Ruth Clarke, w/o Walter Billingsley
CLARKE FAMILY GENEALOGY
“Chancery Court Papers” at the Maryland State Archives
1818/08/04Harford County.
George Clarke, Bennet Clarke, James Clarke, James Preston, Sarah Preston, Ruth Billingslea, John Clarke, Nathaniel Clarke, John Tandy, Ann Tandy vs. William Clarke.
This document gave me my first link to the family of Ruth Clarke Billingslea.
William Clark(e) died 1 May 1813.(Source: Affidavit of James Preston, Chancery Court Papers.)
William Clarke’s will was written 19 Jan 1813.He mentions Ruth Billingslea; Sarah Preston, wife of James, and child Daniel; Ann Tandy, wife of John; George Clarke, Barnet J. (or Bennet) Clarke, Nathan (or Nathaniel) Clarke, James Clarke, John Clarke, William Clarke.Witnesses were Alex. Rigdon, Thos. Johnson, and Thos. B. Rigdon.The will was proved 22 June 1813 in Harford Co. Maryland.
Within the Chancery Court Papers file is a letter from Walter Billingslea (most likely the son of Ruth Clarke Billingslea) describing a conversation with William Clark.William Clark stated that he was going to pay Sarah Preston, wife of James (money for which she had sued).Clark wondered which of her children were to receive the sum.Sarah was deceased.
From other documents within the file, we can map the family of William Clarke.
William Clarke, died 1 May 1813
1.Ruth md. Walter Billingslea
2.Sarah md. James Preston.She died 1 May 1823.James died before July 1842.
A.Daniel Preston
B.(?) Sarah
3.Ann md. John Tandy
4.George
5. Barnet J. or Bennet
6.Nathan(iel)
7.James
8.John
9. William, will written 24 Nov 1829, proved 10 Oct 1837. (Witnesses: Wm. Quinlan, Barnet Johnson, Albert Constable.)
A.William md. Margaret
1.Sarah Ann
2.Elizabeth
3.Caroline -----Barnet Johnson was the guardian for these minors.
4.Margaret
5.William
B.Barnet J.
C.Thomas
D.Ruth
William Clarke, Sr. sold to William Clarke, Jr.
Land:“Robert and John’s Lot, Roberts Venture, and Timber Ridge”
This land transaction will connect our Clarke line to Hon. Robert Clarke, listed in Barnes,Baltimore County Families.