Sunday, April 8, 2018

Clark-Moorman Family Research

Several years ago I was fortunate to be a member of a remarkable research group that was looking into various Clark-Moorman and related families. This group was run by Linda Kay Sparks Starr. Her work on these families was truly remarkable. Unfortunately, we lost Linda to live disease on 23 Oct 2014 (Find A Grave Memorial 137761946).

The second hammer dropped on December 2017 when Rootsweb that hosted the website with all of Linda and the groups files went down. Sadly, the Virginia Connection website was no more and the prospects to get it back are not very bright. This was the site that Linda stored files related to her research including the Clark Family files.

But their is a bit of a shining light for me and the many other family researchers of the Virginia Clark families. I downloaded most, if not all, the Clark family research files. So to honor Linda and the entire groups work, will start posting them to this blog and archiving them in the pages section above for future researchers to use.

To get things started in this post, here are the copies of the two pages of the will and the proven record for Captain Christopher Clark, son of Micajah Clark and Sarah Ann Moorman, Salt Lake FHL Microfilm #32192 item 1, Will Book 1: 1745-1761 for Louisa County, Virginia.

Captain Christopher Clark Will Page 1
Captain Christopher Clark Will Page 2

Captain Christopher Clark, left the will above and transcription that follows which was written on August 14, 1741, and was proved in court and recorded in Louise County, Virginia on May 28, 1754.  The following though, is an abstract of his will
.
In the name of God Amen.  I Christopher Clark, being sound in mind and memory, thanks to God Almighty, for it, but calling to mind the uncertainties of ye life, make this my last will and testament as follows:

1st I give to my loving son Edward Clarke, one gun and all my wearing clothes and all things else that he was possessed of that was mine. 

2nd I give my loving daughter Agnes Johnson, one negro wench named ----- and her increase, and whatever else she has or ever had in possession that was mine. 

3rd  I give my loving daughter Rachel Moorman, four hundred acres of land in Hanover County, near to Capt. Thomas Dancey, and one negro woman named Moll, with her increase and all things else that she has had in her possession whatever of mine. 

4th I give my loving daughter Sarah Lynch, one negro boy named ------, and all things else that she is or ever was possessed of that was mine. 

5th  I give my loving son Micajah, five hundred acres of land in Hanover County, the same whereon I now live with all rights and hereditaments, thereto belonging, and one negro boy named -----, working tools, and whatever else is or was possessed of that was mine. 

6th I give my loving son Bowling Clarke, four hundred acres of land in Hanover County, lying on the north west side, joining on the land of Mr. Thomas Carr, and on ye County ------ two young negroes, named Nane and Robin, one horse named Spret, one gun and one feather bed and furniture, two cows and calves, my trooping arms, my "Great Bible" and all my law books.  (Bowling Clark is my direct line and my 5th great-grandfather who married Winifred Buford.  I wish that Bible still existed and that family info was written in it.)

7th  I give my loving daughter Elizabeth Anthony, four hundred acres of land in Goochland County, on Footer Creek near the South fork of the James River, two young negroes, Mat and Jenny, cows and calves, one feather bed and furniture. 
All the rest of my estate be it what nature or quality, so ever, I leave to my loving wife during her natural life, who I appoint my executrix and further my will and desire is that my loving granddaughter, Penelope Lynch, at the death of her grandmother, Penelope Clarke, my wife, that them she and the said Penelope Lynch, be paid out of my estate if there be so much remaining, forty pounds good and lawful money of Virginia, and then if any left, to be equally divided among my said children, but not to be appraised. 

In witness to the above promises, I have here unto set my hand and fixed my seal this 14th day of August, 1741.     Christopher Clark

Test: Thomas Martin, Ann Martin (made her mark, she was daughter of Charles Moorman Sr.), James Waring (made his mark) 

At a court held for Louisa County, the 28th day of May 1754, this will was proved this day in open court by the oath of Thomas Martin and affirmation of Ann Martin and admitted to record and is recorded. 

Test: James Littlepage, Clerk of the Court.