Some notes on Philmer Clarke of Warwick & York County, Virginia

LT. PHILMER2 CLARKE (JAMES1)1 was born Bet. 1775 - 17842,3, and died Bef. June 18344. He married (1) NANCY5. She was born Bet. 1785 - 17946, and died Bet. 1820 - July 18247,8. He married (2) LAVINA LEE8 Abt. July 31, 1824 in York County, Virginia8, daughter of MAJ. JOHN LEE. She died Aft. June 18349.

Notes for LT. PHILMER CLARKE:
Philmer served as a Lieutenant in Captain James Hubberd's company of the 68th Regiment Virginia Militia during the War of 1812. He was most active during the year 1814.

Philmer lived in Warwick County, Virginia before moving to York County. He owned four slaves in 1810 and six in 1820. He also had two young free blacks living with him in 1820. As a note, someone in the household that year was in manufacturing.

Philmer may have been the son of a James Clarke that served in the Revolutionary War. However his direct relationship is not stated in the following document:

York County, Virginia Order Book #12, p. 315:
"At York County Court 16 June 1834 - On the motion of Ann Thomas Ordered that it be certified That it appears to the Court from satisfactory evidence adduced that James Clarke who is reputed to have been in the War of the Revolution, died Intestate in the County of York leaving as his only heirs at Law Ann Clarke and Philmer Clarke - That Ann Clarke has since the death of the said James Clarke intermarried with a man by the name of Thomas Tommas - That Philmer Clarke is dead leaving as his Heirs John Clarke, Thomas Clarke and Clarentine Clarke who has since intermarried with Edward Hogg and Robert Clarke an Infant and that the said Philmer has also left a widow Lavenia who is now living."

More About LT. PHILMER CLARKE:
Military service: Capt. James Hubberd's Co., 68th Virginia Militia - War of 1812 10

Notes for LAVINA LEE:
Lavina was a spinster from Yorkhampton Parish when she married Philmer.

More About PHILMER CLARKE and LAVINA LEE:
Marriage: Abt. July 31, 1824, York County, Virginia11
Marriage bond: July 31, 1824, York County, Virginia11
Surety: Robert Lee11

Children of PHILMER CLARKE and NANCY are:
i. JOHN3 CLARKE12, d. Aft. June 183412.
ii. THOMAS T. CLARKE13, b. Bet. 1812 - 1813, York County, Virginia14; d. Bet. June 1850 - June 186014,15; m. (1) GEORGIANNA16; b. Bet. 1814 - 1815, Williamsburg, Virginia17; d. Aft. June 186018; m. (2) PARKEY JANE WALTHALL19, Bef. June 1850 20; b. Bet. 1824 - 1825, Farmville, Cumberland County, Virginia21,22; d. Aft. June 1870 23.

Notes for THOMAS T. CLARKE:
According to the 1850 census, Thomas and his family were living in York County, Virginia. He worked as a shoemaker and apparently had quite a business, seeing as though three additional shoemakers were living with him at that time. It is quite possible that Thomas was a master and they his apprentices.

More About THOMAS T. CLARKE:
Occupation: shoemaker24

Notes for GEORGIANNA:
Georgianna is a hard person to pin down. She and Thomas Clarke apparently divorced around 1845. I do not know what happened to her in 1850, but Georgianna was living with Somersett Moore in Williamsburg, Virginia by 1860. She owned $900 worth of real estate at that time but I am not sure where. To make matters more complicated, Somersett Moore eventually married the second wife of Georgianna's former husband!

I do not know what became of Georgianna after 1860. It appears that she and her children were not very close, opting to live with their father, and at times, Mr. Moore, instead of Georgianna.

More About GEORGIANNA:
Occupation: mantua (gown) maker25

Marriage Notes for THOMAS CLARKE and GEORGIANNA:
Thomas and Georgianna must have divorced in the mid-1840s as he remarried and she thereafter lived with a man named Somersett Moore.

More About THOMAS CLARKE and GEORGIANNA:
Divorce: Bef. June 185026

More About PARKEY JANE WALTHALL:
Occupation: tayloress27

Marriage Notes for THOMAS CLARKE and PARKEY WALTHALL:
There is a possibility that Thomas and Parkey were married in Petersburg, Virginia.

