Topic starter
30/01/2010 3:40 am
Hello:
I am looking for information on a Captain Samuel Clark(e) who was likely born at Wheeling,WV ca 1810-1815. I believe he is the Samuel listed in Wheeling in 1839 (in the city directory) and evidently lived around Pittsbugh, PA sometime after that. His wife, Minerva Reno, was born 20 March 1814 in Allegheny County, PA. Samuel and Minerva had a daughter, Amanda, who was born 21 June 1840, apparently in Pennsylvania. A history of Beaver County, PA mentions that Samuel Clark(e) died in Wheeling but doesn't give a date, but I believe it was before 1850 - since Minerva appears in the 1850 census living in her father's household in the City of Allegheny, PA - no Samuel Clark(e) listed. I also have a May 1851 will of Ann Clark of Wheeling, WV, which mentions Amanda, daughter of her son Samuel, deceased. I also saw a reference to his death being in 1848 - but there was no indication of where that information came from - so I can't tell if that is accurate.
I am interested in learning more about him and his career on the river if any information is available.
Thanks
Paul
07/02/2010 5:58 am
Samuel Clark is a hard nut to crack. He and his wife Minerva Reno had only the one child, Amanda Clark born 21 Jan 1840, in Pennsylvania. Minerva did not re-marry and live to about 1906. She lived with her daughter Amanda who Married Charles Bentel of Freedomboro, Beaver co, Penn, they had 5 children non went on the river. But at least some of the Reno's were rivermen. her brother Samuel Jackson Reno sr. (1808- 28 Mar 1850) was master of the Buckeye State (Way 728) when he died in Cincinnati. His son Samuel J. Reno jr also went on the river. I believe two other brothers were on the river Alfred D. Reno (1810 - 1870) likely on the Belle in 1867, Cinderella 1847 -1852 and the Dover 1847. Way list three John Reno's John L. , John C. and John S. on the Columbia 1903 (way 1249) Laura L. Davis 1878 (way 3377) and the Trader )way 5434 ,1870-1876)
A Sam Clark was a pilot on the sidewheel Splendid sometime between 1832 and 1843. Samuel Clark was on the Consul a sidewheel packet with wooden hull built at Brownsville, Pa in 1844, of 127 tons , she was the first of the regular "line" boats in the Pittsburgh-Brownsville trade on the Monongahela River. House Doc 63 1841 lists Samuel Clark a Pilot on the Ohio River, 7 or 8 years. (if my memory has not failed me doc 63 was a request to Congress for a marine hospital at Pittsburgh,) Then there is the Gen. Brown which exploded her boilers 25 Nov 1838 while backing out at Helena, Ark. killing her master Capt. Samuel Clark. problem is compounded by the fact the Gen. Brown built ca 1836 was not abandoned until 1842.
That is about all I have dug up on the Clark-Reno's. I do have some additional documentation not listed.
08/02/2010 9:14 pm
Well fellows I have another one may be easier. Capt. Jeremia L. Mason was issued a Pilots license in 1876 and he was from either WV or Va. any info would be appreciated. Geaux Saints!!!!
10/02/2010 6:01 am
Mel
Jeremiah Mason was born 24 Jul 1809 and died Mar 1883 at his brother Samuel's home in wheeling. WVa. In 1876 He got his 20th issue of a 1st class pilots license at Wheeling. cost him $10.00. He renewed his pilots license between 1 Oct 1862 and 1 Oct 1863, I figure he got his first license in 1854. Jeremiah was a bachelor. and lived with his brothers or in a hotel or for a while he had a house. two boats he was on were the Fall City and the Red Fox both may have been in the Union Line formed in 1852 by his brother Captain Samuel Mason and others. Two of his brothers were steamboat Captains Samuel and Henry. a local history calls them boat builders but as near as I can tell they had the boats built in yards out side of Wheeling. The two brothers married daughters of Captain William Cecil. Henry went to farming by 1860 but Samuel kept on as an owner / master for a number of years. I never found a reference to a pilots license for either Samuel or Henry. Masters were not licensed until 1872.
If you want to know more about these three boys do a yahoo search for Jeremiah Mason born 1809.
Carl
10/02/2010 6:22 am
Wow thanks Carl thats awesome information. It happened that a lady on a Towboat site I frequent somehow got ahold of the 1876 license and was asking about information on him. LOL makes me wonder...if somebody comes across my second issue of Mate of Steam and Motor vessels of any Gross Tons circa 1985 are they gonna be digging up info on me...probably not.
Topic starter
14/03/2010 9:51 pm
Mel: If you go to the following site you can find an image of the death record for Samuel: West Virginia Vital Research Records - Death Record Detail
This record shows he died of "old age" at age 80 on 10 April 1883 and was buried at Greenwood Cemetery.
If you are interested in getting more information about him you might want to contact the Ohio County Public Library in Wheeling. Their website is: Ohio County Public Library
I visited Wheeling last summer on my Clark quest and spent several hours in the library - the people there were very helpful and there was lots of good information in the "Wheeling Room" (where genealogical records are located). It was while at the library that I found the 1900 obituary of William Clark (brother to the elusive Samuel). The obituary had lots of good information. Perhaps there will be a similar obituary for Mr. Mason.
Best regards
Paul
Topic starter
14/03/2010 9:54 pm
Woops - posted the wrong link for the library (wrong library). Here is the correct one: Ohio County Public Library
Paul