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Saturday, January 18, 2014

3RD GREAT GRANDFATHER WILLIAM P. CLARK


Photo from Personal Collection

William Parkinson Clark

1812-1886

Name:	William Parkinson Clark

Father:	_________________ Clark
Mother:	_________________

Facts
Birth	Dec. 18, 1812	Orange Co., NY^1–4
Residence	1835 (about age 23)	Minisink, Orange, New York, United States⁵
Residence	1840 (about age 28)	Minisink, Orange, New York, United States⁶
Residence	1850 (about age 38)	Candor, Tioga, New York, United States⁷
Residence	1855 (about age 43)	Wawayanda, Orange, New York, United States⁸
Residence	1860 (about age 48)	Wawayanda, Orange, New York, United States⁹
Residence	1865 (about age 53)	Wawayanda, Orange, New York, United States¹⁰
Residence	1870 (about age 58)	Wawayanda, Orange, New York, United States¹¹
Residence	1875 (about age 63)	Wawayanda, Orange, New York, United States¹²
Residence	1880 (about age 68)	Goshen, Orange, New York, United States¹³
Death	Jul. 28, 1886 (age 73)	Goshen, Orange, New York, United States^14–15
Cause		from angina pectoris; Goshen, Orange Co., New York, USA^15–17
Burial	Aug. 2, 1886 (age 73)	Ridgebury Cem., Ridgebury, Orange, NY¹⁶

Marriages/Children
1. Charity Kimber (1813-1874)
Marriage	Sep. 17, 1831 (age 18)	Orange Co., NY¹⁸
Children	Phebe Jane Clark (1834-1890)
	James L. Clark (1832-1901)
	Charity Emeline Clark (1851-1947)
	Keziah Bennett Clark (1836-1909)
	Charles Edgar Clark (1844-1919)
	Sarah Angeline Clark (1840-1842)
	Katherine Amelia Clark (1838-1921)
	Anna Augusta Clark (1858-1925)
	Jeremiah B. Clark (1842-1908)
	John R. Clark (1849- )
	George Emmet Clark (1856-1946)
	Benjamin Reeve Clark (1853-1926)
	William P. Clark Jr. (1847-1915)
	Howell Reeve Clark (1848-1924)
2. Sarah Ann (1824-1887)
Marriage	Mar. 13, 1875 (age 62)	Goshen, Orange, NY¹⁹

Notes
It is documented in Dr. Robert Shaw's record book dated September 1840 that William P. Clark and Benjamin B. Clark were brothers. Benjamin B. Clark and Wm. P. Clark had an account that was paid by 'your brother Wm. P. Clark'. An advertisement in the 'Independent Republican' March 26, 1841: NEW LIME--Just burned, a kiln of New Lime, of excellent quality, at his residence, one mile east of Gardnersville, and three miles south of Ridgebury. B.B. & Wm. P. Clark Minisink, Feb. 25th, 1841 35tf. N.B. The subscriber intends to keep lime constantly on hand, and will deliver it any reasonable distance at the shortest notice. From Orange County Press, Friday, January 10, 1873, Page 3, Col. 1 (courtesy of Chris Barry, email dated July 27, 2001) Mr. W. P. Clark, of Denton, celebrated his sixtieth birthday the 18th ult. Upon the occasion forty-seven children and grand-children were present at the entertainment. Several were absent 'owing to circumstances over which they had no control.' On March 13, 1875, William P. Clark married a widow, Sarah A. DeHart from Goshen, NY. Sarah Ann DeHart was the widow of William DeHart. The witnesses to the marriage were William Judson and Bertha Judson. From the 'Middletown Daily Press' published in Middletown, NY on Monday, August 2, 1886: Sudden Death. (From our Goshen Correspondent) Mr. Wm. P. Clark, aged 74, fell dead on the sidewalk in front of his residence, near Ryerson's Bridge in Goshen, Saturday morning. He had just stepped down out of his wagon, and was under no excitement. It is supposed heart disease was the cause of his death. He has had a fish and vegetable market on Greenwich St. He formerly resided for many years in the town of Wawayanda. Howell Clark, employed by the O. and W., in Middletown, is a son. From the 'Middletown Daily Argus' published in Middletown, NY on Monday evening, August 2, 1886: Sudden Deaths. Wm. P. Clark, an old and respected citizen of Goshen, dropped dead from heart disease Saturday morning. He had been downtown and was apparently in good health. When he returned home he fell dead. The funeral was held to-day at Ridgebury. Deceased was the father of Howell R. Clark, of this village. Death Notice from 'The Independent Republican published in Goshen, NY on August 2, 1886: Died July 28 - In this village, of heart disease, Wm. P. Clark, aged 78 years, 7 months, 19 days Also from 'The Independent Republican published in Goshen, NY on August 2, 1886: Wm. P. Clark Sr., a well-known resident of this village, dropped dead from heart disease at his market on Greenwich St. Saturday morning. His remains were interred at Ridgebury on Monday.

