Georgia:  Wilkes County:  Governor John Clark’s New Grave
30 March 1923

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This file was contributed by:
Barbara Walker Winge
Barbarawinge@yahoo.com
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BAY COUNTY BEACON
Panama City, Bay County, Florida
March 30, 1923

GOV. CLARK'S MONUMENT AND REMAINS MOVED TO GEORGIA
______________
On Monday afternoon of this week an interesting and historic event took
place in Old Town, St. Andrews, when the remains of Gov. John Clark, his
wife, Nancy Clark, and their two grand children were disinterred from
their graves where they have rested for nearly 100 years.
Recently the State Chapter of the Daughters of the Revolution of
Georgia, decided they would like to have the bodies of these historic
characters and the monuments marking their graves removed to the National
Cemetery at Marietta, Georgia, and they took the matter up, and last
Monday Mrs. W. B. Smith, representing the D.A.R., and her husband
superintended the removal of the monuments and the excavating for the
remains. Mr. James Asbell had charge of the work, and the marble
monuments and slabs were first removed in sections and the digging was
then begun. This work was done well and thoroughly and a detail search
was made of all dirt taken from the graves.
Very little remained of the bodies. The outlines of the coffins were
plainly seen by a line of rotten wood and many pieces of rotten wood were
found. Many nails or screws, all similar in design were found at stated
intervals around the edge of coffins. Other pieces of rusty metal,
supposed to be coffin handles, were found, and some bones, although it was
impossible to determine if bones were really found as the pieces thought
to be bones were too much rotted. The most important find was a silver
coin found in the grave of one of the grandchildren. The date, 1821, was
plainly visible and the coin resembled a dime. A small hole was in the
coin, evidently showing the coin had been about the neck of one of the
children.
Everything that was found in the grave was packed in a box and taken to
Marietta, Georgia by Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
The State Convention of the D.A.R. of Georgia, is to take place on
April 4th and 5th, and the ceremonies connected with the removal of Gov.
Clark will take place on April 6th.
The monuments and slabs were shipped by Mr. Asbell.
The inscriptions on the monuments tell a sad story, and one of
historical interest. The main marble monument had the following
inscriptions:
JOHN CLARK
Born Feb. 28th, 1766
Died Oct. 12th, 1832
"As an officer he was vigilant;
As a statesman, energetic and faithful;
And as a father and friend, devoted
and sincere."
NANCY CLARK
Born May 1st, 1774
Died Oct. 26th, 1832
"The wife, ,mother, and Christian in all
Not from the cold dictate of duty, but
the warm affection of a pure and virtuous
mind."
"Here repose the remains of John Clark,
late Governor of Georgia, and Nancy Clark,
his wife."
"Monument erected by surviving
Children
ANN W. CAMPBELL
and
WILEY P. CLARK
1826."
The slab over the grandchildren also bore suitable inscriptions. Soon
after the United States took Florida, John Clark came to St. Andrews Bay,
in 1827, from Georgia. General Jackson appointed him to take care of the
Government land in this section, and he built a fine house and lived there
until he died in 1832.
He died of yellow fever, and his wife survived him only a few days.
The grave and monument of Gov. Clark, located in the yard of Mrs. Henry
Moore's place on the Beach drive, has always been a point of interest, and
it is to be regretted that such a historical land mark should be removed.


(Submitted by Barbara Walker Winge, barbarawinge@yahoo.com)