Adam Clark, MD was probably born in Albany County, NY about
1791. He trained as a medical doctor and was admitted to practice in 1819 in
Rensselaerville. By the time of the 1820
census he was recorded as married in neighboring Berne; his wife was Harriet
Watson, oldest daughter of Wheeler and Sarah Taylor Peckham.
Several documents had been discovered referring to Adam as "Junior",
but I wasn't certain his father shared his name until I found a manuscript at
the New York State Library written in 1830 in which the elder Adam of Westerlo,
NY granted all his property to his son Adam Junior of Berne in lieu of care in
later age.
In 1800 and 1810 census in Coeymans, NY Adam Senior was listed
with a son aligning with Adam Junior's age. By 1820 and 1830, Adam Senior was
in Westerlo and it was that property he passed to his son. Matching records
have been found in Albany NY land deeds whereby Adam Jr and his wife Harriet
sold those same parcels of land prior to 1840.
It was learned that Adam Senior was minister in the Seventh
Day Baptist (SDB) church, born in Rhode Island to Joseph Clark(e) and Deborah
Pendleton. It is assumed that he married Olive Burdick in RI or perhaps in NY
about 1790. Adam was not found as head of household in that first census in
either state.
Adam Senior died in 1837 and was found listed on a
transcript of the Tan Hollow Cemetery in Westerlo along with this accompanying
entry:
· CLARK, Olive, wife of Rev. Adam Clark, died Jan. 21, 1838, age
68 yrs.
· CLARK, Rev. Adam, died Apr. 18, 1837, age 73 yrs.
Interestingly, the Burdick family was also part the small
community of SDB followers in Rhode Island; however, I can find no record of
Olive Burdick. So, was she Adam's mother?
If so, was Burdick her maiden name or might she have been a widow when
she married Adam? Was she Adam's first/only wife?
At this point, the only mention of Olive Burdick that I have
found is her cemetery listing as Adam's wife.
