I. Clarke & Son (aka J. Clarke & Son): History
The
Company
Prior
to researching this company, there was some confusion with
regard to the name of the firm.
Was it J. Clarke & Son or I. Clarke & Son? John Clarke first appeared in city trade
directories in 1849[1] as a pocket book maker at 41 New Church Street where he lived
with his family. In 1850[2]
he was listed in two city directories, as a pocket book
maker in one and as a pocket book and fancy leather case manufacturer in the
other. However, he was only listed in
these directories as John Clarke which could mean he
was working as an individual. Sometime
between 1851 and 1854 the Clarke family moved to 59 Pritchett Street. After Mr. Clarke died in 1855, his wife took
over the business and by 1858[3]
it became known as Isabella Clarke & Co.
In addition to the move, the focus of the business changed somewhat and
now it was also manufacturing “photographic cases &c”[4]. Sometime between 1861[5]
and 1867 Isabella’s eldest son, William Joshua Clarke, joined the business, and
the firm was listed as Clarke & Son on one page and J. Clarke & Son on
another in the 1867[6]
directory. Presumably, William preferred
using his father’s initial in the company name.
Nevertheless, by 1875[7]
it was simply Clarke & Son and from 1878[8]
onwards was always listed in city and trade directories as either Isabella
Clarke & Son or I. Clarke & Son with one exception. Also, between 1875[9]
and 1878[10]
the firm expanded and opened a factory known as Carlyle Works at Aston Road
which became their main workplace. In
1883[11]
it was listed twice again in a city directory, once as “I. Clarke & Son,
purse manufacturer, 34 Aston Road North” and also as
“Wm Joshua Clarke, purse manufacturer, see J. Clarke & Son”. There was only one Clarke & Son that year
and it was I. Clarke & Son. At
various times from 1878 until 1883 the company’s product line included
photographic frames and paper, purses and fancy goods.
The move to Carlyle Works must have
occurred between July 1876 and April 1878 because 15 ornamental designs were
registered between 1871 and 1879[12],
10 with the Pritchett Street address and 5 with the Carlyle Works address. In addition, all of these were registered
under the J. Clarke & Son name which could mean they were registered by the
son William. As mentioned earlier there
was only one Clarke & Son company at the Pritchett Street and Carlyle Works
addresses. Most of the designs were for
metal mirror or photo frames, however two metal designs in 1879[13]
were for Avery style needle cases: the Bathing Machine and the Flat Iron (seen
here). Possibly the reason the company decided to manufacturer
a couple brass
needle cases was because they were very popular at the time and Clarke wanted
to take advantage of that popularity.
In addition to producing a variety of
items, the firm also tried to help the poor as witnessed in the following
article which appeared in the local newspaper in 1878. Another article from 1880 shows the son
William had reached a certain level of success because he was elected to serve
in the local government.
December 21, 1878[14]
“FUND FOR THE
RELIEF OF THE DISTRESSED POOR. - We have received the following sums in aid to
this fund: . .
. . Employees of I. Clarke and Son, Carlyle Works,
£9.
18s. 9d.. . . . We
shall be happy to receive further contributions.”
September
8, 1880[15]
“ASTON LOCAL
BOARD. – The monthly meeting of this Board was held at the Board Room, Witton
Road, yesterday afternoon; Dr. Keyworth presiding. – The Clerk (Mr. J. Ansell)
read a letter from the Local Government Board granting permission to the
borrowing of several loans, amounting in the aggregate to £264.
3s.1d., for various improvements in the district. – The Highway Committee
recommended the approval of the plans, sections, and specifications for the
remaking of Thomas Street, Blews Street, Yates Street, Poole Street, and
Cheshire Street. The recommendation was
adopted. – The Medical Officer of Health (Mr. H. May) reported that during the
past month there had been 94 deaths – males 53 and females 41 – showing an
annual death rate of 21 per thousand.
The number of births in the same period was 175 – males 100 and females
75 – giving an annual birth rate of 35 per thousand. – A vacancy on the Board
having been caused by the death of Mr. Haywood, Mr. Graham proposed that Mr.
