PATRIOT General William Howson Clark^{[1, 2, 3]}

1759 - 1827  (68 years)

• Name	William Howson Clark
  Title	PATRIOT
  Prefix	General
  Born	3 Jan 1759	Halifax Co., Virginia
  Gender	Male
  Died	2 Apr 1827	Chatham, Pittsylvania Co., Virginia   [4]
  	Probate Date:
  Person ID	I12146	My Reynolds Line
  Last Modified	22 Dec 2018

  
  

  DNA Tests	1 person has linked a DNA test to PATRIOT General William Howson Clark
  	Test Type	Taken by	Haplogroup	Test Information
  	Y-DNA-37	Living	R-M269

  
  

  Father	William Thomas [Howson] Clark/Clarke, Sr.,   b. 1730, Amelia Co., Virginia Colony ,   d. 1797, Halifax Co., Virginia  (Age 67 years)
  Mother	Phoebe Howson,   b. Est 1730, Amelia County, Virginia ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Family ID	F5880	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Jane Hamilton White,   b. 20 May 1762, Virginia ,   d. 23 Apr 1839, Chatham, Pittsylvania Co., Virginia  (Age 76 years)
  Married	21 Jun 1784	Virginia
  Children	1. Thomas Howson Clark,   b. 3 Dec 1786, Pittsylvania County, Virginia ,   d. 9 Nov 1829, Pittsylvania County, Virginia  (Age 42 years) + 2. Jane White Clarke/Clark,   b. 28 Sep 1788, Pittsylvania County, Virginia ,   d. Yes, date unknown, Pittsylvania County, Virginia + 3. Col. William S. Clark/Clarke,   b. 22 Jan 1791, Halifax County, Virginia ,   d. 26 Nov 1820, Henry Co., Virginia  (Age 29 years)   4. David Hamilton Clark,   b. 8 Apr 1798, Halifax County, Virginia ,   d. 23 Apr 1861, Pittsylvania County, Virginia  (Age 63 years) + 5. John Augustine Clark,   b. 3 Mar 1806, Pittsylvania County, Virginia ,   d. 15 Jan 1845, Pittsylvania Co., Virginia  (Age 38 years)
  Last Modified	22 Dec 2018
  Family ID	F5122	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Documents

  Census Virginia 1783-5, Early Virginia Residents 1783-5 Va Census.pdf

  
  

  Headstones

  Headstone Col. William Clark hs12146ColWilliamClark.jpg

  
  

• Notes

  1814, Feb. 8 - Administrator appointed by court, Isaac Coles, Jr. Securities: Paul Carrington, Henry E. Coleman, HOWSON CLARK, Edward D. Carrington. At a court held for Halifax county the 29th day of May, 1827, the within written last will and testament of John Clark, deceased, was exhibited in court and proved by the oaths of two of the witnesses thereto subscribed and ordered to be recorded; whereupon on motion of Howson Clark and William H. Clark, the executors therein named, who made oath thereto according to law, and with John Sims, John Coleman, William Bailey, William Leigh and Samuel Williams, their securities entered into and acknowledged bond in the penalty of five hundred thousand dollars conditioned according to law certificate is granted them for obtaining probate thereof in due form. Teste: Samuel Williams, C.H.C. William Clark was also a wealthy landowner. He represented Pitts. Co in the General Assembly 1796-1799 and was a bitter opponent of the moving of the county courthouse. He was involved in a bitter fight with Matthew Clay when they both ran for the legislature in 1792.

  
  

