A timeline of Charles Septimus Clarke’s life. The blue shading shows the years for which diaries exist and the light yellow shading shows the period of time the Clarke family lived in Grey St, Auckland.
Clarke probably commenced writing his diaries when he began to receive his farming education in 1860. There are no diaries for the unshaded years from 1860 onwards. Whether they used to exist and have become lost or whether he simply didn’t write diaries for two important periods of his life is an ongoing mystery.
The births of Clarke’s grandchildren are also included in the timeline.
| 1843 | August 15 | Charles Septimus Clarke born at New Parks, Leicester, UK to John and Sarah Clarke |
| 1844 | ||
| 1845 | ||
| 1846 | July 23 | Sarah Dorothy, John Clarke’s eldest daughter, and Charles Clarkes eldest sister, married Charles Henry Parkes |
| September 11 | Charles Clarke’s father, John Clarke, died of English Cholera at Highcross St, Leicester aged 54 | |
| October 27 | Charles Clarke’s mother, Sarah Clarke (Nee Coltman) died of English Cholera at Leicester aged 45 | |
| 1847 | August 16 | Mary Anne Wyatt born at Portsea to Mary and John Wyatt |
| 1848 | ||
| 1849 | ||
| 1850 | ||
| 1851 | ||
| 1852 | ||
| 1853 | Charles Clarke attended the Collegiate School, Leicester | |
| 1854 | ||
| 1855 | ||
| 1856 | ||
| 1857 | ||
| 1858 | August 26 | Charles brother John Sanders Clarke married Mary Elizabeth Clarke, his second cousin |
| 1859 | M. Napolen Lebro, Neuville, Dieppe, France | |
| 1860 | Clarke receives farming education at the farm of Mr Edward Wortley, Ridlington, near Uppingham, England | |
| 1861 | Clarke receives farming education at the farm of Mr Edward Wortley, Ridlington, near Uppingham, England | |
| 1862 | Clarke receives farming education at the farm of Mr Edward Wortley, Ridlington, near Uppingham, England | |
| 1863 | May 5 | Charles and the Wyatt family sail on the “Queen of Beauty” from Gravesend, London for NZ |
| August 10 | Charles Clarke and Mary Wyatt arrive in Auckland on “Queen of Beauty” | |
| 1864 | August 10 | Clarles Clarke and John Wyatt take up land at Little Omaha |
| 1865 | ||
| 1866 | April 27 | Charles Clarke purchases the 80 acre McKenzie farm for £240 cash |
| May 12 | Charles completes his whare and starts occupation of his own property | |
| June 21 | Red Kenneth and family move to Waipu and Charles Clarke moves into the house | |
| 1867 | January 3 | Clarke receives an inheritance from Anne Coltman, the wife of Samuel Coltman (deceased), his uncle |
| 1868 | Clarke buys 3, 40 acre sections adjoining the previous purchase of land for £120 cash. The sections were owned by Mrs Margaret Matheson, Miss Hannah Matheson and Neil Campbell | |
| 1869 | Clarkes three gabled house he called Collingwood probably built this year in a clearing on the section he bought from Campbell. | |
| December 6 | Charles Clarke and Mary Anne Wyatt were married in the dwelling of John Wyatt Snr at Leigh | |
| 1870 | September 15 | Maude Mary Clarke born |
| 1871 | May 27 | Meeting in Clarke’s house to discuss Library creation |
| 1872 | January 11 | John Charles Clarke born. Known as John and later as Jack |
| 1873 | ||
| 1874 | ||
| 1875 | ||
| 1876 | May 20 | Minnie Mary Clarke born at Warkworth |
| 1877 | ||
| 1878 | November 27 | Jane Clarke born |
| 1879 | ||
| 1880 | Living in Grey St, Auckland (Greys Ave) | |
| 1881 | June | Board & Residence advert – 83 Grey St |
| September 19 | Thomas Clarke born | |
| 1882 | March 29 | Duncan Matheson killed while rigging his boat. He was boarding with Charles & Mary |
| May 24 | Thomas died. Atrophy from Glandular disease, had from birth | |
| 1883 | April 5 | William Clarke born |
| July 7 | Board & Residence advert – 147 Grey St | |
| August 10 | Mary Anne Clarke died at 147 Grey St | |
| September 24 | Sale of Household Furniture – 147 Grey St | |
| November 18 | Returned to Omaha (See diary entry for Nov 18, 1889) | |
| 1884 | ||
| 1885 | Photo of his house at Leigh probably taken this year | |
| December 30 | Clarkes enters into an agreement to sell part of the Northern and part of the Middle Part of lot 26 to Mirehouse, Neeley, Wyatt and Kingdom | |
| 1886 | ||
| 1887 | At this time Clarke had been appointed an Anglican Lay Minister. Exactly when we do not know. | |
| 1888 | ||
| 1889 | ||
| 1890 | January | The widowed Mirehouse sell to |
| 1891 | ||
| 1892 | March 14 | Maude Clarke married William Pratt at Clarkes house in Leigh. |
| 1893 | ||
| 1894 | ||
| 1895 | October 24 | Florence Mary Pratt born to Maud and William Pratt |
| 1896 | ||
| 1897 | June 21 | C S Clarke gazetted as a Justice of the Peace for the colony |
| September 23 | C S Clarke sworn in as JP by Mr Hutchinson | |
| 1898 | July 4 | John Wyatt Senior died |
| December 23 | Maude Mary Clarke died at her home in Omaha | |
| 1899 | December 27 | Minnie Clarke marries Joe Torkington |
| 1900 | January 28 | Mary Ann Wyatt Snr dies |
| July 23 | Clarke sells 55 acres of his land to Mrs McKinnon for £27 . 10 . 0 | |
