The ancestry of explorer William Clark is difficult to trace, primarily because Clark is such a common surname. The earliest known Clark ancestor in America settled on the James River in 1630, very early in the settlement of the New World. Some traditions hold that he was Scottish.
King Roger II of Sicily
On his mother’s side, William Clark was a Rogers (a name immortalized in history by Clark’s older brother, the swashbuckling George Rogers Clark). Amazingly enough, the Rogers family can trace its genealogy all the way back to the 12th century to no less than Roger II of Sicily. Roger (1095-1154) was the son of a Norman adventurer who operated in the Mediterranean a few years after his compatriots had conquered England. He inherited his father’s domains in Sicily, then went on to a remarkable career of his own, spending his life fighting wars to conquer and unite the many Norman areas of Italy under his own rule. Roger was truly one of the great kings of his era, and in his last years supported the Crusades and waged war well into Greece. His family continued to rule in the area for about 100 years.
The martyr John Rogers
Some 400 years later, one of Roger’s descendants, the Reverend John Rogers (1505-1555), was one of the early Protestant rebels in England. Rogers abandoned the Roman Catholic priesthood and was one of the conspirators working on a secret English translation of the Bible. Rogers was arrested by the government of Queen Mary and tried for heresy. He was burned at the stake for his crime.
Incidentally, the genealogy of Meriwether Lewis is very well documented. The Lewises hailed from Wales; the Meriwethers from either Wales or England. There was a funny statement written in an 1881 magazine article about the Lewises that stated, “The love of ancient ancestry is said to be laughably displayed by the Lewis family of England who are said to have in their possession a picture of the Ark with Noah emerging from it bearing a large trunk labelled ‘Papers belonging to the Lewis Family.’”
For more Lewis and Clark family genealogy, check out the very good website on Lewis and Clark’s roots, Anchored in the East.
Frances,
It may interest you to know that the Hopewell Earthworks, northwest of Chillicothe, Ohio and the namesake of the prehistoric Hopewell mound building culture (ca.100BC-AD400) was originally known as Clark’s Works, named after the original land holder. This location is also within the boundaries of the Virginia Military District, bounty lands set aside in Ohio for Virginia veterans of the Revolutionary War. Up until about 1993 a cabin located about a couple miles east of the earthworks and said to have been built pre 1800 by Clark was still in existence. In fact it served as the core of a farm house lived in for several decades by one Mr. Rufus Riehle. After Mr. Riehle passed away the land was sold to a developer and the cabin razed because it didn’t “fit in” in the monstrosity known as Golf View Estates. There was also a small prehistoric earthwork adjacent to the cabin site that didn’t fare any better. I have often wondered how this Clark fit into the grand scheme of the Clark clan if at all. After all, and as you point out, there were lots of Clarks running around Virginia in the late 18th century, some more related than others. I guess we’ll never know. Great blogs! Will you be having a book signing in Ohio for your latest edition?
Bill Pickard
Bill, that would be really interesting to find out about Clark’s Works and who it was named after. It’s hard for me to think about how much of our history has been destroyed in the name of “the God Mammon.” Until I got into Lewis & Clark and early America, I had no idea of the extent of the Indian mound cultures and the ancient history of this continent, and I still have so much to learn.
Right now there are no plans to do a book tour. I wish! But except for the big name authors, they are being phased out. We will be having some fun events and giveaways on the web — stay tuned for the announcements! Plus, signed books are availabe anytime from the “Buy Now” section of our website!
Even though it’s a couple of years after this post, I thought I’d mention what I know. I’ve read accounts of George Rogers Clark who remained an adventurer and woodsman, who went into Indiana, I believe, to open land for new settlers. He apparently lived in the cabin, which he built, for a long time but eventually had to remove to his sister’s home around Louisville, KY due to aging.
The story of the cabin is out there, fairly easy to find with a little research, but I’m sure it was G.R. Clark who built and lived in it but at this point, I don’t know which location it was in.
I’m so disgusted by the destruction of our history. The only thing that can stop it is protest by the public. And often the only way the public finds out is through the media. So it helps to get involved and speak up.
I’m related to the Clarks – I’m sorry to have missed seeing that memorial to George.