Author: James Edward Mitchell
Joseph Clark, Matross -1 Virginia (State) Artillery raised for Orange County (Co.) and a gunner’s assistant in loading, firing and sponging the artillery; source, Historical Register of Virginians in the Revolution by John H. Gwathmey, reprinted 1979 by Genealogical Publ., Co., Inc., Baltimore, pg 153; also, [US Pension Claim (S.8208)] for Joseph Clark, identical with DAR Ancestor Search #: A022523
Joseph Clark was born (b.) 12 Apr 1752 at his parents’ surveyed tract mapped then at Orange Co., VA. Joseph was a son of William Clark, b. 1716 at Middlesex, VA and 2nd wife, (w.) Martha (Foster), b. 1731, died (d.) 1814, married (m.) during 1751 at Orange; source, Marriages of Some Virginia Residents 1607-1800 by Dorothy Ford Wulfeck’s Series II work, not published but reviewed online through a canvas of Alabama, Surname Files Expanded, 1702-1981 and date stamped, Virginia [VA Gazette May 18 1973]. Separately, the writer located a will of William Clark of Culpeper Co., VA dated 29 Oct 1787, proven 17 Dec 1787, that indicated Legatees: Wife. Sons: Joseph Clark, George, Reuben, Robert, Ambrose, Larkin. Daus.: Sarah Clark, Lucy Beck, Ann Griffen. Executors: Reuben Clark and Joseph Clark, sons; source, Culpeper County Virginia: Will Books B and C by Dorothy Ford Wulfeck, 1965, see: Will of William Clark of Culpeper Co., pg 68.
Joseph Clark (1752-1839), a possible relative of James Clark (1759-1832) came to my attention while researching the 1976 publication, Patriots of the Upcountry: Orange Co., VA in the Revolution by William H. B. Thomas published by the Orange Co., Bicentennial Commission; see, pgs 61-62.
Among the 600-man regt. of soldiers raised for Orange Co., VA during (Jan) 1779 and designated, the Convention Guard Regt., commanded (5 Mar 1779) by Col. Francis Taylor [to guard British troops captured at the battle of Saratoga and detained until (Aug) 1780 at Albemarle Barracks near Charlottesville, VA] were listed Ensign William Burton; Captains Garland Burnley, Ambrose Madison, James Burton, May Burton (Jr.) all of county of Orange, VA, as well as privates James Clark and Joseph Clark, et al.
An online search of genealogical ancestor records of DAR Ancestor #: A022523 verified the date of birth for Joseph Clark as 12 Apr 1752 in Orange Co., VA. Joseph Clark’s DAR’s recorded marriages were 1st to Ann Haynes age 19, married (m.) in VA on 24 Jan 1774; and, 2nd Catherine Cannady, in 1812. The DAR Ancestor record revealed that Joseph Clark’s family resided after the Revolutionary War within Culpeper Co., VA. Joseph’s VA military service during the Revolution was characterized, Artillery.
A review of Joseph Clark, US Pension Application [S.8208] VA revealed that Joseph Clark’s son, William D. Clark of Orange Co., VA appeared at Court on 20 Feb 1851 and gave a statement. His father Joseph Clark, dec’d., was born on 12 Apr 1752 and died in Orange Co., VA on 5 Feb 1839 at age 87. William D. Clark advised the Justice of the Peace for Orange Co., VA that he had always resided with his father, Joseph and as such, he had been designated by his father as Executor. William furnished names of his siblings as follows: Larkin Clark; Martha E. Clark m. Reuben Clark of Madison Co., VA; James Clark of Elbert Co., Georgia (GA); Mary Clark m. Colonel Heard of Morgan Co., GA; Ann P. Clark m. Adjt. Gen. John C. Easter of Elbert Co., GA; Elizabeth Clark m. Col. Thomas White of Jones Co., GA; Sally T. Clark m. Lewis Shirler/Shisler of Louisa Co., VA; Bathsheba S. Clark of Orange Co., VA; Tabitha Clark m. Cuthbert Reese of Jones Co., GA; and, Eunice H. Clark m. Solomon H. McIntire of Madison Co., VA.
William D. (aka WD) Clark’s Pension deposition verified that his father had between 1776 and 1781 served militarily numerous tours of duty that featured postings in conjunction with Madison Co., (formed 1792 from Culpeper) neighbors -Capt. Nathaniel J. Welch, (2nd) VA State Regt., CL, see: US Pension Application [R.18894]; Capt. Churchill Gibbs, (2nd) VA State Regt., who served during the campaign of 1778, prior to the regt.’s return to VA during May, 1780, see: [S.46002]; Capt. Angus Rucker [S.19068] and Sergeant William Twyman [S.7771] drafted for 4 tours of duty each for 2 months between, initially Aug. or Sep. 1777 and Sep. 1781, in a company led by Capt. James Clark; commanded by Brig. Gen’l. Edward Stevens during the Siege of Yorktown and surrender by the British on 19 Oct 1781. W. D. Clark advised that his father’s company was raised in Jan 1779 until Feb 1781 for Orange Co., and marched as the Convention Guard Regt. to the Barracks at Albemarle Co., near Charlottesville, to guard British army Gen’l. Burgoyne’s troops captured at the battle of Saratoga (17 Oct 1777). During this Regt’s posting (American) Traitor Benedict Arnold’s British force invaded Richmond, VA; source, http://revwarapps.org/s8208.pdf -see: Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters for Joseph Clark [S.8208]. Notes: A review of Clark’s pension certificate reflected that Joseph, until his death on 5 Feb 1839 at Orange Co., VA received payments after 4 Mar 1831 for (2) two years’ service in the artillery; however, there was neither a Continental artillery at Albemarle Barracks, Charlottesville with the Convention Guard Regt., raised for Orange Co., nor in-service with Gen’l. Edward Stevens, VA Bgde., at the Siege of Yorktown. This pension record for Joseph Clark, dec’d., had a written last paragraph that attributed to an interview conducted on 21 Jan 1851 with an individual identified as Albert Kennedy, Orange Co., VA.
Kennedy attested that Joseph Clark’s (and son, W. D.) residence, where Joseph died in Feb. 1839, was approx. two (2) miles from the Town of Orange locally known as the Town of Orange Court House [located on the donated (1752) tract, deeded by Timothy Crosthwait]; see, Wikipedia.org. Joseph had passed away 5 years after the Virginia Gen’l. Assembly passed an act that permitted the incorporation of the Town of Orange Court House, all the while lots were developed that included the modern-day Town of Orange adjacent to Main Street. In 1847 a new railroad route and right-of-way was built through Orange, that required relocating the courthouse.
Kennedy’s statement furnished to the Pension Bureau, WDC acknowledged that on the first night, he came to the county as a carpenter’s apprentice, he found lodging at Joseph’s family house. On all occasions afterward, Joseph was always friendly and a gentleman to associates. Some months following the interview with Kennedy, the Pension Office received a letter dated 10 Jun 1851 from James W. Walker that stated Joseph Clark’s 2nd w., Catherine Cannady, whom he m. about 1812, had no children and survived her spouse, Joseph by a few years. James W. Walker as Executor of Catherine’s will, inquired in writing to the Pension Office, whether her estate was entitled to a portion of Joseph Clark’s pension. Regrettably, Joseph Clark’s 1839, family burying ground has been lost to development at the Town of Orange, VA.