General Notes

b. abt. 1592 at Ispwich, Suffolk, England

Thurston Clearke, aged 44, and his daughter Faith, aged 15, were on the list of passengers for New England dated 30 Apr 1634 sailing from Ipswich on the Francis. Probably his wife and younger children followed from England after Jan 1637 since his daughter Abigail was buried in England then. He settled in Plymouth where he was proprietor 1636. He removed to Duxbury where he was surveyor of highways 8 Jun 1655.

Thurston died from cold and exposure. Two days after his death, 8 Dec 1661, a coroner's jury was impanelled. Their conclusion:
      "the weather being cold and snowy, he came on that side of Joanes River which is on Duxburrow side, upon his return from Plymouth, endeavoring to come home, and came near home; and by his track in the snow we find that he had wandered to and fro and lost himself, and did so wilder that he came upon a flat nigh the place called the Longe Point upon the said flat, which is now in the possession of Josepth Andrews, and that he was found. Upon search being made by diverse, the first thing that was found was a basket, with diverse small commodities, some distance from him; and after that there was found his cap, with his staff and one mitten, somewhat nigher to his body; and after that his body was found, being covered with some ice upon him. His body was viewed by us, and we find the circumstances hereof, that the ice, with the cold and water, was the cause of his death." Plymouth Colony Records 4:12.

Administration of his estate was granted to his widow Faith 4 Mar 1661/2. Faith died before 1 Jun 1663 when the estate was divided among their children. Faith Doty, widow, received 1/4 part, the remaining divided evenly between sons Henry Clark and Thurston Clark. Plymouth Colony Records 4:39.

On 1 Apr 1690 Henry and Thurston were declared incompetent by the Plymouth Court: "being given to understand by the selectmen of the town of Duxborough, that two of the inhabitants of their said town, viz: Henry Clarke and Thirsten Clarke, by reason of their age, indiscretion & weakness of understanding, are incapable of making necessary provision for their own support, sustenance, and livelihood, notwithstanding they have an estate in lands sufficient, as is judged, to supply their necessity during their lives ... the Court do therefore order, that John Dotey, of Plymouth, their nephew," provide for their neeeds and in return he shall have "full satisfaction made him out of the lands of said impotent person." Plymouth Colony Records 6:236, 6:99. Later, on 29 Oct 1695 at a Duxbury town meeting, "the town have agreed with Wrestling Brewster for the feeding of Thurston Clark, a quarter of a year." Duxbury Town Records 185.12