In honor of Gen. George R. Clarke
In March 1836 the House of Delegates gave the new county cut from eastern Frederick the name Clarke, "in honor of Gen. George R. Clarke," the Richmond Enquirer reported. The Virginia Free Press in Charlestown told its readers that "The county including Berryville is to be called Clarke."
The same week the legislature made a second county, Warren, out of parts of Frederick and Shenandoah. A Richmond Courier report, reprinted in the Alexandria Gazette on March 12, gave the two names together: the new county "to be called Clark, in memory of George Rogers Clark," and Warren "in remembrance of Gen. Warren." Both bills passed the Senate "by almost unanimous votes."
The House's own journal is briefer than the papers. When the bill was read a third time, it records, "a blank therein was filled," and the bill passed, 84 to 29. It does not say what filled the blank or who moved it.
Source note: Richmond Enquirer, 1836, and one more
The House named the new county Clarke, "in honor of Gen. George R. Clarke," George Rogers Clark; the Virginia Free Press told its readers that "The county including Berryville is to be called Clarke."
What the source supports
Whom the county was named for, in the words of the day.
Uncertainty
The papers spell the general's name Clarke; he is usually written George Rogers Clark. Read on the Virginia Chronicle page image, a digital reproduction of the printed page. No human historian has reviewed this claim.
Source
Evidence role: supports. Richmond Enquirer, Page 3, NEW COUNTY, House of Delegates, Saturday, March 5.
Richmond Enquirer, Richmond, Va., March 12, 1836, page 3: House of Delegates proceedings on the passage of the act forming Clarke County, 1836
Richmond Enquirer · 1836-03-12 (publication)
Locator: Page 3, NEW COUNTY, House of Delegates, Saturday, March 5
Relevant passagethe name of Clarke was given to the new county, in honor of Gen. George R. Clarke
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: richmond-enquirer. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: supports. Virginia Free Press, Page 3, the two new counties.
Virginia Free Press, Charlestown, Va., March 17, 1836, page 3: news report on the passage of the act forming Clarke County, 1836
Virginia Free Press · 1836-03-17 (publication)
Locator: Page 3, the two new counties
Relevant passageThe county including Berryville is to be called Clarke, after the celebrated George Rogers Clarke
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: virginia-free-press. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-17. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Alexandria Gazette, 1836
On March 12, 1836 the Alexandria Gazette reprinted a Richmond Courier report that the Senate had passed, "by almost unanimous votes," the bill for a new county out of part of Frederick "to be called Clark, in memory of George Rogers Clark," and the bill for a county out of parts of Shenandoah and Frederick "to be called Warren, in remembrance of Gen. Warren."
What the source supports
That the new county's name was printed without the e in at least one report of the week it passed, and that the same report named the two new counties together.
Uncertainty
A Richmond paper's report, reprinted; the Courier's own issue was not read. "Yesterday" is the Courier's, not the Gazette's. Read on the Virginia Chronicle page image of the Gazette, a digital reproduction; the source record lists the article as read from OCR, and this passage carries its own image check. No human historian has reviewed this claim.
Source
Evidence role: supports. Alexandria Gazette, Page 3, the Senate, credited to the Richmond Courier.
Alexandria Gazette, Alexandria, D.C., March 12, 1836, page 3: reprinted report on the passage of the act forming Clarke County, 1836
Alexandria Gazette · 1836-03-12 (publication)
Locator: Page 3, the Senate, credited to the Richmond Courier
Relevant passageThe bill forming a new county, out of a part of Frederick to be called Clark, in memory of George Rogers Clark, and the bill forming a new county out of parts of Shenandoah and Frederick to be called Warren, in remembrance of Gen. Warren, both passed the Senate yesterday, by almost unanimous votes.
Checked: This passage was read on a digital reproduction of the page; no original has been handled. The source's other readings: existing OCR reviewed, original image not independently inspected.
Open sourceSource family: alexandria-gazette. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-18. How this project checks its sources
Source note: House of Delegates of Virginia, 1836
The House journal records that when the bill forming a new county out of Frederick was read a third time, "a blank therein was filled," and the bill passed, 84 to 29. It does not say what filled the blank or on whose motion.
