Irish Roots of the Australian Clampett Family
Life in Burrowa
During the 1870s Burrowa was still essentially an Irish
town with many immigrants still coming from Co. Tipperary and especially from a
place called Clonoulty. This led to the town being known in the 19th
century, with some pride, as the ‘Tipperary of
Australia’.
Helen Lloyd notes that when J. F. Mann surveyed the town of Burrowa in 1850, he made available an area of approximately 95 acres for recreational use in the centre of the town. The creek that runs through this reserve has often been referred to as ‘Dissention Creek’, although its correct name is Ryan’s Creek.[12] The popular name of ‘Dissention Creek’ gives an indication of the sectarian divide within the town with, roughly, the more numerous Catholic settlement on the eastern side of the creek and the Protestant one on the western. However, this does not seem to have been a violent division.
In 1874 Joseph bought the stock and good will of the Burrowa Store from Manson and Co, he leased premises in Pudman Street which were part of the Court House Hotel (formerly the Crown Inn) property, and changed the name of the business to The Hall of Commerce.[13] It should be noted that Manson’s store in Young was also called “The Hall of Commerce”.[14] [15]
Joseph was to remain at this site for the next eleven to twelve years. Lloyd gives the following description of the site:
A stone store was built on the corner of Pudman and Marsden Streets next to the hotel, it contained two large rooms, two dwelling rooms and at the rear of the building was a well of water. The store was for lease in 1857 and again in 1868 for a period of ten years, when W. B. Pett took out the lease in October as his second store.
J. H. Clampett purchased the business in 1874, then belonging to Manson and Co and he called it the Hall of Commerce. Clampett occupied the store on and off until 1886 when it was rebuilt into a ‘new two storey commodious house’. The Union Bank took over the rental until they moved to Brial Street. The Burrowa News occupied the building until it was incorporated with the new hotel.[16]
Again, an advertisement for the Crown Inn property in the Yass Courier of February 9, 1861 describes the building as:
A stone built house with four apartments and Kitchen at the rear.
A photo, taken about 1908, showing the Court House Hotel and part of the two storey building which replaced Joseph’s shop in 1886 is part of the Mandurama Collection held at the National Library of Australia.
Whenever/however he arrived in the colony, Joseph seems to have been an educated man, and, at least by the time he arrived in Burrowa, well off enough to buy a business. Once settled in Burrowa he became very involved in the local community, running his drapery business, and being actively engaged in the local Catholic Church. His signature on several family birth and death certificates is well formed and mature.
Further evidence that Joseph was fairly well educated is shown by the following report which he gave to Catholic Guild members in 1875 and which was published in the January 23, 1875 edition of the Burrowa News:
Helen Lloyd notes that when J. F. Mann surveyed the town of Burrowa in 1850, he made available an area of approximately 95 acres for recreational use in the centre of the town. The creek that runs through this reserve has often been referred to as ‘Dissention Creek’, although its correct name is Ryan’s Creek.[12] The popular name of ‘Dissention Creek’ gives an indication of the sectarian divide within the town with, roughly, the more numerous Catholic settlement on the eastern side of the creek and the Protestant one on the western. However, this does not seem to have been a violent division.
In 1874 Joseph bought the stock and good will of the Burrowa Store from Manson and Co, he leased premises in Pudman Street which were part of the Court House Hotel (formerly the Crown Inn) property, and changed the name of the business to The Hall of Commerce.[13] It should be noted that Manson’s store in Young was also called “The Hall of Commerce”.[14] [15]
Joseph was to remain at this site for the next eleven to twelve years. Lloyd gives the following description of the site:
A stone store was built on the corner of Pudman and Marsden Streets next to the hotel, it contained two large rooms, two dwelling rooms and at the rear of the building was a well of water. The store was for lease in 1857 and again in 1868 for a period of ten years, when W. B. Pett took out the lease in October as his second store.
J. H. Clampett purchased the business in 1874, then belonging to Manson and Co and he called it the Hall of Commerce. Clampett occupied the store on and off until 1886 when it was rebuilt into a ‘new two storey commodious house’. The Union Bank took over the rental until they moved to Brial Street. The Burrowa News occupied the building until it was incorporated with the new hotel.[16]
Again, an advertisement for the Crown Inn property in the Yass Courier of February 9, 1861 describes the building as:
A stone built house with four apartments and Kitchen at the rear.
A photo, taken about 1908, showing the Court House Hotel and part of the two storey building which replaced Joseph’s shop in 1886 is part of the Mandurama Collection held at the National Library of Australia.
Whenever/however he arrived in the colony, Joseph seems to have been an educated man, and, at least by the time he arrived in Burrowa, well off enough to buy a business. Once settled in Burrowa he became very involved in the local community, running his drapery business, and being actively engaged in the local Catholic Church. His signature on several family birth and death certificates is well formed and mature.
