‘Yes,’ she said and reached for his hand.
‘It’s a terrible loss, Hannah, but we’ll manage,’ he said softly. ‘We always do.’
On Boxing Day 1854, it threatened to rain but the humidity was high and it was unpleasantly warm. ‘We’ll get a storm today, this afternoon. Do you have to go to town?’
‘I told Mildred Simpson that I would see her for a Christmas get-together and a chat and besides, she’s made some fig jam.’
‘Ah, well, that’s good, but don’t be late.’ Daniel glanced around at the sky. ‘This storm is going to hit us later.’
‘I’ll be back about mid-afternoon.’
Daniel watched his wife drive swiftly down the track. ‘Ah, well,’ he muttered. ‘She knows the road and old Toby knows his way home blindfolded.’ He nodded to himself and stepped down towards the barn. He’d better get that slashing done before the storm really built up...
At mid-afternoon, the storm arrived, heralded by strengthening winds. Daniel had to abandon work and dash to the house. Hannah wouldn’t be driving in this lot, he thought. She’d be tucked up somewhere, probably still in town at either Mildred Simpson’s or more likely at Sampson’s blacksmith shop. He frowned at the chain lightning and the booming thunder that followed . . .
Hannah shook the reins again. ‘Ah, come on Toby, don’t muck about. Anyone would think you’d never seen a bit of rain before. Get going.’ A burst of wind rocked the buggy as she spoke and the front wheels jumped. A fork of lightning zigzagged into the ground in the blackness to her right and she listened, counting the seconds. Immediately, the boom of thunder roared in her ears and the horse slowed, uncertain as to the noise. ‘Keep going, Toby,’ she shouted, but aware that her voice was drowned by the wind. ‘Oh, God,’ she swallowed fearfully. ‘It’s so black and I don’t know where I am, now.’ She stared ahead into the deluge, searching for landmarks. Ahead, the unrecognized black forest lit up by stabs of lightning. The storm was overhead, now. The brief interval between the lightning and the thunder told her so. But her thoughts were on the turnoff. Had she missed it?
She saw the horse prop, swing its head like a mad animal, uncertain, petrified. A frightening streak of chain lightning struck the ground fifty yards in front of the sulky. The horse screamed, reared up and clawed in the air with its legs. Frenzied, it turned in the harness and draggedthe buggy across the road, wheels cutting into the soft mud. Hannah jerked on the reins yanked the horses head to the right and searched for control. Another bolt of lightning lit the roadway and the horse bolted, dragging the buggy towards the ditch and she jumped, throwing herself into the darkness as far as she could. A shadow loomed over her and she could not move. She became aware of being dragged along the ditch. There was a blockage in her throat, swamping her voice. Tears came, and flooded her cheeks.It grew dark and her eyes blurred. Relentlessly, the rain beat down on her face. Visions came and flashed before her eyes . . . mother, my poor mother, Hannah Porter, my dearest friend, where are you? Are you happy? Rosie, my sweet friend, live for me. Rosie, live for me . . . Charlotte, my first child, so precious you are and Daniel, thank you for our life and our children . . . It became dark now, visions receding. Suddenly, ahead, a light . . . a clear beautiful, white light . . . beckoning to her . . . and she knew she had to go . . .
Hannah Stanley/Clarke was laid to rest in the graveyard of All Saints Church at Sutton Forest, New South Wales on the 28th December, 1854 aged 66 years.
Her husband, Daniel, remained at Terramut Bung for a further fifteen years, supported by the First Family, their children and his grandchildren before he passed away on the 18th of January 1869 aged 81 years. He lies at Sutton Forest near his beloved Hannah, where together, their spirits will forever be entwined.
THE CLARKE FIRST FAMILY
HANNAH was born Hannah Stanley in Kent, England in June 1788. Convicted for theft, she was sentenced to death in 1809 but later transported for life on the prison ship Canada. After an on-board liaison with John Dixon, a marine officer, she arrived at Sydney Cove six months pregnant and gave birth to Charlotte in December 1810. Granted ticket-of-leave, she worked in Sydney town until May 1814 when she married Daniel Clarke at Windsor. Hannah gave birth to a further eleven children. She died in a vehicle accident on 26 December, 1854 aged 66 years and is buried in the historic All Saints Church at Sutton Forest, New South Wales.
DANIEL was born in Bristol, England in 1786. A seaman, he served many years on whaling ships in the Southern Seas off Australia. After he married Hannah, they and John Dixon’s daughter Charlotte tenanted a farm at South Creek, a then isolated region south of Windsor on the north-western outskirts of Sydney Town. They raised seven children and had many adventures in the wilderness. In 1827, he moved the family to a larger selection at Sutton Forest in the Southern Highlands where they raised a further five children. The Clarke family became respected early settlers within the region, and extremely active in the community. Daniel outlived Hannah and two of his children and died at the Clarke property named “Terramut Bung” on 18 Jan 1869 aged 81 years.
THE CHILDREN
1. CHARLOTTE was born 20 Dec 1810. She married at the age of 14 and again when 22 giving birth to four children. Her father was John Dixon, a marine officer on the Canada. From scant reports, her life was not always a happy one. She was accidentally killed 10 March 1853 near Goulburn, preceding her mother by nearly two years.
