Sons of the American Revolution conduct grave marking to honor patriot William Clarke

On 21 August 2021, 14 compatriots from the Colonel James Wood II Chapter of the Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution (VASSAR) participated in a grave marking ceremony sponsored by the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter.

The event was held at the Madden Family Cemetery, Elkwood, Virginia to honor William Clarke, a Revolutionary War Patriot. Clarke was a Free African American who fought through the war against Great Britain. He enlisted in the 15th Virginia Regiment, serving under Captain Thomas Wells and Colonel David Mason. He continued his service as a soldier servant to Lieutenant Colonel Gustavus Wallace during the march to Charleston, South Carolina in 1780. Prior to the surrender of Charleston, he was sent to Virginia.

On this trip, he met and then served under Colonel John Jameson at Wilmington, North Carolina. Clarke served under Colonel Jameson in 1780 and 1781. During his time with that unit, he was present when the British spy Major John Andre was captured carrying messages from Benedict Arnold betraying the American cause. Clarke was at the Battles of Monmouth and Germantown, as well as at the surrender of the British at Yorktown. After the war, Clarke returned to the Culpeper area and married Hannah Peters, where he lived out his life.

The ceremony was conducted by Culpeper Minuteman Charles Jameson. Jeff Thomas, President of the Virginia Society, presented greetings from the State and a wreath to honor Clarke. Pastor Eugene Triplett was the Chaplain, with a reading of William Clarke’s biography by Mrs. Thomas Madden (Evelyn). Mr. William Madden uncovered the marker prior to wreath presentations.

Members from the Culpeper Minutemen (CMM), Colonel James Wood II, Colonel William Grayson (CWG), Fairfax Resolves (FR), and George Mason (GM) Chapters participated. The DAR was represented by Regent Carol Simpson, Culpeper Minutemen, and Nancy Watford, Ketoctin DAR Chapters.

The Virginia Order of Founders and Patriots was represented by Governor Michael Weyler. Participating in the Colonel James Wood II Chapter as Color Guard and Musket Squad were Sean Carrigan, Paul Christensen, Dale Corey, Erick Moore, Brett Osborn, Dennis Parmerter, Allan Phillips, Will Reynolds, Marc Robinson and Mike St. Jacques. Additional color guard members included Virginia Commander Ken Bonner (FR/CJWII), Mike Dennis (CMM/CJWII), Tom Hamill (CMM), Bill Schwetke (CMM/CJWII), Dave Cook (FR/CJWII), David Huxsol (FR) and Ken Morris (GM).

A three-round musket salute was fired by the VASSAR musket squad followed by the singing of  God Bless America to honor William Clarke.