Isabella Breckenridge

b. circa 1764, d. 9 September 1848
Isabella (Breckenridge) Clark (from the original painting)
photo courtesy Carol Lockas
Birth-Calccirca 1764 Isabella Breckenridge was born circa 1764.1 
Marriage11 Jun 1784 She married James Clark, son of James Clark and Agnes Galbreath, on 11 Jun 1784 in Campbeltown, Scotland, the same day James's brother, Peter, married Mary Galbreath.2 
1785  James Clark and Isabella (Breckenridge) Clark appear to have lived in Pennsylvania from about 1785 to 1789 as their two oldest sons, John and James, both listed Pennsylvania as their place of birth on the 1860 census. 
Migration  Sometime around 1790 or shortly thereafter, James and Isabella left Pennsylvania and settled in Washington County, Virginia where they acquired several tracts of land on both sides of the "great road" (present day highway 11) east of Old Glade Spring. (see Links and Images bar below). 
Legatee27 Jul 1805  Isabella was remembered in the will of one John Harris, dated 27 Jul 1805 in Washington County, Virginia. John left Isabella 5 pounds to buy a gown. He left Isabella's husband James a grey coat and jacket, and he left Isabella's son James a broadcloth jacket.3 
  What relationship, if any, existed between the Clarks and John Harris is not known to me at this time. 
Death9 Sep 1848 Isabella died on 9 Sep 1848.4,1 
Burial She was buried at Old Glade Spring Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.1 

Related Links and Images:

James and Isabella's marriage entry in the Campbeltown (Scotland) Parish Register2
Learn more about James and Isabella's home and land5
James and Isabella's stones lie near each other but the inscriptions face in opposite directions, leading some descendants to record that Isabella lies to the right of James and others to report that she lies on his left. Both are true, depending on which stone one is facing at the time. The location of the stones was identified in a 1907 photo and reconfirmed in 20096
Isabella's headstone
Close-up photos of Isabella's stone show continued deterioration in the two short years between 2007 and 20096
Other interments in Old Glade Spring Cemetery

Family

James Clark b. 5 Jul 1754, d. 21 Dec 1818
Children
Last Edited12 Nov 2013

Citations

  1. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 176. Stone reads d. 9 Sep 1848, age "abt 84 yr."
  2. [S100] Old Parochial Register, Co. of Argyll, Parish of Campbeltown, Scotland; births/baptisms 1771-1822, marriages 1771-1798, burials 1773-1819, FHL microfilm 1041004, item 2. Notes for this entry: James Clark and Isabell Breckenridge both of this Parish were contracted 11 June and married [1784] (image courtesy Katherine Clark and Susan Sumner).
  3. [S616] John Harris will (recorded 1805), Washington Co., Virginia Will Bk 2: 513. John's will, dated 27 Jul. 1805 was recorded 20 Aug. 1805.
  4. [S1546] Peter and Margaret Clark Bible. The Bible includes a page headed "Deaths" and includes this entry: "Isabella Clark 9th of Sept 1848."
  5. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Katherine Clark.
  6. [S1376] Photos and on-site research courtesy of Carol Lockas and Ric Sheets.
  7. [S11] "Family notes of Mrs. Lizzie Ryburn."