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From: "Liz Penprase" <>
Subject: Re: [AUS-Tas] William Clark
Date: Sun, 6 Jun 2004 13:18:09 +1000
References: <40C1AD92.6000009@vision.net.au>


> Hi Tas
>
> There is a christening for William Clarke on 18 May 1815 - Parents Sarah
> Clarke and William Clarke. Reference No 423. Tas Pioneer Index.
>
> Frances, Launceston <snip>

Hi Tas and Frances,
Looking at the original RGD entry for the above William Clarke, both he and
his brother Richard were baptised on the 6th September 1815, having been
born on the 18th May 1815 (twins). Rev Robert Knopwood doesn't list a father
for these boys, the mother being named as Sarah Clarke, unmarried, place of
abode Hobart.. It would appear that the same Sarah Clark(e) gave birth to
another son James on 18th February 1818 and had him baptised on the 18th
December 1818, once again she is described by Knopwood as "unmarried",
place of abode given as Hobart..

Garry Wilson and I believe that Sarah Clarke (as recorded in the Tasmania
Convicts CD, Conduct record CON40/1 p14) was the convict Mary Ferns Clarke
who arrived NSW per the "Catherine" in May 1814, she was transshipped to
VDL (Hobart) aboard the "Kangaroo", arriving 14th September 1814, just in
time to be mustered there using the name Mary Clarke. By the 1818 muster of
convict women she changes her name from Mary to Sarah, convict per
"Catherine".
By 1819 muster of convict women, Sarah Clarke per "Catherine" is living with
James Stynes (this man appears as Stines in other records).

Of the 97 women who landed NSW per "Catherine" in May 1814, there is no one
by the name of Sarah Clarke, only one Clarke, that being Mary Ferns
Clarke, who was tried in Dublin city, Ireland in 1811 (Uebel) ( Phillip
Tardif gives a trial year as March 1813), given a sentence of 7 years
transportation.

7th April 1821 Sarah Clarke marries James Stines in Hobart, both their ages
given as 40.

James Styne(s) was tried in Nass Kildare) in April 1801, transported for 7
years, he arrived NSW per the "Hercules" on the 26th June 1802. James
Stynes appears in the 1806 Muster of NSW as being per "Hercules", a prisoner
in the Goal at Parramatta. By 1811 Muster James Stynes is living in Hobart,
when exactly he arrived VDL we do not know at this stage. James Stynes
applies for a land grant in VDL on the 2nd February 1811, his sentence
having expired.
This man appears in the 1814, 1818, 1819 Musters of Free Men in Hobart
The 1818 Muster of Children has 3 children listed for (Mrs) Jas Stynes "off
stores".
" Juveniles Requiring Education in VDL c 1821-1822" by Thelma McKay tells us
that James Stynes of Coal River has 4 male children aged *7/4/11# - * twins
/ # a native boy.
James Stynes went on to have a very successful pastoral partnership with
fellow ex convict Richard Troy ("Atlas"1 (1), 1802) until the partnership
was dissolved in 1830.

Finally it is interesting to note that of the 3 sons born to Sarah Clark(e),
only the youngest James marries as Stynes. It is my opinion that James'
father was James Stynes, and that the twins William and Richard had another
"unknown" father. Given their birth date of 18th May 1815, Sarah Clark
probably fell pregnant to one of the crew aboard the "Kangaroo".

Regards,
Liz Penprase

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