J.H. Watmuff's Journal referrences to the relationship of his sister Mary Taylor Watmuff and John James Clark

Date: 1861 [unknown]
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

The journal's of John Henry Watmuff, the brother of JJ’s wife Mary Taylor Watmuff, gives the occasional reference and time frame of this developing relationship. She was born in 1845 lived with her mother, sister Bessie and brother’s J H and Frederick, Edward and Charles. This family, father, Stephen Watmuff his wife, Elizabeth and five children arrived in Adelaide in 1850 aboard the ‘Brothers’, and later moved to Melbourne, with the father returning to England. Mary was a teacher.

Nov 1856 Letter from Mary, the first she ever wrote me.

29 August 1858 sent a pound for Mary’s schooling.

22 Feb 1859 letter from Mother on Saturday & enclosed in it was one from Mary, all well, Mary is a pupil teacher at a school but it was burnt down some days back

31 July 1859 Mary has been to a Ball at Sunbury, in company with Jane Summers, & I believe enjoyed herself very well.

7 Oct 1859 Mary playd on the piano for me the first time I ever heard her. I think with practice she will make a fine performer

30 Oct 1859 long letter from Fred, he informs me that my sister Mary is very ill, & in the opinion of several that she is in a decline. God forbid for she is very dear to me. Im trying to make arragements for her to come up here, the change may do her good

4 Dec 1859 my sister Mary just returned from Sunbury where she had been spending a few days on a visit at McDougalls

16 Jan 1860 My sister Mary was her bridesmaid & is spending a week with her (Jane Summers Merry Jig, Sunbury)

29 Jan 1860 I wrote to Mother last Monday & sent her £1.0.0 , received an answer yesterday all well, she has moved into another house, more rent, but better situated, she is going to let one room — & Mary has commenced a school, attached to the house — I hope she will be prosperous in her undertaking. I cannot but admire her courage in making such an attempt at her age. I think she is just turned 15, she wants some money to fit the room up with forms & desks Etc. I wish I had some to send her, but unfortunately I have not.

23 May 1860 received a long letter from mother — all well, my sisters school is improving.

10 Aug 1860 I received several letters lately, one from my sister Mary that didnt please me — one Mr. Davis seems to be the leading idea that pervades in in it, no allusion made to mothers struggles & difficulties, or a particle of sympathy, poor girl, I must not be too hard, for she is very young & I must say thoughtless. I trust as she grows older, she will improve.

15 Aug 1860 Mary did not like the form of my last letter to her I trust she has more sense than to despise advice that I meant for her good

4 November 1860 Letter from mother…Mary quite got over her attack

10 Dec 1861 Mary is growing a nice young woman, Bessy is much taller — I suppose we shall have her in long dresses soon & a consequence she’ll be!

15 Dec 1861 We met a gentleman named Clark an acquaintance of Marys to whom she introduced me to

19 Dec 1861 they came home with Mr Clark about 10 pm spent a very happy evening together

18 January 1864 Mr J.J. Clark, friend of my sister, a very gentlemanly well informed & I should think clever young fellow.

25 January 1864 Mr Clark here he appears to be a constant visitor at our house. I cannot say I altogether like him I believe him to be very talented & clever in his profession (an architect, in the Govt. employ with a salary of, I believe, £450.0.0 ayear) but very egotistical & self opinionated, & displays a deal of affectation, in endeavouring to persuade people he has no self esteem & yet I never met one I fancy, is so fond of approbation. I dont think he is as fond of his bed as I am, or else he would be in it ere now, he dont seem to think people want to go to bed - for he never thinks of going till close on 12 Pm.

7 Feb 1864 this infernal teaching harasses the soul out of them…. Friday my sister Mary gave her school children a little party in the evening some children of an older growth called & several young ladies

28 May1864 my sisters school is not much, does not pay for the trouble attending

4 Jun 1864 my sister Mary works hard teaching & does not get well paid for that, tho she never grumbles….a struggle

4 September 1864 J.J. Clark who has been absent from our house through some disagreement with my sister, they appear to understand each other pretty well now - I must talk to him, for I dont intend allowing him to dally on much further with my sister without some understanding from him in reference to his intentions towards her.

