An American Family History

Rachel Beard Clark Stimpson Proctor Kilburn Freeborn was born about 1650 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Her parents were Richard Beard and Rachel Robbins.

Rachel's first husband was Neal (Neale) Clark (Clarke, Clerk). Neal was born about 1640. He was probably a son or close relative of Robert Clark for whom Clarke's Inheritance was originally laid out.

He owned part of the plantations Clarke's Inheritance (also known as Crouche's Gift or Clark's Inheritance) and probably, Clark's Luck which he no doubt turned over to Neal, Jr. before he died.

Neal's children included:
Elizabeth Clark Ridgely (about 1663, married William Ridgely),
Neal Clark, Jr. (about 1664, married Jane Jones),
Richard Clark (about 1665, married Elizabeth Mariarte),
Samuel Clark,
Rachel Clark Robinson (about 1668, married Thomas Robinson), and
Ruth Clark.

Some of these children may not Rachel's or she was a very young mother having been born about 1650.

In 1674, her step-grandfather, George Puddington, let 20 shillings each to her children and to her husband.

Neal, Sr.'s will was probated on July 3, 1678. Rachel was the executrix and she inherited the entire estate while she remained a widow or until their sons became 18. Samuel inherited the home plantation and Richard received Clarke's Inheritance. The daughters only inherited if her sons died. His will was witnessed by Richard Sidebottom and George Ardes.

She married her second husband, John Stimpson (Stinson), about 1680.

John and Rachel's children John, Rachel and Comfort are described detail in the section on John Stimpson.

John died in 1688 when he was only about 30 years old. Rachel received the entire estate during her life.

Her third husband was innkeeper and surveyor, Robert Proctor. Robert had been married before to Elizabeth Morley Freeman who was the widow of John Freeman and daughter of Joseph Morley. He was an heir of his father-in-law, Joseph Morley. He and John Gaither were the executors, and legatees of Morley's whole estate. He had a daughter, Rachel Proctor Cross (1667, married John Cross).

He owned Proctor's Landing on the South River, as well as a mill and 600 acres. Proctor's Landing.

Proctor's Landing which, among other things, served as a meeting place for legislators. Results of recent documentary research suggest that Proctor'sLanding was located in Londontowne on the South River. (from "Archaeological Excavations at the Sands House" (18AP47) - DRUM by C O'Reilly, 1994)

In 1681, Robert wrote a urgent letter to Colonel William Burgess saying that some of the indigenous people had attacked several homes and plantations.

In 1684, Robert donated land for the town of Annapolis.

The Acts of 1683, chapter 5 of the General Assembly, appointed commissioners to lay out a town at Proctor's. Prior to this time the town had not been surveyed. (from "Archaeological Excavations at the Sands House" (18AP47) - DRUM by C O'Reilly, 1994)

On January 30, 1687, Neal, Jr. sold Clark's Luck to William Griffith.

In May 1694, Robert assigned all his property to Rachel, and gave her power of attorney. He died in 1695.

Her fourth husband was Richard Kilburn. Richard's children included:
William Kilburn and
Elizabeth Kilburn.

Richard died in 1698.

Rachel wrote her will on March 4, 1700/01.

She left the mill at Proctor’s to her daughters, Rachel Greenberry and Comfort Stimpson. Comfort also was to inherit four lots on the town common. She also gave property to close associates.

Her daughters, Rachel Greenberry and Comfort Stimpson, received furniture, lots in Annapolis, a large silver "porring," a small silver tankard, a large silver cordial cup, silver punch cups, and silver spoons.

Her step-son and his wife, William and Elizabeth Killburne received several memorials.

Charles Carroll received twenty shillings for a ring.

Her granddaughter, Rachel Clark, received a silver bodkin and a gold ring.

Henry Davis, Sr. received a memorial.

Her granddaughter, Anna Hammond, daughter of Charles and Rachel Greenberry, received a negro girl.

In 1701, she married her fifth husband, Thomas Freeborn (Freebourne). Thomas was born on December 8, 1650 in Catherington, Hants, England. He owned Freeborne's Progress.

Thomas's children included:
Richard Freeborn,
Sarah Freeborn Sampson,
Jane Freeborn Thomas
Priscilla Freeborn, and
Anne Freeborne Peverell Smith Thomas (about 1680, married David Peverell, George Smith, and David Thomas).

In the early 1700s, Rachel's son, Richard Clark, terrorized Annapolis.

On May 18, 1705 Rachel was jailed.

Ordered that the Sherriff of Ann Arundell County take
into his Custody Rachell the Wife of Thomas Freeborne so that he have her before his Exncy & this board at tenn of the Clock on Monday next to answer to such things as on her Matys behalf Shall be Objected ag^t her and to be dealt with According to Law.

On May 21, 1705 Rachel was convicted of treason.

Orders that he should not Suffer any Persons to Converse wth or any Messages to be sent to Mrs Rachel Freeborne this Day Comitted for Treason & Treasonable practices unless some of her Matys honble Councill be present. . .

On May 23, 1705, Charles Stevens, who was Dr. Robert Hooper's servant, testified that Benjamin Celie's jail break in fall, 1704 was planned and instigated by Rachel.

