James Clarkson

Abt 1635 - 1687  (52 years)

• Name	James Clarkson
  Birth	Abt 1635	Carstairs, Lanarkshire, Scotland
  Gender	Male
  Residence	8 Nov 1666	Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland   [1]
  	When son James was baptised. One witness was Robert Whyt, probably his brother-in-law, married to Janet Collen
  Religion	1670	Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland
  Residence	12 May 1670	Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland
  	Warrant issued for the arrest of James and his wife Agnes, following their attendance at a conventicle at Hilderston, Torphichen on 8 May. Arrested and examined the same day and fined £100 scots each, to be imprisoned until their fines were paid
  Imprisonment	4 Jan 1682/83	Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland   [2]
  	Imprisoned for religious disorder with Alexander Montgomery, David Jamieson, George Higgins and others until they paid their fines
  Residence	25 Oct 1683	Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland   [3, 4]
  	Denounced along with wife Agnes and son James for not attending the (episcopal) church in Linlithgow
  Occupation	1684	Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland
  	Merchant
  Role	1685	East Jersey, New Jersey, USA
  	Free emigrant
  Residence	17 Feb 1685	Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
  	Released from Edinburgh Tolbooth
  Property	10 Jun 1685	Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey, USA   [5]
  	Purchased land on Papiack Neck and Sunken Meadow from Joseph Dennis
  Departure	5 Sep 1685	Leith, Midlothian, Scotland
  	Aboard the Henry and Francis
  Arrival	7 Dec 1685	Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey, USA
  Name	James Clerksone  [6]
  Name	James Clersone  [7]
  Name	James Clersoun  [1]
  Residence	1687	Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey, USA   [8]
  	Wrote to his wife Agnes, beseeching her and two of their children to come to East Jersey
  Will	1687	Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey, USA   [9]
  	Executors: Samuel Moore, Samuel Dennis of Woodbridge. Estate confirmed in Edinburgh 15 Sep 1698 (CC8/8/80), administered by brother-in-law, Robert Whyt
  Death	1687	Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey, USA
  Probate	8 Oct 1687	Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey, USA   [9]
  	Left an estate of £193 4s 6d.
  Person ID	I44528	East Jersey Genealogies
  Last Modified	7 Dec 2025

  
  

  Family	Agnes Collen,   b. 1643, Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland d. Bef 15 Aug 1693, Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland (Age < 50 years)
  Marriage	Abt 1662	Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland
  Children	1. John Clarkson,   b. Abt 1663  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   2. Abram Clarkson,   b. 28 Dec 1664, Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   3. Andrew Clarkson,   b. 1668, Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   4. James Clarkson,   b. 1666, Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland d. 30 Dec 1729, Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey, USA (Age 63 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
  Family ID	F31145	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	7 Dec 2025

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - Abt 1635 - Carstairs, Lanarkshire, Scotland Marriage - Abt 1662 - Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland Residence - When son James was baptised. One witness was Robert Whyt, probably his brother-in-law, married to Janet Collen - 8 Nov 1666 - Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland Religion - 1670 - Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland Residence - Warrant issued for the arrest of James and his wife Agnes, following their attendance at a conventicle at Hilderston, Torphichen on 8 May. Arrested and examined the same day and fined £100 scots each, to be imprisoned until their fines were paid - 12 May 1670 - Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland Imprisonment - Imprisoned for religious disorder with Alexander Montgomery, David Jamieson, George Higgins and others until they paid their fines - 4 Jan 1682/83 - Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland Residence - Denounced along with wife Agnes and son James for not attending the (episcopal) church in Linlithgow - 25 Oct 1683 - Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland Occupation - Merchant - 1684 - Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland Residence - Released from Edinburgh Tolbooth - 17 Feb 1685 - Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland Property - Purchased land on Papiack Neck and Sunken Meadow from Joseph Dennis - 10 Jun 1685 - Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey, USA Departure - Aboard the Henry and Francis - 5 Sep 1685 - Leith, Midlothian, Scotland Arrival - 7 Dec 1685 - Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey, USA Residence - Wrote to his wife Agnes, beseeching her and two of their children to come to East Jersey - 1687 - Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey, USA Will - Executors: Samuel Moore, Samuel Dennis of Woodbridge. Estate confirmed in Edinburgh 15 Sep 1698 (CC8/8/80), administered by brother-in-law, Robert Whyt - 1687 - Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey, USA Death - 1687 - Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey, USA Probate - Left an estate of £193 4s 6d. - 8 Oct 1687 - Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey, USA  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Sources

  [S3614] Births (OPR) Scotland, Linlithgow 668/ 20 187. [S3611] Privy Council of Scotland, The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, 3rd Series, VIII, p6-7. [S3611] Privy Council of Scotland, The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, 3rd Series, VIII, pp629-630. [S3526] National Records of Scotland, (Location: Edinburgh;), PC12/8 f.63. [S3652] "Early Land Records, 1650-1900s", State of New Jersey, Department of State, Early Land Records, 1650-1900s, E(EJ): Folio 278 (SSTSE023). [S3614] Births (OPR) Scotland, Linlithgow 668/20 153. [S3614] Births (OPR) Scotland, Linlithgow 668/ 20 220. [S3602] Wodrow Quarto Manuscripts, Wod.Oct.XXIX, (xxxii),Testimony letter, ?1685, of James Clerkson, banished to America, to his wife (f.306). [S3607] Nelson, William, Calendar of Records in the Office of the Secretary of State, 1664-1703, p96.