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Ancestors of Robert (Bruce?) Polk, (Or Pollok/Pollock/Polke)

Generation No. 1

      1. Robert (Bruce?) Polk, (Or Pollok/Pollock/Polke)^1,^2,^3,^4,^5,^6,^7,^8,^9,¹⁰, born Abt. 1625 in Northern Ireland; died Abt. 1704 in MD., probably Somerset Co.¹¹. He was the son of 2. Sir Sir Robert PollokII, of Ireland. He married (1) Magdalen Tasker^12,^13,^14,^15,^16,^17,^18,^19,²⁰ Abt. 1671 in County Donegal, Ireland ^21,^22,²³. She was born Abt. 1635 in Cavanacor, County Donegal, Ireland (see notes), and died Abt. 1727 in MD., probably Somerset Co.²⁴. She was the daughter of Colonel Roger Tasker.

Notes for Robert (Bruce?) Polk, (Or Pollok/Pollock/Polke):
NOTES BY BILL POLK, KANSAS CITY, MO.:

STATEMENT ABOUT THE ANCESTRY OF ROBERT BRUCE POLK OF MARYLAND, by Bill Polk, Kansas City, MO., family researcher, dated 30 Nov 1998:

The ancestry of Robert Bruce Polk of Maryland as given in my database was derived by researching multiple sources, some of which conflict with each other. Comparing the best-known genealogies on the Polk family that have the ancestry of Robert Bruce Polk included in them (notably, "Polk Family and Kinsmen," 1912, William Harrison Polk; and "Pedigree of the Pollok or Polk Family from Fulbert the Saxon (A. D. 1075) to the Present Time," Mary Winder Garrett, published in several issues of "The American Historical Magazine," 1896-1899; and many other genealogies which basically use the genealogy as provided in the two cited above) with other sources [Burke's Peerage, History of Renfrewshire, Burke's Presidential Families, Pogue/Pollock/Polk Genealogy as Mirrored in History (see database for full titles and other information about these publications and other sources used] reveals (in the opinion of this researcher) that the ancestral line of Robert Bruce Polk of Maryland, as given by the two above mentioned family writers is not complete or entirely correct. There is still research needed in Ireland to tie together the Scottish branch with the Irish branch (this part of the family line is, in fact, unproven, but as "Burke's Presidents," 1981, lineage of President James K. Polk, puts it, "highly probable"). I submit that the ancestry of Robert Bruce Polk as provided in this database is highly probable, not "proven." It may be impossible to "prove" the Polk lineage to normal and modern genealolgical standards for the ancestry in Scotland for the years before the mid to late 1500s, and perhaps even later. One may just have to accept the previous work of researchers like Crawfurd, Burke and others for the Scottish Polk lineage. I have no problem accepting the Scottish ancestry of the Polks. The ancestry for the Irish branch of the Polks may also be hard to "prove" due to scarcity of records. I find the Irish part of the ancestry, that is the existence of a Sir Robert Pollok/Pollock/Polk I and II, particularly difficult for me to accept and/or believe (see my notes under Sir Robert Pollok I for discussion). I invite other family researchers who have done research on Robert Bruce Polk's ancestry to poke and prod and question and come up with their own version of the Polk ancestry; then let's compare and come up with an even better version. See NOTE at the end of all text.

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Much of the following information is taken from "Polk Family and Kinsmen," William Harrison Polk, 1912, [see master sources for complete citation]. I have many questions about some of the data below and the ancestry of Robert Polk and his wife Magdalen. I have set up an additional file under D:\GENEALOGY\FTM TEXT CONTINUATION FILES\ Polk Ancestry, Ireland and Scotland, Notes, to address these questions. I have supplemented the W. H. Polk data below with material from other sources and and with my own opinion as to events, dates, places, etc.:

Robert (Pollok) Polk and his family probably came to America from Northern Ireland sometime between 1672 and 1680. However, their arrival may have been earlier. Quoting William M. Polk in his 1893 biography, "Leonidas Polk Bishop and General," pg. 3, referring to Robert Pollock: "On the death of Cromwell and the accession of the second Charles, Robert Pollock resolved to emigrate with his wife and family to the American plantations. It 1659 he took ship at Londonderry, and after a stormy voyage, during which one of his children died, he landed on the Eastern Shore of Maryland......" It is probable that the family left Ireland to escape religious persecution (Robert was a Covenanter) and for the opportunities the new land afforded to practice their religion and build a home. Thomas, Robert's elder brother, inherited the family estate in Ireland, and the opportunity to secure land of his own in the colonies must have been factored into the decision to leave Ireland.