1. Ancestry.com, 1860 United States Federal Census (Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.Original data - 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records;), Year: 1860; Census Place: Wawayanda, Orange, New York; Roll; Page: 303; Image: 310.

2. 1870 Federal Census, Source Citation: Year: 1870; Census Place: Wawayanda, Orange, New York; Roll: M593_1070; Page: 702A; Image: 492; Family History Library Film: 552569.

3. Clark Bible Pages with William P. Clark's birth.

4. Ancestry.com, 1850 United States Federal Census, Year: 1850; Census Place: Candor, Tioga, New York; Roll: M432_604; Page: 149B; Image 302.

5. 1835 New York State Census.

6. 1840 United State Federal Census, Minisink, Orange Co., New York, Roll 323, Page 188, Image 380 online at Ancestry.com.

7. Ancestry.com, 1850 United States Federal Census, Year: 1850; Census Place: Candor, Tioga, New York; Roll: M432_604; Page: 149B; Image 302.

8. 1855 New York State Census, "New York, State Census, 1855," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-25917-20634-31?cc=1937366&wc=M99Q-NBX:1752691380: accessed 18 Jan 2014), Orange > Wawayanda > image 5 of 37. NOTE William P. Clark and his family were incorrectly enumerated as William P. Parrott in this census. However, I have no doubt this is my William P. Clark's family.

9. 1860 Federal Census, Source Citation: Year: 1860; Census Place: Wawayanda, Orange, New York; Roll: M653_835; Page: 303; Image: 310; Family History Library Film: 803835.

10. 1865 New York State Census, "New York, State Census, 1855," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-25917-20634-31?cc=1937366&wc=M99Q-NBX:1752691380: accessed 18 Jan 2014), Orange > Wawayanda > image 5 of 37.

11. 1870 Federal Census, Source Citation: Year: 1870; Census Place: Wawayanda, Orange, New York; Roll: M593_1070; Page: 702A; Image: 492; Family History Library Film: 552569.

12. 1875 New York State Census, "New York, State Census, 1855," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-25917-20634-31?cc=1937366&wc=M99Q-NBX:1752691380: accessed 18 Jan 2014), Orange > Wawayanda > image 5 of 37.

13. 1880 federal census, Source Citation: Year: 1880; Census Place: Goshen, Orange, New York; Roll: 910; Family History Film: 1254910; Page: 251C; Enumeration District: 015; Image: 0503.

14. New York State Dept. of Health, Death Certificate for William P. Clark, Certificate 18715.

15. Newspaper article reporting William P. Clark's death.

16. New York State Dept. of Health, Death Certificate for William P. Clark, Certificate 18715.

17. Ibid.

18. Orange County Patriot Newspaper; marriage of Parkinson Clark and Charity Kimber published.

19. Charles C. Coleman, The Early Records of the First Presbyterian Church at Goshen, New York from 1767 to 1885, page 45.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Dear Son and Nephew

5th Great Grandfather Samuel Kimber was born 1762 and reared in the Minisink region of Orange County, New York bordering Sussex County, New Jersey. He enlisted with the Third Regiment of the Orange County Militia during the American Revolution.[1] Shortly after the war, Samuel started a family with Maria Bennett. In the passing years he became an active community member serving as constable, tax collector and commissioner of schools for the town of Minisink.

After leading a respected life in Orange County, Samuel Kimber answered the call to move on to ‘greener pastures’ when he was 56 years old. He mortgaged 90 and 24/100 acres of his land in Minisink Sept. 17, 1817 for $1,000.[2] By 1818 Samuel and his son, Peter, had migrated together to Washington Township, Darke County, Ohio. [3] I don’t know whether Samuel traveled to Ohio with his 1^stwife, Maria Bennett or his 2^nd wife, Charity (Loree) Aber. In 1828 he served Washington Township as its treasurer. [4]

Following is a letter that Samuel wrote to his son, Benjamin Kimber (my ancestor) and his nephew, George Kimber back home in Minisink, New York. No doubt he was hoping for a visit from his son.

Greenville (Ohio) June the 30th, 1829

Dear son and nephew:

I once more take my pen in trembling hand to inform you that I am in health hoping that these few lines will find you yours all in health- -I have had the worst spell of the rheumatism that I ever had--I were taken the forepart of February and after some days were confined to my bed where I had to continue for some time--I could not get from the bed to the fire for some time, but I have got so that I begin to walk about but I cannot straighten my knee yet.

Our friends and neighbors are all well. Wheat looks good and corn looks very good. Sarah Elston says she has got the deed for James land ready for you when you come, we look for you in September, so no more.

Samuel Kimber--written to Benjamin and George Kimber.[5]

Samuel Kimber spent the rest of his life in Darke Co., Ohio passing Sept. 27, 1835.

