Re: Early life/times of Henry Arthur Clark, Sth Africa, 1850+
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In reply to:
Re: Early life/times of Henry Arthur Clark, Sth Africa, 1850+
Ken Cleaver 1/04/11
Hello Ken
Thanks for your efforts! Seems almost too good to be true!But let's explore...I think there is more to it all.
A problem I have is that I have no documenation about Henry Arthur Clark's time in South Africa.What I have is (a) a copy of his marriage certificate (to Mary Ann Bolding, at Malmsbury [near Taradale], Victoria on 24 June 1896) in Australia; (b) knowledge about his children in Australia; (c) lots of folk lore!
From the marriage certificate, there is no date of birth.However, it does say:-- his full name; status:widower 1878; birthplace: Albany, South Africa; rank or profession: fruitgrower; age: 46; present address: Castle Hill, Taradale; parents' names: Henry Thomas Clark and Jane Ann Dawkin(s?); father's rank/profession: plumber.
The family of 5 moved to West. Aust. about 1905. His market-garden property in Perth was called "Bullrush", which I understand is the English translation of a major river in your East Province(?). HAC died in Perth (W.A.) in 1929 "aged 85".That suggests he was born c1844.
(b) Of his children, daughter South African-born Elizabeth Jane Clark arrived in Victoria some time before the marriage here, as Elizabeth caused a few problems, being about 7 years younger than the new wife.Subsequently, Henry's inlaws 'absorbed" EJ into their family...where she soon married Frank, one of Mary Ann's brothers.She had a family, and died in 1947.
Regarding his second family, the children were: Alfred, Harold, Arthur, Magdalene and Stephen. The first three were born in Victoria; the remaining two in Western Australia, where he lived for the last 24 years of his life. All the children has passed away now, of course. Interestingly, his second son was called Harold Barnes Clark.
(c) Folk lore: Theses are stories handed down in the family, mainly through my mother. That HAC, the eldest of four boys, was born on the high seas, after his parents departed from Glasgow. That it appears he spent time in: the printing business;diamond and gold mining in South Africa; dairy and related farming; investing and speculating.That physically, he was short, stocky, barrel-chested, with ginger hair and fair complexion. That he and Elizabeth were "young" when they married...That "Barnes" was said to be a Scottish family connection...
Maybe they were aware that Elizabeth had consumption... I am not aware of any written communication, or visits, between the S.A./Aust. families in this times...but who knows.
My conlusions at this stage?: First, people were (and are?) not thorough about information offered for official purposes such as marriage certificates.Second, a HAC birth cert. would help.Third, I think, perhaps, we are dealing with two Henry Arthur Clarks...different age groups, different generations?Names were repeated in families as traditions, etc., the Scots may have been close-knit for security, etc. in those times. Four, HAC was a busy man, but I'm not sure he could have sustained fairly large families in both South Africa and Australia!But who knows, it is worth 'chipping away at'...
I'll try to seek out other info. here.
Best wishes.....ja
More Replies:
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Re: Early life/times of Henry Arthur Clark, Sth Africa, 1850+
john arundel 1/01/12
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Re: Early life/times of Henry Arthur Clark, Sth Africa, 1850+
Ken Cleaver 1/05/11
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Re: Early life/times of Henry Arthur Clark, Sth Africa, 1850+
john arundel 1/05/11
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Re: Early life/times of Henry Arthur Clark, Sth Africa, 1850+