Robert Pollok, the ancestor who settled in Maryland, and the second son of Sir Robert II of Ireland, was a captain in Colonel Porter's Regiment, which served in the parliamentary forces under Oliver Cromwell, a member of the British Parliament who sympathized with the Independents or Separatists. These Separatists, an independent group which developed within the Puritans (the Puritans wanted to "purify," rather than separate from the Church of England), did not favor a central church government. When Parliament met in 1640, it refused to grant King Charles I any funds unless he agreed to limit his power. Charles I refused to do so, and civil war broke out in 1642. Cromwell's military forces defeated Charles I, ending the war. Cromwell, with reluctance, finally agreed to the execution of the King and he was one of the signers of the death warrant which was executed on 30 Jan., 1649. In 1656, Parliament offered Cromwell the title of King, which he refused. Although he professed to be against absolutism, he ruled almost as absolutely as Charles I had ruled. Cromwell died in 1658, and eventually persecution of protestants became the norm in Ireland, causing many to flee to America.

Colonel Porter was married to Magdalen Tasker for a short time. After Colonel Porter's death, Robert Pollok married the young widow. It has been said that the Porter family, who had strong connections in the government of Ireland, threatened Robert Pollok and took most of "Moneen," the property Magdalen had inherited from her father, Col. Rogert Tasker. However, the Porters, if they acquired any of "Moneen" at all, certainly did not get it all as Magdalen left "Moneen" to her youngest son Joseph at her death.

After the death of Cromwell and the accession of Charles II in 1660 (who was heavily Roman Catholic in his sympathies) there began a long period of difficulty, danger, and martyrdom for the Covenanters. Vindictive measures were instituted by Charles against all those who had been leading actors in the drama that brought the head of his father, Charles I, to the block. Many of the "Regicides," as were termed those who had been active in bringing about the death of Charles I, in order to escape the wrath of his son, fled to foreign parts, many coming to America and changing their names in order to conceal their identity. The new parliament of 1661 consisted mostly of high churchmen and royalists. It restored ancient oppressive laws and instituted efficient measures to prevent even the smallest degree of toleration to all who refused conformance with the liturgy of the court. This state of unrest continued throughout the reign of Charles II, and in 1679 drove the people of Scotland into rebellion.

During the reign of Charles II, the American colonies received their greatest accessions of population. Thousands who had become weary of Charles' oppressions turned their faces to the New World, hoping that by going beyond the Atlantic they could find some respite from the exactions of kingly power. Charles II died on 6 Feb., 1685, and was succeeded by James II. James proved to be a most arbitrary and unpopular monarch, both at home and in the British colonies. By his direction, unjust taxes were imposed on his subjects and to escape his persecutions large numbers of them emigrated to America. Seeking to reduce the colonies to direct dependence on the Crown, James cancelled the Charter of Massachusetts and ignored that of Maryland granted to Lord Baltimore. During the first year of his reign a great number of Scotch, Irish and English emigrated to the American colonies. Over a thousand prisoners taken in Monmouth's Rebellion were sent to Virginia to be indentured as servants for years, but the latter design was not carried out and in this way Virginia received many useful citizens. The reign of James, however, was a brief one; in December 1688, he was compelled to abdicate.

Hence it was that, from 1660 to 1689--during the reigns of Charles II and James--the American colonies received tremendous accessions of the best and most virile blood of the British Kingdom. In addition to voluntary emigrants who arrived during that period, there were also sent to the colonies, by the government, large numbers of political rebels; also serving men to be sold for a term of years, apprentices and single women. The better class of emigrants, beside the political rebels, was composed of persons of quality, freeholders and religious exiles. The stream of settlers continued to flow to American Colonies steadily from 1660 to 1700.

