Clarke of Aberdeen

[Joanne Welch]

I am searching for my ancestor John Clarke, born in 1779 in Scotland, probably  Aberdeen.

He married Jane Ogilvie, daughter of George Ogilvie 4th of Auchiries on the Isle of Man and they had Eliza Clarke who married Lister William Ellis, descendant of Graham Baronets, Earls, Dukes and Kings.

I therefore suspect the Clarke family  would probably have been fairly important in the past. John was a wine and spirit merchant and held the Earl of Lonsdale steam packet agency in Douglas. He was also one of the first trustees of the Athol Street chapel. I would love to know about his family.

[GR2]

What evidence makes you think he is an Aberdonian?

Graham.

[Joanne Welch]

Hi Graham,

No evidence, sadly - just a hunch. They married in Onchan, Isle of Man, when Jane was abt 21, so unless she had emigrated there as a  single woman, they either met in Aberdeenshire, where she was from, or else the families knew each other. I read that there were prominent Clarkes in several parts of Scotland, including Aberdeen, so I wondered if they were linked.

(At the same level as John Clarke's parents in this branch of my family tree are minor nobility and landowners of Yorkshire, Cumberland and Aberdeenshire. In other parts of my family tree are miners and impoverished labourers. I just have to think differently for this branch!)

Best regards,

Joanne