Further evidence that Joseph was fairly well educated is shown by the following report which he gave to Catholic Guild members in 1875 and which was published in the January 23, 1875 edition of the Burrowa News:
|
HOLY CATHOLIC
GUILD
Burrowa Branch A general meeting of the members of St Patrick’s Branch of the Holy Catholic Guild was held in the Roman Catholic School, Burrowa, on Sunday last. The Rev. J. Dunne occupied the chair. After a few preliminary remarks, the Rev. Chairman called upon the Warden of the Society (Mr. J. H. Clampett) to read the following Half-Yearly Report : BRETHREN: - Your Council, in presenting to you its second Half-yearly Report, have reason to congratulate you upon the prosperity which has attended the Society during the past half-year. Members. - The number of members has considerably increased, and there is good hope of further accessions as the advantages, spiritual and temporal, of the Society, are becoming better understood and appreciated throughout the district. At the close of the last half-year there were 50 members in the Society; since then four novices have been admitted. Finances. - The total receipts for the half-year have been [68 pounds 4 shillings and three pence]. The amount expended was [eleven pound eleven shillings and three pence]., leaving a balance to the credit of the society of [fifty six pounds, thirteen shillings]. This, together with the Bank deposit of [fifty pounds], makes the total funds of the Society [one hundred and six pounds, thirteen shillings]. The Council have some reason to complain of the irregular payments of some members. Sickness. - Thank God, sickness has not visited the members or their families to such a degree as to require the benefits of the Society; but have with sorrow to record the sudden death of Brother William Dwyer; whose genial kindly bearing had endeared him to all. The usual tribute of respect to the deceased was observed by the members following his remains in procession to their final resting-place. His death was a sudden one, but let us hope not an unprovided one withal. “ May he rest in peace.” Meetings. - The fortnightly meetings of the Society have been on the whole well attended, but the attendance at Council meetings has, owing to various circumstances, been from time to time somewhat irregular. Library. - The great advantages of the Library have been but partially appreciated by either the members or the public at large. The Council would recommend increasing the number of books, and the establishment of a Reading-room, or Literary Association. The importance of the Library cannot be over-estimated, and it is to be hoped that its benefits will be shared by a much larger number during the coming half-year. This Branch of the Holy Catholic Guild having now only completed the first year of its existence, many minor details connected with the Society await the action of the incoming office-bearers. The Council cannot conclude their report without according their heartfelt thanks to the Chaplain (Rev. J. Dunne) for the warm interest which he has ever shown in everything connected with the Society. J. H. Clampett, Warden. |
Joseph was also active in the community meetings that organised the celebration of the centenary of the birth of the famous Irish patriot and hero, Daniel O’Connell. At a preliminary meeting held on Tuesday 30 June 1875 he proposed the first resolution for the meeting which was reported thus:
|
Mr Clampett, in proposing the first resolution,
regretted the smallness of the meeting. It was impossible for him to do
justice to O’Connell, who had been universally acknowledged as the true
friend of civil and religious liberty, regardless of class or colour. He
did more for Ireland than any of her statesmen; he found her in chains, and by
his eloquence, energy, and tact, he made her free. Many other patriots
might be named who had attained great eminence, but none could be compared to
O’Connell, who had devoted his life to the service of his country.
The resolution, which he would now most heartily propose for the adoption of the
meeting was as follows:- “That we cordially unite with our countrymen, and
with the friends of civil and religious liberty throughout the world, in duly
celebrating the centenary of the birth of Daniel O’Connell,
Ireland’s Liberator, on the 6th of August, 1875[17]
|
Again, on October 2, 1880,
Joseph wrote the following letter to the editor of the
Burrowa News, this letter, together with the
pieces above, show a good level of literacy.
The letter’s content reflects an ongoing (sectarian) campaign within the Catholic community in Burrowa against the Protestant Isaac Stevenson who was standing for the State legislature against the Catholic sitting member Thomas Slattery. Much of this campaign was carried out through the pages of the Burrowa News and the language used was often intemperate (obviously there were no libel laws in those days!). Isaac Stevenson went on to become a local magistrate and successful businessman:
The letter’s content reflects an ongoing (sectarian) campaign within the Catholic community in Burrowa against the Protestant Isaac Stevenson who was standing for the State legislature against the Catholic sitting member Thomas Slattery. Much of this campaign was carried out through the pages of the Burrowa News and the language used was often intemperate (obviously there were no libel laws in those days!). Isaac Stevenson went on to become a local magistrate and successful businessman:
|
Sir,
It remained for Mr I. Stevenson to introduce to the Burrowa district the worst example of hoary-headed lying blackguardism that ever set foot in this part of “Sunny New South Wales.” In a communication to Mr Stevenson’s filthy Rag, he stated that the meeting held at Mr Corcoran’s Hotel was advertised as a public meeting. That’s a lie: it was a meeting of supporters of Mr Slattery, and was not for character-assassins or ........ Well, never mind filling in the blank, it will be known soon enough. He stated that I was standing in the verandah of the hotel when he addressed me in reference to the meeting: that’s another lie; I was standing in the verandah of my own shop. Is it not, Sir, calamitous to observe an old, old man so prodigal of “truth”? And, speaking of “thugging.” I think the old gentleman is better skilled in that fine art than any one present at the meeting- or his obsequious attention and cupidity grossly deceive me. It is a sad sight to see an old creature of three score and ten filtering the dregs of a chump of an upstart like Mr. Isaac Stevenson.- Yours, &c., J. H. CLAMPETT Burrowa, October 2. |
Not a very flattering letter but still a good indication
to us, at a distance of over 100 years removed, of the ongoing sectarian divide
which had been transported with the Irish and which still was capable of holding
a measure of tension between two groups in the one community. In Burrowa,
rather uniquely, it was the English protestant faction that was the underdog,
while in other areas such as Young, Grenfell, and probably everywhere else, the
newspaper records show the positions of the two parties
reversed.