The exact date of arrival in America of Robert Pollok and his family has not been determined. It is estimated to have been near or about 1672. The earliest record relating to the Polk family in America is dated 8 Sep., 1680, in Somerset County, Maryland, where Robert's eldest son John registered the ear marks of his cattle. According to Josiah F. Polk, one of the Polk family historians, "there is documentary proof that some of the Polks were in Maryland as early as 1672." The basis for this statement is not known. Robert Polk did not, according to the records in Maryland, receive a grant of land until March 1687. Why he did not, and by what sort of title he held his land for some fifteen years before he was accorded a grant, does not appear in any record located. One tradition handed down in the family is that "they came shortly after the siege of Londonderry." This cannot be correct, for that event did not take place until 1689, two years after Robert received his first land grant. John, Robert's eldest son, is estimated to have been born about 1662. Therefore he would be age 18 in 1680, the year he registered his cattle ear marks. It is reasonable to assume that the family had been here a number of years in order for John to have acquired livestock at an early age.

The entire company which came in the ship with the Polloks to America consisted of persons who were coming to the New World for civil and religious freedom. The ship (name unknown) landed at "Damn Quarter," now called "Dame's Quarter," on the "Eastern Shore" of Maryland, a low, flat strip of land about four of five miles in length, lying on the south side of a stream (on current maps, the Wicomico River) emptying into Chesapeake Bay. The Polloks took up residence in the colony of Lord Baltimore, who though himself a Catholic, was a man of the most generous impulses and liberal views. His colony was rapidly settled by not only emigrants from abroad, but it also became an asylum for those who were driven out of New England by Puritan persecutions, and from Virginia by the tyrannical measures and impositions of the Established Church against all dissenters. Many ministers were thrown into jail for preaching the Gospel in those areas.

Robert was a stern Covenanter and he instilled his principles and religion into his children, with perhaps Robert Jr. excepted, who appears, from reading the records, to have been somewhat obstreperous. The Polks were Presbyterians. The family found the freedom to worship freely in Lord Baltimore's colony. Lord Baltimore passed laws protecting all denominations, in consequence of which the Western Peninsula of Maryland was settled almost entirely by Romanists, and the creed still dominants the area to this day. The Eastern Peninsula was settled entirely by Protestants and in that area, that religious creed prevails. As of 1912, using Princess Anne, Maryland, as the center, a radius of eighteen miles would describe a circle in which would be included many Presbyterian churches which county records reveal were fully organized by 1705. There is no certain evidence that Robert and Magdalen were members of any church. There is, however, a strong presumption that they were a religious couple and that they were probable members of Manokin church, named for the stream upon which bank it stands. This would have been the closest church to their home, others being too far away to have made it convenient for them to have attended. The records of Manokin church were lost before 1746. More recent records reveal that later members of the Polk family attended the Manokin church.

Robert Polk received two land grants from Lord Baltimore, both in March of 1687. One grant was called "Polke's Folly," consisting of 100 acres, and the other was called "Polke's Lott," which encompassed fifty acres. "Polk's Folly" was described as lying in Somerset County, on the North side of the Manokin River, near the head of Broad Creek. "Polke's Lott" was also on the North side of the Manokin River. These grants are dated 7 March, 1687, and are recorded in the Maryland Archives, Land Office Patents, Liber 22, pages 356 and 357. Perhaps Robert named the one grant "Polk's Folly," because he felt it had been his "folly" to come to the New World. "Polk's Folly" remained in the Polk family until 1748, sixty-one years, when it was sold to William and John Shores. It remained with the Shores family one hundred and twenty years when it was bought in 1868 by William Harrison Polk and a Mr. Dashiell, the land being purchased from the trustee of the estate of Thomas Shores. In those earlier days there seems to have been much delay in the issue of patents to land claimants. Many immigrants came in and marked out and claimed tracts for which they did not receive patents until years later. Robert Polk apparently settled in the Province of Maryland about 1672 and occupied a tract for which he did not receive the patents until 1687. In 1992, Bill and Alicia Polk visited the area where Robert's land grants were located. Today, the area is part of Deal Island Wildlife Management Area, and is marsh land. On a modern map of Maryland, one can locate the land's location by following Highway 363 West out of Princess Anne, on through Monie, past St. Stephen and finally, where the first game reserve road exits the highway (heading southwest), is where the land grants were. When one exits the highway there, the land all around once belonged to Robert Polk, some 300 years ago.

