| Francis Clark Sr. resided in the Southern Colonies in North America before 1776. Join: US Southern Colonies Project Discuss: southern_colonies |
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Francis is believed born 1684 in Hanover Parish, Virginia Colony. See the discussion of his documented brothers under Known Brothers. Francis Clark married Cordelia Langford 12 Dec 1704.[1][2]
In 1704 both Francis and Cordelia were members of the New Kent Preparatory Meeting in Henrico County. [3]
Brothers Christopher (who practiced law and farmed) and Clark moved their households from New Kent to South Anna in the early 1720s. They settled on Fork Creek about five miles south and west of present day Cuckoo, Louisa County. Francis led in founding the Quaker worship here which eventually became Fork Creek Friends Meeting.[4] By 1722, Francis and Cordelia had four boys: Francis, Jr., John, Benjamin, and Thomas.[5] Francis and Cordelia lived out their lives at Fork Creek. Francis passed away sometime before 8 Jan 1770, the date his will was proved.
Francis the elder, the subject of this profile, had his will proved 8 Jan 1770[6], Louisa County, Virginia Colony in which are named sons Joseph, Thomas, Isaac, Francis, Christopher, and John; daughters Agnes, Elizabeth, Sarah and Ursula and two grandchildren. Abstract: oldest son Joseph Clark, two hundred acres; Isham Haley, one hundred acres of land adjoining my son Joseph two hundred acres to him and his heirs forever; daughter Agnes Haley, one hundred acres of land she now lives on to her and her heirs forever, also, one Negro girl named Beck during her natural life until her death. I give this Beck to my granddaughter Cordelia Haley to her and her heirs forever; daughter Elizabeth Haley (wife of William Haley) 5 shillings; son Thomas Clark, 5 shillings; son Isaac Clark, 5 shillings; son John Clark, 5 shillings; son Francis Clark,5 shillings; son Christopher Clark, 5 shillings; daughter Sarah Moreman, 10 pounds gold money; grandson Francis Clark, son to John Clark, two hundred acres of land being on the head of Cross Creek to him and his heirs forever. Item: My will and desire is that my executor do sell in fee simple my tract of land on Piney Run in Hanover County to the best bidder and my will and desire that the money arising from such sale be equally divided among my five sons: viz. Tho's, John, Isaac, Francis and Christopher. All the rest and lands of my estate real and personal that is to say lands, mill, Negroes, household goods, debts, money and other estate whatever proceeds bequeath and devise to my daughter Ursurla Clark during her life and until death......continued. Signed Francis Clark; witnesses were R. Phillips, Junr,, John Haley and Arminisby Crew. Executors, three sons Jos Clark, Tho' Clark, Isaac Clark.[7]
His only known and documented brothers were Christopher Clark and Edward Clark. All others are being detached until sufficient documentation can prove otherwise.
Historian John Boddie[8] draws together records of the Clark family and that of the Moorman family with which it was closely associated over time in piecing together the origins of Francis Clark. Boddie believes the brothers Christopher, Edward and Francis Clark are the son of Edward Clark (who also had brothers Christopher and Francis) who married Ann Allison (also seen Allinson, Alanson) at Christ Church, Middlesex County 13 Apr 1681.[9] This scenario is highly unlikely. No birth records for the brothers have been found in the parish register, but there are records for Edward and Ann's other children, suggesting that they were not his parents.
Jay Worrall, Jr in the Magazine of Virginia Genealogy[5] writes that by 1700, Quaker Clarks were found living north of the James River and were members of Black Creek Friends Meeting of New Kent County. Brothers Christopher, Edward and and Francis Clark are found here. In 1742 Christopher and his family moved on to the 13,762 acre tract in what was soon to become Albemarle County.
Children
See will transcript above for children which are presently documented:
The following children are not documented and have been detached from Francis Clark and Cordelia Langford as parents. They should not be reattached absent primary source documentation and discussion with the US Southern Colonies Project.
This week's featured connections are Redheads: Francis is 14 degrees from Catherine of Aragón, 17 degrees from Clara Bow, 25 degrees from Julia Gillard, 12 degrees from Nancy Hart, 13 degrees from Rutherford Hayes, 13 degrees from Rita Hayworth, 19 degrees from Leonard Kelly, 18 degrees from Rose Leslie, 17 degrees from Damian Lewis, 16 degrees from Maureen O'Hara, 24 degrees from Jopie Schaft and 30 degrees from Eirik Thorvaldsson on our single family tree. Login to see how you relate to 33 million family members.
I just "tagged" both Frances and Cordelia on FamilySearch with the uploaded image as they are mentioned in the right most column toward the top beginning with the date 1703, 10, 10 and followed immediately by a 1704 entry- This link should take you right to the image so please let me know if it doesn't. I realize it is already cited but thought it might be nice to see since I learned my lesson below about trusting magazines or databases that offer details but really don't.?
https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/122945015
I decided to comment here when I looked at my Ancestry page for Cordelia and under "Hints" the same information is listed as being found in the "Virginia, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1660-1680" catalogue but I haven't paid my latest renewal and can't see the precise citation- if anyone has a paid membership I'd think there is a way to view my account notes and sources (?) Regardless it does list the same dates/location as the Quaker meeting notes from the Quaker Meeting Records. If more information is needed please message me or email- Thanks! Becky Elizabeth (Simmons-11603) I am trying to work out details and "kinks" in this area of my family tree as they are 7th great grandparents of mine but I see conflicting info about both of their parents...
Name: Cordelia Lankford Spouse: Francis Clerk Marriage Date: 17 Dec 1704 Marriage Location: Henrico County, Virginia
The original data source is described as: " Dodd, Jordan, comp.. Virginia Marriages to 1800. Electronic transcription of marriage records held by the individual counties in Virginia."
Further information on this data source: About Virginia, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1660-1800 This database of Virginia marriages to 1800 contains over 85,000 names. Each entry includes groom, bride, marriage date, county, and state. Every name is indexed so you can search for one name, or two names that are linked.
These marriage records, compiled by Liahona Research at the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City, UT, unfortunately do not contain citations for the origin of each entry. The purpose of this database is to provide a time and place for as many marriages as possible. It is up to the researcher to examine original records (see the Family History Library Catalog--available at any LDS family history center-- under the heading "Vital Records" for the appropriate locality) and gather whatever additional genealogical information is desired.
Finding the Original Marriage Record
Unfortunately, Liahona Research did not indicate which sources were used in this process, nor did they provide citations for the origin of each entry. However, careful researchers who wish to examine the original source will find sufficient information to lead them to that source. Most early American marriages were recorded by the county (except in the northeastern states) and this collection provides the county for virtually every marriage.
To find the original source, check the Family History Library Catalog under the name of the state, then the county and then the subject heading Vital Records. (The catalog is available at the library in Salt Lake City, and at more than 3,000 branches or family history centers throughout the world. Read through the catalog entries and locate one or more sources that include marriages for the year of interest. Obtain that source, and look for the marriage entry. In original records, most marriages are listed chronologically with the earliest date first. Also check for published books which may include the marriage entry. If none of the records listed under the county name include the marriage you are seeking, look in the catalog under the name of the state and the heading Vital Records. Some state-wide books may have been used to compile this collection.
Todd has done a lot of work on the profile. Please review the above-noted children that are at present attached but have no proof of their relationship to this Francis Clark. If you have sources for any of these as his child, please provide it. If none is received, they will be detached with a note (and link) on their profile. Thanks.
edited by Darlene (Athey) Athey-Hill