Tom Clark - Off Shore Whaler

I now have all the low-down on Thomas Clark, whaler and farmer, of Encounter Bay and Kangaroo Island.

See also on this Blog: Mr &Mrs Clark of Cape Jervis  | Encounter Bay Whaling Station

Thomas (Tom) Clark aka Clarke
 Born about 1810 in England, United Kingdom
Brother of James Clark(?) according to two sources.
Father of Robert Clark and Eliza Jane (Clark) Chapman. Their mother was Mary Louisa Stone nee Connor. She had three other children from different fathers
Tom Clark died at Antechamber Bay, Kangaroo Island.

Thomas Clark, an Englishman (10), was present in the British Colony of South Australia in its early years. A biography of his son Robert Clark says that Tom arrived in Australia in 1835,(6) which was before the establishment of the colony of South Australia, and that he came to South Australia from Tasmania (then Van Diemen's Land) to join the whale fishery at Encounter Bay. Tom Clark's ship of arrival is not mentioned in his Obituary (2). He had a brother named James Clark, also a whaler at Encounter Bay.(1) A Thomas Clark, Whaler, left Launceston on the whaling vessel Thistle for Port Fairy on 20th October 1836. (12)
A Thomas Clark departed Hobart for Adelaide on the Will Watch on 19th March 1844 (4)
He is mentioned in newspapers as a headsman, and then chief headsman at the Encounter Bay whaling fishery from 1844. (3) He distinguished himself for his strength and the number of whales he caught. (1) His appointment as headsman implies some years of prior experience as a mariner and whaler. He was thus employed until at least 1851. Off-shore whaling was seasonal and he may have had other employment elsewhere in the off-season.(3)
In 1850 Tom Clark partnered with Barnett to hunt whales near Cape Jervis, in a spot now known as Fishery Beach. Whaling commenced in May 1850. Tom was manager and lived there with "Mrs Clark" in a slab hut, remains of which have been excavated by archaeologists. They kept ducks, fowls and pigs, probably for their own use and to supplement the diet of the whalers.(13,14,15)
There were twelve whalers, but few whales. Only one was caught in the entire season. (15) Tom had plenty of time to build three rowboats in sheds on site. At the end of the season, the fishery was sold to Bennett's (15) Tom is recorded as having been in Bennett's employ in 1851 (3) ; this could have been at either Fishery Beach or Encounter Bay, though his son Robert is said to have been born at "Port Victor" (Encounter Bay) (6).
The woman posing as "Mrs Clark" was Mrs Mary Louisa Stone (5) Tom and Mary's son Robert Clark was born in 1851.(6). One source says that a second son, William, was born in 1855. (7) In 1858 they had a daughter, Eliza Jane Clark. (8) By 1861 Mary Louisa had left Tom and was married to Frank Buckley. (9)
In 1853 Tom Clark was one of the locals who assisted survivors of the shipwrecked steamer Osmanli at D'Estrees Bay, Kangaroo Island. He offered to take charge of the salvage operation. (10)
 
Tom spent his later years on Kangaroo Island where his son Robert became a successful farmer and grazier.
He passed away in 1892, aged 82 at Antechamber Bay, Kangaroo Island. (11)

 AN OLD KANGAROO ISLANDER.-A corre
spondent writes from Hog Bay:-"Mr. T.
Clarke died at his son's (Mr. R. Clarke) resi
dence at Antechamber Bay on the 19th, after
a, short illness, aged eighty-two. Thus has
passed away the once celebrated Tom Clarke,
the noted headsman of bygone times, when
whaling was an important industry in the
colony. Tom Clarke was stationed at En
counter Bay for many seasons, and his reported
feats of great strength are well known in that
locality. He had resided on the island for
many years, and was highly respected. A
goodly number of neighbours attended his
funeral to show their respect for him."

