This bible was in the possession of my aunt, Mrs. Lucy Benson Clarke, of Maysville, KY when I was given the opportunity to examine it.   The Bible had recently been found in a hidden space under the top of a swivel-top (card) table that came from the William Reese Clarke Estate through his wife, Mary Elizabeth (Mamie) Wallingford.  The table had been willed to Mary Wallingford by her mother, Pattie Turner Wood. This bible apparently had been lost to the family and was not known to exist until it was discovered by Mrs. Clarke. This bible was published in 1883 by the American Bible Society.  It is a large bible, being approximately  9 inches wide by 12 inches high by 3 inches thick.  It is leather bound, but unfortunately, the binding is in poor shape.  The spine is not present, and both the front and back covers are not attached.  Fortunately, the remaining bible is in reasonably good shape. The family history notes are in three handwritings:  the first handwriting predates the death of William Pepper Clarke in 1890; the second handwriting is probably from the early 1890's; and the third handwriting probably postdates the death of Dullie H. Clarke in 1907.  Some of the third handwriting entries are incomplete, indicating that they were done much later, and the writer was unsure of the dates; most likely, it was done in post WWI times.  I have attempted to extract the information exactly as I have interpreted the style of handwriting.  This transcription is from notes taken at the time of viewing of the bible.  I spent about one hour studying this bible.  Some errors may exist both in my transcription and interpretation as well as the accuracy of the person who made the original entries.  Be aware that it is not infrequent that individuals change the spelling of their names with time and those written in this bible may not exactly match those known to exist at a later time.  Again, I have tried to copy these as close as possible to the way they were written.  I hope that this information may be of benefit to those in the Clarke family.  The bible has now been restored and is in the possession of the Clarke Family Association.

BIRTHS

        This page and the page listing the deaths were arranged in two columns to correlate with the two marriages of William.  Each column had a heading and I will do likewise, but instead of placing the column side by side as they are in the bible, I will arrange them one after the other.

Wm. P. & Lizzie Clarke's Children

(First handwriting)

Sarah H. Clarke born Jan 9, 1844
Ednah H. Clarke born May 3, '46
Infant Daughter born May 2, '48
Joseph S. Clarke born Aug. 19, '49

Wm. P. & Dullie H. Clarke's Children

(First handwriting)

Elias L. Clarke born Apr. 4, 1851
Sarah E. Clarke born Feb. 17, '53
Daniel T. Clarke born Dec. 29, '54
Mary E. Clarke born Apr. 22, '57
Lucy & Aletha Clarke born Mar. 2nd, 1859
Enoch P. Clarke born Aug. 24, '61
Anna P. Clarke born Nov. 30, '63
Virginia Clarke born Mar. 18, '66
Sudie S. Clarke born Nov. 24, '67
James F. Clarke born May 20, '70
William R. Clarke born Aug. 9, '74
Clabourn F. Clarke born Feb. 24, '78

MARRIAGES

        This page was written entirely in the second handwriting. No attempt was made by the original author to separate the two families.

Wm. P. Clarke & Elizabeth Hickman married Oct. 1842
Wm. P. Clarke & Dullie M. Hickman married June 16, 1850
Elias L. Clarke & Annie B. Ratcliffe married Oct. 1875
Annie P. Clarke & Charles H. Jones married Sept. 84
Lucy R. Clarke & Samuel F. Jones married Dec. 84
Mary E. Clarke & Abel Rice married Aug. 11, 1873
Aletha C.(?) Clarke & James L. Clarke married Dec. -81  [Note that the middle initial C. was not clear.]

DEATHS

        This page is listed in two columns by their birth mother.  It is in all three handwritings.  However the entries include other individuals in addition to the children; some of the entries are incomplete.

Wm. P. & Elizabeth Clarke's Children

(First handwriting)

Sarah H. Clarke died March 4, 1847
Ednah H. Clarke died June 20, '47
Infant Daughter died Mar.(?) 9, '48  [Note month was not clear.]
Elizabeth Clarke, wife of Wm. P. Clarke died Feb. 17, 1850

(Second handwriting)

Wm. P. Clarke died Dec. 26, 1890
Carrie Clarke wife of Joseph S. Clarke died Aug. 12, 1891
Elias Hickman died Feb. 17, 1852

(Third handwriting)

Joseph S. Clarke, died

Wm. P. & Dullie H. Clarke's Children

(First handwriting)

Virginia T. Clarke died Aug. 13, 1866
Alethea C. Clarke died May 04, '81
Sarah E. C. Patton died Nov. 11, '84
Elias L. Clarke died Sept. 11, '86

(Second handwriting)

James F. Clarke died Aug. 22, 1891

(Third handwriting)

Dullie H. Clarke, died Feb.    1907
Mary Edna Reese, died Nov.    1915
Annie Clarke Jones, died
Abel Reese, died
Daniel T. Clarke, died

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Transcribed from notes made at the residence of Mrs. Clarke in April 1994.

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Copyright © 2001 by Ben N. Benson, M.D.