James Clark was christened 22 June 1788 in the Selston, Nottinghamshire Parish of The Church of England.

"22 June James Son of John Clarke & his wife was baptized"

Martha England was christened 28 February 1798 in the Heanor, Derbyshire Parish of The Church of England.

"Feb 28^th Martha, D^r. of James & Eliz^th England".

James Clark and Martha England were married 4 November 1816 in St. Martin's Church of the Alfreton, Derbyshire Parish of The Church of England.

This record shows James as a bachelor, and Martha as a spinster, meaning neither had been married before. The curate signed their names, and each put an "X" there, indicating that at this time, neither could write.

They were married by banns and not by a license. Banns required a reading of their marriage intentions in church for three consecutive Sundays prior to the marriage, in case there might be someone who disputed their right to marry.

Joseph a son of James and Martha was christened 25 May 1817 in St. Martin's Church of the Alfreton, Derbyshire Parish of The Church of England. Notice that the family lived in Somercotes, which is part of Alfreton Parish.

"1817 May 25 Joseph Son of James and Martha Clark Summercotes (Somercotes) Laborer Richard A Rawlins Curate".

Mary a daughter of James and Martha was christened 13 January 1820 in St. Martin's Church of the Alfreton, Derbyshire Parish of The Church of England. Notice that the family lived in Somercotes, which is part of Alfreton Parish.

"1820 13 Jany Mary Daughter of James Martha Clarke Summercotes (Somercotes) Labourer J Pepper Vicar".

Samuel a son of James and Martha Clarke was christened 25 January 1822 in St. Martin's Church in Alfreton. The entry is the third from the top. Notice the family is still living in Somercotes and the father's occupation is a collier (coal miner).

Samuel Clarke died in Somercotes and was buried in St. Martin's Church in Alfreton on 5 November 1832. The entry is the sixth from the top. Notice that five of the eight burials on this page are of children under six years old. Samuel was one year. Since there was no vaccination for childhood diseases, many children died from them.

In 1534 King Henry VIII of England rejected the authority of the Catholic Church and established the Church of England. Those who wished to remain with the Catholic Church or to start a church of their own, were called nonconformists or dissenters and were condemned. During the 16th and 17th centuries the number of people dissatisfied with the Church of England grew until on 24 May 1689 the English Parliament passed the Toleration Act, which granted freedom of worship to those people that wanted to establish or join other churches.

Even after the Toleration Act was passed in 1689, people attending other churches were described as "knavish, juggling, impudent and fanatic fellows". The Baptists even sent a petition to the king stating that:

'We have been much abused as we passed the streets and as we sat in our houses; being threatened to be hanged, if only heard praying in our families. We have been stoned when going to our meetings; the windows have been broken down; we have been taken as evil-doers, and imprisoned.'

In 1714 Parliament passed the Schism Act to overthrow the Toleration Act and prevent people from attending non Anglican meetings. However the reigning monarch, Queen Ann, died before she could sign it and it never became law. After that there was never a serious effort to restrain people from attending the church of their choice.

In 1823 the Independent Chapel of Riddings, a non-parochial church, was formed in Riddings, Derbyshire, a small village near Alfreton and Somercotes. The image below shows the certificate or statement to the Crown that registers it as an official religious group.

The above image shows that the church is called the Independent Chapel of Riddings; that it was located in Riddings, Derbyshire which was in the Alfreton Parish and that it was founded in 1823.

The image below is the first page from the book containing the register of baptisms and births.

Apparently James and Martha Clark left the Church of England and joined the Independent Chapel of Riddings. Their next child, Samuel, was christened there in 1824.

This record shows that Samuel was born 2 November 1823 and was christened 27 January 1824.

George, a son of James and Martha, was christened in the Independent Chapel of Riddings. The family was still living in Somercotes.

This record shows that George was born 6 July 1826 and was christened 6 August 1826.

