GENEALOGY OF THE CLARK FAMILY - of South Jersey (NJ)
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Source: The Daily Union history of Atlantic City and County, New Jersey : containing 
sketches of the past and present of Atlantic City and county, with maps and 
illustrations specially prepared, by John F. Hall; Atlantic City, N.J.: Daily Union, 
1900

CLARK FAMILY

CLARK FAMILY
In the early history of Atlantic County the Clark family was prominent, as witness the name 
Clarktown, near Mays Landing, and Clarks Landing, on the Mullica River, near Egg Harbor City.

Now, Clifford Stanley Sims, in 1870, while a United States Consul at Prescott, Canada, compiled 
and published the following account of the Clark family, which is regarded as authoritative. 
Copies of this pamphlet are quite rare:

1. Thomas Clark, of Milford, Connecticut, probably brother of George Clark, Jr., of Milford, and 
John Clark, of Saybrook, who came from -------, Hertfordshire, England; took the oath of Fidelity 
Governor Fenwick. After his marriage he lived at Guilford, where, December 2, 1658, John Hill, of 
Guilford, sued Thomas Clark for slander. The plaintive declared that the defendant both 
slanderously reported that he, the said John Hill, laid violent hands upon him and took him by the
 collar or throat and shook him and offered to strike him with his fork and another while with his 
fist, which the said Hill denied, and so looks upon himself as wronged and desired satisfaction of
 the slander.

Mr. Clark gave truth in evidence, which he fully sustained, so that the court awarded that the 
defendant was not guilty of slandering Hill and awarded the defendant his cost.

Thomas Clark died October 10, 1668; Inventory, 220 pounds; Mrs. Clark died at Saybrook, January 3,
 1672; Inventory at Guilford 26 pounds; and at Saybrook, 77 pounds. Abraham Post, of Saybrook , 
who had married her daughter was the administrator.
Children.--1. Daniel, b. January 1657-8. 2. Sarah.. 3- Elizabeth.

II.--1. Daniel Clark, of Killingworth, Conn., married Mary ---------.
Children.--4. Daniel, b. February 3, 1683-4. 5. Thomas, b. February 11, 1686-7 6. Mercy, b. 
October 9, 1702; married John Willett. Mrs. Mary Clark, the mother, married, secondly, Philip 
Bell, of New London and Groton, and died July 10, 1739, aged 80 years.

III.--5. Thomas Clark married Hannah-----. Married, second, in 1735, Ruth, by whom he had no 
issue. He settled at Clarks Landing, on the banks of the Mullica river, within the present limits 
of Egg Harbor City. By the first wife, Hannah, there were four sons: 7. Thomas, m. Sarah Parker, 
of Saybrook, in 1740. 8. David, m. and had five sons and one daughter. 9. Samuel, a Presbyterian 
clergyman. 10. Elijah, b. 1732. After the death of Hannah, the first wife, Thomas, the eldest son,
 then a young man of nineteen, was sent on horseback by his father to Connecticut to bring back a 
certain old acquaintance of his father’s for a stepmother. While in New Haven on his delicate 
errand, he met and fell in love with the beautiful and accomplished Sallie Parker. He secured the
 stepmother and brought her home on the led horse which he took with him, and two year later, in 
1840, returned for his bride. For a wedding gift he gave her a string of Guinea gold beads, which 
are still held, with gold eardrops, by Misses Porter of Atlantic City, descendants of the family,
 as an interesting heirloom.

IV. --10. Elijah Clark, of Pleasant Mills, and afterwards of Hinchman Farm, N. J., married Jane 
Lardner, was a Colonel in the New Jersey Militia during the Revolution, and a member of the 
Provincial Congress, in 1775; d. December 9, 1795.
Children.--11. Lardner, left issue. 12, Elisha, m. Louisa Clark, a cousin, left issue.13. Rebecca, 
m. James Vanuxem, and left issue. 14. Debora, d. s. p. (d. without issue). 15. John Lardner, b 
March 20, 1770. 16. Josiah, d. s. p. 17. Mary, m. Francis Bernoudi and left issue.

V.--15. John Lardner Clark, of Philadelphia. married first in August 1797, Sophia Marion Ross. She 
died January 12, 1812; married second, Ann Cox, September, 1815. She died December, 1817, without
 issue. John Lardner died May 7, 1837.
Children.-- 18, Charles Ross, b. January 1, 1798, d.s.p. 19. Charles Ross, b. September 17, 1799, 
d.s.p. 20. Louisa Vanuxem, b. August 1, 1801. 21. Brainard, b. July 25, 1803. 22. Emeline, b. July
 22, 1805, d.s.p. 23. Emeline Marion, b. October 8, 1807.

