Searching for the children of Adam Clark and Olive Burdick of Westerlo, NY

I am a descendant of Adam Clark, MD 1791-1860 and his wife Harriet Watson. It took me a number of years to confirm that his father was Rhode Island born Rev Adam Clark Sr 1764-1837, a Baptist minister, who relocated to Albany County, NY.  A post identifying Adam’s gravestone in the Tan Hollow Cemetery in Westerlo, NY along with that of his wife Olive, naming her as Burdick, was a bonus. Both the Clark(e) and Burdick families were part of a tight-knit community of Seventh Day Baptists primarily living in Hopkinton and Westerly, Rhode Island. I have yet to confirm Olive’s parents, their marriage date + place, and their offspring.

 

As I went back to view early census records I could see that various children were in the Adam Clark household in Coeymans and later Westerlo, though some of the ages were confusing and contradictory. Since both Adam and Olive died before 1840, there are no names in the census records.

Through links on Findagrave (thanks to all the contributors !!) I discovered two of Adam Sr’s daughters, Dorcas and Marinda, both of whom married ministers and had obituaries that mentioned their father. Yeah !!  Dorcas,1799-1863, wife of Deacon Charles Lapaugh,  remained in Westerlo.  Marinda, 1807-1872, wife of Rev Nelson Ferguson, moved around NY state ending up in Monroe County about 200+ miles from Westerlo. Their brother Adam, 1791-1860, moved around a bit also and and died in Westchester County. 

Now, if I could just find the rest of the assumed siblings.

 

Ruth E Flint born Berne, Albany, NY 1849

I came upon Ruth listed in census records with David Smith and his wife Rachel in Rensselaerville (near Berne), at times listed as grandchild and later as adopted daughter. The first listing was a state census in 1855 when Ruth was 6. That afforded me the opportunity to find her with her parents in the 1850 federal census. It seems they were Joseph M Flint (who died in 1854) and Sabra Ann Ticknor. Ruth was the 3rd of their 5 children and the only one NOT found in any later census record with her widowed, and later remarried, mother. In the 1860 census Sabra appeared with second husband Levi Bailey, living in Berne, with daugthers Mary Ann 16 and Caroline 7 plus 10 month old son DeWitt Bailey. Her sons Seth and David Flint were not in the household.

Rachel Smith's maiden name has not yet been discovered, but she was born about 1813. David was born in 1809. It seems that she and David likely married about 1831, so it does not seem too likely that they were actually the grandparents of Ruth. I have been trying to propose various scenarios, but knowing Sabra's maiden name and having found her parents, that does not seem to be the link. I have not found the parents of Joseph Flint who was born in 1827.

It also seems odd that Ruth was the only child living away from her mother ... could it be that she was not actually the child of Sabra and Joseph? More investigation is needed ! None of those named are actually part of my family line, but were neighbors / associates of my ancestors. The situation just struck me as odd ... so, I'll keep looking for an explanation.

FAMILY FOCUS: Dr Adam Clark 1791-1860

Adam, my 4^th Great Grandfather, was a physician and leather tanner in New York.  I have many unanswered questions about him – including where he was born, who his parents were, possible siblings, why he moved to Westchester County late in his life. I am determined to find answers this year.

What I do know is: 

• He was born about 1791, likely in Albany County
• He reported that his parents were born in CT
• He may have been Adam Jr
• He marred Harriet Watson before the 1820 census
• They had 7 known children born 1821-1843
• He lived in Berne, NY (1830 + 1840 census)
• He had a seat at the 1^st Dutch Reformed Church
• He built a large tannery in Middletown in mid-1840s, creating the village of “Clark’s Factory”
• In 1860 he was living in Cortlandt as a physician
• He died in Nov 1860 + is buried in Cortlandt
• His wife outlived him by 5 years
• His wife, daughter Eliza and 2 grandchildren are buried with him

With a common surname like Clark and no other information about Adam, I was at a loss how to continue. I will be attending a research workshop at NEHGS in Boston in March when Adam will be at the top of my “I need help” list. NEHGS has great resources for New York research and I hope I’ll find some answers there.