18 Sep 1864 I spoke… about his intentions to my sister Mary but could get nothing satisfactory from him, nor can I make her out, they seem to understand each- -other, which is more than any one else can. I only hope it will be all right in the end.

19 March 1865 letter from Aunt Lucy….containing £50 for my sister Mary to enable her to procure things which she will require for her wedding - which is to take place in a few months time. I dont trouble myself much about the affair, for J.J.Clark is a man I dont like, time may change my opinion of him - I hope it may. I rarely ever speak to him – he is a relative to my friends the Clarks, who have figured in my journal of late.

4 June 1865 The following is interesting more so that in the following several months JH Watmuff appears to become a good friend to his brother in law JJ Clark!

‘Last Saturday evening I had some words with J.J.Clark the gentleman my sister Mary is engaged to. ‘I never liked him, he appears, to me, to have a most proud overbearing contemptible manner & one of those men who can see no virtue in another, & is very nasty & sarcastic at times. I dont mind that sort of thing so long as he keeps it for strangers, but he is continually casting reproaches & saying disagreeable things about our family Etc I let him know that he had no right to assume such a dictatorial tone in our house & insisted upon him, for the future to mind his own business on the following Monday morning I received a most intolerant note from him to which I replied in very plain terms The following day I received another note from him, more overbearing & insulting than the former I answered it also in a manner which no man of spirit could have mistaken. I had the mortification of receiving another effusion from him in reply which I intended returning to him unopened, but for my mother who thought there might be something in it in reference to my sister there was not & I am happy to state that in none of his notes did he allude to her, she met him this morning & he informed her that he did not intend to visit the house again. I hope he wont while I am in it, for I shall certainly quarrel with him, but for Marys sake I would have kicked him out of the house long ago, she is a fool to attach herself to such a man, she has plenty of admirers but Clark always seems to hang after her, dog in the manger kind of spirit. He is a clever young man an Architect by profession, & is employed in the Bd of Lands & Works Office & is in receipt of a splendid salary I really think he is fond of my sister, but being very sensitive & proud he is afraid of being ridiculed by marrying my sister in the face of the many of the many illnatured unfounded reports that have been spread by malicious people concerning the cause of my fathers absence & his living away from his family, it would be amusing if it was not so injurious to think of the many stories which have been in circulation respecting us of which I was quite ignorant of until I came to live at home - another of the mortifications my fathers conduct has entailed upon his family’.

1 October 1865 Last night I accompanied Mother & Mary shopping, our house is like a dressmaking establishment in consequence of the approaching wedding of my sister Mary which is to take place next Tuesday the 3rd inst to Mr. Jn.Jms Clark. I dont take much interest in the affair Clark & I not being on the best of terms we had some words, in reference to his intentions to- -wards my sister some months ago, he had been *coming after now for nearly 5 years & I thought it was high time some understanding was come to, he objected to my interference & several unpleasent epistles passed between us which resulted in producing an estrangement between him & our family, however Mary has met him & I know she is fond of him & so they have come to the determination of getting married, he is so insuff -erably proud & distant that although I admire him his intellectual attainments I do not at all like the prospect of his marrying my darling sister, their natures being so entirely different from each others that I fear it will not prove a happy union. God grant it may be different from what I anticipate & that I have misunderstood him. I am truly sorry there is not a better spirit existing between us, so as to make things a little more pleasent on the occasion It falls to my lot to give her away which is not a pleasent duty to perform under the circumstances. I have asked Fred to do it, but he is, if possible, is more prejudiced against him than myself.

On 3 Oct 1865 at 27yrs he married 21yr old Mary at St Johns church, La Trobe St., after a long period of understanding.

