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.

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

Tom Clark - Off Shore Whaler

Who was Tom Clark, renowned headsman of the Encounter Bay whaling community, father of Kangaroo Island farmer Robert Clark?

Tom was remarkably shy of the Registry Office. Not only did he not marry his defacto spouse Mary Louisa Stone (nee Connor) he did not register the birth of his son either, even though registration was compulsory. At this stage I don't know whether he had other children, or if he ever married. This leaves his origins clouded in mystery. A Biography of his son in the "Cyclopaedia of South Australia" says that his father Thomas arrived in Australia in 1835. This was before the arrival of official colonists to South Australia, so Tom must have arrived to another colony.

Was he the Thomas Clark who arrived as a convict to Van Diemen's Land in 1835 aboard the ship Mangles? Did he escape and "disappear" into the whaling community, leaving Launceston on the Thistle in 1836? Or did he serve out his term (usually 7 years)  and join whaling later? The latter seems less likely, as whaling was a task for an experienced mariner, and Tom was a headsman in 1846. Where would a convict have got that kind of skill?

What seems most likely is that Tom Clark came to Australia as crew on a ship in 1835 and, finding whaling a lucrative enterprise, left for the fisheries almost as soon as he arrived. He may well have worked for one of the VDL companies before being "imported" to South Australia. It's on record that the ship "John Pirie" brought whaling hands from Hobart to Encounter Bay. (The John Pirie did a number of whaling voyages in 1845 under Capt Shepherd, including Trial Bay, near Streaky Bay, In 1845 It was owned by Jacob Hagen. On one of these voyages it brought back crew from the wrecked Elizabeth Rebecca, which founde3red in Trial Bay 1844 or 45. The John Pirie seems to disappear from South Australian waters after this Source: "Bound for South Austtralia" website.) (Note to self: look for departures of the "John Pirie" from VDL and names of those on board. Also look for those departing with the "Socrates" "Henry" and "Eliza" which were whaling in KI waters in the 1830s.)

Tom had a brother Jim working with him at Encounter Bay. His presence suggests Tom was not brought here as a convict, although it was not unknown for siblings to be convicted and transported together. Did Jim arrive later? Did they both come here as crew on the same ship? On different ships?

Convicts who may have been him.
Thomas Clark arrived VDL 3rd March 1835 on Waterloo

Some notes:

*From FamilyHistorySA.info:
CLARKE Thomas arrived 1836-11-26 on Tam O'Shanter from London
CLARK Charles Thomas (crew) arrived 1836-12-24 on HMS Buffalo from Portsmouth 36-07-13 via Spithead 36-07-23, St Helens 36-08-03, Rio de Janeiro 36-10-12
*http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article58840224 says Tom Clark had a whaling brother, Jim Clark.
* Tom Clarke was immortalised in Simpson Newland's book "Paving the Way".
* Lived with Mrs Mary Stone, who had his child - see article: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49826783
*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.

Sources:

• AN OLD KANGAROO ISLANDER
• 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