Drawing, Family Record

Title:

Register / Mr. Robert Clark's family

Object Name:

Drawing, Family Record

Object ID:

2020.014.01

Date:

circa 1815

Description:

Drawing. Robert and Mary Clark Family Register. Watercolor and ink on paper. After artist and engraver Robert Brunton (1749-1832). In semi-circle at top, surmounted by an eagle and two floral swags: "Register / Mr. Robert Clark's family, he was born Novr 13 / 1772 and was married to Miss Mary Cochran / Nov 22 1797 she was born March 22 1775 / and by her he had the following children" In three vertical columns: NAMES / BORN / DIED / Samuel Clark / Decr 27, 1798 / March 10th 1884 / Rebeckah Clark / Nov 24 1800 / June 9th 1884 / Sarah H. Clark / Oct 27, 1803 / March 18th 1870 / Mary Ann Clark / Sept 29 1804 / Died July 25th 1833 / Eliza M Clark / Feby 12 1807 / Died Jan 7 1887 / Charles Clark / Feby 21 1809 / Died Feb 18 1869 / Daniel Clark / Mar 23 1811 / Died November 19th 1840 / John Clark / William Clark / Sept 7, 1814 / Died Aug 29, 1850 / Died Feb 12 1859". One vertical band of flowers, cornucopia, birds, and tree on left side. One vertical band of woman sitting beneath willow, flowers and birds on right side. Written in horizontal block with red band at bottom: "Mr Robert Clark / Died Feb2d 1816 Age 48 yrs 2 mos / Mrs. Mary Clark / DIED June 15 1830 aged 55 yrs." Contemporary gilded frame. Ink inscription on back of frame: "The seven cuttings, one water-color, and Clark family register were purchased from Roger Bacon of Epping, New Hampshire, who got them from Charles (S.) Adams of Derry, N.H. The Adams part of the family were related to Pres. John Adams and Pres. John Q. Adams. L. S. Alspaugh, D.D.S. /July 1971."

Material:

Paper

Dimensions:

H-13 W-11.6 inches

Provenance:

Robert Clark (1772-1816), son of Samuel Clark (1738-1790) and Sarah Holmes (1744-1776), married Mary Cochrane (1775-1830), on November 22, 1797 in Derry, NH. The Clarks and the Cochrans were third generation descendants of Scots-Irish immigrants who had come from Londonderry, Ireland in the 1720s. They were middle class farmers in Derry and Londonderry through the 19th century.

According to notes on the reverse of the family record, silhouettes, and portrait, they descended from Eliza M. (Clark) Adams (1807-1887), through her son, William R. Adams (1839-1910), to her grandson, Charles S. Adams (1872-1937) of Derry. The inscription on the back of the family register frame provides information about the provenance. The Clark family register, seven silhouettes, and one watercolor portrait were acquired from Charles S. Adams of Derry, NH, by Roger T. Bacon (1904-1982), antiques dealer, of Brentwood, NH. He in turn sold them to Laurence S. and Helen Alspaugh, of Greensboro, NC, in July 1971. They were offered as Lot 1131, Brunk Auctions, March 28, 2020, purchased by the donors and given to the Society.

The family record was inspired in details depicted and format by the many versions of engraved family record forms produced between 1798 and 1811 by artist and engraver Richard Brunton (1749-1832). Born in England, Brunton came to America in 1774 as a member of a British company of grenadiers. He deserted in 1779 after serving at Bunker Hill and other battles with the rebellious colonists. He returned to Boston and married, working as an engraver in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Brunton had a precarious life engraving portraits and Revolutionary War battle scenes, even suffering arrest for forging currency.

Credit Line:

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. James L. Garvin and William W. Upton

Subjects:

Family records, Pictorial, Family registers, Pictorial