• Sources

  [S32] Find-A-Grave.com, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=120412067. Spouse: Jane Hamilton White Clark (1762 - 1839) Children Thomas H. Clark (1786 - 1829) William S. Clark (1791 - 1820) David H. Clark (1798 - 1861) Burial: Clark Cemetery, Chatham, Pitts., Co., Virginia Husband of Jane Hamilton (White) Clark. Revolutionary War patriot. In 1781, lead a company from Halifax County to Point of Fork on James River where therem was a valuable state arsenal and military stores. His children included: Gen. Thomas Clark, Jane Clark, Col. William S. Clark and David Clark. Obituary from the Richmond Enquirer, Richmond, Virginia, April 17, 1827 - "At his residence in Pittsylvania County, on Monday the 2nd April, in the 69th year of his age, Col. Wm. Clark. In adding this tribute to the memory of a man where acquaintance the writer enjoyed for many years, it may not be amiss to remark that his death affords a striking illustration of the uncertainlty of sublenary events; that we should make our calling and election sure, for we know not at what hour the icy hand of death may be laid upon us. Col. Clark arose in the morning in good health and as was his custom, rode over his farm and returned at eleven, cheerful and well and whilst walking over his garden was taken suddenly ill and died at 4 o'clock. The deceased was an active and intelligent member of society; and during the Revolutionary War, when Cornwallis was over-running North Carolina, and the American commander was unable to arouse in sufficient numbers the citizens of that state to rally around the standard of their country, he made an appeal to the patriotism of the bordering counties of Virginia, when many of her patriotic sons, among whom was Col. Clark, immediately repaired to the American army, rendering much assistance as were in their power. At the batle of Guilford he was apppointed to the command of a reconnoitring party, and remained in the service of his country until he received his discharge from Gen. Lafayette. Since that period he has held various civil and military stations, with much ability, as well as credit to himself and benefit to his country. But the hand of death has taken from his family a kind husband, a generous and affectionate parent, a humane master, and from society a hospitable man and an intelligent and useful citizen." PLEASE NOTE: This is the actual burial place of Col. William Clark and his family members. There is a transcription of this cemetery available and there are actual photos of his headstone and his sons headstones that can be seen on the Pittsylvania County, Virginia history website. [S32] Find-A-Grave.com, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=63576156. Gen. W. H. Clark, served with distinction during the Revolutionary war and settled in Pittsylvania County afterward, amassing a large estate of land and slaves. Gen. William Clark was, for a number of years, a magistrate presiding over the County Court. He represented Pittsylvania in the Legislature 1796-1799. He made his home about 6 miles from Chatham, near Bannister River, and built an imposing white columned residence he called "Pineville". [S132] Revolutionary War Pension Applications, http://lib.jrshelby.com/mcallister-harris.pdf. Capt. Wm. Clarke's Company joined Genl. Lawson at Charlotte Court House and was in the Battle of Jamestown, 210. [S107] Family Histories, http://genealogytrails.com/vir/halifax/historyhalifaxbook_families.html. CLARK. To get a clear understanding of the Clarks of Halifax and "Banister Lodge" it will be well to read the will of John Clark, given herein, and dated the 10th day of March, 1827. This John Clark was the son of William Clark, of Prince Edward County, Virginia, and his wife, Phoebe Howson. His ancestry was almost, if not entirely, English. In his will John Clark gives to his son, William H. Clark, "My Banister plantation, with all the stock, tools, and everything belonging to the plantation, including all the negroes, except Dick Coates and his family," for which he supplied two other slaves. He wished William to take possession of the place and property bequeathed immediately after his demise. "To my son, John Thomas, I give my Staunton river plantation, which includes the mansion seat, etc., subject to provisions hereinafter mentioned. "To my son, Charles, a large amount of bank stock, etc., to be invested until Charles becomes of age, etc." He is very explicit in names of parties from whom he purchased the various parts of the Staunton river plantation. One part from William Thewett and another part form the children of Matthew Sims after the death of Mrs. Sims. (John Clark married for his second wife Priscilla Sims, daughter of Matthew Sims.) William H. Clark was born in Halifax county, January 23, 1805. He was educated at Hampden-Sidney College, the University of Virginia, and Cambridge, Mass. He represented Halifax county in the Legislature and was a planter. He died at his seat, "Banister Lodge," October 20, 1873. He married Elvira Ann Henry (posthumous), daughter of Patrick Henry, Jr. (eldest son of Patrick Henry, the orator), and his wife, Elvira Cabell, daughter of William Cabell, of "Union Hill," Nelson county. Elvira Ann Henry was born at "Union Hill," September 27,1804, and married at "Woodburn," Halifax county, May 8, 1828. She died at "Banister Lodge," June 21, 1870. It was said of her that she was one of the purest and noblest of women, and that "her life was a living witness to the truth she professed, and by her beautiful example of Christian gentleness and love she allured to brighter worlds and led the way." Mr. Philip Alexander Bruce says in a recent letter: "Well do I remember as a boy of eight or nine years of age passing several months at my aunt's, Mrs. William Clark's, at "Banister Lodge." That was a very interesting home, full of charming women and the seat of the most attractive social culture. I have seen in my day a good deal of the great world, and of its varied societies, and I do not believe there has ever existed any homes or any society superior in refinement and spiritual beauty to those to be found in Virginia in those remote times. I say remote, for the period before 1861 is now practically as distant as the period before the Revolution. No county had a larger number of these homes or a greater share of this cultured society than Halifax county." Who that has reveled in the luxurious life at "Banister Lodge," when William Clark took his angelic young bride to live and to die there, would recognize in the present "skeleton" what is was in its palmy days? Time