From 7 March, 1687, to 11 Nov., 1742, a period of fifty-five years, 4,152 acres were granted to members of the Polk family. There were many other land transactions at later dates to various Polks. It appears that all of the sons of Robert Polk received grants from Lord Baltimore. Ephraim secured the largest quantity of land, 908 acres being entered in his name. William Polk received 500 acres and his brother Charles, 600 acres. The other sons received various amounts of land.

Robert continued to farm the lands on which he had settled when he came to the colony of Maryland and for which he received patents in 1687. He purchased other land to add to his holdings and continued to improve his estate. There are not many records on Robert other than land records; one such record found, dated 10 Mar 1697, was a petition to the court in Somerset. In this petition, he alleged that he had purchased a tract on Monie near Damn Quarter, had cleared a cornfield, and that the horse road passed right through his field, and asked permission to turn the road around his fence. Although they must have had to work very hard, carving a plantation out of the land, life was probably good for Robert, Magdalen and their children. They had the freedoms here in the New World they had not enjoyed in Ireland. The couple watched their children grow and start families of their own in this new land. Robert appears to have spent the remaining years of his life on the plantation in Somerset County, Maryland. Where he is buried is not known. There are two reasonable possibilities. The first is that he was buried on his plantation in a family graveyard. The second possibility is that he was buried in the churchyard of the church where he worshipped.

For many years, Polk family historians thought that Robert Polk had died in Ireland before the family came to America. This belief was based on his will not being located in Somerset County. Only after a Polk descendent, Mr. R. C. Ballard Thruston of Louisville, KY., discovered the will of Robert Polk on file in the records at Annapolis, MD., did the long standing belief end. In the early existence of the Colony of Maryland, there was a "Chief Commissary," as he was called and this officer had in each county a "Deputy Commissary," by whom all wills were probated and put on record. A copy of the document was then forwarded to the Chief Commissary for re-entry and filing thus ensuring greater security in case either office should be burned. Apparently the county copy was lost and/or not recorded in Somerset County. The discovery of Robert Polk's will in Annapolis plus the two land grants to him in 1687 proved beyond a doubt that he did come to America with his family.

The following is the will of Robert Polk, with spelling and capitalization exactly as shown in the original:

In the Name of God, Amen:
This sixth day of May in the year of our lord, 1699, I Robert Polke of Somerset County in the Province of Maryland being of good health and Perfect memory at this present thank be to Almighty God for the same yet knowing the uncertainty of this present life and being desirous to settle my affairs doe make this my last will and Testament in manner and form following:
First and principally I commend my soule to God who gave it to me, assuredly believing that I shall receive full and free pardon of all my sins and be saved by the pretious Death and Merritts of my Blessed Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ and my Body to the Earth from whence it was taken to be buried after a decent and Christian manner at the discretion of my Executor hereafter named and as touching such worldly estate as God in his mercy hath bestowed upon me. It is my will that it be disposed of as hereafter is expressed.
2ndly I leave to my son Robert Polke a parcel of land called Lone Ridge being part of a tract of land called Forlone Hope, formerly belonging to Augustine Standforth but now conveyed to me the said land called Lone Ridge beginning at a marked pine standing in a slash next to my said Son's House and from thence running north east the number of poles specified in the pattent soe leaving to my son Robert what land belongs to the said pattent on the north east side of the said Slash to him the Said Robert Polke and his heirs forever.
3rdly I leave to my said son David Polke the remainder of the above tract of land called Forlorne Hope as also one hundred acres of land called Polks Folly bounded as per Pattent will appear both said tracts of land to him the said David and his heirs forever.
4thly I leave to my Beloved Wife Magdalen Polke my now dwelling house and plantation during her natural life as also a third of what goods and moveables I am possessed with or shall hereafter to the day of my death the said Goods and moveables to be at her dispossing at her decease. Another third of my Goods and moveables I leave to my daughter Martha be it little or much here and her heirs forever and as for the other third. It is my will it be equally divided between my sons David and Joseph, and if it should please God to Remove me before I purchase a seat of Land after my son Joseph, this my will: that my son David give unto my son Joseph four thousand pounds of Tobacco in the leu of the above said tracts of Land left to my son David and as for what Cattle I have given to my son Joseph they being in his proper Mark it's my will that he enjoy and possess the same he and his heirs forever for this boy Christopher must live with Magdalen Polke during her life time then.
5thly I leave to my son James an Orphan Boy called Christopher Little to him the said James and his heirs during the time of his Indre.
I leave unto my son Ephraim the choice of what stear I have or may have at the day of my death. I leave to my sons John and William Polke to each of them twelve pence. I constitute and appoint my son David Polke and my wife Magdalen Polke to be Executors of this my last will.

