Isabella Breckenridge Clark1

b. 21 March 1813, d. 11 May 1883
FatherCapt. John B. Clark1 b. 9 Aug 1785, d. Feb 1869
MotherMary Beattie1 b. 10 Nov 1794, d. 30 Jun 1858
Birth21 Mar 1813 Isabella Breckenridge Clark was born on 21 Mar 1813 in Virginia.2,3 
Marriage13 Dec 1832 She married John S. Clark, son of Robert Clark and Martha Harvie, on 13 Dec 1832 in Washington County, Virginia, with Rev. R. M. Shankland presiding. The couple were first cousins, once removed.4,5 
Cens-185027 Aug 1850  Isabella and John were enumerated in Washington County in 1850 on the first federal census to record all members of a household by name. John, at age 40, farmed land valued at $5,200. Isabella was 37. Five children were enumerated with them, ranging from 16 year old Martha to 4 month old William.6 
  The family lived next to John's brother Robert Clark. 
WidowedOct 1854  Isabella was widowed when John died in Oct 1854. 
Cens-Sum  She gave birth to daughter Ellen 2 months later. Isabella assumed the role of head of her household and was enumerated as such on later census records. Son John died in 1862 and daughter Emily in 1870. Prior to the Civil War Isabella's land was valued at $10,000; she owned personal property worth $2,700 which would have included the value of a 35 year old male slave.

Isabella's son James remained at home following his marriage to Sallie Horne. By 1880 he and his wife and 2 young sons were part of the household as was Isabella's son William.7,8,9 
Death11 May 1883 Isabella died on 11 May 1883 at age 70.10,11,2 
Burial She was buried at Old Glade Spring Cemetery near her daughter Ellen Cole and her granddaughter Emma Clark. John, who died over 30 years earlier, is buried closer to the church, along with 2 of the couple's children who died young.2,12 

Research Comment:

Isabella was not mentioned in an agreement between her parents and her brothers John and James when the older Clarks divided their assets before their death. Neither was she listed in a later settlement although several siblings who were not named in the original agreement received something in the settlement.

This needs additional research. Why was Isabella not mentioned?13,14

Related Links and Images:

Isabella may have stitched this 1828 sampler. She would have been about 15 at the time. It is part of the permanant collection of the Fields Penn Museum in Abingdon. It was purchased by the museum and its original history is not known15
Isabella's headstone
Other interments in Old Glade Spring Cemetery

Family

John S. Clark b. 24 Feb 1808, d. 10 Oct 1854
Children
ChartsDescendants of James Clark and Isabella Breckenridge
Last Edited1 May 2013

