JOSEPH CLARK, the subject of this sketch, was born at Westerly, Rhode Island, Oct. 12, 1789, and was married to ESTHER LAMPHERE, adopted daughter of THOMAS VanHORNE, Esq., at Herkimer, N. Y., Sept. 16, 1807. His paternal and maternal ancestors were from Westhrope, Suffolk county, England.
Rev. JOHN CLARK and his brothers THOMAS and JOSEPH, were associates and warm friends of ROGER WILLIAMS, who effected the first settlement in Rhode Island, in 1636, which he named Providence, because he recognized the guidance of his Heavenly Father in choosing his new home. Two years later, these brothers being associated with the CODDINGTONs, founded the settlement of Newport, and effected the first settlement of the island of Aquidneck, now called Rhode or Rhoda's Island. In 1663 JOHN CLARK was sent to England and procured from Charles II, the memorable charter of "Rhode Island and Providence Plantations," which was the organic law and the only constitution of that colony and State until 1842, a period of 179 years. JOHN and THOMAS CLARK both died without issue; but from JOSEPH, the youngest of the brothers, and who was born Dec. 9, 1618, and who died at Newport, June 1, 1694, was descended JOSEPH CLARK, his son, born in 1642, and from him descended JOSEPH CLARK, his son born in October, 1728, and from him, SAMUEL CLARK, his son, father of the subject of this sketch, who was born Dec. 11, 1754. He married CHLOE MAXSON, a daughter of DAVID MAXSON, of Westerly, Rhode Island, in 1776. She was a beautiful and estimable lady, and a lineal descendant of JOHN MAXSON, the first white person born on the island of Rhode Island. His father, JOHN MAXSON, Senior, was the first settler of Throgs Neck, then called "Maxson's Point." on the north side of Long Island Sound, in the present town and county of Westchester, New York, where he and his son RICHARD were murdered in the early spring of 1638, by the Indians. Mrs. MAXSON and a few others escaped to a shallop lying in the sound, and after a long and tedious voyage, landed on the island of Rhode Island, where a son was born to Mrs. MAXSON a few days after landing, and probably about the middle of March, 1638, who received the name of JOHN MAXSON, after his recently murdered father. On the 24th of the same month the island was purchased from the Indian sachems, Canonicus and Miantunom. From JOHN MAXSON, the first white child born in Rhode Island, descended JOHN MAXSON, JR., his son, born in 1666, and to him was born JOHN MAXSON, 3RD, in 1701, whose son, DAVID MAXSON, was the father of CHLOE MAXSON, the mother of the subject of this sketch, who with her husband, Capt. SAMUEL CLARK, and nine children, removed to Brookfield, Madison county, New York, in 1801, where Capt. CLARK died, Feb. 13, 1830, and his wife on the 19th of March, 1833. JOSEPH CLARK was the founder of the village of Clarkville, which derived its corporate name from this circumstance. He was postmaster for about thirty-five years, holding in the meantime the office of Town Clerk for twenty years, Justice of the Peace for nearly twenty-five years, Supervisor, fifteen years, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for ten or twelve years, and often, though unsought, held three or four of these offices at the same time. He served in the Militia on our Northern Frontier in the war of 1812, as ensign, and afterwards became Colonel of the Regiment. He was Member of the Assembly in 1824, 1828, and 1835, and State Senator in 1839, 1840, 1841 and 1842, from the old Fifth District, comprising the counties of Oneida, Jefferson, Oswego, Lewis, Otsego and Madison. He was always very popular, running largely ahead of his party ticket, and was always in sympathy with the laboring classes, being himself a mechanic.
When elected Senator in 1838, he was a foundryman; but his time being almost wholly occupied with his duties as Senator-which made him ex-officio a member of the Court for the Correction of Errors-he sold the foundry and retired from business; but upon the expiration of his term of office, although then nearly sixty years of age, he returned to the business of his early life-blacksmithing- which he reluctantly abandoned after he passed the age of four-score years. He was an honest man, proverbially kind to everybody, and was never known to speak a harsh or unkind word to any member of his family. He was always a decided Democrat in politics, yet he had the confidence of all who knew him.
His loving and estimable wife, whom he always affectionately called "Easter," died August 11, 1862, and Judge CLARK died May 11, 1871, in the 86th year of his age, leaving three daughters surviving him: but MARY M., the wife of Hon. ALBON A. LEWIS, of Alleghany county, and J. ADELIA, the youngest child and unmarried, have since died, leaving ADELINE VanHORNE, wife of C. B. BURDICK, of Brookfield, the only daughter now living. Two sons are still living-LUCIUS P. of Morrisville, twice elected County Clerk of his native county, and Major OTIS P. GRANGER CLARK, of Washington, D. C., who made an honorable record in the war of the Rebellion, from the first Bull Run to Lee's surrender at Appomattox. He is now Deputy Commissioner of Pensions at Washington. Judge CLARK was a total abstinence man for more than fifty years, and both he and his estimable companion were consistent and exemplary christians. Their memory is blessed.
*1880