VI.-- 20. Louisa V. Clark married June 3, 1823, Thomas Neal Sims, of Mount holly, N.J.; married 
second, December 26, 1839, James Peacock, of Harrisburg, Pa., by whom she had no issue; died May 
2, 1869.
Children.--24. Sophia Marion, b. March 25, 1824, d.s.p. 25. Alfred William, b. September 21, 1826.
 Louisa Clark, b. June 10, 1830, d.s.p.

VII.--25. Alfred William Sims, of Woodstock, Vermont, married June 2, 1856, Adelaide, daughter of 
William Snowden, of Port Hope, Canada.
Children.--27. Harry Neal, b. July 30, 1857. 28. Willim Snowswn, b. October 15, 1858. 29.Louisa
 Peacock, b. June 22, 1860. 30. James Peacock, b. March 1, 1862, d.s.p. 31.Alfred Varley, b. September 21, 1864. 32. Mary Stewart. 
b. April 16. 1868.

VII.-- Brainard Clark, of Mount Holly, married Sarah Jane Coppuch. July, 1830; died April 17, 1837.
Children.--36. Adelaide Louisa, b. August 30, 1831. Louis James, b. November 9, 1833. Frederick William,
 b. May. 1836.

VII.--Louis James Clark, of Philadelphia, married Susan Stones, February 11, 1869.

VII.--Frederick William Clark, of Norfolk, Va., married Susan Gamage, November, 1861; died December 1862.
Children.-- 36. Frederick William, b. September, 1862.

VI.--23. Emeline Marion Clark, married December 8, 1830, John Clark Sims, of Philadelphia.
Children.--37.--Henry Augustus Clark, b. December 22, 1832. 38. Clifford Stanley Clark, b. February 2, 
1835. d.s.p. 39. Celanaire Bernoudi Clark, b. July 21, 1837. 40. Clifford Stanley Clark, b. February 17, 1839. 41. John 
Clark, b. September 12, 1845; admitted to membership in the Society of Cincinnati of New Jersey, July 4, 1867, as 
representative of his great, great grandfather, Surgeon Alexander Ross. 42, James Peacock, b. November 15, 1849.

VII.--37.Henry Augustus Sims, of Philadelphia, married June 30, 1864, Mary, daughter of Alpheus Jones,
 of Prescott, Canada.
Children.--43. John Clark, b. April 19, 1865. d.s.p. 44. John Clark, b. May 4, 1866.
VII.--39. Celanire Bernoudi Sims married, November 3, 1859, William Smith Forbes, M.D., of Philadelphia.
Children.--45. Emeline Sims, b. July 29, 1860. 46. Murray, b. June 23, 1863. 47. John Sims, b. May 7, 1866.
 48. William Sims, b. November 21, 1868.

VII.--40. Clifford Stanley Sims, of Prairie Plantation, Arkansas, married August 2, 1865, Mary Josephine, 
daughter of Charles Steadman Abercrombie, M.D., Roseland Tennessee, admitted to membership in the Society of Cincinnati of 
New Jersey, July 4, 1861, as representative of his great grandfather, Major John Ross; entered the U. S, Navy as Captain's 
clerk, in 1862; appointed assistant paymaster, 1863; appointed Judge Advocate General of Arkansas, in 1864; 
elected Delegate to State Constitutional Convention, in 1867; elected Representative to the Legislature, 1868; 
appointed Commissioner to digest the statutes, 1868; appointed U. S. Consul to Prescott, Canada 1869.
Children.--49. Charles Ambercrombie, b. June 5, 1866. 50. Clifford Stanley, b. January 12, 1868. 51. Lancelot Falcon, b. January 5, 1870. 7. Thomas Clark, m. Sarah Parker, previous to 1740, and had three sons and five daughters.