Citations

  1. [S140] "Ryburn History," compiled by P. Shugart, p. 46. This information is from transcribed lists of birth, death and marriage dates for John Clark and Mary Beattie Clark and their children.
  2. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 177. Isabella B. Clark, w/o J.S. Clark, 21 Mar 1813-11 May 1883.
  3. [S140] "Ryburn History," compiled by P. Shugart, p. 46. This record states that Isabelle was born 15 March 1816. The date was transcribed from a list of birth, death and marriages for John Clark and Mary Beattie Clark and their children. However this date of birth does not conform to the birth dates of Isabella's siblings.
  4. [S4] D.E. Brown, Marriages of Washington Co., VA 1781-1853, p. 13. John Clark and Issabella B. Clark, 13 Dec. 1832; minister: R.M. Shankland.
  5. [S140] "Ryburn History," compiled by P. Shugart, p. 46. This information is from transcribed lists of birth, death and marriage dates for John Clark and Mary Beattie Clark and their children. The list incorrectly shows John Clark marrying Nancy Gilmer Clark, and Isabella Clark marrying John Breckenridge.
  6. [S367] John Clark household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., District 67, p. aft page 113 stamped, dwelling 701, family 701, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2008, image 93 of 289. Household includes: John Clark, 40, farmer, b. Scotland, real estate valued at $5,200; Isabella 37; Martha 16; James 11; John 4; Thos 3; Wm 4/12; all others b. VA.
  7. [S234] Isabella Clark household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western district, p. 112 original script, dwelling 815, family 788, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2008, image 114 of 361. Household includes: Isabella Clark 45, owns land val. at $10,000 and pers. prop of $2,700; James 20; John 13; Thomas 12; cont. next page: William 10; Emily 7; Ellen 5; all b. VA.
  8. [S1308] Isabella Clark, owner, 1860 U.S. census, Washington Co., Virginia, slave schedule, p. 12, line 1, viewed online at Ancestry.com.
  9. [S165] Isabella Clark household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 94, page 35 (71C stamped), dwelling 300, family 330, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, April 2003, image 38 of 54. Isabella Clark, 65, father b. PA, mother b. VA; James H., 40, son, farmer, father b. Scotland; Sarah C, 30, dau-in-law; John, 4, grandson; Henry M., 2, grandson; David B., 8/12, b. Oct., grandson; William B., 29, son, father b. Scotland; all b. VA; all other parents b. VA.
  10. [S5] Elizabeth Kelly Allison, Early Southwest Virginia Families, p. 70-85. Lists Isabella's date of death as 1848 however this cannot be accurate as she was enumerated on the 1880 census.
  11. [S140] "Ryburn History," compiled by P. Shugart, p. 46. This date is from transcribed lists of birth, death and marriage dates for John Clark and Mary Beattie Clark, their children, and related family members.
  12. [S132] Record of persons buried in Old Glade Spring Cemetery, Washington Co. Virginia, as compiled by John A. Blakemore circa 1952 with a plot map drawn by Harold Lester in 1963.
  13. [S721] Washington Co., Virginia, Deed Book 24: 146. On 6 May 1858 John Clark and Mary his wife to James and John B. Clark, their sons. Also mentions three daughters: Elizabeth A. Clark, Eleanor G. Clark and Martha H. Ryburn. In addition refers to land left to John Clark by James Clark, his father.
  14. [S707] Account of James and John B. Clark with John Clark (1877), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 19: 354. Lists the payments made to John M. Preston, as well as various legacies directed by the agreement dated 6 May 1858.
  15. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Katherine Clark; with permission of the Fields Penn Museum.
  16. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 271. James Hope Orr, 33y 11m 17d, sgl, b. & resid Wash. Co. VA, farmer, s/o Archibald and Polly Orr AND Martha Harvey Clark, 22y 11m 27d, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o John & Isabella Clark; 18 Feb. 1858.
  17. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 177. Stone reads, Clark, Robert, Inf. s/o J. & I. Clark, age 8m, 3d.
  18. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 60. James H. Clark, 34y, sgl, b. & resid Washington Co. VA, farmer, s/o John S. & Isabella B. Clark AND Sallie C. Horne, 25y, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o John E. & Nancy B. Horne.
  19. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 62. Groom's parents recorded as John and Isabella Clark.
  20. [S123] William R. Wheeler, Washington Co., VA Marriage Licenses 1881-1890, p. 19, 100. William B. Clark, 32, sgl, b. & resid Washington Co. VA, farmer, s/o John H. & Isabella B. Clark AND Mattie Horn, 22, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o John E. & Mary Horn; 7 Mar 1883.
  21. [S2268] Research of Tom Colley, Hanceville, Alabama; Mr. Colley cites Washington County, Virginia Death Records, 1853-1896 held by the Bureau of Vital Statistics, Richmond, VA and viewed as Library of Virginia Microfilm Roll #30: Emily Clark, b. Glade Spring, d. 1870, age 18y, fever, d/o John & Isabella Clark. He also notes that a courthouse copy of the same entry states: Emily Clark, d. 1871, age 18y, fever, d/o John & Isabella Clark.
  22. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 65. John B. Cole, 25y, sgl, b. & resid Washington Co. VA, farmer, son of James L. & Eliza Cole AND Ellen A. Clark, 21y, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o John & Isabella Clark; marr 15 Aug. 1877.
  23. [S3] Moore and Stephens, Washington Co., VA Birth and Death Records, p. 24. Record abstracted: Ellen Ann Clark, b. 15 Dec. 1854 to John S. and Isabella Clark.