The name Clarke is a common one. Of English and Irish origin, and it is a variant of "Clark" or "Clerk." The name has several possible origins. Ours is more likely the Irish origin, anglicised from the Gaelic surname "Ó Cléirigh" or "Mac a' Chléirigh," which means "son of the clerk" or "son of the cleric."
Unfortunately we know much less about this side of our family. We welcome as much collaboration as possible so please get in touch if you can offer any insight. So far we have traced the family back to 1827.
In 1861, Alexander Clarke was born in Dublin. His father's name was also Alexander, as indicated in his marriage record to Mary Anne O'Hare in October 1880. At the time of the marriage, Alexander lived at 6 Kent Street. In the 1881 census, 6 Kent Street was occupied by a 52-year-old widow named Mary Clarke, who was born in Dublin, Ireland, and is likely Alexander's mother. Also residing at the property were her three daughters, Jane, Annie, and Sophia, along with her nephew, Thomas Simpson.
In Liverpool, the Irish-born population, increased by famine migration, rose from 17.3 per cent of the total population in 1841 to 22.3 per cent in 1851. In 1871, despite a decrease in Irish emigration, Irish migrants still represented over 15 per cent of the population of Liverpool. Between 1850 and 1913 it is estimated that more than 4.5 million Irish men and women had emigrated.
Alexander and Mary had ten children over a nineteen year period. They were:
Mary Jean Clarke born 1881
John Joseph Clarke born 1882
Mary Clarke born 1884
Robert Alexander Jackson Clarke born 1888
Margaret Clarke born 1890
Catherine Clarke born 1892
Peter Clarke born 1895
Alexander Clarke born 1897
Bernard Clarke born 1900
Steven Clarke born 1902.
The 1901 census shows the family living at 5 White Street, off Grenville Street South. Alexander's occupation is listed as a Cotton Porter.
Alexander Clarke died in 1921 but we are unsure of when his wife Mary died. We have researched further information on John Joseph Clarke but we are unsure of what became of the other siblings of this generation. If you are a descendant please contact us.
John Joseph Clarke born 9th September 1882 is listed as an apprentice plumber in the 1901 census. In 1908 he married Mary Catherine Tighe. Shortly after, they welcomed a child into the world, Mary Josephine Clarke. In 1910, daughter Margaret was born.
In the 1911 Census John, Mary and their two daughters are living with the Tighe family at 18 Dickenson Street. It's also worth noting at this point that Mary also had a child in 1906 but John was not the father.
On his record of baptism, Martin Morales Tighe is listed without a father.
The family had ten children in total. They were:
Martin Morales Tighe 1906 - 1922
Mary Josephine Clarke 1908-1993
Margaret Eileen Clarke 1910-1919
Owen Patrick Clarke 1912-1972 - Read More
Peter Clarke 1914-1994
Catherine Clarke 1916-1916
John Clarke 1918-1918
Elizabeth Catherine Clarke 1920-1940
Anne Jane Clarke 1922-2005
Alexander Clarke1927-1932
John Joseph Clarke died in 1940. His wife Mary died in 1946.
The Curiosity Vaults (The Curio) Corner of Park Lane and Dickenson Street 1900.
John Joesph Clarke 1882-1940.
Mary Josephine Clarke 1908-1993
Owen Patrick Clarke 1912-1972
Peter Clarke 1914-1994
Elizabeth Catherine (Lily) Clarke 1920-1940
Anne Jane Clarke 1922-2005
Clarkes and friends in the in the Lord Dee or Curio. 1960s.
Mary Josephine Clarke married John Henry Quarless in 1933. John grew up at 14 Kent Street and Mary just a few minutes walk away, at 18 Dickenson street. Thirteen years after their marriage, Mary's youngest sister Anne Clarke married John's youngest brother George Quarless. They had five children: Ernest, Peter, Pauline, Leon and John.
Anne Jane Clarke married George Eustace Quarless in 1946. The met when they were children and they lived just a few minutes walk from each other. George at 14 Kent Street and Anne at 18 Dickenson street.
George Quarless and Anne Quarless. (nee Clarke).