Herbert CLARKE, gentleman, died Uxbridge 1808

[Jane Elderfield]

Herbert CLARKE, of Uxbridge, Middlesex, left a will in 1808, valued at ten thousand pounds.

From the will (dated 1795) and a codicil (dated 1807), we know that
he was "formerly of Drury Lane";
his wife was Elizabeth (died by 1807);

he had a brother Jonas CLARKE (died by 1807);
he had a sister Elizabeth HARPER;
he had an heir named Elizabeth JOWERS of Bury St. Edmonds (died by 1807);

he had a daughter named Mary BENSLEY, wife of Thomas BENSLEY, who had children;
he had a daughter named Sarah KING, wife of Thomas KING, who had children; and he had some deceased children buried in Hillingdon.

So far, what another descendant and I have pieced together from other sources is that
Herbert's parents may have been Jonas and Mary CLARKE;
Herbert was a button manufacturer;
his wife was probably Elizabeth PUTNAM of Chesham, Buckinghamshire;
his marriage was Jan. 15, 1758, in St. Clement Danes, Westminster;
and that the deceased children probably include an Elizabeth chr. Jan. 21, 1767, and a Francis chr. Dec. 19, 1770, in St. Ann Blackfriars.

We know quite a lot about the daughter Mary BENSLEY (chr. Oct. 9 1768, St. Ann Blackfriars) and the daughter Sarah KING and their descendants. (They were non-conformists.)

Herbert CLARKE is buried in St. John the Baptist churchyard, Hillingdon, MDX.

What we'd love to know is the birthdate and place (or christening) for Herbert CLARKE, his parents and further antecedents, and any other children born to him and Elizabeth.

Does Herbert CLARKE plug into any family tree that you know of?

--Jane

[Jane Elderfield]

...
he had a daughter named Mary BENSLEY, wife of Thomas BENSLEY, who had children;
he had a daughter named Sarah KING, wife of Thomas KING, who had children;
....
We know quite a lot about the daughter Mary BENSLEY (chr. Oct. 9 1768, St. Ann Blackfriars) and the daughter Sarah KING and their descendants. (They were non-conformists.) ...

A distant relative and fellow researcher has turned up the marriage of Sarah CLARKE to Thomas KING, in the Parish Register of St. Dunstan in the West, London:

"Thomas King of the Parish of St. Ann Aldersgate, London, Widower, and Sarah Clarke of this Parish, Spinster, were married in the Church by License this 26th day of January 1795."

Witnesses were the bride's sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Thomas BENSLEY. So far I have not seen the marriage licence documents.

Thomas KING's first wife was named Elizabeth, and she died in 1785. We don't know her maiden name.

Thomas had been apprenticed as a musician, but his occupation in London was "Cheesemonger".He lived in St. Martin-le-Grand Street in 1794, and in Holborn Hill in 1808.

Thomas and Sarah KING had six children: Eliza, Samuel, Herbert, Sarah, James, and Ann. Thomas died in September 1809, leaving a long and complicated will. He is buried in Bunhill Fields cemetery.

So far I have not found a birth record for Ann KING b. about 1808. The others were registered at Dr. Williams' Library, Protestant Dissenters' Registry, some of them more than 20 years after birth!

Neither have I yet found a baptism record for Sarah CLARKE. (Perhaps in St. Dunstan in the West? Herbert and Elizabeth CLARKE had other children chr. in St. Ann Blackfriars.)

--Jane E

[Jane Elderfield]

Herbert CLARKE, of Uxbridge, Middlesex...
"formerly of Drury Lane"...

had a brother Jonas CLARKE (died by 1807);
had a sister Elizabeth HARPER...

A fellow researcher (and distant relative) has found a marriage of an Elizabeth CLARKE to John HARPER at St. Saviour, Southwark, 23 January 1757. Witnesses were Thomas KINGSBURY and John TAYLOR. (John TAYLOR "witnessed most of the marriages in this period", says the researcher.)

On the same day there is a marriage of Alice BURNETT to Thomas KINGSBURY, witnessed by Jonas CLARKE and John TAYLOR.

These seem likely possibilities for my Herbert CLARKE's brother Jonas and sister Elizabeth HARPER.

In the IGI, in St. Saviour, Southwark (Batch no. C 055181), there are some christenings that may be children of this Jonas :

Jonas CLARKE chr. 23 Oct 1761 (no parents named);
James Jonas CLARK chr. 23 Apr. 1766, father Jonas CLARK.

(One of these Jonases may be the one who married Mary WOOD 26 Apr. 1781, in St. Saviour's, Batch M 055181. Then in St. Saviour's christenings, Batch C 055181, there are three christenings to Jonas and Mary CLARK: Ann 1782, Samuel 1784, Mary Ann 1786.)

As for Herbert CLARKE's brother Jonas, he may be the Jonas CLARK b.11 Sept. 1831, chr. 19 Sept. 1831, St. Marylebone, parents yet another set of Jonas and Mary CLARK (Batch C 035241).