David, a son of James and Martha, was christened in the Independent Chapel of Riddings. The family was still living in Somercotes.

This record shows that David was born 5 November 1828 and was christened 15 March 1829.

James and Martha must have gone back to the Church of England because their next child, a daughter named Hannah, was christened on 22 April 1832 in St. Martin's Church of the Alfreton, Derbyshire Parish of The Church of England.

Hannah was buried 18 December 1832, in Alfreton. The burial is the first entry in the image below.

Joseph Clark was married to Ann Farnsworth 4 April 1836 in the Alfreton, Derbyshire Parish of The Church of England. Both Joseph and Ann were listed as members of the Alfreton Parish.

They were married by banns, which meant that they didn't have to pay for a license. The X behind thier names meant that they could not read or write. Joseph's father, James was his witness.

James Clark died in Somercotes, Derbyshire from a "Disease on the liver". The death was registered in the Belper civil registration district on 18 October 1839. The informant was James' wife Martha England Clark who was present when he died. She made a mark for her signature above her name on the death record.

James Clark was buried 20 October 1839 in Alfreton, Derbyshire. He was buried by the Alfreton, Derbyshire Parish of the Church of England.

Mary Clark was married to Samuel Lycit 22 December 1839 in Pinxton, Derbyshire, England about two months after the death of her father.

Martha Clark and other members of her family were recorded on 6 June 1841 in the Census for Somercotes, Derbyshire, England.

Martha's parents, James and Elizabeth, are living in a home next to her. In the same home is a man called John England age 50. He could be their son, however I have never found a birth or christening record for him.

Martha is listed as a publican because she operated the pub called "Old English Gentleman". Her sons Samuel, John and David are listed, as well as her two daughters, Hannah age 3 and Martha age 2.

Martha's son Joseph, his wife Ann, and their daughters Eliza, age 5 and Hannah, age 4, are living either with her or in the next home. Also in the same area are Martha's daughter Mary, her husband Samuel Lycit, and their infant son James.

Samuel Clark was married to Mary Hoyland 4 May 1845 in the Pentrich, Derbyshire Parish of the Church of England.

George Clark was married to Catherine Gascoigne 26 August 1850 in The General Baptist Chapel Alfreton, Derbyshire, England.

A certified copy on entry of marriage from the Belper Civil Registration District. It was sent to me by Leann Clark Carroll.

Martha Clark was living in Somercotes on 30 March 1851 and is listed in the England 1851 census. Again she is listed as a publican. She has one son and two daughters with her, who are listed by a first initial instead of a given name. However it appears that the son is David, age 22 and the daughters Hannah age 14 and Martha age 12. William Wagstaff was a visitor in the home that night. Her daughter, Mary and her husband, Samuel Lycit with their six children were living next door.

According to Family Tree, Martha's daughter Mary Clark Lycit was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 21 September 1851 and Mary's sister Martha was baptized on 2 February 1852.

Family records list 17 April 1852 as the marriage between Hannah Clark and William Brown in Somercotes. Census and immigration records confirm that they were married, but I have not found a marriage record.

According to Family Tree, Martha's son George Clark was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 9 May 1853.

According to Family Tree, Martha Clark married George Woodhouse 9 May 1853 in Somercotes. I have not been able to verify this marriage but they are listed as husband and wife on census and immigration records.

Martha was still in Somercotes on 7 or 8 April 1861 and still a publican. Living with her was a boy named James Farnsworth age 7, who is listed as an in-law. Her daughter Martha and Martha's husband, George Woodhouse were next door. Martha's daughter Mary Clark Lycit died between the 1851 and 1861 censuses. Mary's husband Samuel and their seven children were living next door to George and Martha Woodhouse.

George Clark, his wife Catherine and their children Fredrick C., Sarah A., Mary H. and Willard C. left Liverpool, England on 30 May 1863 on the ship Cynosure, and arrived at New York on 19 July 1863.

According to Family Tree, Martha's son Samuel Clark was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 19 February 1868.

