Devon

Many of the Clarkes came from Berry Pomeroy in Devon, and the surrounding villages.  Berry Pomeroy is near Totnes.  Totnes consists of the town itself and Bridgetown, across the river Dart.  There is a non-conformist church in Bridgetown and a Cof E church, St Mary's just up the road in Berry Pomeroy.  Several of the the Clarkes lived within a mile or so of both churches, so they could take their pick of where they were hatched, matched etc.  St Mary's (pictured) is a beautiful church, with an interesting history and some of 'our' tombs are in the churchyard.  We visited the church for the first time the day after mum's funeral - a very cold, grey dismal day.  I tried to open the door you can see in the photo  but it was locked.  Suddenly this disembodied voice boomed down from the tower, followed shortly by its owner, Nigel, who had his office in the tower.  Nigel is a writer, and also looks after the church.  He welcomed us, gave us coffee and showed us round the church.  We happened to have the video camera with us and Nigel used it to put the 'guided tour' on video.  When (if) I get good enough at this sort of thing I shall try to put a connection here to the video.  We have returned a few times to the church and to see Nigel - a larger than life, lovely                                                                                                                            man                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

1. THOMAS¹ CLARKE was born Abt. 1680. He married ELIZABETH SOUTHCOTE 1703.

Child of THOMAS CLARKE and ELIZABETH SOUTHCOTE is:

2. i. ROGER² CLARKE, b. 1700, Churston Ferrers.

 

2. ROGER² CLARKE (THOMAS¹) was born 1700 in Churston Ferrers. He married ANNE LEWIS.

Children of ROGER CLARKE and ANNE LEWIS are:

i. THOMAS³ CLARKE, b. 1725.

ii. WILLIAM CLARKE, b. 1727.

iii. MARY CLARKE, b. 1729.

3. iv. JOHN CLARKE, b. 1735.

v. LEWIS CLARKE, b. 1737.

vi. ELIZABETH CLARKE, b. 1738.

vii. ANNE CLARKE, b. 1743.

 

3. JOHN³ CLARKE (ROGER², THOMAS¹) was born 1735. He married MARY. She was born Abt. 1735.

Child of JOHN CLARKE and MARY is:

4. i. WILLIAM⁴ CLARKE, b. March 15, 1768, Berry Pomeroy.

 

4. WILLIAM⁴ CLARKE (JOHN³, ROGER², THOMAS¹) was born March 15, 1768 in Berry Pomerory. He married SUSANNAH FURNEAUX June 12, 1798 in Berry Pomeroy, Devon¹. She was born 1772 and buried August 01, 1828, Berry Pomeroy

Child of WILLIAM CLARKE and SUSANNAH FURNEAUX is:

5. i. JOHN⁵ CLARKE, b. November 17, 1805, Berry Pomeroy, Totnes, Devon.

 

5. JOHN⁵ CLARKE (WILLIAM⁴, JOHN³, ROGER², THOMAS¹) was born November 17, 1805 in Berry Pomeroy, Totnes, Devon. He married REBECCA GOON November 01, 1829 in Berry Pomeroy,  Devon. She was born April 12, 1812 in Chivelstone.   After getting over the shock of a GOON in the family I was unable to 'find' Rebecca in any records.  Eventually, I came across the GUNN family and concluded that this is where she belongs.  GUNN was probably pronounced GOON and this is what the census writers recorded.

Notes for JOHN CLARKE:

Not in 1851 or 1881 census

Children of JOHN CLARKE and REBECCA GOON are:

i. JOHN⁶ CLARKE, b. October 02, 1831. Burial: December 22, 1834, Berry Pomeroy

ii. MARY ANN CLARKE, b. March 15, 1835, Berry Pomerory - Longcombe¹. In 1881 census is working as servant/cook at Dartington (Redworth House) - family headed by an Irish solicitor.

6. iii. WILLIAM CLARKE, b. 1841, Berry Pomeroy, Totnes, Devon.

7. iv. HENRY CLARKE, b. June 23, 1844, Berry Pomerory - Longcombe.

 

6. WILLIAM⁶ CLARKE (JOHN⁵, WILLIAM⁴, JOHN³, ROGER², THOMAS¹) was born 1841 in Berry Pomeroy, Totnes, Devon. He married ELIZABETH PROWSE July 03, 1859 in Bridgetown Chapel, Free Church. She was born 1838 in Loddiswell, Devon.

Living near to William and Elizabeth in Berry Pomeroy were Mary Clarke (age 62, a widow) born Yealmpton and ?her son John aged 21, born Berry Pomeroy. Were they relatives of William and Eliz?

William shows up in 1841 census, living with his parents John and Rebecca in Longcombe Village. Can't find him in 1851 census though.  Longcombe is where many of the Clarkes appear to have lived.  It is a tiny hamlet just off the main road between Totnes and Torquay.

Notes for ELIZABETH PROWSE:

Not to be found in Devon during the 1851 census. By then her mother had died and her father, Andrew, then aged 46, was working as a farm servant in West Alvington, Devon. Her younger sister, Charlotte, was lodging with the Gillard family at Loddiwell, Kingsbridge - near to her father. Regarding the Gillards, I think that Andrew's elder sister, Mary Anne, probably married John Gillard. Mary Anne's age, and place of birth on the census fit in with this. So, Charlotte was lodging with her aunt and uncle (who was an ag lab).

Children of WILLIAM CLARKE and ELIZABETH PROWSE are:

8. i. JOHN AP⁷ CLARKE, b. March 11, 1861, Bridgetown, Devon; d. June 29, 1912, Morriston, Swansea.

ii. ALBERT CLARKE, b. 1867, Bridgetown, Devon.

iii. EMILY CLARKE, b. 1870, Bridgetown, Devon.

iv. FREDERICK CLARKE, b. 1872, Bridgetown, Devon.

v. SUSAN CLARKE, b. 1874, Bridgetown, Devon.

vi. AMELIA CLARKE, b. 1877, Bridgetown, Devon.