52.Adriel, m. first Judith Hampton, of Haddonfield; second, Elizabeth Hillman, by whom he had seven children: Frances, m. Dr. Reuban Baker and had one child; Harriet m. Wm. Irving, of Old Gloucester, and had two children, Gideon and Elizabeth; Alice, m. Sherman Clark and had six children, Harriett, Alice, Adriel, Henry and Isaac; John who mysteriously disappeared, supposed to have drowned; George, who likewise disappeared; Elizabeth; John, second.
53. Parker, m. Martha Leek and had ten children: Ann, b. December 6, 1791; m.-----Murphy; d. 1885. Louisa, b. 1793; m. David Frambes; d. 1882. Charlotte, b. December 9, 1795; m. Gen. Enoch Doughty and had nine children: Thomas, b. 1798; d. of yellow fever. Sarah, b. March 11, 1800; m. Nathaniel Doughty; d. 1889. Reuban m. Phoebe -----; d. 1865. James, b. September17, 1804; Maria Sooy; d. 1894. Mary, b. December 14, 1806; m. first, Jacob Somers; second Absalom Cordery, d. March 19, 1900. Susanna, b. March 25, 1810; m. Isaac Smith. Martha, b. November 4, 1812; d. 1887.
54. Reuban m., first Mary Rape; second Olivia Clark. By his first wife he had two children, Hannah and Christopher (died young). Hannah, b. 1793, m. Judge Joseph Porter; d. 1875. Judge Porter first had a country store at Haddonfield. Later with Thomas and John Evans and Samuel Shreve as partners, he established a glass works at Waterford, where they made fortunes. He was one of the promoters and directors of the first railroad to the seashore and lost his fortune in this enterprise. He died in 1861, aged 72 years. They had nine children: Joseph C., Thomas, Mary H., Reuban Griffin Porter, who still lives at Waterford, and has one son, Richard living at Rehoboth, Md.; Martha Griffin, William C., Richard, Hannah Chew, and Elizabeth, Mary, Hannah C., and Elizabeth are owners of Porter Cottage in this city.
By his second wife Reuban Clark had four children: Mary, m. Wencil Kinsley; Roxanne, m. Mark Cark and went west; Christopher, m. Mary Ann Bates; and Walter, m., first Elizabeth Doughty; second a widow, and lives in Baltimore.
55. Hannah m. four times in twelve years: First to George Garner, by whom she had a son Rufus; second to Aaron Chew, a captain in the Revolutionary War, by whom she had a daughter, Hannah, who m., first Capt. Hand of Cape May; second Judge Clements of Haddonfield. She was his second wife and he was her second husband; (3) to Joseph Griffin, by whom she had a son, John; (4) to a Mr. Zane of Chew Landing.
56. Abigail, who m. a Chew of Gloucester.
57. Louisa, m. Elijah, son of Elisha Clark, a cousin, and had three children, Caroline, Edward, and Lardner. The first two were dwarfs.
58. Submitta, d. of yellow fever in Philadelphia, in 1893.
59. Sarah, never married; d. at an advanced age, in 1857.
60. Elizabeth m. ------Williams and had one child, Clark Williams.
8. David Clark, son of Thomas and Hannah Clark, married and had five sons and one daughter, viz. 61. Thomas, 62, Benjamin, 63. Joseph, 64. Abner, 65.Nehemiah, 66. Rebecca.
Benjamin, Joseph and Abner lived many years at the place of their birth viz: Clarks Landing, but finally joined the immigration westward and settled in a place called Jersey Settlement, in the State of Ohio.
Nehemiah and Thomas both lived at Clarks Landing.
65. Nehemiah had but one son (67) Parker, who fought through the Revolutionary War, was killed by his pugilistic bretheren of Burlington County. He, in company with others from Atlantic County, used to visit their neighbors across the river, and on various occasions engaged in a fraternal wrestle or exchanged blows to test the merits of their respective communities, for in those days place was judged by the physical strength of its members, and when a conflict ensued both parties did their utmost to maintain the standing of their village. In one of these exciting contests Parker proved too much for the champion of Burlington, and when the Atlantic County men left home and gave the triumphant shout, the Burlington men swore vengeance on Parker if they ever caught him alone. The next time he went among them unaccompanied he never returned. His body was found a long time afterwards hidden in the reeds far down the river.
61. Thomas was born, lived and died at Clarks Landing. Was born, lived and died at Clarks Landing. He owned and tilled, until the time of his death, one of the most prosperous farms ever worked in Atlantic County. New Jersey was then a slave state , and he was the owner of many slaves, In his pasture lands could be seen from fifty to a hundred head of cattle, besides large flocks of sheep and swine. The place spoken of is now owned by Thomas Weber.
