Rebecca Morse

 The following lovely inscription is to be found
 engraved on the marker for the grave of Rebecca
 (Clarke) Morse:

 "Soft pillow'd on the Saviour's breast,
 Decaying nature calmly dies,
 While to the realms of endless rest
 The welcome soul transported flies;
 No more shall sorrow vex that soul,
 No more shall sin and satan strive
 To hire it from the peaceful fold
 Where the dear lambs of Jesus live.”

My husband and I had gone to Old Burial Hill in order to seek out the gravestone for my paternal 4x great-grandmother, Rebecca (Clarke) Morse who, according to the Marblehead vital records, was buried there. A surprise awaited us, as her stone was one plot away from one Joseph Morse. No other Morses were there save for these two, and their markers were very similar in design, although Rebecca and Joseph had been buried 32 years apart from one another. Later investigations in the records revealed their relationship as aunt and nephew. Rebecca's husband, Abraham Morse, had been killed “on Grand Bank on Board” (Marblehead vital records), and so had been buried at sea. Three of her sons had gone to neighboring Salem to earn their livings and establish their families, and they are buried at Harmony Grove Cemetery in that town. A daughter had died a child, and another daughter had died unmarried. A son had died a prisoner of the British at Halifax, Nova Scotia, 1813 (War of 1812). A mystery is the unmarked space between Rebecca's grave and that of her nephew. Perhaps this is the resting place of her daughters. Rebecca's Clarke lineage follows. Sources are the Marblehead Vital Records and “Memorial of the Family of Morse”, by Henry Dutch Lord.

1. George Clarke married Sarah Laskey, 13 Oct. 1760, at Marblehead. Sarah (Laskey) Clarke m.(2) William Main, 22 Sept. 1774, s. Thomas and Hannah (Peach), bp. 12 Oct. 1740. Sarah (Laskey) (Clarke) Main d. 7 Jan. 1833, age 86 y. 8m.
   

A. Children of George Clarke and Sarah (Laskey):

1. George, bp. 18 Jan. 1761 (no further record)
2. Sarah, bp. 13 Feb. 1763, m. Richard Alexander, 15 June 1783
3. Rebecca, bp. 7 Oct. 1764, m. Abraham/4 Morse (Abraham/3, Joseph/2, Mark/1) /2, 11 July 1785
4. James, bp. 29 June 1766 (no further record)

   
   Prentiss Glasier, in his "Clarke/Clarke Families of Early Massachusetts" (1973), encountered the question as to the identities of two contemporaneous man named George Clark at Marblehead, and asked the same question as this compiler as to whether they were one and the same. Recent research by Michael Hogan in Essex, Massachusetts Probate Records, 1638-1840, has proven that they were two separate men. The excerpts are:

   
   George Clarke, administration granted 14 July 1763. to widow Martha with Nathaniel Goldsmith and Bengamin Thompson (340:387).This was the first George Clark, origin unknown, who married Martha Goldsmith.

   
   George Newmarch Clark, administration granted 5 Sept. 1774, to widow Sarah with George Newmarch and Nathaniel Pearce (350:449). George Newmarch Clarke was this compilers 5x great-grandfather, who married Sarah Laskey. Since one George Newmarch was witness to the administration, it is possible there was a connection to the Newmarch family of Ipswich and Marblehead. So far however, no record of birth can be found for him. Nathaniel Pearce, second witness to the grant of administration was brother-in-law to George Newmarch Clark, having married Anna Laskey( Laskin in marriage record), 7 Sept.1762 (Marblehead vrs). Sarah and Ann Laskey were the daughters of Jonas and Mary (_?_) Laskey. Nathaniel Pearce was the son of John and Elizabeth ( Merrit/Merritt), bp. 23 Sept. 1739 C.R.2( Marblehead vrs).

B. Children of Sarah (Laskey) Clarke and (2)William Main:

1. John, bp. 10 Dec. 1775
2. Thomas, bp. 5 May 1776
3. Henry, bp. 14 Oct. 1781
4. Hannah, bp. 27 Nov. 1788 ( a Hannah Main m. James Cox, 14 Feb. 1813)

C. Children of Abraham Morse and Rebecca (Clarke):

1. Rebecca (Becky), bp.25 May 1788 (d.young)
2. Abraham, b.4 Oct. 178-; d. 1809, “Mate of a vessell out of Salem, rec'd. the news, 16 July 1809”
3. Sarah, b.30 Aug. 1790, d.20 Nov. 1839
4. George Clarke, b.27 May 1793; bp.1 June 1793; died a prisoner of war at Halifax. Nova Scotia, 1813
5. John, b. 27 July 1795; bp. 7 Feb. 1796; res. at Salem; d. 23 Sept. 1854, Salem; m. Eliza Townsend, 3 Sept. 1819, Salem; she d. 7 feb. 1876, a. 76y.
6. Thomas, b.16 Sept. 1797; bp.16 Sept. 1798; res. at Salem; d 10 June 1832; m. Lydia L. Babson, 7 Feb. 1828 (3 children)
7. Nathaniel Payne, b.12 Aug. 1802; d.14 July 1856; m. Lydia L. (Babson) (Morse), wid. Thomas, 13 June 1836 (5 children)