Benjamin Clarke was a brazier in Boston, Ma. Born on Jan 1, 1730, he was the son of Benjamin and Miriam (Kilby) Clarke. He graduated from Harvard in 1750 and settled in Boston. He served as a constable and later, clerk of the market. Clarke was a prosperous businessman. Although described as a merchant, he specialized in brasses. In 1764, he was a member of the Society for Encouraging Trade and Commerce; in 1768, he signed the merchants' non-importation agreement, and the next year he signed the petition protesting the sending of the Regulars to Boston. Shortly after, Clarke parted company with the Whigs and signed a loyalty oath to Gov. Hutchinson and Gen. Gage. At the outbreak of the war, he retired to Nantucket and then moved to Norwich, Ct. Clarke later returned to Boston, Ma., where he was made a Justice of the Peace in 1784. Clarke died in 1811.
From the description of Account book, 1769-1812. (Winterthur Library). WorldCat record id: 84666419