Codicil--I constitute my sons Ephraim and James Polke to be Executors of this my last will and testament disannuling and making voide all former Will or Wills by me made either by word or written.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written this being altered the eighth day of August, 1703.

      Robert Polke
      X mark Seal

Richard Knight, Mary 0. English, Richard Whittley,

And I desire that Martha Poock may have liberty let her cattle run on the plantation until she gets plantation and as for Sarah Powers she must have a heifer at her freedom day.

Signed, Sealed and delivered in the presence of us
Robert Polk
Richard Whittley
Richard Knight
Mary 0. English.

On the back of said will was thus written: "Vizt:--Memorandum this 5th
day June the within will was proved to the Act and Deed of the within named Robert Polke by the oaths of Richard Whittley, Richard Knight and Mary English before.
Peter Dent. Depty Com'y.

Test.
      R.      McKendree Davis,
Dept. Register Orphans Court
Anne Arundel County
State of Maryland

Annapolis Wills T. B. 1701-3, folios 416-418.

The quaint capitalization and spelling of some of the words of the instrument were characteristic of the times. Many well-to-do people could but indifferently write or spell, as opportunities for acquiring an education were scarce. It seems apparent from his X mark on the will (rather than his signature) that Robert could neither read nor write. Note that Robert added an "e" to his surname in his will.

NOTE: The text for Robert Polk continues under D:\GENEALOGY\FTM TEXT CONTINUATION FILES\Robert Polk of Somerset Co., MD.
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Notes for Magdalen Tasker:
NOTES BY BILL POLK, KANSAS CITY, MO.:

Much of the following information (to >>>>>>>>>>>>) is taken from "Polk Family and Kinsmen," William Harrison Polk, 1912, [see master sources for complete citation]. I have many questions about some of the data below and the ancestry of Robert Polk and his wife Magdalen. I have set up an additional file under D:\GENEALOGY\FTM TEXT CONTINUATION FILES\ Polk Ancestry, Ireland and Scotland, Notes, to address these questions. The reader should access that file to secure a better understanding of the questions/problems which I have with the ancestry of the Polks. I have supplemented the W. H. Polk data below with material from other sources and and with my own opinion as to events, dates, places, etc.:

Magdalen was the youngest daughter of Colonel Roger Tasker of Broomfield Castle, near Londonderry, Ireland. Colonel Tasker was a distinguished chancellor of Ireland, whose seat was "Castle Hill," near the village of Ballindrate, commanding a view of the River Dale. Colonel Tasker was much renowned for his wealth and honor. His word of command was "Death or Liberty." He distinguished himself in many ways--command, horsemanship and bravery. He always rode a white horse and died after the "Derry Spree." He had just two children, Barbara and Magdalen, who were said to have been good singers. The Taskers were related to the Countess of Mornington and her sister Prudence, aunts to the Duke of Wellington.

