|
|
“The leader of the band was a notorious desperado named Richard Clark from the South River region of Anne Arundel County. ‘A thick well Sett man, neare forty years old, short darke haire, a flat Nose, & [whose] under jasws overjetts his upper Lipp’, Clark had been involved in an assortment of criminal activities before tunring to piracy. In 1704 he was wanted in Maryland for forgery and for “uncasing and altering the Quality of Tobacco” Arrested and thrown in the Annapolis jail, he and several accomplices, including an Indian jailed for murder, escaped when a file was smuggled in. It was then charged that he and his accomplices were contriving “to draw down the Indians upon the Inhabitants of this Province and to Levy War against her Majestys Governour and Government.” Clark and one of his fellow fugitives, Benjamin Celie, proceeded to initiate a veritable crime wave, roaming about the region, robbing homes, and threatening death to anyone getting in their way. The government issued a ten-pound reward for their apprehension. celie was eventually captured but Clark escaped.”Refs: 3 EJC (Executive Journals of the Council of Colonial Virginia. , 28-9; 16 VMH (Virginia Magazine of History and Bigraphy. ) , 76; 25 Md. Arch., 185, 188; 26 Md. ARchives, 379, 450-51, 453; 27 Md ARch., 23,26, 31, 33.
Att the Councill ffebry 22d 1704/5
By Severall In formations Yesterday taken this Boarde are Satisfied that Richard Clarke and Benjamine Celie do lye out from the Inhabitants and ride armed threatning the Death of Severall of her Majestys good Subjects here and putting the Inhabitants in Terrour of their Lifes & Robing their houses. Ordered that a Proclamation Issue with Tenn pounds Reward for takeing each or either of them and bring them to Iu stice.
Att a Councill held Aprill the 9th 1705
1st In relation to the Matter of the Indians. The whole proceedings whereof Since our Recess shall be laid before you; Next whether in this time of Danger the Rangers ought to be withdrawne or Put under the Conduct of a more knowing person than Lt Charles Beale not having done his duty with any Sort of Discipline or Sence in relation to the Apprehending or Secureing Richard Clarke.... 5 What you thinke fit to be done to that Sherriff or his Deputy who so carelessly lett the Indian Prisoner Escape to the loss & Detriment of the whole Province, beyond what Wee cann Yett Iudge. 6. ..... Colonell Beals Iournall of his Expidition to the Piscattaway Indians to gether with what his Excellency had been Informed in Charles County and also Lt Charles Beals Letter to his ffather about Richard Clarke
Thursday Aprill the 10th 1705.
As to Lt Charles Beales mismanagement in relation to Clarke His Excellency and the Boarde are willing to pass the Same by for his ffathers Sake; but Ordered that he be cautioned to use more Discretion for the ifuture and that Coll Beale be wrote to, to go and Inspect them once in Tenn or ffifteen Days.
In May 1705 depositions are taken about the activities of Clarke, and are sent to both houses of the legislature, with the request that Clarke be prosecuted. These depositions records some of the events that had occured starting, apparently, with the jail break in fall of 1704:
Fall, 1704 - May, 1705:
(From depositions dated May 23, 1705, Md. Archives, Assembly Proceedings, May 15-25, 1705. pg. 462): They appear to concern the breaking out of jail of Benjamin Celie, a compatriot of Clark’s which appears to have occurred in Fall, 1704. Clark himself is described as hiding in the fodder of the tobacco house during this time, “corresponding” with his mother, Rachael Freeborn, who pretends to whittle tobacco when the deponent approaches:
Characters:
Charles Steevens: Servant to Dr. Rob’t Hooper
Richard Clark
Richard Clark’s Abettors:
Mrs. Rachel Freeborn1 : Richard Clark’s mother: Hangs out at tobacco house, whittling tobacco sticks. Conspires to break Ben Celie out of jail.
