Irish Roots of the Australian Clampett Family
A sudden loss - ‘They’ve finally no more need of us, the early departed.’[22]
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DEATH OF MRS CLAMPETT. - With very sincere regret we
record the death of Mrs. Clampett, wife of Mr. J. H. Clampett, of Burrowa; and
by her death an estimable life has ceased. About ten days ago, Mrs
Clampett was ill in confinement, and for a while progressed well.
Sickness, however, came, and with it death, who lingered not long at the portals
of the door, ere his work had piteously filled the hearts of a bereaved husband
and family of little ones. Dr. Ryan was telegraphed for to Cootamundra, on
Wednesday, and arrived after midnight; and till late on Thursday he held out
hopes of recovery, though the patient was in a very exhausted condition.
It was otherwise decreed; and death took place about twelve on Thursday
night. There is left a family of eight, the youngest nine days old; and no
one who knows the man can keep from Mr. Clampett, in his bereavement, their
sorrowful and heartfelt regret.
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Further sorrow awaited the family. On May 7 1880,
the following items appeared:
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DEATHS
Clampett-On 29 April, at Burrowa, Ellen, wife of J.H. Clampett, aged 35 years. Clampett- On 5th May, at Burrowa, Ellen Mary, daughter of J. H. Clampett and the late Ellen Clampett, aged 14 days. FUNERALS Three funerals wended their way to the local burying ground during the past week. On Friday last the funeral of the late Mrs. Clampett took place, and notwithstanding the brief interval from death to burial, it was largely attended. On Wednesday, the youngest son of the late Mr. P.H. Scott was buried, and on Thursday, the infant daughter of Mr. J. H. Clampett was buried with the mother. |
Ellen Clampett died of puerperal sepsis at about
midnight on Thursday 29th April 1880, and her infant daughter died of
convulsions fourteen days later, probably as a result of fever and
infection. Father John Dunne, who was close to the family having baptised
all the Clampett children born in Burrowa, officiated at the burials.
The deaths were obviously viewed with dismay by the local community and some rumours regarding the treatment provided by the midwife must have been circulating. These brought a prompt response from both Dr Ryan who had been urgently contacted to attend Ellen, and from the midwife involved, Mrs. M. A. O’Brien.
The following disclaimer was published in the Burrowa News on May 14 1880:
The deaths were obviously viewed with dismay by the local community and some rumours regarding the treatment provided by the midwife must have been circulating. These brought a prompt response from both Dr Ryan who had been urgently contacted to attend Ellen, and from the midwife involved, Mrs. M. A. O’Brien.
The following disclaimer was published in the Burrowa News on May 14 1880:
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Letter to Mrs. M. A.
O’Brien.
“Cootamundra, 10 May, 1880. “Mrs. M. A. O’Brien, Burrowa. “My dear Madame,- Your letter of 6th inst. to hand, Contents noted. I regret to learn your name should be so unjustly mentioned by some few idle gossipers, about things they know nothing about. Your treatment had nothing to do with the late poor Mrs. ------------, as her complaint (puerperal scarlatina) was fatal from the first. You acted in every way as a skilful midwife and experienced nurse. “I mentioned to a few friends that I was too late to save the patient; and even had I been with her from the first, I doubt, from the fatal nature of the disease, I could be of little use. You must be prepared to meet with persons willing, gratuitously to give opinions, and make assertions, the nature of which, when closely questioned, they are entirely ignorant of what they say and the consequences they may entail. Such is my experience. “There cannot be the slightest blame to you in any way whatever, as far as I can see from a professional point of view. You did all in your power to alleviate the poor patient’s suffering, in the absence of medical attendance. Your duty as a nurse and midwife was in no way exceeded. “I am, faithfully yours, “M. J. Ryan, M. D. |
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From the time of the death noted in Dr. Ryan’s letter, I attended no patients for four days, at that gentlemen’s suggestion, although earnestly solicited to do so. I cannot make evil-disposed persons moral, but any further utterance of slander will be prosecuted to the extent that the law will allow me, civilly or criminally. M. A. O’Brien |
Whatever the protestations there can be no doubt that
poor hygiene must have played some part in the unhappy outcome, and the midwife
would have had some responsibility in the matter. In fairness to the
midwife, the cramped conditions would have made management of the confinement
difficult.
It is important here to remember the description of the size of the Store which, apart from the business premises, also contained the living space for the family: it contained two large rooms, two dwelling rooms and at the rear of the building was a well of water. A similar building still exists in Burrowa and it is difficult to visualise how a family of two or three adults and seven children managed to live within the rooms set aside as living space. The two large rooms are quite commodious and at least one would have been the serving/customer area, the other may have served as a sitting/store room, but the main bedroom was tiny whilst the remaining room containing the stove etc., was a quite large kitchen/living area.
Following Ellen’s death, Joseph was left to manage the store as well as care for his remaining seven children. At the time of Ellen’s death, the children were aged: 16, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4 and 2 years. It must have been an incredibly difficult time for Joseph, although, by this time his eldest son, John, would have been helping in the store, and Joseph may also have had some help from Kate Hayes, Ellen’s niece, who had been godmother to the baby, Henry.[23]
Ellen’s death seems to have been a watershed for Joseph and his family. For, whereas, prior to this there was no hint of financial troubles, during the next five years, Joseph seems to have struggled constantly to keep his business afloat. This was made even more difficult because of a considerable influx of new shop owners into the town. He held a number of auction sales of his stock and household goods, presumably to obtain the cash to pay off his debtors. For example, he advertised a Sale by Auction for Monday 16th January 1882. The advertisement states that Mr A Hancock [the auctioneer] has received instructions from Mr J. H. Clampett, who is leaving the district, to sell by auction, on the above date, on the premises adjoining the Court House Hotel, commencing at 12 o’clock, the whole of his STOCK-IN-TRADE[24].
