Richard Clarke
BIRTH
May 1, 1711
Boston, Massachusetts
DEATH
February 27, 1795
London, England
FAMILY
FATHER:
William Clarke
(1732-1761)
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Clarke, Richard
(1711-1795)
Richard Clarke Boston merchant and Loyalist, was the son of William and Hannah (Appleton) Clarke of Boston, where he was born. On May 3, 1733, he married Elizabeth Winslow, who has been variously said to be the daughter of Edmund, Isaac, and Col. Edward Winslow.
2
WIFE
Elizabeth Winslow Clarke
(1713-1765)
Hannah Clarke
Elizabeth Clarke
(1736-?)
Mary Clarke Barrett
(1741-1764)
Isaac Winslow Clarke
(1746-1822)
William Clarke
(1732-1761)
Edward Clarke
(1737-1770)
Jonathan Clarke
(1744-1827)
Sarah Clarke Startin
(1750-1802)
Hannah Clarke Bromfield
(1734-1785)
Joseph Lee Clarke
(1740-?)
Sussanna Farnum Clarke Copley
(1745-1836)
Lucy Clarke
(1752-?)
Places | Image | Address | GPS | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Old South Meeting House | 310 Washington St, Boston, MA 02108 | MUSEUM | ||
King's Chapel | 58 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02108 | MUSEUM |
DIED:
London, England
Feb 27, 1795
Richard had graduated from Harvard College in 1729 and became one of the most prominent merchants in Boston, his firm at the time of the American Revolution including his two sons, Jonathan and Isaac, under the name of Richard Clarke & Sons.
Richard's son Jonathan was in London in 1773 and Richard Clarke & Sons were named as factors for the Honourable East India Company and were among the consignees of the tea which was thrown into Boston Harbor in December of that year, in the Boston Tea Party. On November 2, they had received a letter signed "O. C.," ordering them to appear at the Liberty Tree the following Wednesday at noon to make a public resignation of their commission as factors. On Wednesday morning some of the other consignees, including Thomas Hutchinson Jr. (son of the governor), Benjamin Faneuil, and Joshua Winslow, met the Clarkes at their warehouse on King Street.
A mob of about five hundred had gathered at the Liberty Tree and, as the merchants did not appear, a considerable number gathered in front of the warehouse. Nine of them went in as emissaries to induce the merchants to yield, and, when they refused to do so, the mob attempted to storm the building but was repulsed. When Jonathan arrived from England there was a gathering of friends at the Clarkes' house in School Street to welcome him, which led to another attack by the mob.
In view of the growing difficulties in Boston, Clarke decided to go to England also, and after a remarkable voyage of only twenty-one days landed there on December 24, 1775, and lived at Copley's house until his death in 1795, at the age of 83.