Clack Family of Angle Vale

Noah Clack was born at Clanfield, Oxfordshire in 1836 in a Methodist home, the son of John and Ann Kenbury.  Eleven children were born to the couple, ten of them male. Two of the Clack boys migrated to South Australia.

Arriving in South Australia in 1858 on the ship Melbourne,  Noah stayed four years before returning to England.  He soon returned in 1864 upon the Utopia, this time with his wife.  

Noah and his family were one of the first Europeans to settle in Angle Vale area, were he remained for about 12 years.  At different times he was Superintendent of the Sunday School, Chapel Steward or Society Steward.    The Clacks who knew Esau Burford (another early settler to the Angle Vale region) in England came out in 1859 and settled in the district, living in a hut on Burford's farm on the river. 

The family later moved to Appila West district then Wirrabara again serving in the local churches. The congregation at Appila West met for some time in a school room and when it came time to build a church, Noah assisted whole heartedly.

He married Harriet Baker on 7th January 1837 in Standford, Berkshire England.  They married and almost immediately came to South Australia.  A son Walter James was born the following year, followed by; 

Albert George   1865
Elizabeth Anne  1867
Isaac John          1869
Joseph Horace 1871
Arthur Baker     1877

In July, 1861, the Gawler River Company of Volunteer Rifles was sworn in.  Included in the names of those sworn in was Noah.

This story is recorded in the Recorder Port Pirie 5 August 1936 p.4 from a letter written by Leonard A Roberts from Angle Vale written to Joseph’s brother Isaac John.

One of the first mowers on the plains was made at Bateup's implement works; the castings came from Kapunda. The machine was tried in Hatcher's paddock.  Noah Clack and Robert Burt were deemed expert scythe hands—they could average two acres a day—and of course they were indignant about machinery coming to take their place.

So they challenged the new mower on an even start. Away went the two men, leaving a wide swath behind them, while those in charge of the machine experienced some trouble at first. But this was quickly rectified, and needless to say, at the end of the day the machine had left the hand-cutters far behind.

Noah was a District Constable for Munno Para West in 1869.  The Assessment records show that Noah occupied land from 1867, firstly in Angle Vale, Smithfield and then Virginia.   The records do not show section number or acreage, but the properties are described as dwelling or house and garden. In 1875 Noah had purchased 455 acres of land at section 3 in the Hundred of Booleroo.

He became weak for a time before his death and peacefully passed away while sitting at his chair.  The funeral was largely attended in the Wirrabara Cemetery. He was remembered for his kindly nature, a man who loved the House of God and delighted in his services. 

Son, Walter was listed as a farmer in Angle Vale in 1883.

Albert George   b: c1865 SA? d: 17.12.1920 buried: Wirrabara SA
married Ida Ann (b: c1883 d: 25.4.1969)

• Harriet
• Ida
• Chris

Joseph Horace Clack was born at Angle Vale in 1872.  He helped his father on the farm but was attracted to Western Australia by the gold boom of the 1890’s.   Returning to South Australia in 1900 he married Eliza Jeffrey of Booleroo centre after which they settled in Port Pirie.  For 27 years he was employed at the Smelters, but due to ill health retired at age 55.  In his younger days he was a well-known athlete and competed in many events at northern sports meetings. Joseph died at Pirie South on 3 August 1936, resident of the district for 35 years.

Joseph and Eliza had two children

• Henry Alexr (1902-)
• Trenna Edith Vera (1904-)

The youngest son, Arthur Baker became a successful artist. He went to Way College and for a time was a tutor on a South Eastern station.  He had journalistic ambitions, worked at the Register for a time but this did not last long.  He attended James Ashton’s Art Academy in Adelaide.  He was affectionally known as “ABC”.  He moved to England and France to continue his artistic studies where he became a successful exhibitor at the Paris Salon.

Oliver a brother to Noah came to South Australia in 1864 on the Art Union.  Oliver became a farmer near Angle Vale.  He married Henrietta Kearse in 1864 and they had six daughters, all of whom were born at Gawler Plains.   He was a District Constable for Munno Para West in 1884.

Oliver was declared insolvent in February 1888. 

He died 4^th May 1918 aged 74. Henrietta died 30^th July 1926 aged 81.