James Pratt, butcher, Bright Street, be elected. Mr. Wragg seconded the nomination. Mr. Roddis
nominated, and Mr. Bennett seconded, the election of Mr. William Joshua Clarke,
manufacturer, Aston Road. Mr. Clarke was
elected by 7 votes to 4.”
I.
Clarke & Son went through some difficult times in the early 1880’s and they
filed for bankruptcy in 1882. The
following clipping from a book and two newspaper articles provide confirming
details regarding the company’s history.
They also show the firm’s financial situation when they went bankrupt,
and their assets were assigned to others.
At that time their total liabilities were equal to £14,828
or roughly £981,387[16]
in today’s pound.
March 29, 1882[17]
“LOCAL FAILURES.
In
the Birmingham Court of Bankruptcy today, Isabella Clarke and William Joshua
Clarke, of the Carlyle Works, Aston Road, Aston, near Birmingham, purse, pocket
book, and photographic frame makers, trading as I. Clarke and Son, and lately
carrying on the same business at 59, Pritchett Street, Birmingham, filed their
petition for liquidation, with liabilities estimated at £25,000., and assets considerable, but
not yet ascertained.”
“DEEDS OF
ASSIGNMENT[18]
Clark I. and Son.
– (Isabella Clarkes and William Joshua Clarke). – Carlyle Works, Aston-road, purse, pocket book, &c. makers.
11 April 1882.”
April 28, 1882[19]
“THE AFFAIRS OF
MESSRS. I. CLARKE AND SON.
A
meeting of the creditors of Isabella Clarke and William Joshua Clarke, of the
Carlyle Works, Aston Road, Aston, purse, pocket-book,
and photographic frame mak
ers, trading as “I. Clarke and Son,” and lately
carrying on the same business at No. 59, Pritchett Street, was held yesterday,
at the Grand Hotel, Colmore Row (pictured on the right)[20]. Mr. Luke J. Sharp presided; and the debtors
were represented by Mr. Joseph Ansell.
There were also present Mr. Walter N. Fisher, receiver, and the
following gentlemen representing creditors: Messrs. C. B. King, C. G. Beale
(Beale, Marigold, and Co.), Gillespie (Walsall), O. H. Caldicott, J. Brown (J.
and W. Brown), Smith (Lomas Harrison and Starkey), C. Peace, E. Clements, C. H.
Edwards, J. R. Chirn, &c.- Mr. WALTER N. FISHER
submitted the statement of affairs, which showed total liabilities, £14,828. 6s. 2d., including unsecured
creditors, £9,068. 19s. 4d.;
creditors fully secured, £3,838. 15s; creditors partly secured,
£4,933. 6s. 11d.; estimated value of
securities, £2,266. 5s.; other
liabilities, £107; creditors for rent, taxes, and
wages, £203. 4s. 11d.;
liabilities on bills discounted, £6,195. 3s. 11d., of which it was
expected £2,985. 5s. 4d.
would rank against the estate for dividend.
The total assets were £2,336. 18s. 3d., including
stock-in-trade and effects, £1,601.; book debts considered good, £392. 13s. 1d.; doubtful, £146. 1s. 8d., estimated to realize £18. 5s. 2d.; bad £1,055. 12s. 2d.; cash in hand,
£7.; household furniture and effects
estimated to realise £50.; surplus from securities in the
hands of creditors fully secured £53.; plant, tools, fixtures,
fittings, and office furniture estimated to realise £185.
Deducting £203. 4s. 11d. for creditors to be paid
in full, the net assets remained at £2,133. 13s. 4d. Mr. Fisher also presented his report as receiver. It stated that
the petition was filed on the 29th March,
on which day he was appointed receiver and manager of the state. He took formal possession of the affairs of
the debtors, instructed Messrs. Gray and Walter to make a detailed inventory
and valuation of the place and effects, with the result set forth in the
balance sheet, and arranged to continue the business until the present
meeting. From enquires he had made of
the debtors, he found that on the death of her husband, in 1854, Mrs. Clarke
succeeded to the business, which was carried on by Mr. Clarke as a photographic
material manufacturer, at 59, Pritchett Street.
In 1865 she was joined by her son, the debtor William Joshua Clarke, and
the partnership from that date had continued under the style or firm of “I.
