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Dublin. He came to America before the outbreak of the Revolution, was gazetted a lieutenant in the Royal Fencible Americans on May 15, 1776, and shortly afterwards appointed adjutant of the corps. He settled at St. George after the peace of 1783 where he received a grant of 700 acres and had as his immediate neighbors Captain Philip Bailey and other officers, non-commissioned officers and private soldiers of the regiment. One of Mr. Clinch's sons writing in 18 35 thus describes the experience of the settlers at St. George:—
"My father had charge of a party of soldiers who were disbanded in 1783 and sent to colonize a howling wilderness—the most unfit employment they could be put to. The delay which took place in furnishing a vessel to convey them and their stores added much to their difficulties. It was not until the 10th of November that a landing was effected at the mouth of the Magaguadavic, where there was neither house nor habitation of any kind to receive them; and so glad was the skipper of the vessel to get rid of such a disorderly and almost mutinous crew, that he sailed away the moment he got them landed. He was under some apprehension that they would insist on coming away with him again rather than land on such an inhospitable shore. That night my father slept in the open air and such a heavy fall of snow came that he had some difficulty in removing the blankets next morning."[1]
Peter Clinch in 1793 raised a company for the King's New Brunswick Regiment which he commanded. He was for some years a representative of Charlotte county in the House of Assembly and a man prominent in public affairs up to the time of his death in 1816.
Lieutenant Ambrose Sharman filled double position in his regiment, being assistant surgeon or srrgeon's mate, as well as lieutenant. During the six years he was stationed at Fort Howe his services were not infrequently needed by the settlers as well as by the garrison. Among the charges included in a bill the doctor presented to James White, under date August 4, 1780, is the item, "To inoculating self and family for Small pox, £9." Small pox was common
- ↑ See Historical Series of Articles in St. Croix Courier, No. LXXVII, edited by James Vroom.