USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Easthampton > History of Easthampton: its settlement and growth; its material, educational, and religious interests, together with a genealogical record of its original families > Part 11
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He had seven children who arrived at years of maturity. Mary married Justus Merrill of Pittsfield, where she now resides ; Elvira married Ansel Bartlett ; Philena married Spencer Clark; Thaddeus moved to Pittsfield, where he engaged in manufacturing. Theodore graduated at Yale college in 1814, studied theology, was ordained and settled as pastor of the First Congregational church in New Or- leans. Thornton W. graduated at Williams College in 1830, was professor of mathematics in Washington college, Miss., studied theology, and was licensed to preach the gospel in the Episcopal church, and preached some years. Luther has been employed in business in his native place, where he now resides.
Isaac, brother of Dea. Thaddeus, settled in the center of the town, a few rods south of where the Payson church
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now stands. For many years he was joint partner of the Hlouring mill in the place, in addition to which he carried on a farm. He had five children :- Marilla, who married Edwin Kingsley of Southampton ; Judith, who married Theodore Lyman ; Isaac K., who married Alice, daughter of Sylvester Knight, and now resides in Easthampton; Maria Ann and Edward, who also live in their native town.
Luther, the youngest son of Capt. Joseph, married Tir- zah, daughter of Dea. Enoch White of South Hadley. He kept tavern quite a number of years previousoto his death, which occurred in 1811. His wife, who died about the same time, was buried in the same grave, and a monument erected over it which bears the following inscription : -- " In memory of Capt. Luther Clapp, who died Aug. 17, aged 39 years, and his wife, Mrs. Tirzah Clapp, who died the 31st, same month, A. D. 1811, aged 38 years. Both fell victims to the typhoid fever. They were active, pleas- ing, benevolent, devout.
For us no longer mourn, Your souls demand your care, Soon you'll be hither borne, For death, O friends, prepare.
Insatiate archer ! could not one suffice? Thy shaft flew twice, and twice it smote full sore. Scarce did the widowed mourner from the cold grave of a loved partner trace her backward steps, than death his awful mandate sent to call her home. Two weeks she struggled with disease, when death released her from her sufferings here, to soar on angel wings to realms of bliss. This once hap- py pair, who here repose, no children left their early exit to lament, but many friends who their sad fate will long bemoan. Rich in the comforts of domestic bliss, blest
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with the ample gifts of fortune, and more blessed with ample hearts, disposed to sweetest acts of charity."
Quartermaster Benjamin Clapp, youngest son of Major Jonathan, was born in 1728, married Phebe Boynton from Coventry, Ct., and settled on the plain south of the center of the town. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war for some time, but was obliged to leave the army to take charge of his father, who was taken sick in the army just before the battle of Bennington, and at the time of the action was in Pittsfield, and could hear distinctly the can- non roar, which so fired his youthful patriotism that he longed to participate in the engagement, and expressed this desire to his father, who replied, "No, my son, you must stay and take care of me." He died in 1815, at the age of seventy-seven. At the time of his death his men- tal faculties were very much impaired, and had been for some years. On the subject of religion, however, his mind continued bright till the last. Prayer and commu- nion with his Saviour were his delightful employments. His wife survived him thirty-two years, and died in De- cember, 1847, at the advanced age of ninety-seven years. She had a very genial disposition, and retained her activ- ity, both of body and mind, till the last year of her life.
They had five sons and cight daughters, who arrived at years of maturity. Two children died in infancy. Rachel, born February 28, 1768, married Nathaniel Edwards of Northampton, where she still resides, at the advanced age of ninety-eight. Sophia married Rev. Gad Newell of Nel- son, N. H., whose daughter is the wife of Rev. John S. Emerson, missionary to the Sandwich Islands. Anna married Medad Lyman of Northampton, who afterwards moved to Charlotte, Vt .; Clarissa married Jonathan Ly- man ; Sally married Daniel Lyman ; Phebe married Levi Clapp; Fanny married Jared Clark ; Caroline married Milton Knight, who lives now in Westhampton.