| 1 This is Rachel Beard, dau. of Richard Beard and Rachel Robbins. Rachel m. 1. Neal Clarke, who d. by 3 July 1678, m. (2) John Stimpson who d. by 23 Jan. 1688/9 m. 3. Robert Proctor, m. 4. Richard Kilburne, who d. 1698, m. 5., by 1705, Richard Freeborne, who d. by 13 Jan, 1713. She d. after 1730. Her will made in 4 Mar. 1700/1 and recorded in land records, named dau.: Rachel Greenbury and Comfort Stimpson who were devised the mill at Proctor’s, also to Comfort, four lots on the town common, daughter Ruth Williams, son-in-law Joseph Williams and William Kilburne, daughter in law Elizabeth Kilburne, grandaughter Rachel Clark. Children of Rachel: Neale Clark, Samuel Clark, Richard Clarke, RAchel Clarke, Ruth Clarke, (dau. Clarke)l; RAchel Stimpson, Comfort Stimpson. |
Thomas Freeborn (son of Richard Freeborn? who was Rachel Freeborns husband)
He says that Humphery Hernam some time after Celie was Comitted told him He was Advised to lett Ben: Celie out of Prison & Ask'd this Deponents Advice who told him those that Advised him so were his Foes & not his Friends. After this
Not long after that about a Month or five Weeks before the Prison was broke Humpherey again told this Dept he was Advised to lett the Prisoners out & Run away with them and so gett shutt of his Slavery but did not tell him neither did this Depone ask him whom but told him those that Advised him was his Foes about a fortnight before the Prison was broake the said
Sarah Freeborne on Monday last [May, 1705] told this Deponent that Mrs Rachell Freeborne told old Mrs Story and Mrs Rebeccah Nicholson that she Asked Humphrey if he Could not Contrive a way to let the Prisoners out and Humphrey answered Lord Mistress No I canot do it it's a hanging matter to Which she Replyed No can't you do it you are a Smith and have Files to
gett their Irons of and may do it that no body may know it. It will be a means for you to gett Ridd of your Slavery for Celie and Richard Clarke know all the Country over.
This Deponent veryly believes Mrs Rachel Freeborne Advised Humphery to let out the Prisoners for that before the Prison was Broke. She said in his hearing It was pitty Celie should be in Prison so long. And ffurther Humphery told him she was very kind to him in sending or Carrying him Drachms of the Bottle more than usuall.
One day not long before the prison was broke
March 1705:
[462 Assembly Proceedings, May 15-25, 1705.]:
Neale Came home very late in the Night as he told the Dept from his mother in Law . The next Day the Dept , Clarks wife went to Richard Clarkin the lane in sight of the house the Dept Ask'd him why he lay out & told him Col Hamond Advised he should Come in & submitt himself to his Exncy The said Clark had very Good Cloths on A Coate he said he had from Edwd Mariartee & a good Suite from Topp to Toe at
After Richard Clarke fitted his Pistolls & Saddle upon Danll Meriartees brown bay horse which he Changed for Edward Meriartees horse They went in the house upon which Neale seemed to be Angry at him upon which Richard went out and they had many Cross words. While they were in the house Richd Clark ask the Deponent and Neale Clarke to go with him and Assist him over Potomack River which they Refused. all that Day at night Richard Clarke and his wife lay on some Straw in an out house belonging to Neale and the next Day about Twelve of the Clock Clark urged that he was afraid he should be hanged if he did not make his Escape prevailed upon the Depont & his Brother Neale to promise and go with and Assist him over Potomack
Accordingly they sett forward and Clark Bad them say if any should ask who he was to say his name was Robert Greenberry—they Came upon Mr Roziers negro Quarter the Depont and Neale Clark Called for a lodging Richard Clark keeping out of Sight in the Woods they went into the house after a while Richard Clark Came into the house but tooke no Notice of his Brother & Depont as if he knew them the Negroes gave them their supper all Three Eat together.
Afterwards went away and Lay in the woods the Negroes being afraid to entertain them but promised them the Canoe the next day—then the Negroes endeavoured to secure them.
But Fletchill letting them go they went to Neale Clarks that night after they had been there an hour Richard Clarke Came to the pailes brought his Pistolls & his Sword & told them he had a great Combustion with the Negroes who had shott his horse but he had escaped
The Next Day he saw him again in the Woods under a great Tree and he told him he did not know what to do he feared he should be killed the Depont then Departed with him and has never seen him since but believes he is not quite gone out but Lurking about.
