Irish Roots of the Australian Clampett Family
The Clampett children – William and Mary
There are regular references to the Clampett
children’s school activities in the Burrowa News. For
instance, on Friday October 29 1880, there is an article on the University
Examination, which states in part: The candidates from the RC Denominational
School are- D.J. Barrett, J. Clampett, F. O’Leary and Willie
Clampett...
William certainly seems to have been the most academically gifted of the children as the following articles confirm:
William certainly seems to have been the most academically gifted of the children as the following articles confirm:
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THE BURSERY EXAMINATIONS
To the Editor Dear Sir,- Will you kindly allow me a small space in your issue of to-morrow to announce the results of the Bursary Examinations. The number of competitors who presented themselves was 14, the schools at Taralga, Goulburn, Burrowa, Wagga and Albury having sent representatives. The six first in order of merit were - Willy Walsh, 428; W. C. Clampett, 359; Wm Buck, 324; Jas. Butler, 333; M. Martin, 324; Joseph Doherty, 287; the possible number of marks being 600. Willy Walsh and W. C. Clampett are, therefore, the successful competitors... I am, & c., John Gallagher. The College, Goulburn April 7th, 1881. [30] |
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Then the following
year:
College Honours. - With very good [?marks], the son of one of our respected townsman, Mr. J. H. Clampett, Master Willie Clampett, of St. Patrick’s College, Goulburn, secured Mr. E. J. Hollingdale’s gold medal for mathematics. The medal is a beautiful specimen of the jeweller’s art, about [one and a quarter inches] size, and of good thickness. It bears on the face, “To William Cornelius Clampett, for mathematics;” on the reverse, “ E. J. Hollingdale, to St. Patrick’s College, Goulburn.” The medal is enclosed in a beautiful morocco case. |
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And in 1882:
University Senior Examination.- Last week we had the pleasure of publishing the St. Patrick’s College, Goulburn, successful list of candidates for the University Junior Examination. As our young townsfellow, William Clampett, passed well in the previous year’s junior examination, we expressed a hope that he would be triumphant this year in the senior; and by the result of the Senior Public Examination recently held in the Sydney University, we are really glad that our hope was realised. It is trusted Master Clampett will still work well, if not even better than heretofore, and reflect credit upon his parents, and the Professors of St. Patrick’s College... |
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Then in March
1884:
University Examinations. - The results of the examinations recently held at the University, Sydney, for the degree of M.A. and B.A., and of students in their second and first years respectively, and also for matriculation, were posted at the University at half-past 12 o’clock on Saturday, and were eagerly scanned by a large number of undergraduates and others who were awaiting the publication of the lists. No less than 95 candidates passed the matriculation, amongst the number our young townsfellow, Master W.C. Clampett, of St. Patrick’s College, Goulburn. We heartily congratulate Master Clampett upon this his fourth successive victory - for he has never one year failed from the time he was a candidate for the St. Patrick’s College bursary, passing Junior and Senior University examinations without break; and now matriculation. What ever profession he may now adopt, we are sure he will succeed in it... |
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Further accolades from the Burrowa News on May
23rd, 1884:
OUR YOUNG TOWNSFELLOW. - Our young townsfellow, Master Willie Clampett, who distinguished himself so well at every examination since he first went up for the bursary in connection with St. Patrick’s College, Goulburn, till matriculation, is now, we are pleased to learn, on a very promising road to future honour and prosperity. Through the influence of good and sincere friends, he has entered the office of Mr. Freehill, a leading solicitor in Sydney, upon unusually liberal terms; and arrangements have been made for him to stay at St. John’s College, by which he will be enabled to attend the University lectures, take a degree, and go for the Bar |
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The final article which mentions Willie Clampett is on
October 31st 1884, he was then 16 years of age:
St John’s College.- The commemoration of St. John’s College, which is affiliated with the Sydney University, took place on Saturday morning in the presence of a large number of ladies and gentlemen. The Roman Catholic Archbishop, who is the visitor to the institution, on arrival was received at the entrance hall, where the fellows and students were introduced to him. The annual report of the Rector shows that the following students came into residence after matriculation: - Mr. P. K. White, Mr. W. J. Walsh, Mr. P. Flynn, Mr. J. A. Doyle, Mr. H. Manning, Mr. W. C. Clampett, Mr. R. Lenehan, Mr. M. Bruton, Mr. James Bamber, and Mr. P. F. Casey. Prize for history, gift of Mr. John Hughes, was won by Mr. Herbert Manning. The papers of Mr. Maloney and Mr. Clampett were nearly of equal merit with those of the winner. |
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Mary Clampett was also a promising student but probably,
being a girl, she had less time to devote to study. Even more so in that
she was the eldest girl, who, although she was extremely young herself at the
time (ten years old), would undoubtedly have been expected to help with the
management of the youngest children after her mother’s death.
At the first prize giving of the new St. Joseph’s Convent School at Burrowa on 18th December, 1885, Mary received a prize for English, as well as (predictably perhaps) for ‘good conduct’ . She also performed musical items for the occasion, including two piano duets: ‘Last Rose of Summer’ and ‘Il Corricolo’. Mary was 15 years old at this time. The Burrowa News gives the following account of the concert programme:
At the first prize giving of the new St. Joseph’s Convent School at Burrowa on 18th December, 1885, Mary received a prize for English, as well as (predictably perhaps) for ‘good conduct’ . She also performed musical items for the occasion, including two piano duets: ‘Last Rose of Summer’ and ‘Il Corricolo’. Mary was 15 years old at this time. The Burrowa News gives the following account of the concert programme:
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...Miss Mary Clampett showed fine musical instinct in
the accompaniments she played - especially in the vocal solo sung by Miss Mary
Ryan (‘Wood Nymph’s Call’) - the melodic phrases being
agreeably observable all through the playing...The duets for two pianos were
renditions that could not fail to be applauded, and afforded convincing proof of
the attention that had been shown by the Nuns to prepare their pupils for the
entertainment. The pianoforte solo - “Last Rose of Summer” -
arranged for two pianos, played by Miss Jane Dwyer and Miss Mary Clampett was a
spirited performance, and elicited applause...
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One of his children may have given Joseph cause for some
concern though, his eldest son, John David, who was aged about 20 at the
time. John had assisted his father with the store after finishing
school. He had joined the New South Wales Police Force as a probationary
constable on 24 August 1883 and was confirmed as an ordinary constable on 1
February 1884 but was dismissed (no reason given) on 24 April 1884. Police
records state that John had worked as a storeman before joining the Force and at
the time of his dismissal he was stationed in the Metropolitan Police
District.[31]
This development would have been an added worry
for Joseph at a time when he was undergoing quite serious financial
difficulties. There is little point in trying to conjecture as to
what may have been the reason for his police career ending so abruptly, but soon
afterwards John David Clampett moved to Cootamundra NSW, where he settled,
marrying Mary Hollis in 1887 and establishing his own family.
