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Elizabeth Theophila 
Clarke
1813 - 1899


Elizabeth Theophila 
Clarke
, http://www.personalia.co.uk/archive_of_items_sold.htm [BARLOW, George Edward Pratt 1784-1865]. Autograph manuscript memoir of George Edward Pratt Barlow written by his widow Elizabeth Theophila Barlow (nâee Clarke, 1813-1899) borrowing largely from his journal. Written in or after 1865, comprising 117 sides of manuscript mostly written on verso sides of the pages, and at the rear in another hand, 6 pages of manuscript commentary upon religious matters, with blank pages between the two. Bound in full parchment, measuring about 5 x 7 inches. The manuscript covers George Barlow's life chronologically. The first 4 sides (with duplication) relate to his family origins and education, followed by 31 sides which cover his posting to India in the army in 1802, with extensive detail of his service and action in the war against the Marathas; an expedition and action in 1810 with the 69th Regiment to the islands of Bourbon and Mauritius, and subsequent appointment as Judge Advocate; promotion and transfer to the 34th Regiment and posting to Ireland in 1814. In the 96 pages which follow, details are provided of his posting in Ireland and further postings to India, England and Ireland; followed by his command of the 61st Regiment in Ceylon 1828-1832; travel in Europe and north Africa while on half pay (he leaves the army 1842 upon attaining his full colonelcy); his appointment as chairman of Southampton Docks in 1842; and further travel in Europe, especially in France where he meets Louis Napoleon. The following extracts come from the first 35 sides: My beloved Husband was born in Bruton Street Bond Sq in 1784 Novmr 30th. He was the son of Mr Robert Barlow, (who took the name of Pratt) a solicitor of high character, who cared so little for money that he always dissuaded his clients from litigation, thus making but little from an excellent business ……. He lived with his father and mother for many years, at Turnham Green. While there, he & three of his brothers were taught entirely by a French Abbâe, who came to them daily……… he became a very good French and Italian scholar, speaking both languages with great facility, at the same time studying Greek and Latin, Mathematics and all other usual of study of boys ………… In 1802 he left England in the Caledonia on 22nd July arriving in Calcutta in Janry 14th 1803. He joined his 22nd on the 24th April 1803. He was removed by Lord Luke to his 8th Light Dragoons on the 10th of Novber 1803. On the 10th Decber from notice by Lord Luke to a Lieutenancy in the 10th Dragoons. ……..Jany, - Feby – March – April 1804 moving about the -?- country as an army of observation ….. Octber 2nd Marched to Jerra & came up at the rear of Holkar's Army [Jaswant Rao Holkar]. Formed line & advanced to the charge. The enemy after receiving a second attack from the gallopers retired precipitately ….. Oct 3rd Advanced to Matura ……. Pendarris encamped near the town of Matura on our way to the Jumsiah[?] …. Pickets frequently harassed by the enemy's skirmishes. In consequence of Holkar's remaining encamped within 2 or 3 miles of us, we made two attempts to surprise him before day-break but only succeeded in cutting up some of his stragglers & Camp followers …….. Holkar's guns & infantry as we afterwards discovered were all this while besieging Delhi. ..... Oct 11th encamped within 2 miles of Delhi & the enemy on hearing of our approach had raised the siege & marched to the westward…. Oct 17th encamped under the ? of Delhi having found it impracticable to pursue the enemy's guns for want of supplies….. 30th Received information that Holkar with his cavalry had crossed the Jumunah ……Oct 31st the cavalry & reserve under the personal command of Lord Lake forded the Jumunah …. Our Hirkaru brought information that Holkar was in pursuit of a core of infantry & irregulars …. Nov 4th Arrived at Shanider ? where Col K's Detachment had retired to protect its baggage…. Holkar made several attempts to storm the town of Shanibar, but was repulsed …. he made several rapid marches to the south east …… Lord Lake with the cavalry came up with and surprised him after a march of about 50 miles on the morng of 17th Novr 1804 & completely routed his force. The slaughter of the enemy is calculated at 4000. The surprise would have been more complete had not one of the tumbrels attached to the horse artillery blown up just before they came within cannon shot of the enemy's camp… [goes on to describe action at Dieg and Bharatpur]. He arrived at Madras in Feby 1808. He was appointed A-D-C to the Governor of Madras becoming his incumbent. He was appointed private secretary to the Governor in Feby 1809 & active in this appointment until May 1810 without receiving salary ……. In May 1810 he obtained permission to accompany the 69th Regt on an expedition to the Isles of Bourbon & Mauritius …… GB went on the Brisbane expedition in command of troops …. on board a man of war the Boudicea with Admiral Sir Josias Rowley….. On the 26th we made the Isle of France, & all arrangements being completed on the 29th we landed without opposition at Cape Malharma ……. We advanced the same afternoon about 7 miles thro' a very difficult country ……Our picquets were attacked soon after we came to the ground by a very strong reconnoitring party, led by General Du Caen in person. Expecting a general attack the army was formed up in three