Augustine Clarke

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Augustine Clarke

| image =

| caption =

| office1 = Vermont State Treasurer

| term_start1 = 1833

| term_end1 = 1837

| predecessor1 = Benjamin Swan

| successor1 = Allen Wardner

| office2 = Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from Danville

| term2 = 1832

| predecessor2 = George W. Drew

| successor2 = None (vacant in 1833)

| term3 = 1830

| predecessor3 = William A. Palmer

| successor3 = George W. Drew

| term4 = 1828

| predecessor4 = William A. Griswold

| successor4 = William A. Palmer

| term5 = 1824

| predecessor5 = George W. Drew

| successor5 = William A. Palmer

| office6 = Assistant Judge of Caledonia County, Vermont

| alongside6 = Samuel A. Willard

| term_start6 = 1824

| term_end6 = 1825

| predecessor6 = Joseph Morrill 2nd

| successor6 = Samuel Sias

| office7 = Treasurer of Caledonia County, Vermont

| term_start7 = 1822

| term_end7 = 1824

| predecessor7 = Joseph Morrill 2nd

| successor7 = Samuel B. Mattocks

| birth_date = {{birth date text|1780}}

| birth_place = Richmond, Massachusetts

| death_date = {{death date and age|1841|06|17|1780|}}

| death_place = Montpelier, Vermont

| resting_place = Elm Street Cemetery, Montpelier, VermontAbby Maria Hemenway, [https://books.google.com/books?id=YSxDIrDewrYC&pg=PA527 The Vermont Historical Gazetteer: Washington County], 1882, page 527.Northeast Kingdom Genealogy, [http://www.nekg-vt.com/cemetery/cemetery_elm-st_montpelier.htm List of Burials, Elm Street Cemetery, Montpelier, Vermont], 2001Vermont Vital Records, 1720-1908, death record for Augustine Clarke, retrieved January 5, 2014

| spouse = Sophia BlanchardNathaniel Bouton, [https://archive.org/details/historyconcordf00boutgoog/page/n643 The History of Concord], 1856, page 697Vermont Vital Records, 1720-1908, marriage record for Augustine Clarke and Sophia Blanchard, retrieved January 5, 2014
(m. 1808-1830, her death)
Julia Jewett HubbardResearch Publication Company, [https://books.google.com/books?id=_9AUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA29 Vermont Marriages], Volume I, 1903, page 29Abby Maria Hemenway, [https://books.google.com/books?id=aYoQ5EssbR0C&pg=PA483 The History of the Town of Montpelier, Including that of the Town of East Montpelier], 1888, page 383Vermont Vital Records, 1720-1908, marriage record for Augustine Clarke and Julia Hubbard, retrieved January 5, 2014
(m. 1840-1841, his death)

| profession = Lawyer

| party = National Republican
Anti-Masonic
Democratic

}}

Augustine Clarke (c.1780 – June 17, 1841) was a Vermont attorney, banker and politician who was a leader of the Anti-Masonic Party and served as Vermont State Treasurer.

Early life

Details of Clarke's birth are not known for certain. His name is sometimes spelled "Clark" and he appears to have been born in Richmond, Massachusetts in about 1780.Margaret Philips, Genealogical Records Abstracted from the New England Puritan, 1840-1841, [https://books.google.com/books?id=eVIhAQAAMAAJ&q=%22augustine+clarke%22+died+1841 New England Puritan newspaper, Death notice, Augustine Clarke, June 24, 1841], 1989, page 130. He was baptized in Richmond on March 15, 1786.New England Historic Genealogical Society, [https://archive.org/details/vitalrecordsric01masgoog/page/n65 Vital Records of Richmond, Massachusetts: To the Year 1850], 1913, page 17{{efn|Clarke's death notice in The New England Puritan reads: "In Montpelier, VT, 17th inst., Hon. Augustine CLARKE, 62, late Tr. of the State. For many yrs. Judge CLARKE resided in Danville and filled various offices in that town, and in the Co. of Caledonia." His age of 62 would mean he was born in 1778 or 1779. In the notice of his death contained in the "Vermont Historical Gazetteer" his age is given as 59. If so, he would have been born in 1781 or 1782. The Vermont Death Record for Augustine Clarke gives his age as 60. If so, he would have been born in 1780 or 1781.}}

Start of career

Clarke moved to Vermont and studied law, although the details of his relocation and studies are unknown.{{cite book |last=Hutchinson |first=Eleanor Jones |date=1961 |title=Town of Wheelock: Vermont's Gift to Dartmouth College |url=https://archive.org/details/townofwheelockve00hutc |location=Rochester, VT |publisher=Emerson Publishing Company |page=[https://archive.org/details/townofwheelockve00hutc/page/125 125] |via=Internet Archive}} In addition, he was active as a merchant and in other business ventures; in 1815, he received a license permitting him to sell liquor and wine.