What the source supports
That the official record of the House is silent on who proposed the name.
Uncertainty
The journal records motions and votes, not debate; the newspapers' report that the name was given at this stage is theirs. Read on HathiTrust's page image, a digital reproduction. No human historian has reviewed this claim.
Source
Evidence role: supports. House of Delegates of Virginia, Page 194, the third reading of the Frederick bill.
Journal of the House of Delegates of Virginia, session of 1835-36, page 194, and Doc. No. 6, page 3
House of Delegates of Virginia · 1836 (publication)
Locator: Page 194, the third reading of the Frederick bill
Relevant passageAn engrossed bill, forming a new county out of the county of Frederick, was read a third time, a blank therein was filled, and the question being put upon its passage, was determined in the affirmative. Ayes 84, noes 29.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: virginia-general-assembly. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-18. How this project checks its sources
The House journal on the bill's passage: it "was read a third time, a blank therein was filled," and passed 84 to 29. The journal does not say what filled the blank.
What this image does and does not showThe whole printed page. Most of it is the close of a letter from Senator Benjamin Watkins Leigh; the Frederick bill is in the lower third, followed by the list of ayes.
Journal of the House of Delegates of Virginia, 1835-36, page 194. HathiTrust Digital Library (New York Public Library copy). Rights Changes: The whole page as downloaded from HathiTrust's viewer at 300 dpi (2285 by 3121 pixels), not cropped or scaled, re-encoded once as JPEG. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: Journal of the House of Delegates of Virginia, session of 1835-36, page 194, and Doc. No. 6, page 3 Open the full image
Clark or Clarke
The general is usually written George Rogers Clark, without an e. The papers of 1836 wrote him both ways: the Enquirer and the Free Press gave him the e, and the Courier did not.
The county's name had the e from the act itself. Chapter 19 of the session laws, "Passed March 8, 1836," says the eastern part of Frederick "shall form one distinct and new county, and be called and known by the name of Clarke county." The Free Press printed the same words on March 24. The county government's history keeps the two spellings apart today: Clarke County "is named for George Rogers Clark (no “e”)."
Source note: Richmond Enquirer, 1836, and one more
The House named the new county Clarke, "in honor of Gen. George R. Clarke," George Rogers Clark; the Virginia Free Press told its readers that "The county including Berryville is to be called Clarke."
What the source supports
Whom the county was named for, in the words of the day.
Uncertainty
The papers spell the general's name Clarke; he is usually written George Rogers Clark. Read on the Virginia Chronicle page image, a digital reproduction of the printed page. No human historian has reviewed this claim.
Source
Evidence role: supports. Richmond Enquirer, Page 3, NEW COUNTY, House of Delegates, Saturday, March 5.
Richmond Enquirer, Richmond, Va., March 12, 1836, page 3: House of Delegates proceedings on the passage of the act forming Clarke County, 1836
Richmond Enquirer · 1836-03-12 (publication)
Locator: Page 3, NEW COUNTY, House of Delegates, Saturday, March 5
Relevant passagethe name of Clarke was given to the new county, in honor of Gen. George R. Clarke
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: richmond-enquirer. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: supports. Virginia Free Press, Page 3, the two new counties.
Virginia Free Press, Charlestown, Va., March 17, 1836, page 3: news report on the passage of the act forming Clarke County, 1836
Virginia Free Press · 1836-03-17 (publication)
Locator: Page 3, the two new counties
Relevant passageThe county including Berryville is to be called Clarke, after the celebrated George Rogers Clarke
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: virginia-free-press. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-17. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Virginia Free Press, 1836
The act, as the Virginia Free Press printed it on March 24, 1836, made the eastern part of Frederick "one distinct and new county," to "be called and known by the name of Clarke county," and directed the Governor to commission nineteen justices of the peace for it.
What the source supports
What the act said about the county's name and its first magistrates.
Uncertainty
The newspaper's printing of the act, not the session laws. Read on the Virginia Chronicle page image, a digital reproduction of the printed page. No human historian has reviewed this claim.
Source
Evidence role: supports. Virginia Free Press, Page 2, the act forming Clarke County.
