Wylie Pope Clark

Wylie Pope Clark

• Father: John Clark b. 28 February 1766, d. 12 October 1832
• Mother: Nancy Williamson b. 1 May 1774, d. 26 October 1832

• Wylie Pope Clark was born circa 1807 in Baldwin County, Georgia.
• The following appeared on 19 August 1826 in the Augusta Chronicle and Georgia Advertiser:
       From the Georgia Patriot.
       Those who have seen Col. Jones' answer to Dr. Fort's speech, published in the last Journal, must have been struck with the following assertion on his part, to wit: that he was never, at heart, the friend of Gov. Clark; but yet, that he accepted of an aidship under him, and thereby pretended to be his friend.-- That this appointment was made voluntarily, "unsolicited" by himself.
       Now to show that the veracity of Col. Jones is fully equal to his duplicity, W. P. Clark comes forward with the original letter of Col. Jones, soliciting this very appointment! A copy of which, with Mr. Clark's observations, is published below.
       What will honourable men say to this? Will the character of Col. Jones be lessened in the estimation of those who know him? We think that impossible. But nevertheless, the eyes of some may be opened.
       To the Editors of the Georgia Patriot. Gentlemen -- Col. Jones having very unjustifiably attacked the reputation of my father in the "Georgia Journal" of the 8th inst, I request you to insert the following in your next. Respectfully, your ob't servant, W. P. Clark.
       Col. Seaborn Jones has very unnecessarily brought my father's name before the public in his reply to Dr. Fort, in the "Georgia Journal" of the 8th inst, evidently for the purpose of raising his own standing, and of injuring my father, in the following words, viz: "When I first came to this county to live, I unfortunately accepted from Gen. Clark an Aidship, voluntarily offered by him, and entirely unsolicited by me. In a short time the honor of holding such an appointment under him became too burthensome to me, and I resigned. It is well known that I never supported Gen. Clark for any office, even while I was his Aid de-Camp, and I fearlessly challenge the recollection of a single case in which I have done it." That Col. Jones should have acted the part of a hypocrite so far as to be one of the family of a General officer by holding an Aidship under him and yet not support him, but be secretly opposed to him, is what I think quite probable, and is in accordance with what I understand to be his general character.
       But to show that the Aidship was not conferred "entirely unsolicited" by the Colonel; nor "voluntarily offered," I here give a copy of a letter, the original of which I hold, written and signed by him to my father, in the words following:--
       Milledgeville, 15 Jan'y 1812. Major General John Clark. Sir:-- Being informed by your brother, that he is about to resign his appointment in the Staff; permit me to offer you my services as Aid-de-Camp. I am, Sir, with respect, yours, &c. Seaborn Jones.
       In addition to this letter, Col. Jones prevailed on my uncle Major Elijah Clark to use his influence with my father to procure him that appointment; and had it not been for his intercession it would not have been conferred upon him. Shortly after war was declared, which was in June, 1812, Col. Jones resigned. Whether his resignation was produced from fear of being called into the field, or to please the family with whom he was about to be connected in marriage, I am unable to say, though I understand it was believed by some that both circumstances had weight with him -- if the former motive actuated him, the circumstances carries with it, its own commentary; if the latter, it shows that the Colonel can change his political principles with the same facility with which he can throw off his shirt; since it is evident my father would never have appointed a man of doubtful politics in his Staff. Col. Jones' remarks upon the subject of the 10,000 dollars, are too contemptible to notice- this sum was advanced to the sufferers of Savannah, and approved of by the Legislature.
       From the foregoing, the public will be able to judge what credit should hereafter be given to the assertions of a man, who does not scruple to resort to the grossest misrepresentations, to gratify feelings of party or personal rancor. W. P. Clark.
• He married Amanda M. Kilbee, daughter of William T. Kilbee and Huldah (?), on 30 July 1833 in Marianna, Jackson County, Florida.
• The following appeared in a Columbus newspaper: Wylie Pope Clark married Amanda M. Kilbee 30 July 1833 at Marianna, Florida. The service was performed by Rev. R. B. Kerr.
• The following appeared on 7 November 1833 in the Macon Georgia Telegraph:
       Marianna, Florida, Oct. 21, 1833. To the Editors of the Federal Union.
       Gentlemen-- A "Pendleton Messenger," under date the 2d inst. was yesterday put into my hands. It contains a letter extracted from the "Augusta Chronicle," purporting to have been written from Clarksville under date September 5, 1833, in which is stated that the writer "was informed by a gentleman of the first respectability, that he had received a letter from Pope Clark, some time since in which he stated that his father Gen. John Clark, before his death, had often declared himself in favor of Nullification.
       The writer then proceeds to say, that he "expects to receive a copy of this letter in a few days, and it its authenticity is denied, it shall be published &c."
       That a gentleman of the first respectability may have received a letter over my signature o the purport set forth above, is not improbable; but that I wrote it is impossible. I have written no such letter, and I challenge its publication, together with the name of the individual, to whom it was written. No doubt, it has served its purposes; it will now sink to the tomb.
       I deem it necessary to say no more on the subject, at this time. Respectfully, your obedient servant, Wylie Pope Clark.
• The following appeared on 15 January 1835 in the Macon Georgia Telegraph: Wylie Pope Clark has been appointed by the President U. S. Attorney for the southern district of Florida.
• The resignation of Wylie P. Clark was reported in a letter dated 10 March 1835 from John Forsyth to Richard Harrison. [John Forsyth was US Secretary of State from 1834 to 1840, having earlier served a term as governor of Georgia. President Washington appointed Richard Harrison auditor in 1791, and he was continued as first auditor through the successive administrations until 1836.]
• Wylie Pope Clark and Amanda M. Kilbee appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1840 in Jackson County, Florida Territory. Other (counted but unnamed) members of the household apparently included John Clark and Rebecca L. Clark.
• His wife Amanda M. Kilbee became a widow at his death.
• Wylie Pope Clark died on 31 October 1842 in Marianna, Jackson County, Florida.
• He was interred at Riverside Cemetery, Marianna, Jackson County, Florida.

• Last Edited: 27 Aug 2012