1st wife of William Clarke, of Salem

William Clarke was born about 1586, likely in England. [2][3]

William was married first by about 1608. The name of his 1st wife, the date and place of their marriage is not known. [2]

He married second, the widow Katherine (Franklin) Prince about 1636/7.

Family

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Clarke-4474

Probable Children of William Clarke with his First Wife

1. William Jr. was born about 1608 and died at Lynn, Massachusetts on March 5, 1682/3.[2] About 1641[7] he married Mary Unknown, who died at Lynn on August 19, 1693. Children: Lydia, Hannah, Sarah, Mary, Elizabeth, Martha, John.[3][2]
2. Thomas was born about 1618 and died at Reading, Massachusetts on September 12, 1693. He married (1st) "Ealse" (_____) who died at Reading on June 28, 1658. He married on August 31, 1658 (2nd) Mary (_____) Swain who died at Reading on July 30, 1688. Mary was the widow of Jeremiah Swain who had died at Reading on April 2, 1658. [2] Estate valued at more than L200. [3]
3. Sarah born about 1623; died at Reading on May 3, 1698. She married to George Davis of Reading probably about 1643; he died at Cape Fear, North Carolina on July 14, 1667. [2] Children: Benjamin, Joseph, Hannah, Sarah, Elizabeth, Mary, John, Susanna. Following George Davis's death, Sarah married before 1672 as possibly the 2nd wife of Nicholas Rist who lived at Reading on August 11, 1701. [2] [3]

There is no absolute positive records identifying these three as children of William Clark, but the authors of the TAG article (The Children of Mr. William Clarke of Salem) do have evidence of a sort:

• Clarke's estate distribution indicates that he had two sons and a married daughter
• In 1647 they were living in the neighborhood of Salem and were probably personally known to the magistrates and administrators of their father's estate.
• They were allotted less than the younger children, so conclude they were adults and probably received some property as gifts during their father's lifetime.
• They were property owners with large estate inventories.
• No other Clarks of Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 17th century are found to be so qualified by interrelationship, by age, by locality, and by social standing.