So far, I have found no christening for any Herbert CLARKE in the IGI.

If anyone has access to London Parish Registers, and would be willing to search for a Herbert CLARK, CLARKE or CLERK (and possibly the son of Jonas), I would be very appreciative.

Thank you
--Jane

[Kerrywood]

If anyone has access to London Parish Registers, and would be willing to search for a Herbert CLARK, CLARKE or CLERK (and possibly the son of Jonas), I would be very appreciative.

It's good to see the information you've gathered on the relatives of Herbert CLARKE since you first posted. Even so, I'm afraid this is probably an unrealistic search request.

(1) The London parish registers as uploaded to Ancestry are not searchable before 1812, only browsable.

(2) Sadly, apart from a couple of associated parishes at later periods, you still have no real pointers as to where Herbert himself originated. The number of possible parishes in London/Middlesex/Surrey is huge (and not all are covered by Ancestry).

(3) The Hillingdon burial register presumably doesn't give Herbert's age at death, so his year of birth is also guesswork? With a death in 1807/1808 and a marriage in 1758, you could look for a baptism c1730-1740. But it might have been earlier.

In practice, you'd have to select a parish and read through the baptisms on every page of that register within at least a ten-year time-frame. For London it's a huge project. I don't wish to be negative or unhelpful, but I think you would need your own Ancestry subscription to tackle it properly.

That said, I did read St Ann Blackfriars, 1728-1740 for you, without finding him. I found two CLARK couples having children baptised there (parents Ralph & Elizabeth, and John & Sarah), but you'd probably find CLARK(E) in almost any parish over a 10-year period.

As for Herbert CLARKE's brother Jonas, he may be the Jonas CLARK b.11 Sept. 1831, chr. 19 Sept. 1831, St. Marylebone, parents yet another set of Jonas and Mary CLARK (Batch C 035241).

I guess you mean 1731?

Do you have any indication from the will as to Herbert's occupation, or anything else about him for which there might be documentation?

The value of his estate was huge. He presumably owned property -- does the will locate it? If it was in the Hillingdon area you could try Hillingdon local studies, or perhaps the Middlesex Deeds Registry at the LMA.

Kerrywood

[Jane Elderfield]

...I'm afraid this is probably an unrealistic search request.
... The London parish registers as uploaded to Ancestry are not searchable before 1812, only browsable.

...Sadly, apart from a couple of associated parishes at later periods, you still have no real pointers as to where Herbert himself originated. The number of possible parishes in London/Middlesex/Surrey is huge (and not all are covered by Ancestry).

... With a death in 1807/1808 and a marriage in 1758, you could look for a baptism c1730-1740. But it might have been earlier.

... I think you would need your own Ancestry subscription to tackle it properly.

Kerrywood, as always, you are very kind with helpful advice. I didn't know that there was no capacity to search the uploaded London Registers.

That said, I did read St Ann Blackfriars, 1728-1740 for you, without finding him. I found two CLARK couples having children baptised there (parents Ralph & Elizabeth, and John & Sarah), but you'd probably find CLARK(E) in almost any parish over a 10-year period.

Thank you for taking that trouble, Kerrywood.

I guess you mean 1731?

Ooops! Yes I did mean 1731 for Jonas in St. Marylebone. I didn't have time to proofread my posting to this thread--someone was breathing over my shoulder, waiting for their turn on the computer....

Do you have any indication from the will as to Herbert's occupation, or anything else about him for which there might be documentation?

Yes, he is a "gentleman", late of Uxbridge, Middlesex, formerly of Drury Lane. Another researcher has determined he was formerly a Button Manufacturer.

I started another thread entitled "Do you know the Button Man who lived in Drury Lane?". Members gave some helpful suggestions that have so far produced tantalizing hints, but nothing substantial.

The value of his estate was huge. He presumably owned property -- does the will locate it? If it was in the Hillingdon area you could try Hillingdon local studies, or perhaps the Middlesex Deeds Registry at the LMA.

Kerrywood

The property was a "freehold estate situate at Uxbridge", willed to Elizabeth his wife in the original will dated 1795. In the codicil, dated 04 March 1807, the freehold estate at Uxbridge is willed to daughter Mary Bensley (wife Elizabeth having died).

Thank you for the tips about Hillingdon local studies, and the Middlesex Deeds Registry.

The codicil made several other changes:
Sister Elizabeth Harper, instead of the original flat ten pounds, is to receive a yearly annuity of ten pounds.
The bequests to his brother Jonas ("ten pounds and all my wearing apparel") and to Elizabeth Jowers of Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk ("ten pounds") are revoked in the codicil, to "fall into and become a part of the residue of my personal estate."

Fascinating stuff !

Thanks again--
Jane E

[Jane Elderfield]

An update on my researches into the family of Herbert CLARKE, button manufacturer of Drury Lane, London and Uxbridge, Middlesex.

