The Clark Case In Court

John C. Clark Loses His Suit Against His Brother

The case of John C. Clark, administrator of the estate of Huldah Clark of Belford, against his brother, Rev. Joseph Clark, executor of the estate of John S. Compton, was tried at Freehold last Thursday. The suit was brought by John C. Clark to recover a claim of $3,000 for services rendered John S. Compton by Mrs. Huldah Clark. Mrs. Clark was housekeeper for her brother, John S. Compton, for six years previous to his death. When he died he left Mrs. Clark the use of all his property as long as she should live. The will was contested by the brothers and sisters of John S. Compton and before it was settled Mrs. Clark died.

At the trial on Thursday Joseph S. Clark was represented by Edmund Wilson, and John C. Clark was represented by John E. Foster and W. W. Arrowsmith. Evidence was introduced to prove that Mrs. Clark went to live with her brother with the understanding that she was to have his property at his death and that she expected no other pay. The point made by John C. Clark’s lawyers was that the contest over the will deprived Mrs. Clark from reaping any benefits from the provisions of the will, and that she was therefore entitled to pay for her services. The verdict of the jury was against the payment of the claim and in favor of Joseph S. Clark, the executor of John s. Compton’s estate.

Source: Red Bank Register, Wednesday, June 28, 1899

Some additional excellent resources for your research are:

• New Jersey Census, 1772-1890 - Ancestry.com

• Calendar of New Jersey Wills, 1670-1760 - Ancestry.com

• Interment.net - NJ ~ New Jersey Cemetery Transcriptions on the net.

• MyCinnamonToast.com ~ Keep up with FREE databases as they come online