William Clark appeared in Pennsylvania in the 1770s and his early (the rest of this sentence is missing)
A
William Clark took the oath of allegiance in 1777-78, which if this was
our William, would place his birth prior to 1755 which is consistent
with the census.
The will of William Clark is presented below in
this essay. John Clark is the oldest son and executor of the estate in
William Clark's will of 1811. Persons mentioned in William's will
include:
David Clark (born in 1788 in Washington County, per
family history and 1850 census); John Clark (born about 1786); Nancy
Clark who married a Phillips is "one of the three oldest". Census
records indicate her birth to be about 1790. Other children are
referred to as the youngest.
There is a separation of children
in the life of William, which occurs 1790-1793. Washington County tax
records for Cross Creek Township show William Clark on 50 acres in
1791, 90 acres in 1792 and 1793.
A move to Robinson Township
occurs in 1793, where William Clark is now on 60 acres and remains
there until 1803. The 1790 Census for William Clark in Cross Creek
Township shows William Clark, male over 16, female, and 2 males under
16. Either the first wife has died, and Nancy is the female, or Nancy
has not yet been born.
In 1800, the census for William Clark in
Robinson Township shows male 26-45, female 26-45, 2 males 10-16
(John and David), male 0-10 (James born 1799), female 10-16 (Nancy born
about 1790), female 0-10 (Rebecca from will), and female 0-10 (referred
to in will as five of the youngest). William started a new family of
children, with the birth of Rebecca (ABT 1795) and it is thought
that William remarried after the death of his first (unknown)
wife and moved to Robinson Township in 1793.
On 31
December 1803, William Clark paid $550 and bought 250 acres in Mercer
County by deed from John McElhenry who had purchased by deed from
Archibald Murphy on 18 February 1803, who had been granted the tract by
patent on September 10 1787. Sgt. Murphy was granted lot 58, in
Donation Land District 3 for service in the Revolutionary War.
This
land played an important role in the early settlement of Mercer County,
and part of it was held in the Clark family until the death of William
Clark in 1893. The 1810 census in Mercer County is as follows: Male
over 45 (William), female 26-45 (Second wife Mary), male 16-26
(David born in 1788), male 10-16 (James born 1799), male 0-10
William born about 1801), female 16-26 (Nancy, born about 1790 and
married to Phillips by 1811), female 10-16 (Rebecca born about 1794),
and two females 10-16 (part of group five of the youngest in will of
1811). Note that oldest son John is under his own head of
household, John Clark, male 26-45 (John born about 1784), male 16-26,
female 16-26.
The Clark family were members of the Neshannock
Presbyterian Church located just over the county line in Lawrence
County. The Bell family were also members of the same church.
Early records of the church are very scarce. William Clark is noted as
a member in 1813, later "Widow" Clark, John Clark and Mrs. John Clark,
James Clark and his wife Fanny Clark, David Clark and Mrs. David Clark.
Other members of the church associated with the Clarks include several
members of the Bell and Bentley families. The Neshannock cemetery is
located near a river, and apparently suffered some early damage. Later
the church itself burned to the ground, and all the church and cemetery
records were destroyed. A "History of the Neshannock Presbyterian
Church" by Johnson was published in 1925. This book contains some of
the early Records.
On 18 December, 1811, William Clark sold,
to his son David, 100 acres for 100 cents. This land was
eventually passed through David to his eldest son William, who died on
the land in 1893. William Clark, the father of David and John, also
transferred land to John Clark (referenced in the following will, and
the distribution to William and James Clark was for the remaining 100
acres. John, David, and Nancy are the eldest, and James, William,
Rebecca, and two unnamed daughters are the "five youngest".
Will
of William Clark, dated 24 December 1811. "In the name of
God, Amen. I William Clark of the county of Mercer and the State of
Pennsylvania being very sick and weak in body but of a sound mind,
memory, and understanding, blessed be God for the same but considering
the uncertainty of this transitory life do make and publish this my
last will and testament in manner and form following:
Principally and first of all I commend my immortal soul into the
hands of God who gave it and the body to the Earth to be buried in a
decent and Christian like manner at the discretion of Executor herein
after named and as to such (worldly) estate wherewith it hath pleased
God to bless me with in this life I give and dispose in following
manner. To Wit:
(And) as touching all the rest residue and
remainder of my estate (rail) and personal of whatsoever kind the same
may be in the County of Mercer or elsewhere I give and divide in the
manner following: the place where I now live to be equally divided
between them at my death, James Clark & William Clark. My wife to
have her maintenance of the place. Nancy Phillips to have one cow. The
rest of my movable property to be equally divided amongst the five
youngest children. Rebecca Clark is to get one cow more than the rest
of the children. The three oldest have got their part with Nancy
getting the cow and John and David getting the land and David getting
the horse. And lastly I nominate, (constitute) and appoint my dear wife
Mary Clark and my son John Clark to be the executors of this my will
hereby revoking all other wills legacies and bequeaths by me heretofore
made and declaring this and no other to be my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set two my hand the twenty fourth
day December one thousand eight hundred and eleven. Joined sealed,
published, pronounced and declared by the said testator as his last
will and testament in presence of us who in his presence and at his
request have subscribed as witness.
Thomas
Canon William
Farrel
William Clark (seal)
In the book, "80 Years History of Mercer
County, Pennsylvania, published in 1876, there is a history of Shenango
Township which starts on page 78. Early pioneers are mentioned,
such as Thomas Cannon who witnessed William Clark's will, Dr. John
Mitcheltree who's descendant married Mary Clark, (daughter of
William, son of subject William). William Bell settled in the
area in 1798, and is most
William Clark was a true pioneer and
was one of the first to settle in Shenango Township. Descendants of
this family are now located in many diverse parts of the United States.
Prepared and researched by David B.Taylor
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