David's maternal family

MARY CLARK was the mother of DAVID WALKER. She was the daughter of JOHN CLARK (1816-1879) and ELIZABETH MALTBY (1819-1874), who both had at least five more children except her:
*  James Clark (1840-1916)
*  Richard Clark born 1843
*  Rachel Clark born 1846
*  Maltby Clark (1850-1935)
*  Elizabeth Clark born 1863

MARY CLARK was christened 18. Nov 1839 in Ganton near Scarborough (photocrom, 1890s), a town on the North Sea coast of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated about 14 miles (E. N. E.) from Malton.

In 1870-72, John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales described Ganton like this: "Ganton, a village and a parish in the district of Scarborough, and E. R. Yorkshire. The village stands near the York and Scarborough railway, 8 miles SSW of Scarborough; and has a station on the railway, and a post office under York. The parish includes also the township of Potter-Brompton. Acres, 3,650. Real property, £3,047. Pop., 352. Houses, 61. The property is all in one estate. Ganton Hall, a neat edifice, is the seat of Sir T. D. Legard, Bart. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of York. Value, £131.* Patron, Sir T. D. Legard, Bart. The church is ancient but good; and has a lofty tower and spire."

MARY CLARK was married twice:
(1)   to Robert Wilson (abt 1840 - bef 1871) in St John, Acklam near Malton, 26. Nov 1859
       (1.1)   George Wilson (1860-1881)
       (1.2)   Elizabeth Wilson (1864-1866)
NOTE:   Both children were christened in St Leonard, New Malton. Unfortunately, C1841 does not give a hint, where exactly in Yorkshire Robert Wilson was born. Besides it is not known, where he died when. But because his widow married in 1871 again, it can be assumed that he died between abt 1863/64 and before May 1871. Striking is though that Mary Clark's maternal grandmother was a "nee Wilson", too. But if there was indeed a relationship between MARY and Robert cannot be said, yet.

(2)   to WILLIAM WALKER in St Michael, New Malton, 30. May 1871; both fathers, Samuel Walker and John Clark, were present at their marriage.
       (2.1)   Rose Hannah Walker (1872-1949) married to John Thomas Blythman (1868-1931)
       (2.2)   Samuel Walker (1874-1945) married to Grace Hall (1879-1914)
       (2.3)   DAVID WALKER (1875-1957) married to MARY MARKLEY (1881-1951)
       (2.4)   Elizabeth Alice Walker (1880-1967) married to Alexander Rowney (1879-1970)
       (2.5)   William Walker (1884-1970) married to Susan McCarthy (1885-1950)

WILLIAM WALKER was not a stranger to MARY CLARK, because he was a direct cousin of her sister-in-law, Mary Walker, who was herself married to Mary's brother, James Clark.

MARY CLARK died Jul - Sept 1904 in Stockton-on-Tees, Durham.

The Clark(e) family as such originated out of the Rydale district, namely the village Stonegrave in the civil parish of Nunnington. It is situated 4 miles south east of Helmsley. It is part of a four-parish benefice, including the churches of Oswaldkirk, Stonegrave, Gilling and Ampleforth. Nunnington itself is known for its picturesque Yorkshire manor house, Nunnington Hall (watercolour of Nunnington Hall by Frederick D Ogilvie). It is a Grade I listed mansion owned by the National Trust. The parish church, dedicated to All Saints and St James, is also a Grade I listed building. The nave and chancel date from the late 13th century and the tower from 1672, but the tower, porch and vestry were rebuilt in 1883-4. There is a fine 17th-century pulpit. The village has 28 other houses and other objects listed Grade II, including the early 18th-century bridge over the river.

First members of the Clark(e) familiy lived already there end of the 16th century, most likely also already beforehand. One of the first recorded christenings was that one of Jacob Clarke, son of John, 29. Mar 1584 in the parish of Nunnington. In addition, in Gilling (3.2 miles or 5.1 km from Stonegrave) baptisms were registered, which belonged to Peter Clark, son of John (18. Oct 1586), Esabel Clarke, daughter of John (29. Nov. 1588) and Thomas Clarke, son of John (24. Mar 1592). However, it can not be said unambiguously whether these were siblings of Jacob.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to trace Mary Clark's family branch back to these first family members as it appears that documents were lost in the turmoil of the 17th century, especially during the English Civil War. But it can be assumed that she was an offspring in the one way or other.

Her father, JOHN CLARK was christened in Scrayingham near Malton, 27. May 1816. He was the son of John Clark of Stonegrave near Malton (1781-1853) and Mary Whitfield (1789-1875) of Wharram Percy near Malton. She was the daughter of George and Jane Whitfield. JOHN CLARK was like his father an agriculural labourer.

MARY CLARK's great-grandfather, RICHARD CLARKE (1750-1836) was the son of Anne Clarke of Nunnington, most likely born out of wedlock. He was a taylor in Stonegrave, who was perhaps married twice according to some sources:
1.   to JANE DINNES in Stonegrave, 22. Nov 1774
     (1.1)  Samuel Clarke christened 13. Mar 1775
     (1.2)  Judy Clare christened 28. Jun 1777
     (1.3)  Richard Clarke christened 28. Sept 1879
     (1.4)  JOHN CLARK (1781-1853) married to MARY WHITFIELD (1788-1875); both were Mary Clark's grandparents
     (1.5)   Ann Clark christened 06. Nov 1783
     (1.6)   Jane Clark christened 28. May 1786
     (1.7)   Robert Clarke christened 15. May 1789

2.   to Jane Anderson in Stonegrave, 28. Sep 1795
NOTE:  Some sources are stating that she was the wife of Richard Clarke sen., others say of Richard Clarke jun.
(6)   Hannah Clarke (1802-1817)
(7)   Philip Clarke christened 21. Dec 1804
(8)   William Clarke (1808-1899)
(9)   Fanny Clarke christened 26. Feb 1811 

RICHARD CLARKE's maternal grandfather was JOHN CLARK, but it cannot said for sure who he was exactly. Known is only that he was married to Francisca (Frances) Gibson. But whether he was the son of John Clarke of Nunnington born 1654 or of John Clarke born 1690 cannot be determined. The latter one was the son of Jacob Clarke of Nunnington.

The first mentioned John Clarke left by his will left by his will his property in Nunnington to the church. He was christened 18 Oct 1654 and died 6. Mar 1728. On his death, he left a house, orchard and garth towards the repairs of the church. The property consisted of two cottages and land, producing £8 10s. yearly.

Inscripion on his headstone: "At The Foot of this stone Lyes the body of John Clark who was baptized Oct 8th, 1654 dyed March 1728 and Left by his will his house Orchard And garth Lying At Nunnington To The Repairs Of This Church for Ever. ~ John desired his wife at her death to be laid near him".