Virginia Free Press, Charlestown, Va., March 24, 1836, page 2: the act forming Clarke County, printed
Virginia Free Press · 1836-03-24 (publication)
Locator: Page 2, the act forming Clarke County
Relevant passageshall form one distinct and new county, and be called and known by the name of Clarke county. The Governor shall commission nineteen persons as justices of the peace
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: virginia-free-press. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-17. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Alexandria Gazette, 1836
On March 12, 1836 the Alexandria Gazette reprinted a Richmond Courier report that the Senate had passed, "by almost unanimous votes," the bill for a new county out of part of Frederick "to be called Clark, in memory of George Rogers Clark," and the bill for a county out of parts of Shenandoah and Frederick "to be called Warren, in remembrance of Gen. Warren."
What the source supports
That the new county's name was printed without the e in at least one report of the week it passed, and that the same report named the two new counties together.
Uncertainty
A Richmond paper's report, reprinted; the Courier's own issue was not read. "Yesterday" is the Courier's, not the Gazette's. Read on the Virginia Chronicle page image of the Gazette, a digital reproduction; the source record lists the article as read from OCR, and this passage carries its own image check. No human historian has reviewed this claim.
Source
Evidence role: supports. Alexandria Gazette, Page 3, the Senate, credited to the Richmond Courier.
Alexandria Gazette, Alexandria, D.C., March 12, 1836, page 3: reprinted report on the passage of the act forming Clarke County, 1836
Alexandria Gazette · 1836-03-12 (publication)
Locator: Page 3, the Senate, credited to the Richmond Courier
Relevant passageThe bill forming a new county, out of a part of Frederick to be called Clark, in memory of George Rogers Clark, and the bill forming a new county out of parts of Shenandoah and Frederick to be called Warren, in remembrance of Gen. Warren, both passed the Senate yesterday, by almost unanimous votes.
Checked: This passage was read on a digital reproduction of the page; no original has been handled. The source's other readings: existing OCR reviewed, original image not independently inspected.
Open sourceSource family: alexandria-gazette. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-18. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke County government
The county government's brief history says Clarke County is named for George Rogers Clark, "no “e”," a Virginian who became "the highest-ranking American military officer on the northwestern frontier during the American Revolutionary War."
What the source supports
How the county itself gives the naming today, and that it spells the man without the e.
Uncertainty
A government summary, not the act; it does not say where the county's e came from. No human historian has reviewed this claim.
Source
Evidence role: supports. Clarke County government, Opening paragraph, after the date the county was established.
A Brief County History
Clarke County government
Locator: Opening paragraph, after the date the county was established
Relevant passageIt is named for George Rogers Clark (no “e”), a Virginian who became the highest-ranking American military officer on the northwestern frontier during the American Revolutionary War.
Checked: Page text reviewed. Original image not independently inspected.
Open sourceSource family: county-history. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-18. How this project checks its sources
Source note: General Assembly of Virginia, 1836
The session laws of 1835-36 print the act forming Clarke County as Chapter 19, "Passed March 8, 1836": the eastern part of Frederick "shall form one distinct and new county, and be called and known by the name of Clarke county."
What the source supports
That the county's name had the e in the act as the Commonwealth printed it.
Uncertainty
The printed session laws, not the enrolled act. Read on HathiTrust's page image, a digital reproduction. No human historian has reviewed this claim.
Source
Evidence role: supports. General Assembly of Virginia, Page 20, Chap. 19, heading.
Acts of the General Assembly of Virginia, session of 1835-36, page 20: Chapter 19, an act forming a new county out of the county of Frederick
General Assembly of Virginia · 1836 (publication)
Locator: Page 20, Chap. 19, heading
Relevant passageCHAP. 19.—An ACT forming a new county out of the county of Frederick. [Passed March 8, 1836.]
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: virginia-general-assembly. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: supports. General Assembly of Virginia, Page 20, Chap. 19, section 1.