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The sons were Ocran, Solomon, Spencer, Benjamin and George. The first three settled in Easthampton. Ocran married Mrs. Sarah Brown, daughter of Captain David Lyman. His sons, Lorenzo and Algernon, moved to the West. His daughters were Florilla, Climena and Lucy, the last of whom married Milton Lloyd of Blandford, whose son, I. Homer, is now a resident of this place. Solomon lived on the place occupied by his father. He married Paulina Avery. Their children were ten in num- ber. William N. resides in Easthampton ; Emelus, Benja- min, Solomon and Theodore removed to Ohio ; George is a farmer in Minnesota ; Mariette is the wife of Joseph F. Alvord; Sophia married Lavater Lewis of Westfield ; Jane E., wife of Z. A. Thayer; Amelia, wife of Wm. Hart of Lebanon, Ohio. Spencer, son of Benjamin, Sen., born 1784, lived in the house built by Sergeant Corse, who first cleared the road leading from his house north to the cen- ter of the town, a distance of more than a mile in a direct line. The children of Spencer are, Alfred, who lives in Huntington ; Nelson, who lives in Plainfield ; Spencer, with whom his father now lives, in Winsted, Ct .; Eliza, who died in early life ; Caroline, wife of Jared Smith of Granby ; and Lewis, who resides in Easthampton.
Aaron Clapp, brother of Major Jonathan, was among the first settlers on the plain. His wife was Jemima Bartlett. Their children were Ensign, Aaron, who removed to western New York in 1808; David, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and never returned ; Jemima; Achsah; Eli, who removed to Southampton; Levi, who was a Revolutionary soldier, and afterwards settled in Easthampton. He had only two children who lived to mature years : Levi, who inherited his estate, and Je- rusha, who married William Perkins of Southampton. Levi married Phebe Clapp. Their children were : Austin,
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who died young ; Lucius, who lived with his father; and Achsah, wife of James H. Lyman.
John Clapp, a nephew of Major Jonathan and Aaron, was also a soldier of the Revolution. He settled in the west part of the town, where his son John afterwards lived. The children of John Jr. are : Sophia, wife of Sylvester Cooper; Maurice, John M., Amos B., all of whom live in their native town; Asa D. and Eliakim, who have moved away.
Another son of John Clapp, Sen., was James, who lived in the center of the town. His children were Adaline, Helen and James, the former of whom is the wife of Rob- ert Dewar. James resides in Worcester.
GENEALOGY OF THE CLARK FAMILY.
" The name Clark was derived from the name of an office, and signified clerk, or learned man. This title, in process of time, became the surname of the person who held the office, and ' Clericus,' afterwards Clark, became the cognomen or surname by which all his descendants were distinguished. The word ' clerk ' was also abundant- ly employed in the north of England, to express lawyer as well as priest, and this accounts for the extreme frequency of the name." In an ancient record of Surrey, in the county of Durham, England, among many others, we find the following entry : " Gulielmus Clercus tenet triginta acras et reddit unam marcam."-" William Clark holds 30 acres, for which he pays one mark." A mark was 13s. 4d.
The first person of this name, who came to this coun- try, was Lieut. William Clark, who was born in England, probably in Plymouth, in Devonshire, in 1609. He was in Dorchester as early as 1638. From there he came to Northampton, probably in 1659. He was chosen one of
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the town's-men or select-men, in March, 1660, and repre- sentative to the "Great and General Court" in 1663. He was one of the eight members of the church in North- ampton at its organization, June 18, 1661. He died July 12, 1690, aged 81. His wife Sarah, died Sept. 6, 1675. He was selectman nineteen years, and bore the title of " the Most Worshipful William Clark." For a long time he was one of the commissioners, or judges, of the county courts.
He had nine children, one of whom, Samuel by name, had a son Samuel, whose son, Benjamin, was the father of Phineas Clark, who settled in the east part of the town, on a farm now owned by Bryant Pendleton. Several of his brothers and sisters were among the early inhabitants of Westhampton, one of whom, Elizabeth, was the moth- er of Rev. Justin Edwards, D. D., the well known divine, at one time President of Andover Theological Seminary. During the Revolutionary War, Mr. Clark served three years in the army. An incident is told of him which is interest - ing. On one occasion, while on guard, he discovered a man in the garb of an officer, approaching him. He hailed him with the customary, " Who's there." "A friend," was the reply." "Give the countersign," said he. " I can't do it, but my business is very urgent, I must pass." "Not without the countersign." "I am entrusted with business of great importance." The officer had by this time advanced almost within reach of his bay- onet. " Advance another step," said the guard, " and I'll run you through with my bayonet." The whole tone and manner of the officer changed. "I guess you are a good soldier. I can trust you." It was General Wash- ington.
Again, after a tiresome march, he was placed on guard, and being young and in poor health, he fell asleep. In 13*
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this condition he was found by a soldier, and reported to the commanding officer. He was tried, and sentenced to one day's imprisonment in the guard-house. His punish- ment would have been death, had it not been for the vol- untary and earnest efforts of his comrades from North- ampton, who plead that his state of health was such that he ought to have been, and had before been, excused from guard duty. The event proved to him a great blessing. The next day was exceedingly hot, and some of his com- rades died from the exertions which they were compelled to make. Such would probably have been his fate, but for the confinement.