Sources

1. OLD RESIDENT TELLS STORIES OF WHALING DAYS
2. AN OLD KANGAROO ISLANDER
3. FamilyHistorySA.info: CLARK Thomas, headsman (1846 Hagen, 1847 Wilde, 1848, 1849 Barnett, 1851 Bennett) Names in brackets are his employers as a whaler. Source: South Australian Government Gazettes 1844-51
4. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. (1844, March 22). The Courier (Hobart, Tas. : 1840 - 1859), p. 2
5. What we know of Tom Clark's and Mary Stone's relationship is from a newspaper report of a divorce suit brought by Mrs Stone's husband, Joseph.[ http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49826783 Supreme Court - Stone vs Stone and Clark
6. 6. Cyclopedia of South Australia 1909, pp.1021-1022
7. Bibliographical Index of South Australia, May 1986 There's no formal registration of this birth. Not known where the BISA got it from. In 1880, a William Clark, son of Thomas Clark, married Ellen Harris in Adelaide (BDM 124/835) but no certainty of connection.
8. Mary called herself Louisa Stone: CLARKE Thomas, Louisa STONE, parents of child born 1858-03-08 named Eliza Jane at Encounter Bay (data courtesy Family History S.A.)
9. Hearing re Marriage of Mary Ann Stone and Ezra Moore: "LAW AND CRIMINAL COURTS." South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900) 30 November 1861: 3. Web. 13 May 2018 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50080691.
10. Letter from Thomas Clarke to South Australian Free Press, , 4th March 1854
11. Death Thomas CLARKE died 19 May 1892, aged 82yrs, born approx 1810, at An techamber Bay which was also his residence at time of death. Ref: District: Yankalilla Book/Page: 202/409 per South Australian Genealogy and Heraldry Society.
12. Tasmanian Names Index - Departures
13. New Whale Fishery at Cape Jervis
14. Shipping - Cleared Out 
15. The Whaling Season SKETCHES OF THE PRESENT STATE OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA. No. VIII.-CAPE JERVIS

 Notes

• Tom Clarke was immortalised in Simpson Newland's book "Paving the Way".
• In 1835 the Schooner Adelaide brought whaler Thomas Harris to Kangaroo Island. Could it also have brought Tom Clark?
• In 1836 a Thomas Clark left Launceston on the whaling ship "Thistle" for Port Fairy. https://linctas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au/client/en_AU/names/search/results?qu=NI_NAME%3DThomas&qu=NI_NAME%3DClark&qf=NI_DEPARTURE_PORT%09Departure+port%09Launceston%09Launceston
• in 1850 the Barnett whaling company, owned by Joseph Barnett, became a partnership, Joseph Barnett & Thomas Clark (Source: http://www.familyhistorysa.org/sahistory/whaling.html Whaling in South Australia). Tom Clarke worked for Barnett in 1849, and Bennett in 1851 but no employer is recorded for 1850. Most whaling ceased at Encounter Bay about this time.

Encounter Bay Whaling Station

Some very scrappy notes. If you have any questions or comments, please leave me a message in the comments box below.

Ramindjerri name for Encounter Bay: Karraunda

Encounter Bay Whaling Station 1850 showing "The Bluff" (Rosetta Head)
at right, Granite and Wright Island, whaleboats drawn up on the beach,
whalebone on the beach and a row of whaler's huts.

Whaling begins 1837.
Two stations: Capt Blenkinsop's at first on the mainland, then on Granite Island.
S.A. Company managed by Samuel Stephens (of all people!) at Rosetta Head.

"To resolve the conflicts Parliament passed an Act for the Regulation and Protection of the Whale Fisheries in September 1839. The whale belonged to the party whose harpoon first struck the whale. If the line broke and a second harpoon was struck, the whale became joint property. The Act also specified the provisions to be supplied to the men - 12 lbs of beef or 9 lbs of pork, 12 lbs of bread or flour, 4 ozs tea and 2 lb of sugar per week. The lack of vegetables was compensated by the owners supplying two gallons of tea or half a pint of strong rum per day. Some reports indicate that the men had little to do between whale chases but "eat, drink and sleep, play cards, sing and make a noise". (FamilyHistorySA Maureen M. Leadbetter)

