ELI CLARK, son of Abraham and Deliverance (Graves?) Clark was born about 1694, probably at Durham, N.H., and died at Lee between 1 September 1766 and 30 May 1771, the dates on which he was mentioned in his sister’s will and the date on which his own will was proved.[1] Eli married before 9 January 1719/20, Elizabeth4 HUCKINS, born about 1697, died after 17 March 1763, daughter of Robert3 (James2 Robert1) and Wealthean (Thomas) Huckins. Robert Huckins wrote a will dated 9 January 1719/20 in which he mentions his married daughter Elizabeth Clark.[2] Certainly the wife of Eli Clark was named Elizabeth as early as 11 Oct 1731 when she released dower on a deed.[3] The two were of the right age and place to be married. Henry Winthrop Hardon failed to identify her in his 1913 article on the descendants of Robert Huckins.[4]
Eli appears in few records. He sold his land grant in Canterbury to James Grady of Portsmouth on 11 October 1731 with his wife Elizabeth releasing dower. His only other land transaction was on 1 June 1757 when Eli sold five acres of land in Durham that the town had granted him on 18 March 1733.[5] The last wills of Eli Clark and Eli Clark, Jr. were exhibited by Benjamin Clark, executor of both on 30 May 1771.[6] The fact that father and son of the same name had wills filed simultaneously in the county adjacent to Strafford (where Lee is), has no doubt confused past researchers. Eli’s will mentions wife Elizabeth, sons Eli, Joseph and Benjamin, daughters Deliverance Burnham, Abigail Glines, and Elizabeth Bickford, and grandson Samuel Clark, son of son Isaac. Executors were named as his two sons Eli and Benjamin.
Children of Eli and Elizabeth (Huckins) CLARK, all born at Durham, order uncertain:
i. Isaac, born say 1718, died before 17 March 1763. Apparently married before 1740, he appears to be the Isaac Clark of Durham whose son Samuel was baptized in Dover, in private on 30 June 1740.[7] He is likely the Isaac who voted as Durham inhabitant on 24 March 1739/40 and served as constable in 1742.[8] No further records.
ii. Eli, born about 1720, died Lee between 11 November 1770 and 30 May 1771, the dates on which his will was written and proved. He married say 1748, Mary BURNHAM, who was alive on 11 November 1770. His will mentions his wife Mary, sons Isaac, Burnum, and Elijah, daughters Hannah Foy, Elizabeth and Lydia and son Isaac was made executor. Son Burnham moved to Randolph, Maine where he recorded his birth as 26 July 1762, the son of Eli and Mary (Burnham) Clark.[9]
iii. Deliverance, born say 1722, died after 17 March 1763. She was called Deliverance Burnham in the will of her father. No Burnham appears in the History of Durham that can be readily identified as her husband, however, he may be the brother of Mary Burnham, wife of Eli Clark, above, who is also not identified.
iv. Abigail, born say 1724, died after 17 March 1763. She married John3 GLINES, son of John2 (William1) and Mary (Basford) Glines.[10] The wife of John Glines of Canterbury was Abigail on 21 June 1762 when they deeded land.[11] Ms. Marden in her article did not identify this Abigail and since Eli had some land dealings with Canterbury, it seems it was his daughter that married John Glines. They disappear from Canterbury records after 1780.
v. Joseph, born say 1726, died after 17 March 1763. He is likely the same Joseph Clark who signed the petition to set of Lee on 18 November 1765.[12] No further records.
vi. Elizabeth, born say 1729, died after 17 March 1763. Called Elizabeth Bickford in the will of her father. No Bickford appears in the History of Durham or the Bickford Genealogy that can be readily identified as her husband.[13]
vii. Benjamin, born say 1732, died Barnstead between 10 November 1791 and 13 Mar 1793, the dates on which his will was written and proved.[14] Evidently the Benjamin who married on 21 February 1760, Susannah GRAY.[15] He was the executor to both his father and brother’s estates in 1771. On 7 December 1772, Benjamin Clark and Isaac Clark, both of Lee sold 28 acres in Durham, lot 95, “belonging to Eli Clark, Sr. deceased” to Joseph Smart of Newmarket. Both Susannah and Elizabeth released their rights of dower.[16] On 20 April 1787 Benjamin Clark, tanner of Lee sold to Smith Emerson of Lee, for £153, all my homestead farm where I now live, 16 acres and Susannah released her dower. This land had been purchased from Benjamin Drew.[17] Benjamin appears at Barnstead in 1790 with a family of three males over 16, one male under 16 and seven females.[18] His will mentions his wife Susannah, daughters Susannah Leathers, Sarah Jenkins, Patience Clark, Deliverance Clark, Anna Clark, Abigail Clark and Louisa Clark, sons Ezra, Samuel and Eli, who was made executor.
[1] Helen F. Evans, Abstracts of Probate Records of Rockingham County, N.H. 1771-1779 (Bowie, Md.: Heritage Books, 2000), I:160.
[2] New Hampshire State Papers 32:95.
[3] New Hampshire Provincial Deeds 19:82.
[4] Robert Huckins of the Dover Combination and Some of His Descendants, The New England Historical & Genealogical Register 67 (1913):81-83.
[5] New Hampshire Provincial Deeds 79:303.
[6] Rockingham County Probate #3849, 21:30, 21:45.
[7] Dover VRs, p. 145.
[8] Durham Town Records 1:3 and 1:22.
[9] Vital Records of Randolph, Maine to the Year 1892 (Portland, Me.: Maine Historical Society, 1910), p. 23.
[10] William Glines of Dover, New Hampshire With One Line of His Descendants by Barbara B. Marden, New Hampshire Genealogical Record 8 (1991):117-125.
[11] New Hampshire Provincial Deeds 75:62.
[12] Stackpole, History of Durham, I:23-25.
[13] Catherine Bickford Fahnestock, Three Hundred Fifty Years of Bickfords in New Hampshire (Cottonport, La.: Polyanthos, 1971), which is sadly unindexed.
[14] Barbara Evans, Strafford Probate Abstracts, p. 23.
[15] Stackpole, History of Durham, II:77.
[16] Strafford County Deeds 5:419.
[17] Stafford County Deeds 8:309. Smith Emerson had previously bought out Isaac Clark, Benjamin’s nephew on 17 September 1784, Stafford County Deeds 8:307.
[18] Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken In the Year 1790: New Hampshire (Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1992), p. 86.
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