Thomas was born October 7, 1758; died March 28, 1827. He was married August 17, 1797, to Mary Giberson, who died December 24, 1849. They had the following children: 68. Submitta, b. July 19, 1798; d. 1882. 69. Rebecca, b. February 19, 1800; d. 1888. 70. James, b. February 24, 1802; d. 71. David, b. June 29, 1804; d. 1888. 72. Mark, b. August 6, 1806; d. February 23, 1895. 73 Elizabeth, b. October 18, 1809; d. November 8, 1855. 74. Thomas, b. May 29, 1812; d. December 23, 1892. Lardner, b. December 17, 1814; d. February 6, 1886. 76. Mary Ann, b. December 19, 1816; d. 77. Caroline, b. March 1, 1819; d. 78. Emeline, b. 1822; d.
68. Submitte, m., first Walter Clark, December 38, 1818: second, Absalom Higbee. No issue by either.
69. Rebecca, m. George Clark, February 18, 1827: died and buried in New York State. Children: 79. Submitte, b. January 11, 1828, who married William W. Williams of New York; had children. 80. Morton. 81. Jennie. 82. Mary. 83. Flora. 84. William W.
70. James Clark, m. Sarah Endicott, August 13, 1826; he died and was buried in New York State.
71. David Clark, m. Phoebe Turner, October 25, 1828; had children: 85. Bethiah, b. September 17, 1829. 86. Thomas, b. August 22, 1831; drowned off Brigantine.
85. Bethiah Clark, m. Enoch Higbee, May 16, 1852; had children: 87. Absalom H., b. May 3, 1853. 88. Joah, b. May 11, 1855. 89. Thomas b. September 22, 1858; d. October 22, 1892. 90. Mittee, b. January 14, 1861. 91. Enoch A., b. April 22, 1863. 92. Sallie, b. July 27, 1866; d. September 7, 1867. 93. Evalena, b. April 1871.
72. Mark Clark, m. Roxanna Clark, June 25, 1831, daughter of Reuban and Olive Clark, of Clarks Landing; had children: 94. Addison. 95. Nelson. 96. George. 97. Joseph. 98. Mark. 99. Edward. 100. Angeline. 101. Hannah. 102. May. 103. Olive. 104. Rebecca. 106. Clara.
Of the above Addison, Nelson, George, Angeline and Roxanne are dead.
102. Mary Clark, m. Herman Keyser; have children: 107. Clara. 108. Herman. 109. Louis.
73. Elizabeth Clark, m. John Collins, August 7, 1831; had children ( See history of Collins family.)
74. Thomas Clark, m. Sarah Cordery, November 6, 1840. Children: 110. Absalom E., b. October 7, 1842.
110. Absalom E. Clark, m. Annie Rose, of Trenton, N. J., January 29, 1873; she d. December 23, 1894: had children: 111. Warren, b. January 1, 1874. 112. Howard B., b. May 31, 1878. 113. Edna, b. September 23, 1892.
75. Lardner Clark, m., first Ann Chamberlain, January 7, 1843, by whom he had three children: 114. Sarah. 115. Thomas. 116. Joab, all are dead.
Married second, Elizabeth Endicott, June 5, 1852, by whom he had the following children: 117. Ann S., b. February 26,1853. 118. Whitfield, b. December 2, 1854: d. July 28, 1883. 119 Mary Etta, b. November 28, 1859. 120. Elizabeth, b. July 6, 1864. 121. Irene C., b. August 16, 1866.
76. Mary Ann Clark, m. John Higbee: had children: 122. Walter. 123. Burroughs.124. Sarah. 125. Mary Ann. 126. Absalom. 127. Thomas. 128. Emeline. 129. Mark.
77.Caroline Clark, m. Henry Simons: had children: 130. Thomas. 131. Caroline. 132. Frances. 133. Harry. 134. Jennie. 135. Charles. 136. Laura.
78. Emeline Clark, m. Jacob Philips, had one son, who lived to grow up. Married and died at the age of forty, leaving several children in Philadelphia.
A number of the Clark family fought on the side of the colonies in their struggle for independence. Among the names of Revolutionary soldiers of 1776, as compiled by William Stryker, Adjutant-General of New Jersey, one may find on the roll from the County of Gloucester, Benjamin Clark, Joseph Clark, David Clark, Parker Clark, Thomas Clark, and John Clark, and on page 358 of said record you will find the note:
Elijah Clark, Lieutenant Colonel, Second Battalion, Gloucester, resigned November 6, 1777, to become a member of Assembly.
The nine descendants of the early settler, Thomas Clark, fought to establish the independence of this country. The graves of four are to the writer unknown. Five lie buried beneath the sod of the Clark' Mill burying ground, Port Republic.
Not only were the Clarks prominent as soldiers of the Revolution, but they were leading members of the community in which they resided. Many of them were identified with the early Christian work in this county. The old Clark's Mill Meeting House, which stood on the outskirts of what is now Port Republic, was established with their aid, and the Clark's Mill burying ground was on of the first church burying grounds of this county.

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