Clarke and Son”. In 1876 the debtors
appeared to have purchased the business of Mr. Herbert Brown, a purse and
pocket-book manufacturer, for the sum of £2,000. which was to have been paid by
installments, but according to the books, only £1,200. had been paid, leaving Mr.
Brown a creditor at the present time for the balance. In 1877 the debtors removed to their present
premises in the Aston Road, the joint capital at that time appearing to be
about £1,000. From that date the debtors’ trade seemed to
have gone to the bad. The capital was
not only insufficient for the purposes of the business, but mortgages were
raised upon the properties and loans advanced by friends. The sales had fallen off from about £1,000 per month to £709, and the profits of the business
appeared to have been insufficient to cover the ordinary working expense levels
leaving no provision whatever for interest and debt charges. The bad debts during the past eighteen months
amounted to about £1,400, in addition
to which it was expected that the bills now under discount would prove bad to
the extent of £2,985. The interest paid on loans, the charges in
connection with discounting bills, the small amount of trade done in comparison
with the working expenses, and the heavy losses by bad debts were set forth by
the debtors as being the cause of their present position. According to the books, the debtors appeared
to have drawn about £200. per annum
from the business. – Mr. J. ANSELL, on the part of the debtors, said the
failure was due to a want of capitol, and an
accumulation of bad debts. The state of affairs had not been brought about by reckless
extravagance nor a want of energy on the part of the debtors. He feared he was not in a position to make
the creditors a very substantial offer, but, as offers
in these matters went now-a-days, he thought that what he contemplated would
meet with their support. He ventured to
offer a composition of 3s. in the pound, payable at four and eight months, the
last installment to be secured to the satisfaction either of the chairman or
for an appointed committee. Considerable
discussion took place, and an amendment that the dividend be 2s. 6d. in the
pound was moved. An offer was eventually
made of 2s. 6d. in the pound, 1s. payable in four months and 1s. 6d. in nine
months, the first installment to be secured by an assignment of the debtors’
effects, and the latter to be secured to the satisfaction of the manager of the
Midland Bank. This was accepted, and it
was agreed that the composition should be payable by promissory note. - Mr. Fisher was appointed trustee for the
distribution, and also trustee under the deed of the
assignment.”
The
Owners
John
Clarke was born in Norwich c1812, a city approximately 160 miles east of
Birmingham. His father was Joshua Clarke a carpenter.
Why and when John moved to the Birmingham area and became a pocket book maker is unknown. In 1842 at age 30 he married Isabella
Willmott in Handsworth. Isabella, whose
parents were William and Mary Willmott, was born in Birmingham in 1822 and was
baptized two years later in 1824 at St. Philips in the city center. At the time of their marriage, Isabella’s
father was also working as a pocket book maker which
may have meant the two men known each other prior to the marriage. Perhaps they even worked together or were
friends at some point as there was only a 10 year
difference in their ages and both were listed as fancy leather case makers in
1851. John and Isabella had 6 children:
William Joshua, John Hewett, Mary Ann Hewett, Louisa, Kate Emma
and Harry. At first the family lived on
New Church Street but moved to Pritchett Street sometime between 1851 and
1854. Unfortunately, John died there in
1855 at age 43 and was buried at St. Thomas.
After John’s death, Isabella carried on her husband’s business possibly
with her father’s help until her eldest son joined her around 1865. After the Clarke business went bankrupt in 1882,
Isabella and her eldest daughter moved to Toxteth Park, the inter
city area of Liverpool, at some point between 1882 and 1891. Her second son John Hewett Clarke and his
wife and children were living only a few houses from Isabella in 1891 which
could mean they all moved to the Liverpool area around the same time. Isabella remained in Toxteth Park until her
death there in 1903 at age 81. She was
buried at the Toxteth Park Cemetery.
Before
moving on to William Joshua Clarke, let us take a quick look at his
siblings. His younger brother John
Hewett Clarke was born in 1844. In 1875
at age 30 John married Mary Frances Astley in Erdington and they had 3
children: Henry A., John A. and May. At first the family lived in Erdington,
however by 1891 they moved to Toxteth Park near Liverpool where John worked as
a jeweler, an occupation he had for his entire life. He died there 6 years later in 1897 at age
53 and was buried at the Toxteth Park Cemetery.
