Hello from UK

My partner and I have just started collecting "Clarkes" fairy lights after discovering through family history that he is a direct descendant of Samuel Clarke. We are both amazed by the number of different designs. Recently we purchased "Clarkes fairy lamps" by Dorothy Tibbetts, hoping we might find a little bit more about the man, or even an old photo. Do any of your members know of any personal details of Samuel Clarke? We have copies of his will and patents.
We look forward to participitating in your club
Gina

Gina,

I, and I am sure many others, are very pleased to hear from you. I have tried for many years to find out more about Samuel Clarke and his family. I look forward to hearing more about your family history.

Would you happen to know what relation George Clarke was to Samuel? Perhaps he is listed in the will.

Jim.

john clarke a farmer from tong in shropshire had several sons in a town called aldridge in staffordshire.The two relevant ones are George Miller Clarke born 1813 and Samuel Clarke born 1821 George married Susannah Nicholls from Wolverhampton , but by the English 1841 census was living at 55 Albany Street London and was trading as a tallow chandler.Samuel was living with him. In Johns will of 1838 the business was left to the family .George bought the others out for£1200.I do not know how samuel obtained the business but they had designed the safer slower burning candle. I do not know how samuel persuaded such influential companies to produce lamps for him,but the results are beautiful.

US Patent number 596298 (August 1908) was issued to both Samuel and George Clarke. It was apparently one of the last US patents issued to Samuel Clarke. Do you have any documentation that George was his son?

Also, would you have any documentation that indicates Samuel's middle name, date of death, and where he might be buried.

The patents you referenced....are they US or UK patents?

Jim.

1st Generation

1. John Clarke was born About 1781 in Tong Shropshire and died december1. He married Susannah Miller March 27, 1806 in bushbury staffs. She was born 1785 in bushbury Staffordshire, England .
Other events in the life of John Clarke
Occupation : Grocer /tallow Chandler


Children of John Clarke and Susannah Miller:
i. 2. Samuel Clarke was born About 1821 in Aldridge, Staffordshire, England and died 1905 in Hampstead.
ii. 3. George Miller Miller Clarke was born February 19, 1813 in Aldridge Staffs.
iii. 4. Thomas Miller Clarke was born About 1809 in Aldridge.
iv. Hannah Clarke was born About 1810 in Aldridge.
v. 5. John Clarke was born About 1811 in Aldridge.
vi. Charlotte Miller Clarke was born About 1817 in Aldridge.
vii. Mary Clarke was born 1816 in aldridge staffs.
viii. 6. William Clarke was born 1812 in aldridge.



2nd Generation (Children)

2. Samuel Clarke was born About 1821 in Aldridge, Staffordshire, England and died 1905 in Hampstead. He married Martha Birdsey September 26, 1848 in st pancreas. She was born February 20, 1828 in St Pancreas, London, England and died 1900 in Hamstead, daughter of William Birdsey and Martha Pistell.

Children of Samuel Clarke and Martha Birdsey:
i. 7. Patti Birdsey Clarke was born September 25, 1852 in St Pancreas, London, England.
ii. Thomas Miller Clarke was born About 1851 in St Pancreas.
iii. 8. George Birdsey Clarke was born October 17, 1854 in St Pancreas.
iv. 9. Samuel Birdsey Clarke was born February 23, 1857 in St Pancreas.
v. Henry Clarke was born 1858 in St Pancreas.
vi. Lucy Charlotte Clarke was born February 19, 1863 in St Pancreas.
vii. 10. Emma Maria S Clarke was born About 1868 in St Pancreas.
viii. Alfred Walter Clarke was born About 1857 in St Pancreas and died About 1870 in St Pancreas.


3. George Miller Miller Clarke was born February 19, 1813 in Aldridge Staffs. He married Susanna Jane Jane Nicholls (Nee Lambert) . She was born About 1815 in Wolverhampton .

Children of George Miller Miller Clarke and Susanna Jane Jane Nicholls (Nee Lambert):
i. Ellen Susanna Clarke was born 1846 in LONDON (E) London England.
ii. Alice Mary Clarke was born 1845 in london.
iii. Clara Charlotte Clarke was born 1845 in london.