[1] New York in the Revolution, Vol. 1, p 225

[2] Orange County, New York Land Records, Mortgage Book O, p 82

[3] The History of Darke County, Ohio published 1880 by W. H. Beers & Co., p 489

[4] Ibid, p 443

[5] Mrs. Ridall of Buffalo, NY, a Kimber-Seeley descendant, contributed a letter written by Samuel Kimber in Greenville, Ohio to his son and nephew to William J. Coulter. William J. Coulter published the account in his 'Genealogical and Historical' column published with the Westbrook family genealogy. [Wantage Recorder, Sussex Co., NJ Jan. 29, 1937 Issue]

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Hunting for Bester's Parents

After learning a little about Bester B. Peck’s adult life I advanced to the next genealogical step--find his parents. (See post Bester B. Peck, Husband and Father, 1798-1863)

I searched the 1800, 1810 and 1820 Franklin, Connecticut federal census Peck households for a male matching Bester’s age. Several Peck men emerged as having a male corresponding to Bester’s age at each enumeration but further research proved this was not Bester.

In my next attempt to locate Bester’s parents I examined the Early Connecticut Marriages, Franklin, New London, CT online at Ancestry.com. I located six Peck men who married from 1782 to 1798 and researched the couples. Thanks to Ira B. Peck’s “Descendants of Joseph Peck” and the Franklin, Connecticut Vital Records, I was able to eliminate five of them.

The remaining couple, Bradford Peck and Lydia Barstow, married July 24, 1794. Fortunately for me, Bradford Peck was also included in Ira B. Peck’s “Descendants of Joseph Peck”. Bradford was a son of Darius Peck and Hannah Warner (of Franklin, Connecticut) born Nov. 5, 1773 and died in the U. S. service. That was all Mr. Ira B. Peck wrote.

A ‘google’ search for Bradford Peck pointed me to Evergreen Cemetery, Lee, Oneida County, New York where Bradford Peck’s tombstone read “Bradford Peck, War of 1812, died 1813, aged 40 years”. This is a good match for Bradford’s birth date and tells of his military service.

Ancestry.com has a fair collection of military records and I found Bradford in three of their databases. He was included in the U. S. Army Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914, as a Private in the Fifteenth Regiment Infantry under Captain Young. He enlisted May 25, 1813 for five years and died 27 days later on June 22, 1813. In the U. S. Pensioners, 1818-1872 databases, Mindwell Taylor was collecting payments as Bradford Peck’s widow. Bradford was also granted a bounty land warrant per Ancestry’s U. S. War Bounty Land Warrants, 1798-1858, War of 1812 database with an image of Warrant No. 27768 dated Sept. 8, 1852. Was this the same Bradford from Franklin, Connecticut? What happened to Lydia? And where is Bester?

I wanted to know more about his wife, Lydia Barstow. I googled ‘Lydia Barstow’ and came up with a snippet view from a book titled “Descendants of John Barstow and George Barstow” authored by Arthur Hitchcock Radasch. The snippet told of Lydia’s birth and marriage to Bradford Peck and two lines above Lydia’s information I spotted another “Bester” born Jan. 6, 1793. Someone else in Lydia’s family had a child with the unique given name Bester. This was indeed worth investigating. I located a copy of the Barstow Genealogy in the card catalog at the Connecticut State Library in Hartford, Connecticut. I traveled to the Library to find ‘The Barstow-Bester Genealogy, Descendants of John Barstow and George Barstow’ discussed earlier and found Lydia parents were Yetonce Barstow and Esther Wood.

Yetonce Barstow and 1^st wife Esther were born in Norwich and resided in Franklin, Connecticut. They had 2 daughters, Esther born August 25, 1766, and Lydia born March 2, 1774. Daughter Esther married Edward Corwin in 1784 and had two children—Bester Corwin, born Jan. 6, 1793 and an infant child who died with his mother on Aug. 20, 1797. Yetonce died Dec. 28, 1799 in Franklin, Connecticut outliving both his wives and his two daughters. Daughter Esther (Barstow) Corwin passed Aug. 20, 1797 and daughter Lydia (Barstow) Peck June 6, 1798.

More internet sleuthing determined a death notice for Mrs. Lydia Peck published in the Norwich newspaper, The Courier June 14, 1798:

Died.—At Franklin, June 6, Mrs. Lydia Peck, consort of Mr. Bradford Peck, age 25

June 8, in going to the funeral of Mrs. Peck some horses taking fright at a carriage, four persons were thrown to the ground; one of which (Mrs. Priscilla Barker, of Lebanon) was very much hurt, but is in a fair way to recover.

The Franklin Vital Records from the Barbour Collection also contained a death for Lydia, wife of Bradford, daughter Yetonce Barstow, died June 6, 1798 age 24.

The ‘Bradford-Lydia’ scenario is coming together but more research needs to be done.

New London Connecticut 1813

Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Benson John Lossing's Engraving from

Harper's New Monthly Magazine

December 1863