The Islands: Military: PreWorld Wars: James Clarke

Army records of James Clarke

Submitted by Eileen Truesdell

James Clarke was baptised October 31, 1811, St. Swithens, Walcot, Somerset, England. James was a soldier for 26 years 7 days; after his discharge in 1857, he farmed at Clarke Point, North Shore, Howe Island. James joined the 65th Regiment, volunteered to 43 rd Regiment, volunteered to 77th Regiment and finally the RCR's. The 65th and 43rd went back to England, and the 77th was disbursed, and as James wanted to stay in Canada, explains why he transferred regiments so many times.

At the time of his discharge he was age, 44 years and one month, five feet seven inches, brown hair, grey eyes, and a fresh complexion. His trade was a labourer, and his intended place of residence, was Kingston, Canada West.

James Clarke attested for the 65th Regiment (2nd Yorkshire, North Riding) at Bath, Somerset, England, Feb 21st, 1832 at the age of 18 years. He served twenty six years and seven days. His first station was at Portsmouth, England. On August 2nd 1832 he was court marshalled at Portsmouth for being drunk and riotous in barracks, for which he was imprisoned for 30 days. This was the only time, in his army career, he was ever disciplined. In 1832, he spent one year in Buttevant, Kinsale, Mallow and Dumanway, County Cork, Ireland. James went back to Portsmouth for two years before going to St. Vincent and Grenada, West Indies. James embarked for North America December 1837 where he spent the next twenty years, mainly in Kingston and Montreal with short spells in Halifax, St. John, NB, and Cape Breton. In 1850 James is shown in Niagara with the Royal Canadian Rifles.

The duties of the Royal Canadian Rifles were to guard the Canadian borders. A soldier had to be in the service for at least 15 years before he was allowed to be in the RCR's. James certainly qualified for this service.

Most likely, James Clarke was with the 43rd Regiment (Monmouthshire Light Infantry) Regiment of Foot, that marched from St. John, New Brunswick to Montreal, leaving on Dec 11, 1839, in 28 to 30 degrees below zero weather. It took eighty men four hours to cross at the river Tobique. Traveling approximately eighteen miles per day, and at night they slept out in the cold or stayed in the six wretched log camps along the way. On December 26th, the unshaven, smoke dried, frostbitten, foul smelling men of the 43rd Regiment, triumphantly entered their barracks in an ancient Jesuit Convent.

Jens Genealogy Page: The Islands: Military: Pre World Wars: James Clarke