CLARKE FAMILY- Descendants of John Palmer Clarke, Steeple Claydon

John Palmer Clarke with his wife Jemima nee Hill and their children emigrated in 1873 on the ship "Ramsey" from Steeple Claydon, Buckinghamshire, England to Upper Caboolture, Queensland, Australia. John Palmer Clarke became baillif for Charles Bertram Zillman.

Surnames include Sharp, Gow, Cairns (Scotland), Hill, Tooley, Lee, Hesketh, Townsend, Boustead Collins & Macnamara .

Some interesting family members include my gg grandfather, Sgt. James Gow, D.C.M. who fought in the Crimea at Balaklava and who died on the second last day of the Indian Mutiny in Lucknow, India. Lloyd Clarke, son of Evan Jesse Clarke (who lives in Caloundra, Queensland) was the pioneer of the Gulf of Carpentaria barramundi fishing industry operating out of Karumba. David Edward Boustead, husband of Harriet Clarke began the Caboolture Ambulance Service. Dame Carol Kidu nee Millwater, daughter of Dorothy Joan Boustead, is a minister in the Parliament of Papua-New Guinea.

Surviving records for earlier times are far from complete. Further records, now available, have required adjustments to material you may find elsewhere. Check if there are notes for an individual as this is where the human interest stories may be found.

Family villages and towns in England were visited in 2005, 2007 and 2008. Several subscriptions to major online sites with digital images of original records are maintained. Accuracy is strived for but not always possible due to source errors, gaps in records or differences in interpretation of old handwriting styles. More details and/or corrections are very welcome.

Original records should always be checked personally.