Baptized 2 May, he spent some of his childhood at the Mission house, would have lived in Auckland with his parents and after returning to Waimate North lived at Grove Cottage until his marriage.
Married at Waimate Frances Emily Stuart, born 7 January 1855, daughter of Bishop Craig Stuart, a missionary in India for many ears. Because of ill health her father went to Sydney, where his brother Sir Alexander Stuart was premier, to recuperate. The Church Missionary society persuaded him to go to NZ to enquire into disputes re native lands and naturally went to Waimate where Frances met and married Marsden Clarke.
They farmed a property known as 'Whakamaru' (The MÄori name for home) Part of OLC 55 across from the mission house attaching to grove cottage Between Paparimurimu Stream and Waipatukahu Stream. As written in his fathers letter, to his grandfather dated 14 March 1865. Marsden, served time as Georges Secretary, of the Native Land Court, of which George had been appointed Judge in 1861.
In 1868 Marsden and John farmed Grove Cottage together. In 1888 the first AMP Show was at Grove Cottage farm. Marsden was the first president. And John Clarke gave Kauri timber for the Show Building. Marsden was twenty years older than Frances when he died 10 May 1889 at Waimate North, leaving her a widow with three young children.
After two further years at Waimate North she was persuaded by her father, (who had been appointed Bishop of Waiapu, at Napier) to join them there. She augmented her meager income from the farm by teaching music, visiting the homes of her pupils. When her daughter Mary's children were still young she joined them at 'Strathallan,' Pirongia, where she died July 1925. Buried at Purewa.
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