And further, on Wednesday, 1st February, 1882. Mr A Hancock has received instructions from J. H. Clampett, to sell by auction on Wednesday, 1st February, on the premises, at 2 o’clock p.m.., the whole of his household furniture consisting of: Double Iron bedsteads; Single ditto; Palliasses; Wash-stand, and sets; Tables, chairs; Sofas; PIANOFORTE; Very superior Wagon; cooking utensils, &c, &c. This is a bona fide sale and those who want such goods will do well to attend.[25]
Although this sale went ahead the family did not leave at this stage but Joseph, encouraged no doubt by the support of the people of Burrowa, actually re-opened his store with new stock.
This was a process that was to be repeated quite a few times: Joseph appears on the verge of leaving Burrowa, auctions off his stock then he manages to stay on for a bit longer with new stock, no doubt much diminished in volume. For example, the following notice was placed in 1882:
It is important here to remember the description of the size of the Store which, apart from the business premises, also contained the living space for the family: it contained two large rooms, two dwelling rooms and at the rear of the building was a well of water. A similar building still exists in Burrowa and it is difficult to visualise how a family of two or three adults and seven children managed to live within the rooms set aside as living space. The two large rooms are quite commodious and at least one would have been the serving/customer area, the other may have served as a sitting/store room, but the main bedroom was tiny whilst the remaining room containing the stove etc., was a quite large kitchen/living area.
Following Ellen’s death, Joseph was left to manage the store as well as care for his remaining seven children. At the time of Ellen’s death, the children were aged: 16, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4 and 2 years. It must have been an incredibly difficult time for Joseph, although, by this time his eldest son, John, would have been helping in the store, and Joseph may also have had some help from Kate Hayes, Ellen’s niece, who had been godmother to the baby, Henry.[23]
Ellen’s death seems to have been a watershed for Joseph and his family. For, whereas, prior to this there was no hint of financial troubles, during the next five years, Joseph seems to have struggled constantly to keep his business afloat. This was made even more difficult because of a considerable influx of new shop owners into the town. He held a number of auction sales of his stock and household goods, presumably to obtain the cash to pay off his debtors. For example, he advertised a Sale by Auction for Monday 16th January 1882. The advertisement states that Mr A Hancock [the auctioneer] has received instructions from Mr J. H. Clampett, who is leaving the district, to sell by auction, on the above date, on the premises adjoining the Court House Hotel, commencing at 12 o’clock, the whole of his STOCK-IN-TRADE[24].
And further, on Wednesday, 1st February, 1882. Mr A Hancock has received instructions from J. H. Clampett, to sell by auction on Wednesday, 1st February, on the premises, at 2 o’clock p.m.., the whole of his household furniture consisting of: Double Iron bedsteads; Single ditto; Palliasses; Wash-stand, and sets; Tables, chairs; Sofas; PIANOFORTE; Very superior Wagon; cooking utensils, &c, &c. This is a bona fide sale and those who want such goods will do well to attend.[25]
Although this sale went ahead the family did not leave at this stage but Joseph, encouraged no doubt by the support of the people of Burrowa, actually re-opened his store with new stock.
This was a process that was to be repeated quite a few times: Joseph appears on the verge of leaving Burrowa, auctions off his stock then he manages to stay on for a bit longer with new stock, no doubt much diminished in volume. For example, the following notice was placed in 1882:
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RE-OPENING
In thanking the public of Burrowa and district for their patronage since I commenced business here, I beg to say that I shall RE-OPEN in my old premises on Monday next, with an entirely new stock of DRAPERY, GROCERIES, BOOTS, &c., &c Selected by myself, and of superior quality J. H. Clampett Hall of Commerce Burrowa February 3 1882. |
And again, in the August 24 1883 edition of the
Burrowa News Joseph has another advertisement for the re-opening of the
Hall of Commerce. It was a very familiar pattern covering the five-year
period from 1880 to 1885.
Other evidence of Joseph’s continuing presence in Burrowa is provided by the 1883-84 Burrowa Electoral roll which shows J. Henry Clampett, as a resident of Boorowa and the Sands P.O. Directory of 1886-87 which lists Joseph H. Clampett as a Storekeeper, Burrowa.[26]
However, other indications that all was not well began to appear. Joseph was in the small claims court several times, in one case he bought charges against a customer for non-payment of money owing and in another he was defendant and had to pay the plaintiff. This case was reported thus:
Other evidence of Joseph’s continuing presence in Burrowa is provided by the 1883-84 Burrowa Electoral roll which shows J. Henry Clampett, as a resident of Boorowa and the Sands P.O. Directory of 1886-87 which lists Joseph H. Clampett as a Storekeeper, Burrowa.[26]
However, other indications that all was not well began to appear. Joseph was in the small claims court several times, in one case he bought charges against a customer for non-payment of money owing and in another he was defendant and had to pay the plaintiff. This case was reported thus:
