Thomas Clarkson - One Last Struggle 1823-1824

    Not long after his arrival in the colony in December 1821 Major General Thomas Brisbane gave priority to the issuing of Title Deeds, to owners of land previously granted or purchased, This was done in the hope of reducing disputes over land occupation or ownership. This change was put into practice in April 1822, and each deed issued contained a clause governing the standard of buildings to be erected thereupon.
    Perhaps this inspired Thomas Clarkson to compose his twin memorials to the new Governor on 26 February 1824, These letters contained a request for the granting of the deeds of several of his premises --- namely one in Goulburn St, another in Pitt St and one for his own home in Hunter St.(1)
That your Excellency's Memorialist has built a good and commodious dwelling house of stone and lime of 2 storeys high situated in Hunter Street No 6. Bounded on the East by Mr Shaunnesey's premises, on the South side by Mrs Muckle's premises and on the    West by Elizabeth Street. Memorialist therefor humbly solicits Your Excellency to be pleased to grant him the deeds for the said premises
For such mark of favour Memorialist and family as in duty bound will pray                        Link to Image of this Letter
    That your memorialist has purchased 2 allotments of ground some time ago. Situated one in Goulburn Street and the other in Pitt Street in the Brickfields --- Memorialist therefore humbly begs leave to solicit Your Excellency's clemency on this head to grant him the necessary documents for the same-- and begs to state he will strictly conform to the Government and General's Order in erecting buildings thereon when some same rule be notified -- for such mark of favour memorialist and family as in duty bound will pray.
    On 1 July 1828, Thomas had made over by deed poll, to William Sullivan of Sydney, a piece of land in Goulburn Street, It was adjoining the property Clarkson refers to in his memorial above. It was   
Bounded on the East by Holden's ground, on the South by Goulburn Street and on the West by Ley's allotment and on the North by ground now in the possession of Thomas Clarkson.(2)
    1823 was shaping up to be a very heavy year for Thomas Clarkson in the field of financial dealings. He was busy recovering debts owed him, but all appear to be on a small scale. In view of the fact that he was faced with a £1,000 debt to the Toll Trustees (a legacy of his association with Boulton) and had a running tally of £3,000 owing to Daniel Cooper, his financial situation was truly not enviable.
    A judgement dated 18 December 1822 was issued against Thomas at the suit of Daniel Cooper for that very £3.000 and a writ of Fieri Facias was issued for the sheriff to recover the debt from the goods and chattels of Thomas Clarkson.(3) In other words his possessions were to be auctioned. This auction was never put to the auctioneer's hammer during the lifetime of Thomas Clarkson but reasons for this were not to become clear until after his death.
    On 6 March 1824 "being much indisposed and weak of body", Thomas Clarkson turned his attentions to his final transaction, that of his Will. Time had run out.(4)
"In the name of God Amen, I Thomas Clarkson of Hunter Street in the territory of NSW Common Brewer, being much indisposed and weak of body but of sound mind, memory understanding and considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of time thereof Do make, publish and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following (that is to say) I give, devise and bequeath unto my beloved wife Catherine Clarkson and my son in law and friend Thomas Rowley of Banks Town near Liverpool in the said Territory, Yeoman, All my freehold land and tenements situate lying and being in any part of the territory of NSW or elsewhere in possession, reversion, expectancy or wherein I have right or equity of redemption and also all other my real and personal Estate and effects of whatever nature or kind soever or wheresoever within the territory aforesaid or elsewhere To hold the same unto the said Catherine Clarkson and Thomas Rowley, their heirs., executors and administrators forever upon the trusts nevertheless and to and for the uses intents and purposes herein after mentioned and for no other use intent or purpose whatsoever (that is to say) to allow my said wife Catherine Clarkson to receive and take the rents issues and profits arising from the leasing or letting of all my freehold Farms or lease hold houses situate as aforesaid during her natural life for her support and the support and education of my younger children and from and immediately after her decease that the said Thomas Rowley his heirs, executors or assigns do and shall sell and dispose of all my freehold and leasehold estates and divide the monies arising from the sales thereof, equally share alike amongst my sons and daughters namely John Clarkson, Thomas Clarkson,.Mountford Clarkson, Catherine Clarkson, Sarah Clarkson, Ann Clarkson and Mary Clarkson or the survivors of them, his, her or their heirs executors administrators or assigns, when they shall respectively attain the age of twenty one years or days of marriage which shall happen first after the demise of my said wife Catherine. And after all my just debts and funeral expenses are paid and satisfied, I devise and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Catherine, all my household furniture, beds, bedding, plate china, monies, securities for monies, Bills bonds in book and other debts belonging or owing me by any other person or persons residing within the said territory or elsewhere to and for her own separate use and disposal forever. And I hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my wife Catherine Clarkson Executrix and Thomas Rowley Executor of this my last will and testament contained on two sheets of paper, to the first sheet having set my hand and to the last my hand and seal and I do hereby revoke and make void all other and final will and wills by me at any time heretofore made, declaring this to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the sixth day of March in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty four.
Sealed Published and declared
by the said Thomas Clarkson as and for his last will and
testament in the presence of us who have hereunto set our names as witness in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other--
James Wild
Will. Oldfield
Thomas ????"                                          Image of the will    Page 1      Page 2
        The lack of specific details regarding Thomas' holdings gives us no indication of what he, himself felt he owned. Nor does it show whether he was aware of the exact amount of debts he'd run up and whether he understood the consequences his family would endure as a result of his mismanagement. His estate was valued at £1.000.
    Two weeks later, on 20 March 1824 Thomas Clarkson died.(5)
    His death was registered in the parish records of St Phillip's Church as follows:
No 1014 Thomas Clarkson, free, aged 66 years, deceased 20 March interred 22 March 1824
    Gone was Thomas Clarkson, Emancipist, baker, dealer, builder, miller, landholder, landlord, friend and family man. He had spent eighteen eventful years in this new land.

 Page last updated -  7 July  2006