7. HENRY⁶ CLARKE (JOHN⁵, WILLIAM⁴, JOHN³, ROGER², THOMAS¹) was born June 23, 1844 in Berry Pomerory - Longcombe².

Children of HENRY CLARKE are:

i. FREDERICK⁷ CLARKE, b. 1874, Bridgetown.

ii. ERNEST CLARKE, b. 1876, Bridgetown.

iii. KITTY CLARKE, b. 1879, Bridgetown.

iv. GEORGE CLARKE, b. 1881, Bridgetown.

v. ANNIE CLARKE, b. 1882, Bridgetown.

vi. ALFRED CLARKE, b. 1888, Bridgetown.

vii. ALICE CLARKE, b. 1890, Bridgetown.

 

8. JOHN ANDREW PROWSE  CLARKE (WILLIAM⁶, JOHN⁵, WILLIAM⁴, JOHN³, ROGER², THOMAS¹) was born March 11, 1861 in Bridgetown, Devon, and died June 29, 1912 in Morriston, Swansea. He married CHARLOTTE PASCOE April 10, 1892 in St Davids Church Morriston. She was born April 06, 1864 in Llangyfelach, Glamorgan, and died in Morriston, Swansea. (Photo of Morriston main street)

Notes for JOHN AP CLARKE:

The 1881 census has John living at home, at 17 Fore St, Berry Pomeroy, Devon.

He joined the army later that year, in July, 1881 and was discharged in early 1890. Between 1890 and 1892 he moved from Totnes to Wales, where (presumably he met) and married Charlotte Pascoe.

Army Form B 128:

Parchment certificate of discharge of No. 23 Rank Corporal and Lance Sergeant

John Andrew Prowse Clarke

xxxx (unreadable, could be second) Bn, Devonshire Regiment of Infantry

Born in the parish of Berry Pomeroy near the town of Totnes in the County of Devonshire.

Attested at Plymouth on the 13th July 1881

for the Devonshire Regiment at the Age of 19 years and 4 months.

Service towards completion of limited engagement: 8 years 221 days.

Service abroad: 7 years 122 days.

Medals and decorations: Nil

Place: Kuldana, Pakistan.

Date 27th Sept 1889

Signature of commanding officer: F F Gibbons, Lieutenant Colonel.

Discharge confirmed at Netley (Colonel General's signature) 18th Feb 1890.

Description on discharge: Of No 23 John AP Clarke of the (?2nd) Devon Regt of Infantry

Age 27 11/12 years

Height 5 ft 5 and a half inches

Complexion Fresh, Eyes grey, Hair Brown,  Trade Labourer,

Marks Tattoo mark on back of left wrist, Intended place of residence Post Office, Totnes  (was this a postal forwarding address?)

Discharged the service at (XX) Netley this 18th day of Feb 1890

The 2nd Bn was posted to India during most of the 1880s. In 1886 they were recorded in Hart's Quarterly Army List as being stationed in Jhansi, India. According to Michael Hargreave Mawson via the British Regiments Mailing List they were in Burma some time after 1880 but he can't find any reference to their having been involved in any active service leading to the award of the India General Service Medal with clasps for Burma 1885-7/1887-9. The Bn returned to England in 1893.

John was discharged early from the army with an exemplary record. This suggests there may have been a problem with his health, and this is born out by further evidence that I would be pleased to share with anyone who asks.

His discharge certificate is on the left

John seems to have moved to Wales shortly after his discharge, perhaps to get work.  There he married Charlotte Pascoe, whose family also originated from the West Country (Cornwall).

He died at 35 Nixon Terrace 29th June 1912. Witness to his death is his nephew, H Carro(w) who was in attendance, of 1 Chemical Rd, Morriston. At the time of death he was a 'Tin plate works labourer'.

John's brother, Albert, had died in the army in Burma, around 1890. More work to do on this ...  I have a mourning card by his parents but the photo I took is too blurred to reproduce here.  Pat's got it, shall have to wait till she's back from Africa to have another go.

Children of JOHN CLARKE and CHARLOTTE PASCOE are:

9. i. MARY ANN⁸ CLARKE, b. March 18, 1893; d. Abt. 1937, Morriston, Swansea.

ii. ELIZA JANE CLARKE, b. May 17, 1896.

 

9. MARY ANN⁸ CLARKE (JOHN AP⁷, WILLIAM⁶, JOHN⁵, WILLIAM⁴, JOHN³, ROGER², THOMAS¹) was born March 18, 1893, and died Abt. 1937 in Morriston, Swansea. She married DAVID REES JONES March 24, 1913 in Morriston. He was born February 20, 1892 in Morriston (Midland Terrace), and died June 18, 1934 in Morriston, Swansea.  Children of MARY ANNE CLARKE and DAVID JONES are:

i.  DEBORAH JONES b 1913, d 1913

ii. GARFIELD JONES b 1918 d 1933

iii BERYL JONES b 1920 m TREVOR JONES

(above - Beryl, Charlotte and Valerie)

(above - Charlotte and Valerie, about 1955)

iv    JOHN JONES b 1924 d abt 1984

v. CHARLOTTE CLARKE⁹ JONES, b. January 01, 1925, Morriston, Swansea; d. March 01, 2000, Treliske Hospital, Truro, Cornwall; m. FREDERICK CHARLES HENRY WILKINS, May 10, 1944, West Tilbury, Essex; b. January 29, 1924, Essex; d. May 30, 1985, Cromwell Rd, St Austell, Cornwall.

vi VALERIE JONES b 1932 m ALEC COLEMAN

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