8 Oct 1865 Lovely weather but a little too hot, summer setting in in good earnest. Mary, Mother, & I spent the evening of Monday shopping in the neighbourhood Tuesday morning altho’ my dear sister Mary's Wedding, I was obliged to go to the office, I left at 10. am, & on coming home I soon dressed & my sisters being ready I accompanied them in a carriage to St Johns Church, Elizth St. We found we [were)] there rather early. I was glad we were for Mary was so nervous & excited that it gave her time to compose herself a little, Clark, coming, accompanied by his Bro George, who was his best man, the Ceremony was got through in no time & after receiving the *usual homily given on such occasions by the clergyman the Revd - Barlow, the whole party adjourned to our house, (after the happy couple had received the *congratulations of numerous friends who I must state, half filled the church) after partaking of some refreshment Mary & Clark left us & went to Brighton, where they remained a few days after they went, his relations remained about two hours, I was not sorry when they had gone, for I had been in anything but good spirits during the time Clark & I were very cool to each other just civil & that was all I was in one of my disagreeable moods & could not free myself. I really felt ashamed of myself at being so unsociable & distant in my manner….. Our house seems very dull & quiet since Mary left us she was the life & soul of it, having always such a fund of good spirits, the very piano seems melancholy & disconsolate since her departure, they were so associated together that it leads me to ascribe human attributes to the old instrument. We already miss her cheery laugh & her playing & singing. God grant that her future life will be a happy one. I dont feel very sanguine about it, Clark & her, being of such opposite dispositions, eventually they may drop into each others ways, & come to understand each other better. They returned from Brighton yesterday & Mary paid us a visit, she was in fair spirits & seemed more like some madcap got loose from School than a wife.

1 Jan1866 on our arrival home I was surprised to find my sister Mary & her husband here, the first time he has visited us since they were married. Im very glad the ice is at last broken, for its very unpleasent for relations to be on poor terms with each other.

7 Jan 1866 Monday night I visited my sister Mary for the first time since her wedding, did not remain long, she was very comfortably settled, got a nice furnished house Etc

8 April 1866 met my sister Mary & her husband had a long chat with them

29 April 1866 Mary & her husband, who living in the neighbourhood (Fitzroy Gardens) are regular attendants to these open air concerts

23 September 1866 attended Mayor’s Grand Fancy Dress Ball at the Exhibition Building – Mary as’spanish lady’, looked most beautiful, Clark as ‘Canadian rifleman’, very plain but neat.

14 Oct 1866 returned through town, where I met Mary & Clark, they insisted upon going home with them which I did & staid tea & afterwards spent an hour or two pleasently singing Etc

November1866 with Clark’s and little Georgie (Clark), making our party eight, all loaded with eatibles & drinkables & set of croquet, we took a boat to Richmond & pulled up some miles & landed & after an excellent repast of BB & cold fowl & tongue & sundry other good things, played croquet left 6pm & a pleasant sail down the river, nice tea provided at Mary’s, spent evening very socially & pleasantly.

9 December 1866 Monday night being the first monday in the month Mr Clark attends his Lodge (being a Freemason) Mary always makes a point of spending the evening at home, that is at our house

20 January 1867 paid my sister [&] Clark a visit found them busy making their preperations for taking their departure to Frankston - some 20 miles from Melbourne - where Mary intends staying for a month or two, Clark visiting her occasionally - I think the change will do her a deal of good

10 Frebruary 1867 Tuesday & Wednesday at home - Clark calling each night bringing with him his English Concertina which he plays remarkably well - Bessie & he play Duets together His instrument & my piano according well together….Friday night, in company with Miss Robers & Bessie I went to Clarks house & spent a very pleasent evening there

17 Feb Clark was also here & with his concertina assisted in making the evening pass pleasantly

3 March 1867 Thursday night I went to Clarks to make arrangements with him about us hiring some conveyance to take us to Ramsdans Ball, left there about 10 pm after spending a couple of hours very pleasently trying over some music - Friday night, in company with Clark, Mary & Bessie I went to the Ramsdans Ball at the Carlton Flour Mills

11 March 1867 when I came home, found Mary & Clark here just sitting down to supper. They are both well & appear to be very happy - God grant they may be ever so

27 March 1867 Monday night on arriving home I found my sister Mary here, she spent the evening with us. Clark came about 9 P.m. bringing with him his concertina Mary & him played, some beautiful selections from various Operas, together quite a treat to listen to them

