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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Inverness => Topic started by: mcadamsd on Monday 05 September 16 19:03 BST (UK)
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I am researching my 2nd great uncle Thomas Clark birth 31 Jan 1811 in Invernessshire, Scotland and died OCTOBER 16,1891 Wroxeter, Turnberry, Huron County, Ontario, Canada.
We know he was christened 6 Feb 1811 Petty, Inverness-shire, Scotland
He is listed as a widower and a baker at time of death and in several census documents in Canada. I am thinking he came to Canada after his spouse passed in Scotland but that is not confirmed. I have been unable to find an arrival date. He first appears definitively in the 1881 Canada Census. He had a brother and a sister in Canada at that time and was living with sister Janet "Jessie" Clark 1828-1903 at time of death.
He is the son of Donald Clark 1785-1853, schoolmaster at Petty, and Jane Campbell 1789-?.
It would add significantly if a marriage could be found that shows the spouse and
Regards
Dave McAdams
London, Canada
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I recently received some info that Thomas may have married Catherine Matheson 08 Dec 1847 in Inverness. However, they don't have a marriage document or any supporting info (age, parents, birth place/date) that would point to this being the Thomas Clark I am looking for.
Would a marriage record necessarily show any supporting details?
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Pre 1855 and the start of official registration in Scotland, the main source of key data will be the Old Parish Registers (Presbyterian/established Church of Scotland). Only about a third of events were recorded in the OPRs and many registers have been destroyed or lost over time....
From the possible data you have been given, the only way of checking what info was included is to look at the original image on SP. This is from Family Search https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XT5D-T86 This index may be for the marriage itself, or banns to marriage. You cannot tell from the index. As to what is included on these OPR marriage entries, sadly it is a bit of a lucky dip. Some parish clerks included more info, others wrote no more than a one liner (names and date).
At least two children show for them:
William 1850 https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XB91-9DQ
Janet 1852 https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XB9Y-B38
Have you checked the 1851 census?
Monica
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1851:
Thomas Clark 38 saleman
Cathrine Matheson 26
Jane Clark 2
William B Clark 54
Bella Mcdonald 20
Address: 9 Castle Street, Inverness
All the Clarks showing as born in Kirkhill except young William.
What censuses have you found Thomas in Canada? You mentioned 1881. Is this the earliest?
Monica
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Mmmm....
Think this family is in Scotland for 1861, without Thomas. The transcript doesn't show the marital status, this is only available to check on the original image.
Catherine Clark 36 Lodging House Keeper
Jane Clark 12
William Clark 10
Jamel Clark 8
Catherine Smith 22 servant
Henry Banard 42 lodger
Mary Banard 36 lodger
Address: 76 Church Street Inverness
Monica
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Monica,
There's a death for a Catherine Matheson (other name Clark) 1855 - 1881
County (Inverness) but not Kirkhill but I haven't narrowed it down yet.
Annie
Added,
I think Jamel on 1861 should be Janet?
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Looks like Catherine died 1861 - 1862 (Indexed 1862) but dependent on what date which may have been late 1861 & in District Inverness too.
Annie
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Thanks for all the added details and research. Looks like I need to get online with Scotland's People and pay for some records.
As to Thomas in Canada I first find him in 1881 Census. I am unable to find him in 1871 Census but there are several arrival records for a Thomas Clark born 1811. Unfortunately the record offers little detail. I also see a hint on Ancestry for a Thomas Clark in the 1871 Scotland census "abt 1811 - Nairn, Inverness-shire" in Lanarkshire. FreeCen does not yield any results.
The results from FreeCen for the 1851 census shows a likely family but one possible issue. Thomas is shown as born in Kirkhill while we believed he was born in Petty or very close by based on other census data. Kirkhill seems a bit of a distance.
Appreciate the leads. Many thanks!
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As to Thomas in Canada I first find him in 1881 Census. I am unable to find him in 1871 Census but there are several arrival records for a Thomas Clark born 1811. Unfortunately the record offers little detail. I also see a hint on Ancestry for a Thomas Clark in the 1871 Scotland census "abt 1811 - Nairn, Inverness-shire" in Lanarkshire. FreeCen does not yield any results.
The entry in 1871 shows:
Joseph Welsh 53 Brass Dresser b. Girvan Ayrshire
Margaret Welsh 36 wife b. Inverness, Inverness-shire
Thomas Clark 60 serv miller (as transcribed) b. Nairn Invernesshire
Address: 6 Whitehall Court, Glasgow/Anderston
Can't see any marriage entry for this couple on the index on Family Search. Wondered what Margaret Welsh's maiden name was...in case it was Clark! Added:marriage in Anderston, Glasgow showing on SP in 1865. Bride Margaret's maiden name is showing as Stewart not Clark. No obvious connection to the Thomas Clark boarding with them in 1871 that jumps out.
Dave, FreeCen is an amazing resource. Expanding all the time but main coverage still mostly 1841 and 1851. A few counties have had more years added and it is an ongoing programme which continues to grow.
Monica
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I think we can delete the Thomas Clark lodging in Glasgow in 1871. Likely him in 1861 with wife Georgina:
Thomas Clark 50 saw miller b. Nairn
Georgina Clark 36
Address: 20 Main St, Glasgow/Anderston
Further, I think we can also delete the Thomas Clark, husband of Catherine Matheson. The question we had from the 1861 census entry for that Clark family is whether Catherine showed as a widow. She was a widow when she died in 1862 (with the entry found by Annie).
You have Thomas in Ontario in 1881 and then his death there in 1891.
So, back to scratch in Scotland :-\
Monica
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Dave, I am tired now so won't make sense but have a look in the US for Thomas.
