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Archiver > MDSTMARY > 2001-04 > 0987005411


From: "Jerry L. Clark" <>
Subject: [MDSTMARY-L] Re: Robert Clarke, the Suveyor, of St Marys and Charles County, MD
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 10:10:11 -0600
References: <2d.a1bf537.2803d755@cs.com> <3AD45635.8AF6037@erols.com>
In-Reply-To: <3AD45635.8AF6037@erols.com>


>I
>
>SMC Beaverdam Manor, etc. by Mary Louise Donnelly. She states he was b.
>in London about 1611 and was the son of Walter Clarke. He was
>transported to MD in 1637 as a servant of Rev. Thomas Copley (Jesuit
>Priest). He was a Deputy Surveyor on Kent Island in 1640; in 1646 he
>was an Ensign in the expedition to drive Claiborne from Kent Island. In
>1655 he was captured at the Battle of the Severn (Annapolis) and was
>sentenced to be hung. His life was spared but he was fined 10,000 lbs.
>tobacco and since he was unable to pay that, his plantation was seized.
>A year later the court reduced his fine in half and restored him to his
>plantation.
>
>So, was he or not? Was he originally a member of the Episcopal Church
>and then converted?
>
>Linda Reno
>


Dear Linda,


Although I don't Believe Robert Clarke the Surveyors Father was a
Walter Clarke, this is yet to be proven.


Charley Moore is not claiming that Robert Clarke the Surveyor was not Catholic.

We know he was based upon this document as also found in Maryland Archives


1655 in Open Court Robert Clarke Confessed himself to be a Roman
Catholic owning the Popes supremacy. fined 10,000 pounds of tobacco
to the lord protector for the Publick as by order of court .


but what Charley Moore is trying to claim is that the Robert Clarke
Sr. who married 1st to Sarah Combs daughter of Abraham Combs, and
married 2nd to an Elizabeth ?

that My Robert Clarke Sr. was not Catholic but of some other Religion
and therefore because his 2nd wife Elizabeth ? was a member of the
Church of England that a good catholic would some how not be marrying
a girl from the Church of England.


Charley Moore bases his reasoning on this will of Robert Clarke Sr.
which states:

To little son Benjamin and hrs. (son of wife Elizabeth), dwelling
plantation ________ and personality; to be in care of his mother and
to be brought up in faith of Church of England;



Clarke, Robert, St. Mary's Co., 19th Aug., 1721; 31st Jan., 1725.
To eldest son Thomas and hrs., land he now lives on in "Beaver Dam
Manor"; personality. To son Robert, "Addition"; and personality. To
little son Benjamin and hrs. (son of wife Elizabeth), dwelling
plantation ________ and personality; to be in care of his mother and
to be brought up in faith of Church of England; should. he die during
minority, plantation after wife's decease to son Thomas and hrs. To
wife Elizabeth, extx., residue of personal estate during life; at her
decease, to be divided among eldest children, viz. Thomas, Robert,
daus. Sarah Greenwell, Anne Hall, Jany Gough and Elinor, wife of
Henry Greenwell. Test: Richard Osborne, Robert Hutchings, Michael
Realy.
Codicil, 8th Nov., 1725: Shd. wife die during minority of son
Benjamin, she may assign him as she thinks fit, security for
complying with above will being given.
Test: M. Jenifer, Jno. Read, Henry Realy


According to Charley good Catholics don't change religions or marry
into other religions.



All of my Clarke ancestry from Robert Clarke Sr. on down until about
1850's were all Catholic.


Now I'm not sure of what was occuring during the time when the
Catholic Church was outlawed in St. Mary's County, Maryland , but
many of my Catholic ancestry were baptized into St. Andrews which I
believe was an Epicaplalian or Anglican Church at the time.

but When my ancestry moves to Kentucky they again attend the Catholic
Church. I also found this record which Charley Moore thinks proves
his Point. Here is my Ancestor Robert Clarke Sr. with John Nuthall
also a Catholic and they are apparently members of the All Faiths
Parish. I'm not sure what faith the All Faiths Parish was, but
Practically every name I recognize on this list of church members
were known Catholics. But Charley Moore is trying to say because of
this it's impossible that my Robert Clarke Sr. was the son of Robert
Clarke the Surveyor. If you check all the names of that All Faiths
Parish you will also find names such as Thomas Mudd which is not
listed on record below, but he was a member of that church- Likely
the son of Thomas Mudd Sr.. So I don't know How Charley can make such
a claim, I think he needs some education as to what was occuring in
History of Maryland for Catholics to be attending other churches or
even being baptised into them.




Page 65 church record. of All Faiths Parish.
How a convenient place being pitched uppon by the said parrishoners
where the Chapple
should stand and an acre of Land being given to build the sd. Chapple
_______. Now know
_____ that wee the sd. present vestry doe by these presents _ power
you Mr. John Nutwell Senior, Mr. Adam Bell and Mr. Robert Clarke or
anny those of you trustees for us, in our names to treat and agree
with Carpinter or Carpinters and all other workemen needful to goe on
with the building of the sd. Chapple, and to buy and purchase, all
necessarys needful and requisite for goeing on and furnishing of the
sd woorke so fare as the sd. so fare as the sd. turn thousand pounds
of tobaccoe wil extend giveing and granting you the sd. trusteees our
whole power & authority to act and doe in the premisses as wee
ourselves might or could doe, and when you have so don to render us
an exact account of your proceedings for which wee doe oblidge our
selves to pay the sd ten thousand pounds of tobacco in the hands of
Col. Henry Lowe according to your orders to satisfy the sd, charge as
shall be by you contracted for carriing on the sd. woorke.
November 9
James Keech
Richard Sotheron
Thomas Laney
John Gellern
John Davye

Page 76 church record of All Faiths Parish.

It is ordered by the Vestry above said that all the tobacco that is
behind shall be bestowed on the church and Chapell. The Vestry held
by appointment- May 1703 those present
Mr. Robert Stroutan
Mr. John Nutwell
Mr. Robert Clarke
June 11th 1703
Att a Vestry held att the church of All Faiths Parish
where was present- Viz.
Capt. James Keech Sen.
Mr. Thomas Laney
Mr. Robert Stroutan
Mr. John Nuthall
Mr. Robert Clarke



Now correct me Linda was Capt. James Keech Sen. a Catholic or not?

I don't know about all these names but most if not all were
Catholics. The Ironic Thing is the Southeron Family which also has
ties to Robert Clarke the Surveyor is also listed here.

I'm not afraid to show this because it does not prove what Charley
claims it proves. He needs an education as to what was occuring with
religion at this time.

Robert Clarke Sr. was most definitely a Catholic, but many good
Catholics married into other religions, and even were baptized into
other religions.


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