James died in 1778; his will dated 20 AUG 1774; proved 17 MAR 1778 is recorded in Augusta County Will Book 6, Page 4, at the Courthouse in Staunton, Virginia.(Meyer and Dorman, Adventurers of Purse and Person, p. 114-115) "All the children are listed in Chroniclies of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia 1745-1800, Vol. lll, P 150 Will book No. Vl (p.4), by Lyman Chalkey Vol. lll. Genealogical Publication, Baltimore, Md. James Clark's Will. James Clark purchased from William Beverley, Esq. on 14 MAY 1746, 380 acres of land "...on the head branch of Middle River in Beverley Manor." He later transferred, by deed in Augusta County, Virginia, this tract of land to three of his sons as follows:20 AUG 1765 to John Clark eighty Acres..." Deed Book 12, p. 108.20 AUG 1766 to Samuel Clark eighty-four Acres..." Deed Book 13, pp. 45 and 46.20 AUG 1766 to Robert Clark Two hundred and sixteen Acres Deed Book 13, pp. 47 and 48."...of land lying in the County of Augusta on the head branch of Middle River of Shanandore (Shenandoah) in Beverley Mannor being a part of a larger tract of three hundred and Eighty Acres first made over to the said James Clark by William Beverley, Esq. by Deeds of Lease and Release dated the fourteenth and fifteenth days of May one thousand Seven hundred and forty six..." James and Elizabeth (Summers) Clark were the parents of: Jane, born 1726, died 1780, married William Elliott (d. 1771); Elizabeth, married William Rhea and moved to Kentucky; Sarah, married Archibald Elliott in 1748; John G., married Frances McClintic, daughter of William McClintic of Rockbridge County. He served in the Virginia Colonial Militia. James Jr., died between 19 Aug 1791 and Feb. 1792. He was unmarried. His will is recorded in Bath County, Virginia. He bequeathed his estate to sisters: Elizabeth Rhea, Ann Dunlap and Margaret Kincaid; and brother: Alexander Clark. He served in Captain John Stuart's Company at the battle of Point Pleasant in 1774. See The Dunsmore's War, page 410; William, born 1738, died 1766, married 1760 Margaret McCutchen; Ann, born 1740, died 1809, married John Dunlap in 1761. He was a son of Alexander Dunlap of Rockbridge County, Virginia. John was born 1748 and died 5 Feb 1804, he was a soldier in the American Revolution. See DAR Patriot Index, 1966, p. 207.; Alexander, born 1736, died 1794, married in 1763 Sarah Lafferty daughter of Ralph Lafferty.; Samuel, married Margaret Burgan of Bath County, Virginia, 1779.; Margaret, baptized 1 Jun 1746, died 26 Jun 1834, married Samuel Kincaid, Jr. (1734 - 23 Jan 1819) and moved to Anthony Creek, Greenbrier County, (West) Virginia. Margaret's baptism can be found in the records of the North Mountain Meeting House, and is recorded in "Bethel and Her Ministers" by Herbert S. Turner, p. 20. Samuel rendered civil service to the cause of the American Revolution. See DAR Patriot Index, 1966, p. 387.; Robert, born 1748, died Jan 1801, married Elizabeth Agnes Gay, daughter of William Gay of Rockbridge County, Virginia. He served in the Revolution as a Lieutenant in Captain Cunningham's Company. See Gwathmey's History Reg. of Virginia in the Revolution, page 155 and DAR Patriot Index, 1966, p. 135."(Frederick A. Virkus, compiler, The Abridged Compendium of American Genealogy: First Families of America., 7 volumes, 1925; reprint, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1968, 5: 531; as published online by http://www.genealogy.com; hereinafter cited as Compendium of American Genealogy.) The Clarks were members of the North Mountain Meeting House (Presbyterian) which was about ten miles southwest of the present City of Staunton, Virginia. James' will is transcribed as follows: "In the Name of God Amen. I James Clark of the County of Augusta and Colony of Virginia being Sick of body but of perfect Judgment and memory do appoint this to be my Last will and testament in the manor following and first I commit my body to the Earth to be buried Decently at the Discresion of my Executors hereafter Named and my Soul to God who gave it fully persuaded of a general Resurection and as touching my worldly Estate I appoint that all Debts and funeral charges be first paid and that all the Remainder of my Estate be divided in the following manor. Item I give and bequeath to my Daughter Jean Clark two Shillings Star I give Likewise to my daughter Elisabeth Regh two Shilings Star and Likewis my Daughter Sarah Clark two Shillings Star and Likewis to my son John two Shillings Star and Likewis to my son James two Shillings Star and Likewis to my son \\ Williams Heir five Shillings Starling and my Daughter Ane Dunlap two Shillings Star and to my son Alexander two Shillings Star and to my son Samuel two Shillings Starling and to my son Robert two Shillings Star and to my Dater Marget two Shillings Starling and all the Remainder of my Estate both money and goods I leave to my well beloved wife for her support and at her Disposal and I do here-by constitut ordain and appoint my well beloved son William Regh and my well beloved wife Elisabeth to Executors of this my Last will and testament and I formerly Revoke Disanull and mak void all for-mer wills gifts Legeicys mad or done by me and do Ratify and con-firm this to be my Last Will and testament give under my hand and Seal this 20th Day of Agust and in ye year of our Lord 1774"James ClarkSigned Sealed in the presents of:James McCleeryJohn McCleeryJas. EwingAt a Court held for Augusta County March the 17th 1778This last Will and Testament of James Clark dec'd was proved by the Oaths of Jas. McCleery and James Ewing two of the witnesses thereto and Ordered to be Recorded and on the motion of the Executor therein named who made Oath according to Law Certificate for Obtaining a probat thereof in due form is granted them, they having acknowledged their bond according to law."
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1700 - 1778 (78 years)
