RODEKOHR ANCESTORS

Ichabod CLARK
1766-1844

This page last updated: 17 August 2007

The information presented here has, as yet, not been researched by me in detail, because a cousin, Liz Cornish, a descendant of Ichabod's has been conducting research, and rather than duplicate her effort, I continued research on some of his siblings.  When she has completed her research, the results will be posted on her web site and here.  The following information is presented for the curious. 

Ichabod² CLARK (John¹) was born to John CLARK and Martha WESTCOTT on 4 December 1766 at Bedford, Westchester County, New York.  He married Sarah WEED on 10 January 1786 at Westchester..[1]  

In 1790, Ichabod lived at Bedford, with one male under 16, and two females.[2]  In 1800, his father, John,  lived in Miltoin Township, Saratoga County, New York.  Living next to John is an Ichabod Weed.[3]  The ages of the people listed by the census taker matches the ages of Ichabod’s family.  As Ichabod is found no where else in the 1800 census and he is known to be living in Saratoga County where he paid taxes in 1799.[4]  I assume that the person listed as Ichabod Weed is actually Ichabod CLARK.  By 1810, he had moved to Aurelius Township, Cayuga County.[5] where he lived until his death.[6]

Ichabod died on 23 June 1844 at the Town of Springport, Cayuga County, New York, at age 77.  He was buried on 25 June 1844 at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Town of Springport Cemetery #208, Cayuga County, New York.[7]

Ichabod’s son, Jothem CLARK, wrote about his father: 

"Ichabod, my father, was born at Bedford, Westchester County, New York, in the year 1766.  His mother having died at his birth, he was put under the care of a maiden aunt, where he continued until her marriage, when he was taken by an aunt on the maternal side.  He lived with this family until he was married.

All his youthful days were witnesses of bloody scenes of the Revolution.  His home was near the line, as it was called, over which no one that was true to the Revolutionary Spirit, would pass.  Frequently foraging parties from the enemy would scour through his neighborhood, kill, and burn, then run back.  Many hours has he kept those around him listening to these dreadful tales that he knew at first hand.

In the days of his childhood and youth no schools were kept or could be.  Those old enough to bear arms were enroll as minute men for defense if need arose.  A night school kept by his cousin, and only one winter, was all the teaching he had.

Many are the ways by which war is made the scourge of the nation.  I will sketch as nearly as possible some of the ruins to property on his uncles farm:  The American general, Poor, with his division encamped on the farm, struck their tents in the orchard, took the barn for the sick and wounded.  The entire hay crop was used fir the horses, the rails on the farm were nearly burned and destroyed, so that when the army struck their tents and moved away, the entire farm was as destitute of general farm fixtures as an open prairie.

There were other scenes worse than this loss of property.  He saw his mates hewn down by British Light Horse, whole families either killed or carried off.

The principal teaching that he had in economy and industry he attributes to his Grandmother Weastcott.  He often spoke of her as being a through business person, who had the knowledge of what should be done and the power to make one do it, and he always credited the maternal side of the blood from which the spirit of perseverance and economy were justly entitled to spring.

At the age of twenty he was married to Sarah Weed, young like himself.  At the wedding, a sedate thinking neighbor, after looking at the newly-wedded pair, observed that they should both have been bound to trades.

After staying a few years in the town of Bedford, they with their two children decided to join with a number of neighbors to try the hardships of a new country.  They moved up the Hudson to Albany and thence to Milton, Saratoga County.

The spirit of migration was  less cultivated then as now.  "What, up the Hudson above Albany?"  "No white person will find you and the Indians will kill you," said the good people.  Yet they lived in this place for over twenty years, saw it change from an unbroken wilderness to a finely cultivated country.  They had begun poor, raised their families, built roads, erected school houses and meeting houses, and were just beginning to enjoy the fruit of their early toil, when my father sold his farm and moved to Cayuga County.

The community strongly evinced that they were losing two that had done much to bring about a state of happy prosperity.  With just pride I will record the good man's language, spoken before he moved from Milton:  "Well, thank God I have paid every one I owed a cent."