[Rachel's step-daughter] Sarah Freeborne on Monday last told this Deponent that Mrs Rachell Freeborne told old Mrs Story and [her sister] Mrs Rebeccah Nicholson that she Asked Humphrey if he Could not Contrive a way to let the Prisoners out and Humphrey answered

Lord Mistress No I canot do it it's a hanging matter

to Which she Replyed

No can't you do it you are a Smith and have Files to gett their Irons of and may do it that no body may know it. It will be a means for you to gett Ridd of your Slavery for Celie and Richard Clarke know all the Country over.

This Deponent veryly believes Mrs Rachel Freeborne Advised Humphery to let out the Prisoners for that before the Prison was Broke She said in his hearing It was pitty Celie should be in Prison so long. And ffurther Humphery told him she was very kind to him in sending or Carrying him Drachms of the Bottle more than usuall.

In 1708, her son, Richard Clark, was hung without a trial.

Rachel's fifth husband, Thomas Freeborn, died on January 4, 1713.

In 1716, Rachel sold a house and lot adjoining Colonel Henry Ridgely to Charles Carroll and deeded Turkey Quarter to her son, Neal Clark.

Thomas Freeborn's will was probated on January 13, 1717. His son, Richard, inherited Freeborne's Progress along with his daughter, Sarah Sampson. His daughters, Sarah Sampson, Jane Thomas, Priscilla Freeborn, and Anne Freeborn and his granddaughter, Freenater Thomas, inherited his personal property. The witnesses were Daniel Beaver, John Beale, and John Moore.

Rachel died in 1724 when she was in her mid 70s.

The Maryland Calendar of Wills, Volume I
Wills from 1635 (Earliest Probated) to 1685
Pages 166-179

Clarke, Neale, Anne Arundel Co., 26th Sept., 1675; 3rd July, 1678.
To wife Rachel, execx., entire estate during widowhood or until sons attain age of 18 yrs.
To son Samuel and hrs., home plantation.
To son Richard and hrs., 400 A. of Clarke's Inheritance on South R.
To 3 daus. (unnamed), s^d lands equally in event of death of sons afs^d . without issue.
Test: Richd. Sidebottom, Geo. Ardes. 5. 73.

In contracts and pleadings usually people and things mentioned before are designated by the term said (sd ) for clarity. Aforesaid (afd, afsd, aforesd ) means it was already mentioned.

Testis (Test) is latin for witness. Testes is the plural.

Anne Arundel Gentry, Vol. 3, Henry Ridgely, Page 128

John Taillor, merchant of London, Hickory Hills 300 acres which bordered White Wine & Claret, in the fork of the Pautuxent, bought from Neal and Jane Clark on September 9, 1724.

October the 6th 1696.
Rich: Kilbourn Dep: abt Mr Cood &c
Richard Kilbourn of the port of Annapolis being Examin'd d before his Exncy in Councill, upon his Oath doth say that abt Six weeks ago being in Company with Mr John Cood at Mr Spourns House, where he was forced by the sd Cood to drink he heard the sd Cood amongst other extravagant talk Say that he believed a dog or a Cow or a Swine had souls as well as men, and being weary of Such company and for his horrible cursing and Swearing he went his way and did not stay a Quarter of an hour in the House, but that he left Mr Bouye, Mr Bonner, Mr Stanley & one Samll Turner a Taylor in his company.

From Maryland Calendar of Wills
Freeborne, Thomas, Anne Arundel. Co., 3rd Jan., 1713;
13th Jan., 1713.
To dau. Sarah Sampson and hrs., personalty, and jointly with son Richard, 600 A., Freeborne's Prograce, on Elk Ridge, Balto. Co.
To daus. Jane Thomas, Priscilla Freedborne and Anne Freedborne and granddau. Freenater Thomas, personalty.
To son Richard, ex., residue of estate, personal.
Test: Dan'll Beaver, Jno. Beale, Jno. Moore. 13. 621.

From Maryland Calendar of Wills: A. A. Co., 3rd Jan., 1713;
13th Jan., 1713.
To dau. Sarah Sampson and hrs., personalty, and jointly with son Richard, 600 A., Freeborne's Prograce,on Elk Ridge, Balto. Co.
To daus. Jane Thomas, Priscilla Freedborne and Anne Freedborne and granddau. Freenater Thomas, personalty.
To son Richard, ex., residue of estate, personal.
Test: Dan'll Beaver, Jno. Beale, Jno. Moore. 13. 621.

from The Founders of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, Maryland by Joshua Dorsey Warfield

. . .One more surveyor, destined to be better known in history, was Robert Proctor, who took up Proctor's Chance, in 1679, at a beginning tree of Intact, on the west side of the Severn River. This tract became Proctor's Landing and was his residence in 1681, when he then designated his place as "town."

. . .In 1681, Robert Proctor, from his town on the Severn, Thomas Francis, from South River and Colonel Samuel Lane, from the same section, all wrote urgent letters stating that the Indians had killed and wounded both negroes and English men "at a plantation of Major [John] Welsh's," and "had attempted to enter the houses of Mr. Mareen Duvall and Richard Snowden." . . .Robert Proctor wrote that Mr. Edward Dorsey had come to him very late in the night, with the news of robberies by the Indians upon the Severn.

Upon such information, followed the decisive order to Colonel William Burgess and Colonel Thomas Tailler, "to fight, kill, take, vanquish, overcome, follow and destroy them."