William Bailey Clark1

b. 29 January 1819, d. 10 September 1861
FatherJohn Clark2
MotherRachel Hillen2
Birth29 Jan 1819 William Bailey Clark was born on 29 Jan 1819 in Virginia.1,3 
Marriage19 Sep 1839 He married Martha Ann Maxwell, daughter of William Maxwell, on 19 Sep 1839.1 
Cens-Sum  William and Martha lived in Washington County, Virginia, where they raised a family that included 8 children. In 1850 William's parents, John and Rachel Clark, lived with them along with Alex Maxwell (23) and Esther Maxwell (34). John and Rachel Clark appear to have died before 1860 but the census enumeration that year included all 8 of William and Martha's children in addition to Elizabeth MC Smith (48) and Alex and Esther Maxwell.4,3 
  As calls for secession swept across the south, Virginia was not uniformly in support of the movement. In early 1861 the General Assembly of Virginia directed a general election to select delegates to a convention to establish a state-wide policy. On election day supporters of the secession candidates strung a Confederate flag across Main Street. William, who was strongly in support of the Union, tore the flag down. He was not alone in his sentiments as the Washington County voters chose anti-secessionist delegates.5 
Military22 Apr 1861  Despite this reluctance, when the Virginia convention voted to secede on April 17th, William stood behind the new Confederate government. Five days later, on April 22, 1861 he enlisted as a volunteer in Co. C of the 37th Virginia Infantry under Capt. James L. White and was chosen as the companies 2nd Lieutenant. It appears however that William was not a well man, even at the start of the war, as the company muster roll for July and August 1861 notes that he was present but sick.6  
Death10 Sep 1861 According to an entry in the Washington Co. Death Register, William Bailey Clark died of rheumatism on 10 Sep 1861 in Pocahontas County, West Virginia (now Virginia), at age 42. He was with his company at Camp Bartow on the Greenbrier River at the time. William's headstone states that he died at Camp Bartow in Highland County, Virginia. Highland County sat adjacent to, but due east of, Pocahontas County and remained part of Virginia when Pocahontas County became part of West Virginia in 1863.2,1,7 

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The 1850 Washington Co., Virginia census listed William as the head of household number 1170. Follow the link to see who lived nearby.

Family

Martha Ann Maxwell b. abt 1822, d. 2 Apr 1892
Children
  • Rosa Margaret Clark3 (circa 1841 - )
  • John Clark3 (circa 1843 - )
  • Charles Clark3 (circa 1846 - )
  • Mary Clark3 (circa 1848 - )
  • Penelope Susan Clark3 (circa 1852 - Sep 1892)
  • William Franklin Clark3 (3 Feb 1855 - )
  • Benjamin Thomas Clark3 (15 Sep 1857 - 28 Oct 1935)
  • Nannie Ellen Clark3 (circa 1860 - )
Last Edited12 Feb 2013

Citations

  1. [S23] Mary Elizabeth Clark Joyce, "John Clark" in Families of Washington Co. and Bristol, VA, p. 113. The author cites multiple references for her article, including family Bibles, letters, court records and published sources.
  2. [S2268] Research of Tom Colley, Hanceville, Alabama; Mr. Colley cites the Washington County, Virginia death register entry for: William B. Clark, d. 10 Sep 1861 Pocohauntis County, Virginia, age 42y, rheumatism, s/o John & Rachel Clark, trader, consort of Martha Ann Clark, reported by brother in law, Alex M. Maxwell.
  3. [S234] William B. Clark household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western District, p. 204 (original script), dwelling 1520, family 1465, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2011 Household includes: William B. Clark, 41, farmer, owns land worth $3,000, pers, prop of $800; Martha, 38; Margaret, 19; John, 17; Charles, 14; Mary, 12; Susan, 10; William, 8; Thomas, 6; Ellen, 3 mos; Elizabeth MC. Smith, 48, owns pers. prop of $20; Alex M. Maxwell, 32, farmer, owns pers. prop of $100; Esther Maxwell, 46; all b. VA.
  4. [S367] Wm Clark household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., District 67, p. 148 stamped, dwelling 1170, family 1170, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2011 Household includes: Wm Clark, 30, owns land worth $900; John Clark, 54, tailor, Rachel, 49, cannot read or write; Martha, 28; Elizabeth, 22; Susan, 18; Rosannah, 12; Alex, 8; Charles, 4; Mary, 3/12; Alex. Maxwell, 23, laborer; Esther, 34; all b. VA.
  5. [S2744] "Clark Tore Down the Rebel Flag", Washington County News - 3rd Annual Historical edition, Feb. 20, 1969.
  6. [S2729] "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Belonging to Units From Virginia," digital images, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : accessed Sept. 2011); William B. Clark, 2nd Lt., Co. C. 37th Virginia Infantry.
  7. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 271. Stone reported to read: Lt. Wm B. Clark, d. 10 Sept. 1861, "in service of his country at Camp Bartow, Highland County, Va. in 43rd year of his age", Co. C., 37th Regt VA Vol. (CSA).