was when those lofty halls resounded to mirth and merry laughter, the strains of music and the graceful minuet. Proud sons and stately daughters spending their lives in a round of pleasure, but keeping "God's day" seated in the high-backed pews, coyly eyeing their neighbors in the adjoining pew. Everybody knew everybody in those days, and "a stranger in the pew" was rare. We walked through the broad hall and large rooms with frescoed walls and marble mantels and over the smooth floors where so many dainty feet had danced, and a spirit of sadness came over us that was close akin to pain. The old oak trees were still standing and the ragged boxwood led the way to trysting places and cool summer houses now lost to view. The "thumb print" of wealth and elegance was there, but dimmed by commonplace usage and general neglect, for strangers own that once lovely home and have neither the money or the taste to make it attractive. The old graveyard lies hard by, but no stone stands sentinel to tell who sleeps there. "Perhaps in this neglected spot is laid Some heart once pregnant with celestial fire, Hands that the rod of empire might have swayed or waked in ecstasy the living lyre." The Clarks that once made merry at that old home have passed away, and their descendants are scattered through many States; some still loll in luxury's lap, while others have lost out, and know the bitterness of it; but there is left one God-given charm, that neither time nor chance can destroy, that is, the "river view" form Banister Lodge." The will of John Clark provided that his son, Charles, should have a home when the proper time arrived, and besides the will we have the evidence in the following statement of one of his descendants: "The will of John Clark stated that a river plantation was to be bought for his son, Charles Adolphus Clark. The only river plantation for sale 'at that time in Halifax county was 'Rosebank' on the Staunton river, which belonged to the Yuilles. It was purchased and Mr. Charles Clark lived for a while in the old Yuille house.[Ewell?] "He married February 18, 1846, Miss Eliza A. Spraggins. Just before his marriage Mr. Clark had Mr. Howard Cosby, of Halifax Courthouse, to build a brick house for him on the 'public road' about a mile and a quarter from the river. He and his bride moved in shortly after its completion. "Mr. Clark superintended the laying out of his grounds by the slaves, of whom he had a goodly number. To the southwest of the house was situated a deer park. The flower garden, where he himself grafted roses, was approached through cathedral arches of arborvitae which led from the house. "Mr. Charles Clark bought land and added to the original tract; he called the place "Hoveloke," an Indian name. After the Lynchburg and Durham Railroad was built his son, Thomas B. Clark, named the depot 'Clarkton,' and so the whole place has been called ever since. "Charles Clark contracted tuberculosis when quite young and he traveled a great deal seeking his health in a milder climate. In that day and time the disease was treated very differently from what it is now. He visited the West Indies and spent nearly every winter in New Orleans. In his travels he went North and heard Henry Ward Beecher preach. When he returned home he remarked at a family gathering that abolition had gotten into religion and politics and that slavery was not going to last. He expressed it as his opinion that after slavery was abolished Southern plantations would be worked by the tenant system. His family, complacent and satisfied in their isolation, said "poor Charles he is losing his mind." Nevertheless, he had his slaves make brick on his place and build six four-roomed tenant houses; they were erected on different parts of his plantation. Charles Clark died at the age of thirty-nine years, two years before the civil War, and four of those brick houses are occupied by tenants today, the other two having been destroyed by fire. Thomas B. Clark, the son of Charles and Eliza (Spraggins) Clark, being the only child, fell heir to "Clarkton," and lived and died there, and is buried in the family graveyard, a short distance from the mansion house, where the native oaks shelter with protecting shade this well kept "God's Acre," where his parents are also laid to rest under fitting marble stones. Charles Adolphus Clark, born February 9, 1821, died December 18, 1859. Eliza A. Clark, born July 24, 1821, died February 1, 1897. Thomas B. Clark, son of Charles Adolphus and Eliza Ann (Spraggins) Clark, Born February 9, 1851, died July 9, 1919. Mr. Thomas B. Clark married April 30, 1878, Miss Grace Thomson, of New Orleans. She was the daughter of Adam Thomson, of Belfast, Ireland, one of the old Scotch-Irish clan, and close akin to the Murrys and Allens. He came to America and settled in New Orleans, where he became a large sugar planter and merchant. He spent much of his time abroad, his daughter often traveling with him. When she married Mr. Clark and came to live with him at "Clarkton," beautiful as it was and is now, she must have felt the sudden transition from life in a large and gay city, with its varied amusements, to that of a remote plantation in the sylvan shades of Halifax county, but the nearness to several old country seats, homes of royal hospitality and refinement, compensated for the city life. Mrs. Clark is by nature domestic, enjoys her home and takes the greatest delight in having her friends enjoy it with her. She has two accomplished daughters, Anita Grace Clark, wife of Mr. Frank Robertson White (son of Mr. James L. White, and his wife, Kate Robertson, daughter of Governor Wyndham Robertson), they now reside in Washington State, and Miss Elise T. Clark, of "Clarkton." "Clarkton" is a stately old mansion "all in white," with its massive pillars reaching to the roof. Broad piazzas, winding stairways and large square rooms, each exquisitely furnished in "heirloom" mahoganys of many designs, from the ornate tables to the tester beds in "my lady's chamber," not one but six, each vieing with the other in exquisite mechanism. Old portraits, old china and old silver, that did service in "ye olden times," all so beautiful, and the home so perfectly equipped with all that is modern and convenient, one forgets amid such luxury that it is really a country seat. But that which charmed us most was the gracious hostess. Nearby is the little Clarkton church, where her most efficient work is done among the countryside girls and boys, and where she now having a parish house built. Mrs. Clark loves this work and gives much of her time and money in financing it.