The Clark Family
Written and Researched by Margaret Odrowaz-Sypniewska, B.F.A.
Motto=Nec tamen consumebatur ("and it was not consumed").
In the early Middle Ages any literate person could style himself clericus, a word which was appended to signatures in countless documents of that time. The Ragman Roll of 1296 contains the names of nine persons calling themselves Clark, but these probably did not become surnames. Later the surname Le Clerc surfaced. Clerk meant secretary, scribe, scholar, or clerk. In Gaelic it was Cleiriach, which became Cleary and MacCleary in Ireland.
O'Cleirigh meant "grandson of the scribe" in Irish Gaelic. The surname Cleary came from Cleireach of Connacht, who was born around 829 A.D. Clerk/Clark is the oldest true surname recorded anywhere in Europe. The Irish branch, of this family group, settled in Derry and Donegal, Ireland; where they became famous poets. In Cavan, Ireland, the name was anglized as Clarke.
The clergy in the Scottish Highlands belonged to a militant order. It was recorded that a clergyman in Skye in the 18th century attended church with his two-handed sword, and that his servant walked behind with his bow and a case of arrows.
When Presbyterianism became Scotland's national church, there was opposition and many times the service could not be held or was postponed, when a certain person came to the door . It is said that Colin Campbell, minister of Ardchatten, was denied admittance by the MacDonalds. Campbell, however, was ready for the cause. He was dressed in his kilt, and armed with a sword in one hand and a cocked pistol in the other, and defied the masses to remove him. Many surnames are of ecclesiastical origin (Clark, Gilchrist, Gillies, MacClery, MacGilchrist, MacMillian, MacNab, MacNiven, MacPherson, MacTaggart, and MacVicar).
Clark is the fourteenth (14th) most common surname in Scotland. Johannes Clark was prior of Scone in 1524. George Rodger Clark (1752-1818) held possession of the Southwest territory in Ohio, and was of Scottish descent.
Clan Chattan was the clan of the Clarks.
George T. Clark, Esquire. Dowlais House Merthyr Tydvil, a lion, rampant; supporting a shield, gyrommy of eight. Motto: Try and tryst.
Clark - in hand a dagger, in bend sinister.
Clerk/Clarks found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296 were:
GENERATION ONE:
Ann Agnes Clark, was born in Portsoy on March 26, 1858, and was christened on April 5, 1858 in Berryhillock, Deskford, Banffshire, Scotland. In the 1861 Scottish Census, Agnes Ann Clark was 3 years old. Their address was 9 South High Street, in Fordyce District, Portsoy, Banffshire, Scotland.
She married Alexander Malcolm on November 6, 1883 in Leslie, Fifeshire, Scotland..
Alexander Malcolm was born August 12, 1859, Parish of Leslie, Auchtermuchty, County of Fife, Scotland. Alexander was an engineer with White's Engineering Company in Auchtermuchty.