4. Thomas Miller Clarke was born About 1809 in Aldridge. He married Hannah n/k . She was born 1816 in aldridge .
Other events in the life of Thomas Miller Clarke
Occupation : Sgt Royal Irisg Dragoon Guards/cornet


Children of Thomas Miller Clarke and Hannah n/k:
i. Thomas Clarke was born 1844 in aldridge.
ii. William Clarke was born 1846 in aldridge.
iii. Edward Clarke was born 1848 in aldridge.
iv. Emma Clarke was born 1853 in aldridge.
v. Samuel Clarke was born 1858 in aldridge.


5. John Clarke was born About 1811 in Aldridge. He married Mary Not Known . She was born 1817 in staffordshire .

Children of John Clarke and Mary Not Known:
i. Elizabeth P Clarke was born 1847 in london.
ii. Edward Stephens Clarke was born 1849 in london.
iii. Mary Ann Clarke was born 1851 in london.
iv. Sarah L B Clarke was born 1853 in london.
v. Caroline J B Clarke was born 1853 in london.


6. William Clarke was born 1812 in aldridge. He married Not Known Not Known . She was born 1815 in staffordshite .

Children of William Clarke and Not Known Not Known:
i. 11. William Clarke was born 1843 in rushall.



3rd Generation (Grandchildren)

7. Patti Birdsey Clarke was born September 25, 1852 in St Pancreas, London, England. She married (Father) .

8. George Birdsey Clarke was born October 17, 1854 in St Pancreas. He married Kate Elizabeth Andrews . She was born About 1856 in St Pancreas .

9. Samuel Birdsey Clarke was born February 23, 1857 in St Pancreas. He married Adelina Carlotta Dinelli . She was born About 1867 in Horsham Sussex .

10. Emma Maria S Clarke was born About 1868 in St Pancreas. She married George Cook 1890 in london. He was born About 1860 in Lambeth .

11. William Clarke was born 1843 in rushall. He married Elizabeth Not Known . She was born 1839 in stamford lincs .


Hope some of this is of interest. George was Samuels Elder brother.

Thank you so much Gina. This is invaluable information for those of us who have spent decades collecting Clarke's fairy lamps.

It was a couple years ago that I discovered Samuel's name and now I know what it relates to. Thank you so much.

As you may know, I manage the Fairy Lamp Club and produce a quarterly newsletter. With your permission, I would like to include this information in the next issue.

Jim.

You are welcome to use any information
Gina

What an AMAZING connection! Where would we be without the internet?!!!
Thank you,
John

hi just got in with the help of my partner gina.She has posted the history of samuel clarke.Samuel's daughter Patti was unmarried and had my grandfather Frederick Clarke in st.pancras hospital(the workhouse) in 1898.I have his birth certificate.He was adopted in the 1901 census to a family called Henwood.My father was born to Frederick Clarke and Florence Hudson in willesden London in 1919,I was born Derby 1944. My father knew nothing of the family history until Gina and i discovered it.Unfortunately he died earlier this year.
As you are probably aware Samuel Clarke provided the lighting at Kew Gardens for Queen Victorias Jubilee, but to date we have been unable to find any photographs of him .
Hope to keep you updated should we discover any more

Glad you were finally able to log on......it's good to hear from you.

A photo of Samuel would indeed be a treasure! A lot of us think we "know" him but none of us have ever seen him. Keep looking. :-)

There is a wealth of information on our website. www.fairylampclub.com I hope you have spent sometime checking it out. Samuel was a real businessman!!

As gina said George bought the company in 1840 following John Clarkes will where he left it to all his children .Although John was a farmer from Aldridge Staffs the company ,in his name, was operating from 55 albany street London.
On the 2.11.1843 George Miller Clarke was granted membership of "the worshipful company of tallow chandlers" as a freeman and livery man by redemption which apparently means he was proposed.
I have E.mailed Kew Gardens and Buckingham Palace to see if i can get any more information .If i do i will update you
Adrian