JAMES CLARK snr

James Clark was born in Motherwell 1881 and died, May 1948.

He and his sister Mary were born out of wedlock and not registered, they took their mothers name. James’ mother later married but the sibling remained Clarks. His father remains a mystery.

James moved to the East end of Glasgow where he worked in the world famous Saracen Iron work foundry in Possil Park. He played football the very successful Ashfield FC in the Scottish Junior Football league. In 1905 played in the team that won five trophies including in Scottish Junior Cup and the Maryhill trophy. He was noted to be a splendid central defender and despite interest from Rangers his career ended the following pre season.

James Clark had married his first wife, Ellen Kerr Kelly, in 1904 in Bridgeton Glasgow, in 1919 the union ended in disgrace. He was given a divorce by court order as his wife had married a second man. Unbeknownst to James she had done so that her lover may avoid the draft. James an Ellen had three children at the time. The bigamists served time in prison and the fracas made the national paper.

James Clark remarried in 1923 to Isabella Glen Ridley. They had three children, James, Isabella and John who came as an addition to Isabella’s two Margaret and Peter. In uniting the families James renounced his protestantarianism, he made a public apology to the parish at St Alphonsis, for not being a catholic. All done in the name of love.

At the time of marriage they were expecting their second child, Isabella, but she only lived for 20 days.

James Clark was a good man and well known in the Calton .  His nickname was Elky and he worked at the blacksmiths fixing the barrows of the hawkers including the famous Mary Ann Brown

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