In September 1874, Joseph was joint Treasurer with Patrick Dwyer of the Mitchel Fund. The Mitchel Fund is described thus in the subscription notice:
As the fund of a few patriotic Irishmen of this district, who have not forgotten the Old Land, and who look upon John Mitchel as one of her most faithful and self-sacrificing sons, Joseph contributed one guinea, a not inconsiderable amount at the time, to the final total of fifteen pounds and ten shillings raised by subscription.[18]
The Encarta 96 Encyclopaedia gives the following information on John Mitchel, which is added here for interest sake:
In September 1874, Joseph was joint Treasurer with Patrick Dwyer of the Mitchel Fund. The Mitchel Fund is described thus in the subscription notice:
As the fund of a few patriotic Irishmen of this district, who have not forgotten the Old Land, and who look upon John Mitchel as one of her most faithful and self-sacrificing sons, Joseph contributed one guinea, a not inconsiderable amount at the time, to the final total of fifteen pounds and ten shillings raised by subscription.[18]
The Encarta 96 Encyclopaedia gives the following information on John Mitchel, which is added here for interest sake:
|
[John Mitchel was an] Irish patriot and journalist, born
in county Londonderry, and educated at Trinity College, Dublin. He was
admitted to the bar and began to practice law in Banbridge in 1840. In
1842 he began to contribute articles to the topical magazine, the Nation,
becoming the assistant editor in 1845. He founded and edited the United
Irishman in 1848; in this weekly he called for open Irish rebellion against
England. As a result he was tried, convicted of sedition, and transported
to Australia. In 1853 he escaped to the United States where he published a
series of short-lived proslavery newspapers. During the American Civil War
he supported the South and in 1865 was imprisoned for a short time by federal
authorities. He returned to Ireland in 1875, and in the same year he was
elected to the British Parliament but was declared ineligible as a convicted
felon. He was re-elected but died before he could be seated...[19]
|
Joseph continued to hold the
Irish cause very dear to his heart. In February 1880, he was part of a
committee set up to initiate a public movement to obtain relief toward the
famine distress in Ireland. This first meeting put forward the following
proposal, which was enthusiastically
agreed:
That this meeting, realizing the great distress which exists in Ireland, records its heartfelt sympathy with the sufferers from the famine.
Joseph donated another guinea to this cause.
Although there are many public references to Joseph during the years that they spent in Burrowa, no public or personal mementos of Ellen have survived. Her youngest son, Harry, was only two when she died and so had no memories of her. There was said to be a photo of her in existence but it has been lost over the years. The only records of Ellen that have survived are the official ones which show us that she was born, lived most of her short, hard life and died in Burrowa. Ellen and her infant daughter are buried in an unmarked grave at the Boorowa cemetery, their names are recorded on the burial register but there is no indication of the site of the graves.
As far as we can tell, Joseph and Ellen Clampett seem to have led a useful and reasonably settled life in Burrowa. They had a further five children after their arrival, George Nicholas in 1872, Rebecca Ann in 1874, Margaret J in 1876, Henry Joseph in 1878 and Ellen Mary in 1880.
Joseph was busy with his shop and very involved with the activities of the Church and local Irish community. Caring for a young family of seven children would have kept Ellen very busy, to which was added the extra burden of regular pregnancies as well as the care of her invalid father for the last two years of his life.
That this meeting, realizing the great distress which exists in Ireland, records its heartfelt sympathy with the sufferers from the famine.
Joseph donated another guinea to this cause.
Although there are many public references to Joseph during the years that they spent in Burrowa, no public or personal mementos of Ellen have survived. Her youngest son, Harry, was only two when she died and so had no memories of her. There was said to be a photo of her in existence but it has been lost over the years. The only records of Ellen that have survived are the official ones which show us that she was born, lived most of her short, hard life and died in Burrowa. Ellen and her infant daughter are buried in an unmarked grave at the Boorowa cemetery, their names are recorded on the burial register but there is no indication of the site of the graves.
As far as we can tell, Joseph and Ellen Clampett seem to have led a useful and reasonably settled life in Burrowa. They had a further five children after their arrival, George Nicholas in 1872, Rebecca Ann in 1874, Margaret J in 1876, Henry Joseph in 1878 and Ellen Mary in 1880.
Joseph was busy with his shop and very involved with the activities of the Church and local Irish community. Caring for a young family of seven children would have kept Ellen very busy, to which was added the extra burden of regular pregnancies as well as the care of her invalid father for the last two years of his life.
