John CLARKE

Abt 1510 - 1585  (75 years)

• Name	John CLARKE
  Birth	Abt 1510	England
  Gender	Male
  OFFH	6 Jan 1546	Colyton Parish, Devonshire, England   [1, 2, 3]
  	The Manor of Colyton was part of the land holdings of Henry Courtenay, Earl of Devon and Marquis of Exeter at the time of his 1539 execution by King Henry VIII. With Courtenay's death, the property reverted to the Crown. Colyton merchants and yeomen raised £1,000 and employed those funds to bargain with the Crown for the return of the portion of the Courtenay estate that lay within the boundaries of Colyton Parish. The local residents successfully gained the properties under a Deed of Enfeoffment on condition that an Assembly of Feoffees ensured that the rents and proceeds raised from the properties would be spent on "good and commendable" uses for the community. Additionally, the Feoffees were granted management of fairs and markets held within the boundaries of the properties. John Clarke's name is the first listed on the 6 January 1546 Deed of Enfeoffment, signed by King Henry VIII. John's name also appears on the patent of the second incorporation of enfeoffment, granted by Queen Mary I.
  Occupation	c. 1535 - 1585	Devonshire, England   [2, 4]
  	According to his 1584/5 will and to the record of his death and burial in the Colyton Parish Register, John was a successful merchant and a man of local influence.
  Will	22 Jan 1584/5	Colyton, Devonshire, England   [4]
  	John's will was dated 22 January 1584/5 at Colyton in the County of Devon. It noted that he was a "Marchaunt". The will appointed Marrian Clearke, John's daughter as executrix. John Conant of Budleigh and John Clarke of Axmouth were appointed as overseers. John Clarke of Axmouth, Richard Channon and Roger Crosse signed as witnesses.
  Death	6 Apr 1585  [5]
  	John "dessessed the vi daye of Apryll 1585."
  Burial	9 April 1585	Colyton Parish, Devonshire, England   [2]
  	His body was interred in the yard of the Church of St. Andrew in Colyton, Devonshire. "John Clarke thelder, of Colyton, Marchaunt, was buried the ixth daye of April (1585) who in his lyffe tyme was the cheffest traveler of the purchas of the mannor of Colyton and ye markette with other lybertyes ptaynyng to the same as apeirethe by the pattant".
  Will proved	1 May 1585	London, England   [4]
  	John's will was proved before Master William Drury, Doctor of Laws, Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury in London on 1 May 1585 on the oath of Francis Clarke, Notary Public and proxy of Marrian Clarke, executrix.
  Person ID	I2639	mason
  Last Modified	22 Jul 2026

  
  

  Family 1	Agnes MACYE,   b. About 1524, England d. Before 22 Jan 1584/5 (Age 61 years)
  Marriage	29 Jun 1544	Colyton Parish, Devonshire, England   [6]
  	"John Clerke, of Colyforde & Annes, d. of William Macye" were married on 29 June 1544 at the Church of St. Andrew in Colyton, Devonshire.
  Children	1. Alexander CLARKE,   b. c. 1545, England d. Mar 1558 (Age 13 years)   2. Agnes CLARKE,   b. c. 1548, England d. Sep 1631 (Age 83 years)   3. George CLARKE,   b. c. 1551, England d. 1553 (Age 2 years)   4. Edward CLARKE,   b. England   5. Roger CLARKE,   b. England
  Photos		Church of St. Andrew, Colyton Parish, Devonshire, England.
  Family ID	F186	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	22 Jul 2026

  
  

  Family 2	(UNKNOWN)
  Children	1. John CLARKE   d. Before 22 Jan 1584/5   2. ffrancis CLARKE,   b. England   3. Marrian CLARKE,   b. c. 1541, England
  Family ID	F492	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	22 Jul 2026

  
  

• Photos

  Church of St. Andrew, Colyton Parish, Devonshire, England.

  
  

• Sources

  [S106] Frederick Odell Conant, M. A., compiler, Conant, A History and Genealogy of the Conant Family in England and America, Thirteen Generations, 1520-1887., ((Portland, ME: Privately printed by the Press of Harris & Williams, 1887)), p. 52. [S4237] A. J. P. Skinner, transcriber & editor, Skinner, The Register of Baptisms, Marriages & Burials of the Parish of Colyton,Devon 1538-1837, ((Exeter, England: The Devon & Cornwall Record Society, 1928)), Part II, p. 591. [S9905] Colyton Parish Historical Society, compiler, Colyton Parish Through The Centuries, ((Seaton, Devon, England: Colyton Parish Historical Society, 2001)), p. 15. [S4277] John Clearke will (1585), London, England, PCC (PROB 11/68 [232 Brudenell]). [S4237] A. J. P. Skinner, transcriber & editor, Skinner, The Register of Baptisms, Marriages & Burials of the Parish of Colyton,Devon 1538-1837, ((Exeter, England: The Devon & Cornwall Record Society, 1928)). Part II, p. 591. [S4237] A. J. P. Skinner, transcriber & editor, Skinner, The Register of Baptisms, Marriages & Burials of the Parish of Colyton,Devon 1538-1837, ((Exeter, England: The Devon & Cornwall Record Society, 1928)). Part II, p. 458.