Joshua Clarke

342

Maureen Withey on 12th November 2025

Hulk Record – HO-9-7_1 (page 28/47.) (either Retribution or Bellerophon) Received from Chelmsford, 14 May 1817. Joshua Clark, age 16, Capital Respite, Tried Chelmsford 10 March 1817, 14 years, Transp 3 July 1817.

221

D Wong on 22nd June 2016

Joshua was the son of Joseph Clarke and Elizabeth Perry – he was born in Takeley, Essex. 18/10/1816: Cambridge Chronicle: - on Monday the 30th ult. or on the morning of the 1st. instant, a gang of armed robbers broke into the house of Mr. James Dennis, of Tye Green, in the parish of Elsenham. He and his manservant went downstairs and were confronted by the gang, one of whom shot Dennis in the face. Enquiries and a reward soon elicited information enabling the police to arrest Monke, and William and Henry Clark (brothers). Monke 'squeaked', giving evidence against his fellow gang - members. Joseph Clark (father of the brothers), Joshua Clark, his son, and another brother, John Griffen, Moses Miller, and W. Haydon, all of whom were apprehended at Stortford, Elsenham and Brixton. The charges were numerous and included Mr. Stock, of Henham in Essex who stated that about six weeks since, a party of villains fired three times at his windows; they finally broke into the house, but were strongly threatened and repulsed. Monke also said that Elizabeth Clark, the wife of the elder prisoner, and the mother of the younger prisoners (Clark) generally acted as 'artist' when any robberies were committed - she painted their faces black and gave them a tolerable portion of gin prior to their 'midnight adventures'. The prisoners had long been the terror of the neighbourhood as poachers, sheep stealers etc. The prisoners were heavily ironed and conveyed to Newport gaol to await a further hearing. Mr Shotter, a gentleman in the neighbourhood, had nine gallons of wine stolen from him a few nights previous to the last robbery. Joseph Clarke was hanged at Chelmsford in March 1817 – 2 sons were hanged with him, one being James and the other ???. William, Henry and Joshua were all transported on the ‘Larkins’ 1817. 18/3/1824 Sydney Gazette: Joshua Clarke, Larkens, 23, Essex, 5 feet 3 and 3 quarter inches, hazle eyes, brown hair, sallow comp. Absconded from Rev. Mr. Marsden's Glebe. 18/3/1824 Sydney Gazette: Certificate of Freedom – Joshua Clark, Larkins. 25/9/1825 Sydney Gazette: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1825. Before Judge Stephen. Joshua Clark was indicted for stealing 3 tether ropes, and a plough iron, the property of James Neale, at Appin, on the 28th of May last, and William Middleton and William Fouke, as accessaries before the fact.-Not Guilty. 29/8/1827 Sydney Gazette: Joshua Clark, for cattle stealing. Death. Joshua was sent to Moreton Bay and arrived 29/2/1828 per ‘Lucy Ann’ – returned to Sydney 26/8/1837 – at Moreton Bay he was described as: 35 years old, 5’9” dark complexion, brown hair, hazel eyes. 1842: married Catherine Gleason/Gleeson at Geelong, Victoria – 6 children listed on the BDM, but some sources say 12 children. Margaret 1844, Foster 1846, Elizabeth 1848, Abraham 1850, Anne 1861, Bridget 1863. 1875: Joshua died of Hepatitis at Colac, Victoria. Henry Clark, sentenced to 14 years, was killed in Launceston, Tasmania in December 1832. Joshua Clark, sentenced 14 years. William Clark, sentenced to life, died at Kelso NSW in February 1851.