CLOCK FAMILY LETTERS

Reference:  The following letter was in the possession of Mrs. F. Palmer Haff of Bay Shore/Islip, Long Island and contains this explanation at the bottom: "The above is an exact copy of a letter sent to Anne Slauson by Deborah Roberts and which was loaned me by A.S. now Mrs. McMasters of 227 East Broklyn on Sunday eve May 7, 1898. I took a copy May 8, 1898. [Signed] Edward Augustus Clock, 81 John Street, New York."

NOTE: My comments are in italics and between brackets.

Darien

March 1834

Cousin Anne:

I have sat myself down to answer thy request that is to relate as near as I can of what I remember of our ancestors, the Clocks, but it is so long since I have had any information about them that I expect it will be an unconnected piece. My mother said twhen she was young she lived at New York with her aunts. She said a gentleman sent a note he should on such an afternoon pay them a visit two of them drest themselves in style and sat them down to wait on him the third went and slipt on a loose gown and check apron and went to ironing, accordingly he came and made his visit in a short time after. He came and paid a visit to the third mentioned and married her but his name I forgot. My mother being the oldest was called Catharine. I suppose in consequence of her aunts sending her a very nice suit of clothes, they are all gone but the blanket it is by me now not a break in it. Catharine was born 1725 which makes the blanket 106 years old. It has come down in the line of Catherine in succession.

Now I begin my short narrative. I understood by my mother that there was five by the name of Clock came from Holland and came to New York and brought much wealth with them. They were Dutch people, two brothers and three sisters, John, Martin, Phebe, Nelle, and the other I cannot say but believe it was Catharine. John came to Stamford and settled on Clock's Hill now called. He married Deborah Scofield about the year 1724, born 1698, died 1778. Deborah Scofield born 1701, died 1751. John had seven sons and three daughters. John, Martin, Albert, Peter, Jacob, Abraham, Jonathan, Catharine, Deborah, Sarah. John, Martin, Albert and Jonathan settled on Clock's Hill from whence it derived its name. Peter settled on Long Island. Jacob in New York. They all married and had families except Abraham he died a young man unmarried all respectable men. Catharine, Deborah and Sarah settled in, it is now Darien, then Stamford, they married two men of first respectability they we may call eminent women. The three sisters I think two married to whom I have forgot their names their brother Martin I think died not marry - whoever cannot read this tell them make me a visit and I will read it for them.

So I remain they affectionate cousin.

Deborah Roberts

Another letter in the possession of Mrs. Haff which she was kind enough to give me was written in 1894.

Bayshore, Suffok Co.
L.I., N.Y.
Oct. 29, 1894

Mrs. Wm. Turner
Norton, Conn.

Dear Madam:

I was referred to you by Mr. Geo. W. Clock of Darien, Ct. relative to the ancestors of the "Clock" family. I know but little of my ancestors, who or when they came to this country. I am led to infer from what Mr. Geo. W. informs me that our family are relative to those in Conn. My grandfather Ebenezer Clock came to this island about 1760, leaving a brother still in Conn. and settled in the town of Islip. There was given to them (Ebenezer and his wife Nancy) several children, Ebenezer, Jr., Henry [our great-great-great grandfather], Asa, Nathaniel, John, Eliphalet, Jesse, Ruth, Sarah and Salina, all of whom I trust have passed over to the better land. My Father, Nathaniel O. Clocks family consisted of quite a number to wit, My dear Mother Lucretia, self Seth R. Clock, Lorenzo D., Francis A., Hallet To., Nathaniel O., Wm. R., Geo. W., Almedia, Cynthiana [in whose home our great-grandmother, Estelle, went after the death of her mother]

In looking over an old history of New York City, I find that Abrham Clock was one of the early Dutch of Manhattan Island (N.Y.) in 1665, his wife, Trynje, as widow, lived in N.Y. City 1678 with several children, her husband having died soon after or before this period. Their son Martin Clock was a cooper by trade and occupied the ancient homestead, also an Alderman for several years representing the "Out Ward" in the city, 1686 Abram Clock and Albert Clock and his wife Trynje Abrams are mentioned as being members of the Dutch Church in the city and some 270 other members.

In 1703, they were still living in N.Y.. City. I think these persons no doubt came from Holland. Col. Jacob J. Clock and ensign Jacob J. Clock are mentioned as being in the American Army 1814. Lewis Clock and Abraham Clock are named as merchants in the city of N.Y. and W.H. Clock's name in 1819. So much for the old N.Y. history.

Now I am informed that Clockville in the state of N.Y. (Madison Co.) was settled in or about 1776-1802, that the name of the village was called Clockville because of there being quite a number of families by the name of lock and the first of the settlers came from Germany. There are families by our name in Ohio and other western states. I have cousins who are living in Latimer, Iowa. Children of Uncle Ebenezer who moved out west quite a number of years ago.

Please pardon me for taking the liberty of addressing you, but my object in doing so is to ascertain from which country our ancestors came, Holland or Germany, and if our family genealogy can be traced to either country. There appears to be some missing links from 1700-1800 in the matter. Mr. Geo. W. said there was a tradition in his family that three brothers came from Holland and one settled in State of N.Y., one in Conn., and one unknown. I have been in business in this place from 1843 to 1890, as merchant. Also as P.M. and Town Clerk for quite a long time, but having sold out my store, and having resigned public office except Notary Public, I have more leisure, have become somewhat interested in the subject of this letter and if it would not be too great a tax upon your time and youi would kindly inform me what you may know of the genealogy of the "Clock" families in the vicinity of your place, or in the state of Conn. or other places, or direct me to others who could add some light on this subject of this note. I will give you many thanks besides wishing you and yours long, useful, and happy lives.

Your friend,

Seth R. Clock