Saturday, August 01, 2009

Malcom's Mystery, Part II

Some Definite Dates Surrounding This Mystery

As we ponder when Malcom Clark and Samuel and Mary Reed came to America, here are some concrete dates to think about.

1771-1774
This is the earliest survey done by Malcom Clark that I could find on the South Carolina Department of Archives and History (SCDAH) website. (Click image to enlarge.)

This plat was written April 8, 1771, for 100 acres in Amelia Township, Berkeley County for Thomas Sabb, Jr. I found at least 14 more done by Malcom in Berkeley County, Craven County, and Orangeburg District.


The last plat surveyed by Malcom Clark that I've found to date on SCDAH's website was dated August 17, 1774.

(If you find an earlier or later one, please let me know. The site's link is in the column to the left. Remember to use all variations of "Malcom" and "Clark" you can think of! He usually spelled his name "Malcom Clark," but it is written as "Malcolm" and/or "Clarke" on some plats. These are just two of several variations found.)


1774
On October 25 and 26, 1774, surveyor Thomas Platt wrote two plats for Malcom 's own land "in Orangeburgh District situate on the South Side of the South Fork or Prong Edistow River."




1775
Malcom was a Justice of the Quorum* for Orangeburgh District. (page 248)


1776
In April, 1776, Malcom Clark was nominated by the General Assembly and commissioned by President Rutledge as a Justice of the Peace for Orangeburgh District. (page 265)

Both justice references above are from The History of Orangeburg County, South Carolina (by A. S. Salley, Jr., 1898, R. Lewis Berry, Printer, Orangeburg, SC). Click here to see this book in its entirety on Google Books.

*A Justice of the Quorum exercised notarial rather than judicial duties. (Constitutional History of South Carolina 1725-1775, by David Duncan Wallace, 1899, H. Wilson, printer, Abbeville, S.C)


1775 - 1783
These are the dates of the Revolutionary War. Yorktown was in 1781 when Cornwallis surrendered his army. The few battles remaining were mostly at sea (Wikipedia)

Tories continued to terrorize the Patriots for some time after the war, raiding and murdering, often disguised as Indians. (Memoirs of Tarleton Brown by Tarleton Brown, privately printed in 1862) Click here to see this book in its entirety on Google Books.


1786
Following is a transcription of an advertisement from the Columbian Herald, Columbia, SC, on March 20, 1786

T O B E S O L D
At Belleville, on the first Thursday in April,
agreeable to the last will and testament of
Malcom Clarke, Esq. Deceased,
The whole of the estate of the said
deceased, real and personal
Consisting of
Four Tracts of Land,
ONE containing 1000 acres, on
The south fork of Edisto river bound-
ing to the N.E. and S.E. on the said south
fork, said Malcom Clark, and vacant land;
on the N. and S.W. part on John Thomson’s
land.
One other tract of 500 acres,
Bonding to the N.E. on the said south fork
Of Edisto, S.E. on lands granted to Mr.
Fisher, S.W. on vacant land, and on the
N.W. on land laid out to said Clarke.
One other tract of 500 acres,
Boudning to the N.E. on said river, S.E.
On land laid out to said Clarke, S.W. on
Vacant land.
One other tract of 250 acres,
Bounding N.W. and N.E. on land laid out
to Benjamin Farrar and Nathan Walker,
S.E. on James Lancaster and Joshua Stanly.
One negro man a prime field slave;
One horse; some wearing apparel; one set
of surveying instruments; a small collection
of books, and many small articles.
The conditions of the sale are—Cash for
all articles under three guineas; all above
credit until the first of January, giving ap-
proved bonds and security, with lawful interest
from the day of sale.
Chas. S. Myddleton, Ex’r.
N.B. Any person having demands against
said estate are desired to bring them in; and
those indebted to make immediate payment.


1792
This transcription was an advertisement in the City Gazette, Charleston, SC, March 28, 1792.

PUBLIC AUCTION
TO-MORROW, the 29th instant,
Directly at twelve o’clock; will be preemp-
torily sold before my store,
A Very valuable P L A N T A T I O N
Containing one thousand acres, situated
on the south fork of Edisto, about seventy
eight miles from this city. There are on the
premises a good dwelling house and kitchen,
and about twenty five acres cleared.
Also, another tract of 500 acres adjoining
the same, and like it situate on the river, late
the property of Malcolm Clark, and now of
Hugh Clark his son. These lands are of a
good quality and capable of producing corn,
indgo, or rice, and laying on the river, are
convenient to get the lumber and produce to
market. Conditions—one half cash, for the
remainder two years credit giving bond
with approved security.
ARTHUR BRYAN.
March 28


Other Items/Issues That Need to be Considered
  • No land records are to be found on SCDAH website for Samuel. No plats, memorials, or tax returns. What can this mean?
  • Hugh Reed (Samuel and Mary's oldest son) is listed on the 1850 census as being 65 years old and born in Ireland about 1785. Of course, we have his tombstone that states he was born October 6, 1783. The 1850 census also has John Reed (Hugh's brother) as being born in South Carolina about 1792.
  • No Samuel Reed or Hugh Clark matching ours are to be found in the 1790 census. It does show one Samuel Reed: "Capt. Saml Reed" living in Abbeville. This Captain Reed was son of George Reed. Both fought in the Revolutionary War. According to Captain Reed's Revolutionary War Record found at the National Archives, he moved from Abbeville in 1800 to Pendleton District and later to Gwinnett County, Georgia. After 1840 he moved to Alabama. He died February 3, 1843. This Samuel, son of George, is not our ancestor. Our Samuel died in 1823, as evidenced by his will.

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