Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...
Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...
Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...
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The first in this country was Jonas<br />
Clark, born 1619-20, who was in Cam-<br />
bridge, Massachusetts, as early as 1642<br />
in early life he was a shipmaster. His<br />
residence was on the southerly side <strong>of</strong><br />
South street, near Holyoke street, in Cam-<br />
bridge, where he served as selectman,<br />
and died January 14, 1700, at the age <strong>of</strong><br />
eighty years. He was ordained ruling<br />
elder <strong>of</strong> the Cambridge church, Novem-<br />
ber 15, 1682, and continued in that posi-<br />
tion until his death. He married, July 30,<br />
1650, Elizabeth Clark, who died March<br />
21, 1673, aged forty-one years.<br />
Their son, Thomas Clark, was born<br />
March 2, 1653, in Cambridge, graduated<br />
from Harvard College in 1670, was settled<br />
as pastor at Chelmsford, Massachu-<br />
setts, in 1677, and continued in that posi-<br />
tion until his death, December 7, 1704,<br />
in his fifty-second year. Little concern-<br />
ing his ministry can be discovered, but it<br />
is known that through his sound sense<br />
and positive stand the attempt to establish<br />
the witchcraft mania in Chelmsford<br />
was thwarted. His first wife, Mary<br />
(Bulkeley) Clark, <strong>of</strong> Concord, born 1647,<br />
the mother <strong>of</strong> his children, died Decem-<br />
ber 2, 1700. She was a daughter <strong>of</strong> Rev.<br />
Peter Bulkeley, first minister at Concord,<br />
by his second wife, Grace, a daughter <strong>of</strong><br />
Sir Richard Chetwode.<br />
Their son, Jonas Clark, was born December<br />
2, 1684, in Chelmsford, where he<br />
was a colonel <strong>of</strong> militia, a magistrate, kept<br />
an inn and maintained a ferry, died April<br />
8,1770. He was a highly esteemed citizen,<br />
and his inn was a popular resort among<br />
the leading people. His wife, Elizabeth,<br />
born 1701-03, died April 27, 1767.<br />
Their son, Thomas Clark, was born<br />
August 24, 1713, in Chelmsford, lived in<br />
Tewksbury, where he made his home. He<br />
married Mary Farwell, born May 8, 1716,<br />
in Dunstable, Massachusetts, daughter <strong>of</strong><br />
Oliver and Mary (Cummings) Farwell.<br />
;<br />
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY<br />
Conn—5— 24 369<br />
Their son, Deacon Thomas Clark, was<br />
born December 2, 1743, in Tewksbury,<br />
where he made his home. He married,<br />
July 25, 1765, in Chelmsford, Lydia<br />
Fletcher, who was born January 29, 1747,<br />
in that town, daughter <strong>of</strong> Andrew and<br />
Lydia (Howard) Fletcher, died January<br />
12, 1826, in Tewksbury.<br />
Their son, Deacon Jesse Clark, was<br />
born October 21, 1783, in Tewksbury, and<br />
died there December 20, 1866. He lived<br />
on the paternal homestead in Tewksbury,<br />
where he was an extensive farmer. He<br />
married, in 1808, Lydia Tyler, who was<br />
born June 25, 1787, in Dracut, Massachu-<br />
setts, and died September 15, 1816, in<br />
Tewksbury, daughter <strong>of</strong> Jacob and Ruth<br />
(Marsh) Tyler, <strong>of</strong> Methuen, Massachu-<br />
setts.<br />
Their eldest son, John Clark, was born<br />
September 28, 181 1, in Tewksbury, where<br />
he was an industrious farmer, a man who<br />
led a quiet life, was an active member <strong>of</strong><br />
the Congregational church, served the<br />
town as selectman and in various other<br />
<strong>of</strong>fices, and died December 13, 1890. He<br />
married, November 28, 1839, Elizabeth<br />
Remington Trull, who was born August<br />
21, 1815, in Tewksbury, daughter <strong>of</strong> Jesse<br />
and Olive (Thorndyke) Trull.<br />
Rev. George Larkin Clark, son <strong>of</strong> John<br />
and Elizabeth R. (Trull)- Clark, was born<br />
August 16, 1849, in Tewksbury, on the<br />
homestead which has been in the possession<br />
<strong>of</strong> the family for one hundred and<br />
thirty-five years. His youthful days were<br />
spent upon the farm, in attendance at the<br />
public school, and in such duties as<br />
usually fall to the lot <strong>of</strong> farmers' sons. He<br />
subsequently attended the Lowell High<br />
School, and in 1868 entered Amherst Col-<br />
lege, from which he was graduated in<br />
1872. Following this he pursued the<br />
study <strong>of</strong> theology for two years at New<br />
Haven, and in 1876 was graduated from<br />
Union Theological Seminary <strong>of</strong> New