Augustine Clarke

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. He was baptized in Richmond on March 15, 1786.

Start of career

Clarke moved to Vermont and studied law, although the details of his relocation and studies are unknown.

He was admitted to the bar in Wheelock in 1804. In 1806 he was appointed Wheelock’s first Postmaster.

In 1806 Clarke was admitted to the bar in Danville. In 1808 he married Sophia Blanchard in Danville. Sophia Blanchard’s sister Sarah was the wife of William A. Palmer, who served as Governor and United States Senator. Palmer and Clarke became leaders of Vermont’s Anti-Masons.

Clarke practiced law in Danville. An adherent of the National Republican Party, he served in local offices including Justice of the Peace. 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.

In the 1820s Clarke also became active in the American Tract Society. In addition, he was an active member of the American Anti-Slavery Society.

He served as Caledonia County Treasurer from 1822 to 1824, and Caledonia County Assistant Judge from 1824 to 1825.

In 1826 he was appointed President of the Caledonia National Bank, succeeding Palmer, who had been the bank’s first President.

Clarke represented Danville in the Vermont House of Representatives in 1824, 1828, 1830, and 1832.

In 1830 Clarke was appointed one of Caledonia County’s three Commissioners of Jail Delivery.

(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.)

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.

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.

Later career

Benjamin Swan had served as Vermont’s Treasurer beginning in 1800 and often ran unopposed or with only token opposition. In 1833 Clarke ran as an Anti-Mason and defeated Swan in the election for Treasurer. 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.

In September, 1837 Clarke was named to the Anti-Masonic Party’s National Committee.

Clarke served as Treasurer until running unsuccessfully for reelection in October, 1837. 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.

By 1839 the Anti-Masonic Party had dissolved and Clarke joined the Democratic Party. In July, 1839 he was appointed United States Pension Agent for the State of Vermont.

Later life

Clarke’s wife died in 1833. He subsequently moved to Montpelier. In 1840, he married Julia Jewett Hubbard.

Death and burial

Clarke died in Montpelier on June 17, 1841, and was buried at Montpelier’s Elm Street Cemetery.