William’s eldest sister Mary Ann was born in 1845 and lived most of her
life with her mother, also moving to Toxteth Park sometime between 1881 and
1891. While living there she married
John Rae a licensed victualer sometime between 1891
and 1901. Mr. Rae was originally born in
Scotland in 1830 and moved to Liverpool prior to 1865, the year his daughter
Emily was born there. He was 16 years
older than Mary Ann. John Rae died in
1903 at age 71 and was buried at a Liverpool cemetery. After his death Mary Ann moved to Tranmere, a
suburb of Birkenhead located directly across the river from Liverpool. She died there in 1911 at age 64 and was
buried at the Toxteth Park Cemetery. Not
much is known about William three youngest siblings. Louisa was born in 1847, Kate Emma in 1852
and Harry in 1854.
William Joshua Clarke, the eldest son of
John and Isabella Clarke, was born in 1843 and baptized 5 months later at St.
Phillips in Birmingham. At age 23, in
1866, he married Kate Jane Hall at the Old Meeting House in Birmingham. Kate was originally from Butlers Marston, a
village approximately 34 miles southeast of Birmingham where her parents had a 225 acre farm. How
they met is unknown, although William visited the farm on at least one occasion
in 1871. William spent his early years working as a photographic goods
manufacturer and from 1866-1873 had 3 children with Kate: Florence Parker,
Gertrude Eva and Samuel Milton. Unfortunately, their relationship was not a
happy one. In December 1878, after 12
years of marriage, William filed for a decree of separation on grounds of
cruelty allegedly perpetrated by Kate since the earlier
1870’s. However, no action was taken and the couple returned to cohabitation until a second
petition was submitted 15 months later in March 1880. The decree of separation was granted 4 months
later in July and it required William to pay permanent alimony at the rate of £2 per week in cash which is equivalent to £132[21]
in today’s pounds. In addition, he was
allowed to retain custody of the three children but was required to give Kate
access to them once every two months.
Within two weeks of their separation, Kate gave birth to their fourth
child: Sidney William Joshua Clark. What
follows are transcriptions of the 1880[22]
petition of separation filed by William and Kate’s response which provides
insight into their relationship.
“The 15th
day of March 1880
The Petition of
William Joshua Clarke of the Birchfield Road Handsworth in the county of
Stafford Gentleman
Sheweth
1. That
on or about the 14th day of June 1866 your petitioner was lawfully
married to Kate Jane Clarke then Kate Jane Hall spinster at the old meeting
house Birmingham in the County of Warwick.
2. That
after the said marriage your petitioner lived and cohabited with the said Kate
Jane Clarke in the Victoria Road Aston near Birmingham aforesaid until the
month of September 1869, after that at Solihull near Birmingham aforesaid until
the month of October 1874 and that there is issue of the said marriage three
children to wit Florence Parker Clarke born on or about the 8th day
of May 1870, Gertrude Eva Clarke born on or about the 24th day of
July 1871 and Samuel Milton Clarke born on or about the 8th day of
December 1873.
3. That
the said Kate Jane Clarke has for some time past to wit during the last 7 or 8
years become intemperate and as the habit of intoxication has increased treated
your petitioner with great violence and cruelty constantly using threats with
foul and abusive language toward your petitioner and on divers
occasions she has assaulted and struck him
4. That
on divers occasions and particularly in the month of
April 1878 the said Kate Jane Clarke struck your petitioner on the shoulder in
the presence of her nephew one Arthur Parke again in the month of September
last she struck your petitioner on the head with the fire tongs and she
constantly abused your petitioner and has constantly threatened that she would
be the death of him. On the 1st
day of November 1878 she threatened your petitioner in
the presence of all the three children that she would split your petitioners
darned head open.
5. That
on the 13th day of November 1878 the said Kate Jane Clarke being then in a state of intoxication struck your
petitioner a violent blow on the left arm with a poker thereby breaking the
poker.