| August 19 | Alma Winifred Maud Torkington born to Minnie & Joe Torkington | |
| 1901 | ||
| 1902 | ||
| 1903 | April 14 | Agnes Mary Torkington born to Minnie & Joe Torkington |
| July 6 | Charles Clarke visits his sons Jack & Henry at Te Araroa, returning to Little Omaha August 4th | |
| 1904 | ||
| 1905 | February 23 | William Arthur Torkington born to Minnie & Joe Torkington |
| 1906 | April 10 | Henry Clarke visits Little Omaha after 6½ year absence |
| 1907 | October 23 | Minnie becomes ill and is sent to Auckland. Alma & Agnes staying at Clarkes |
| December 1 | Minnie returns home from Auckland. ‘quite better now’ | |
| 1908 | January 1 | Willie takes over the sole management of the Clarke orchard & farm. Charles effectively retires |
| January 4 | Francis Eileen Torkington born to Minnie & Joe Torkington | |
| January 26 | Alma & Agnes return home after a 3 month stay | |
| 1909 | ||
| 1910 | September 13 | Jane Clarke marries James Alexander Dunning (Jim) and in a double ceremony |
| William Clarke marries Grace Emily Davey. Both marriages taking place at Leigh | ||
| November 7 | John Herbert Torkington born to Minnie & Joe Torkington | |
| 1911 | July 24 | Hector James Dunning born to Jane & Jim Dunning |
| 1912 | May 12 | Ernest Joseph Torkington born to Minnie & Joe Torkington |
| 1913 | March 22 | Jean Dunning born to Jane & Jim Dunning |
| 1914 | World War I commences | |
| 1915 | July | Ray Clarke adopted by Willie & Grace Clarke probably early July |
| August 15 | The new Angican church completed and used for the first time | |
| 1916 | July 25 | Charles Clarke leaves Auckland for Te Araroa. Last time he visited was 1903 |
| October 20 | John Clarke marries Lily Kirwell, his housekeeper, at Te Araroa | |
| 1917 | January 8 | Charles Edward Torkington born to Minnie & Joe Torkington |
| May 12 | Charles Clarke returns to Leigh having spent 10 months at Te Araroa | |
| 1918 | January 3 | George Clarke born, son of John and Lily Clark |
| 1919 | May 10 | Peter John Clarke born, son of John and Lily Clarke |
| December 30 | Mildred Isabel Dunning born to Jane & Jim Dunning | |
| 1920 | April 19 | Clarke & Willie decide to sell the farm. Willie can no longer make it pay, and wants to find employment in Auckland |
| May 26 | Clarke and J. C. E. Wyatt (Eddie) have their business talk (See diary 26 May) | |
| July 7 | The Clarke property at Leigh and house contents sold by auction | |
| July 12 | Eddie Wyatt takes possession of the old Clarke house and property, and pays to Clarke by way of various cheques £400 initial payment,, leaving £1600 owing to Clarke at an interest rate of 6%. | |
| July 10 – 13 | Clarke moves his possessions into Eddie & Ivys house – first house? Eddies younger brother, Jim is also living there. | |
| July 14 | A social event for Willie & Grace who are moving to Auckland and for Charles who will board with Eddie & Ivy | |
| July 15 | Clarke goes to Auckland to be with Henry who is in hospital with a ‘stomache rupture’ | |
| July 22 | Grace, Willie & Raymond move to Auckland. Willie & Graces furniture moved from old house to Auckland 2 Sep. | |
| August 4 | Clarke returns to Leigh and back to “Eddie Wyatts where I am boarding” | |
| August | Clarke continues cultivating and tending the garden at the old Collingwood house | |
| August 18 | Henry spends a week at Omaha before departing for Te Araroa | |
| September | Gardens at the old house still being cultivated | |
| September 30 | Conveyance of farm to J. C. E. Wyatt from Clarke signed | |
| November 15 | “Eddie and Ivy were cleaning out the house at Collingwood” | |
| November 27 | Clarke goes to Auckland for Henry’s wedding and to conduct financial business | |
| December 2 | Charles Henry Clarke marries Elsie Blennerhasset at St Marys Cathedral in Auckland | |
| December 4 | Clarke receives final payment of £1600 from Elliott the solicitor for his farm and property | |
| December 6 | Clarke arranges with Elliott to offer a loan of £1000 to Jack & Henry. Also arranges a £600 1st mortgage | |
| December 8 | Clarke returns to Leigh | |
| 1921 | January 10 | Danthonian seed being stored in the old house |
| 1922 | Thoughout 1922 Charles Clarke continues boarding with Eddie & Ivy Wyatt. and cultivating and tending the garden at the old Collingwood house. Makes various trips to Auckland. Willie and Grace first appear in the Electoral roll for Auckland West. Residence at 85 Norfolk St |
|
| 1 August | Transfers deed of the lease of lot 54, the School Reserve, from himself to Eddie Wyatt | |
| 1923 | May 7 | Charles Clarke moves to Dacres Claim into the house of his daughter Jane Dunning |
| 1924 | April | Charlie & Jim Wyatt dismantling the old Clarke house (See diary entry for April 13th & 16th 1924) |
| 1925 | ||
| 1926 | ||
| 1927 | April 27 | Alvin Lester Smith born to Alma & Vic Smith |
| 1928 | ||
| 1929 | March 27 | Charles Septimus Clarke died |
| Abt March 30 | Buried at Leigh Cemetery | |