FHWA

Hello from a New South Welsher...

I am trying to find out what happened and when/how did my ancestors left Western Australia.

Robert CLARKE, a soldier (aged 29 by 1849) of either 51st or 99th Regiment - I am not sure if one of those particular regiments existed in Perth? Those two numbers were used on his daughter's birth certificate with the 51st crossed out and 99th added.

married on 11th September 1849 at Perth, Wesleyan Church (transcribed marriage certificate) to

Susannah BADCOCK (nee WILKINSON) - her former husband was Edwin BADCOCK who died in October 1847, leaving Susannah with three sons, George, Harry and Benjamin.

So far I know there is a daughter Anne (my direct ancestor) who was born on 20th April 1850 in Perth. (copied birth certificate)

The next known movement I've got was Anne's marriage to Edward THORNTON in 1874 at a James CLARKE's place in Sydney NSW with one of the witnesses named George HUMMERSTON (another Western Australian?).

Next record was the death notice in the Sydney Morning Herald stated that Anne died aged 30 in 1880, an eldest daughter of Robert Clarke, of Millie NSW and that she died at her sister's place in Sydney.

So what I need to know:

1. When did the Clarke family left Perth?
2. Were there any more children of Robert and Susannah CLARKE? (I have searched the WA BDM Registry online for other births but I cannot find one under CLARK, CLARKE and CLARKSON)
3. Was Robert really a soldier? If so, under what regiment would he have served?
4. What was the connection between George HUMMERSTON and my CLARKE family.

I know this is more than what I should ask in the forum, but thought I'd throw and see what comes up. Did I forget something or missed on looking for a particular source?

I cannot travel to Perth as I live on the Eastern side.

Thanks in advance,
Darlene Thornton

Darlene,

I have moved your post to the Enrolled Pensioner Guards SIG forum as more of the experts in the area you are interested in are likely to be subscribed to this section. Our forum is quite new.

From your post it looks like you may not have had a look at "The Bicentennial Dictionary of Western Australia". A couple of snippets which may be of interest to you:-

Clarke Robert (Pte) born 1820 d 11.9.1849 PERTH (Obviously wrong as you have that as his mge date) of 99th Regt stationed in Perth arr per Radcliffe .. you have the rest

Hummerstone George arr 6.6.1849 per Radcliffe from Tasmania .... Soldier 99th Regt.

Don't know why I didnt find this till now (thanks to the FB). So thank you, Neil for the assistance.

Those two records you've shared with me are useful. So it does look like that both Robert Clarke and George Hummerstone were solders of the 99th Regiment. However my question is - how do I find definite records of them being part of that regiment, any shipping record of the "Radcliffe". How do one 'resign' from the regiment? Any records for that? Which detachment would they be from as I can see there were 3 detachments of the 99th Regiment. Are those soldiers only from that regiment or others could join from elsewhere? I am just trying to understand how a regiment work...

This is actually my first ancestor who had served in the military capacity so I've got questions...

Thanks again.