St Helena?

[GreySquirrel]

I'm pretty sure this would be St Helena in the South Atlantic. As others have said, there was a British army presence there during the late C18th and C19th.

There are some records for St Helena here in UK.

Firstly, www.1837online.com has the overseas BMD indexes. In the army chaplain and regimental indexes you will find various persons of the name Clark born in the first half of the C19th -- e.g. Frederick born 1818, Elizabeth 1837, Emily M 1839 etc. if you find any you like the look of, you can then apply for the birth certificate itself online via the GRO.

Also, the former India Office collection now in the British Library has British baptisms, marriages and burials on St Helena from 1767-1835.

Finally, there are also materials at TNA in Kew, for instance at shelf refs WO12 and WO97. You can check search the catalogue online here:   http://www.catalogue.nationalarchives.gov.uk/search.asp

[Paul E]

Thanks Grey Squirrel - that's a top tip as I didn't realise 1837Online had all this.

I'll need to apply for Mary's son's birth cert first to establish her maiden nae (should have explained this was her married name).

The British Library looks like it may be a good source, too.

Many thanks

Paul

[liverpool annie]

Hi Paul

Just a thought -  couldn't be St Helier in the Channel Islands could it?
a little closer to home .... !
Annie

[Hackstaple]

Your nearest LDs centre has a lot of St. Helena stuff. I could not quite make out whther Mary on the 1861 census was 44 or 49. If she is 49 and so born 1812 then she may have been born Mary Stewart as a 1 year old child of that name left St. Helena on a named vessel in 1813.
http://website.lineone.net/~sthelena/sthelenarecordslds.htm

[JillJ]

........and when you need to go and do a bit of 'on site' research Paul, this is the ship to get you there:

http://www.rms-st-helena.com/ 

I understand from friends that it is a great experience!

Jill

[Paul E]

Thank you Hack and Jill.

I've sent for the birth cert of Thomas Clark b South Shields in 1839, with a check on father Adam and mother Mary- this will hopefully get me a little further.   

There's no marriage showing in Durham between 1837 and 1840, but there's an intriguing Adam Clark married in Southampton in June Qtr 1839 with a couple of Maria's on the page, and an Adam Clarke in June Qtr 1840 in Derby, with a Mary on the page.  Ah well, at least I now won't have to wait a fortnight for the maiden name now that the GRO are back on track.  Wait a minute ... is that the postman?

Not sure I've got the time or the dosh (despite masses of inclination!) to sail of to St Helena, Jill!  If I ever do get there, I'll send Trystan and Sarah a postcard!

Paul

[robineaston]

Hi Paul,

I'm descended from Adam H. Clark's elder brother John who moved to Scotland. I would be glad to share my information with you.

Best wishes,
Robin

[willsy]

Found them 1851 as Clarck, Mary, Adam and Thomas Dairy House, Hartley, Tynemouth, Northumberland.

HO107/2412/245/7

Looks like Island of St Helena to me on this one

[willsy]

Is he Adam Hedley Clark?