William Clarke (abt. 1829 - 1912)

Born about 1829 in Cork, County Cork, Ireland

Ancestors

Husband of Susan (Darling) Clarke — married before 21 Apr 1851 in Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire, England

Descendants

Died 4 Mar 1912 at about age 83 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia

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Biography

According to the 1851 Census and his death certificate, William was born in Ireland. The 1851 Census shows he was born in Cork County of Ireland in 1829 and his death certificate puts him as born 1825 in Ireland.^[1][2] His 'Native Place & County" in his 1851 immigration record showed he was from Waterbeach, Cants.

In 1841 - not yet found/confirmed

In the 1851 census William (age 23), Blacksmith, was the unmarried son of John Clark in Denny End, Waterbeach, Chesterton, Cambridgeshire, England.^[1]

William, a blacksmith, married Susan on 21 April 1851 in Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire, England.^[3][4] His father was a policeman.

The couple arrived in Geelong, Victoria, Australia on 14 September 1851 via the Statesman.^[5] With them was William, their infant son. William was a Blacksmith and they were both 23. They were recorded as being Episcopalian from Water Beach, Cants.

William who was born in Ireland, was aged 87 when he died of "senile decay exhaustion" on 4 March 1912 in Malop Street, City of Geelong, County Grant. He was an "old aged pensioner" and "retired dealer". He had been in Victoria for 61 years and had been married to Susan Darling for 25 years, whom he married in England. His father was John Clarke, Drill Sargeant and his mother Mary Ann Clarke, formerly Snowden. He was buried on 5 March 1912 in Eastern Cemetery, Geelong. At the time of his death he had the following children:^[2][6]

• William, 61
• Joseph, 57
• Elizabeth, Dec[ease]d
• Thomas, 55
• James (George), 54
• John, not listed on death certificate, died at 9 months
• Sarah, 51
• Ellen (Eleanor), 49
• Alfred (Frederick), Dec[eased]d, died at 1 year old
• Emma (Emily), 43
• Mary, 42

His obituary reads:

MR. WM. CLARKE.

The remains of the late Mr. William

Clarke were interred in the Church of Eng-

land portion of the Eastern Cemetery on

Tuesday last. The deceased was a colonist

of over 60 years, and a very old resident of

Geelong, having carried on the business of

general dealer in Malop Street for many

years. Mr. Miles officiated at the residence

and also at the grave. The coffin-bearers

were Messrs. W. Clarke, T. Clarke, H.

Clarke and T. Coles. The pall was support-

ed by Messrs. J. Baird, D. Baird, G. Baird

and B., T., W., E. and L. Clarke. One

remarkable thing in reference to the coffin-

and pall bearers was that all were grand-

sons of the deceased. Messrs. R. N. Car-

bines and Son carried out the mortuary ar-

rangements.^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} 1851 Census: "1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census"
   Reference: HO107; Piece number: 1759; Folio: 323; Page: 4; Schedule: 17
   FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (subscription required, accessed 1 January 2023)
   First name(s): William; Last name: Clark; Relationship: Son; Marital status: Unmarried; Sex: Male; Age: 23; Birth year: 1828; Birth place other as transcribed: Cork County of Ireland; Occupation: Blacksmith; Full address: Denny End, Waterbeach, Chesterton, Cambridgeshire, England; House name: Denny End; Parish: Waterbeach; County: Cambridgeshire; Country: England; Registration district: Chesterton; Sub district: Willingham; Enumeration district: 14B.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Births Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Wm Clark Event:deaths Registration number1805 / 1912 Family name:CLARK Given name(s)Wm Place of event:Glong, Australia Personal detail Mother's name<Unknown Family Name>, Mary Ann Mother's family name at birthSNOWDEN Father's Name:<Unknown Family Name>, Clark Jno Copy of death certificate purchased and in the possession of Susan (Potter) Officer
3. ↑ Marriage: "Cambridgeshire Banns"
   FindMyPast Transcription (subscription required, accessed 23 April 2022)
   William Clarke marriage to Susan Darling in Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire.
4. ↑ Marriage: "Cambridgeshire Marriages"
   FindMyPast Transcription (subscription required, accessed 23 April 2022)
   William Clarke marriage to Susan Darling on 21 Apr 1851 in Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire. First name(s) William Last name Clarke Marriage year 1851 Marriage date 21 Apr 1851 Spouse's first name(s) Susan Spouse's last name Darling Groom's first name(s) William Groom's last name Clarke Groom's age full Groom's marital status bac Groom's occupation blacksmith Groom's parish otp Groom's father's first name(s) John Groom's father's occupation policeman Bride's first name(s) Susan Bride's last name Darling Bride's marital status sp Bride's age full Bride's parish otp Bride's father's first name Thomas Bride's father's occupation lab Witnesses William BURGESS,Sarah CLARKE Licence or banns by banns Place Waterbeach County Cambridgeshire Record set Cambridgeshire Marriages Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records Subcategory Parish Marriages Collections from England, Great Britain
5. ↑ Passenger List: "Victoria, Australia, Assisted and Unassisted Passenger Lists, 1839-1923"
   Public Record Office Victoria; North Melbourne, Victoria; Register of Assisted Immigrants from the United Kindom (refer to microform copy, VPRS 3502); Series: VPRS 14
   Ancestry au Record 1635 #3694369 (subscription required, accessed 23 April 2022)
   Name: Susan Clark; Nationality: English; Arrival Age: 23; Birth Date: abt 1828; Departure Place: Plymouth; Arrival Date: 14 Sep 1851; Arrival Place: Geelong, Point Henry and Victoria, Australia; Ship: Statesman.
6. ↑ "Find a Grave," database with images, (Find A Grave: Memorial #163739039 : accessed 1 January 2023), Memorial page for William Henry Clarke (1824-3 Mar 1912), citing Geelong Eastern Cemetery, Geelong, Greater Geelong City, Victoria, Australia (plot: EAS-COE-04-807-092); Maintained by Ron M (contributor 48458376).
7. ↑ "Trove, National Library of Australia," database with images, (Trove Article : accessed 1 January 2023); citing Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 - 1929), Mon 11 Mar 1912, Page 5 : OBITUARY.