Whalers

PULLING HAND - Oarsman
HEADSMAN - In charge of each boat, takes over steering once the whale is harpooned
BOATSTEERER usually also the harpoonist
TONGUER  Too horrible to think about

According to Mr Sweetman's memories: (Sweetman was there from around 1853)

Bob Cleeve, 

Billy Honeyman, HUNNIMEN / HONEYMAN/Honeymoon William, boatsteerer (1844 Hagen), boatsteerer (1845 Wilde)

Jim Clark

Tom Clark, CLARK Thomas, headsman (1846 Hagen, 1847 Wilde, 1848, 1849 Barnett, 1851 Bennett)

Jack Jones, JONES John, headsman (1844 Hagen, 1845, 1846, 1847 Wilde, 1848 Barnett)

Jack Taylor, TAYLOR Henry, boatsteerer (1844 Wilde), tonguer (1845 Hagen), pulling hand (1849 Barnett), boatsteerer (1850 Barnett)

Jim Long, LONG James, headsman (1844 Hagen, 1846 Wilde, 1847 Hagen, 1848, 1849 Barnett, 1850 Bennett), chief headsman (1845 Hagen, 1851 Bennett)

Alex Ewen, EWEN Alexander, pulling hand (1844, 1845 Hagen), boatsteerer (1847, 1848 Hagen, 1850, 1851 Bennett)

Bill Harris, HARRIS John, boatsteerer (1848, 1849 Barnett, 1850 Bennett)

Jack Gangel, 

Peter Morgan, 

Jack Parsons,   ??PARSONS Frederick, pulling hand (1845 Hagen)

 Jack McCarthy, 

Jim McDonald, 

Dan Budie,

Frank Buckley, 

George Bennett, BENNETT George, boatsteerer (1844 Hagen, 1845 Wilde)

Jack Foster, (real name John Harris)

Rube Earl, 

Tom Smith, SMITH Thomas, pulling hand (1846 Hagen)

Tom Atrill, 

Joshua Paterson (cooper)

Jack Hyde (boat builder) ??HYDE John, pulling hand (1844 Hagen)

Jack Beddow BEDDOW John, pulling hand (1844 Wilde)

Montgomery (steersman) MONTGOMERY William, boatsteerer (1844 Wilde)

Foster (headsman - drowned) 

Henry Lush

(John Barbank/Burbank) rescued after whaling/fishing boat capsized on the reef at Wright's island after 1850
("New Zealand Tom" ) Not sure if these two are whalers

The following are whalers whose names appeared in Government Gazettes 1844-1851. Source: FamilyHistorySA.info
BENNETT Samuel, pulling hand (1844 Hagen)
BENNETT Thomas, pulling hand (1844 Hagen)

BUCK William, pulling hand (1844 Haynes, 1845 Hagen, 1851 Bennett)

BUDD William, boatsteerer (1845 Wilde)

CARTER John, pulling hand (1845 Hagen)

CLARK John, headsman (1844, 1845, 1846, 1847 Wilde, 1851 Bennett), pulling hand (1849 Barnett), tonguer (1851 Bennett)
CLARK Joseph, pulling hand (1845 Hagen)
CLARKE Isaac, boatsteerer (1844 Hagen)
CLARKE John, cook (1847 Hagen)

FAGAN James, pulling hand (1846 Hagen)
GANDEW Edward, pulling hand (1846 Hagen)

HARRISON George, pulling hand (1846 Hagen)
HARRISON John, headsman (1844 Haynes), cook (1847 Hagen)

HYDE John, pulling hand (1844 Hagen)
HYDE Morris, pulling hand (1848 Hagen)
HYDE Phillip, boatbuilder (1844 Wilde, 1846 Hagen), carpenter (1845, 1847 Hagen)

JONES Edward, pulling hand (1844, 1845, 1847 Hagen, 1848 Barnett, 1850 Bennett), tonguer (1847 Hagen)
JONES Richard, pulling hand (1846 Hagen)
JONES Thomas, pulling hand (1844 Wilde)
JONES William, pulling hand (1850 Barnett)

