John Lark

Children
William Lark	b. 9 Nov 1765	d.	m.
Sarah Lark	b. 22 March 1767	d. 1 Sep 1815 Abbeville, SC	m. Meredith William Moon
Elizabeth Lark	b. 16 Dec 1768	d.	m.
Nancy Lark	b. 29 March 1773 (twin)	d.	m.
Cullen Lark	b. 29 March 1773 (twin)	d. (1800 SC census, Edgefield Co., page 138 )	m. Elizabeth Savage
Dennis Lark	b. 8 Oct 1775	d.	m.
unreadable child	unreadable	d.	m.
unreadable child (one a possible son, probably John)	unreadable	d.	m.
Dalton Lark	b. 14 June 1780	d.	m.
Polly Lark	b. 29 May 1782	d.	m.

1764- John Lark and Rachael married, probably in VA. Randy Currie, the primary researcher on this line states that we still cannot be certain about the parents of Rachael but it may be a William Blackley on Virginia.

"Note that John and Rachel named their oldest son William, a name not used by the Dennis, Robert or Joseph Lark families. I have learned of a William Blakely/Blaikley with a wife Catherine. Catherine was a widow for many years; she lived in colonial Williamsburg and made her living as a midwife. Let me hasten to add that the William who was married to Catherine was evidently not the father of our Rachel, since he died a few years before she was born. He could have been her grandfather or an uncle or even a much older brother. There is an interesting Brunswick County, VA deed from Catherine Blackley, widow of Williamsburg to William Blackley of Chesterfield County, May 1763 of 400 acres in Waqua Creek in Brunswick. There was also a Russell Blackley (wife Sarah) in Brunswick for several years." [Randolph Curried email 4/4/09]

1773- John and Sarah apparently move to North Carolina shortly after his father dies. He lived in Hillsboro District of NC for several years. During this time he was a member of the Commission of Safety from 1775-1776. [Boddie. p.27]

1778- John Lark is on a jury list of South Carolina on the "lower part of the Ninety-six District in the fork of Broad and Saluda Rivers." [email and records of Randy Currie 3/16/09]

1782, Jan 16 - John Lark seems to be delivering corn to General Picken's troops in this document.

photo of wagon on the Oregon Trail, Walla Walla Washington, by Elroy Christenson

Conestoga wagons, also known as the "pennsylvania waggons" for Lancaster County, Conestoga Valley where they originated. Wagons like this were used during the Revolution to transport goods for the Continental Army and for the next 100 years were a staple in transportation including on the Oregon trail. Dr. Benjamin Rush was a staunch supporter of the Revolutionary cause and eventually the physician-general. He wrote a pamphlet, Directions for Preserving the Health of Soldiers, and understood the need to have good transportation for supplies as well as the wounded. He described the Conestoga in as a "large strong wagon, covered with linen cloth " which was drawn by four or five horses . It was used by German farmers who took their goods to Philadelphia. [Scott, Clinton. These Live Tomorrow. 2nd ed. pp. 45 - 54}

When recd of W, N 5 ????   Liles Fifteen Bushels of Corn for the
use of Same publick Waggons Belonging to General Pickinses
Bregade recd by me
                                        John Lark (his signature)
                                         W __ M (wagon master)
                          [South Carolina Department of Archives and History,Stub Indent No. 1501, Book X, p 167]

[drawing by Benson J. Lossing, 1852]

South Carolina State
The publick to the Estate of John Lark Decesd Dr
to Seven hundred & forty Bushels of Indian Corne at
2(?) pr Bushels for the use of Colnl Samuel     }
Hammons Regment of Light Dragunes            }      £740
to one Thousand pd of pork at seven                }
pound per 100th for use of Dragunes                }      £ 70
to three Beff Cattle for Dr at 15 pound pr head }      £ 45
to De from of 9th January to 13th March          }
Both Days inCluded his Wagon Master            }      £195
with a party of publick Wagens to Virginia in   }   £1055
March at Three pounds pr Day Sixty five days"    £    54.3.4
                                                                                £1000.16.8
                                                                           stg £ 140.19.6(3/4)
I certify Mrs Lark or the Estate of John Lark Decd
furnished all the above provisions & forrage to a Declaration
of Col. Samuel Harmmonds Dragoons Stationed near his
plantation on Saludy "River by Order of General Pickens for
the 1st of Jany to March 1781
             12 of August 1783 Certified by
                                                        Fields Pardug Mgt
            I so certify that I believe the above account to be
             just   -   14th August 1783     - Andw Pickens
                                                              Agnt. Genrl.

[drawing by Benson J. Lossing, 1852]

(the previous document was signed by Andw Pickens , native of Pennsylvania who died in South Carolina, who became a hero of the southern campaign)

To the Publick Treasurer of the State of South Carolina (   ?    )
Please to Deliver Allen Robison indents your Obligations.
Jan. 9, 1786                        Rachael Lark
                                                   of
                                           John Lark Deceased
                            [South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Series S108092, Reel 86, frame 540, Stub Indent No. 1501, Book X, p 167]

#1501
Estate of John Lark
for Provisions & forage
for Militia use   f
2 mos. & 5 dyas Pay
as Waggon Master,
Charged             £1055
Deduct less    54.3.4
currcy    £1000.16.8
   Stg.    £ 142.19.6
One hundred & forty
two Pounds. nineteen
Shillings & Six Pence
farthing Sterling.
Not attested. Ex. WC
   J McAly
   [South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Series S108092, Reel 86, frame 540, Stub Indent No. 1501, Book X, p 167]

1784, Sept 8- Lark, John files for a plat of 40 acres on the Saluda River, Ninety Six District, Surveyed by Philip Waters.
(This record was created before John Sr died or has to be for John Lark Jr.)
[South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Series S213190, Vol. 7, page 120]

1784, Nov. 4 - John Lark files for a plat for 640 acres on Long Branch, Orangeburgh Dist., Surveyed by Nathanael Walker. Other names indexed: Carlisse, Christopher; Lark, John; Walker, Nathanael
(This record was created before John Sr died or has to be for John Lark Jr.)
[South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Series S213190, Vol. 9, page 173]

1786- John Lark took an active role in support of the Patriot's cause as shown by Stub Indent No. 1501, Book X, p 167: Issued the 26th of January 1786 to Mr. John Lark for One hundred and forty two Pounds nineteen shillings & six pence Sterling --- for Provisions & Forage for Militia use; also for his Pay as Wagon-Master as per Account. [email and records of Randy Currie 3/16/09]

1786, Jan. 26 - (Philemon Water signs receipt of payment on John Larks Rev. War claims, Philemon later married Rachael Lark 1793)

unknown date - (Unfortunately the death date here for John Lark is proved wrong by Rev. War records.)

The Bible records of John Lark were copied by Dr. M. W. Moon into his own Bible as follows:

"John Lark, son of Dennis and Sarah Lark, was born May 2, 1741, and died June 10, 1786.

***** [The next two names were too faded to read; one of them was evidently a son John]

[The present location of this Bible is unknown. Dr. G. M. G. Stafford quoted it in his monograph "The Lark Family of Virginia, South Carolina and Louisiana." There are several things which indicate that this is a valid record: Sarah's date of birth matches the date on the grave stone of Mrs. Sarah Moon; there are court records naming Cullen, Dennis and Dalton Lark as sons of John Lark, dec'd; the estate records for Mrs. Rachel Waters list her legatees, which include the surviving sons and the husbands of the daughters, matching the names given in the Bible record.]

1800- US Census, So. Carolina, Edgefield Co., page 138
Cullen Lark males 2 0 0 1 0 females 0 0 1 0 0 others 0 5