lines, & the picquet immediately reinforced – the enemy however retired ….. General de Caen himself received a slight wound in the leg…….The principal column advanced about 6 miles, took possession of the signal post on the Montagne Longue & occupied a position in rear of it parallel to the enemy's lines …. This column met with very considerable opposition & were smartly engaged with the enemy …. the French attempted to defend the passage of a bridge, but their position was forced & themselves compelled to retreat, our loss on this march have been about 120 men killed & wounded. Colonel Campbell and Major O'Keife were among the former ……. On the 2nd December, the enemy, seeing our advanced position …. sent out a flag of truce & proposed to capitulate…… The islands shipping surrendered – the troops of the line & seamen, amounting to about three thousand to be sent immediately to France with their arms – Private property to be respected. The total amount of our casualties does not, I imagine exceed 180. The loss of the enemy, not so great. 47 sail of shipping were found in the harbour 6 of which were frigates, & 3 sloops of war [list of ships follows]. My dear husband was made Judge Advocate of the expedition proceeding against these islands, by order of Lieut General George Hewitt Commander in Chief of India….. he awarded 2 sentences, one that of death, a very uncommon thing he told me for a military man to do,….. the other sentence was 400 lashes dreadful! He was the bearer of the dispatches announcing the surrender of the Isle of France on the 3rd of December [1810] – & arrived at Madras with them on board the Cornelius Jany 11th 1811. From this time to July 1813, he acted as private Secretary & Aide de Camp to the Governor of Madras. In March 1812 he had been promoted in England to a Majority in the 34th by purchase & in May 1813, was ordered by the Commander in Chief to return to Europe to join the 2nd Battalion [at Cork], & for this reason he left India. The manuscript memoir comes with a copy of the marriage certificate of George Edward Pratt Barlow and Elizabeth Theophila Clarke. George Edward Pratt Barlow (1784-1865) was the eldest of four sons of Robert Barlow (1744-1832) and Elizabeth Emma [maiden name unknown] (1755-1831), all born in the parish of St Paul in London. George did not marry until aged 65 when he married in 1849 the 35 year old Elizabeth Theophila Clarke (the writer of the manuscript memoir), born in 1813 at Fort George, Madras, the daughter of senior civil servant Richard Clarke and his wife Mary. George and Elizabeth lived at 8 Leonard Place in Kensington. Elizabeth tells us that she abstracted details of her husband's life from his own journals (originals probably lost or destroyed), while a first hand knowledge of his life comes from the 16 years Elizabeth shared with her husband in marriage, plus the unknown period of their acquaintance before their marriage in 1849. There is another side however to the life of Colonel Pratt Barlow. In India Colonel Barlow was appointed aide-de-campe to the governor-general, his cousin, Sir George Hilaro Barlow (1763–1846), a position which took him into the heart of the governor's household. Here he befriended the lively and beautiful Lady Elizabeth Barlow, fifteen years his senior. They became inseparable, and an affair ensued leading to the birth of an illegitimate child (Frederick) in 1811, and finally a divorce in 1816. Inevitably the scandal leaked out to The Times when the case came before the King's Bench in London. Colonel Barlow supported the former “Lady” Barlow by setting up home with her in Kensington, where they lived together until her death in 1836 (See Stephen Taylor Storm & Conquest, Faber & Faber 2007). It is not clear whether Mrs Elizabeth Barlow knew of her husband's infamous affair with Lady Elizabeth Barlow – on the one hand the affair had been going on for seven years when she was born, and she was three years old at the time of the divorce, but on the other, her father was working under the governorship of Sir George Barlow in Madras at the time of the affair, and the former Lady Barlow had been cohabiting with Colonel Barlow in Kensington only 13 years before their marriage. It seems likely that she did know, and the present memoir may therefore have been written as a defence of his good character, putting on record a long life of good service at home and abroad. If this is the case, it is possible that his wife destroyed his original journals having compiled the present memoir.

Born: Fort St George, , Madras, India 1813 Baptised: Fort St George, Madras, , , India 7th Sep 1813
Died: London, , , England 18th Jan 1899 Buried:
Family:
Clarke

Ancestors
[ Patrilineage | Matrilineage | Earliest Ancestors | Force | Force2 | Set Relationship | Relationship | Options ]

1.
Elizabeth Theophila 
Clarke
(
Pratt Barlow
) 1813 - 1899
2.
Richard 
Clarke
(
?
) + post 1813
3.
Mary 
?
(
Clarke
) + post 1813

Siblings


1.
Richard Gwatkin 
Clarke
1816 - 1897

Spouses



1. London, , , England 1849
George Edward 
Pratt Barlow
(
Smith
,
Clarke
) 1784 - 1865

Descendants
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Sources

Timeline


???Made a will (will)
1813Born (birth) Fort St George, Madras, India
7th Sep 1813Baptised (baptism) Madras, India
1849Married
George Edward 
Pratt Barlow
(
Smith
,
Clarke
) 1784 - 1865 (marriage) London, England
18th Jan 1899Died (death) London, England
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