Thomas Clark (Y-DNA)

Status summary

Completed as of April 9, 2026

• Recruiting patrilineal (all male-line) descendants of Thomas Clark(e) for NGS/WGS testing. Any male who believes they are such a descendant should Read me First

IMPORTANT: Read me First

Still to do as of April 7, 2026

• NGS/WGS test multiple Thomas Clark(e) direct paternal (Y-DNA) descendants to firmly place family clade as well as discover any subclades unique to descendants lines

Biography

First Generation

Thomas Clark(e) was born in England about 1599 (said to have died "in his 98th year") and died Plymouth 24 Mar 1696/7). He may 'poss. be the son of John Clarke (pilot of the Mayflower). John was married at St. Dunstan's Church, Stepney (near London) to Mary Morton and they had a son Thomas bp there 8 Mar 1599/1600. He immigrated to New Plimoth in 1623 aboard the Anne. He married twice, first Plymouth by Jul 1631 Susanna Ring, then shortly aft 20 Jan 1664/5 Alice Hallett (widow of Mordecai Nichols) (no ch.) By his first wife he had six children (Plymouth): William (c1634), James (c1636), Susanna (c1638), John (c1640), Nathaniel (c1642) and Andrew (c1644).

Second Generation

William Clark(e) was born Plymouth abt 1634 (deposed 10 Aug 1671 aged 37) and died Plymouth bef 19 Jul 1718. He married three times, first Plymouth 1 Mar 1659/60 Sarah Wolcott, then Saybrook, CT 7 MAR 1677/8 Hannah Griswold and finally Plymouth 3 Aug 1692 Abiah Wilder. By his first wife he had several children, but his wife and all but one child are said to have been killed 12 Mar 1675/6 during King Phillip's War. The surviving child was Thomas (1675/6). By his second wife he had four more children: Sarah (1678), William (1682), Nathaniel (1684) and Samuel (1687). By his last wife he had one final child: Hannah (1697).

James Clark(e) was born Plymouth abt 1636 and died there bef 17 Jun 1730. He married Plymouth 7 Oct 1657 Abigail Lothrop and they had seven children: Thomas (c1658), Abigail (c1663), Susannah (p1665), John (1672), Joanna (1677), James (1680) and Bathshua/Bathsheba (c1682).

John Clark(e) was born Plymouth abt 1641 (deposed 31 Oct 1671 "about 30") and died Lyme, CT Mar 1719. He married (1st ch. b. Boston 1668) Sarah ____ and they had eight children (Boston): Alice (1668), Thomas (1670 d.y.), Nathaniel (1672), Thomas (1674), Sarah (1676 d.y.), Mercy (1679), John (1682) and Sarah (1685).

Nathaniel Clark(e) was born Plymouth abt 1642 (deposed 1683 aged 39) and died there 31 Jan 1717/8. He married aft Jul 1684 Dorothy Lettice (widow of Edward Gray) but she sued him for divorce on 4 Jun 1686. They had no children.

Andrew Clark(e) was born Plymouth abt 1646 (deposed 31 Oct 1671 aged about 25) and died Harwich 12 Nov 1706. He married (first child born Boston 1672) Mehitable Scotto and they had (1st 4 Boston, last 2 Harwich): Thomas (1672), Susannah (1673/4), Andrew (bp 1675/6), Mehitable (1676), Scotto (1680) and Nathaniel (c1682).

Third Generation

Thomas Clark(e) was a baby when his family (with the exception of his father) were killed in the Eel River Garrison at Plymouth on 12 Mar 1675/6. Thomas was severely injured during the attack and was initially left for dead. When he was later discovered still alive, but with his skull shattered, a silver plate was put over the damaged area, and he was called "Silver Headed" Tom during his lifetime. Despite this severe injury he lived a full life and died Plymouth bef 18 Sep 1744 (probate). He married Plymouth 6 Jun 1717 Joanna PHINNEY Colmena and they had three children: William (1718), Abigail (1720) and Lydia (1724).

William Clark(e) was born Plymouth 7 Jun 1682 and died Chilmark, Martha's Vineyard bef 3 Mar 1762. He married Chilmark 4 Sep 1707 Bethiah Mayhew and they had nine children (Chilmark): Nathaniel, Sarah, Matthew, William, Bethia, Mary, Hannah, Thankful and Jane.

Samuel Clark(e) was born Plymouth 8 Dec 1687 and died there 2 Apr 1763. He married Plymouth 25 Jan 1715/6 Mary Finney and they had five children (Plymouth): Sarah (1717), Lucy (1719), Hannah (1721), Luraina (1726) and Samuel (1728).

(Dea.) Thomas Clark(e) was born Plymouth abt 1658 and died there 20 Mar 1726. He married three times, first Yarmouth 15 Feb 1681/2 Rebecca Miller, then Plymouth 12 Feb 1689, lastly by 1699 Susanna Miller. All three of his wives were cousins, granddaughters of (Rev.) John Miller. By his first wife Thomas had two children (Plymouth): Susanna (1683/4) and Thomas (1685 m Mary Ellis). By his second wife he had three more children (Plymouth): Josiah (1690 m Thankful Tupper), Elizabeth (1692) and Rebecca (1694). By his last wife he had three more children (Plymouth): Annah (1699/1700), Abigail (1701) and Sarah (1703/4 unm.)

John Clark{e) was born Plymouth abt 1672 and died there 19 Jan 1711/2. He married Hingham 14 May 1695 Rebecca Lincoln and they had eight children: James, Abigail, John, Joseph, Ann, Hannah, Martha and Mary.

James Clark(e) (II) was born Plymouth abt 1680 and died there abt 1750. He married Plymouth 8 Jun 1722 Ann ELDRED Rider and they had three children (Plymouth): James (1723), Ann (1724) and Abigail (1727).

Nathaniel Clark(e) was born Boston 22 Sep 1672 and died

DNA results

Previous Y-DNA testing

The Clark(e) surname DNA Project does not currently have anyone claiming Thomas Clark as their Most Distant Known Patrilineal Ancestor (MDKPA).

NGS/WGS testing

NGS/WGS testing of patrilineal (direct male line Y-DNA descendants) would identify the haplogroup for the family and possibly define subclades for descendants. Anyone who believe they are Y-DNA descendants of Thomas Clark is encouraged to contact Raymond Wing email: MayflowerDNA1620@gmail.com

External Links and References

• Anderson, Robert Charles, The Pilgrim Migration: Immigrants to Plymouth Colony 1620-1633. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, 2004. Pages 109-115.