Ann Agnes had a sister, Georgina Clark, who was born on August 28, 1860 in Fordyce, Banff, Scotland and worked in a paper mill; and a brother, William James Clark, who was born June 20, 1863 in Fordyce, Banff. William was a pattern-maker for a firm in Leslie, Fifeshire, Scotland
GENERATION TWO:
Ludovich William Clark was born on May 3, 1835, in Ordiquhill Parish, County of Banff, Scotland; and baptized on May 17, 1835, in Ordiquhill Parish, Banffshire, Scotland. His Birth/Baptism records show his father as George Clarke and his mother as Anne Dow. Witnesses to the birth were William Elder of Corcairn and George Watson of Nethermill. Ludovich lived in High Street Dutchess Cottage in the 1882 census,in the parish of Leslie, Fifeshire, Scotland. He was a master shoemaker and a Constable. Ludovich is from the Gaelic Maldonuich, and it is an ancient name. Ludovich (age 22) was living in Berryhillock Parish, Deskford, Banffshire, Scotland when he married (1)Isabella Grieve (age 21) on June 18, 1857 in Ordiquhill Parish, Berryhillock, Deskford, Scotland. Again Ludovich's parents are listed as George Clark and Ann Dow. Ludovich and Anne were married by Alexander Spencer, Free Church Minister of Cornhill. Witnesses to their marriage were: William Elder of Corncairn and George Watson of Nethermill. Isabella was the daughter of Charles Grieve, schoolmaster, and Christian Shee(marriage certificate). Isabella was born around 1838. When Ludovich and Isabella were married, she was living in Portsoy, Parish of Fordyce, Scotland. After the death of Isabella on March 5, 1864, Ludovich married (2) Helen Girden Farquharson (age 24), daughter of John Farquarson, an agricultural laborer, and Ann Stewart; on November 24, 1864 in Dufftown, Fordyce, Banff, Scotland (8 months after the death of Isabella). Helen lived in Dun Hose, according to the marriage records. "After banns according to the Forms of the Established Church of Scotland." Ludovich and Helen were married by John Innes, Minister of Fordyce. Ludowich is again listed as a master shoemaker and widower age 28. Witnesses were: Robert Wilson and James Clark. Helen was christened on October 19, 1840, at Mortlach, Banff County, Scotland. Helen's parents were: John Farquharson, an agricultural laborer, and Ann Stewart. Helen is shown in the 1881 census.
GENERATION THREE:
George Clark is listed as a merchant tailor, finishing tailor, and postmaster. George was christened February 2, 1801 in Udny, Aberdeen, Scotland. His parents are listed as John Clark and Isobel Moir. He was residing at Corncairn when his son Ludovick(h) was born. He was listed as a merchant general on the marriage license of his son, Ludovich. He married Ann Dow, daughter of Harry Dow and Helen Watt, on January 19, 1823 in Old Machar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (this is also recorded in Kinnethmont/Kennethmont Parish as February 4, 1823). I can only guess that the first was the marriage application and the second the actual marriage date.
Ann Dow was christened in 1802 in Echt, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Ann died on May 5, 1886 in Cornhill, Parish of Ordiquihill, Banff, Scotland, of heart disease. On the death certificate, her parents are listed as Henry Dow (crofter) and Helen Watt. Informants were: George Clark and John Raffan (her son-in-law).
The children of George and Anne Clark were:
Ludovich was shown in the 1851 census for Ordiquhill, Rothiemay, Cornhill as an apprentice shoemaker (age 15) to James Raffin (age 37)shoemaker and is living with him and his wife Margaret.
Charlotte was christened on October 26, 1841 in Ordiquhill, Barnffshire, Scotland. Charlotte was living in Culphin, Ordiquhill, Banffshire, Scotland, at the time of their marriage. Charlotte's parents were lisited as: Alexander Kirkton, a farmer, and Isabella Kirkton (ms Sharp). They were married by Alexander Spencer, Minister of Free Church of Cornhill. Witnesses to their marriage were: James Morrison and Ludovich William Clark. It is thought that Charlotte died before 1881, since she is no longer on the 1881 census, instead James is married to a Jeannie ?.
***William Smith, George Clark's nephew was also a tailor and was living with his family in 1851 census. He was from Auchindo.
GENERATION FOUR:
John Clark married (1) Elizabeth Moir and (2)Isobel Moir
***A special thanks to Anne Dow, for sharing her records on this family!
This information (about William Clark) was submitted by brusco37@hotmail.com. He says that William moved to Jamaica as a missionary and that several of their children were born there, before they moved to Ontario, Canada, and later Kansas. William Clark is said to be buried there in the Welcome Cemetary. William died February 10, 1895. I have not explored these records as yet.
For More Information About the Scottish Clarks:
Ms. Elissa H. Perry
RELATED LINKS:
Banffshire, Scotland Gen Web Project ... Ordiquhill, Scotland ... Banffshire, Scoland
This page was last updated on January 26, 2011
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