Mary Freeborn: Thomas Freeborn’s daughter; carried victuals to Clark
Benjamin Celie: Jailed Clark co-conspirator
Humphrey Hernam: slave/servant: apparently works as smith in Smith’s shop. Pressured by Rachel Freeborn to provide Celie w/ a file to break out of jail, so he could then “gett shutt of his slavery”.
Sarah Freeborne: talked to deponent about conversations of Mrs. Rachel Freeborn
Old Mrs Story: R.Clark’s mother told her that Humphrey Hernam had turned down her request to provide a file to the jailed Benj. Celie.
Mrs Rebeccah Nicholson: R.Clark’s mother told her that Humphrey Hernam had turned down her request to provide a file to the jailed Benj. Celie. She was prob. Rachel Beard Freeborn’s sister, Rebecca Beard Nicholson, who m. John Nicholson
Places:
A Tobacco House
The Branch: (Beard’s Creek?)
Smith’s shop
[Maryland Archives: The Upper House. pg. 463]:
Came Charles Steevens Servant to Dr Robt Hooper according to a Sumons Served on him and being Sworn on the holy Evangelist to Declare the Truth of his Knowledge in Relation to Richard Clark or his Abettors Deposes That some time in the fall he was Carrying in Corn topps into a Tobacco house and aliways observed Mrs Rachel freeborne to be in the Tobacco house and always as he Came in with a Turn of Corne topps she pretended to take up and Whittle a piece of Tobo stick but this Depont has very good Reason to believe shee was Corresponding with her son Richard Clark who hid himself in the Fodder for that within a Day or Two after he said Clark told him he was there.
He further says that Thomas Freeborns Daughter Mary told him this Dept that Richard Clark was in the Branch one night & that she carryed him Victuals.
From the depositions of May, 1705: Evidence that Clark’s relatives and neighbors have helped Clark escape (re-?) capture sometime in March 1705.
Characters:
Benjamin Gather: He and Neal Clark decide to help Clark escape across Potomack, because Clarke may be hanged if he turns himself in. This may be a relative: Rachel Freeborn’s sister Ruth Beard m. John Gaither. So Benjamin Gaither may be her nephew.
Richard Clarke of Ann Arundell County
Richard Clarke’s accomplices:
Richard Clarke’s wife: (maiden name: Meriartees)
Daniel Meriartees: brother of Richard Clark’s wife. Temporarilly provided a brown bay horse.
Neal Clark- Probably Richard Clark’s brother.
Col. Hamond: Had advised that Clark turn himself in.
Edward Mariartee: Clark Got a coate from him, and a black horse w a bald face, long dock, and two white feet.
Major Greenberry: Clark got a suite from top to toe there: May be Richard Clark’s brother-in-law.
Major Greeberry’s wife: provided Clark w/ tongues and cheese: This may be Richard Clark’s sister Rachel, who is mentioned in Rachel Freeborn’s will as dau. Rachel Greenbury.
James Lewis: Clark’s wife bought two pistols for Clark from him.
“The Negroes”: try to capture Clark
Fletchill
Places:
Benjamin Gather’s house; The lane
Neal Clark’s mother-in-law’s house: This would have been the house of Elizabeth Jones. William Jones Sr. will was dated 31 May, 1705, and proved Aug. 1705. Neal Clark was married to Jane Jones, dau. of William Jones Sr., and was named in his will. mentioned in the will of this William Jones are wife Elizabeth, dwelling plantion and lands, son William, dau. Mary, wife of John Duvall, dau. Jane wife of Neal Clarke, and Ann, dau. of Charles Cheney, and grandau. Mary Duvall. Also mentioned is dau. Mary and Antony Buddingfield her husband, land they dwell on, part of Johns Cabbin Ridge. granson Wm. Trogden.
Outhouse belonging to Neal Clark
“Mr. Rozier’s Negro Quarter”
The Woods
Neal Clark’s house
the pailes
Great Tree in the Woods
Benjamin Gather being Brought before this Board by vertue of his Exncys Warrant is Demanded to give the best Information he can as well agt Richard Clarke of Ann Arundell County as any his Accomplices. .Declares that Richard Clarkes Wife some time in March last Came to his house on a Brown bay horse which she said was
Continue to: The Outlawing of Richard Clark
This page created by mosesrawlings@yahoo.com