In 1787, he was taken prisoner by the Shay's insur- rectionists, in consequence of the loyalty of his senti- ments, though from his state of health he had had no part in the endeavors to suppress rebellion. He was released, however, on the third day, much to the relief of his fam- ily, who knew not what had befallen him, since he was taken while absent from home. His wife was Elizabeth White of Hadley, who outlived him thirty-eight years, and died in 1847, after being permitted to see more than seventy of their descendants. Their children were as follows : -Submit, who was the wife of Jonathan Parsons of South Farms, Northampton ; Elihu, who now resides in Granville ; Sylvester, who settled in the practice of medicine in Boston, Erie county, N. Y .; Salome, wife of Rufus Smith, formerly of South Hadley and Worthington, but now of Huntington ; Lucinda, who was the wife of Justin Cook of Northampton ; Silence, wife of Asa Marble of Worth- ington ; Elizabeth, wife of Elisha King of Westhampton ; Erastus, settled in West Farms, Northampton ; Paulina lives in Westhampton; Lydia, wife of Medad King of Westhampton; Amanda, wife of Maurice Parsons, of Worthington ; Persis died in childhood.
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Dea. John Clark, son of William Clark of Northamp- ton, had twelve children. It is of him that the late Pres- ident Dwight, in his " Travels in New England and New York," says : " One specimen of longevity and multiplica- tion, in a single family, deserves to be recorded. Dea. John Clark, son of William Clark, Esq., had twelve child- ren. One died in infancy. Six sons and five daughters had families. Ebenezer, the third son, died February 27, 1781, aged 98 years. Josiah, the youngest son, died April 7, 1789, aged 81. From the six sons, were de- scended 1158 children, grand-children, and great-grand- children, 928 of whom were living at the time of Josiah's death."
The oldest of these sons, Dea. John Clark, Jr., was born Dec. 28, 1679, and married Elizabeth Cook of Hartford, great-grand-daughter of Major Aaron Cook. He had eleven children, from two of whom, Eliakim and Ithamar, have descended a large majority of the persons in town, who bear this name. A daughter, Catharine, married Dea. Samuel Edwards of Southampton, who was the grand- father of Rev. Bela B. Edwards.
Eliakim removed to Easthampton, and settled in Pas- commuck. It was he who gave the land for the burial- place now used in that part of the town. He had three sons and eight daughters. All the sons, Obadiah, Asahel, and Job, settled near their father.
Three of the daughters married in Easthampton. Esther married Jonathan Janes, Lydia married Lemuel Lyman, Huldah married Nathaniel White.
Of the sons before mentioned, Lieut. Asahel was born Feb. 17, 1737, and married Submit Clapp. He was in the battle of Lake George, Sept. 8, 1755. He did not belong to the scouting party commanded by Col. Williams, but with others was left in defence of the fort from which
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this party set out. He bravely aided in the repulse of the enemy under Baron Dieskeau, as they rushed on, greatly elated with their success in the defeat of the scout- ing party. Lieut. Clark was also at Ticonderoga, three years after, when the British were defeated, with great carnage, in their attempt to take the fortress. British pride, on that occasion, saved the colonial troops from slaughter, since they were not allowed to participate in the assault. In 1788, a call was issued for volunteers to defend the arsenal at Springfield, against the attack of the Shay's party. The people of the town had responded to the call ; a company under the command of Capt. David Lyman, were already at Springfield. . News however came that more men were wanted, and another company was formed, consisting of about forty men from South and Easthampton, most of them either older or younger than the members of the first. They had marched as far as the house of Elias Lyman, in the south part of Northampton, when, to their surprise, they discovered a party of 400 men, whom they knew by the badge which they wore -a sprig of evergreen in their hats-to be Shay's men. There was not the slightest hope of successful resistance against such overwhelming odds, and they were taken prisoners. Lieut. Clark, then fifty years of age, was a member of this company. He was a man of high spirit, and could not well brook the thought of falling into the hands of a set of men, whom he despised from his in- most soul. Hoping to escape observation, he stepped into the house of Mr. Lyman near by, neglecting, how- ever, to remove the slip of white paper which the loyal- ists wore in their hats as a badge. The troops passed on, but, unfortunately, for him, one of the insurgents came in, and, seeing by the badge that he was a loyalist, seized him and drove him along with his gun. Before they had
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proceeded very far, Mr. Clark who had no gun, watching his opportunity, sprang upon his captor and attempted to disarm him, in which attempt however, he was unsuccess- ful. His resistance so exasperated the ruffian, that, despite his age, he dealt him a heavy blow upon his head, wounding him severely. This band of insurgents, which was from Berkshire County, marched to Pelham, where they retained their prisoners for about one week, when they were permitted to return. Lieut. Clark afterwards recovered damage from the person who took him prisoner. He died Feb. 17, 1822, on his 85th birthday. He had twelve children. His sons, Eliakim, Eleazer, Asahel, and Bohan, settled in Easthampton, and reared up families. Eliakim, however, afterwards removed to Otisco, N. Y., where he died.
