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Irish Roots of the Australian Clampett Family


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Small Debts Court

Hayes, v. Clampett. [One pound] for loss of time, purchase of horse-feed, and use of a horse and dray. - Plaintiff deposed: I heard that defendant had loading to take to Frogmore, and sent my wife to see what quantity there was.  He said he would only have about 8 cwt, and told my wife to tell me to come up in the morning; when I did so, he said I could not take the goods; I said, “Why?” and he said nothing, only that it was not his fault; I cut four bags of barley to feed my horses, on account of my going to Frogmore. - To defendant: Your boy met me on the way and told me not to come up but I did. - Plaintiff’s wife deposed:  I went to Mr Clampett on Monday evening, and he said the weight was 8 cwt, and no more; he told me to send my husband up in the morning,, which I did.- Defendant deposed: I have some loading to send to Frogmore; Mrs Hayes came up in the morning, and I told her it would not pay a man to take them for less than [a pound]; there was one case we measured, and it was an inch wider than plaintiff’s dray; he might have left under the impression that he was to have the job. - The Bench thought that plaintiff went away under the impression that he was to have the job, and gave a verdict for 10s.[27]

But a much more worrying indication that he was actually in quite serious financial trouble during this time, appeared in the April 17 1885 edition of the newspaper:
Curran v. Ryan.- In the Supreme Court, on Monday, (before his Honor the Chief Justice and a jury of four), the case Curran v. Ryan was tried.  Mr Rogers, instructed by Mr F. J. McCarthy, appeared for the plaintiff; and Mr Salamons and Mr. Heydon, instructed by Messrs. Slattery and Heydon, for the defendant.  This was an action brought by John Joseph Curran against Patrick Ryan to recover the sum of [83 pounds, 5 shillings 1 pence]., being a promissory note at two months’ date, drawn by Joseph H. Clampett and endorsed by the defendant.  The facts alleged by the plaintiff being admitted by defendant, Mr. Salomons opened the case for the defendant, from which it appeared that in 1883 J. H. Clampett, a store-keeper at Burrowa, was indebted to the plaintiff for certain goods sold and delivered.   Clampett getting into difficulties executed a bill of sale in favour of the plaintiff for the amount of his account, and as collateral security he gave six promissory-notes, which were endorsed at different times by Patrick Ryan and Patrick Dwyer.  Subsequently all the notes were either met at maturity or withdrawn with the exception of one for [83 pounds 5 shillings 1 pence], which was a renewed note endorsed by the defendant.  In the meantime Clampett called a meeting of his creditors, who accepted a composition of 6 shillings in the Pound, but Curran, unknown to the other creditors, persuaded Clampett to agree to pay him in full.  The only question was whether the plaintiff had any ground for action, the renewal of the promissory note having taken place after the composition.  Mr Rogers, after calling the plaintiff and another witness, accepted a nonsuit.
Leaving Burrowa – “How I have felt that thing that’s called to part, and feel it still” [28]
Joseph finally left Burrowa for Sydney early in 1886.  In September 1885, he advertised for sale for the last time:
the Stock-in-Trade of a good Drapery and Grocery Business in the thriving and prosperous town of Burrowa;
The final auction was held on Wednesday 11th November 1885, it included the whole of that Stock-in-Trade, Counter, Fittings, Glass Cases, &c &c.  His financial position following these sales is not known but he would have needed enough money for travel (probably by train) and to establish a home for the children in Sydney.    

However, all the news was not bad for the family during these years. The children were doing quite well at school and the Burrowa News has a record of some of their achievements, in particular those of William and Mary.  The older boys all attended the church denominational system of education, which was established in Burrowa in 1848 and was the basis of the first community school in the district. 

The school was conducted as the Catholic Denominational School and, by 1879, 91 children were attending it.  At this stage the community requested an organised order of nuns to supervise the teaching of their children and a convent school, run by the Sisters of Mercy, was established in church building in 1882, this was replaced by St Joseph’s School in 1885.[29]  The younger Clampett children attended St Joseph’s school.

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