More About THOMAS CLARKE and PARKEY WALTHALL:
Marriage: Bef. June 185028

iii. CLARENTINE CLARKE29, b. Bet. 1816 - 1821, York County, Virginia30,31; d. Aft. August 187032; m. EDWARD HOGG33, Bef. June 183433; b. Bet. 1808 - 1810, York County, Virginia34,35; d. Bet. June 1860 - August 187035,36.

Notes for CLARENTINE CLARKE:
After the death of her father, Edward Hogg became Clarentine's legal guardian. I am not sure if this is the same Edward Hogg she later married. After the death of her husband, Clarentine lived in the Grafton township of York County, Virginia.

Notes for EDWARD HOGG:
Edward owned five slaves in 1840. He was unable to read or write.

More About EDWARD HOGG:
Occupation: Farmer37

More About EDWARD HOGG and CLARENTINE CLARKE:
Marriage: Bef. June 183438

iv. ROBERT W. CLARKE39,40, b. Bet. June 1817 - June 1822, Warwick or York County, Virginia40,41; d. October 10, 1853, near York County, Virginia42; m. SARAH A. BAILEY43,44, Bef. July 185045; b. Bet. February 1831 - February 1832, James City County, Virginia45,46; d. February 22, 1853, Yorktown, York County, Virginia46.

More About ROBERT W. CLARKE:
Cause of Death: Dropsey47
Occupation: Shoe and boot maker47

More About SARAH A. BAILEY:
Cause of Death: Pneumonia48

More About ROBERT CLARKE and SARAH BAILEY:
Marriage: Bef. July 185049

Endnotes

1. James Clarke proof of Revolutionary War service, York County, Virginia, Order Book 12, p. 315.
2. Filmer Clark household, 1810 census, Warwick County, Virginia, p. 193.
3. Filmer Clarke household, 1820 census, York County, Virginia, p. 160.
4. James Clarke proof of Revolutionary War service, York County, Virginia, Order Book 12, p. 315.
5. Robert W. Clark death register entry, York County, Virginia, 1853.
6. Filmer Clark household, 1810 census, Warwick County, Virginia, p. 193.
7. Filmer Clarke household, 1820 census, York County, Virginia, p. 160.
8. Michael Pollock, York County Virginia Marriages Volume 1 Bonds & Ministers' Returns 1769-1853, (Athens, Georgia, 1994).
9. James Clarke proof of Revolutionary War service, York County, Virginia, Order Book 12, p. 315.
10. Pay Rolls Militia Entitled to Land Bounty Under the Act of Congress of September 28, 1850, (Richmond, 1851).
11. Michael Pollock, York County Virginia Marriages Volume 1 Bonds & Ministers' Returns 1769-1853, (Athens, Georgia, 1994).
12. James Clarke proof of Revolutionary War service, York County, Virginia, Order Book 12, p. 315.
13. Clarke-Pettis marriage register entry, Richmond, Virginia, 1873, p. 33, ln. 6.
14. Thomas Clarke household, 1850 census, York County, Virginia, p. 364, ln. 26.
15. Parkey Jeno Clarke household, 1860 census, James City County, Virginia, p. 675, ln. 9.
16. Clarke-Pettis marriage register entry, Richmond, Virginia, 1873, p. 33, ln. 6.
17. John W. Clark household, 1880 census, Henrico County, Virginia, ED 69, p. 15, ln. 40.
18. Sommersette Moore household, 1860 census, James City County, Virginia, p. 656, ln. 34.
19. Moore-Clarke marriage register entry, Williamsburg, Virginia, 1862, p. 62, ln. 3.
20. Thomas Clarke household, 1850 census, York County, Virginia, p. 364, ln. 26.
21. Moore-Clarke marriage register entry, Williamsburg, Virginia, 1862, p. 62, ln. 3.
22. Parkey Jeno Clarke household, 1860 census, James City County, Virginia, p. 675, ln. 9.
23. Somersett Moore household, 1870 census, James City County, Virginia, p. 359, ln. 19.
24. Thomas Clarke household, 1850 census, York County, Virginia, p. 364, ln. 26.
25. Sommersette Moore household, 1860 census, James City County, Virginia, p. 656, ln. 34.
26. Thomas Clarke household, 1850 census, York County, Virginia, p. 364, ln. 26.
27. Parkey Jeno Clarke household, 1860 census, James City County, Virginia, p. 675, ln. 9.
28. Thomas Clarke household, 1850 census, York County, Virginia, p. 364, ln. 26.
29. James Clarke proof of Revolutionary War service, York County, Virginia, Order Book 12, p. 315.
30. Edward Hogg household, 1850 census, York County, Virginia, p. 369.
31. Edwd Hogg household, 1860 census, York County, Virginia, p. 981.
32. Clarentine Hogg household, 1870 census, York County, Virginia, p. 557.
33. James Clarke proof of Revolutionary War service, York County, Virginia, Order Book 12, p. 315.
34. Edward Hogg household, 1850 census, York County, Virginia, p. 369.
35. Edwd Hogg household, 1860 census, York County, Virginia, p. 981.
36. Clarentine Hogg household, 1870 census, York County, Virginia, p. 557.
37. Edward Hogg household, 1850 census, York County, Virginia, p. 369.
38. James Clarke proof of Revolutionary War service, York County, Virginia, Order Book 12, p. 315.
39. Ro. W. Clarke household, 1850 census, York County, Virginia, p. 343.
40. Robert W. Clark death register entry, York County, Virginia, 1853.
41. Ro. W. Clarke household, 1850 census, York County, Virginia, p. 343.
42. Robert W. Clark death register entry, York County, Virginia, 1853.
43. Ro. W. Clarke household, 1850 census, York County, Virginia, p. 343.
44. Sarah Clarke death register entry, York County, Virginia, 1853.
45. Ro. W. Clarke household, 1850 census, York County, Virginia, p. 343.
46. Sarah Clarke death register entry, York County, Virginia, 1853.
47. Robert W. Clark death register entry, York County, Virginia, 1853.
48. Sarah Clarke death register entry, York County, Virginia, 1853.
49. Ro. W. Clarke household, 1850 census, York County, Virginia, p. 343.