Horace L., son of Anson Clark, of West Springfield, and grandson of Eliakim, with the exception of a son of Asahel, who bears up his name, is the only descendant of this branch of the family who lives in the place.
Jared, another son of Lieut. Asahel, married Fanny Clapp and removed to Brecksville, Ohio. Charles remov- ed to Otisco, N. Y., where he still resides. Two sons died in early life. Submit, the oldest daughter, married Ebe- nezer Janes, Electa was the wife of Elam Rumrill, Jerusha wife of Caleb Loud of Loudville, Achsah wife of Daniel Wright, formerly of Easthampton, but afterwards of Hunts- burg, Ohio.
Obadiah Clark, son of Eliakim, Sen., settled where his grandson Zenas now resides. He was a man of un- usual attainments in piety and spirituality.
His family consisted of six children, Zenas and Gaius who died young; Esther, who died at the age of thirty-one; Jemima, who married Stephen Wood, Clarrissa, who mar- ried Andrew Howard of West Springfield ; Thaddeus,
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who married Tamasind, daughter of Ezekiel Wood, and settled in his native place. He was an earnest Christian and a pillar in the church to which he belonged. He had six children, of whom one died in infancy and two others, Thaddeus and Philena, died unmarried, though they lived to mature years. The other three, Obadiah, Zenas, and Deacon E. Alonzo, are now residents of the town.
Job Clark, son of Eliakim, Sen., and brother of Lieut Asahel, was born Sept. 10, 1733, and married Eunice Strong. He built the house where his grandson, Henry Clark now resides. He had six children. Sereno and Ruth died in early life; Eunice married Asa Ferry ; Luther moved to Skaneateles, N. Y., but afterwards re- turned ; Spencer settled in Easthampton ; Job, who gradu- ated at Williams College, studied medicine, and practised many years in Westfield. He now resides in Massilon, Ohio. *
Luther married Deborah Robinson, and lived on his father's place. He had five sons, all of whom settled in Easthampton, viz .: Luther, Alanson, Jason, Horace, Henry. The four last named are at present resident in town. The oldest, Capt. Luther Clark, died in 1865. He had been a man of considerable influence in town, had several times represented it in the Legislature, and had, during a period of eighteen years, served on the board of selectmen. In this family there was also five daughters, Emeline, wife of Ozro C. Wright of Northampton, Maria, wife of Luther M. Fairfield of Holyoke, Harriet, who died in carly life, Elvira, Cordelia, wife of Theodore Clark.
Ithamar Clark, son of Dea. John, Jr., and brother of Eliakim, Sen., was a resident of Northampton. His family consisted of nine sons and one daughter. One of the sons, Oliver, born Jan. 13, 1756, moved to Easthampton, and
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built a house in the west part of the town, where the wid- ow of Dea. Ithamar Clark until recently, resided. He was married twice, and was the father of nineteen child- ren. Of these, Azariah, born Sept. 17, 1778, graduated at Williams College in 1805, being the first inhabitant of Easthampton who received a collegiate education. He studied theology ; was settled in Canaan, N. Y .; after- wards removed to Colebrook, Ct., where he died in 1832. Julius, born Dec. 17, 1779, had a family ofseven children, lived in Northampton, on the place now occupied by Abner Wade. Simeon, the oldest son, was born Feb. 10, 1777, and spent the greater part of his life in Easthampton. He was a carpenter by trade, and was often entrusted with the care of difficult pieces of work. Among other things, he built a bridge across Mill river in Northampton, about the year 1820. He finally went to Huntsburg, Ohio, where he died. His children were eight in number, viz: Simeon Parsons, Coleman, Mercy, Tertius, Esther, Lewis, Diana, Abner Laurens. The oldest, Simeon Parsons, lived in his native town, and followed the occupation of his father. He was the father of Edmund W. and George P. Clark, the former of whom now resides here. Coleman and Lewis now live in Ohio; Mercy married Abner Wade; Tertius, recently deceased, occupied the old place ; Laurens is at present an inhabitant of the town, though he has most of the time lived elsewhere.