2. MARY ANN was born 7 Jan 1815 at Windsor and married at the age of 17 to a convict and had 10 children. She remarried aged 38 and had a further 2 children. The oldest surviving member of the First Family at the time, she died at Taralga on 5 May 1904 aged 89 years.
3. HANNAH was born 29 Aug 1817 at Windsor and married three times, for the first time at 15 years, and had 13 children. She died at Berrima in March 1900 at the age of 82 years.
4. ROBERT was born at Windsor on 29 Aug 1817 (a twin of Hannah) married at 17. He remarried but may have been childless. He died at Queanbeyan 31 July 1861 aged 43 years.
5. JOHN JAMES was born 21 May 1820 at Windsor and married at the age of 37 in July 1857 and had 13 children. John James, the author’s line of descent from Hannah, died 18 May 1894 at Gundagai three days prior to his 74th birthday.
6. ELIZABETH was born 6 July 1822 at Windsor and married 1 Jan 1838 at 15 and had 10 children. She remarried in 1867. She died 10 March 1870 at Grenfell aged 47 years.
7. WILLIAM was born 2 May 1824 at Windsor and married 7 July 1845 age 21 and had 3 children. He remarried 7 May 1856 at the age of 32 and had a further child. He died in Gundagai 19 Sept 1873 aged 49 years.
8. LUCY was born 7 June 1826 at Windsor and married 7 April 1845 at 18 and had 3 children. She died 30 May 1884 one week before her 58th birthday.
9. THOMAS was born 8 Feb 1829 at Sutton Forest and married 23 Oct 1848 at the age of 19 and had 13 children. The second last surviving member of the First Family, he died at Bombala 21 March 1901 aged 72 years.
10. HENRY was born 5 April 1831 at Sutton Forest and married 10 Nov 1856 at the age of 25 and had 6 children. Henry died at Carcoar June 1887 aged 56 years.
11. ESTHER was born 28 Mar 1834 at Sutton Forest and married 25 June 1850 at 16 and had 13 children. She died at Hay 24 May 1885 aged 51 years.
12. GEORGE was born 11 Feb 1836 at Sutton Forest and married 1 Oct 1855 at 19 and had 5 children. He remarried 25 Aug 1873 at 37 and had a further 7 children. The youngest of Hannah’s children, George died aged 61 years.
Summary:
The twelve children of Hannah and Daniel ─ the First Family ─ produced a total of over one hundred children who provided a springboard into the Australian community that, nine generations later, totals numerous thousands.
The Author’s Line of Descent
Hannah and Daniel Clarke
John James Clarke
Robert Clarke
Edward Clarke
Raymond Clarke
Paul, Barbara, Beverley, Jennifer and Geoffrey
Matthe
w, Amy, Bailey, Sienna and Leilani
Sophie
EPILOGUE
On a bitterly cold day in June 2004, I first visited Hannah’s grave at the historic All Saints Anglican Church (established 1820) in Sutton Forest. I recall most of the tombstones were in symmetrical rows, but the older headstones stood out from the rest and summarized the life span of the early pioneers of the district. Something made me look down into the thick grass. I don’t know why. Perhaps Hannah was warning me. At my feet, a coiled grey snake struck upward at my legs. Reeling back, I scurried away as the snake disappeared into a hole. Later, I was told by a knowledgeable local that it was a death adder and they were common in the area.
Vibes grew strong as I approached a cleared area with two graves. I sensed, beyond doubt that my search had ended. The nearest headstone was discolored with age and almost impossible to read but the modern plaque was clearly legible . . . Hannah Clark (sic) and the words ‘December 20th 1854 aged 61 years (sic)’ The footstone had the simple etching HC 1854.
I felt it fitting to say a silent prayer and remove my cap. Here rested the little convict girl from Kent who, together with Daniel, had forged an Australian dynasty which today numbers many thousands.
I walked to a nearby paddock where an old grey horse grazed contentedly, and picked the only wild flowers that I could see. I carried them back to the grave. Gently, I placed the little yellow blooms against the grey headstone and wished that they were beautiful English roses to pay the ultimate tribute to a very brave lady.
As I left and walked back down the road, I turned to view Hannah Clarke’s headstone, still in sight and looming above the fence line. I continued watching until the tombstone faded from sight and the steep gable of All Saints Church finally merged with the surroundings. I observed the green features beyond, the hills in the distance surrounding Sutton Forest that Hannah would have seen every day of her life on the farm. Now, nearly two hundred years later, I viewed those same features and shared a link with my long-departed great, great grandmother.
Hannah Stanley/Clarke became the matriarch of the family in Australia and I am privileged to tell her story. She lies in peace with her husband Daniel in this lonely, historic churchyard of Sutton Forest, New South Wales, where only the wheeling, noisy crows break the eternal silence of the Australian bush that they learned to love...
© Raymond W Clarke 2014
Raymond W Clarke is the author of five novels and two non-fiction books. His passion for the colonial history of Australia is indicated by his novels and feature articles published in a wide variety of magazines and newspapers. He lives in Brisbane, Australia.
The author welcomes contact, reviews and comments on this historical novel Hannah to his email [email protected]
Thank you for reading Hannah.
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