Acts of the General Assembly of Virginia, session of 1835-36, page 20: Chapter 19, an act forming a new county out of the county of Frederick
General Assembly of Virginia · 1836 (publication)
Locator: Page 20, Chap. 19, section 1
Relevant passageshall form one distinct and new county, and be called and known by the name of Clarke county.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: virginia-general-assembly. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-18. How this project checks its sources
The Alexandria Gazette reprints the Richmond Courier: the bill for a new county out of Frederick, "to be called Clark, in memory of George Rogers Clark," and the bill for Warren both passed the Senate. The paragraph is in the third column.
What this image does and does not showThe whole printed page. The naming paragraph is a few lines in the third column; the rest of the page is other news, prices and advertisements.
Alexandria Gazette (Alexandria, D.C.), March 12, 1836, page 3. Virginia Chronicle, Library of Virginia. Rights Changes: The whole page image from Virginia Chronicle's PDF of the page (3400 by 5040 pixels), not cropped or scaled, re-encoded once as JPEG. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: Alexandria Gazette, Alexandria, D.C., March 12, 1836, page 3: reprinted report on the passage of the act forming Clarke County, 1836 Open the full image
The act as the Commonwealth printed it: Chapter 19, passed March 8, 1836. The new county is to "be called and known by the name of Clarke county," and the margin reads "Clarke county created."
What this image does and does not showThe whole printed page. The act begins below the end of the act forming Braxton County and runs on to the next two pages.
Acts of the General Assembly of Virginia, 1835-36, page 20. HathiTrust Digital Library (Ohio State University copy). Rights Changes: The whole page as downloaded from HathiTrust's viewer at 300 dpi (1626 by 2504 pixels), not cropped or scaled, re-encoded once as JPEG. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: Acts of the General Assembly of Virginia, session of 1835-36, page 20: Chapter 19, an act forming a new county out of the county of Frederick Open the full image
A man from Albemarle
Clark did not come from this part of Virginia. Encyclopedia Virginia's entry on him, by Donald W. Gunter, says he was born on November 19, 1752, near Charlottesville in Albemarle County, and grew up on his family's farm in Caroline County. He made his name in the West, as "the highest-ranking American military officer on the northwestern frontier during the American Revolutionary War," in the county history's words. He died at Locust Grove, in Jefferson County, Kentucky, in 1818, eighteen years before the county was named for him.
He was before the legislature that winter for another reason. Among the documents printed with the House journal is a report on old claims for supplies "made to the Illinois regiment, under the command of George Rogers Clark." The report says nothing about the new county, and the journal does not connect the two.
Source note: Clarke County government
The county government's brief history says Clarke County is named for George Rogers Clark, "no “e”," a Virginian who became "the highest-ranking American military officer on the northwestern frontier during the American Revolutionary War."
What the source supports
How the county itself gives the naming today, and that it spells the man without the e.
Uncertainty
A government summary, not the act; it does not say where the county's e came from. No human historian has reviewed this claim.
Source
Evidence role: supports. Clarke County government, Opening paragraph, after the date the county was established.
A Brief County History
Clarke County government
Locator: Opening paragraph, after the date the county was established
Relevant passageIt is named for George Rogers Clark (no “e”), a Virginian who became the highest-ranking American military officer on the northwestern frontier during the American Revolutionary War.
Checked: Page text reviewed. Original image not independently inspected.
Open sourceSource family: county-history. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-18. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Donald W. Gunter, Encyclopedia Virginia, 2020
Encyclopedia Virginia's entry on George Rogers Clark, by Donald W. Gunter, says he was born on November 19, 1752, near Charlottesville in Albemarle County, grew up on his family's farm in Caroline County, and died at Locust Grove, in Jefferson County, Kentucky, in 1818.
What the source supports
Where the man the county was named for came from: on this account he was neither born nor raised in the part of Frederick that became Clarke.
Uncertainty
An edited reference entry that summarizes other scholarship; the places are its statements. The entry does not mention the county named for him. No human historian has reviewed this claim.
Source
Evidence role: supports. Donald W. Gunter, Encyclopedia Virginia, Early Years.
George Rogers Clark (1752–1818)
Donald W. Gunter, Encyclopedia Virginia · 2020-12-07 (last update)
Locator: Early Years
Relevant passageHe was born on November 19, 1752, near Charlottesville in Albemarle County and grew up on the family’s small farm in Caroline County.
Checked: Page text reviewed. Original image not independently inspected.
Open sourceSource family: encyclopedia-virginia. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: supports. Donald W. Gunter, Encyclopedia Virginia, Summary.
George Rogers Clark (1752–1818)
Donald W. Gunter, Encyclopedia Virginia · 2020-12-07 (last update)
Locator: Summary
Relevant passageFollowing another stroke, he died at Locust Grove, in Jefferson County, Kentucky, in 1818.
Checked: Page text reviewed. Original image not independently inspected.
Open sourceSource family: encyclopedia-virginia. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-18. How this project checks its sources
Source note: House of Delegates of Virginia, 1836
Among the documents printed with the House journal of 1835-36, the commissioner of revolutionary claims reported on his duty "to investigate and adjust the claims against the state of Virginia, for supplies in money or otherwise, made to the Illinois regiment, under the command of George Rogers Clark."
What the source supports
That Clark's Revolutionary War regiment was before the General Assembly in the same session that named the county.
Uncertainty
The report deals with old debts of the Illinois regiment; it says nothing about the new county, and the record does not connect the two. Read on HathiTrust's page image, a digital reproduction. No human historian has reviewed this claim.
Source
Evidence role: supports. House of Delegates of Virginia, Page Doc. No. 6, 3, report of the commissioner of revolutionary claims, his fourth duty.
Journal of the House of Delegates of Virginia, session of 1835-36, page 194, and Doc. No. 6, page 3
House of Delegates of Virginia · 1836 (publication)
Locator: Page Doc. No. 6, 3, report of the commissioner of revolutionary claims, his fourth duty
Relevant passageto investigate and adjust the claims against the state of Virginia, for supplies in money or otherwise, made to the Illinois regiment, under the command of George Rogers Clark
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: virginia-general-assembly. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-18. How this project checks its sources
The same session received a report on old claims for supplies "made to the Illinois regiment, under the command of George Rogers Clark." The report says nothing about the new county.
What this image does and does not showThe whole printed page, the first page of the report. Its covering letter, dated December 10, 1835, is on the page before.
Journal of the House of Delegates of Virginia, 1835-36, Doc. No. 6, page 3. HathiTrust Digital Library (New York Public Library copy). Rights Changes: The whole page as downloaded from HathiTrust's viewer at 300 dpi (2252 by 3107 pixels), not cropped or scaled, re-encoded once as JPEG. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: Journal of the House of Delegates of Virginia, session of 1835-36, page 194, and Doc. No. 6, page 3 Open the full image
About the sourcesWhat the evidence says
Newspaper reports of March 1836 read on the page images, the act and the House journal of the session read on HathiTrust's scans, the county government's history and Encyclopedia Virginia's entry on Clark.
The papers say whom the county was named for; the House journal says only that a blank in the bill was filled.
- An account exists✓ Supported by a source
The House named the new county Clarke, "in honor of Gen. George R. Clarke," George Rogers Clark; the Virginia Free Press told its readers that "The county including Berryville is to be called Clarke."
See the evidence
✓ Supported by a sourceAn account existsThe House named the new county Clarke, "in honor of Gen. George R. Clarke," George Rogers Clark; the Virginia Free Press told its readers that "The county including Berryville is to be called Clarke."
What the source supports
Whom the county was named for, in the words of the day.
Uncertainty
The papers spell the general's name Clarke; he is usually written George Rogers Clark. Read on the Virginia Chronicle page image, a digital reproduction of the printed page. No human historian has reviewed this claim.
Source
Reporting Evidence role: supports. Richmond Enquirer, Page 3, NEW COUNTY, House of Delegates, Saturday, March 5.
Richmond Enquirer, Richmond, Va., March 12, 1836, page 3: House of Delegates proceedings on the passage of the act forming Clarke County, 1836
Richmond Enquirer · 1836-03-12 (publication)
Locator: Page 3, NEW COUNTY, House of Delegates, Saturday, March 5
Relevant passagethe name of Clarke was given to the new county, in honor of Gen. George R. Clarke
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: richmond-enquirer. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Reporting Evidence role: supports. Virginia Free Press, Page 3, the two new counties.