When Colonel Tasker of Donegal County, Ireland, died, he owned two fine estates lying near the river Foyle, above Londonderry--"Broomfield Castle" and "Moneen Hall." [Col. Tasker appears to have owned more than these two estates (or one of the estates came to be known as something other than the original name); see below]. The first was a famous estate and according to a statement made to William Harrison Polk, author of Polk Family & kinsmen, by one who was born near it, had on it "one of the finest old castles in Ireland." At his death, Colonel Tasker devised Broomfield to his eldest daughter Barbara and Moneen to Magdalen. Moneen embraced six hundred Cunningham acres with a fine mansion on it. It lay close to the little village of Strabane, in the Barony of Rafo, County of Donegal. Correspondence, in 1874, between William Harrison Polk and the Postmaster at Strabane, Hugh McMenamin, revealed many interesting items regarding Colonel Tasker's estates including the fact that ancestors of the Taskers still retained part of the old estates as of that year.

Barbara, the eldest daughter, married Captain John Keys who served under Colonel Tasker. She had only one child, a son named Tasker, who was born about 1640 and died about 1725. Captain Keys was a close friend of Robert Pollok. The castle on the estate inherited by Barbara fell into decay and a new one called "Castle Keys" was erected by Tasker Keys, greatgrandson of John Keys, about 1780. Captain keys and Barbara went with the British army to India, where he accumulated a large fortune. On their return to Ireland they again occupied their ancestral estate. At a later date, Barbara purchased from Joseph Polk of Maryland, son of Robert and Magdalen, "Moneen," who inherited the estate from his mother.

Magdalen married Colonel Porter, a regimental commander of the parliamentary forces of Oliver Cromwell. The marriage was of short duration. Colonel Porter died and it was said that Magdalen "ran off with one Polk, who was a companion or friend to Colonel Porter," as well as a captain in his regiment. The Porters were a strong family with many connections in that area at the time. It appears that the Porters threatened Robert Pollok and Magdalen. Magdalen, having no children by Colonel Porter, gave up most of the property in the estate of "Moneen."

Magdalen married Robert Pollok before the Pollok family moved to America. It is not known how many of Robert and Magdalen's children were born in Ireland and how many in America. That most of them came to America with their parents seems certain. John Polk, by tradition the eldest child, must have been of age to register the ear marks of his cattle in 1680. If he was aged 18 or so in 1680, then his birth would have occurred about 1662. As women married younger in those days, and Magdalen had been married once before marrying Robert Pollok, it is safe to assume she was probably in her early twenties when she married him. Her birth must have occurred about the same time as Robert Pollok's birth, about 1639. All of the children of Robert and Magdalen were mentioned in Robert's will except Anne, supposedly the youngest child. Why she is not mentioned is not known. That she was born after her father's death is not likely, for Magdalen must have been over sixty years of age at the demise of Robert. The omission of Anne's name may have been because she was dead before he executed his will. It is possible, but not certain that Robert Polk, in his will, mentioned his children in their proper numerical order, Robert coming first, David next, Joseph fourth, and John and William last. However, this is not the order of birth so long recognized by most Polk family historians, such order beginning with John as the eldest son and ending with Joseph as the youngest son.

Colonel William T. Polk, who was born and lived all his life in Somerset County, Md., near the area where Captain Robert Polk and his family settled, and who owned at his death, "Polk's Folly," the original land grant to Robert Polk in the Colony of Maryland, took great interest in the Polk family history and wrote many letters to William Harrison Polk about the family. Colonel Polk was very familiar with the history and traditions of the locality. He was, for many years, the Clerk of the Court of Somerset County, thus having free and unlimited access to the various records available for research. William Harrison Polk stated that Colonel Polk was a man of the highest standing and of unblemished character. What he has stated may be relied on with the utmost confidence. In a letter of October 1874, Colonel Polk writes about three items the Polloks brought from Ireland to America: "The first was a large quarto bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, and an old version of the Psalms. The spelling was antique and the punctuation queer. The date on the title page was 1669. That on the Testaments was different. Evidently printed separately and bound up together. Seventy years ago the book was in a dilapidated condition as to the binding and my father had it substantially rebound in calf. It was said that our ancestors hid it in a hollow tree, in the days of the Persecution, after the Restoration, to prevent it from being taken from them. It is said that while one read it, others of the family would stand guard to give warning of the approach of Papists. And truly, it seems that this might have been probable, as the book was very much stained, as though it had been thoroughly saturated with water many times. It was destroyed in 1847, together with the dwelling of my brother and all the ancient recordings it contained."