6 May 1867 Monday the 3st being the first Monday in the month, Clark has to attend his Lodge (Masonic) so my sister Mary makes it a rule to always spend the evening with us at home

8 June 1867 rain went for shelter at Marys & was induced to stay tea & spend the evening with her & Clark some other friends of theirs named Simms dropped in & what with singing & music we spent a pleasent evening nearly 11 when I got home

10 August 1867 received a long letter by the Mail from England enclosed within it being a Draft for £205.0.0. which he sent & not before it was wanted.

19 September 1867 Saturday afternoon in company with Messrs Marsden Bros Bruce, Bond, Clark, & my brother Fred & I with the Mesdames Norris, Phillips, Mrs. Clark & the Revd. J.Taylors two daughters, forming altogether one of the most agreeable partys I ever was connected with, we went on a pleasure excursion up the Yarra in a boat to Roberts where we landed & had refreshments & indulged in several innocent games to while away time, left there about 6 Pm landed at 7.Pm & all adjourned to Clarks where we spent the evening, after tea, in a most jolly manner - 11 Pm when we got fairly on our way home.

6 October 1867 Thursday evening in company with Clark I went & joined A. Richardson's Singing Class 10/- per quarter, one night a week

22 December 1867 Friday night I went to my sister Marys, found Mother there who stayd all night with her as Mr. Clark had gone on a pedestrian tour to Lillydale he returned yesterday afternoon, when I met him in Fitzroy Gardens went home with him & tried on one of his Volunteer officer suits of a fashion now obsolete found it fit me well, so I intend wearing it tomorrow evening at the Fancy Ball, after tea we went together to the Philharmonic Concert given at the New Exhibition Building - the place was crowded & on a Dais at the end of the Hall sat the Prince, the Governor, & Elliot Yorke & other notables.

29 December 1867 allude to the Fancy Dress Ball which event took place on Monday night the 23rd inst. Bessie & I went to Clarks where we dressed, left his place about 9 pm, in a cab, we engaged, for the night – Mary was dressed as a Spanish lady, Bessie going as Colleen Bawn Clark went in the 1st Vict Uniform, I went in a dress of his, when Captain of Engineers, which looked very well on me not very gaudy, but good – on entering the rooms a most indescribable scene presented itself, upwards of 3000 people, some dressed in the most gorgeous manner & all in fancy costumes according to the tastes, or means of the wearer, the latter not having been taken into consideration much, for I have heard many a lady had pawned her piano to purchase dress for the occasion however none appeared to care much about the ways & means of coming for every body appeared happy & delighted & free from care – costumes of all ages & nations could be seen, characters from plays, Books, & poems, Harlequins, Clowns, Pantaloons, Fairies, Gods & Goddesses, sailors & soldiers Etc Etc. The Prince, Vicount Newey & the Governor Etc. were there – few there ever witnessed such a scene or ever will again I think our party left about 5 am the next morning & it was amusing being broad daylight to see the motley crowd wending their way to their respective homes in their strange costumes, all looking vastly different from what they did a few hours before in the gaslighted halls….Xmas….Clark & Mary & Mr. & Mrs Poynton (Clark’s sister & brother in law) spent the evening & stayd supper at our house

22 March 1868 Thursday, my mother & Mary went to Brighton where they purpose staying for a week or so. I think the change will do them a deal of good. Saturday afternoon I stayd at home, digging up the garden in the evening I went to town met Clark walked about with him for some two hours.

