Herbert CLARKE, Button Manufacturer, died 1808

[J. Elderfield]

For the moment, this "gentleman" is a dead end.

I know from his will that Herbert CLARKE had a brother Jonas, a sister Elizabeth HARPER, both dead by March 1807. He had a wife Elizabeth (presumably PUTNAM, married 15 Jan 1758 in St. Clement Danes), also dead by March 1807.

His children were:
Sarah, married Thomas KING 1795, cheesemonger (some of their descendants are known);
Mary chr. 1768, married Thomas BENSLEY jr., printer (descendants known);
probably Elizabeth 1767 and  Francis 1770;
and perhaps others.

I know he was a manufacturer of buttons, and lived in Drury Lane, London. He died wealthy, had a house in Uxbridge, and asked to be buried in Hillingdon.

From London Lives I know the name of one of his servants, the way he voted, and how much he insured his houses for. I have quite a lot more details, BUT...

what I don't know is who his parents were, and when and where he was born.

Herbert was an uncommon name in the 1700s, so may be a family surname.

Any other descendants out there, who might have more information? Or any thoughts of how/where to search next? (I'm in rural Canada.)

Thanks--J. Elderfield

[Valda]

Hi

His burial doesn't give an age - doesn't look as if he is mentioned in a publication like The Gentleman's Magazine which would give his age.

20th July 1808 St John The Baptist, Hillingdon, Middlesex
Mr Herbert Clarke


Have you looked at the Death Duty register for the details of the beneficiaries of his will?

Abstract of Will of Herbert Clarke, Gentleman of Uxbridge, Middlesex 
Date July 25 1808
Catalogue reference IR 26/382 


http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/death-duty-records-1796-to-1903.htm


The West Middlesex Family History Society have indexes to the monumental inscriptions at St John the Baptist Hillingdon

http://www.west-middlesex-fhs.org.uk/content/indexes_general.aspx


Regards

Valda

[J. Elderfield]

Valda--

Apologies for the delay in getting back to you.

Thank you for the information and suggestions you posted. Another family researcher is in England, and may be able to search more easily.

What is your source for the burial information for Herbert CLARKE?

I have his will, and have fairly full details about the beneficiaries, daughters Mary BENSLEY and Sarah KING. Would the Death Duty Register give further information?

In appreciation--

J.Elderfield

[Valda]

Hi


The link I gave to death duty registers at The National Archives details what further might be found in them. The burial information was taken from the parish register.


Regards

Valda

[J. Elderfield]

Still looking for Herbert CLARKE (and siblings Elizabeth and Jonas) births around 1730.

At this point, our best guess is that the parents were Samuel CLARKE, esquire, and Sarah GUEST, married at Wren's St. Paul's Cathedral in 1727. This couple is apparently the parents of Sally Maria CLARKE, chr. 1729 in St. Clement Danes.

Samuel was called "esquire" because of his Royal appointment as Overseer of the Poor for the parish of St. Clement Danes. We have many examples of his signature, as he signed numerous official documents. We have also tracked his home in "Cooke's Court, Shere Lane Ward" of St. Clement Danes.

Still hoping to get a solid link between Herbert CLARKE, the button man of Drury Lane, and the estimable Samuel CLARKE, esq.

Jane Elderfield

[bluemincepies]

Hi

An image of his will is available on Ancestry. He does leave ten pounds to a lady in Bury St Edmunds. it's the only location mentioned. Does that help?

Peter

[J. Elderfield]

Hello,

Thank you for your suggestion.

Elizabeth JEWERS, of Bury St. Edmunds, was the spinster niece of Elizabeth GODBY, widow of Herbert's employer and benefactor, Francis GODBY.

Francis GODBY, when he died in 1770, left Herbert “the Sum of one hundred pounds All my Stock in Trade and all my Implements Utensils Fixtures and Working Tools in my said Trade to and for his own proper Use”. Herbert apparently also took over the button-maker's premises in Naked Boy Court, off the Strand, for a few years, before moving to 55 Drury Lane.

Both Francis and Elizabeth GODBY are buried in Hillingdon, near Uxbridge, Middlesex, the same churchyard as Herbert, his wife and three children. It may be that the GODBYs and the CLARKEs had an early family or neighbourly connection at Uxbridge/Hillingdon. Alternately, Herbert may have been influenced by his employer to buy property at Uxbridge.

Jane Elderfield