Summary
Personal Information
Crime
Voyage
Transportation
Catherine Clarke was transported on the Alexander, departing 4th Nov 1815 and arriving 4th Apr 1816 with 88 passengers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Fleet http://www.jenwilletts.com/convict_ship_alexander_1788 The Alexander was built at Hull in 1784 by Walton & Co. She was taken up by the East India Company in 1786. Convict Transport-Barque built Ship. 452 tons, 114ft long, 31ft wide. Arrived with 177 male Convicts (14 dv) Carried 30 Crew + 41 Marines Master: Duncan Sinclair She was the largest of the eleven vessels of the historic First Fleet to Australia. The First Fleet consisted of two Royal Navy escort ships, HMS Sirius and HMS Supply accompanied by six convict transports, the Alexander, Charlotte, Friendship, Lady Penrhyn, Prince of Wales and the Scarborough, and three store ships, the Borrowdale, Fishburn and Golden Grove. Convicts on the 1st Fleet Alexander are listed under Lady Penrhyn, Scarborough & Alexander.
AlexanderReferences
| Primary Source | Irish Convict Database, by Peter Mayberry. |
Claims
No one has claimed Catherine Clarke yet.
Photos
No photos have been added for Catherine Clarke.
Convict Notes
NSW Convict Index. Michael Burke, per Mariner, 1816. Ticket of Exemption from Govt Labour. No 29/113. To reside with his wife Catherine, formerly Clarke, per Alexander, free by servitude. Ticket of Exemption from Govt Labour. No 31/32. To reside with his wife Catherine, formerly Clarke, per Alexander, free by servitude. Ticket of Exemption from Govt Labour. No 32/31. To reside with his wife Catherine, formerly Clarke, per Alexander, free by servitude. Torn up on his receiving a ticket of leave (No 33/556) Michael Burke, per Mariner, 1816. Ticket of Leave, No 33/556. District, Illawarra; Born Lim; Trade, soldier/Lab; Tried Kent S of P. Michael Burke, per Mariner 1816, Recommended Conditional Pardon. 1 May 1843. Recommended by B. O’Brien, MD; P Plunkett, JP; J Osborne, JP; G Gerard JP. Conditional Pardon, No 44/131. 1 May 1843.
1824. The Memorial of Catherine Clarke most Respectfully sheweth That your Excellency’s Memorialist is free by Servitude, that she is married and has an infant family of three children to support from the produce of a rented farm which she occupies in the district of Evan, that after Memorialist and her husbands most laborious exertions in the pursuits of honest industry, she finds it barely adequate to a mere subsistence, that Memorialist’s husband being a prisoner, is consequently disqualified from holding or applying for land from Government and as Memorialist is very desirous of making some future provision for her family, by obtaining a Farm from Govt. Through yr. Excellency’ goodness, she most humbly presents herself as a suppliant praying for that indulgence. Memorialist therefore most respectfully solicits Your Excellency to be graciously pleased to give Memorialist a Grant of Land and Memorialist as in duty bound will ever pray, Signed, Catherine Clarke. Signed, Henry Fulton, Clergyman. And one other signature ? Rec. Magistrate. This is a little curious as she states she is "Free by servitude". There is an entry in the 1828 NSW Census Index: NSW 1828 Census Index. Catherine Burke, age 21, GS, per Alexander, 1816, 14 years, catholic, Servant, Mrs Mills, Bathurst district. Mary Ann Burke, age 3, BC. I did not find Michael Burke in the Census Index.
Petition for mitigation of sentence The Humble petition of Catherine Clarke sheweth That Petitioner was tried at the City of Cork March 1815, sentence, Seven years, came to this Colony by the brig Alexander, Hamilton master, near four years ago. Two years .. half of which time was at the Lunatic Asylum at Castle … as Nurse and Cook and the remainder of the time at Mr S… in which situation her conduct has been such as to merit the … of her Superiors. That Petitioner being a Person of industrious habits being anxious to do something for her future advantage in this Colony humbly ...implores your Excellency to take her case into your … consideration and extend to her the Indulgence of a Ticket of Leave and she trusts her future conduct will … gratitude for such mark of humanity. Petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray. …. I beg .. to commend the Petitioner to your … as I believe she is disposed to be industrious. (Signed) Geo. Suttor. New South Wales December 1st 1819. Permission to Marry. Michael Burke, prisoner per ship Mariner, and Catherine Clarke, prisoner per Brig Alexander. Requested at Parramatta, 5 June 1820, by Rev. Middleton. Approved.
Colonial Secretary Index. CLARKE, Catherine. Per "Alexander", 1816 1819 Dec 1 Petition for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3193; 4/1857 p.64) 1820 Jun 5 Re permission to marry Michael Burke at Parramatta (Reel 6007; 4/3502 p.59) 1823 Dec 3 Clarke and her husband Michael Burke discharged from the Establishment, Emu Plains; to Bathurst (Reel 6028; 2/8283 pp.177, 178) 1824 Of Evan. Memorial (Fiche 3082; 4/1836B No.186 p.843)
Irish Convict Database, by Peter Mayberry. Catherine Clarke, per Alexander II, 1816, age on arrival, 21, Tried at Cork City, 1815, 14 years, servant, DOB 1795. ---------------------------------------------------- PUBLIC NOTICE. THE undermentioned Persons have obtained Certificates of Freedom during the last Week, viz.— Alexander (Brig), Catherine Clarke. Sydney Gazette, 2 July 1829.