The Jones/Clarke Family

Researching my Undisguised Family History

Lauren Vick

Clarke Family• First protestant clergy from Scottland to arrive in New Zealand• Pastor George Clarke named “protector of the aborigines” (obviously

unsuccessful)• Son (also Pastor George Clarke) – first white speaker of the Maori

language• Royal legal negotiator and translator of Maori language• Only advocate of Maori land rights/interests in British government

(somewhat less unsuccessful)• “New Zealand famous” quote- “If fight we must, let us fight like

gentlemen” (he was extremely British)

The Clarkes were know for their fun-loving nature and wild sense of humor

Becoming “Educationists”

• George founded the Tasmania Council on Education and leader of the Literacy and Debating Council in his parish

• “Honored and beloved by all and never losing his appeal to the young people” – Wikipedia (100% unbiased)

• A founder of the University of Tasmania – University Chancellor (1890-1907)

Fun fact: the ONLY university to offer a doctorate in Wool Science!

George Clarke (“educationist”)

“New Zealand Famous”*• Legal articles, like the Treaty of Waitangi

:gave Maoris rights of British citizenship with local self-governance, recognized tribal ownership of land(Parlament back in England took this as a guideline..)

• Notes on Early Life in New Zealand, Early Tasmania, Short Liturgies for Congregational Worship (at page turner!)

• His granddaughter was an author too! She wrote a series of YA stories about some feisty\ New Zealand flappers and their crazy hijinks

• The Clarke family homestead & educational farm and Clarke church are now historical landmarks and national museums

*Similar to “Delaware Famous,” if Delaware had 10 sheep for every person

“The Clarkes were a very kind, intelligent, empathetic, creative people. It has been down hill for us ever since…”

Lorna Clarke my grandmother

Teacher Lorna’s First Class

Mr. Jones meets “Mumsey”

Bruce Jones• Mother (a Maori) died in childbirth • Father remained an American divorcee,

moved to Philadelphia, started new family

• Bruce and his brothers raised by their grandmother

• She was in a tragic when he was 6, bedridden for 8 years, brothers were orphaned when Bruce was 14

• Boys moved into Wellington YMCA, became very independent

Getting to America• Bruce and his brothers worked as farm laborers for 5

years as they waited for American visas (this farmer had a young daughter named Lorna)

• Bruce did not qualify for a visa, because he was born in Tasmania, so he worked on a steam ship that took him to Manchester, England, then another to Nova Scotia

• He Illegally entered the U.S. through Niagra Falls.Later took a train to Mexico and re-entered illegally again

• Worked as self-taught farm animal doctor, Purina farm chow salesman, and race horse trainer

Back to NZ• Joined the Australian – New Zealand Army

Core at the start of WWII• Brothers were fighter pilots, Bruce (a pacifist

weighing 108 lbs) never shot a gun. But worked as a cartographer and navigator. He was the only survivor.

• He visited his friends the Joneses on R&R, remeeting Lorna. They wrote to each other throughout the war and he carried her picture

Getting Back to America

• Commanding General gave Bruce papers giving him a visa to enter any allied nation post-WWII

• Asked Lorna to marry him and come to America with him

Proposal

“He said to me ‘marry me. I will make it worth your while.’ I said not with that kind of proposal!” – Lorna

He later made a more formal offer, the eloped and he went to get them visas.

Lorna arrived to America on the very first war bride ship following WWII.

Clarke-Jones Family

Elizabeth Jones: powerful lady

Working those shoulder pads!

Steve Vick: admired powerful ladies

But he was also a bit afraid of them

100% Iowa

They had two children

Lauren, the “off-beat” one

Courtney, the “normal”one

My Current Family: