James Clark was born 25 Dec 1824 to James Clark and Martha Tait in Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

The known children of James and Martha Tait siblings of James Clark (1824-1872), Mary Jane Clark Watson (1825-1882), William Clark (1828-1901), Hugh Clark (1829- ) and Anna Jane Clark Hartley (1832-1899), all born in Ireland.

James married Mary Ann Gillespie (1828-1901), daughter of James Gillespie (1804- ) and Jane Lees (1807- ) on the 4th of May 1846 in Duboe Parish, Colerain Barony, County Londonderry, Ireland.

The children of James and Mary Ann were:

Margaret Jane Clark McCaw (1847-1929); Rachel Clark (1849-1911); James Clark (1851-1863); Robert M. Clark (1853-1920); John R. Clark (1854-1925); Mary Ann Clark Ashby (1858-1941); Martha Clark Heffron (1862-1925); David Clark (1868-1868); and Maria Emily Clark Cavanagh (1871-1962).

James Clark died the 15th of January 1872 in Leeds County, Ontario and is buried in St. Peter’s Anglican Cemetery, Newboyne, Leeds and Grenville United Counties, Ontario, Canada.

James Clark and Martha Tait, brought their family to the USA from Ireland  sometime after 1832. Family notes suggest that James Senior was a war veteran. Martha operated a dry goods store in Pennsylvania after their arrival. Their family scattered across North America in search of land. James, the father, died in Watkins, Benton County, Iowa in March 1860. Martha died in Pennsylvania in October 1879.  The location of each birth suggests that the family was mobile during those years.