Mercer County PAGenWeb


William Clark


William Clark appeared in Pennsylvania in the 1770s and his early (the rest of this sentence is missing)

A William Clark took the oath of allegiance in 1777-78, which if this was our William, would place his birth prior to 1755 which is consistent with the census.

The will of William Clark is presented below in this essay. John Clark is the oldest son and executor of the estate in William Clark's will of 1811. Persons mentioned in William's will include:

David Clark (born in 1788 in Washington County, per family history and 1850 census); John Clark (born about 1786); Nancy Clark who married a Phillips is "one of the three oldest". Census records indicate her birth to be about 1790. Other children are referred to as the youngest.

There is a separation of children in the life of William, which occurs 1790-1793. Washington County tax records for Cross Creek Township show William Clark on 50 acres in 1791, 90 acres in 1792 and 1793.

A move to Robinson Township occurs in 1793, where William Clark is now on 60 acres and remains there until 1803. The 1790 Census for William Clark in Cross Creek Township shows William Clark, male over 16, female, and 2 males under 16. Either the first wife has died, and Nancy is the female, or Nancy has not yet been born.

In 1800, the census for William Clark in Robinson Township shows  male 26-45, female 26-45, 2 males 10-16 (John and David), male 0-10 (James born 1799), female 10-16 (Nancy born about 1790), female 0-10 (Rebecca from will), and female 0-10 (referred to in will as five of the youngest). William started a new family of children, with the birth of Rebecca (ABT 1795) and  it is thought that William remarried after the death of his first (unknown) wife  and moved to Robinson Township in 1793.

On 31 December 1803, William Clark paid $550 and bought 250 acres in Mercer County by deed from John McElhenry who had purchased by deed from Archibald Murphy on 18 February 1803, who had been granted the tract by patent on September 10 1787. Sgt. Murphy was granted lot 58, in Donation Land District 3 for service in the Revolutionary War.

This land played an important role in the early settlement of Mercer County, and part of it was held in the Clark family until the death of William Clark in 1893. The 1810 census in Mercer County is as follows: Male over 45 (William), female 26-45 (Second wife Mary), male 16-26 (David  born in 1788), male 10-16 (James born 1799), male 0-10 William born about 1801), female 16-26 (Nancy, born about 1790 and married to Phillips by 1811), female 10-16 (Rebecca born about 1794), and two females 10-16 (part of group five of the youngest in will of 1811).  Note that oldest son John is under his own head of household, John Clark, male 26-45 (John born about 1784), male 16-26, female 16-26.

The Clark family were members of the Neshannock Presbyterian Church located just over the county line in Lawrence County. The Bell family were also members of the same church.  Early records of the church are very scarce. William Clark is noted as a member in 1813, later "Widow" Clark, John Clark and Mrs. John Clark, James Clark and his wife Fanny Clark, David Clark and Mrs. David Clark. Other members of the church associated with the Clarks include several members of the Bell and Bentley families. The Neshannock cemetery is located near a river, and apparently suffered some early damage. Later the church itself burned to the ground, and all the church and cemetery records were destroyed.  A "History of the Neshannock Presbyterian Church" by Johnson was published in 1925. This book contains some of the early Records.

On 18 December, 1811, William Clark sold, to his son David, 100  acres for 100 cents. This land was eventually passed through David to his eldest son William, who died on the land in 1893. William Clark, the father of David and John, also transferred land to John Clark (referenced in the following will, and the distribution to William and James Clark was for the remaining 100 acres. John, David, and Nancy are the eldest, and James, William, Rebecca, and two unnamed daughters are the "five youngest".

Will of William Clark, dated  24  December 1811. "In the name of God, Amen. I William Clark of the county of Mercer and the State of Pennsylvania being very sick and weak in body but of a sound mind, memory, and understanding, blessed be God for the same but considering the uncertainty of this transitory life do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form  following: Principally  and first of all I commend my immortal soul into the hands of God who gave it and the body to the Earth to be buried in a decent and Christian like manner at the discretion of Executor herein after named and as to such (worldly) estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life I give and dispose in following manner. To Wit:

(And) as touching all the rest residue and remainder of my estate (rail) and personal of whatsoever kind the same may be in the County of Mercer or elsewhere I give and divide in the manner following: the place where I now live to be equally divided between them at my death, James Clark & William Clark. My wife to have her maintenance of the place. Nancy Phillips to have one cow. The rest of my movable property to be equally divided amongst the five youngest children. Rebecca Clark is to get one cow more than the rest of the children. The three oldest have got their part with Nancy getting the cow and John and David getting the land and David getting the horse. And lastly I nominate, (constitute) and appoint my dear wife Mary Clark and my son John Clark to be the executors of this my will hereby revoking all other wills legacies and bequeaths by me heretofore made and declaring this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set two my hand the twenty fourth day December one thousand eight hundred and eleven. Joined sealed, published, pronounced and declared by the said testator as his last will and testament in presence of us who in his presence and at his request have subscribed as witness.

Thomas Canon      William Farrel            William Clark (seal)

In the book, "80 Years History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania, published in 1876, there is a history of Shenango Township which starts on page 78.  Early pioneers are mentioned, such as Thomas Cannon who witnessed William Clark's will, Dr. John Mitcheltree  who's descendant married Mary Clark, (daughter of William, son of subject William).  William Bell settled in the area in 1798, and is most

William Clark was a true pioneer and was one of the first to settle in Shenango Township. Descendants of this family are now located in many diverse parts of the United States.

Prepared and researched by David B.Taylor 


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