Another son of Oliver Clark, Sen., was Oliver, who was born August 17, 1785. He settled on a part of the old homestead of his father. He was a very active, ener- getic man. In 1820 he was chosen Captain of the Militia Company and was engaged to some extent in public busi- ness. He died at the early age of thirty-seven, leaving six sons, viz : Rufus, Josephus, Lysander, Nelson, Freder- ick, and John Milton, the last of whom owns and carries on
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the farm of his father. Lysander resides in Clyde, N. Y., Nelson in Easthampton, and Frederick in Springfield. Rufus moved to Hartford, Ct., and Josephus to Aurora, Ind., where they died.
Dea. Ithamar, the youngest son of Oliver Clark, Sen., was born October 27, 1802. He was killed April 3d, 1857, while engaged in drawing stone. He was the father of Rev. Edson L. Clark, who graduated at Yale College, studied theology at Union Theological Seminary, and is now pastor of the Congregational church in Dalton.
Capt. Philip Clark, a second cousin of Lieut. Asahel and of Oliver, was in the fourth generation from Lieut. Wil- liam, who first came from England. He lived in Pascom- muck, was one of the first school-teachers in the town, was also one of the forty-six original members of the church, and its first clerk. Although politically opposed to a ma- jority of the voters, he was as prominent in town affairs as any one. He was quite frequently chosen to preside over the deliberations of the town, and for a number of years filled the position of selectman with credit. He has quite a numerous posterity.
Elam Clark, his son, married Dorcas Brown, and settled in Pascommuck. He had six daughters, four of whom married in Easthampton. Dorcas, wife of Parsons Janes ; Rachel, wife of Lyman Avery ; Triphenia, wife of John Wright ; and Dorothy, wife of Solomon Ferry. The oldest son, Elam C. Clark, graduated in Williams Col- lege in 1812, studied theology, and was ordained pastor of a church in Providence, R. I. He died in Suffield, Ct. Julius lived on the old homestead, where two of his sons, Julius F., and Austin P., now reside. His oldest son, Sheldon, also lives in the town. His daughter Celia mar- ried Joseph Parsons, Bela lived where his son, Theodore, now does. He had a family of five sons, viz : Theodore, William, Edward, Alfred, Charles.
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Uriel Clark, another son of Capt. Philip, married Han- nah Janes, Dec. 30, 1782, and settled on the old home- stead. He had two daughters, one of whom, Susannah, married Manly Street, and the other, Anna, married Chaun- cey Parsons. He had also three sons, Uriel, Saul, and Philip. Philip inherited his father's estate. He had five children, Lawrence, Uriel, Gilbert A., Melancey, Martha, of whom the last mentioned was the first wife of J. Emer- son Lyman. The sons Uriel and Gilbert A., now reside on their father's place, which, it will be seen, has descended, through successive generations, to its present owners.
GENEALOGY OF THE LYMAN FAMILY.
The coat of arms of the Lyman family may be thus de- scribed. Arms-azure, on which appear 3 dolphins, na- tant. Crest-a sword unsheathed. Underneath the shield, on a band, is inscribed the motto, " Factis non Verbis,"-" By deeds not words." In regard to the dol- phin as an armorial bearing Sloane's Evan's British Her- aldry says :- " The dolphin which is a much esteemed and ancient bearing has been said to be the hieroglyphic of Charity, Parental Affection and Society, there being no other fish which loves the society of men." The unsheath- ed sword would seem to refer to some military achieve- ment of the ancestors, or perhaps to the readiness of the family to meet the calls of patriotism. The above des- cribed coat of arms is found in one branch of the Lyman family ; but it would seem not to be universally accepted as the coat of arms of the family, since there is, in another branch, one differing somewhat from this, though having points of resemblance.
Richard Lyman came from England in 1631, in the time of King Charles I, and settled in Roxbury, where he lived in some state, having two servants. He was a mem-
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ber of the church of Rev. John Elliot. He brought with him his wife Sarah, and five children, Phillis, Richard, Sa- rah, John and Robert. Late in the year 1635, he remov- ed through the woods with others to Hartford. On his way thither, he lost some of his cattle, and suffered much the ensuing winter at Hartford, in consequence of which he became melancholy, though he afterwards recovered from this state of mind. " He was an ancient Christian, but weak, yet, after some years of trial and quickening, he joined the church." His name, with ninety-nine others, first settlers of Hartford, is inscribed on a monument in an ancient cemetery in that place. He died in the year 1640.
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