Clemence

Sarah Clemence b. 1687

/ Kirstin Miller

Sarah Clemence 8th great grandma on RootsMagic tree

Sarah Clemence was born November 11, 1687 in Providence, Rhode Island. Her grandparents were part of a small group of immigrant settlers in Providence. Her parents were Richard and Sarah Smith Clemence, both the first generation born in America. Sarah married John Angell, of another original Providence family, they married in Providence on January 2, 1702. They had 3 daughters and 3 sons.

Sarah was in her dad’s will on November 9, 1723, “To daughter Sarah Angell 20 Shillings.” In her mom’s will, in court October 11, 1725, for Sarah, 15 pounds of paper money, 20 pounds of silver money divided among Sarah and her 2 sisters, Sarah also got her mom’s feather bed, a barrel and a ‘Greene say Apron’.

Sarah’s brother Thomas Clemence Jr. was in Providence courts with several disputes including a disagreement with Sarah’s husband John Angell- over land, that stayed in court from 1745 to 1773, mostly on brother Thomas Clemence’s part.

Sarah’s death is unknown, she’s not mentioned in her husband’s will so died before him, before 1744.

Today in Johnston, Providence County, Rhode Island, is Sarah’s childhood home. Richard Clemence built the house in 1691 on 8 acres of meadow which grew to 300 acres in Sarah’s lifetime. “It is difficult to know for sure the original plan of the house, but the most popular theory, and the basis of the later restoration, was that it was built as a story-and-a-half structure with a rear lean-to, a large stone-end chimney, topped with a steep gable roof. Four small rooms (great room, kitchen, principal chamber, and smaller chamber) were located on the first floor, with a cellar below and a garret chamber above.” Major renovations were done in 1938, the house is a museum today with the stone chimney, floorboards, frame, hardware and artifacts from 1691.

Google maps Clemence Irons house

Sources

Richard Clemence b. 1659

/ Kirstin Miller

Richard Clemence 9th great grandfather on RootsMagic tree

Richard was born in Providence. He was a freeman in 1681. In 1682 his father deeds to him 60 acres of  upland, meadow, etc ‘not upon sudden motion but upon deliberate consideration’. 

Richard Clemence built a home in Rhode Island that is still standing and documented at Library of Congress. Richard married Sarah Smith daughter of John Smith the miller, all first settlers in Rhode Island with Roger Williams, etc.

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photo at Clemence Irons House, Historic New England, link below

Richard wrote his will January 2nd 1721. He died in October of 1723, the will was read December 9, 1723. In his will he lists his wife, children, grandchildren. He makes his son Thomas executor and asks that Thomas take care of Richard’s ancient mother, Thomas’s grandmother.

“Jtem I Give and bequeathe unto my aforesaid son Thomas Clemance all the Rest of my moveable Esstate of what sort soever after all my debts funarall Charges and other Expencesduely paid: what after Remaines I Give unto him his Heirs Executors administrators and assigns for Ever: and for him or them to take Care and provide all things essesary for my antiant mother : dureing the whole terme of her naturall Life”

An inventory follows: wearing apparel, silver and paper money, copper pennies; feather beds, flax, hemp and hay; a grindstone and a parcel of old carpenters tools.

Volume 16 page 292 -297 The early records of the town of Providence. Richard’s will

Page 48 in The genealogical dictionary of Rhode Island. Clemence, Thomas family timeline, details

Clemence Irons House and History

Thomas Clemence b. 1634

/ Kirstin Miller

Thomas Clemence 10th great grandfather on RootsMagic tree

Thomas Clemence may have sailed to America in 1642. He was definitely married and living in Rhode Island by 1655 when he took the Freeman’s Oath and purchased land. In the early days of America he supported -Salus populi- very generally “The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law”.

In Providence he was a town treasurer, deputy and stayed to defend the colony during King Philips War. Thomas in his will dated May 16, 1668, leaves land to his son Richard “60 acres of upland, meadow, etc not upon sudden motion but upon deliberate consideration”.Clemence house

And Richard built a house, that is still standing. The Historic New England Clemence Irons website is here. 

Photos, floor plans and more at the Library of Congress here.