If it is just that perseverance, economy and  well-timed industry should be awarded to one, it is equally just it should be to both.  Always in making their purchases the first grand question was how and when will the pay be made.  No poor man or woman ever went away empty that applied for help.  No one could be present at mealtime that was invited to partake of their hospitable board.

Before leaving the character of my honored father, I shall not do justice to my own feelings without saying that he had faults in common with others.  He was a man of spirit, and sometimes allowed himself to be too far carried away to maintain a proper respect for property. Yet he was quick to know his fault and would reinstate himself, and in that happy manner which would take away any acrimony that might have taken place.  Mother used to say that it was no wonder - - he took it from his Grandmother Weastcott, for she was the greatest scold my mother ever knew.

As a public man he never shone.  As a private councilor he was applied to frequently and his judgment was relied on.

After he purchased his Cayuga land, his first object was to make the condition of his father more comfortable.  He bought fifty acres, moved him onto it, and there let him live until his death.  Among his brethern [sic] he was the Joseph of the family, assisted them when they were in need, and was their councilor at all times.  He took the advice of Solomon in family government without making just allowance for the difference between a state of barbarity and a civilized community.  but he experienced a great change in this rule of government.  The younger were treated by addressing their understanding instead of by corporal chastisement

In the winter of 1827 at fathers request, his sons and daughters all came home except Ezra.  Abijah, Gilbert, Elias, Jotham, Peter, Lewis, Patty, Sarah, John Alanson, Mary, William and Annis all sat down to the table with the good old father and mother.  Wealthy had died, but fourteen were alive and well.  The meeting was marked with peace, love and good will."[8]

Sarah WEED was born to Gilbert WEED and Abigail HOYT on September 9, 1771 at Poundridge, Westchester County, New York.[9]  She died in 9 January 1852, fourteen days after the bitrh of her son, Ichabod, and was buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springport 

Children of Ichabod² CLARK and Sarah WEED were as follows:

+  i.    Abijah³ CLARK, born 11 April 1788 at Bedford, Westchester County, New York; married 1^st Martha Patty SCOFIELD; married 2^nd Anne H. ALDRICH.

+  ii.    Gilbert CLARK, born 22 February1790 at Bedford, Westchester County, New York; married Polly SNYDER.

+  iii.    Elias CLARK, born 23 July 1792 at Milton, Saratoga County, New York; married Polly SCOFIELD.

+  iv.    Jotham CLARK, born 8 March 1794 at Milton, Saratoga County, New York; married Mary Ann ADAMS..

+  v.    Peter CLARK, born 23 February 1796 at Milton, Saratoga County, New York; married Roxy LANEY.

+  vi.    Deacon Lewis CLARK, a twin,  born 2 August 1798 at Milton, Saratoga County, New York; married Rhoda LAKE.

vii.    Wealthy CLARK, a twin, was born on 2 August 1798 at Bedford, Westchester County, New York.  She died on 16 Mar 1817 at age 18.

+  viii.    Rev. Ezra Westcote CLARK, born 18 Sep 1800 at Milton, Saratoga County, New York; married Mary Patrick STILES.

+  ix.    Martha Patty CLARK, born 26 Aug 1802 at Milton, Saratoga County, New York; married James PATTERSON.

+  x.    Sarah CLARK, born 8 Sep 1804 at Milton, Saratoga County, New York; married Henry MYERS.

+  xi.    John W. CLARK, born 4 Nov 1806 at Springport, Cayguga County, New York; married Louisa FLINN.

xii.    Alanson Weed CLARK was born on 16 Mar 1809 at Cayuga or Saratoga County, New York.  He died on 7 Oct 1831 at Springport, Cayuga County, New York, at age 22.

+  xiii.    William Hoyt CLARK, born 2 Feb 1811 at Springport, Cayuga County, New York; married Ruth Ann ROBERTS.

xiv.    Mary CLARK, born 11 June 1813.  She died 22 October 1830

xv.    Annis Lake CLARK, born 26 February 1816.  She married Thomas Thompson DAVIS  on 13 January 1836.  She died 5 August 1837.

Compiled by Edwin Charles (Chuck) Rodekohr
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