He was admitted to the bar in Wheelock in 1804.Eleanor Jones Hutchinson, [https://archive.org/details/townofwheelockve00hutc Town of Wheelock, Vermont's gift to Dartmouth College], 1961, pages 97, 125 In 1806 he was appointed Wheelock's first Postmaster.Town of Wheelock, Vermont, [http://www.nvda.net/pdf/Towns/Wheelock/TP.ZB.Maps/WheelockTP11.1.01.PDF Town Plan], 2001, page 2

In 1806, Clarke was admitted to the bar in Danville.Hamilton Child, [https://books.google.com/books?id=GkcjAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA38 Gazetteer of Caledonia and Essex Counties, Vt. 1764-1887], 1887, page 39 In 1808 he married Sophia Blanchard in Danville.Nathaniel Bouton, [https://archive.org/details/historyconcordf00boutgoog/page/n643 The History of Concord], 1856, page 697Vermont Vital Records, 1720-1908, marriage record for Augustine Clarke and Sophia Blanchard, retrieved January 5, 2014 Sophia Blanchard's sister Sarah was the wife of William A. Palmer, who served as Governor and United States Senator.Abiel Abbot, Ephraim Abbot, [https://books.google.com/books?id=CdvbsRbKD5oC&pg=PA146 A Genealogical Register of the Descendants of George Abbot, etc.], 1847, page 146 Palmer and Clarke became leaders of Vermont's Anti-Masons.Horace Greeley, Park Benjamin, editors, [https://books.google.com/books?id=faEeAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA410 The New Yorker], Volume 1, September 17, 1836, page 410

Clarke practiced law in Danville. An adherent of the National Republican Party, he served in local offices including Justice of the Peace.Vermont General Assembly, [https://books.google.com/books?id=9zAFAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA82 Journal of the General Assembly of the State of Vermont], 1828, page 82Vermont. Supreme Court, [https://books.google.com/books?id=2no3AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA561 Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of the State of Vermont], Volume 6, 1835, page 561 In 1820 he served on the Vermont Council of Censors, the body which met every seven years to review statutes passed by the Vermont General Assembly and ensure their constitutionality.Zadock Thompson, [https://archive.org/details/historyvermontn00thomgoog History of Vermont, Natural, Civil, and Statistical], 1842, page 127

In the 1820s, Clarke also became active in the American Tract Society.American Tract Society, [https://books.google.com/books?id=B28FAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA93 Proceedings of the first ten years of the American Tract Society], 1824, page 93 In addition, he was an active member of the American Anti-Slavery Society.The Abolitionist, [https://books.google.com/books?id=M_YWAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA177 American Anti-Slavery Society], December 1833, page 177American Anti-Slavery Society, [https://books.google.com/books?id=jUY9AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA35 Annual report], Volume 1, 1834, page 35Owen W. Muelder, [https://books.google.com/books?id=t7NfldpgtyYC&pg=PA190 Theodore Dwight Weld and the American Anti-Slavery Society], 2011, page 190

He served as Caledonia County Treasurer from 1822 to 1824, and Caledonia County Assistant Judge from 1824 to 1825.Gazetteer of Caledonia and Essex Counties, Vt., pages 36, 38

In 1826, he was appointed president of the Caledonia National Bank, succeeding Palmer, who had been the bank's first president.Hewitt Bros., [https://books.google.com/books?id=L9_HrgglgYsC&q=augustine+%22caledonia+national+bank%22 The Numismatic Scrapbook Magazine], Volume 30, 1964, page 2082

Clarke represented Danville in the Vermont House of Representatives in 1824, 1828, 1830, and 1832.Leonard Deming, [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_y4MUAAAAYAAJ/page/n38 Catalogue of the Principal Officers of Vermont], 1851, pages 28-30

In 1830, Clarke was appointed one of Caledonia County's three Commissioners of Jail Delivery.Vermont General Assembly, [https://books.google.com/books?id=3TcFAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA133 Journal General Assembly of the State of Vermont], 1830, page 133{{efn|The Commissioners of Jail Delivery were responsible for receiving prisoners who arrived to begin serving their sentences, and for tracking time in jail and releasing prisoners whose sentences were complete. They also monitored parolees to ensure compliance with conditions of release. In addition, Commissioners of Jail Delivery determined whether those arrested for debt were eligible for and complying with the conditions of the "freedom of the prison." Freedom of the prison entitled debtors to leave the prison grounds to earn money for the payment of their debts and support of their families.Vermont General Assembly, [https://books.google.com/books?id=jn40AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA240 The Laws of Vermont], 1825, pages 239-242}}

Clarke was named to the Committee to Erect the State House in 1832. He took part in planning and overseeing construction of the Second State House, which was in use from 1833 until it was destroyed by fire in 1856.E. P. Walton, [https://books.google.com/books?id=wf8PAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA435 Records of the Governor and Council of the State of Vermont], Volume V, 1877, pages 434-435

Clarke was one of the founders of the Anti-Masonic movement. William Wirt carried Vermont as the 1832 presidential candidate of the Anti-Masonic Party. Clarke was one of Vermont's electors, and cast his ballot for Wirt.Vermont Secretary of State, [https://books.google.com/books?id=fyo0AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA77 Legislative Directory], 1888, page 77

