Baptist History, Heritage & Distinctives – Dr. John Clarke, Americas First Baptist Pastor – Clark Left his Estate to the Poor Uneducated Children – Part Eleven of Eleven

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THOMAS E KRESAL ADMIN · JUNE 4, 2020

Baptist History, Heritage & Distinctives – Dr. John Clarke, Americas First Baptist Pastor – Clark Left his Estate to the Poor Uneducated Children – Part Eleven of Eleven

Mr. Clarke died, resigning his soul to his merciful Redeemer, on the 20th of April, 1676, in the sixty-sixth year of his age.Mr. Clarke was three times married. His first wife died without issue. His second wife, who was Mrs. Mary Fletcher, died on the 19th of April, 1672, leaving an only daughter, who died at the age of eleven years. His third wife was Mrs. Sarah Davis, who survived him. He was buried, by his own request, between his two wives, in a lot which he gave for a burial ground to the church.He left considerable property in the hands of trustees, empowered to choose their successors, – for the relief of the poor and the education of children, according to instructions given in his will, – namely, “that, in the disposal of that which the Lord hath bestowed upon me, and with which I have now entrusted you and your successors, you shall have special regard and care to provide for those that fear the Lord; and, in all things, and at all times, so to discharge the trust that I have reposed in you, as may be most to the glory of God, and the good and benefit of those for whom it is by me especially intended.” His whole estate was appraised at L1080, 12s.Mr. Clarke left three brothers, Thomas, Joseph and Carew. From Joseph many of the families by the name of Clarke, in Rhode Island, have sprung.He left behind him a statement, in manuscript, of his religious opinions, from which it appears that, with the distinctive views of the Baptists. The Rev. John Callender, the Historian of the First Century of the Colony of Rhode Island, has left the following testimony concerning Mr. Clarke:”He was a faithful and useful minister, courteous in all the relations of life, and an ornament to his profession, and to the several offices which he sustained. His memory is deserving of lasting honour, for his efforts towards establishing the first government in the world, which gave to all equal civil and religious liberty. To no man is Rhode Island more indebted than to him. He was one of the original projectors of the settlement of the island, and one of its ablest legislators. No character in New England is of purer fame than John Clarke.”Thomas E. Kresal from: By Rev. John Callender “Annals of the American Pulpit: Baptist, 1860.” William Buell Sprague, editor
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