31 May 1868 Tuesday night Hamilton, Bessie, Fred & I spent at Clarks, Mary does not appear very well. I shall feel anxious on her account until she gets over her confinement

14 June 1868 Saturday afternoon I went to see a game of Football between the Melbourne Club & a Club formed out of the 14th.Regiment - the playing in my opinion was very good & extremely exciting the Melb men proved too much for the Soldiers the former getting their two goals by 5Pm

5 July 1868 26th. went to my sisters she is still knocking about, expecting to be confined every day - Saturday afternoon I went to Fitzroy Gardens walking about with Miss Odell & my sister, met Clark & Mary the latter to my surprise apparently quite well & strong considering. In the evening I took a walk met Louis Bourke, had a chat with her for a few minutes - Sunday morning & evening went to Church. In the afternoon took a walk as far as the Cemetery - Monday evening 28th. very busy at the office, on arriving home my mother informed me that she had been spending the day a Clarks, on asking her how Mary was, she said as usual the following morning at breakfast on looking over the columns of the “Argus” I saw that on the 27th. inst the wife of J.J.Clark was safely delivered of a Son - Mother had not informed us of the event although she was aware of it. I went to see her yesterday, Saturday, found her quite well the baby a boy is a fine big child

16 Aug 1868 Tuesday evening I spent at Marys, her baby was not very well & kept up a continual squall all the evening, making things to me, who, am an old bachelor, any -thing but agreeable, such are the joys of matrimony.

6 Sept 1868 Tuesday evening I went over to Clarks, who gave me a lesson in singing a piece of music I am learning the Cujus animam from Stabat Mater

18 October 1868 Thursday….found Clark, very busily engaged drawing plans, for a house he intends erecting on a a piece of ground he possesses, Et. Melbourne

21 Feb 1869 Tuesday evening, I spent at Marys, saw Georgie Clark home from there

25 Apr 1869 Wednesday evening I accompanied Mary & Clark to a Soiree given by the Freemasons at their Hall, Lonsdale St, Mesdames Sanderson, Young & Misses Donaldson, Amery Schatt and Seide being the principal performers, at the [conclusion of the] concert 10 pm the benches were cleared away & I stayd another 2 hours dancing

30 May 1869 I went to Clarks found him busy preparing specifications for his new house I spent a couple of hours very pleasently singing & practising Duets

25 July 1869 Wednesday evening I spent at Clarks, the Miss Clarks were there, after indulging in some music (my sister Mary being in fine voice pleased me very much) we commenced to play “Besique” a new game of cards & likely to become a popular one for those who care for cardplaying for my part it appears like downright waste of time

10 Oct 1869 I have been very anxious & troubled in mind all the week owing to the sudden & unexpected illness of my dear sister Mary she had a servant, an illwilled stubborn cold blooded creature who had annoyed & irritated her to such a degree as to produce “Epileptic Convulsions” & being about five months gone in the “family way” proved so serious that on Tuesday evening the doctors despaired of saving her life, they, after a consultation decided upon delivering her which was done by placing her under chloroform & with the aid of instruments the fits nearly finished her, & what with the extraordinary loss of blood it seems marvellous how she survived, but owing to a good constitution careful nursing & medical attention she became conscious on Thursday – poor dear her sufferings must have been great both to mind & body My mother spent Tuesday & Wednesday with her. I spent two evenings with them doing what laid in my power which did not amount to much. Friday evening I called found her improving & conscious to surrounding objects, staid about an hour

24 Oct 1869 Saturday afternoon I went to see Mary, found her very weak. I fear that she will never be herself again, she used to be so jolly & full of spirit, but this last year or two I have noticed her getting very lowspirited & anything but vivacious, unless with a very great effort I think Clarks manner has a great deal to do with it, he is a peculiar tempered man, very precise, very particular, & excessively irritable, to an enthusiastic & impulsive nature, like Marys. I think he means well, but his overbearing self conceit & a sensitiveness peculiarly his own renders him a miserable man, unconsciously to himself – he is his own, greatest enemy, he is clever, there is no doubt, but there is an unsettleness & a ficlleness about him which renders him very obnoxious at times, unconsciously to himself he is very mean & then as if ashamed of himself at times he is lavishly extravagant & liberal

21 Nov 1869 Friday evening I spent at Clarks, G.Clark & his family were there on a visit from Sydney for a few days.

19 Dec 1869 Wednesday I went to Clark & in company with Bessie & George who live in the neighbourhood we went to see Clarks new house which is nearly finished