Later career

Benjamin Swan had served as Vermont's Treasurer beginning in 1800 and often ran unopposed or with only token opposition.{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=64759 |title=Swan, Benjamin |last=Joshua L. |date=November 26, 2004 |website=Our Campaigns |publisher=Our Campaigns.com |access-date=March 21, 2021}} In 1833, Clarke ran as an Anti-Mason and defeated Swan in the election for Treasurer.{{cite news |date=October 24, 1833 |title=Statement of Votes: For Treasurer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/76446551/clarke-swan/ |work=Lancaster, Examiner |location=Lancaster, PA |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}} William A. Palmer had run successfully for Governor as an Anti-Mason in 1831, and Clarke's victory at the polls was considered additional evidence of the Anti-Masonic Party's viability in Vermont.E. P. Walton, [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_R7g3AQAAIAAJ/page/n113 Records of the Governor and Council of the State of Vermont], Volume VIII, 1880, page 106

In September, 1837, Clarke was named to the Anti-Masonic Party's National Committee.Niles’ National Register, [https://books.google.com/books?id=6PAaAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA68 National Antimasonic Convention], September 30, 1837

Clarke served as Treasurer until running unsuccessfully for reelection in October, 1837.{{cite news |date=October 21, 1837 |title=Vermont Legislature: For Treasurer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/76446251/for-treasurer/ |work=North Star |location=Danville, VT |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} That year Clarke had the highest number of votes, but at 47.3% fell short of the majority required by the Vermont Constitution. In cases where no candidate receives a majority, the Vermont General Assembly votes. By then the Anti-Masonic Party's popularity was on the wane and the nation was in the midst of the Panic of 1837, and Clarke did not win the legislative election.Vermont. General Assembly, [https://books.google.com/books?id=fy9FAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA111 Journal of the Senate of the State of Vermont], 1837, page 111Vermont Secretary of State, [https://web.archive.org/web/20120215205504/http://vermont-archives.org/govhistory/governance/Majority/pdf/1837.pdf Election results: Vermont State Treasurer, 1837], 2006, page 1

By 1839, the Anti-Masonic Party had dissolved and Clarke joined the Democratic Party.{{cite news |date=July 24, 1839 |title=Pension Agency |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/76445560/pension-agency/ |work=The Enterprise and Vermonter |location=Vergennes, VT |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} In July, 1839, he was appointed United States Pension Agent for the State of Vermont.Horace Greeley, Park Benjamin, editors, [https://books.google.com/books?id=XaXQAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA282 The New-Yorker], Volume 7, July 20, 1839, page 282U.S. Government Printing Office, [http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/GOVPUB-T-73ffcd64293091f6a986ece9c9081fe9/pdf/GOVPUB-T-73ffcd64293091f6a986ece9c9081fe9.pdf An Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of the United States], 1839, page 123

Later life

Clarke's wife died in 1833.Janice Boyko and Louise Lessard, US Gen Web, [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vtcbarne/danville_green_cemetery_ac.htm Danville Cemetery Listing - Surnames A – C], retrieved January 5, 2014 He subsequently moved to Montpelier.{{cite news |date=February 25, 1836 |title=Second Annual Meeting of the Vermont Anti-Slavery Society |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/76445726/anti-slavery/ |work=Vermont Telegraph |location=Brandon, VT |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}} In 1839, his daughter Sophia married Samuel L. French, a merchant of Randolph, Vermont.{{cite news |date=October 8, 1839 |title=Marriages: Samuel L. French and Sophia Clarke |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/76446071/marriage-of-clarke-crawford/ |work=The Caledonian |location=St. Johnsbury, VT |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}} In 1840, he married Julia Jewett Hubbard (d. 1881).Research Publication Company, [https://books.google.com/books?id=_9AUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA29 Vermont Marriages], Volume I, 1903, page 29Abby Maria Hemenway, [https://books.google.com/books?id=aYoQ5EssbR0C&pg=PA483 The History of the Town of Montpelier, Including that of the Town of East Montpelier], 1888, page 383Vermont Vital Records, 1720-1908, marriage record for Augustine Clarke and Julia Hubbard, retrieved January 5, 2014

Death and burial

Clarke died in Montpelier on June 17, 1841, and was buried at Montpelier's Elm Street Cemetery.Abby Maria Hemenway, [https://books.google.com/books?id=YSxDIrDewrYC&pg=PA527 The Vermont Historical Gazetteer: Washington County], 1882, page 527.Northeast Kingdom Genealogy, [http://www.nekg-vt.com/cemetery/cemetery_elm-st_montpelier.htm List of Burials, Elm Street Cemetery, Montpelier, Vermont], 2001Vermont Vital Records, 1720-1908, death record for Augustine Clarke, retrieved January 5, 2014

Notes

References

External links

{{Find a Grave|90721286}}, retrieved January 5, 2014
[http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/clarke.html Augustine Clarke] at [http://politicalgraveyard.com/ Political Graveyard]

{{s-ttl|title=Anti-Masonic nominee for Vermont State Treasurer|years=1830, 1831, 1832, 1833, 1834, 1835, 1836, 1837}}