OurNorthernRoots
William Clark
1645 - 1689 (44 years)
Generation: 1
Generation: 2
1. William Clark was born in 1645 in Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut; died in 1689 in Bedford, Westchester County, New York; was buried in Old Bedford Cemetery, Bedford, Westchester County, New York. Notes:
William Clark, Sr. Parents are unknown, his father's name could have been John. The published Samuel Clark Genealogy, by Edgar Clark (archive.org), says William is the son of Samuel Clark and Susannah Treat. This is disputed by family researchers [and Charles Anderson]; after many years of research, no evidence has been found that Samuel Clark is our William Clark's father. It is probable he is an uncle or cousin. The compiled records of Connecticut marriages before 1700 lists a couple dozen each "Samuel Clark" and "John Clark." A more thorough examination of early Stamford land records may give us additional information.
William Clark is recorded in the land records of Stamford, Connecticut Colony, some time in the "1660s or 1670s." As he would have reached adulthood in 1666, he would not be in the land records before that date. His home was in the eastern part of Stamford, outside the village proper, near the Noroton river and Noroton hill. He was, in 1680, one of the 22 proprietors in Bedford, which was under the jurisdiction of the Connecticut Colony until years later when the New York and Connecticut state line was finally settled.
William died sometime during 1689, leaving children: William, Jr. b. 1670; Nathan b. ca. 1674; Sarah b. ca. 1674, Joseph b. ca. 1677, and Margery b ca. 1680. He appears to have been predeceased by his wife.
William's meager estate inventory was taken in 1689 (Bedford, Fairfield Probate District, Connecticut) and probated 9 Mar 1697. House and lot went to oldest son, William, Jr., lands were divided among the other children with the minor children choosing Benjamin Green (of Stamford) as their guardian.
Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/240814755/william-clarkFamily/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
Children:
- 2. William Clark, Jr.
was born in 1670 in Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut; died on 2 Mar 1726 in Bedford, Westchester County, New York; was buried in Old Bedford Cemetery, Bedford, Westchester County, New York. - 3. Joseph Clark was born in 1677 in Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut.
- 2. William Clark, Jr.
Generation: 2
2. William Clark, Jr. (1.William1) was born in 1670 in Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut; died on 2 Mar 1726 in Bedford, Westchester County, New York; was buried in Old Bedford Cemetery, Bedford, Westchester County, New York. Notes:
Son of William Clark, Sr. (1645-1689). His mother's name is unknown. William Clark, Jr. inherited (probate, 1697) his father's homelot (#18), drawn during the founding of Bedford when lands were laid out in 1681. The location, according to a reconstructed map (Bedford Historical Records, vol. IX, pg. 25), was a 3-acre lot located north of the original town common. His neighbors were John Westcott, Sr. and Jonas Seeley. There are no records to indicate disposition of his house and lot after William,Sr.'s death, but it is assumed it was inherited by his oldest son, John Clark (1695-ca.1780).
William married, about 1693, Hannah Ayers, daughter of Richard Ayers of Stamford. The 1710 Bedford Inhabitant List shows: William Clark, freeholder, age 40 yrs; Hannah, his wife, aged 37 years; John Clark, his son, aged 15 years; William Clark, his son, aged 13 years; Ebenezer Clark, his son, aged 6 years; David Clark, 2 years; Jabez Clark , 4 months.
Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/240834967/william-clark3. Joseph Clark (1.William1) was born in 1677 in Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut. Joseph married Abigail Lockwood after 1707. Abigail (daughter of Edmund Lockwood and Hannah Scott) was born in ca 1674 in Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut; died after 1740. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]