The letter continued: "The second article is a case containing fifteen square bottles, each holding over two and a half gallons. Since my recollection, the bottles were all perfect, and when all full contained about forty gallons. But General Temperance, causing King Alcohol to retire, these bottles have been used for vinegar and other liquids that would freeze. Hence all have been cracked and most of them lost. I have but two or three of them left, useless except a a connecting link between the present and the past. My nephew, Ephraim G. Polk, who owns the old homestead, has the old case."

The letter continued: The third article is a large brass clock, which, in the case stands eight or nine feet high, with great leaden weights of ten or twelve pounds each. In addition to keeping the hours of the day, it keeps the day of the month and the phases of the moon, and is a repeater. A string may be attached to a lever inside the clock and carried to the foot of your bed. At any hour of the night, if the string is pulled, whe will repeat the last stroke, unless it is within a half hour of the next strike. So you can know within a half hour the time, without rising from your bed. Seventy years ago it was given by my grandfather to my father with the old homestead. When he took possession of them he found the old clock in a lumber room covered with dust. Supposing it to have finished its work, he proposed to a clock-maker to trade it in part payment for a new clock, if there was any value to it. It was sent and when my father saw the clock-man, the latter told him that no man need want a better clock. He cleaned it up for a few dollars. I left it thirty years ago on a farm which has been in my immediate family one hundred and nine years, with some servants, and although it has not been cleaned in that time, when I have occasion to spend a few days on the farm, or when I send mechanics to repair or build houses, if she is wound up, she will run eight or nine days and keep excellent time. My father laid aside the old case and had a new one of mahogany made. This clock was made, I suppose by W. Nicholson, White Haven, which is inscribed on a plate screwed to the face, and there is an inscription, also on the face--'Tempus edax Rerum,' and I find true in reference to our family, for Time has consumed almost everything relating to its early history."

Magdalen must have been very aged when she died, having been a widow for about twenty-five years. If it is accepted that her eldest child, John was born about 1662, and if she was aged twenty-two or so at his birth, she would have been 87 or 88 years of age when she died in late 1726 or early 1727. Some Polk family historians believe she was over ninety years old when she died at her home place, "White Hall," in Somerset County, MD.

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The following contains the text of Magdalen Polk's will with the spelling and capitalization exactly as in the original:

In the name of God Amen I, Magdalen Pollok, being weak and sick of body, yet of perfect mind and memory, praise be to Almight God, do make and ordain this my last will and Testament, in manner and form as followeth. First:--I give my soul into hands of Almight God, hoping through the merits of my Saviour Jesus Christ to receive full pardon of all my sins. And my body I commit to the Earth from whence it was taken, to be buried in Christian burial, at the discretion of my Executor hereafter nominated.
Item--I give and bequeath a tract of land called Moning lying in the
Kingdom of Ireland, in the Barrony of Rafo and County of Donegal, and in the Parish of Liford, unto my son Joseph Pollok and to the heirs of his body forever, with all the rest of my moveable estate, and him to be whole Executor of this my last Will and Testament, hereby Revoking all other Wills and Testaments by me made by word or writing.
In Testimony whereof I set my hand and seal this 7th day of April, 1726.

Signed, sealed and delievered in sight Magdalen Polk Seal
and presents of us her mark
David Polk, William Pollet, Magdalen Pollet.

March ye 20th, 1727. Then came David Polk, William Pollett & Magdalen
Pollett, subscribing evidences to ye within will, who made oath upon ye Holy Evangelist of Almighty God that they see ye within named Magdalen Polk, ye Testator, sign and seal ye within Instrument as her last Will and Testament, and that they heard her publish and declare ye same as so to be, and that at ye time of her so doing she was of sound, disposing mind and memory. Sworn to before me the day and year above written.

John Tunstall, Deputy, Com'y of
Somerset County,

The exr. hath not got letter of Administration on this Estate nor doth not design.

Recorded in Liber LL No 2 folio 125 PR Geo. Plater, Reg'r Recorded in Liber E B No. 9, folio 117---
Examined. Test. Esme. Bayley, R. W. S. C.