6. That
in the month of December 1878 your petitioner presented a petition to this
honorable court for a judicial separation by reason of the cruelty of the said
Kate Jane Clarke but on her promise of amendment he abandoned the proceedings
in the said suit and returned to cohabitation with her in the month of January
1879.
7. That
since your petitioner returned to cohabitation with the said Kate Jane Clarke
as aforesaid she has resumed her habits of
intemperance and violence and has frequently threated to assault and has on
divers occasions assaulted your petitioner.
8. That
in the month of August 1879 at the Birchfield Road Handsworth in the county of
Stafford the said Kate Jane Clarke seized some letters which your petitioner
was writing and tore them up and threw the inkstand on the floor and threatened
your petitioner.
9. That
on or about the 11th day of December 1879 at Handsworth aforesaid
the said Kate Jane Clarke after using very offensive and threatening language
to your petitioner struck him with the tongs.
10. That
on or about the 12th day of December 1879 at Handsworth aforesaid
the said Kate Jane Clarke abused and threated your
petitioner and when he went to his bedroom to escape from her
she tried to burst open the door.
11. That
on or about the 17th day of December 1879 at Handsworth aforesaid
the said Kate Jane Clarke abused and threatened your petitioner and struck at
him with the tongs.
12. That
on or about the 8th day of February 1880 at Handsworth aforesaid the
said Kate Jane Clarke used very offensive and threatening language to your
petitioner and kicked and struck him in his bed room
and after he came down stairs she struck him on the head with a book and tore
his hair.
13. That
on or about the 10th day of February 1880 at Handsworth aforesaid
the said Kate Jane Clarke abused and threatened your petitioner and struck him
a violent blow on the head.
14. That
on the 12th day of February 1880 at Handsworth aforesaid the said
Kate Jane Clarke assaulted your petitioner and struck him with the tongs and with a chair and spat in his face and abused
and threatened him.
15. That
on the 16th day of February 1880 at Handsworth aforesaid the said
Kate Jane Clarke threw a large book at your petitioner and threw the inkstand
across the room and struck your petitioner in the face with her fist and threw
the handbell at your petitioner and that your petitioner then escaped from the
house with the children and has not since cohabited with the said Kate Jane
Clarke.
Your
petitioner therefore humbly prays that this honorable court will be pleased to
decree that he may be judicially separated from the said Kate Jane Clarke and
to order that he may have the custody of the children
of the said marriage.
And that your petitioner may have such
further and other relief in the premises as to this honorable court may seem
meet.
W.
J. Clarke”
“Answer of the
Respondent
The 19th
day of May 1880
Kate Jane Clarke
the respondent by Gamlen and Son her solicitors in
answer says that she is not guilty of cruelty as alleged.
That the petitioner is a man of violent and
intemperate habits and has frequently struck beat and otherwise assaulted her
and has been guilty of great cruelty towards her.
That if the respondent has ever used any
violence towards the petitioner she had been provoked to do so by his violent
and aggravating conduct.
Wherefore
the respondent prays what the petition may be dismissed that she may have the
custody of her children and such further and other relief in the premises as to
this honorable court may seem fit.”
William
endured many difficulties in the late 1870’s and early 1880’s with regard to both his family life and his work life. After the separation from his wife and the
responsibility of having to care for his children by himself, the I. Clarke
& Son family business failed in 1882.
Approximately five years after their separation, his wife Kate died in
1885 of ovarian cancer at age 43.
Exactly a year later in 1886, William married his second wife Lizzie
Jane Stevens in Kings Norton and they had three
children together: Mabel Marie, Cicely Maud and Doris Margaret. After the failure of the Clarke family
business in 1882, William became a unitarian minister. By 1890 he was ministering to the poor at the
Domestic Mission on Hurst Street in Birmingham, a position he held for the
remainder of his life. Perhaps he chose
this career because of the experience he had with his first wife. William, Lizzie and
the children from both of his marriages lived in Edgbaston for a few years,
then moved to Northfield in Kings Norton before returning to Edgbaston by
1911. William died there in 1913 at age
70 and was buried at St. Peter in Harbone, an area of
southwest Birmingham. He left an estate
valued at £498 with his wife
Lizzie and his son Samuel Milton Clarke as the executors.
