“From this house went forth seven sons to fight in the American Revolution.” This sign remained on the wall of the Francis and Lucretia Barnard house, one of the oldest homes in Bloomfield, Connecticut. Dick Clark is one of Francis and Lucretia Barnard’s descendants. When I learned that from my cousin last night, I took a look at Dick Clark’s genealogy, and discovered he too descends from my Francis and Lucretia Barnard!
I knew about the Seven Sons, so searched around the Web for photos of the house. I found a new cousin, Amy Po (Amy Pollien) who grew up very close to the Barnard house. First, let’s remind you who Dick Clark is, then we’ll share some of Amy’s memories, and close out with Mark Twain.
Richard Wagstaff “Dick” Clark (November 30, 1929 – April 18, 2012) was an American radio and television personality, best known for hosting television’s longest-running variety show, American Bandstand, from 1957 to 1987. He also hosted the game show Pyramid and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, which transmitted Times Square’s New Year’s Eve celebrations worldwide.
My favorite of the Barnards has always been Francis. Referred to as “Deacon” Francis in the lore, he married Lucretia Pinney in 1740 when she was 19 and he was 21. Starting in 1743 they had 13 children: Lucretia, Lydia, Irana, Aaron, Moses, David, Sara, Elizabeth, Elijah, Ebenezer, Samuel, Elihu, Caroline and Francis, Jr. They lived in the same town I grew up in, and my mother often told me of the sign on the side of the house that proclaimed:
The house stood on Duncaster Rd. until 1989. I have a vivid memory of the sign, but now I can’t remember if I saw it myself or simply heard the story often enough to make it real. In ’89 they took the house down and the Wintonbury Historical Society put up a plaque in honor of the sons.
In giving me permission to use her photos for Strong genealogy, Amy tells me that she always heard a great deal about the “seven sons sent to war” while growing up but it was only as an adult doing research that she discovered the Deacon and his wife also had six daughters!
According to “Ancestry of Dick Clark compiled by Robert Battle,” Dick Clark’s mother is Julia Fuller Barnard (1897–1973). Dick is a descendant of Edward Fuller of the Mayflower. Dick’s 4th great grandparents are Aaron Barnard (b. 1750) and Lucy Phelps (b. 1747), who married in 1770. Aaron is one of the Seven Sons.
Moses Barnard (1750–1811) was Aaron’s twin brother. Moses married his first cousin Hannah Barnard (1745–1848) in 1766. They had nine known children, including Olive Barnard (1772–1812). Olive married Edward Lewis. Olive had a daughter named Olivia Langdon, who was born in 1904.
Olivia Langdon married in 1870 in Elmira, NY, Samuel Langhorne Clemens. Samuel Clemens was born November 30, 1835 in Florida, Missouri. He died April 21, 1910 in Redding, Connecticut. He was better known as Mark Twain, one of the best and most popular writers of American literature.
Dr. Walther M. Barnard, author of several of our “Notable Kin” articles, descends from Samuel Barnard, one of the Seven Sons. I descend from the oldest of the Seven Sons, Francis. Amy Po descends from Ebenezer Barnard.
That accounts for five of the Seven Sons. Let’s not forget that Lucretia also had six daughters!
As for our Strong connection, according to Strong Updates Volume III revised:
1. Elder John Strong (ca. 1610–1699) & Abigail Ford (1619–1688)
2. Sarah Strong (1656–1733) & Joseph Barnard Sr. (1650–1695)
3. Sgt. Joseph Barnard Jr. (1681–1736) & Abigail Griswold (1685–1747)
4. Deacon Francis Barnard (1719–1789) & Lucretia Carroll nee Pinney (1722/3–1805)
The children of Francis Barnard and Lucretia Pinney:
i. Francis Barnard Jr. (1741–1828)
ii. Lucretia Barnard (1743–1775)
iii. Lydia Barnard (1746–1746)
iv. Irana/Irane Barnard (b. 1747)
v. Moses Barnard (twin) (1750–1811)
vi. Aaron Barnard (twin) (b. 1750)
vii. David Barnard (b. 1752)
viii. Elizabeth Barnard (twin) (1755-after 1787)
ix. Sarah Barnard (twin) (b. 1755)
x. Ebenezer Barnard (1757–1829)
xi. Samuel Barnard (1759–1815)
xii. Elihu Barnard (b. 1762)
xiii. Caroline Matilda Barnard (b. 1765)
Ed, what a fantastic find. Have you figured out what decendant level of cousin Dick Clark is? Keep up the great genealogy work. Uncle Ron.
Dick Clark is a 6th cousin to myself!
Fascinating, Ed. Great job!
Great article Ed! Sarah had gotten the information on Dick Clark from a post I made a few years back…which I recieved from one of a relatives in New York that you had connected me with? …I can’t remember his name now, sorry. It was that relative in New York who had paid to have the notables researched for the family. The Beach Boys are also related by marriage. : ) I like the Beach Boys– lol
All very interesting as I am also a Barnard descendant of Sarah Strong and Joseph Barnard. In the information about Olivia Langdon, there is an error in the dates. You have her being born in 1904. Unfortunately Olive Barnard, her mother, died in 1812! You also state that she married Samuel Clemens in 1870, hard to due if you are not born yet! Also some confusion about how she is Olivia Langdon when her father’s name is Lewis? That whole paragraph has several errors.