The following may pertain to this John Clark or his father-dkc
Much has been written about this John Clark, and many genealogists have concluded that he resided in succession in Cambridge, Hartford, Saybrook and Milford (with a brief stay in Norwich between Saybrook and Milford). The three most important summaries of his life are those by Louis Effingham DeForest [Moore Anc: 187-95], Emma Walton Ferris (Dawes-Gates 2:201-205] and Donald Lines Jacobus [Greenberry 194-96].
Although there is no record which explicitly states that the John Clark of Cambridge is the same as John Clark of Hartford, there is no record of the man in Cambridge after the Spring of 1636, and almost the entire population of Cambridge moved to Hartford in 1635 and 1636. The John Clark of Saybrook is determined to be the John Clark of Milford since the latter mentions extensive land in Saybrook in his will.
The problem comes with the connection between Hartford and Saybrook. John Clark appears in Saybrook at about the time that records for John Clark in Hartford cease, and William Pratt, son-in-law of John Clark of Saybrook-Milford, had resided in Hartford before moving to Saybrook. There is no direct evidence making the connection, and a number of circumstances causing doubt.
The John Clark who resided in Cambridge and Hartford served once as Hogreeve and twice as Juror. The John Clark of Saybrook and Milford served repeatedly as deputy to the Connecticut court and held other high offices. None of the records for John Clark of Cambridge and Harford indicates that he had a wife and children.
This position may be excessively cautious, and it may be that these records do all apply to one man, in which case the sources cited above should be consulted (although there are differences between them). For the moment we recommend further research and analysis directed toward resolving the problem one way or another.
John Clark was born circa 1637 at Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut. He was baptized in 1640 at First Congregational Church, New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut. He married
Rebecca Marvin, daughter of
Matthew Marvin and
Elizabeth Gregory, in 1652 at Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut. John Clark "One ysell on which his dwelling house now standethh with yeardes or orcherdes thearin being, contain by estima Ten acres be it more or less y
t whare of he bought of Johnn Stell & ded sum tyme belong to Robbard Willson. A butting on porke brook on the East & on William Smith's land on the West & on John Stell's land on the South and on the highway on the North" in January 1657 at Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut. In May 1664 John Clark was made a freeman at at Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut. He and
Rebecca Marvin were members of the church at Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut, 1 March 1679/80. John Clark held the position of chosen a chimney viewer by the town on 27 December 1682 at Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut. He held the position of chosen a surveyor of highways on 28 December 1685 at Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut. He held the position of chosen surveyor of highways on 8 December 1690 at Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut. He left a will on 8 February 1709 at Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut.
"In the name of God Amen. The last Will and Testament of John Clark, Senr, of Farmington, in the County of Hartford and Colony of Connecticut in New England, made this Eighth day of Feb. in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and nine-ten, as followeth, viz: The said John Clark being at this time in good health and, through the goodness of God, in possession of my reason, for which I desire to bless his holy name. But being grown into age, so that I cannot expect the time of my departure out of this life to be very far off, and not knowing how soon nor how suddenly it may come upon me, am therefore desirous accounting it my duty to do what I can to prevent trouble among my survuving children that God shall graciously please to continue after my decease, I do therefore make and ordain this to be my last will and testament, and do desire my executor or executors, whom I shall in these presents nominate and appoint, to see that this my will be performed when there shall be occasion for it after my decease.
1. I desire to commit myself sould and botdy to God as my Great Creator and to Jesus Christ as my merciful Redeemer through the merit of whose blood and perfect obedence I hope to attain salvation from the wrath which is yet to come; and as for my body, I desire to commit it into the hands of my christioan friends and relations only to be decently interred in the earth, which being done and all my just debts and funeral expenses paid, the my will als in in the
2d place that my son Matthew Clark shall have all my land both meadow and uplands and all my outlands both divided and undivided as also my house and barn and remainder of my homestead that is not already disposed of in deeds of gift and also all my moveble estate of what kind, sort or degree soever that I shall stand possessed of at my death and not legally convveyed away by me in my life time, he paying, of his heirs, executors or adminisrators paying within one year after my decease, the several legacies in these prsents after mentioned--
3ly I give to my daughters that shall survive me to each one of them five pound to be paid by son Matthew or by his eirs executors or administrators within twelve months after my decease in pay and not in money--
4ly and finally my will is that my son Matthew Clark be and by these presents I do appoint him to be whole and sole executor to this my last will and testament, and I desire my two loving frienda and kinsmen John Hart Sen. and Deac. Samuel Porter to be overseers hereof. In whitness whereof and to every part hereof I the said John Clark Sen. have on this day and year above named both signed, sealed and declared this to be my last will and testeament."
John Clark Sen. His mark X & seal (a seal)
Signed, sealed and declared in the presence of John Hard sen. John Hart jun.
He wrote a codicil on 21 November 1712 at Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut; "And as an addition to this my will I the said John Clark Sen. do declare it to be my will that my youngest daughter Mercy Clark not being disposed of in marriage and so not having had anything as portion as the rest of my daughters have had as also being by the providence [of God] under greater disadvantages than the rest of them. That she shall have after my decesee all my moveable estate of hosehold goods forever.
2ly, I do further add that it is my will that my daughter Rebecca Woodruff, with whom I am, be well rewarced by my executor for all her labor, care and trouble about me in this time of my sickness according to the judgement of my to friends Cea-- Samuel Porter and John Hart Sen."
In witness herunto I have set my hand this 21
st day of November 1712
John Clark Sen. His mark
in the presence of John Hard sen. John Hart jun. He died on 22 November 1712 at Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut.