Biography of James Clarke Sr.

 
James Clarke Sr. was born in February 1813 (derived from 3 Howe Island census, Military discharge papers, and obit) in Walcot Somerset, England. He was a soldier in the English army beginning the 20^th of February, 1832 for the 65th Regiment of Foot, and was likely stationed initially in the West Indian Regiments for a number of years. After “volunteering” to live in North America on May31, 1841, to work for the Queen’s 43rd Regiment (Ox & Bucks Light Infantry), he was transferred to St. John, N.B. (ref. Eileen Truesdell’s “the Clarke Book”). Although there is no proof at this time, it is likely that Private James Clarke met and married his wife, (Mary) Bridget Duffy, in St. John, N.B. about 1845, with a child born one year later. There is a possible match for Mary Duffy (by name and age) on the brig Ugoni Ship’s list which sailed from Belfast, May 23rd 1833 / arr. August 21st 1833 Saint John, N.B. Bridget was born abt. 1823 in Donegal Co, Ireland. 

Although James Sr. was an Anglican Protestant, and Bridget was Roman Catholic, St. John is an area where, historically, such intermarriages were very common, due to the flood of Catholic Irish immigrants to the predominantly English loyalists town just before and then during the great Irish emigration to Atlantic Canada because of the potato famine. Many English people also sought protection in St. John area after leaving the United States during the revolution - so with the British military there, the town was a real mixing place.  

James Clarke Jr. was the first child of James Clarke Sr. and Bridgette Duffy, and was born on Oct 24, 1846 in St. John, N.B. On March 1, 1846, James Clarke Sr. was transferred to the 77^th Regiment, and the next year, on April 1st, 1847, he was transferred to the Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment. By about 1849, The Clarke family was living in Quebec, where a second child, William Clarke was born, after James Clarke Sr. was transferred there.

By 1853, the family was living in Kingston, Ontario, when James Clarke was apparently stationed to Fort Henry. According to one of his grandchildren, some of the children (most likely James and William) remembered living in the Fort and going to school there. A third child, Mary Catherine Clarke was born on 15 Feb. 1853 in Kingston. By 1855, the Headquarters of the Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment was transferred to Kingston.  

In 1857, at least Bridget Duffy was back in Quebec where Sarah Clarke was born. Early that same year, James Clarke Sr. was discharged from the army on March 31, 1857, and declared his intended residence as Kingston, and intended trade as laborer. According to the discharge papers, he was 44 years of age, five feet seven, brown hair and grey eyes, fresh complexion, and received four Good Conduct Medals with the last granted on Oct 1, 1855.  The next year another child, Edward Bartholomew Clarke was born 1858 in Kingston, Ont.

About 1861, the Clarke family moved to lot 18 (170 acres) on Sir John’s Island, now called Howe Island, Ontario to start a small crop and dairy farm. Presumably, choice land was made available at a discount for ownership or lease to select Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment pensioners.  Four more children were born on Howe Island: Anne Matilda Clarke born 1862, John William Clark born 1863, Elizabeth Agnes Clarke born 1865, and Frances Jane Clarke born 1868.

Painting of Clarke Point (now Byrnes Point) house by Eileen Truesdell.

 

By 1871, the Clarke homestead on Howe Island must have been a busy place. The 1871 Howe Island census shows a family of 11 living in the small log cabin on the north east end of the island, and James Clarke’s occupation is listed as Farmer. By 1874, the children started to leave the homestead, starting with Mary Catherine Clarke in 1873 and James Clarke Jr in 1874. In 1881, there were still 9 people at the farm.  

On April 6, 1887, his wife, Mary Bridget Duffy passed away, and was buried in the St. Philomena’s cemetery, where her beautiful tombstone can still be found. The inscription reads, “ Bridget Duffy, wife of James Clark, aged 64 yrs ”. On 29 April 1883, James Clarke was baptized at St. John’s Church in Gananoque. There is also a later record of his confirmation at St Philomena’s Church on Howe Island on 11 Oct 1886. It is presumed his conversion to Catholicism so near to his wife’s death, was a show of his deep devotion toward her.  By 1891, only James Clarke Sr., now widower, son John William Clark and his wife Tiece were left on the farm, with John Clark listed as Farmer.

At the time of his death on 16 July 1899, James Clarke was at the home of Captain and Mary Mahoney (his daughter) in Kingston. He is buried in St. Philomena’s Catholic Cemetery (see OCFA) with his wife, Bridget Duffy. The Clarke log cabin remained standing for a hundred years after his death, and his uniform remained in a closet for many years. (Recently, the cabin was moved and “recycled”) Of his 9 children, Only William Clark and Edward Bartholomew Clarke are at this time unaccounted for beyond about 1890 when a picture was taken with his two oldest sons. Any information on where they ended up is welcome.

A study of the lives of James Clarke, and his wife, Bridget Duffy is a study of British, Irish, American and especially Canadian History. Their descendants number about a thousand, and whether known or not, they carry with them a rich heritage!

Special thanks to my cousin, Eileen (Clark) Truesdell for pictures and reference information.

 

Figure Caption: Left to Right: William Clarke, James Clarke Jr., and their father James Clarke Sr.

  

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