 MORGAN William, pulling hand (1845 Hagen)

SMITH Charles, pulling hand (1844 Haynes)
SMITH Grieve, headsman (1844 Hagen)
SMITH John, pulling hand (1844, 1845, 1847, 1848 Hagen, 1845 Wilde), boatsteerer (1846 Hagen)
SMITH Joshua, pulling hand (1845 Wilde)
SMITH Nathan, pulling hand & carpenter (1845 Hagen)
SMITH Thomas, pulling hand (1846 Hagen)
SMITH William, pulling hand (1845, 1846 Hagen)

Owners
S.A. Company
John Hart & Jacob Hagen
James Wilde & John Howard
J.T. Haynes
Barnett
Bennett

Bennett

James Frederick Bennett, Samuel Elkington Boord, William Johnstone & S R Clarke (1850)
James Frederick Bennett, Samuel Elkington Boord & William Johnstone (1851)

Barnett

Joseph Barnett (1848-49)
Joseph Barnett & Thomas Clark (1850) at Rapid Bay

Hagen

John Hart & Jacob Hagen (1844)
Jacob Hagen, John Baker & John Hart (1845-46)
John Baker, Jacob Hagen & John Hart (1847-48)

Haynes

J T Haynes (1844)

Wilde

James Wilde & John Howard (1844-45)
James Wilde, John Howard & William Johnstone (1846)
James Wilde & William Johnstone (1847)

The Town

Was surveyed quite early by Light. Title deeds are dated as early as 1837.

Reading list
Colwell Max, 1969. Whaling Around Australia
Cumpston J S, 1974. Kangaroo Island, 1800-1836
Gibb R M, 1969. A History of South Australia
Kostoglou Parry & McCarthy Justin, 1991. Whaling and Sealing Sites in South Australia
Nash Michael, 2003. The Bay Whales. Tasmania's Shore-Based Whaling Industry
Parsons Ronald, 1986. Southern Passages. A Maritime History of South Australia
Sexton R T, 1990. Shipping Arrivals and Departures. South Australia 1627-1850
Flinders University. The Archaeology of Whaling in Southern Australia and New Zealand (web page now unavailable)

Sources

https://www.familyhistorysa.org/sahistory/whaling.html
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/58840224 (Bob Sweetman)

Whaling vessels:

Sarah Elizabeth - possibly Henty
Isabella  - Hart
Gem
Nereus
Thistle - Griffiths

Mr and Mrs Clark of Cape Jervis

In 1850 Tom Clark partnered with Barnett to hunt whales at Fishery Beach, just south of Cape Jervis. Whaling commenced in May 1850. Tom was manager and lived there with "Mrs Clark" in a slab hut, remains of which have been excavated by archaeologists. They kept ducks, fowls and pigs, probably for their own use and to supplement the diet of the whalers.
There were twelve whalers, but few whales. Only one was caught in the entire season. Tom had plenty of time to build three rowboats in sheds on site.

At the end of the season, the fishery was sold to Bennett's. Tom is recorded as having been in Bennett's employ in 1851. Was that at Fishery beach? Son Robert was born in 1851 "at Port Victor".

These dates confirm that Mary Louisa was Robert Clark's mother as she was definitely co-habiting with Tom Clark from May 1850, at Rapid Bay.

SAILED Wed May 1st
The cutter Jane and Emma, 20 tons, Shaw,

master, for Rapid Bay and Cape Jervis. Passengers

Mr and Mrs Clark, Mr and Mrs Chandler, and twelve

whalers. Cargo-Sundries lor the fishery. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/159531719

3rd May 1850: CLEARED OUT.