Samuel Clark, with his wife Mary Hoyland and their children Walter, Mary Ann and James left Liverpool on 6 September 1869 on the ship Minnesota and arrived in New York on 25 August 1869.

Martha was still in Somercotes on 2 April 1871, and this time listed as a Beer House Keeper. Three of her grandsons Samuel, Alfred, and Joseph Lycit (sons of Samuel and Mary Lycit) were living with her and listed as boarders.

James Farnsworth is still with her, but this time is listed as James Clark. Martha and George Woodhouse were living next door.

Next to them is Mary's husband Samuel Lycit and their sons Henry and Frederick.

According to Family Tree, Martha's daughter Hannah was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 7 May 1871.

On 18 October 1871 William Brown and Hannah Clark with their children Odin (Adin Ebed), Orson, Willard, Ruben, George, Margaret and Mary left Liverpool on the ship Nevada.

Hannah's mother Martha Clark is also on the ship, her surname was spelled Clerk. For some reason William and Hannah's children Lydia and Alfred are listed with a surname of Clerk and traveling with Martha. A boy, named James is also traveling with her. He may be the James Clark listed in the 1871 census, but the age should be 17 instead of 5. Many of the ages listed including Martha's appear to be wrong.

Martha's daughter and son-in-law Martha and George Woodhouse are also on the ship. They arrived in New York on 1 November 1871.

On 1 June 1880, Samuel Clark and his wife Mary Hoyland appear in the 1880 US census in Coalville, Summit, Utah. Their children and grandchildren are with them.

George and Martha Clark Woodhouse are in Almy, Uinta, Wyoming in 1880.

There are two men named James Clark living with them. The enumerator put Jr. after the first and Sr. after the second, apparently to show which is the oldest, but they are not father and son. The first one who is 26 and listed as a nephew could be the James Clark who was James Farnsworth living with Martha Clark in Somercotes. I do not know who the other one is.

William and Hannah Clark Brown lived three houses away and are listed with their children and grandchildren.

George Clark and his wife Catherine Gascoigne are listed in the 1880 census for Alpine, Utah. They have a girl and boy living with them.

I have found four of Martha England Clark's children who immigrated to the United States. Her son Samuel lived in Coalville, Utah; George in Alpine, Utah, and her daughters Hannah Brown and Martha Woodhouse lived in Almy, Wyoming. Martha does not appear in the 1880 census records for any of those places. I know that she arrived in New York on 1 November 1871 but where she went after that I don't know. Some family records indicate that she lived with her daughter Martha Woodhouse in Almy, Wyoming. If so, she must have died before the 1880 census was taken.

I have searched the Almy LDS Ward records for that time and found her daughters and their families. I did find a Martha E Clark, but she was there at a later time and belonged to a different family. Our Martha's daughter Hannah Brown died in Almy in 1882 and her daughter Martha Woodhouse died in Almy in 1894.

I am still searching for more information as to where Martha went after she came to the United States.

Many members of my mother's family have assumed that the images above represent James Clark and Martha England. However they probably are someone else.

James died in 1839 which was before photography was available to most people, as indicated by the letter below which was given to me by Leannn Clark Carroll who is a descendant of James' and Martha's son George.

Below is a history of Martha written by Jennie Greenwood. Some of her information is not the same as I have found.

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Martha England Clark was born in 1792 at Heanor, Derbyshire, England. She gave this year on her Temple Card when she took out her own endowments in the Endowment House on Monday 14 Oct 1872.. She was christened on 28 Feb 1798 at Heanor, Derbyshire, England. She was the fifth child in a family of fifteen. However, the two youngest, which were twins, died as infants. Her parents were James England and Elizabeth Hunt. They moved to Somercotes when it was first developing into an industrial town. She was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 21 Nov 1852 at Somercotes, Derbyshire, being one of the very first members in that branch. On her Temple record she listed her baptism as 7 April 1870. This was a re-baptism and was recorded in the Portland ROW Branch. It said she was re-baptized at Mansfield by James Rawson. Before she joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Church she was a member of the Independent Nonconformist Church at Ridding, Derby. Three of their children Samuel, George, and David were baptized into this church.