Library of Virginia Chancery Records Scanned, More Coming

I found something hot yesterday that I did not know existed. I was almost ashamed when I found it, for the fact that I did not realize it was there all of this time. I consider myself an expert on the holdings of the Library of Virginia, I even volunteered there for almost a year. I just could not believe that I missed their project for scanning chancery court records. These are free, online records for anyone to use. Be warned that the records can be very long, some more than 1,000 pages, and they can get very addictive!

Here is the deal, the Library has scanned several counties and are working on the rest. If you do not know, a chancery cause is basically a court case where there is no clear cut law to decide who is right or wrong in a civil case. All of the evidence is gathered and presented to a judge who rules on that evidence. This can include old wills, deeds, Bible records, letters, anything to help win your case. I will give an example of a chancery cause that I found in my family...

Ann's husband died and she sold twenty acres of their farm to one of their freed slaves. Twenty years later, after Ann's death, one of her children decided that they wanted the twenty acres back but the freed slave had sold the land to a white family ten years ago. They all go to chancery court and the judge rules that Ann had no right to sell the property because 2/3 of it belonged to the heirs of her husband. Furthermore the freed slaves had no right to purchase property so the sale was doubly invalid. The white family had to give the land back to Ann's estate and had no recourse since the original sale was not valid. That is a true chancery cause as no clear-cut law applied to the situation. It took a judge's understanding of the laws to come to a conclusion.

Anyway, the Library of Virginia has already scanned the causes for the following areas:

• Alexandria City
• Caroline County
• Fauquier County
• Hanover County
• King & Queen County
• Lancaster County
• Middlesex County
• New Kent County
• Northampton County
• Prince William County
• Rockbridge County (some)
• Shenandoah County
• Staunton City

These areas are in the process of being scanned at this time:

• Amelia County
• Cumberland County
• Page County
• Rockbridge County (some)

You can check out the records at this link: Library of Virginia Chancery Causes

Lottie A. Walker, April 02, 1894 - June 17, 1976, of Cumberland, Virginia

Lottie A. Walker, April 02, 1894 - June 17, 1976, of Cumberland, Virginia.