I think this is him in 1851 in Clinton, Macomb, Michigan:
Thomas Clarke 40 baker b. Scotland
Mary A Clarke 34 b. Canada
William Clarke 7 b. Canada
Joanna Clarke 2 b. Michigan
There is a marriage for an Isabella Clark in London, Middlesex, Ontario in 1873. Isabella was born c. 1851 in Michigan. She was marrying a Robert Allan, a baker. Parents Thomas and Mary A Clark.
And...that is as far as I have got ;D
Monica
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Thanks Monica:
The Michigan connection fits. Thomas' sister Jane Clark 1815-1893 married a Thomas Partridge 1808-1891 in Port Huron, Michigan. About one hour today from London where other Clark folks lived. Clinton Township is just up the road. I think it would make the Port Huron location about half way to London. Not sure what trains and roads would have worked like back then. I do not have access to Michigan records but all this fits.
I downloaded a marriage for a Thomas Clark and a woman named Grant but parents are shown and not my Thomas
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How about this marriage for Thomas and Mary Ann? https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLPD-W8H
Monica
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In respect of the 1871 census in London, Ontario, wondered whether this could be Isabella, daughter of Thomas and Mary Ann, possibly with Uncle William? From what we had, she married in the area (showing on marriage reg as having married at bride's residence) in 1873.
William Clark 62 bookseller b. Scotland
Catherine Clark 60 b. Scotland
Isabella Clark 20 b. US
Monica
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Monica- The 1871 census had confused me previously as I assumed Isabella was William and his wife Catherine's (maiden name unknown) child. Once the US link was established it fits!
Thanks again. I will look for that marriage in Canadian records
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Just found the marriage record. Sadly it does not list parents. His occupation is listed as "Farmer" in East Oxford which is near London, ON. So far I have not found an indication he farmed but perhaps something else will click in another record.
We know his brother William arrived around 1833 so Thomas may have arrived around same time. Wondering what the link to US was? It does seem many folks from Canada traveled back and forth to find work or ? Other branches of my family certainly did this.
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That is a pity. Ontario records can be so good in detail, but the earlier ones carry less don't they (as in Scotland pre 1855).
William's wife Catherine died 1890? No maiden name there so it doesn't help you further.
Monica
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I found a possible match in the 1881 census for Catherine living in the "right" ward in London with a young woman, Maggie Henderson,but I cannot match names on the 1871 census of the same ward. However, it is hard to say how the data was gathered as no street addresses are given. Possibly City Directories will help. Sadly the wife was often not listed. I know William was well known in the community so perhaps newspaper articles will shed some light.
The death record from 1890 seems close but again no details and birth year is given as 1806. Possibly a trip to the two largest cemeteries will yield some results. The undertaker was listed on King Street and there is still one there but the other I knew of has closed.
The search continues but much has been added in past few weeks. Again, many thanks to all who have added to my research
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Hi all,
There is a Thomas Clark - aged 30 - a baker - living in West Calder Midlothian on the 1841 Scotland Census. He is recorded as born outside the county of Midlothian. Perhaps he has already been ruled out.
He is married with 4 children -
CLARK Thomas 30 Baker Outside Census County (1841)
CLARK Janet 25 Midlothian
CLARK Isabella 6 Midlothian
CLARK Andrew 4 Midlothian
CLARK Cathrine 3 Midlothian
CLARK John 11m Midlothian
MILLER David 15 Baker Jrnymn Midlothian
MARSHALL Euphemia 15 Female Servant Midlothian
I am struggling to find any of the Clark family on the 1851 Census.
Looby :)
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Thanks for this info.
The i841 info is very interesting. Occupation in Canada was Baker so that fits. Age is about right Midlothian appears to be a bit of a distance from Inverness-shire but assume folks went where there was work.
Other data from US that seems to fit mentions a spouse Mary A. Clark and children have different names and birth dates.
So this begs the question "Which is my Thomas?". More looking for a Thomas Clark and spouse Janet may lead to a clue.
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Based on the name Janet and the ages shown of the children there are three possible marriages listed on Scotland's People. The one in 1832 is in Nairn which fits what I know of the family. The other two are in the Census area MIDLOTHIAN which fits the 1841 Census data. I will have to buy more credits at Scotland's People to see what is in the records. Other marriage info seems to have limited information about the family so hard to confirm that those listed are my family.
22/06/1832 CLARK THOMAS JANET TULLOCH/ M CAWDOR /NAIRN 122/00 0020 0134
2 10/11/1833 CLARK THOMAS JANET MILLEN/FR5337 (FR5337) M EDINBURGH EDINBURGH CITY CITY/MIDLOTHIAN 685/01 0640 0392
3 06/12/1833 CLARK THOMAS JANET ROBERTSON/FR1294 (FR1294) M ST CUTHBERT'S EDINBURGH CITY CITY/MIDLOTHIAN 685/02 0430 0098
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The US info appears to be correct and the spouse was Mary but cannot find a marriage. Possibly was in Michigan. There is also another possibility for a marriage in Quebec - there is a marriage for Thomas Clarke, baker, of Montreal and Mary Ann Gibbons, spinster, of same place on the 19th day of September(?) 1834. We know he was a baker and that his brother William Clark 1807-1874 came to Canada in 1833 and lived in Montreal for a period before moving east and ultimately settling in London. He was well known and there is a detailed obituary that has added many details.
We found three children and birth info matches as well as marriages for the two women
William Clark 1844– Born Canada
Johanna Clark 1849– Born Michigan US
Isabella Clark 1851– Born Michigan USA