She married James Clark 4 Nov 1816 at Alfreton, Derbyshire, England who was a Collier, one who had to do with bringing the coal out of the mine, weighing it, etc. They had nine children-two of them dying as infants. Those that lived were Joseph, Mary, Samuel, George, David, Hannah, and Martha.

Her husband, James died 17 Oct 1839 of disease of the liver when he was 51 years old and their youngest child, Martha, was just one year. Their oldest son, Joseph, had been married for three years and their second child, Mary was married two months after her father's death when she was 20 years old. I am sure Martha had help from her children. Their sons Samuel, George, and David ware working in the coal mines at the time of the 1841 census though they were just 15, 14, and 12 years old.

In the Diary of George Clark that went to England on a mission, he recorded in 1930 that James Clark and Martha England Clark family lived at "Ye Old English Gentleman" at Somercotes. In the 1841-1851 and 1861 census Martha Clark is listed as the head of the house and a publican, which is one who serves the public. The old English Gentleman is a Pub that is still standing today. The proprietor says, "It is still the jolliest Pub in England, not for the rowdy crowd but those that love to come and sing." It has three small rooms and the Tap Room, Bar Room, kitchen, and pantry are downstairs and the upstairs has like number of rooms. I think that is why in the census the family all seemed followed by her parents, James and Elizabeth England and brother John who was blind. Then her son Joseph's family and then Samuel Lycit's family or her daughter Mary.

They must have been a family that got along well together because in the 1851 census George Clark and wife Catherine were living with his brother Joseph and wife Ellen. This entry followed their Mother's.

In the 1861 census Martha is still listed as a publican and she had a seven year old boy James Farnsworth living with her and going to school. This may have been the James that emigrated with her. Her son Joseph's first wife was Ann Farnsworth. She died 19 Jan.1847. I am sure there is some connection with this James Farnsworth.

On the Church Record of the Portland Row Branch at the time she migrated someone put Gen. following her name. Upon going to the original records this had been written in later in purple ink. The brother at the library could not explain it. He said if it had followed a man's name it would have meant of the gentry class. After a woman's name he said maybe she had more money than the average. This could have been the case because I could not find where they used the Perpetual Emigration Fund and when she emigrated her daughters Martha and Hannah and their husbands and nine children came with her.

She sailed on the ship Nevada on 18 Oct 1871. She was 79 years old. We had a hard time finding her on the emigration records because she listed her age as 56 years and brought three children, Lydia, Alfred and James Clark with her. Upon searching I found that Lydia and Alfred were missing from her daughter's family, Hannah Brown. I feel that the James was the James Farnsworth that was living with her in the 1861 census. When I asked the Brother at the Library why she would do this he said many of the ships wouldn't take people over 60 years old because too many of them died. She put her age at 56 and then brought children as hers to prove it. She must have been a spry woman with a lot of pep.

They settled in Almy, Wyoming and from there we can find no record of her. From the early church records of Almy when her daughter Martha Clark Woodhouse death was recorded, it said her record was destroyed when the Clark house was burned down. This may be why we have had such a hard time finding her death date.

They must have been a close-knit family. She was present at the death of her oldest sons first wife and she reported it. She also was present and reported the death of her husband. Joseph was a witness at his sister Mary's wedding and he was also there when she died eighteen years later and he reported it. Both George and Hannah were witnesses at the marriage of their brother David and they all wrote their own names.

She must have had a desire to serve well and stay close to her Heavenly Father because she was re-baptized many times. Sometimes the whole branch would be re-baptized. She left a great posterity leaving 50 grandchildren, if we have been able to find them all. Of their children, Martha, Hannah, George, and Samuel came to America.