CLERCK, THOMAS [SSNE 6333]

Surname

CLERCK, CLERK, KLERK, KLÄRK

First name

THOMAS

Title/rank

TOWN MAYOR

Nationality

SCOT

Region

THURSO, CAITHNESS or ÖREBRO

Text source

Thomas Clerck was the brother of Admiral Hans Clerck [SSNE 4160]. He was the son of Captain William Clerck [SSNE 4349] who came to Sweden in 1607 with a Scottish regiment, and Malin Duncan [SSNE 6268]. Thomas Clerck was born in Sweden in 1614.

Thomas Clerck was a lawman at Norra Bergslag in 1645, and town mayor there in 1649. This is probably the same as the Thomas Clerck noted as mayor of Örebro who attended the nobility Riksdag in Stockholm in 1660. That year he was amongst those chosen to greet the king, queen and queen dowager. He later served as a lawman in Närke and judge for Värmland.

Thomas Clerck was ennobled in 1678 and introduced into the Riddarhus on his brother's number. He again attended the nobility Riksdag in 1668, which year he again was amongst those chosen to greet the king. He also attended in 1676, and when he attended in 1680 his words were recorded. He stated that in all his attendances at 7 Riksdag meetings he had never heard such extravagances regarding an issue between the king and the Estates.

Thomas Clerck was married three times: first to Christina, daughter of Nicolaus Jacobi Bothniensis; secondly to Anna Geijer, daughter of Christopher Geijer and Dorothea Giliidotter de Besche; and finally to Catharina Thun, sister of Henrik Thun (who was ennobled as Rosenstrom).

Thomas died in December 1682. His epitaph in Nicolaikyrkan (St Nicholas church) in Örebro reads: "Hans Kongl Maj:st vår allernedigste Konung och Herres troo tjenare underlagsman öfver Nerike och håradshöfdinge i Östergöthland samt JustitieBorgmästare i Örebro den ådle och vålborne herrn herr Thomas Klerk född anno 1614. Död anno 1682. Hvars sjål den alrahögste Gud fröjde och kroppen med alla christtrogna på den yttersta dagen en fröjdefull uppståndelse förlåne."

 

Sources: F. Fryxell, Wemelandia Nobilitata (landsarkivet, Gothenburg, 1945), p.34; T. Fischer, The Scots in Sweden, (Edinburgh, 1907), p.38; Borgarståndets Riksdagsprotokoll före frihetstiden, (Uppsala 1933), pp.22, 30-31, 42, 44, 47, 49, 52, 56, 60-61, 70-71, 79, 174, 201, 209 and p.430. Thanks to Ola Undin for transcribing the funary monument for us. E. E. Etzel, 'Notes on Swedo-Scottish Families, Scottish HIstorical Review, vol.9, no.35, April 1912, p.268.

Service record

SWEDEN, NORRA BERGSLAG

Arrived 1645-01-01, as LAWMAN

Departed 1649-12-31, as TOWN MAYOR

Capacity PUBLIC SERVANT, purpose CIVIC, LEGAL

SWEDEN, NÄRKE AND VÄRMLAND

Arrived 1650-01-01

Departed 1682-12-14, as REGIONAL GOVERNOR

Capacity LEGAL OFFICER AND GOVERNOR, purpose CIVIC

SWEDEN, ÖREBRO

Arrived 1660-01-01, as TOWN MAYOR

Departed 1680-12-31, as TOWN MAYOR

Capacity PUBLIC SERVANT, purpose CIVIC