A fellow researcher has sent me a list of names from the Burial Register of Hillingdon:
Nathan Clarke 27 Jan 1765;
Elizabeth Clarke 26 April 1772;
Francis Clarke 22 May 1772;
Mrs. Elizabeth Clarke. 76, from Uxbridge, 18 Feb 1807;
Mr. Herbert Clarke 20 July 1808.

I did find out some interesting details from the website London Lives. Now I know how much Herbert CLARKE insured his Drury Lane housefor; the rack rent he was taxed on; how he voted; and the name of an ex-servant who came up for a Poor Law examination.

But I'm still looking for the birth/christening of Herbert CLARKE, probably around the 1830's, and his siblings Jonas, Elizabeth, and (probably) Sarah.

Jane E

[janbooth]

Could this be a burial of one of the children of Herbert's brother Jonas (the name would perhaps suggest this) via Ancestry's London Parish Registers:

14 February 1762 at St Saviour Southwark Herbert son of Jonas CLARK a Weaver, infant

I don't know whether this baptism will be relevant or not, but it is at St Saviour again:

12 September 1725 Sarah daughter of Obadia CLARK, F.....maker & Ann - can't read Obadia's profession unfortunately

Five other children baptised to Obadia(h) & Ann at St Saviour including an Elizabeth and another Sarah ranging from 1715 to 1728 but no Jonas or Herbert. I suppose they could have moved from St Saviour to another parish that is not covered by Ancestry and these subsequent baptisms show Obadiah's profession to be Feltmaker.

23 October 1761 at St Saviour Jonas CLARK son of Jonas, a Weaver & Elizabeth
Born 2 November, bap 13? November 1752 or 3 (no year shown on the actual baptismal record but tracking back several pages there is a reference to 1752??) at Christchurch Southwark Thomas CLARK son of Jonas, Weaver, and Elizabeth his wife

There is a marriage on 4 November 1750 at St Mary Newington of a Jonas CLARK & an Elizabeth ADDISON

Not sure whether any of this will help at all but may give you some other avenues to explore - perhaps brother Jonas left a will.

Janet

[Jane Elderfield]

...I'm still looking for the birth/christening of Herbert CLARKE, probably around the 1830's, and his siblings Jonas, Elizabeth, and (probably) Sarah. ...

Darn! Did it again! I meant around the 1730s....

Jane E

[Jane Elderfield]

Could this be a burial of one of the children of Herbert's brother Jonas (the name would perhaps suggest this) via Ancestry's London Parish Registers:

14 February 1762 at St Saviour Southwark Herbert son of Jonas CLARK a Weaver, infant....

23 October 1761 at St Saviour Jonas CLARK son of Jonas, a Weaver & Elizabeth

Born 2 November, bap 13? November 1752 or 3 (no year shown on the actual baptismal record but tracking back several pages there is a reference to 1752??) at Christchurch Southwark Thomas CLARK son of Jonas, Weaver, and Elizabeth his wife

There is a marriage on 4 November 1750 at St Mary Newington of a Jonas CLARK & an Elizabeth ADDISON

...may give you some other avenues to explore....

Dear Janet:

These are exciting entries, not available through IGI or RecordSearch. I'm very glad to have them. Thank you!

Yes, the son "Herbert" to father "Jonas CLARK" in Southwark does look likely to be the right family. Will pass these on to my fellow researchers (distant cousins). Perhaps we can get somewhere.

Many thanks for your kindness--

Jane E

[Jane Elderfield]

Hello, Forum members:

I and my fellow-researchers-and-distant-relatives are still slogging away at Herbert CLARKE, with very little success.

A hired researcher has traced the freehold estate in Uxbridge. The property was recorded in the name of "Mr. Clark" or "Mr. Clarke" from 1783 -87, then with another one or two names on it (Mr. Mercer and Thos. Hill) until 1791. Then again as "Mr. Clark" or "Mr. Clarke" until 1804,05,06, when it shows as "Thos. Clarke".

In 1806, "Thomas" was crossed out and "Herbert" substituted, continuing as "Herbert Clarke" until 1809 (by which time Herbert was dead). After that the name was William Lee (a former occupier).

The land was consistently occupied by people other than Herbert and family. At one point the occupiers were the "late Geo Clarke" and "George Clarke".

So now we have a couple more CLARKE names to pursue, but so far have nothing definite.

There was a very wealthy land-holding CLARKE family at the manor of Swakeleys in nearby Ickenham. I have looked at their pedigree and not found any connection to my Herbert.

There was also a WALKER family, who were connected to the CLERKE family of Shabbington, Buckinghamshire. Likewise, have not so far found any connection.

Some old histories of Middlesex and of Uxbridge/Hillingdon name some other CLARK / CLERK / CLERKE/ CLARKEs, but none so far have panned out.

Onward--
slog, slog, slog--
Jane