In the beginning of the document, Magdalen calls her name "Pollok," but her X mark is shown under the name Magdalen Polk. She also calls her son Joseph "Pollok." It would appear that Magdalen could not read or write. Her will is typical of many of the Pollok/Pollock/Polke/Polk wills and land transactions in that these four variations of the family name are used interchangeably. Magdalen made Joseph her sole devisee. Colonel William T. G. Polk, A Polk family historian, suggested the reasons moving her to do this may have been because Joseph, judging by the various records, appears to have been less thrifty in the gathering of worldly possessions than his brothers, most of whom seem to have been men of good business qualities and to have accumulated fine landed estates, either by grant from Lord Baltimore or by purchase. Family tradition states that Joseph went to Ireland and sold his Irish estate, about ten years after he inherited it, to his aunt, Barbara Keys, and then returned to Somerset County.
Magdalen's will is recorded in both Somerset County and in Annapolis, Anne Arundel, Co., MD., at the Maryland State Archives. In Somerset County, it is recorded at the Office of the Register of Wills, Liber EB No. 9, folio 117.
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Stella Polk Gipson of Texas, Vernell Endicott, of Drumright, OK., and Pauline Polk Gilbreth of Mason, TX., compiled a genealogy of the Polks entitled "The Pollock-Polk Family," with the main emphasis on their family lines. In the beginning of the genealogy is an interesting letter from a John Sheils of Ireland to Pauline. It reads as follows:

"Conney Burrow Road
Lifford Co. Donegal
Ireland 18'4'77

Dear Mrs. Gilbreth,
I have been reading in our local newspaper that you are trying to trace your ancestors from Co. Donegal. In this connection I can give you some information. There was a gentleman who lived in Lifford & who owned a lot of property in that area. His names was Knox Pollock & some of his descendants lived in Lifford till about forty years ago. They went to reside in Castlefin later but I believe that they are all dead. Now regard of Magdalen Tasker Porter, I know the House well where she was born. It is situated at Broomfield near Lifford not Castlefin near Derry as you thought. The original House is still standing & is now occupied by a family by the name of Maxwell. In the last century it was in the ownership of Tasker Keys who I would assume was a descendant of Magdalen Tasker Porter. This Home is still in very good condition & is situated on the main Lifford Letterkeny Road. I understand it was called the castle in days gone by & there was a very large farm connected to it. Apparently much of the land has been sold to other neighboring farmers. Regarding the estate which Magdalen Tasker Porter inherited at Moneen. This House is occupied by the McBeth family. The original Building was replaced by a new Building some years ago & I understand that this was a very large farm in days gone by. You are right about the name being contracted to Polk. That was commonly used in Lifford to describe Knox Pollock. All the places I have mentioned in this letter are quite close to Strabane which you mention in your letter. If there are any other questions you would like to ask or if you have any other information about the matter or should you think that Tasker Keys was descendant of Mary Tasker Porter please write to me & let me know. I think this is all the information I have at the moment. If anything else comes to hand in the meantime I will write to you again.
Yours Faithfully
John Sheils"
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Marriage Notes for Robert Polk and Magdalen Tasker:
RESEARCH NOTES:

(1) When did the marriage of Magdalen (Tasker) Porter and Robert Polk occur? It must have occurred between 1665 and 1671. The 1665 date stems from the fact that John Porter was still alive in 1665 as given in the Hearth Tax rolls of the Parish of Clonleigh (Lifford). Women usually remarried quickly (as did men) and so the marriage could have taken place in 1665, if John Porter died in 1665 (his death date is not known as of Sep 1999). The 1671 dates stems from the fact that William Polk, supposedly the 2nd son of Robert Polk and Magdalen was b. c1673 (this based on deposition of said William Polk in 1639..... see that source under William Polk's birth). If William was the 2nd son/child, as stated by William Harrison Polk in "Polk Family and Kinsmen," and John Polk was older (all information found attests to John Polk being the eldest child), then John was born by 1672, and therefore the marriage must have taken place by then, or most likely, by 1671. All factors considered, the marriage of Robert Polk and Magdalen (Tasker) Porter is believed by this researcher (Bill Polk of Kansas City, MO.) to have occurred c1671.

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