| Here are some of the the key ancestors in my family tree.  John Darken
(1785-1863)
John
Joseph Darken (1816-1870)
Arthur
Muskett Darken (1859-1942)
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What's Special about John Darken? John Darken
and his family were the first Darkens known to have emigrated to America. The family
arrived in 1830, and were heading to upstate New York, but ended up in Pennsylvania where
John was commissioned to build a church. He was apparently cheated by the building
committee and the church collapsed during the spring rains and then his wife died. With
the exception of one son, the family then returned to England. |
Details
John Darken was born 1785, Norwich, son of William Darkin and Sarah De Champfleur. He
married Frances Deyns(b. 1781, Norwich) at St. Gregory's Church, Norwich in 1808 and they
had 5 sons:
- Edward John Darken (1810 - 1853)
- John Joseph Darken (1816 - 1870) (My Great Great Grandfather)
- Thomas William Darken (1818-1846)
- Horace Darken (1820-1887)
- William Darken (1823)
After his wife's death, John married his first wife's sister, Elizabeth Deyns, in 1833.
| What's Special about John Joseph Darken? John
Joseph Darken was apparently quite a prominent member of society judging by his impressive
house (Shrublands) which still exists in Holt, Norfolk to this day. During his life John
performed many jobs - carrying on several businesses simultaneously. These included
architect, builder, insurance agent, auctioneer and building surveyor.
John purportedly died from blood poisoning apparently contracted when he stepped on a
rusty tack. |
 |
Details
John Joseph Darken was born the second son to John Darken &
Frances Deyns on April 10, 1816 in Norwich, Norfolk. He married Jane Margaret Hill on July
12 1842 at Watton in England.
They had 3 children:
- Francis Louisa Darken (1844-1921)
- Charles John Darken (1846-1912)
- Jane Margaret Darken (1849-1914)
John's first wife, Jane Margaret died in 1849 and John married Anne Muskett
(1829-1863). They had 5 children:
- Agnes Muskett Darken (1856)
- Gertrude Muskett Darken (1858-1937)
- Arthur Muskett Darken (1859 - 1942) (My Great Grandfather)
- Mary Ellen Darken (1861-1927)
- Edward Muskett Darken (1863-1922)
 |
What's Special about Arthur Muskett Darken? Arthur
Muskett Darken basically grew up as an orphan but, with the assistance of his grandmother,
was able to become a successful pharmacist. Although he was born in England, he tried to
find a better life for himself by first emigrating to the United States and later to
Australia where he eventually settled.
Arthur bought his own pharmacy which he ran for almost 50 years and which still had the
Darken name on the window another 50 years after he sold it. |
Details
Sometime before 1889, Arthur met Clara Louisa Lyne nee Harvey (b. 1857,
Tasmania), a widow and one of a 9 children to Henry Lyne and Mary Amos. They were married
at the Holy Trinity Church in East Melbourne on June 12 1889 when Arthur was 30 and Clara
was 32.
Arthur and Clara had 3 children :
- Horace (b.1890-1892)
- Claire Lyne (1892-1982)
- Henry Lyne (1896-1977) (My
Grandfather)
[If you would like to read more about Arthur, I have dedicated an entire web page just
for him. Click here.] |