Richmond Times-Dispatch, June 19, 1976:"WALKER - Miss Lottie A. Walker, 83, of Cumberland, Va., died in a Farmville hospital Thursday. She was born in Bracey, Va., April 2, 1893; a daughter of the late Melville P. Walker and Beulah Lett Walker. Surviving are a sister, Mrs. Estelle W. Atkinson, Cumberland, Va.; and a number of nieces and nephews. Graveside funeral service, 3:30 P.M. Saturday at Maury Cemetery in Richmond. Remains rest at Doyne-Burger Funeral Home in Farmville."

Lottie is buried in section 66, division 63, grave 5 of Maury Cemetery in Richmond.

Narcissus Estelle Walker Atkinson, October 07, 1903 - January 24, 1999, of Cedar Croft, Virginia

Narcissus Estelle Walker Atkinson, October 07, 1903 - January 24, 1999, of Cedar Croft, Virginia.

Richmond Times-Dispatch, January 27, 1999:"ATKINSON - Mrs. Estelle Walker Atkinson, age 95, of Cedar Croft, Cumberland County, died January 24, 1999, in Farmville. Survived by one daughter, June A. Plummer of Calif.; one son, Clinton Jones Atkinson Jr. of New York City; four grandchildren and four great-grandsons. Family will receive friends after 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Doyne-Burger-Davis Funeral Home, Farmville, where services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Interment 1:30 p.m. Richmond National Cemetery. Remembrances to Buckingham Public Library, Dillwyn Branch, P.O. Box 530, Dillwyn, Va. Doyne-Burger-Davis Funeral Home in charge."

Richmond Times-Dispatch, January 28, 1999:"FUNERAL TODAY FOR RETIRED TEACHER - N. Estelle Walker Atkinson's interest in the world around her was boundless. A retired schoolteacher and bibliophile, she was a former newspaper columnist and a fierce believer in the Baptist faith. The Buckingham County resident died Sunday at the age of 95. A funeral for Mrs. Atkinson will be held Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at Doyne-Burger-Davis Funeral Home in Farmville. Burial will be Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at Richmond National Cemetery, 1701 Williamsburg Road, in Richmond. Born in Bracey, Mrs. Atkinson grew up in Richmond. She graduated from what was then Averett Junior College in Danville before marrying in 1926. She spent the first of her married life in the Panama Canal Zone, where her husband, the late Clinton Jones Atkinson Sr., worked for the federal government's Panama Railroad Co. Mrs. Atkinson took a job with the federal government as an accountant for the U.S. Office of the Foreign Liquidation Commission. In Panama, she spent Sunday afternoons traveling to remote villages as a missionary. "My mother was born again before there were born-agains," said her son, Clinton Atkinson Jr. "She would stop every peasant she could find walking down the road...and ask them if they knew about Jesus." When the couple returned to the States, they bought an old stone home, Cedar Croft, near Dillwyn in Buckingham County, and spent much of heir time restoring the structure. She returned to school in her late 40s and earned a bachelor's degree from Longwood College. She later earned two master's degrees from the school. She taught in Cumberland public schools briefly and later taught science at Prince Edward Academy, now the Fuqua School. While in Panama, she developed a penchant for collecting orchids and butterflies, and after returning to Virginia, she began collecting and preserving other creatures and insects as well, her son said. "Her grandchildren loved to take their friends down into the basement and show them all the wild and curious things she kept down there." Her folksy social column, "Gold Hill Nuggets," appeared in the Farmville Herald in the early 1980s. She also worked to establish the Buckingham County Library. In addition to her son, she is survived by a daughter, June Atkinson Plummer of Walnut Creek, California. Memorial contributions may be made to the Dillwyn Branch of the Buckingham County Library, P.O. Box 530, Dillwyn, VA 23936."

Estelle is buried in plot 3B 0 6089 of Richmond National Cemetery.