Thomas Clark birth 31 Jan 1811 in Invernessshire, Scotland

[mcadamsd]

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-?.

I have found some possible links in US records that show a spouse Mary A. Clark (maiden name unknown) and several children.  There was a marriage record of a Thomas Clark to a Catherine Matheson but later records have her a widow before we know Thomas died in Canada

Contributor to this site Monica L found this 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

Those names fit traditional names in the family and the Michigan connection is strengthened by a marriage of a Isabella Clark in London, Middlesex, Ontario in 1873. Isabella was born c. 1851 in Michigan. She was marrying a Robert Allan, a baker(possibly banker). Parents Thomas and Mary A Clark.  We know Isabella b1851 was staying with Thomas's brother William in London, Ontario.  That makes Michigan a probable stop for Thomas and supports Mary A as a spouse. Unable to find a death for a Mary A Clark in Canada or US

Contributor  loobylooayr  found this info

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

Baker as occupation/trade fits but spouse and children do not based on what we think we know.  Was Midlothian too far from Petty, Inverness-shire for someone to move in 1830s or 1840s Scotland?

Any assistance appreciated.  Thanks to all who have helped so far.

Regards

Dave McAdams
London, Canada

[MonicaL]

Hi Dave

Unfortunately, I don't think that 1841 entry is the right Thomas...

The wife of this Thomas, Janet, is I think a Janet Millar. A number of christenings for the children we have in 1841 show on FS, such as here for John the baby from 1841 https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VQ4Y-32Z

The family is still in West Calder in 1851:

Thomas Clerk 44 Baker Employing 1 Man b. Whitburn, Linlithgow
Janet Clerk 38
John Clerk 12
Catherine Clerk 13
Elisabeth Clerk 9
Janet Clerk 1

Monica

[mcadamsd]

Thanks Monica!  The search continues but at least something eliminated.

[MonicaL]

Just adding the link, Dave, to the previous post on Thomas so that the responses and info can be connected www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=755262.0

Monica 

[Forfarian]

Was Midlothian too far from Petty, Inverness-shire for someone to move in 1830s or 1840s Scotland?

It's about 170 miles, which was several days' travel before the advent of steam locomotives. In those days people probably travelled by sea rather than overland, but it would still have taken several days. So you would have to have decided to 'emigrate' within Scotland; it wasn't just a case ot taking a job near your home but in another county.