Virginia Free Press, Charlestown, Va., March 17, 1836, page 3: news report on the passage of the act forming Clarke County, 1836
Virginia Free Press · 1836-03-17 (publication)
Locator: Page 3, the two new counties
Relevant passageThe county including Berryville is to be called Clarke, after the celebrated George Rogers Clarke
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: virginia-free-press. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-17. How this project checks its sources
- An account exists✓ Supported by a source
The session laws of 1835-36 print the act forming Clarke County as Chapter 19, "Passed March 8, 1836": the eastern part of Frederick "shall form one distinct and new county, and be called and known by the name of Clarke county."
See the evidence
✓ Supported by a sourceAn account existsThe session laws of 1835-36 print the act forming Clarke County as Chapter 19, "Passed March 8, 1836": the eastern part of Frederick "shall form one distinct and new county, and be called and known by the name of Clarke county."
What the source supports
That the county's name had the e in the act as the Commonwealth printed it.
Uncertainty
The printed session laws, not the enrolled act. Read on HathiTrust's page image, a digital reproduction. No human historian has reviewed this claim.
Source
Contemporary document Evidence role: supports. General Assembly of Virginia, Page 20, Chap. 19, heading.
Acts of the General Assembly of Virginia, session of 1835-36, page 20: Chapter 19, an act forming a new county out of the county of Frederick
General Assembly of Virginia · 1836 (publication)
Locator: Page 20, Chap. 19, heading
Relevant passageCHAP. 19.—An ACT forming a new county out of the county of Frederick. [Passed March 8, 1836.]
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: virginia-general-assembly. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Contemporary document Evidence role: supports. General Assembly of Virginia, Page 20, Chap. 19, section 1.
Acts of the General Assembly of Virginia, session of 1835-36, page 20: Chapter 19, an act forming a new county out of the county of Frederick
General Assembly of Virginia · 1836 (publication)
Locator: Page 20, Chap. 19, section 1
Relevant passageshall form one distinct and new county, and be called and known by the name of Clarke county.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: virginia-general-assembly. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-18. How this project checks its sources
- An account exists✓ Supported by a source
The House journal records that when the bill forming a new county out of Frederick was read a third time, "a blank therein was filled," and the bill passed, 84 to 29. It does not say what filled the blank or on whose motion.
See the evidence
✓ Supported by a sourceAn account existsThe House journal records that when the bill forming a new county out of Frederick was read a third time, "a blank therein was filled," and the bill passed, 84 to 29. It does not say what filled the blank or on whose motion.
What the source supports
That the official record of the House is silent on who proposed the name.
Uncertainty
The journal records motions and votes, not debate; the newspapers' report that the name was given at this stage is theirs. Read on HathiTrust's page image, a digital reproduction. No human historian has reviewed this claim.
Source
Contemporary document Evidence role: supports. House of Delegates of Virginia, Page 194, the third reading of the Frederick bill.
Journal of the House of Delegates of Virginia, session of 1835-36, page 194, and Doc. No. 6, page 3
House of Delegates of Virginia · 1836 (publication)
Locator: Page 194, the third reading of the Frederick bill
Relevant passageAn engrossed bill, forming a new county out of the county of Frederick, was read a third time, a blank therein was filled, and the question being put upon its passage, was determined in the affirmative. Ayes 84, noes 29.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: virginia-general-assembly. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-10-18. How this project checks its sources
Each statement above is assessed on its own evidence. Nothing here is averaged, scored or voted on, and a well-attributed account can be documented while what it describes stays unconfirmed.
The sources
The newspaper passages were read on the page images at Virginia Chronicle, the Library of Virginia's digital archive, and the session laws and the journal of the House of Delegates for 1835 and 1836 on HathiTrust's scans; the three pages are shown whole above. The newspapers say whom the county was named for. None of these records says who proposed the name or why. Clark's birth, upbringing and death are from Encyclopedia Virginia, a signed reference entry adapted from the Dictionary of Virginia Biography.
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Go deeper: every source under this story Follow another threadHow Clarke left Frederick: the petitions and the newspapers, 1833 to 1836
How the county was made, from the Berryville meeting of 1833 to the first court in 1836.