9 Jan 1870 Tuesday evening I went to Et Melb & assisted Clark in removing his furniture to his new house in Powlett St

8 May 1870 on arriving home I found Mrs Pantor & her sister Miss Clark who stayed tea

19 June 1870 Friday evening I spent at Clarks a *mountain of people were there

10 July 1870 I found my way to Clarks, being my sister Marys 26th Birth day several people had dropped in & we managed to spend a very agreeable evening together I left about 11 pm in company with Miss Clark & Miss Moore who I saw home to Carlton

31 July 1870 Clark called in the afternoon & spent a couple of hours with us discussing family matters Etc. Etc –

22 Aug Clark visits me occasionally but my sisters still keep aloof

2 Oct 1870 my sister Mary is far from well I saw her a day or two ago & she looked very bad, its her kidneys that are affected with what is known as “Brights Disease” supposed to be incurable.

1 Nov 1870 My sister Mary has been very ill the last fortnight had a miscarriage & for a while her life was dispaired. The doctor recommends change of air for her which she intends trying as soon as she is strong enough to bear a journey to Tasmania.

March 22 1871 Still living in Carlton, several weeks since I last continued my entries. I had delayd writing until I thought I should have had something pleasent to write about but alas! I am grieved to state my sorrows have increased & multiplied since then, my cause for grief being the death of my dear darling sister Mary (Mrs J.J.Clark) my sister had long suffered from “Brights Disease of the Kidneys” which is generally considered, incurable, she was recommended change of air & went to Tasmania where she remained in Hobarton nearly 3 months – but not feeling any better she resolved upon returning home, she left Hobarton by coach for Launceston, but on the road she was taken very ill at a place called Green Ponds where she remained a few days, feeling a little better she succeeded in reaching Launceston where she was kindly received by Mrs. Room [ A lady Fred met over there when he was ill.] who treated her most hospitably & affectionately & who tried to prevail upon her remaining with them until she was better able to continue her journey home, but nothing would stop her, she felt she was dying & was determined to die at home, fortunately she had a pleasent passage over, we were greatly shocked on seeing her she was so altered for the worse. Dr Tracey was consulted concerning her & a different course of treatment was prescribed under which she appeared to rally for a few days, but it was too late, her system was so weakened by disease & the physic she took was too powerful in its action that it tended to accelerate her death, for bleeding at the mouth set in, which gradually increesed to a day or two of her death when it flowed in a continuous stream, it was a shocking sight to witness, she could not speak her mouth was so sore, if she tried the blood used to choke her, I dont think she suffered much pain, her husband was ever at her side & with my mother paid her the most unremitting attention, We were all present at her last hour. I was the only one absent at her last breath. Her death has been a great shock to us all, for she was so endeared to us by her many virtues & good qualities she was a good true wife & mother, & I always found her a kind & sympathising sister, a loving dutiful & affectionate daughter. God grant her future will be free from pain & sorrow and may he who knows all hearts forgive her sins, for to human eyes she had very few, what reconciles us more to her death was the fact of the doctors agreeing that even if she had lived & rallied she never would have thoroughly recovered & under the most favourable circumstances would remain an invalid. She died on Sunday the 12th.March at 8.30 p.m. and was buried in the general Cemetery on the 14th. the funeral service being performed by the Revd A.M Henderson, the funeral was attended by a large circle of friends and acquaintances My wife, though very ill managed to go and see my sister Mary the night before she died it was their first & last meeting, & better had it never been my sister was unconscious & my wife on entering the room & seeing the blood oozing from her mouth caused her to faint away & it was a long time before we could get her round. . . . . . .Clark feels Mary's loss very much, he has let his large house & gone to live in his cottage, (his brother Allison has gone to England for the benifit of his health & his wife Maggie is keeping house for James & looking after his little boy Edward James, now nearly 3 yrs. old

