Micajah Clark Sr. (1718 - 1808)

Born 16 Sep 1718 in New Kent, Virginia

Husband of Judith Lewis (Adams) Clark — married Oct 1736 in Albemarle, VA

Descendants

Died 21 Jul 1808 at age 89 in Albemarle, Virginia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Richard Fowler [send private message], Mary Elizabeth Stewart [send private message], and Alexander Clark [send private message]

Micajah Clark Sr. performed Patriotic Service in Virginia in the American Revolution.

Biography

Micajah Clark Sr. was a Virginia colonist.

Service: VIRGINIA Rank(s): PATRIOTIC SERVICE
Birth: 9-16-1718 NEW KENT CO VIRGINIA
Death: 7-21-1808 ALBEMARLE CO VIRGINIA
Service Source: ABERCROMBIE & SLATTEN, VA REV PUB CLAIMS, VOL 1, PP 7, 11, 20, 28
Service Description: 1) FURNISHED SUPPLIES
RESIDENCE Albemarle, County Virginia
SPOUSE Judith Adams ^[1]

Birth

Date: 16 Sep 1718

Place: New Kent County, Virginia ^[2]

Obituary

The following is from the VA ARGUS newspaper, dated Friday July 29, 1808 published at Richmond by Samuel Pleasants [copied from partially illegible microfilm]:

DEPARTED this life on the 21st inst at his residence in the county of Albemarle, Micajah CLARK, Senior aged 91 years, after a lingering ilness of 7 (? could be 2) months which he endured to the last, with unceasing patience, and a Christian ?Ukefore_ories, altho he was from the commencement of this illess, confidently impressed with the belief he should never recover. This venerable man, hath had the happiness of enjoying a long and well spent life, in good health, almost uninterrupted, never having experienced more than one attack previous to the one which carried him off. He was, in every respect, perfectly uniform and temperate; his benign and humane contenance, plainly indicated the purity and benevolence of his heart, and opened an avenue to ?its/his innermost recesses by which any one might enter. How melancholy are the sensations we feel, when meditating on the loss of this, our friend, and the friend of mankind -- Philanthropy, humanity, morality and benevolence will severely deplore his loss, and shed a tear in remembrance of his departed shade. It's needless to recount the many amiable qualities which were united in this man; they are well known to all who knew him; but to those who knew him not, suffice it to say, he was a kind and benevolent neighbor, a humane and tender master, and that the poor never passed unheeded by him. The writer of these lines, hath from his infancy, known this man, whose loss we deplore, and in making the foregoing communication he has done it conscientiously. July 26, 1808. A FRIEND.

Marriage

Husband: Micajah Clark

Wife: Judith Adams

Child: Christopher Clark

Child: Robert Clark

Child: Mourning Clark

Child: Micajah Clark

Child: John Clark

Child: Edward Clark

Child: Penelope Clark

Child: Judith Clark

Child: Bolling Clark

Child: Elizabeth Clark

Child: James Craven Clark

Child: William Clark

Marriage:

Date: OCT 1736

Place: Albemarle, VA ^[3],

Note

He was willed five hundred acres of land in Hanover County, VA.

He was a close friend of Thomas Jefferson, and, as his surveyor, Micajah (pronounced My cage ah) had laid off much of his land and was an aide to Jefferson in many of his building projects.

He was a large land owner and gave land to each of his 12 children. He was well educated, as were all his children.

He built a small church near his home that was open to all sects every Sunday. If no minister came, he would conduct a service. He was called the "Quaker Preacher," however he never joined the Quaker denomination.

From "Cabells and Their Kin" by Alexander Brown: "The Clarks were the first settlers of Albemarle, once part of Hanover, afterwards Louisa."

1737 Micajah `of Hanover County' purchased 130 acres from James Defaux. This tract was bounded by Machunk Creek, Judith's father Robert Adams and the then Hanover County line. Witnesses to the deed were his father, Xpher Clark, his brother-in-law Benja. Jonson and Mathew Whitell. Recorded in Goochland County Deed Book 3, page 12 [2].

In March 1747 Micajah first appears in Fredericksville Parish, Albemarle Co., VA records.

December 15, 1757 Micajah patented 176 acres in Bedford Co., VA on both sides of Dreaming Creek, south side of Fluvanna River adjacent Charles Lynch; but instead of the now usual payment in currency, he listed four names he 'imported ... to swell within this Colony of Virginia' -- James,Mary Ann and Mary Spiers and William Kippas.

Micajah was appointed as Collector for the Anglican Church Parish in 1762. Micajah was again appointed the Parish Collector and Ordered to give bond at the vestry meeting held Dec'r 13, 1770. On November 14th, 1771 Micajah was again appointed the parish Collector and ordered to give bond for security.

He served as a Corporal in Captain Samuel Woodson's Company in the 9th Virginia Regt. of Foot Sol. commanded by Colonel George Matthews in the Revolutionary War. His name appears on the roll from Dec 1776 to Oct 1777 (or this could be his son?).

He was supposedly related to George Rogers Clark and William Clark (their father John Clark was in the same neighborhood as Micajah's father Christopher at the same time and was listed on some legal documents with him).

Micajah must have given all his land and property to his children before his death, as he had no will or probate.

Micajah was born in 1718. He passed away in 1808.

The following was the response from ChatGPT Chatbot by openai.com on 2/15/2023:

Query: “Who was Micajah Clark, known as the “Quaker Preacher” in colonial Virginia?”

Response: “Micajah Clark was a Quaker preacher who lived in colonial Virginia during the 18th century. He was known for his fiery sermons and his outspoken opposition to slavery and other forms of oppression.

Clark was born in 1733 in Caroline County, Virginia, and he became a Quaker in his early adulthood. He quickly became a well-known figure in the Quaker community, and he was appointed as a minister in the Society of Friends in 1759.

As a Quaker preacher, Clark traveled extensively throughout Virginia, preaching to both Quakers and non-Quakers alike. He was a passionate advocate for social justice, and he spoke out against slavery, war, and other forms of violence and injustice.

Clark's outspoken opposition to slavery put him at odds with many of his fellow Virginians, and he was frequently harassed and even imprisoned for his beliefs. Despite this, he continued to preach and speak out against slavery until his death in 1806.

Today, Micajah Clark is remembered as a courageous and principled voice for justice and equality in colonial Virginia, and he remains an important figure in the history of the Quaker movement in America.“

Sources

1. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed October 20, 2019), "Record of Micajah Clark", Ancestor # A022565.
2. ↑ Lane, p. 361. States [in error] that Micajah Clark was born Sept 16, 1698 rather than 1718.
3. ↑ Lane, p. 361

• WikiTree profile Clark-3916 created through the import of MOORMAN FAMILY.GED on May 31, 2011 by Mary Elizabeth Stewart. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Mary Elizabeth and others.

• WikiTree profile Clark-8627 created through the import of CJB001.ged on Jul 18, 2012 by Christopher Becker. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Christopher and others.

• Lane, Mrs. Julian C. Key and Allied Families Statesboro, GA, Publisher, (Press of the J.W. Burke Co., Macon, GA, 1931). Private property of Pat Iverson

• Copied by Fowler-11239 from handwritten pedigree inherited from Mary Page Covington.

• Research notes regarding the Descendants of Christopher and Micajah Clark as compiled and typed by Velma Gertrude (Brown) Vick (1892-1978) aka Mrs. J. Wells Vick [1892-1978]. 1954, 65 pages. Accessed 22 Apr. 2023.