May 1 -The cutter Jane and Emma, 15 tons, Shaw, for Cape Jervis. With stores for Barnett &

Clark's Fishery. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/71626181


Mr Barnett's party started on the 1st inst., in the fine
cutter Jane and Emma (which he has bought) for the
fishery at Cape Jervis; and that nothing might be
wanting to give them a good start, he hired the steamer
to tow the vessel out to the lightship ; everything being
in his usual liberal style, gay flags flaunting in the
breeze, and champagne in abundance to enliven the
party of ladies and gentlemen who accompanied him in
the steamer to see the party off. When we say that
the famous headsman, Tom Clark, continues as
manager, we doubt not they will have that success
which Mr Barnett's liberality and enterprise so well
deserve.Adelaide Observer 4 May 1850
(Note it wasn't the party on board the Jane and Emma that was treated to champagne).
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/159531734

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

Sept. 23 1850.—The cutter, Jane and Emma, 35 tons,

Clark, master, from Cape Jervis.

 THE WHALING SEASON.-The whaling season this

year has not been very successful up to the present

time. Mr Barnett's new fishery at Cape Jervis, have

only caught one humpback, but this is partly owing to

the situation of the fishery, the tide running through

the straits so fast, that it is very difficult to come up to

a fish passing through. Messrs Bennett and Co's,

party, at the old spot, Encounter Bay, have been rather

fortunate, having taken, we believe, nine whales and

two humpbacks. 14 Sep 1850, Adelaide Observer

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/159532769

26th Sept ARRIVED The cutter Jane and Emma, 25 tons, Shaw,
master, from Cape Jervis, with a party of whalers.
 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/195940822

Excerpts from SKETCHES OF THE PRESENT STATE OF

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

No. VIII.-CAPE JERVIS (dated 1st Dec, presumably 1850) 

From Mr. Ransford's a level road runs parallel

with the coast, and for about a mile or two we were

able even to " bowl along " with comfort till we

came in sight of Mr. Barnett's fishery, which, with

its scattered sheds and buildings near the shore, we

saw from a rise which terminated in a slope where

the hut of Mr. Clark, the manager, was placed.

Mrs. Clark received us with much attention and

civility, in a slab hut, the picture of neatness and

order, though the premises were surrounded by

ducks, fowls, pigs, turkeys, four caged parroquets, a

tame magpie, a pet cat, and an infant cockatoo.

Mr. Clark was at Kangaroo Island. ...

...We looked at the oil-boiling coppers and

apparatus, and threading a maze of empty tuns

visited a boat-shed where were three new handsome

strong boats, built by Mr. Clark; the largest, a

.six-oared boat, valued at £25.

We were so fully in view of Kangaroo Island,

and could so plainly see the vegetation there, as to

make it appear singularly near, as it sometimes

does. The distance is 12 miles from the fishery,

and the passage is made in a few hours. Mrs.

Clark said that her husband and herself could

manage the boat without assistance on these occasions,
Mrs. Clark, as she technically phrased it,"hauling the sheet."
The whaling season here had

been unproductive, as we before affirmed, owing

chiefly, Mrs. Clark said, to the men employed not

being " up to their work," but it is also said that

the failure was more attributable to a spirituous

influence. Mrs. Clark had attempted a little garden

north of the house, a little above it, which she said

her husband laughed at, but we told her that it

might prove no joke. She was ambitious of grow

ing melons, which were thriving, and coveted

cucumbers, but had no seed.

... We have since

learnt that this fishery has been sold by Mr. Barnett

to Messrs. Boord, Johnson, and Bennett.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/165043305
Adelaide Observer 3 May 1851

 POLICE COURT-PORT ADELAIDE.

Friday, May 10th. 1850

Charles Morris, charged with deserting the Cape Jervis

whale fishery, to which he had articled himself for five

months, after receiving £3 wages on the 5th inst., pleaded

guilty, and said be had to cook for all of them at the fishery,

and there was nothing to do it with, so he left, as the men

complained of him. He intended to return the £3.

Mr Barnett explained that the things were not yet landed,

the man knew when he engaged that the fishery was not

established, and they must make a shift for a time.

Committed for a month.

Adelaide Observer 11th May 1850

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/159532168