22 May 1871 my wife and I have spent one or two evenings at Mrs Clarks /Drummond St / & the Miss Clarks are constant visitors - J.J.Clark has let his large house & is now living in the cottage he built when poor Mary was in Hobarton, his little son is growing a nice little boy we spent the evening of the 19th. at his place. Maggy, (his Bros Allisons wife who is now in England) is keeping house for him. I am sorry to state that there is not the best of feeling existing between my mother sister & Clark in consequence of some imagined slight the former appear to think they have suffered, owing to the distribution of Marys clothes and jewellery in my opinion he had a perfect right to dispose of them as he thought best if he gave them to his own sisters well & good but Mother and Bessie think otherwise, I dont know what the custom is in such cases but I should never think of quarreling over such a matter however I dont mean to let it affect me, Clark & I are good friends & he has been very kind to me

31 May 1872 My brother in law Clark & I speculated in a promoters share in the Rothschilds Tribute Sandhurst purchased from J.Stewart. Novr. 1871

14 Sept 1872 My brother in law Mr Clark had been for a considerable time trying to induce me to go & live at St. Kilda & take a house large enough to enable us to accommodate him & his son, so after consideration, (particularly as my wife had been recommended a change of air) I did so taking a house in Gurner St £75 a year to which we removed, he is to pay us £12 a month, but it necessitates our keeping two servants a general one & a nurse girl & living in a style that my means will not admit of, so I think in a pecuniary sense the arrangement will not be a profitable one to us however we are going to try it for a year the house is nicely situated & handy to the train on which I fortunately travel free

Oct 1873 Brought out our long expected legacies (& to my disgust £50 was struck off mine in consequence of my having received that amount some years ago which I expended partly on account of my brother Edwards death & burial & the balance in assisting mother [with] her liabilities) my share was £124, Clark on a/c of Mary about the same & Fred & Bessie each £176.0.0

Dec 1873 Clark prepared plans for cottages for Fred Watmuff at 3 Waterloo St., and J. H. Watmuff at 2 Waterloo Street, St. Kilda.

Feb 1874 Clark & his little boy left us & is now living with Mr Barrett in Burnett St, he left us because my wife was on the point of her confinement & owing to our breaking up the establishment in Gurner St consequent upon going into our new house where we would have no accommodation for them.

27 May 1880 Miss Lees, Mr Pitts & Clarks spent evening with us.

10 June1880 At home. Clark & Miss McLean spent the evening with us.

13 Aug 1880 Went with Clark to the Opera House to hear “Pinafore”

30 Oct 1880 On leaving business at 1pm I went to Sandridge to see J.J. Clark off by the Lyeemoon S.S. to Sydney where he has gone to make arrangements for entering into partnership with a firm of architects.

6 Nov 1880 Got a letter from Clark he has not yet settled with the firm he went to join he is well in health & writes in good spirits & that is something for him

9 Oct [Nov] 1880 To my surprise Clark in the morning having arrived the night before from Sydney

6 Dec 1880 Pitts called & stayd for a short time, & also Clark. The latter is leaving Melb for good to enter partnership with a Mr Blackman & also a son of Sir Hy [Henry] Parkes (premier of N.S.Wales) in Sydney.

8 Dec 1880 Clark sailed for Sydney to day on the S.S. ‘Learei’ [sic]. I sincerely hope he will do well in his new undertaking. He has had his troubles lately.  ??188 Pitt St

28 Dec 1880 Had news from Clark he is still in Sydney, but does not write hopefully of business his sister Georgie died in childbirth at Bathurst he seems very much cut up about it.

12 Nov 1881 arrived Sydney[1881-11-12-Saturday?] very tired and dirty at 7 am next morning - hunted up Clark & Hamilton - found them & their families quite well

19 Nov 1881 Saturday after dinner in the company with Clark & his sister & Eddie I went to Manly in one of the passenger boats – a delightful trip. Had tea at Clarks lodgings, who lives in Wynyard Square.

20 Nov 1881 Clark called for me at 5 pm & together we went to his brother George's where we had tea.

23 April 1884 Mr [George] & Mrs Clark, who have taken a large house at 163 Forbes St. Miss [?Elizabeth] C.[Clark] intends opening it as a Boarding house

30 April 1884 morning I knocked about town bid good bye to musician friends Miss Clark & Mrs Hamilton [(or Hamblin)]