On 21 January 1836, an inquisition was taken on the death of Ben, a negro boy the property of Geo. Hill of Essex County, and upon the oaths of Robt. M. Davis, James Semple, William Cox, Thomas Harper, Geo Rose, Richd. D Dunn, Geo Skelton, John Clarke, Philip Coleman, James Owen, Charles H Blake, and Obediah Alexander, they “do say … that the said Ben came to his death from blows received by Nelle a female servant, on and about the head of the deceased with helve of a hoe, said Nelle the property of said George Hill”. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 23, page 458.]

In 1836 or 1837, oratrix Dorothy Dunn, widow of Tolla Dunn, deceased, complained that her father, the late Dickerson Dunn, died some time in the year of [blank], testate. The he devised the whole of his estate to his wife Elizabeth Dunn during her life, and that the said widow has long since been dead. After her death, the testator stated land was to go to Jackson Dunn, and directed that the land purchased of his brother Anthony Dunn should be equally divided between his other two sons, Robert Lawson Dunn and Lunsford Dunn, with certain sums to be paid to your said oratrix and Mary Dunn his daughters. About 24 years ago, Robert Lawson died intestate leaving an infant daughter Delila, who was shortly after carried out of this Commonwealth by her mother and step father, and has been absent, and that the said Lunsford Dunn died about the same time, also intestate, leaving no children. That Jackson died a few years since, leaving a widow Happy Dunn, and the following children to wit, Ophelia the wife of Pittman Mitchell, Julia the wife of John Clarke, Elizabeth the wife of Joseph Durham, Edmonia the wife of William Webb, Washington W. Eleanor and Susan, the three last infants under 21, all of whom are still alive. That the said Mary Dunn, a daughter of Dickerson Dunn, intermarried with a certain Jesse Griggs, both of whom are dead, leaving three children vz. Lucy, who intermarried with Gregory Davis, and has since died leaving two infant children Mary and Dicy, and Eliza Griggs and Thomas Griggs who are also infants. For division of the land. [Essex County, Virginia, Chancery Cause, Dolly Dunn v George W. Dunn et al, 1837-005, Box 39.]

John Clarke was mentioned in the 13 January 1834 will of his father, Robert Clark, proved 20 May 1839. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 24, page 406.]

1850 U.S. Census, Essex County, Virginia
Dwelling 607, Family 607
Clarke, John, 45, male, laborer, born in Virginia
Clarke, Julia, 42, female, born in Virginia
Clarke, Robert, 16, male, born in Virginia
Clarke, John, 15, male, born in Virginia
Clarke, Martha, 12, female, born in Virginia
Clarke, Charles, 7, male, born in Virginia
Clarke, Emeline, 5, female, born in Virginia
Clarke, Olivia, 4, female, born in Virginia